Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Indonesia braces for protests in Jakarta. Islamic hardliners are demanding that Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known as Ahok, be prosecuted for blasphemy. They are part of a movement that “brings together violent extremists, moralist thugs and powerful political interests.”
Trade ministers from 16 countries gather in the Philippines. Members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which includes India, China and ASEAN countries, will meet to discuss a single-tier system of import duties. India is expected to take a hard line on service tariffs.
The US releases its last jobs report before Election Day. Higher wages and the effects of Hurricane Matthew could put a dent in October’s employment data. Analysts expect job additions to be around 173,000, in line with the average growth this year.
While you were sleeping
UK judges put the brakes on Brexit. The high court ruled that the government needs parliamentary approval to begin the process of leaving the EU, which was scheduled for March 2017. The government says it will appeal the decision.
More than 200 migrants drowned off the coast of Libya. The latest casualties bring the annual total of people who drowned in the Mediterranean up to 4,220 in 2016—the highest on record. Survivors told the UN refugee agency that two overloaded rubber dinghies collapsed not far from the Libyan shore.
The world made some progress in battling climate change. For the second year in a row, global GDP rose while carbon emissions remained constant, showing that fossil fuels are not inherently linked to economic expansion. But a sobering UN report showed that drastic emission cuts are still needed to achieve the temperature goals set forth in the Paris Agreement.
As Iraqi troops entered Mosul, ISIL vowed not to retreat. In an audio recording released online, Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi said that there would be “total war” and called on jihadists to “wreak havoc.” However, Baghdadi may no longer be in Mosul, according to Western intelligence sources.
Quartz markets haiku
Cubs losing streak ends
and the S&P wants to
begin another one.
Quartz obsession interlude
Madhura Karnik on teachable moments at Indian business schools. “It’s been just two weeks since Tata Sons, India’s largest conglomerate, fired its chairman Cyrus Mistry. But the corporate battle—one of the ugliest in India—is already on its way into MBA syllabi at the country’s top business schools.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
The latest attacks on the internet are just the beginning. Hackers are learning how to take down the network, whenever they want.
The International Criminal Court is flawed, but not by racism. African countries who opt out are motivated by the fear of being held accountable.
Sociopathic capitalism rules the world. But it doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game.
Surprising discoveries
Backwards running is a sport. World champion Aaron Yoder can run the mile in under 6 minutes.
The FBI is investigating one of its own Twitter accounts. @FBIRecordsVault has been releasing sensitive information about Trump and Clinton.
An 80-year-old model walked the runway in China. Wang Deshun is reshaping the country’s perception of aging.
A call of nature uncovered a 49,000-year-old settlement in Australia. An Aboriginal elder needed a pit stop while driving through the remote area.
“You’re all going to die” is the best pep talk. Thinking about death motivates athletes to excel.
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