What to watch for today
US election results are due at last. Poll closing times vary by state, and results will start to trickle in after 7pm ET (8am HK). You can follow the Quartz liveblog here. In addition to the presidential race, the House and Senate are up for grabs, and referendums could legalize marijuana for one in four Americans.
Duterte heads to Malaysia. The Philippine president will hold bilateral negotiations with prime minister Najib Razak. They’ll discuss economic and security cooperation, focusing on Malaysia’s role in peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
The European Commission releases new economic growth forecasts. In its first new estimate since the Brexit vote, the commission is expected to revise down its growth projections for 2017—they’re currently a feeble 1.8%.
While you were sleeping
Voting began across America, and Trump filed an election lawsuit. The Republican nominee sued Clark County, a Latino-heavy county in Nevada, alleging that poll workers kept polling stations open an extra two hours last week. While voting in Manhattan, Trump again declined to say that he would accept the election results.
India outlawed its two biggest banknotes. Prime minister Narendra Modi dropped a bombshell in his fight against the black market economy, announcing that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes would be void effective immediately. Indians will have 50 days to deposit notes at banks, creating a sticky situation for those hoarding cash to evade taxes.
Tesla bought a German engineering firm. Elon Musk’s electric carmaker acquired Grohmann, known for its expertise in automated manufacturing, to help it reach its audacious production goals. Tesla said it expects its factories to become “more of a product than the product itself.”
ISIL fighters abducted hundreds of families and ex-government soldiers in their retreat from Mosul. The extremist group is losing ground to government-led troops in a long-awaited battle for Iraq’s second-biggest city. UN human rights officials said the hostages are “intended to be used as human shields” or killed outright.
The European Union contemplated freezing membership talks with Turkey. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said there was “grave concern” about president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s plans to reinstate the death penalty, close newspapers, and arrest opposition leaders.
Quartz markets haiku
On election day /
The stock market rallied late /
What do those guys know?
Quartz obsession interlude
Anne Quito on the terrible design of the US electoral system. “In my voting experience, the only thing that seemed obsessively-designed were those “I Voted” stickers, that, as persuasive as they can be, are essentially just flair. We need designers to tackle the hairball, not just put on a bow.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Twitter must be saved. It’s the only antidote to the misinformation spread by Facebook’s algorithm.
Americans are giving up on democracy. Regardless of the election’s outcome, many on the left and right have lost faith.
Modi’s surprise money move was a masterstroke. The “surgical strike on black money” bolsters his reputation as uncorrupt and technocratic.
Surprising discoveries
Japan sells bubble bath that smells like ramen. Noodles and pork belly are presumably sold separately.
It’s possible to have emotions without feeling them. Some reactions occur outside our awareness.
AOL’s “You’ve got mail” guy is now a driver for Uber. Elwood Edwards recorded the famous snippet way back in 1989.
Toblerone downsized its UK chocolate bars, and Brits are irate. They’re blaming the Brexit vote.
McDonald’s sued the city of Florence for €18 million. It’s claiming discrimination after being denied a location in the ancient city.
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