Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Happy Thanksgiving! US markets will be closed, millions of turkeys will be consumed, and family fights over politics are expected—here’s how to avoid them.
The European Central Bank lifts the curtain. Minutes from the October meeting may reveal misgivings about the bank’s plans to normalize monetary policy. Economic growth in the euro zone slowed to its lowest level in over four years.
Nissan’s board votes on firing Carlos Ghosn. The carmaker’s directors are reportedly divided about dismissing him as chairman, with some saying they have not seen enough evidence (paywall) about his alleged financial crimes. In Paris, the economic ministers of France and Japan will meet to discuss the Renault-Nissan alliance’s future.
While you were sleeping
Global carbon dioxide levels hit dangerous new highs. The UN’s World Meteorological Organization said the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere rose to a record of 405.5 parts per million last year. Amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide—the main greenhouse gases causing climate change— are all rising and show no signs of decreasing, the WMO said.
Tesla slashed its prices in China. The electric carmaker said it will sell the Model X and Model S for between 12% and 26% less, to offset the extra tariff costs that Beijing slaps on imported American cars.
South Korea shut down its largest dog slaughterhouse. Animal-rights campaigners hailed the closure of Taepyeong, where hundreds of thousands of dogs were killed for meat each year. South Korea is the only Asian country where dogs are intensively farmed for their meat; Humane Society International estimates 2 million dogs are being held in around 17,000 facilities.
Denmark joined Germany in suspending arms deals with Saudi Arabia. The country’s foreign ministry announced it would halt weapons and military equipment exports to the kingdom over its killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and its role in the civil war in Yemen. Germany has stopped all arms sales to Saudi, and France is still deciding on sanctions.
The head of Russian military intelligence died. Igor Korobov, who was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department (paywall) over Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, died aged 62. The agency was also accused of poisoning former spy Sergei Skripal in England earlier this year.
Obsession interlude
Dog shows: Humans domesticated dogs as long as 30,000 years ago, but it wasn’t until the mid-1800s that we put them on a pedestal. Now dog shows have become a Thanksgiving centerpiece in the US, and a rising Chinese middle class is joining in. How did we get here? Sit! Stay! And read on with the Quartz obsession.
Quartz membership
As part of our deep dive into the video streaming wars, our chart book looks at the global race for eyeballs, and we take a drive down the Sunset Strip to see how Netflix is changing the billboards of Tinseltown.
Conversation starter
“Closing data gaps, and putting resources into the hands of those with deep experience and great ideas to create economic opportunities is critical to reviving the American Dream.”
—Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann, CEO at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, on “A Push to Use Data to Boost Economic Opportunity in Cities.”
Surprising discoveries
The Secret Service uses turbocharged golf carts to protect Trump. Agents need dozens of vehicles that can hit 19 mph.
An artist paid $730,000 for Banksy piece just to destroy it. Ron English plans to whitewash Slave Labour and resell it, because art.
European truffles are doomed. The lucrative industry could vanish by the end of the century because of climate change.
Clams are fighting Florida’s red tide. They naturally filter the microorganisms that are tainting Sarasota Bay.
Health insurance companies are spying on sleep apnea patients. Data from breathing machines is being used to deny coverage for patients in the US.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, truffles, and clams to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our new app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Jill Petzinger and edited by Eshe Nelson.