Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
More protests in Paris. The French government urged demonstrators to take a break after this week’s terrorist attack in Strasbourg. Some “yellow vest” leaders said they were willing to halt their protests, but others have vowed to continue for the fifth straight weekend.
COP24 wraps up. On the last day of the two-week summit in Katowice, Poland, negotiators are meeting to hash out a number of issues—including how to meet the targets set in the Paris agreement. Talks could drag on into Sunday.
Kosovo decides whether to create its own army. Lawmakers are expected to pass a measure to upgrade its emergency-response force into a professional army. The country has relied largely on NATO-led forces for security since 1999. The vote is sure to enrage Serbia, which refuses to accept its former province’s independence.
Scrutinizing US shopping data. October’s 0.8% bounce in retail sales followed two months (paywall) of soft readings; analysts expect November data released today to show a 0.2% rise. Investors will look closely at online and general store performance, as well as food services.
While you were sleeping
Apple will address a China sales ban. The iPhone maker said it will push software updates after a Chinese court earlier this week ordered an immediate ban on sales of its older models for violating Qualcomm patents. The case is one of a number of lawsuits in a broader global patent fight between the two US companies.
LVMH bought high-end hotel chain Belmond. The French luxury-goods maker expanded into hospitality with a $3.2 billion deal to take over the London-based hotel group. The deal is LVMH’s largest since purchasing Christian Dior last year for more than $7 billion.
Theresa May faced opposition in Brussels. EU leaders said the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement was “not open for renegotiation,” despite appeals by the British prime minister, who is seeking legal reassurances to make the deal palatable to the UK parliament.
The suspected gunman in the Strasbourg attack was killed. The suspect, who was on the run for two days, died in a gun battle with police Thursday night, about 2 km (1.2 miles) from the site of Tuesday’s Christmas market attack, in which three people were killed and 13 wounded.
A migrant girl died in Border Patrol custody. Officials confirmed that a seven-year-old Guatemalan girl died of dehydration and shock after having reportedly not had food or water for days. Her death is likely to increase scrutiny of conditions at Customs and Border Protection facilities.
US death row executions are at a historic low. A new report by the DC-based Death Penalty Information Center said executions are at a 25-year low, with 2018 the fourth year they stayed below 30. Americans’ support for the death penalty has declined in recent decades.
Obsession interlude
Computers no larger than dust motes. Proponents say “smart dust”—a sexier name for tiny wireless microelectromechanical sensors—could be like the Internet of Things on steroids, with invisible sensors and processors hovering around us in an invisible mist. But the technology also raises questions about privacy, weapons, and surveillance. Take a closer look at the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
Join the conversation with the new Quartz app!
Google’s caste system is bad for the company. The stratification between full-time employees and contract workers has turned what seems like a whimsical workplace into a depressing office.
Facebook says it doesn’t sell user data. But it discloses facts about you in exchange for money whenever you click on an ad.
Emoji still aren’t diverse enough. The five skin-tone options don’t reflect what the world actually looks like.
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Surprising discoveries
Porn sites collect more user data than Netflix or Hulu. Pornhub’s sophisticated digital data analysis operation wants to cater directly to users.
“No soup for you” was a bad business plan. The company that inspired Seinfeld’s “Soup Nazi” is now taking a kinder, gentler approach (paywall).
Sesame Street now has a homeless Muppet. The beloved children’s show hopes the new character will destigmatize homelessness.
Miss USA is shocked the rest of the world doesn’t speak English. Sarah Rose Summers apologized on Instagram for mocking other Miss Universe contestants.
Some people have squashed heads thanks to Neanderthal DNA. But don’t worry, the difference is too small to notice.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, soup orders, and smart dust to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Adam Rasmi and edited by Jackie Bischof.