Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
China talks 2019 economic plans. The state-run media will likely begin reporting on the decisions made in this week’s Central Economic Work Conference, which ends today. The world will be watching to see how the government plans to handle the country’s economic slowdown during a tense trade climate with the US.
Carlos Ghosn could get out on bail. Japanese judges denied prosecutors’ request to continue to detain the ex-chairman of Nissan and his fellow board member, Greg Kelly. The former will now be able to get to work on his legal defense and the latter can have necessary spinal surgery back in the US.
The US and Canada both release GDP figures. The US commerce department’s third-quarter final estimate is projected to show an economic annual growth rate of 3.5%, while the economy of its northern neighbor is expected to have grown just 0.2% after a dip in October.
While you were sleeping
The Democratic Republic of Congo delayed its election. The country will not vote for a new president on Sunday, due to a fire that destroyed voting machines, said the electoral commission. The fire is under investigation by the opposition party, whose candidate, Martin Fayulu, had opposed using the machines for fear of a rigged vote.
LinkedIn’s founder funded cyber tactics against Republicans. Reid Hoffman spent $100,000 in a secret experiment to use Russian strategies against controversial Alabama senate candidate Roy Moore, targeting voters with fake news stories in an attempt to influence the election.
Donald Trump rejected the senate’s short-term spending bill. The US president said he wouldn’t accept any bill that lacked funding for a wall between the US–Mexico border. The decision moves the government that much closer to a Friday night shutdown (subscription).
Drones grounded 800 flights. About 110,000 travelers were stranded as the UK’s Gatwick Airport shut down due to an unknown person piloting at least two drones in the airport perimeter.
The US pointed fingers at Chinese hackers. The justice department denounced two Chinese nationals for hacking their way into computer systems belonging to both the government and commercial enterprises.
Obsession interlude
MSG’s bad rap comes from shoddy science plus more than a dash of racism. The ionic compound occurs naturally in tons of foods, especially those that have been fermented or aged. When it was synthesized a century ago, it started a food revolution—and also a controversy. Read all about it in today’s Quartz Obsession.
Membership
Cannabis could change the way we grow everything. The energy-saving challenges weed farmers face by growing light-loving marijuana plants indoors could lead to innovations in agriculture. Cannabis growers have a pricier crop, per pound, and are more likely to invest in new technologies that farmers tending cheaper produce could pick up in the future. Read more here.
Matters of debate
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The tech industry must make ethics a priority. Focusing on coding and making money has proven to be woefully inadequate, if not harmful.
Elon Musk’s new tunnel is idiotic. It’s just a slow subway for Teslas–a really expensive one at that.
The UK elite have a common alma mater. Alumni of the Oxford Philosophy, Politics, and Economics program run the government and the media, and aren’t doing a great job of it.
Surprising discoveries
Amazon gave one user hundreds of someone else’s recordings. The company, who blamed it on human error, tried to delete them, but it was too late.
It’s been a heavy year for Americans—literally. Even though the health and wellness industry has ballooned, waistlines have too.
A destroyed museum lives on within Google. Digital tourists can “walk” through the National Museum of Brazil, which burned in a major fire last autumn.
Hershey’s Kisses are missing their signature tips. After consumers complained on social media, the company tweeted that they are investigating.
Juul employees can no longer vape at work. It may seem counterintuitive, but it’s the law.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, digital museum collections, and intact Kisses to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Susan Howson and Holly Ojalvo.