Good morning, Quartz readers!
Here’s what you need to know
Tech giants sued the hacking company NSO. Microsoft, Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and others teamed up with Facebook in a legal battle against the Israeli cyber surveillance firm that exploited a bug in WhatsApp to spy on people worldwide.
The UK made a last-minute fishing offer to the EU… Britain’s chief Brexit negotiator David Frost has reportedly put forward a compromise on European fishing rights in British waters, potentially unlocking the stalled talks.
…and the UK-France border could reopen. The two countries may reach an agreement to resume trade links today, after France shut its borders on news of a faster spreading variant of the coronavirus. Over 40 countries have now banned UK arrivals.
Joe Biden received his Covid-19 shot. The US president-elect got a dose of the Pfizer vaccine to show Americans that it’s safe. Meanwhile, the $900 billion pandemic relief bill passed the House and Senate, and now heads to the president’s desk.
Apple wants to produce its own consumer vehicle by 2024. Key to its plan is a new battery design that could significantly reduce the cost of batteries and increase the car’s range. The company’s shares rose on the news, while Tesla’s ended 6.5% lower in its S&P 500 debut.
MGM Holdings is exploring a sale. The movie studio behind the James Bond franchise has a market value of $5.5 billion, and is hoping its trove of content will prove attractive to buyers eyeing content for video-streaming services.
Aer Lingus got approval to join a transatlantic joint venture. Following the US transportation department’s green light, the Irish airline can now join the alliance that includes American Airlines and British Airways.
What to watch for
The US National Basketball Association’s 2020-21 season starts tonight. You’re forgiven for thinking, “Didn’t the NBA season just end?” Indeed, the pandemic-delayed season wrapped up Oct. 6, about four months later than usual, with the LeBron James-led LA Lakers defeating the Miami Heat. The NBA and its player union were loath to sacrifice more revenue, so after the briefest of breaks, a 72-game season (10 fewer than usual) will get underway in time for the league’s annual Christmas extravaganza.
Unlike the end of last season, when all games were played within a quarantine bubble at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the 2020-21 season will be played at home arenas. In some cities, fans will be allowed at games, but for the most part they’ll be played in empty buildings. And one arena will have no games at all: The Toronto Raptors, the 2019-20 NBA champions, will play their home games in Tampa, Florida, for the time being, as the Canadian government has refused to waive quarantine rules for teams traveling from the US to Canada.
Charting how far a stimulus goes
In addition to increasing unemployment benefits and extending unemployment assistance programs, granting money to schools, and supplementing the national food relief program, the US’s $900 billion pandemic relief package includes a $600 check for many Americans (plus $600 for each of their dependent children). But how far does that go?
The cost of living varies significantly across the country. In Detroit, one of the poorer cities in the US, a single check for $600 would cover nearly all of an average resident’s housing costs for one month, including rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and furnishing. In San Francisco, the check would only cover half of housing costs per capita.
Your Covid-19 vaccine questions, answered
One of our best tools in the world’s uphill battle to reclaim everyday life from the pandemic is the same tool we’ve used to combat widespread disease for centuries: vaccines. And yet, with a vaccine that arrived at breakneck speed, certain administrations starved for credibility, and so much still unknown about the nature of the virus, you’ve definitely got questions.
Katherine Ellen Foley and Annalisa Merelli address concerns such as:
- What is the vaccine’s effect on our DNA? (None.)
- What is its efficacy for people with allergies? (A lot.)
- Do I have to get it if I’ve been previously exposed? (Sorry, yep.)
- How much we should trust in the leadership that brought it to us? (That’s up to you, but know that there are a lot of scientists on the job.)
- And everything else you’ve been worried about.
✦ Here’s a question, answered. Yes, you would benefit from a subscription to Quartz. And yes, it’s free for seven days.
Surprising discoveries
The US stimulus bill may save the climate. It makes the US comply with a 2016 accord to phase out climate-harming chemical coolants.
The pope doesn’t like the Vatican’s sci-fi nativity scene. The ceramic sculptures were made between 1965-1975 to commemorate lunar landings.
Nearly a ton of cocaine washed up on the Marshall Islands. The ghost ship carrying it might have been at sea for years.
French dressing can be whatever it wants… The orange sauce called such in the US is no longer regulated by the government.
…as can soy sauce. A Japanese company’s bug-based miso was a big hit, so it’s now turning to cricket soy sauce.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, nativity spacemen, and unregulated sauce to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our iOS app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Mary Hui, Tripti Lahiri, Liz Webber, and Susan Howson.