Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
China talks up the Philippines as a great place to invest. As part of the cozy new relationship between Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte and Beijing, the Bank of China is trying to matchmake investors with small Filipino businesses at a conference today. The bank has promised to become a “bridge between Chinese and Philippine trade and investments.”
The EU talks Turkey and Ukraine. In response to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s human-rights crackdown, the European Parliament is expected to vote (paywall) to freeze long-term plans for the country to join the European Union. EU leaders will also meet Ukraine’s president to discuss governance reforms, visa-free travel, and a stalled EU-Ukraine trade deal, in what is likely to be a morose summit.
Happy Thanksgiving! The US markets are closed today. We wish all our readers who observe it a relaxing holiday and good digestion.
While you were sleeping
Donald Trump released a Thanksgiving video message. The president-elect, who still hasn’t held a press conference—this is now his second video message to Americans—appealed for unity and a restoration of trust after what has been a ”long and bruising” election campaign. Meanwhile, president Barack Obama pardoned his last turkey with a “corny-copia” of poultry puns.
Jill Stein raised enough money to request a US election recount. The Green party presidential candidate’s online fundraiser hit $2.5 million overnight to pay for the filing fees to initiate a ballot recount in swing states Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. A Michigan university computer scientist noticed statistical anomalies that raised the possibility that ballot machines could have been hacked.
The president of the EU parliament stepped down. Martin Schulz is returning to Germany to stand for parliament for the Social Democrats (SPD) in the state of North Rhein-Westphalia. According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Schulz could be the SPD’s candidate to run against Angela Merkel in the 2017 elections—or it could be vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel.
Skyscanner got bought. Chinese travel booking site CTrip purchased its Scotland-based counterpart for $1.74 billion. CTrip already dominates the domestic Chinese market through ownership stakes in its rivals, and its latest purchase gives it a stronger presence overseas.
ThyssenKrupp was “cautiously optimistic.” The German industrial conglomerate came in under analysts’ estimates, posting a 4% decline in net profit to $312 million (paywall) for the fiscal year. It said weakening demand for chemical plants and mining equipment and a slowdown in shipbuilding affected its Industrial Solutions unit, whose CEO also resigned this month over a bribery scandal.
Costa Rica and Nicaragua braced for Hurricane Otto. Costa Rica declared a national emergency, and both countries have called to evacuate thousands as the Category 1 storm traverses Central America. It has killed at least three people in Panama.
Quartz obsession interlude
Lily Kuo on life aboard the Chinese fishing boats dominating West Africa’s seas. “China is now the largest fishing power in West Africa, home to more than 500 Chinese industrial fishing fleets in seas once dominated by Russian and European operations, according to Greenpeace. Environmentalists say the waters can’t support this level of fishing for long, and that local fishermen will eventually be left with nothing to catch.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Apple has turned its back on software professionals. The new MacBook Pro fails to provide the flexibility, power, and battery life that designers need.
Makeup doesn’t need to be moralized. A “serious intellectual person” can care about his or her appearance, argues writer and Boots beauty ambassador Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Our slavish devotion to clocks is hurting us. Using the natural rhythms of daylight and darkness might help us deal with time more effectively.
Surprising discoveries
Another ancient city has been discovered in Egypt. Archaeologists say it dates back more than 5,000 years and was the home of important officials.
Cranberry sauce has a dark past. Many farmers believe there’s no viable way to organically farm the popular Thanksgiving fruit.
Ukraine’s newest minister is 24 years old. The appointment of Anastasia Deyeva as deputy interior minister has raised eyebrows.
Scientists don’t improve with age. They’re as capable at the start of their careers as they’ll ever get, according to new research.
Domino’s is pondering reindeer pizza delivery in Japan. Winter temperatures in its northernmost island, Hokkaido, could make delivery by humans—and even drones—impossible.
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