Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
A less-crazy Black Friday in US stores. The traditional start of holiday shopping in the US is expected to break records in terms of sales, but fewer Americans will line up at brick-and-mortar stores, buying online instead. Some major retailers will be closed for business—trying to generate goodwill by giving employees the day off instead.
European finance ministers continue Greece bailout talks. Representatives from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands will meet with IMF officials in Berlin to discuss the Greek debt crisis. The euro zone is aiming for a new agreement on fiscal reform by Dec. 5.
Malaysians protest the Rohingya killings in Myanmar. Umno Youth will hold a rally outside Myanmar’s embassy in Kuala Lumpur to protest the genocide and urge the Malaysian government to withdraw its team from the Asean football tournament.
Russia and the EU horse-trade on energy. Russia’s energy minister and his EU counterpart will discuss “energy cooperation”; Russia wants to be able to send more of its gas through Germany’s Opal pipeline to Europe. The backdrop, though, is the EU-Russia face-off over Ukraine, whose president was in Brussels yesterday trying to wrangle more support for his embattled government.
While you were sleeping
A US election recount took a step forward. Jill Stein, the Green Party’s presidential candidate, has raised more than $3.6 million, allowing her to file for recounts of votes in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin—states Hillary Clinton lost narrowly. Though it’s highly unlikely to overturn the election result, it’s an important exercise for democracy.
European lawmakers put Turkey’s EU bid on ice. The European Parliament voted to suspend talks with Turkey on joining the bloc after its crackdown on democracy since this summer’s coup attempt. The vote was mostly symbolic, because it’s the European Commission and national governments that get to formally decide to stop talks, but Turkey was not happy.
The Saudis kept pushing to squeeze the oil supply. Saudi Arabia, the most influential OPEC member, is arguing for steep cuts to oil production despite resistance from Iran, Iraq, and Russia before meetings next week. The proposal would cut production by more than 1 million barrels of oil a day, 2% of world oil supply, in an attempt to prop up prices.
Almost 70 people died at a Chinese power plant. Scaffolding collapsed on about 70 workers at a cooling tower, which was under construction, in the Jiangxi province of eastern China, killing almost everyone. This is the worst work-safety incident in two years.
The new peace deal in Colombia was signed. The new agreement between the government and FARC rebels will be put to Congress for approval after the public rejected the previous one in October. The new deal requires the FARC to hand over all its assets to repay victims, but opponents say the changes are “cosmetic.”
Quartz obsession interlude
Aamna Mohdin on the economic case for the US granting amnesty to undocumented immigrants. “This isn’t entirely new terrain for the US. In 1986, Ronald Reagan gave amnesty to nearly 3 million undocumented immigrants…. There’s evidence that shows undocumented workers went on to get better jobs and higher wages in the years after legalization. A previous study suggests there was a 15% increase in productivity after legalization in 1986, followed by another 10% to 12% increase in productivity when migrants became citizens.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Don’t lie to your children about Santa Claus. Such an elaborate, long-lasting deception subtly but permanently damages family trust.
Self-control is a myth. Willpower can’t be strengthened, so try to avoid situations that call for it.
India is displaying classic signs that foreshadow fascism. Under Narendra Modi, the country is checking off items on Umberto Eco’s classic list of features of “Ur-Fascism.”
Surprising discoveries
More African elephants are being born without tusks. Ivory poaching may be an evolutionary pressure resulting in survival of the tuskless.
The Vatican is launching a Tinder-like app for confessing sins. It matches users with nearby places to confess and attend Mass.
The world’s most expensive beer is bottled inside taxidermied squirrels. Only investors who shell out $20,000 a bottle can taste this Belgian-style ale from Ohio.
Japan is using ramen to lure elderly drivers off roads for good. Police arranged for a chain of noodle restaurants to give discounts to senior citizens who relinquish their driving licenses.
America’s Thanksgiving holiday was shaped by a magazine editor in 1847. Her columns and petitions pitched the concept of an annual feast on the last Thursday of November.
That bling-y picture of Nigel Farage and Donald Trump is raising thousands for charity. The photographer sold the rights to the image and is donating his share of the proceeds.
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