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CWS Market Review – December 31, 2016
2223 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA
Mese: dicembre 2016
New Year’s edition—Good riddance 2016, finding aliens, idiot savant economists
Good morning, Quartz readers!
2016? As the sign guy said, “Geez.”
Yes, there have been far worse years in history. Yes, it’s in our (and the media’s) nature to give too much weight to bad, short-term news. Sure, you can take solace in the vast longer-term strides humanity has made, or in devil-may-care existential nihilism, or in hopeful bromides—the arc of the moral universe, yadda yadda. Choose your flavor of forced optimism, and indulge in it all you want. By any objective measure, this has still been an awful year.
It’s not just because of Aleppo, Nice, Brussels, Orlando, and other milestones in carnage. Nor because of the rise of Trump, Farage, Le Pen, Fillon, Duterte, and other merchants of hatred. Nor because free trade and movement are on the retreat. Nor even because a newlyisolationist US, resurgent Russia, and aggressive China are about to take the world’s geopolitical balance and shake it like a snow-globe.
No: It’s also because this has been the year of post-truth, when the combined effects of polarizing social media, weakening traditional media, shameless politicians, and economic and political tribalism reached their logical destination. In countries whose systems of governance were premised on at least a veneer of reasoned debate about mutually agreed-on facts, the scope for such debate is shrinking fast. This is fundamental. Don’t like the way the world is going? Want to change it? How do you convince people if they won’t even hear you?
So yes; things are bad, and it’s foolish to pretend otherwise. But it’s equally foolish to wallow in despair. Whether history records 2016 as the start of a new age of darkness, or just the darkness before a new dawn, is still up to us—each one of us. Don’t like the way the world is going? Want to change it? There’s no shortage of ideas.—Gideon Lichfield
SOME THINGS ON QUARTZ WE ESPECIALLY LIKED
We’re closer to finding alien life than ever before. Akshat Rathi explains why 2016 saw so many reputable scientists suddenly—and seriously—ascribe new phenomena to aliens.
Adobe Flash is worth saving. Its video, interactivity, and animation capabilities enabled “the web’s adolescence—its weird, rioting teenage years,” writes Keith Collins, who analyzes the rise and fall of Flash, and why it should be preserved.
Nestlé wants to change your diet—for the better. Outgoing chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe talks to Chase Purdy about why he’s steered the world’s largest food company into the realm of healthy nutrition.
South Africans love reading about their own dysfunction. How Long Will South Africa Survive? and We Have Now Begun Our Descent are just some of the apocalyptic titles flying off the shelves of Africa’s biggest economy, writes Lynsey Chutel.
This was the year solar panels became cheaper than fossils fuels. Michael J. Coren recounts the incredible gains made in renewable energy—and the many obstacles that still remain.
Has bitcoin’s time finally come? Joon Ian Wong on why the cryptocurrency is reaching a new all-time high, and why it might be for real this time.
Donald Trump doesn’t need to build a Muslim registry. There already is one, explains Michael Coren: It’s called Facebook.
Farewell, trading floors. As New York shutters its last commodity trading pits, Leslie Josephs and Siyi Chen take a nostalgic look back, with a video guide to the lost language of trading gestures.
QUARTZ ANNOUNCEMENT
Sign up for our pop-up newsletter, the Davos Daily Brief. Each day from January 16 to 20, we’ll deliver the most interesting news from the World Economic Forum conference directly to your inbox. Our team of veteran journalists in Davos will tell you what to watch for each day, report back on the news and discussions that matter, and identify the most intense debates and any surprises on the ground.
FIVE THINGS ELSEWHERE THAT MADE US SMARTER
Meet the reporter Trump calls a “nasty guy.” In a year that saw journalists do their best to expose Trump’s many flaws, Washington Post reporter David Fahrenthold took the prize for most hard-hitting stories. In a personal essay, he reveals how he broke those stories through the use of both digital tools and simple shoe-leather reporting.
The 2016 movies that resonated with behavioral economists.The Becons, or “Behavioral Economics Oscars,” go to movies and movie-makers who embody concepts explored in that field of study. With nods to everything from cognitive operation to norm theory, Bloomberg’s Cass R. Sunstein doles out awards for best director, best documentary, best actor, best actress, and best picture.
America can learn something from Singapore. The city-state is often portrayed as a democratic success story, but Singapore suffers from an authoritarian streak that will sound familiar to Americans fearful of a United States under president Trump. “Authoritarianism isn’t just about show trials or disappearing dissidents,” Kirsten Han writes in The Establishment. “It’s about the gradual consolidation of power through the erosion of democratic institutions and processes.”
Economists don’t understand the world. The great economists of yore were polymaths. Mill was also a philosopher; Hayek, a political scientist. These days, economists treat the world as a set of abstract equations, argues Robert Skidelsky, economic historian, in a Project Syndicate column. The result is that the profession can only tell us what is true in its models, not the real world. “The economists,” writes Skidelsky, “are the idiots savants of our time.”
The key to Apple’s China operation is perks—lots of them. The world’s biggest iPhone factory—capable of producing 500,000 phones a day—is a Foxconn outfit in Zhengzhou, China, dubbed “iPhone City” by locals. In a detailed glimpse (paywall) at China’s efforts to lure overseas companies, New York Times reporter David Barboza documents the string of incentives that make iPhone City possible—everything from construction subsidies to recruiting help to bonuses for high production.
Our best wishes for a relaxing but thought-filled weekend and New Year’s Eve. Please send any news, comments, alien phenomena, and Becon nominations to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter here for updates throughout the day.
#Obama takes on #Russia, a ceasefire in #Syria, #Netflix tricks kids
Good morning, Quartz readers!
WHAT TO WATCH FOR TODAY
Syria tries another ceasefire. The Syrian government and rebel groups agreed on a yet another nationwide ceasefire to begin at midnight local time. Under the terms of the deal, peace talks will be held in Kazakhstan next month, though a date hasn’t been announced. Monitors have already reported violations in some areas—and if the truce breaks like the previous ones, plans for peace talks will falter.
India’s first transgender school opens. The Sahaj International School in Kochi, Kerala, will initially serve 10 transgender students, and be run by six transgender teachers and administrators, working with the TransIndia Foundation. After nearly 50 building owners refused to house the institute, it finally secured a lease from a Christian organization.
World leaders bid 2016 adieu. French president Francois Hollande and German chancellor Angela Merkel will make televised speechesto close out the year; the latter is expected to discuss her policy agenda for 2017. On New Year’s Eve, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will address the nation, in part about the impact of his controversial 50-day demonetization scheme. While US president Barack Obama has no plans for an end-of-year speech, he is expected to make an end-of-presidency speech on Jan. 10, 2017.
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
The US fired back at Russia over election hacking. The Obama administration ejected 35 Russian intelligence operatives from US soil, expanded sanctions, and published declassified information on Russia’s cyber-meddling in the US presidential election. A Russian presidential spokesperson vowed retaliation, saying that there would be “no alternative here to the principle of reciprocity.” The move will force president-elect Donald Trump to either accept the sanctions when he takes office, or lift them against the will of US intelligence agencies—and members of his own party.
Theresa May criticized John Kerry for his comments on Israel.“We do not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically elected government of an ally,” said a spokesperson for the UK prime minister. Other European politicians have shown support for Kerry, while opinion is more divided in the US.
Australian anti-terror police made another arrest. Authorities detained 40-year-old Damien James O’Neil at Sydney Airport, after receiving tips that he made threats regarding a terror attack on New Year’s Eve. Police said that the incident was isolated, which suggests there was no connection to a plot in Melbourne foiled last week.
Police might have found Greece’s missing ambassador.Brazilian authorities say they found a body inside a charred vehicle believed to be Kyriakos Amiridis, Greece’s ambassador to Brazil. Amiridis was last seen on Monday leaving the home of family friends in Rio De Janeiro. Neither the Greek Embassy in Brazil nor Brazil’s foreign ministry have released statements on Amiridis’ disappearance.
Milo Yiannopoulos scored a book deal. The right-wing provocateur received a $250,000 advance to write for Threshold Editions, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. The imprint has published titles from other conservative pundits like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh—as well as Donald Trump.
QUARTZ OBSESSION INTERLUDE
Neha Thirani Bagri on the scary, unimpeachable evidence that climate change is already here. “According to Pew Research, less than half of all American adults believe that the Earth is warming mostly due to human activity. They are wrong, though, and 2016 was the year that news from around the world made climate change undeniable to anyone paying attention.” Read more here.
MATTERS OF DEBATE
The UN called Netanyahu’s bluff. Israel’s prime minister has long assumed that the international community would overlook the plight of Palestinians.
High CEO pay doesn’t help companies’ bottom line. There’s a “material disconnect” between what bosses are paid and a company’s financial performance.
Mobile-app games teach bad economics. In-app purchasesmanipulate children into buying things they don’t need.
SURPRISING DISCOVERIES
Nine species have been named after Barack Obama. That’smore than any other president—though Teddy Roosevelt comes close with seven.
Half the planet will have to endure 2016 for an extra moment.On Dec. 31, the world will experience its 28th “leap second.”
Netflix is helping parents get kids to bed early on New Year’s Eve. The streaming service offers 10 different countdown videos to be played, well, whenever you want.
Helsinki’s anti-drug police chief ran a drug ring. He will serve 10 years in prison for helping import 800kg of hashish into Finland.
The CIA refuses to sell a calendar of its official paintings.Produced by the nephew of a CIA contractor, the Secret Ops of the CIA calendar is available for purchase at the International Spy Museum.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, CIA paintings, and countdown videos for kids tohi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android.
#Japan’s #Abe at Pearl Harbor, George Michael’s last ballad, Korean Santa protests
Good morning, Quartz readers!
WHAT TO WATCH FOR TODAY
Officials from China, Pakistan, and Russia assess the threat posed by Islamic State extremists in Afghanistan. The gathering in Moscow will take place without a representative from Afghan president Ashraf Ghani’s national unity government.
A conference of Chinese Catholics meets after a six-year-long hiatus. The ninth Chinese-Catholic representative conference will begin Tuesday and run through Thursday in Beijing, which is a step toward mending relations with the Vatican. The country’s 12 million Catholics are divided between the official government-run association and “underground” Catholics whose allegiance is to the Vatican.
Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe visits Pearl Harbor with president Barack Obama. Abe is not expected to apologize for the attack on a US military base there in 1941, which brought the US into World War II. “This will be a visit to console the souls of the victims,” Abe told reporters in Tokyo. “I would like to show to the world the resolve that horrors of war should never be repeated.”
OVER THE WEEKEND
British pop star George Michael died in his home. The 53-year-old singer was widely mourned for his genius at creating catchy, ubiquitous music and for inspiring many as an openly gay celebrity. In 1985, his band Wham! also became the first Western pop act to perform in communist China.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu chided Barack Obama. He was upset about a Dec. 23 vote by the United Nations Security Council seeking the end of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories. The resolution passed 14 to 1, with the US abstaining. “Friends don’t take friends to the Security Council,” Netanyahu retorted.
Iran says it got a sweet deal on 80 new Boeing airliners. The order for Iran Air had previously valued the planes at $16.6 billion, but Tehran said on Dec. 25 that it had negotiated to pay about half that price, closer to $8 billion.
Donald Trump had a baffling, chaotic Christmas Eve. With reporters on vacation, the president-elect said he would close his controversial foundation, but law enforcement officials said it cannot be shuttered until they complete investigations into possible illegal activities there. Meanwhile, days after being tapped as the next White House communications director, Jason Miller announced his resignation following allegations of an extra-marital affair with a Trump campaign surrogate.
A Russian military plane crashed in the Black Sea. Vladimir Putin’s erratic efforts to project Russian power abroad saw another setback when a military jet headed for Syria crashed in the Black Sea. The crash was likely due to mechanical or pilot error, and all 92 passengers aboard have been reported dead. The plane was carrying a Russian military choir planning to perform for Russian soldiers fighting in Syria’s bloody civil war.
QUARTZ OBSESSION INTERLUDE
Michael J. Coren on a tipping point for renewable energy.“Solar and wind is now the same price or cheaper than fossil fuels in more than 30 countries, the WEF reported in December (pdf). As prices for solar and wind power continue their precipitous fall, two-thirds of all nations will reach the point known as ‘grid parity’ within a few years, even without subsidies.” Read more here.
MATTERS OF DEBATE
German chancellor Angela Merkel is destroying Europe. Heropen-door policy toward immigration is not only damaging her party’s reputation, but the European Union’s security as a whole.
Many young Russians see Putin as a hero. His steadfast stoicism and promise of stability are exactly what millennials who don’t remember decades of totalitarian USSR rule are looking for.
Bigotry did not help elect Trump. Voters in this year’s presidential election simply supported the candidate perceived as the lesser of two evils.
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SURPRISING DISCOVERIES
An ostrich-like dinosaur might explain how birds became toothless. The two-legged Limusaurus inextricabilis lost its teeth and became vegetarian in adulthood, scientists have determined.
A trial vaccine for ebola has shown a 100% protection rate.Thousands of people tested in Guinea were all confirmed as virus-free within 10 days. It could be available for mass use by 2018.
Scientists have created the world’s thinnest wires yet—and they’re made of atoms coated in diamonds. These nanometer-scale wires could help cram more computing power into even-smaller devices.
South Koreans staged a “Santa protest” against president Park Geun-hye. In the ninth-consecutive weekend rally against the embattled leader, demonstrators rang in the holidays by dressing up in Santa suits and mocking Park to the tunes of famous carols.
George Michael was the original Carpool Karaoke invitee. Back when James Corden was still starring in the British sitcom Gavin & Stacey, he took a musical spin with Michael crooning in the passenger seat.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, cheap Boeing airplanes, and George Michael carpool singalongs to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android.
Weekend edition—Nuclear poker, Chinese memes, lab mouse genes
Good morning, Quartz readers!
The nuclear threat is now greater than at any time since the 1980s.
While the number of nuclear warheads in the world is continuing its slow decline, both Russia and America have been investing heavily in modernizing their weapons and delivery systems. In the White House will soon be a famously irascible man who is also famously ignorantabout nukes. In the Kremlin is the first Russian leader since Nikita Khrushchev to put the use of nuclear weapons on the table (paywall), and who has reveled in provoking Europe, sowing carnage in the Middle East, and destabilizing the US political process.
What’s scary is that of the two men, Vladimir Putin is the rational one.
It’s surely no accident that Putin spoke publicly about upgrading Russia’s nuclear arsenal the day before his annual marathon press conference: Clearly, he wanted to be asked about it with the whole world watching. What was unexpected was that Donald Trump reacted by tweeting that the US “must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability.” Puzzling over what exactly he might have meant, the New York Times noted that where the Obama administration took a year of thought and 64 pages to express its nuclear policy, Trump had done it in a few moments and 140 characters.
Putin may have meant to manoeuvre the American political neophyte into a deal that leaves Russia unthreatened by US warheads. But if so he didn’t reckon with Trump’s tweet-from-the-hip approach. As chess champion Garry Kasparov has observed, Putin likes playing “geopolitical poker” with a strong enough nerve to out-bluff his Western opponents. This works when your opponents are rational and predictable. Trump, though, has said he believes the key to a nuclear deterrent is unpredictability.
Putin said he hopes for “businesslike and constructive” relations with Trump. If so, he should put aside the mind games and work on striking one of Trump’s beloved “deals.” Because we just don’t know when the billionaire might get bored of playing geopolitical poker and pull out a geopolitical gun.—Max de Haldevang
FIVE THINGS ON QUARTZ WE ESPECIALLY LIKED
China’s most popular—and revealing—memes of 2016. Mystic energy, “giant small goals,” watermelon-eating spectators: these were some of the memes that dominated China’s internet. Zheping Huang and Echo Huang dissect how these viral hits illustrated China’s assertiveness, but also its frailties and vulnerabilities.
How to keep tabs on Donald Trump. Christopher Groskopf and Jasan Karaian lay out the 10 key indicators to track in order to hold him accountable for his promise to revitalize the economy. Meanwhile, John West explores the dangers of online surveillance under a Trump presidency, and offers a philosophical strategy for protecting your privacy—and saving your soul in the process.
Why doesn’t Venezuela just default? It’s too poor to import food and medicine, yet it’s still paying off its debt to wealthy foreign creditors. Eshe Nelson explains the terrible double bind that forces the country to keep paying and traps it in a spiral of economic despair.
The controversial experiment to educate Africa’s children. A school chain backed by Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg that made radical promises to fix some of the world’s worst education systems is now under fire for its methods. Nimi Hoffman on the questionable ethics of using schookids as guinea pigs.
The Ultimate Authoritative Unimpeachable Top 20 Books of 2016. You could easily read so many best-books-of-the-year rankings that you’ll never get around to reading the actual books. Kira Bindrim has saved you the bother by aggregating dozens of rankingsto create a master list.
Plus, some inspiration for the holidays …
Meet the world’s most extreme cold-water swimmer. Lewis Pugh, the UN’s “Patron of the Oceans,” swims Arctic and Antarctic seas in just a bathing suit to draw attention to the environment. Cassie Werber talks to him about what it takes and why, despite the grim prognoses, he’s an optimist about stopping climate change. And if that inspires you, read Cassie’s ultimate guide to exercising in winter. (Arctic swimming not included.)
QUARTZ ANNOUNCEMENT
Sign up for our pop-up newsletter, the Davos Daily Brief. Each day from January 16 to 20, we’ll deliver the most interesting news from the World Economic Forum conference directly to your inbox. Our team of veteran journalists in Davos will tell you what to watch for each day, report back on the news and discussions that matter, and identify the most intense debates and any surprises on the ground.
FIVE THINGS ELSEWHERE THAT MADE US SMARTER
The profiteers of the refugee crisis. Maria Politzer and Emily Kassie have a multimedia series at Huffington Post Highline on the Nigerian people-smugglers, Italian mafiosi, Syrian exile sweatshop owners, and German corporations that have turned human desperation into a nice little earner.
The Oskar Schindler of the refugee crisis. If the foregoing destroyed your faith in humanity, this will restore it. Mark Mann in Toronto Life tells the story of Jim Estill, a Canadian businessman who has brought hundreds of Syrian families to safety by helping them get government support and find work.
The inside story of Apple’s $14 billion tax bill. Prohibition-era Chicago had The Untouchables. Today’s EU has the Maxforce—a small gang of bureaucrats led by, yes, a guy called Max. Bloomberg’s Gaspard Sebag, Sara Doyle, and Alex Webb tell how the Maxforce discovered that a decades-old agreement was letting Apple avoid almost all taxes in Europe, and came down on it like a ton of iPhones.
How the lab mouse got its genes. The Jackson Laboratory in Maine, a.k.a. JAX, breeds mice for medical experiments, taking painstaking efforts to churn out a consistent product—think mouse McDonald’s. Yet minor variations in feeding, care, or experimental protocols can make a hash of results. The Economist’s Jason Palmer looks at how JAX is tackling the problem by taking mouse breeding to the next level.
Rejoice, for the end of the world is not at hand. Max Roser at Our World in Data offers an antidote to end-of-2016 gloom in the form of some historical perspective. Education, literacy, child mortality, vaccination, poverty, and democracy have all made immeasurable—no, actually, highly measurable and huge advances in the past couple of centuries. Only by knowing how far we have come, Roser argues, can we see how to keep on moving forward.
Our best wishes for a relaxing but thought-filled weekend and Christmas holiday. Please send any news, comments, lab mice, and heart-warming charts to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter here for updates throughout the day.
CWS Market Review – December 23, 2016
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2223 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA
#Putin answers questions, two thwarted terror attacks, murderous cowbirds
Good morning, Quartz readers!
WHAT TO WATCH FOR TODAY
Vladimir Putin holds his annual press conference. The event had been pushed back so that Putin could attend the funeral of Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey who was assassinated on Dec. 19 in Ankara. More than 14,000 journalists are accredited to cover the much-anticipated Q&A, which lasted three hours in 2015, touching on everything from the Russian economy to Putin’s private life.
India’s longest expressway opens to commuters. The new roadcuts Agra-to-Lucknow travel time from eight hours to five.Inaugurated on Nov. 21, the six-lane highway spans 10 districts.
The United Kingdom gets a report card. The Office for National Statistics releases the UK’s third-quarter GDP numbers, andconfirms whether the economy grew at a healthy 0.5% as expected. The ONS will also disclose how the UK’s services sector, which accounts for a large share of the economy, fared in October.
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
The Syrian military took control of Aleppo. Syria’s government said that the last of the civilians and rebel fighters were evacuatedfollowing a deal brokered by Russia and Turkey. The recapture of Aleppo, which ends four years of fighting there, marks president Bashar al-Assad’s most significant victory in the Syrian conflict so far.
Israel revealed it worked with Trump to delay the UN’s settlements vote. Expecting the US to abstain and let the resolution pass, officials close to the matter say Israel prompted Donald Trump(paywall) to tweet his opposition to the proposal, and phone Egyptian president Abel Fattah al-Sisi to ask for a postponement. No date has been set for the vote’s revival.
Australia foiled a terror attack planned for Christmas Day…Police arrested five Australian nationals suspected of plotting a scheme involving explosives and other weapons across multiple locations in Melbourne. Authorities say the men were “self-radicalized” but inspired by ISIL propaganda.
…and so did Germany. Officials detained two Serbian mensuspected of preparing an attack on a mall in the western city of Oberhausen. It’s not clear if the plans were connected to the recent attack in Berlin.
China slammed Trump’s trade pick. After the president-elect tapped vocal China critic Peter Navarro to head a new trade office, state-backed tabloid the Global Times published an editorial fiercely condemning the choice. China “must discard any illusions and make full preparations for any offensive move by the Trump government,” the piece reads.
QUARTZ OBSESSION INTERLUDE
Leslie Josephs with a guide to premium-economy upgrades. “Leave it to the crafty airlines to invent a new product—called premium economy—to capitalize on passengers’ trauma of cramped cabins past. Taiwan’s EVA Air and the UK’s Virgin Atlantic were the ones who pioneered the in-between service class in the early 1990s, but the concept really took off this year as fares tumbled and airlines grappled with ways to drum up revenue.” Read more here.
MATTERS OF DEBATE
A two-state solution for Israel and Palestine is impossible. The only hope for sustained peace is a “binational” state.
Empathy in medicine is overrated. Doctors should alleviate patients’ pain, not mirror their distress.
Believing in Santa Claus is rational. Given all the “evidence,” children’s faith in St. Nick is actually scientific thinking.
SURPRISING DISCOVERIES
A university in Thailand is accepting rice as tuition. The school will put an above-market value on rice to counter the lowest grain prices in a decade.
Teaching African girls about puberty keeps them in school.One study found a 17% drop in absenteeism when girls were given sanitary napkins, puberty education, or both.
Cowbirds are devious criminals. The shiny cowbird drops its egg in other birds’ nests, then punctures all the other eggs.
The hottest borehole ever made is almost complete. Iceland’s Deep Drilling Project could reach depths where the temperature is as high as 500°C (932°F).
Wrapping paper is only 99 years old. It all started when two brothers in Kansas ran out of red, white, and green tissue paper.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, cowbird eggs, and century-old wrapping paper tohi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android.
#Aleppo evacuations wrap up, #Taiwan loses an ally to #China, Nazis heart Jim Crow
Good morning, Quartz readers!
WHAT TO WATCH FOR TODAY
Aleppo finishes up evacuations… maybe. Rescue operations areexpected to conclude in the war-torn Syrian city, according to Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, though the Red Cross and Russia expect them to last a few more days. On Tuesday, Syrian TVreported a bomb explosion in government-controlled western Aleppo, where residents were attending a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony.
The Bank of Thailand holds its last meeting of 2016. The central bank has left its benchmark interest rate of 1.5% unchanged since April 2015, and is expected to do so again. On Tuesday, the World Bank revised up its forecast for Thailand’s economic growth by 0.1 percentage point, to 3.2% next year. China will also release energy and commodity data for November.
Winter is coming—to the northern hemisphere. At 5:44am ET (6:44pm HKT), the December solstice will mark the moment when the North Pole is tilted the farthest away from the sun. The northern hemisphere will experience its longest night and shortest day of the year, while the southern hemisphere celebrates its first day of summer.
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
Taiwan lost another diplomatic ally. The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe, population 192,000, has switched diplomatic allegiances from Taipei to Beijing, leaving the island’s count of allies down to 21. Beijing hailed the change as victory for the “one-China” principle, while Taipei said it “deeply regrets” São Tomé’s decision.
Turkey investigated the assassination of Andrei Karlov. The gunman who shot Russia’s Turkey ambassador was killed at the scene, but Turkish authorities detained an additional seven people overnight (paywall) as the country remained on high alert. Police believe the killer had ties to exiled former imam Fethullah Gülen,though he denied any involvement.
A search warrant in the Hillary Clinton email investigation was unsealed. The Oct. 30 warrant shows that the FBI confiscated Anthony Weiner’s laptop based on its contention that his wife, Huma Abedin, had exchanged “many emails” with Clinton containing classified information.
Obama banned offshore drilling in parts of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. A stretch of territory from Maine to Virginia, along with a region off the Alaskan coast, will remain off limits for oil and gas drilling for an “indefinite” amount of time. The president invoked a little-known 1953 law to implement the ban, which experts say will be difficult for Trump to reverse.
An explosion at a fireworks market in Mexico killed 29 people.Videos show what first appears to be a planned spectacle quickly turn into a warzone-esque blast. It’s the third such incident at the annual market since 2005.
QUARTZ OBSESSION INTERLUDE
Christopher Groskopf and Jason Karaian supply 10 charts to track Trump’s economic promises. “As president, Donald Trump’s pledge to ‘Make America Great Again’ will be judged largely along economic lines, whether it’s bringing back factory jobs, boosting wages, or renegotiating trade deals. Many of Trump’s promises appear implausible. But we don’t have to rely on guesswork or partisan punditry to evaluate his progress; we’ve got reliable data to gauge Trump’s success.” Read more here.
QUARTZ HAIKU INTERLUDE
The Dow got this close
To twenty K. Stopped short
Like a sneeze denied
MATTERS OF DEBATE
It’s time to rename the human species. The term Homo sapiens—wise man—no longer reflects the characteristics of modern humans.
Wall Street isn’t the enemy of Main Street. Without Wall Street’s ability to raise capital for startups, there wouldn’t be many of them.
Trump’s approach to China could be a bright spot in his presidency. For decades the US has given China a free pass on human rights and trade, and now is the time time to get tougher.
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SURPRISING DISCOVERIES
Parents and kids are more affectionate when reading physical books together. Children read from screens with their heads down, which makes it harder to get close.
The Nazis were inspired by US policy when planning their race regime. In 1934, leading Nazi lawyers debated bringing Jim Crow segregation to the Third Reich.
Anonymous artists created a tiny mouse cafe in Sweden. The miniature installation—called Noix de Vie, or “Nuts of Life”—features a window display of almonds, pistachios, and hazelnuts.
Pat Nixon predicted a Trump victory in 1987. “She is an expert on politics,” Richard Nixon wrote to Trump after the latter appeared on The Donahue Show. “She predicts that whenever you decide to run for office you will be a winner!”
Pregnancy changes the brain for up to two years. In a neuro-imaging study, researchers were able to identify mothers just from their brain scans.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, mouse cappuccinos, and homo sapiens substitutions tohi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android.
#Russia’s #Turkey envoy assassinated, #Berlin truck attack, Bill #Gates’s #Christmas gifts
Good morning, Quartz readers!
WHAT TO WATCH FOR TODAY
Theresa May faces more Brexit questions. The British prime minister will appear before the House of Commons to discuss the UK’s relationship with the EU. In a statement on Monday, Maydeclined to rule out paying the EU for single-market access and reaffirmed plans to trigger Brexit by the end of March.
The blasphemy trial of Jakarta’s governor recommences. The trial will decide whether Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian of Chinese descent, is guilty of insulting Islam by misusing a verse from the Koran. Purnama is the first non-Muslim governor of Indonesia’s capital in half a century.
Carnival announces its first earnings after its pollution debacle. After paying a $40 million fine for dumping oily “bilge water” into the ocean and pleading guilty to seven felony charges, the cruise provider reports to investors. Fedex, General Mills, and Nike will also file earnings.
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
The Russian ambassador to Turkey was assassinated. Andrei Karlov died after he was shot at an art exhibit in Ankara by a gunmanshouting “Don’t forget Aleppo!” Russia’s foreign ministry characterized the shooting as a terrorist attack.
At least 12 people died when a truck crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin. Police have apprehended a suspect in what isbelieved to be a deliberate attack. The incident, which took place in one of Berlin’s busiest shopping areas, recalls the Bastille Day attack in Nice, France this year.
A man opened fire on a mosque in Zurich. The attack injured three men, and police have launched a manhunt for the suspect.
Donald Trump clinched the US Electoral College. The 538 members of the US Electoral College gathered to officially elect the country’s next president and vice president. Despite a few “faithless electors,” Trump secured 304 electoral votes, well above the 270 required to win.
Uber’s third-quarter financials leaked. The ride-hailing firm lost $800 million despite generating a net revenue of $1.7 billion. The numbers reflect slowing but still intense cash burning, which could dampen prospects for an IPO.
Searchers said they’ve been looking in the wrong place for the missing MH370 aircraft. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released a report saying it hasn’t found the airplane in a 120,000-square-kilometer area of the Indian Ocean. The agency recommends expanding the search to another part of the ocean, but if that fails, it’s not clear where else it can look.
QUARTZ OBSESSION INTERLUDE
Marc Bain with the procrastinator’s guide to holiday shopping.“Everyone is searching for presents they can wrap and put under the tree, but those aren’t always the best gifts. Research shows that spending money on experiences rather than things often yields greater satisfaction.” Read more here.
MATTERS OF DEBATE
Trump’s China policy is a throwback to the Cold War. His comments and the background of his advisors suggest he sees geopolitics as a zero-sum game.
Liberal celebrities are hurting the cause. Celebrity endorsements perpetuate the idea that Democrats are elitist and unaware of what middle America wants.
Technology destroys our relationship with the natural world.Staying glued to a screen makes us antisocial, and keeps environmental problems out of sight and out of mind.
SURPRISING DISCOVERIES
A garment made for astronauts is saving new mothers in developing countries. The LifeWrap can help treat postpartum hemorrhage, cutting maternal mortality by 50%.
Mark Zuckerberg made his own version of Amazon’s Alexa. Henamed it Jarvis—just like Tony Stark’s virtual assistant in the Ironmanmovies.
Pakistan International Airlines sacrificed a goat to keep a flight safe. It was the first ATR-42 aircraft put into service since 48 people were killed in a PIA crash on Dec. 7.
Bill Gates is the MVP of Reddit’s secret Santa gift exchange.For the past four years, the world’s richest man has sent strangers thoughtful and personalized presents.
Lawmakers have been bringing dogs to the US Capitol since the 1800s. They make for loving and loyal companions in an otherwise tense atmosphere.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, sacrificial goats, and homemade Alexas to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android.
#NATO meets #Russia, South Korea impeachment trial, whipped cream shortage
Good morning, Quartz readers!
WHAT TO WATCH FOR TODAY
NATO will hold talks with Russia. Topics on the agenda include the crisis in Ukraine and Europe’s overall security situation. European leaders are also concerned about Moscow’s relationship with US president-elect Donald Trump.
South Korea puts its president’s confidante on trial. Choi Soon-sil, a 40-year friend to disgraced president Park Geun-hye and the person at the heart of her corruption scandal, is being charged with abuse of power, extortion, and attempted fraud. While the trial is open to the public, the court—worried about overcrowding—has raffled admission tickets.
The US electoral college officially votes. America’s 538-member electoral college, usually considered something of a formality, has been urged this year to block Donald Trump as president. Trump lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by nearly three million votes.
OVER THE WEEKEND
China said it will give back a seized US drone. The Pentagon complained after China obtained an American underwater drone in the South China Sea last week. Both countries announced on Saturday that the drone would be returned, but it’s possible that China might keep its data or place additional demands on the US as a consequence.
Germany threatened to punish Facebook for fake news. The chairman of Germany’s Social Democratic Party proposed a new lawthat would require companies like Facebook to set up round-the-clock offices specifically to deal with fake news, and be fined €500,000 for each fake post. Germany fears fake news could affectits parliamentary elections next year (paywall).
Venezuela extended the lifespan of its 100-bolívar bill. After sparking panic by pulling the country’s largest denomination note from circulation last week, president Nicolas Maduro said the measure will not take effect until January. Venezuela’s chaotic situation echoes that of India, where prime minister Narendra Modi implemented demonetization policies last month to curb illegal dealings.
Evacuations in Aleppo proceeded under a “people-swap” deal.The safe removal of thousands of civilians and rebels began in government-controlled eastern Aleppo and four other cities, under a complex deal between pro-government forces and rebels. The evacuations stalled briefly when rebel forces set six buses aflame, but resumed shortly afterwards.
Star Wars brought a jolt to the box office. Disney’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story had the second-biggest December opening on record. The film raked in $155 million at North American theaters—despite winter storms blanketing most of the continent —and an additional $135.5 million internationally.
QUARTZ OBSESSION INTERLUDE
Olivia Goldhill on Silicon Valley’s embrace of Stoicism. “But there’s also something a little, well, eye-rollingly predictable about Silicon Valley elites latching onto a philosophy that teaches them how to accept the things they cannot change. This is a world that’s already seen as doing far too little to address real world concerns, is largely populated by privileged white men who are less affected by such issues, and is notorious for being a closed bubble.” Read more here.
MATTERS OF DEBATE
The female orgasm is a form of social control. The latest theoryabout the purpose of the female orgasm is that it allows men to leverage control over their partners.
Saying you’re “busy” gets you respect. A study found “busyness” confers higher social status in the US.
Neuroscience can predict which kids grow up to be criminals.Examining the brain health of three-year-olds in this way is helpful, not deterministic, researchers argue.
SURPRISING DISCOVERIES
Anne Frank’s family may not have been betrayed. Their hiding place could have been discovered by mere coincidence, Amsterdam’s Anne Frank House revealed in a paper.
UPS delivered an assault rifle instead of a child’s Christmas gift. In lieu of a toy plane, a Long Island couple received a “semi-automatic rifle along with a scope, a stand, an ammo clip and copies of an Arizona man’s driver’s license and concealed-weapons permit.”
Whipped cream is facing a shortage. A fatal explosion at a nitrous oxide plant earlier this year has stunted the US’s supply of the frothy topping this holiday season.
The biggest glacier in East Antarctica is melting. Warm ocean waters are chipping at the largest ice sheet in the world, suggesting mounting global climate instability.
A Pagan priest is allowed to wear goat horns in his driver’s license photo. The horns count as “religious attire.”
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, goat horns, and whipped cream alternatives tohi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android.
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