Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Elon Musk finally unveils the Tesla truck… The automaker’s all-electric semi is rumored to powered by two electric motors and batteries that could weigh up to nine metric tons. It may also have some autonomous driving abilities—Musk calls it “unreal.”
… And launches a secret SpaceX mission. The “Zuma” mission’s purpose is unknown, but involves a classified government satellite built by defense giant Northrop Grumman.
Saad al-Hariri returns to Lebanon. The prime minister, who resigned under mysterious circumstances on a trip to Saudi Arabia last week, vowed on Tuesday to return within two days. Lebanese politicians have accused the Saudis of holding Hariri against his will, triggering a political crisis.
While you were sleeping
Russia gave Venezuela a debt deal. Caracas will pay Moscow $3.15 billion over a ten-year period after defaulting on a bond earlier this week. The oil-rich state is $60 billion in debt and has been in a full-blown economic crisis since 2012.
China’s Tencent leaped past expectations. The nation’s largest social media and gaming company posted a 69% leap in quarterly profit thanks to smartphone games, WeChat, and other paid services. Tencent also became Asia’s most valuable company when its market cap hit $472 billion.
Robert Mugabe is under house arrest. Zimbabwe’s military took control but insisted the world’s oldest head of state is safe. Soldiers seized key institutions and detained leaders of Mugabe’s government after attempts to have his wife Grace succeed him.
The UK’s labor market slowed. The number of employed citizens dipped for the first time this year, even as unemployment held at a 42-year low. The jobless rate stuck at 4.3% but employment fell 14,000, the first decline since October 2016.
Quartz obsession interlude
Ephrat Livni on how the right meditation can literally reshape your brain.“Think of meditation as exercise for your brain. You wouldn’t go running to bulk up—you’d lift weights. And you wouldn’t lift weights if you wanted to be willowy. You’d run. Same goes for meditation. Don’t cultivate compassion if what you seek is focus—you’ll only end up distracted by the good feelings you have for humanity.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Happy robots make it harder for us to handle uncomfortable interactions. Friction is what makes personal relationships interesting, anyway.
Russia should be banned from the Winter Olympics. Six athletes were already suspended for doping during the 2014, but no one’s decided what to do in Pyeongchang.
What can we say to each other at work now? As sexual harassment scandals mount, we need to redefine appropriate behavior in the workplace.
Surprising discoveries
Thieves stole $800,000 in whiskey from a Parisian boutique. The haul included a rare Japanese single malt worth $100,000.
Maroon 5 is the American band of the century. It managed to place 13 singles in Billboard’s Top 10 since 2000, more than any other group.
Astronomers found a nearby planet that could host life. It circles a red dwarf star (paywall) only eight light years away.
A porn star and a rapper will try for the 2020 White House. Cherie DeVille and Coolio say “minor celebrity” is now the most important criteria.
Cards Against Humanity bought a piece of land to thwart Trump’s border wall. The irreverent board game is no stranger to publicity stunts, but this one required a lot of commitment.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, minor celebrities, and rare whiskeys to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android.