Good morning, Quartz readers!
The Daily Brief team is taking Friday, Jan. 1 off. See you in 2021!
Here’s what you need to know
China chastised three e-commerce giants. Alibaba’s Tmall, JD.com, and Vipshop were fined 500,000 yuan ($77,000) each for “pricing irregularities” following consumer complaints.
The UK approved the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine. The addition of the easy-to-store jab comes as millions more in the country are placed under the toughest Covid-19 restrictions. Meanwhile, China’s Sinopharm said its vaccine is nearly 80% effective.
Indian farmers got some concessions from the government. They’ll be excluded from a ban on stubble burning and keep an electricity subsidy, but there was no agreement on the more contentious new agricultural laws. Talks resume Jan. 4.
China sentenced 10 of the “Hong Kong 12” to prison. The protesters will serve between seven months and three years.
What to watch for
After a year like 2020, you might not have much use for predictions. Still, projections from major economic institutions suggest we could see a few important statistical records broken in the year ahead.
Longer lifespans and falling fertility rates will continue to age the global population, Dan Kopf writes. In 2021, the global median is expected to hit 31 for the first time in recorded history, according to projections from the United Nations.
And a brief setback will do little to slow the growing global economy. The International Monetary Fund projects that global GDP is set to hit $90 trillion next year. Though not adjusted for inflation, the IMF’s projection is still a useful number for putting economic metrics in perspective.
Charting Snapchat’s growth in the ‘Rest of World’
Snapchat’s stock price briefly hit an all-time high this week after its buy rating from Goldman Sachs. After losing users in 2018, the app’s user base has grown by 75% in the past two years. Most of the growth has come from the “Rest of World,” the company’s nebulous distinction for regions beyond North America and Europe.
Though Snap doesn’t officially report country-by-country data, it did report a 150% jump in Indian users between the third quarter of 2019 and this year. A revamped Android app and India-specific content have guided growth, though Snap has yet to cash in.
Skip the resolutions, achieve your goals
All it will take to live a healthy, productive, creative, and focused life this year are a few resolutions. Or goals. What’s the difference anyway?
Resolutions are statements of intention, while goals are statements of commitment. To achieve your goals, you should commit to the following:
1️⃣ Clarify vague resolutions into specific goals.
2️⃣ Broaden binary resolutions into thematic goals.
3️⃣ Pair your goal with a simple but comprehensive plan.
4️⃣ Design a strategy around small, sustainable changes.
5️⃣ Create a contingency plan that helps you stay on track.
✦ There’s only one step to Quartz membership. Try it free for seven days.
Surprising discoveries
A new US Air Force satellite could send solar power to Earth. The Helios project will test beaming solar energy to other spacecraft, and maybe terrestrial receivers.
An American football player will get part of his salary in bitcoin. Russell Okung’s arrangement could inspire other athletes to follow suit.
Apple killed the Vybe. An app that promoted private parties was removed from the app store.
US rivers are less blue. The country’s waterways have become more green and yellow over time, likely due to changing levels of sediment and algae.
Oil companies aren’t bidding on oil leases in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. So far, it looks like the only serious contender is the state of Alaska itself.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, bitcoin salaries, and unwanted oil leases 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 Dan Kopf, Nicolás Rivero, Phoebe Gavin, Jordan Lebeau, and Liz Webber.