Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Global leaders gather in Peru. Barack Obama visits the APEC summit on his last foreign trip as president, but will cut a reduced figure with Donald Trump’s shadow looming large. A Chinese plan for a new trade deal could be discussed as members search for an alternative to the seemingly doomed TPP pact.
Abe finally ascends Trump Tower. The Japanese prime minister and US president-elect will touch base at 5pm ET to discuss security issues after several delays. Officials had to scramble to arrange the meeting amid Trump’s chaotic transition process.
US and Chinese soldiers have a barbecue. After six days of joint military drills, which took place during a period of political tension during the US presidential transition, around 200 soldiers from the two countries will end the week with some grilled meat and a closing ceremony.
While you were sleeping
Tesla shareholders overwhelmingly approved the merger with Solar City. More than 85% of investors backed the deal, and that’s excluding Elon Musk. Since Solar City’s shareholders have already ok’d the merger, the combination of the solar panel installation firm and electric-car and battery maker is expected to close in the next few days.
Obama and Merkel avoided the “T word.” The US president and German chancellor warned against Twitter sloganeering, the decline of facts in modern politics, and the folly of trying to return to pre-globalization economics—all without mentioning Trump’s name.
Janet Yellen prepped markets for a rate hike. The Fed chair told Congress that Trump’s election had not changed plans to raise interest rates “relatively soon.” Despite the president-elect’s campaign attacks, Yellen said she’ll carry on her role through her term’s end in 2018.
JPMorgan settles a Chinese bribery dispute with a $264 million fine. The bank allegedly hired about 100 relatives of leading Chinese officials, hoping to win their business. It will pay out $264 million to the US justice department to atone for the project, known internally as “Sons & Daughters.”
Three astronauts blasted off for the International Space Station. American Peggy Whitson, Russian Oleg Novitsky and Frenchman Thomas Pesquet will spend six months orbiting the earth. Whitson, the future ISS captain, will be the oldest woman ever in space.
Quartz obsession interlude
Annalisa Merelli on the cultural differences between East and West. “Graphic artist Yang Liu has a sharp eye for cultural comparison, honed by personal experience. In 1990, at the age of 13, she moved from Beijing, to Berlin. After exactly 13 years there, she started an illustrated project to document her dual experiences in China and Germany.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Behavioral economics can explain Donald Trump and Brexit. People prefer uncertainty, even when their prospects are worse.
Running won’t help you get fit. It doesn’t do much to reduce fat or build strength, and harms joints in the process.
Staying off Facebook is the key to happiness. People who quit the social network for a week reported improved satisfaction with their lives.
Surprising discoveries
Japan is hiding a treasure trove of propaganda kimonos. They showed nationalist images depicting close ties to Nazi Germany.
US-born pandas are struggling to adjust in China. They prefer American food and understand English better than Mandarin.
Your next bike helmet might be made of paper. The EchoHelmet, which uses a honeycomb structure, could be perfect for bike shares.
Lockheed Martin is building firefighting drones. The self-flying quadcopters use infrared and visible light to pinpoint blazes.
There’s a temporary tattoo that works like a stethoscope. It tracks your cardiovascular health, and could also make speech recognition more accurate.
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