Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Theresa May faces more Brexit questions. The often circumspect British prime minister will appear before the House of Commons Liaison Committee. In a statement on Monday, May declined to rule out paying the European Union for single-market access, and reaffirmed plans to trigger Brexit by the end of March.
The Bank of Japan has its last meeting of the year. The central bank is expected to keep monetary policy unchanged, while possibly revising its economic outlook. Analysts anticipate an increase in interest rates next year.
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.
While your were sleeping
The Russian ambassador to Turkey was assassinated. Andrey Karlov died after being shot at an art exhibit in Ankara by a gunman shouting “Don’t forget Aleppo!” Russia’s Foreign Ministry characterized the shooting as a terrorist attack and said it would raise the issue at the UN Security Council.
At least nine were killed when a truck crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin. Many were also injured in what is believed to be a deliberate attack. The incident, which took place in one of Berlin’s busiest shopping areas, is reminiscent of the Bastille Day attack in France.
With evacuations underway, the UN agrees to send monitors to Aleppo. Thousands were evacuated from the last rebel-held enclave of Aleppo after a deal was struck to allow civilians to leave two pro-government villages. The UN Security Council, with the support of the Russian government, voted to send observers to monitor evacuations.
Softbank’s Masayoshi Son announced a $1 billion investment in faster internet. The Japanese telecom tycoon said he would fund OneWeb, which has ambitious plans to provide cheaper and faster internet connections by launching hundreds of satellites. (Easier said than done.)
Donald Trump just about clinched the US election. The 538 members of the US Electoral College gathered to officially elect America’s next president and vice president. Despite a few “faithless electors” in states that voted for Hillary Clinton, Trump is poised to secure the 270 votes needed to make his victory official.
A French court found IMF chief Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence. Lagarde, who used state funds to compensate executive Bernard Tapie with €403 million ($420 million), will not face fines or jail time.
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
It’s time for a fundamental rethink of central banking. If liberals don’t take fiscal policy off autopilot (paywall), populists will do it for them.
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. Being glued to a screen makes us antisocial and keeps environmental problems out of sight, 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. He named it Jarvis—just like Tony Stark’s virtual assistant in the Ironman movies.
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 conventionally tense atmosphere.
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