Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Shinzo Abe and Barack Obama visit Pearl Harbor together. The Japanese prime minister is not expected to apologize for the attack in 1941 that brought the US into World War II. “This will be a visit to console the souls of the victims,” Abe said. President-elect Donald Trump, in contrast with Obama’s efforts at reconciliation, has suggested Japan should no longer enjoy the US’s security umbrella.
Officials from China, Pakistan, and Russia assess the threat from ISIL in Afghanistan. They’re worried about militants who’ve fled the fighting in Syria using Afghanistan for refuge. But they haven’t invited the Afghan government—which they see as part of the problem—to the meeting, and president Ashraf Ghani is not best pleased.
Chinese Catholics meet after a six-year hiatus. The ninth Chinese-Catholic representative conference—a government-managed body—began today and runs through Thursday in Beijing, in a step toward mending relations with the Vatican. The country’s 12 million Catholics are divided between members of the conference and “underground” Catholics whose allegiance is to the Vatican.
Positive news on US shoppers. Retailers hope the latest figures on consumer confidence from the Conference Board will show yet another rise after hitting a nine-year high in November (paywall). The Conference Board predicted last month that the election wouldn’t dent consumer optimism much, at least in the short term.
Over the weekend
British pop star George Michael died at 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.
Binyamin Netanyahu lashed out. The Israeli prime minister was livid at the US’s decision not to veto a Dec. 23 vote in the UN Security Council, which condemned Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories. He also ruined Christmas for the ambassadors of a bunch of other countries that backed the vote, and Israel promised to share evidence that the US had orchestrated it.
Iran said it got a sweet deal on 80 new Boeing airliners. The aircraft maker had previously valued the order by Iran Air at $16.6 billion, but Tehran said on Dec. 25 that the planes with the specifications it had ordered cost closer to $8 billion.
China announced new space ambitions. A white paper from China’s government laid out a five-year strategy to build the country into a “space power.” It includes becoming the first country to land a probe on the far side of the moon by 2018, and dispatching a probe to Mars by 2020.
Donald Trump had a chaotic Christmas Eve. He said he would close his controversial charitable foundation, but law enforcement officials said it can’t be shuttered until they finish investigating possible illegal activities there. Meanwhile, Trump’s pick for White House communications director, Jason Miller, said he would resign following allegations of an extra-marital affair.
A Russian military plane crashed in the Black Sea. Rescuers have found a black box (paywall) from the plane, but Russia has ruled out terrorism. All 92 passengers aboard are feared dead, including more than 60 members of the Alexandrov Ensemble—a.k.a. the Red Army Choir—who were to perform for Russian troops in Syria.
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. Her open-door policy on immigration is damaging not only her party’s reputation, but overall EU security.
Vladimir Putin is a millennial hero. His promises of stability appeal to young Russians who don’t remember the totalitarianism of the USSR.
Bigotry did not help elect Trump. Voters in this year’s presidential election simply supported the candidate perceived as the lesser of two evils (paywall).
Surprising discoveries
An ostrich-like dinosaur might explain how birds became toothless. The two-legged Limusaurus inextricabilis lost its teeth in adulthood and became vegetarian.
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. These diamond-sheathed fibres just a few atoms wide could help cram more computing power into ever smaller devices.
South Koreans have been staging ”Santa protests.” Thousands of demonstrators mocked embattled president Park Geun-hye in Santa suits to the tunes of Christmas carols.
George Michael helped invent Carpool Karaoke. James Corden’s first musical drive with a celebrity had Michael crooning in the passenger seat.
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