Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The 115th US Congress kicks off. The most powerful Republican-led Congress in decades will set its sights (paywall) on repealing the Affordable Care Act, updating the tax code, eliminating financial and environmental regulations, and reviewing president-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees. Republicans, in control of the House and Senate, need only a simple majority to confirm any position lower than the Supreme Court.
Trump promises a “revelation” on hacking. On Saturday, Trump said he knew “things that other people don’t know” about Russia’s interference in the US election, and would reveal the information “on Tuesday or Wednesday.” Trump’s spokesman, Sean Spicer, said on Monday that there is “zero evidence” Russia influenced the elections.
2017 gets its first major meteor shower. Unfortunately for European and African countries, the Quadrantid meteor shower will pass by during the daytime and peak for only a few hours. Stargazers in Asia and North America will have better luck catching it.
Over the weekend
Republicans gutted Congress’s ethics watchdog. In a secret ballot ahead of Congress’s first meeting on Tuesday, Republicans agreed to weaken and rename the Office of Congressional Ethics, which investigates corruption allegations against legislators. The new body won’t be able to accept anonymous tips or make its findings public.
ISIL claimed its first attack of 2017. A gunman killed at least 39 people in an Istanbul nightclub on New Year’s Eve. Turkish authorities have detained several people but are still looking for the suspect. On Monday, ISIL claimed responsibility, calling the gunman a “heroic soldier of the caliphate” who was acting in revenge for Turkish military involvement in Syria.
Israeli police grilled the prime minister. They questioned Binyamin Netanyahu over gifts he allegedly got from domestic and international businessmen—the latest in a series of corruption and mis-spending allegations, all of which Netanyahu denies. There’s also a conflict-of-interest investigation involving his personal lawyer and an Israeli purchase of submarines from Germany.
France took work-life balance to the next level. The “right to disconnect” law took effect on Jan. 1, requiring French companies with more than 50 employees to draw up policies limiting the use of work-related technology outside the office. The law was introduced by French labor minister Myriam El Khomri to combat “info-obesity.”
Dozens died in a Brazil prison riot. At least 56 inmates were killed during clashes over control of drug routes between rival gangs at the Anisio Jobim Penitentiary Center in Manaus. Officials say that 40 of 87 prisoners who escaped have been recaptured.
North Korea went ballistic. Leader Kim Jong-un said the country was in the “last stage” of preparing to test a missile capable of reaching the US. The Pentagon urged North Korea to “refrain from provocative actions,” while Donald Trump dismissed the country’s weapons-development claims, tweeting: “It won’t happen.“ He also berated China for failing to “help with North Korea.”
Quartz obsession interlude
Ana Campoy on what TVs teach us about globalization. “US television manufacturing wasn’t killed by bad trade deals or competition from cheap labor abroad. It was done in by its own inward focus on the domestic market and its own failure to see the global opportunities at hand—and it won’t be resurrected by protectionist trade policies that encourage businesses to repeat these mistakes.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
We need less empathy, not more. Empathy narrows our focus (paywall) to one group of people, at the expense of less visible groups.
This could be the year the euro collapses. A single-currency system can’t work without solidarity among euro-zone countries.
We should lease endangered species to rich people. Private landowners could protect animals while making money from eco-tourism.
Surprising discoveries
China is making propaganda just for millennials. The Communist Party has invested millions (paywall) in hip-hop songs, TED-style talks, and animated videos.
It wasn’t (only) an iceberg that sank the Titanic. New evidence suggests the boat’s hull was weakened by a fire that went unnoticed for almost three weeks.
You’re more likely to die of natural causes around the holidays. Researchers still aren’t sure why.
The boxing staredown dates back to the 1930s. Modern staredowns have featured everything from pre-fight fights to a game of rock-paper-scissors.
The brain wants high-quality alcohol. The chemicals that cause hangovers are less prevalent in drinks that get distilled multiple times.
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