Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Trump’s cabinet nominees continue to be grilled… In another crazy busy day in US politics, senators hold confirmation hearings for—among others—former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson, Donald Trump’s choice for secretary of State, and Mike Pompeo, his pick for CIA director. Again, many of the nominees still have not yet completed compulsory ethics reviews.
… and Trump himself is—perhaps—lightly roasted. The president-elect’s much-delayed first press conference is supposed to focus on his conflicts of interest and plans for his business empire while he is in office. Trump has promised a “general news conference,” but the transition team hasn’t even announced a location yet.
Belgium investigates why it failed to stop terrorism. In both public and closed-door hearings, lawmakers are looking into why the perpetrators of the Paris and Brussels attacks in 2016 weren’t effectively tracked. A confidential parliamentary report finalized last September (paywall) revealed that numerous opportunities to unmask a key ISIL terror cell were missed.
While you were sleeping
Trump hit back at claims that Russia had kompromat on him. The president-elect tweeted that a report filled with lurid claims that had been circulating in Washington for some months was “A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT.” Buzzfeed, which published the report, noted the allegations were “unverified, and potentially unverifiable.” The Kremlin dismissed it as “a complete fake.“
Barack Obama bid a tearful goodbye. In his farewell address, the outgoing president name-checked democracy 20 times, more than the last 15 presidents combined. He called for an end to living in “our own bubbles” and issued a plea for unity and citizenship.
South Korea’s bribery scandal snared Samsung’s vice-chairman. On Thursday, South Korean prosecutors investigating the influence-peddling scandal surrounding president Park Geun-hye will grill Samsung family heir Lee Jae-yong. The company is accused of donating to non-profit organizations run by Park’s confidante, Choi Soon-sil, in exchange for political approval of a 2015 merger.
The World Economic Forum told us what to worry about. WEF’s Global Risks Report, which sets the agenda for the annual confab of global heavyweights in Davos next week, identified rising nationalist sentiment, economic inequality, technological disruption (i.e., jobs becoming obsolete), and climate change as the biggest risks in 2017.
Turkey’s currency plunged again. The lira hit a fresh low (paywall) against the dollar on Wednesday; it dropped 8.6% against the dollar in first week of 2017 trading. The main reasons behind the lira’s dive include Turkey’s shaky political situation, rising inflation, a contracting economy, and the central bank’s refusal to raise its lending rates.
Quartz obsession interlude
Annalisa Merelli on why people hate the liberal elite. “I am used to being attacked and insulted by conservatives for my choices and opinions. But the liberal critiques I read weren’t so much attacking my decision as they were questioning my intelligence and my ability to understand the issue.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
India’s demonetization was more than an economic policy. It was a yagna (worship or sacrifice) to purge “internal evils” that bedevil the country.
Angela Merkel is Putin’s next target. She’s the only European leader (paywall) still willing to stand up to Russia.
People who curse seem authentic. Because profanity is taboo, they are seen to be more honest.
Surprising discoveries
A German lawmaker wants state-sponsored prostitutes for the elderly. A similar system already exists in the Netherlands.
America’s opioid crisis has a grim silver lining. Organ transplants are up 20% since 2012 due to a surge in deadly overdoses.
A freak gust of wind created the scoop of the century. War correspondent Claire Hollingworth, who just died at 105, spotted German tanks about to invade Poland in 1939.
A new species of primate has been discovered. The gibbon, which lives in the tropical forests of south west China and is at risk of extinction, will be called the Skywalker hoolack gibbon.
Sailor Moon is helping fight STDs in Japan. The Japanese government is enlisting the anime icon’s help after a massive spike in syphilis infection rates in 2016.
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