Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
A key ruling shapes the Trump impeachment inquiry. If a US district judge decides that White House counsel Don McGahn must testify in the probe, it could lead to other administration officials—including former national security advisor John Bolton—talking to Congress.
LVMH is close to buying Tiffany. The owner of Bulgari and other luxury brands will reportedly acquire the New York-based jeweler for $16.3 billion, in a deal that could be announced today. Last year, jewelry was one of the strongest performing areas of the luxury industry.
Turkey’s president visits Qatar. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit comes as Ankara has drawn closer to the Gulf state, amid deteriorating ties with Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Over the weekend
Hong Kong’s democracy movement won at the polls. Pro-democracy candidates, many with ties to the mass protests of this year, seized 388 out of 425 seats after a historic turnout in what is usually a local election of little consequence—but this time functioned as a referendum resolutely backing the movement.
Michael Bloomberg launched his 2020 presidential bid. The 77-year-old billionaire and former New York City mayor announced his candidacy yesterday, claiming he’s uniquely positioned to defeat Donald Trump. A former Republican, he’ll run as a centrist Democrat.
Australia said it’s investigating an alleged Chinese attempt to plant a candidate. A luxury car dealer, who was later found dead, reported to the domestic spy agency that suspected Chinese agents had offered to fund his run in general elections this year. Separately, a man claiming to be a Chinese spy is seeking asylum from Canberra.
The US fired its Navy chief. Defense secretary Mark Esper said he fired Richard Spencer for a “lack of candor” over his communications with the White House in the case of a Navy Seal demoted for misconduct.
Romania’s center-right president won a second term. Klaus Iohannis has been credited for challenging efforts by Socialist governments to chip away at the country’s judicial independence.
China’s mass detention “manual” came to light. Leaked documents show how inmates are to be locked up, indoctrinated, and punished in the Xinjiang region’s so-called reeducation centers. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists obtained the guidelines, dubbing them “the China Cables.”
Quartz Obsession
Tie-dye is back…again. The swirly design as we know it originated as a dye-selling marketing stunt before it delighted hippies in the 1960s, spiraled back into the foreground in the 1980s and ’90s, then re-entered with a splash in 2019. But the technique—and the DIY spirit of resistance it often signifies—is really centuries old. Tie-dive in with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of Debate
A black turtleneck is the perfect gift. It’s not gendered, can be worn by anyone of any age for any occasion, and comes with an intriguing history.
Britain’s parties are indulging in “fantasy generosity.” The Conservative Party’s manifesto, like Labour’s, has dropped all pretense of fiscal discipline.
Trigger warnings don’t protect us. Prepping people for upsetting information doesn’t dramatically change their ability to regulate their reactions.
Surprising discoveries
A famed Indian princely family was faking it. A reporter befriended a “royal” who lived in seclusion in a jungle palace, and ended up unraveling the real story.
The last Sumatran rhino in Malaysia just died. There are still some in Indonesia, but the species is in danger of extinction.
Amish teens have taken to TikTok. It’s kosher, probably.
Eating oysters only in months with an “r” is really old advice. The maxim apparently dates back 4,000 years.
Indonesia has a “cheep” replacement for screen time. One city is giving students baby chicks, hoping they’ll prefer nurturing animals over staring at their phones.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, ersatz royals, and black turtlenecks to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app on iOS or Android, and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Tripti Lahiri and edited by Isabella Steger.