Berlin death toll rises, China returns the drone, airline goat slaughter

[Quartz - qz.com] Daily Brief sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! What to watch for today Theresa May faces more Brexit questions. The British prime minister will appear before the House of Commons to discuss the UK’s relationship with the EU. In a statement on Monday, May [declined] to rule out paying the EU for single-market access and reaffirmed plans to trigger the two-year Brexit process by the end of March. 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. Carnival announces its first earnings after its pollution debacle. After paying a [$40 million fine] for dumping oily “bilge water” into the ocean and pleading guilty to seven felony charges, the cruise line reports to investors. Fedex, General Mills, and Nike will also file earnings. Sponsor content by SoFi Demystifying student debt. Transparency and open communication are priceless in any great relationship—especially when it comes to a financial partner. See how innovative lender SoFi is [building trust] with its members by helping them refinance student loans and save money. [Advertisement] While you were sleeping The US took precautions in Turkey. After an off-duty Turkish policeman [shot the Russian ambassador] dead at an art exhibit in Ankara on Monday, the US shut its embassy there and [consulates in Istanbul and Adana.] Meanwhile, the Russian and Turkish presidents vowed to step up their fight against terror and said the killing won’t undermine relations. The death toll in the Berlin truck attack rose to 12. Police are questioning the man—reportedly a Pakistani asylum seeker—who [drove a truck into a crowd] at a Christmas market in central Berlin on Monday night in what chancellor Angela Merkel is calling a “probable terrorist attack.” Special forces have also raided a disused hangar at Tempelhof airport, which currently houses refugees, where the attacker was reportedly registered. Lloyds Bank acquired credit-card company MBNA. It is the UK bank’s [first acquisition] since its government bailout in 2009, and is expected to boost the group’s annual revenue by around £650 million ($800 million). Lloyds said it will pay £1.9 billion cash for the card company’s more than £7 billion worth of gross assets. China gave the US its drone back. The Chinese navy [returned the underwater drone] to the location where it seized it in the South China Sea on Dec. 15, sparking a diplomatic spat (and [entertainingly illiterate outrage] from Donald Trump). The Pentagon said it will continue to investigate the incident. Volvo raised more than $500 million for a possible IPO. The Swedish car brand, owned by China’s Geely since 2010, raised the money from Swedish institutional investors as a step towards [returning to the stock market]—even though last month it said it had no plans to list. Volvo’s year-on-year sales were up 7% as of November, driven by demand for its flagship XC90 SUV. 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 Trump’s China policy is a throwback to the Cold War. His comments and the background of his advisors suggest he sees geopolitics as a [zero-sum game]. 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. Staying [glued to a screen] keeps environmental problems out of sight and 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]—Tony Stark’s virtual assistant in the Iron Man movies. Pakistan International Airlines sacrificed a goat to keep a flight safe. It was the first ATR-42 aircraft put in service [since 48 people were killed] in a PIA crash on Dec. 7. Bill Gates is the king 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 tense atmosphere. Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, sacrificial goats, and gifts for Bill Gates to hi@qz.com. You can follow us [on Twitter] for updates throughout the day or download [our apps for iPhone] and [Android]. Want to receive the Daily Brief at a different time? [Click here] to change your edition. To unsubscribe entirely, [click here]. Like us on [Facebook] and follow us on [Twitter]. Quartz | 675 Avenue of the Americas, 4th Fl | New York, NY 10011 | United States