Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Donald Trump’s team talks trade in Beijing. The visit comes amid escalating tension between the world’s largest economies. The group includes free-trade advocates—Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin and economic adviser Larry Kudlow—as well as hardline protectionists Robert Lighthizer and Peter Navarro.
News outlets join forces for World Press Freedom Day. In a push to encourage people to support high quality journalism, 36 news organizations, including the New York Times, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal, are running ads urging people to read their rival publications.
Teva Pharmaceuticals reports quarterly earnings. The world’s largest generic drugmaker is expected to update investors on the rollout of its new migraine treatment, which could be held up due to US regulatory concerns.
While you were sleeping
Xiaomi filed for an IPO in Hong Kong. The smartphone maker’s listing is expected to be the biggest by any company in nearly four years, and could value the firm at up to $100 billion. Xiaomi also makes a wide range of internet-connected home appliances, and its inexpensive smartphones pose a rising challenge to Apple and Samsung.
Rudy Giuliani said Trump paid his lawyer back for the Stormy Daniels hush money. The ex-New York mayor, who recently joined Trump’s legal team, said the president fully reimbursed Michael Cohen for the $130,000 he had paid to silence the porn star. His statement appears to contradict Trump’s assertion last month that he had no knowledge of the payment.
Australia’s Commonwealth Bank admitted it lost records of 20 million accounts. After Buzzfeed reported the data breach on Wednesday, the CBA confirmed that it lost the account records in 2016 and decided not to inform its customers. CBA is already in hot water over allegedly breaching money-laundering protocols.
Trump hinted at the possible release of US prisoners held in North Korea. He suggested in a tweet that the three men’s release could be forthcoming. That followed news reports they had been relocated to a hotel outside Pyongyang and were receiving medical treatment. One of them has been held since 2015.
Bayer’s Monsanto takeover is nearly a done deal. The German drugmaker’s $66 billion takeover of US-based Monsanto was announced two years ago—and needs to be done by June 14 or the contract can be cancelled. CEO Werner Baumann said Bayer’s having “constructive” discussions with US antitrust officials.
Quartz obsession interlude
Youyou Zhou on US universities receiving fewer foreign students. “A number of policies instituted by the Trump administration, ostensibly aimed at protecting Americans, have barred international students from entering the country. A majority of US academic institutions cited visa issues as the top reason for enrolling fewer international students in fall 2017… Other English-speaking countries saw their numbers of international higher-ed students rise.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Investors paid the price for Elon Musk’s hostile behavior yesterday. The Tesla CEO insulted analysts, the media, and federal regulators on the earnings call—and Tesla shares dropped fast.
Executives are overly obsessed with share prices. Sainsbury’s singing CEO is only the latest example.
Are artichokes kosher? Some rabbinical authorities say they’re not, as they can’t be properly cleansed of insects.
Surprising discoveries
Japan holds funerals for robot dogs. The discarded Sony Aibos receive honorary rites at a Buddhist temple before their “organs” are donated as spare parts.
A London neighborhood has sunk about 1 cm in the past year. The subsidence was caused by sinking a shaft for a new train line.
There’s a humpback baby boom happening. Good news for a species that was hunted to near-extinction in the 20th century.
Obsessive fans detected a change in Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream. Quartz has the scoop.
An author writing about poker won so much money that her book is on hold. The New Yorker’s Maria Konnikova has netted more than $150,000 in two tournaments.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, a Royal flush, and a bowl of ice cream to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Jill Petzinger and edited by Lianna Brinded