Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Sergey Lavrov heads to North Korea… Russia’s foreign minister will meet with his counterpart, Ri Yong Ho, to discuss the status of the Korean Peninsula as the north prepares for a summit with the US.
…While North Korean officials meet in New York. Top North Korean official Kim Yong Chol will meet with secretary of state Mike Pompeo to prepare for a June 12 summit between the nations, despite Donald Trump calling it off in a letter last week. While originally thought to be meeting Pompeo on Wednesday, Kim has one day left on his trip to meet, though details are still fluid.
China’s economic data. Analysts expect production to remain robust, although trade tensions between China and the US may disrupt new orders. Furthermore, Beijing’s manufacturing may have dipped, but only slightly, as fears of a trade war subside.
While you were sleeping
A Kremlin critic turned up alive on TV after his reported murder. Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko was reportedly shot to death, but made a dramatic entrance at a press conference today in Kiev. Ukraine’s security service said he had concocted the plan after discovering that Russian security forces were planning to kill him.
Trump signed a bill for terminally ill patients to try unproven drugs. The “Right to Try” bill allows people with deadly diseases to try experimental treatments, which the US president called a “fundamental freedom.” Democrats objected to the bill last week when it was in the House, saying that the legislation was dangerous and would give patients false hope.
Consumer Reports backpedaled on Tesla. The product reviewer said it would now recommend the company’s Model 3 car after new tests showed that the sedan’s braking distance had been improved by nearly 20 feet. Tesla shares rose 2.5% on the news.
Donald Trump joined the uproar over Roseanne Barr. Rather than distancing himself from the comedian—who sparked outrage with a racist tweet that led the Disney-owned ABC network to cancel its revival of Barr’s eponymous sitcom—Trump tweeted that Disney’s CEO owed him an apology for statements made about him on ABC.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Ephrat Livni on how scientists found the spiritual part of our brains—religion not required: “Beyond mental health, scientists study spirituality because the human quest for meaning is timeless and universal. By cultivating spiritual experiences in addition to strengthening our intellectual abilities, people can lead emotionally richer lives and develop more open minds, scientists say.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Starbucks did this to itself. The brand’s always wanted to be known for social responsibility, so racial bias training is the least it can do.
Supersonic flight will bridge the US and UK. Long-distance trading relationships are strained when separated by a major ocean.
Showing the aftermaths of school shootings breeds more school shooters. They aspire to cause the same chaos and tears (paywall).
Surprising discoveries
High protein diets have been linked to heart disease. Animal and plant protein sources (except fish and eggs) seem to put human cardiovascular systems at risk.
An “escaped” boa constrictor was just napping at home. A New York state town was on red alert until the snake was found under its owner’s sink.
A televangelist said God wants his congregation to buy him another jet. The preacher says owning a fourth plane would help him spread the word more quickly.
New Zealand’s dairy cows are doomed. The government plans to eradicate a hard-to-spot bacterial disease by sentencing 150,000 cows to death.
Southwest Airlines asked for proof from a mixed-race child’s mother. The woman, who had the child’s passport, was asked for a birth certificate or a Facebook post.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, sad cows, and private jets 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 and edited by Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz and Susan Howson.