Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Benjamin Netanyahu tours Europe to discuss Iran. The Israeli prime minister says Iran will be his top priority when meeting French president Emmanuel Macron, UK prime minister Theresa May, and, one of his harshest critics, German chancellor Angela Merkel, who he’ll meet today (paywall).
Apple hosts its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. The tech giant is expected to unveil software updates and perhaps some new hardware, with rumors swirling that iPads will get a refresh and iOS will get a new “Digital Health” feature.
Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests. Organizers are using the slogan “Resist Authoritarianism” to mark the wide-sweeping event, which will also pay tribute to Chinese dissident and Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo. As many as 150,000 people are expected to attend a candlelight vigil.
Over the weekend
Italy’s biggest bank and France’s SocGen are reportedly exploring a merger. Planning is at early stages and no formal approach has been made, according to the Financial Times, but both sides are looking into the possibility (paywall). With such a move the two players would lead the way for banking mergers on the continent.
Global airlines slashed their profit outlook. Rising fuel costs are largely to blame, while higher interest rates and geopolitical tensions will add to operating risks, warned the International Air Transport Association, which represents about 280 carriers. It projected the industry will notch a $33.8 billion profit this year, 12% lower than a previous forecast.
Facebook has given device makers “deep access” to user data. The New York Times reported on data-sharing partnerships between the social network and hardware makers, raising new concerns about privacy protections. It found some device makers could retrieve personal information even from users’ friends who believed they’d barred any sharing (paywall).
Donald Trump’s lawyers prepared for an obstruction of justice battle. A Trump attorney argued in a 20-page letter (paywall) to the special counsel investigating Russia’s election meddling that his client could “terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon.” The move comes in anticipation of Trump facing a subpoena in the investigation.
Lava from Mount Kilauea stranded about a dozen people in Hawaii. Residents chose to stay without power, cell reception, or county water as the volcano continued to threaten their community. Officials say the last holdouts will be airlifted to safety.
A fan paid $3.3 million to have lunch with Warren Buffett. For the past 19 years, the Berkshire Hathaway CEO has auctioned a meal with himself, with proceeds benefiting San Francisco charity Glide. Since 2008, the winning bid for those luncheons has exceeded $1 million.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Ephrat Livni on the debate over plant consciousness. “Because we are steeped in an ancient tradition of human-centrism, we believe that our experience of life is what defines consciousness… But there is some evidence that other modes of existence are equally complex, which suggests that other living things have arguably intelligent or conscious experiences.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Italy should be compensated for the migrants it takes in. The EU’s flawed migration policies have imposed an unfair burden on the country.
Alcohol has no place on airplanes. Letting passengers drink is a safety risk (paywall), as was smoking.
Scientists need a universal definition for when space begins. The edge of space is less of a barrier and more of a moving target, changing as we achieve new milestones.
Surprising discoveries
Private jets are hosting children’s birthday bashes. Companies like VistaJet pull out all the stops for high-altitude tea parties, in hopes of nabbing future customers.
An original Winnie-the-Pooh map could fetch up to $200,000 at auction. Created by E.H. Shepard in 1926, it lays out A.A. Milne’s much-loved fictional world.
The Golden State Warriors are obsessed with chess. Shooting guard Klay Thompson got his teammates into the game (paywall), and claims to be the best among them.
Rich people are buying up dinosaur skeletons. Fossils are the hot new item hitting the auction block, and cash-strapped museums aren’t happy.
An off-duty FBI agent busted a move and discharged his gun. The firearm fell after the man successfully landed a backflip at a club, inadvertently shooting a patron in the leg as he went to grab it.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, cartoon maps, and breakdancing videos 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 Steve Mollman and edited by Alice Truong.