Good morning, Quartz readers!
Recently in membership we wrapped up our field guide on recessions, written by global economics reporter Gwynn Guilford. Rosie Spinks shared her strategies for getting access to a fancy airport lounge, even when you’re flying rock-bottom coach. And we have an exclusive video interview with Novartis CEO Vasant Narasimhan.
What to watch for today
Delegates gather in Beijing for China’s National People’s Congress. The annual meeting, officially starting tomorrow, will likely lead to a new foreign investment law to help placate US concerns about the theft of trade secrets, and set an economic growth target of 6% to 6.5%, slightly lower than last year’s. A defense budget will also be announced.
Carlos Ghosn’s new lawyers hold a press conference in Japan. Among them is Junichiro Hironaka, known for winning acquittals in high-profile cases. The former Nissan chairman has been detained more than 100 days for alleged financial misconduct. His attorneys filed the latest bail request last week.
Kevin Spacey’s pretrial hearings begins. The actor is accused of groping an 18-year-old boy in a bar on the resort island of Nantucket in Massachusetts in 2016. He’s pleaded not guilty.
Over the weekend
The US and South Korea agreed to tone down their joint military exercises. In a bid to ease tensions with North Korea after Trump walked away from his summit with Kim Jong Un, the countries decided to replace the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series with drills that feel less threatening in Pyongyang (paywall).
No more bumming rides. An unmanned SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule docked with the International Space Station. Since the space shuttle program ended in 2011, NASA astronauts have relied on Russian transport to the ISS. If all goes well—re-entry will be the capsule’s next test—they’ll be able to book with SpaceX instead.
Donald Trump outdid himself. The US president delivered a long, freewheeling address at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Among other things he railed against political correctness at universities, saying he’ll block access to federal research grants unless they guarantee freedom of speech.
The head of Brazilian mining giant Vale resigned. The CEO and other executives stepped down after prosecutors called for their dismissal. Nearly 200 people died and at least 122 are still missing in the town of Brumadinho after the collapse of a dam that collected waste from Vale’s iron mine.
Quartz Obsession
Bonsai trees: the anti-succulent? If the rugged houseplant favored by millennials is an “emblem of our treacherous, apathetic era,” bonsai signify commitment, focus, and humility. With the right skill and care, they’ll survive centuries. Appreciate the details in today’s Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Embracing misery can make you happier. Clamoring for happiness, on the other hand, leads to misery.
We must fix fashion to survive the climate crisis. Churning out so much cheap, disposable clothing has enormous environmental costs.
Being a mentor at work reduces stress. It lowers anxiety levels and makes one’s job more rewarding.
Surprising discoveries
Bridge players are failing drug tests. Geir Helgemo, the world’s top player, was suspended after testing positive for synthetic testosterone and clomifene (paywall).
Employee fertility benefits pay dividends. Almost 90% of workers whose jobs covered the cost of fertility treatments returned to the same job after having a baby (paywall), compared to just over 50% on average.
Vans shoes are getting comfortable. Foam technology is making them less painful while maintaining that skateboarding vibe.
Third-wave coffee is dead. Thanks to cold brew, and all the mellow, low-acid cold coffee drinks it has inspired, a new aesthetic is emerging in the high-end coffee world.
Networking, not creativity, leads to artistic fame. A study of early 20th century abstract artists concluded that the most famous of the bunch had more social connections than their more obscure peers. Their work was not necessarily more creative.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, cold coffee, and sociable artists to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was edited by Steve Mollman and Oliver Staley.