Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
North Korea celebrates the birthday of its founder. The details will be closely watched: A military parade with long-range missiles, for example, could signal a slide back toward a hardline position in its nuclear negotiations with the US.
The US and Japan kick off trade talks. Japanese economy minister Toshimitsu Motegi is in Washington, DC for what he says will be “candid” talks with US trade representative Robert Lighthizer. The White House wants tariffs cut for American agricultural goods.
Ivanka Trump’s Africa tour. The head of the US Agency for International Development, Mark Green, will accompany the US president’s daughter to Ethiopia and Côte d’Ivoire to promote women’s economic empowerment.
Over the weekend
Sudan’s military jockeyed for power after last week’s coup. Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan became the leader of Sudan’s interim military council after defense minister Awad Ibn Auf stepped aside, along with feared intelligence chief Salah Gosh. Protesters continued to press for an immediate transition to a civilian government.
Vladimir Putin released a comically modest financial disclosure. The Russian president said he made $135,000 last year from his official salary, a military pension, interest on savings, and investment gains, with assets including an 830-sq-ft Saint Petersburg apartment, two vintage cars, and a retro-fabulous trailer. Critics say Putin has amassed hundreds of billions of dollars through secret stakes in state-owned companies.
American Airlines extended its 737 Max cancellations through mid-August. The Boeing jets are still grounded across the world as federal investigators probe two fatal crashes. The airline, along with many of its competitors, will have to find a way to cope during the busy summer travel season without about 115 flights per day, or 1.5% of total capacity.
Tiger Woods won his first major tournament in nearly 11 years. The pro golfer, whose career was derailed by injuries and personal drama, became the second-oldest man to win the Masters (paywall) for his 15th major tournament title. The win boosted the prospects of his longtime sponsor Nike, and revived Woods’ attempt to surpass Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 major titles.
The world’s largest plane took its first test flight. Stratolaunch Systems successfully flew its one-of-a-kind aircraft, designed to work as a flying launchpad for satellite-toting rockets. The company’s founder, Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen, passed away last October.
Quartz Obsession
Smile! Photo booths are still a thing. Almost a century after inventor Anatol Josepho got 280,000 people to drop 25 cents for eight pics in Times Square (and later sold his Photomaton for a million bucks), the devices have survived in the age of the selfie. No longer ubiquitous, they’re now a special treat at parties, where they rent for a couple hundred bucks an hour and bring in over $100 million a year. Here’s something to remember them by at the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Everybody’s income tax returns should be public. It would help reduce fraud and inequality—and make it easier to hold politicians accountable.
Old-school writing tools will boost your focus and speed. There’s a reason top-flight authors swear by pens and typewriters.
The climate crisis merits a “birth strike.” A growing number of people are deciding it’s unethical to bring children into a world facing disaster.
Surprising discoveries
A Chinese blogger was fined $30,000 for criticizing buildings’ feng shui. A court in China sided with the developer, who argued the criticism made it harder to rent spaces in the Beijing project.
A lab is using neuroimaging experiments to solve the Israel-Palestine conflict. The project uses “paradoxical thinking” to overcome hardwired responses.
A traditional Korean garden hoe has become bizarrely trendy. Spring’s hottest gardening tool is here and it’s not a rake or a shovel.
UK authorities were wary of Julian Assange’s “panic button.” He reportedly warned of devastating consequences for Ecuador’s embassy if it was pressed.
A trio of bald eagles—two dads and mother—was spotted raising a family. Their nest, found near the Mississippi River, shows families come in all shapes and sizes (paywall).
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, feng shui reviewers, and open-minded raptors to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Steve Mollman and Adam Pasick.