Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation. The French president will give a televised speech this evening to announce a set of policy changes in response to feedback from two months of public consultation triggered by the violent “yellow vest” protests.
The EU votes on revamping copyright laws. The bloc is expected to approve a new bill that would require internet platforms like Google and Facebook to block the uploading of copyright-infringing content. Tech firms, nativist parties, left-wing groups, and others have formed an unusual alliance (paywall) in opposing the legislation.
Climate activists will block London’s streets. Some of the city’s busiest roads will be obstructed for at least three days in a protest against ecological and environmental destruction, part of a “a full-scale international rebellion” organized by Extinction Rebellion, a UK-founded group known for its disruptive protests.
Apple and Qualcomm begin their latest legal battle. The two companies will face off in a multi-billion dollar trial that could be one of the biggest US corporate lawsuits. The iPhone maker and four companies in its supply chain are suing the chip company for overcharging chip royalties.
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.
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 both the defense minister and intelligence chief stepped aside. In a televised address Saturday, Burhan vowed to “uproot the regime” and pledged to respect human rights. Protesters meanwhile 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.
Japan started removing fuel from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant. Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the plant that melted down in a 2011 disaster, for the first time began to remove fuel from one of the three destroyed reactors, marking a milestone in the decades-long process to decommission the plant.
The vote was split in Finland’s general election. The Social Democratic Party won a narrow victory with 17.7% of the vote, but the far-right Finns party was a close second with 17.5%. With no party winning by a clear margin, it may be hard for the SDP to form a working coalition.
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 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.
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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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.” More are deciding it’s unethical to bring children into a world facing disaster.
Britain is terrible at planning cities. The country has forgotten that urban areas are grown.
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.
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).
A man sued his parents for throwing out his porn films and magazines. The 40-year-old from Indiana is seeking $87,000 in damages, triple the estimated value of his collection.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, feng shui reviewers, and trendy gardening tools to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Mary Hui and edited by Isabella Steger.