Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Apple and Qualcomm begin their latest legal battle. The two companies face off in a multibillion-dollar trial that could be one of the biggest in US corporate history. The iPhone maker is suing the chip company for allegedly overcharging 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 reduced for American agricultural goods.
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 uploads of copyright-infringing content. Tech firms, nationalist parties, left-wing groups, and others have formed an unusual alliance (paywall) in opposing the legislation.
Americans pay the taxman. Millions will file their tax returns to the federal government before today’s deadline. More than two-thirds of US residents, however, have filed them ahead of schedule, meaning you probably are a procrastinator if you waited until today.
Earnings season continues. Goldman Sachs will report quarterly earnings, the first since wrapping up a difficult year that saw its stock price plummet 35% due in part to the 1MDB scandal. Meanwhile, Citigroup also posts its latest quarterly earnings, which are expected to be flat.
Over the weekend
American Airlines extended its 737 Max cancelations 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.
Rep. Ilhan Omar received more death threats after Trump’s controversial tweet. The US president tweeted a spliced video on Friday that suggested the Minnesota congresswoman dismissed the 9/11 attacks. Trump’s spokeswoman later said he wishes “no ill will” on Omar, but critics have said the video incites racism and violence.
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. The win, his 15th major tournament title, boosted the prospects of longtime sponsor Nike.
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,” but protesters continued to press for an immediate transition to civilian rule.
Winter ended for TV fans. HBO on Sunday aired the Season 8 premiere of Game of Thrones, the show’s final season, after leaving fans waiting a long while for the latest episodes. Each of the series’ final six episodes reportedly cost $15 million to shoot, featuring jaw-dropping special effects and epic battle sequences.
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 dollars), 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.
Membership
Our field guide this week looks at how the US has become the best place to hide money from prying eyes. We also have a video interview with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, on the value of a good coach and how he found that in former Intuit CEO Bill Campbell.
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 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.
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.
Fox News mentions Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a staggering 76 times a day. A liberal watchdog carried out a study that revealed the network’s latest obsession.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, feng shui assessments, 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 Adam Rasmi and edited by Jason Karaian.