Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
UK’s Labour decides on a Brexit public vote. The opposition party will discuss whether to call for a “confirmatory vote” on Britain’s planned departure from the EU as part of its European election manifesto. Members are split between holding a referendum on any deal, holding one with caveats, or rejecting the idea entirely.
Japan’s emperor abdicates. Akihito will be the first monarch to voluntarily step down in 200 years. Crown prince Naruhito’s ascension will take place tomorrow, but new empress Masako will not be allowed to watch (paywall).
The US and China resume trade talks in Beijing. Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said the countries are in their “final laps” with negotiations over enforcement mechanisms. Outstanding topics include intellectual property, technology transfers, agriculture, and services.
The release of tepid euro zone GDP figures. Analysts expect quarterly economic growth of between 0.2% and 0.3%, as political uncertainty weighs on industrial production. Growth statistics are also due for France, Italy, and Spain.
Apple reports its earnings. While its stock has roared back since the beginning of the year, falling iPhone sales will weigh on the company’s quarterly figures, as analysts fear an uncertain future if it fails to reignite growth by pivoting to video.
While you were sleeping
Donald Trump sued Deutsche Bank and Capital One. The US president and his family, as well as the Trump Organization, filed suit against the two banks to stop them from complying with subpoenas demanding that they hand over financial records to Congress.
Alphabet’s earnings spelled disaster. The Google parent company’s shares fell more than 5% after every major operating unit performed worse than expected, as increased competition weighed on growth in its core advertising business. Ballooning losses at the company’s Other Bets division, which includes Waymo driverless cars, highlight the expensive challenge of starting three new businesses.
Boeing’s CEO vowed to redouble safety efforts. Dennis Muilenburg said he would be among the first passengers on the revamped 737 Max, grounded after two fatal crashes. He also said pilots did not “completely” follow Boeing’s procedures to prevent a malfunction of its anti-stall systems.
The head of ISIS surfaced in a rare video. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, appearing on camera for the first time in five years, praised the bombers who carried out the deadly attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter, saying their actions were retribution for the loss of ISIS’s so-called caliphate in Iraq and Syria.
The US deputy attorney general resigned. Rod Rosenstein had a fraught two-year relationship with the president, who has accused him on Twitter of treason and resented his decision to appoint special counsel Robert Mueller to head the investigation into Russian interference in the US election.
WeWork filed for an IPO. The firm, officially known as We Company, did not disclose financial figures or other information in the confidential filing. It reportedly lost $1.9 billion on $1.8 billion in revenue in 2018.
Membership
Silicon Valley goes to Washington. Despite attracting disfavor from both the left and the right, the US tech industry is treating its political headaches as a problem to be methodically solved. This week we’re looking at all the ways tech companies are influencing governmental affairs, with a field guide on the political workings of Silicon Valley.
Quartz Obsession
The clique of mechanical keyboards. As laptop keyboards get ever thinner (and in Apple’s butterfly case, buggier), many heavy typers have been drawn back to the stout, chunky, spring-loaded technology of computing’s early era, with tactile and sonic feedback that reduces typos and increases happiness. Click to learn more at the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
Join the conversation with the new Quartz app!
TikTok is the first consumer-grade AI app. It’s like TV, minus the remote control—and people love it.
The US-China trade dispute is a battle in a larger war. Many fights will remain even after the tariff spat is resolved.
Journalists could change the way people think about vaccines. It could be as simple as using photos that depict happy, healthy kids.
Surprising discoveries
Sports Illustrated will feature its first hijab- and burkini-clad model. Halima Aden, a Somali-American, is making history by wearing a full-body swimsuit for the magazine’s annual swimsuit issue.
PR jobs are booming as newspapers die off. There are now six PR specialists (paywall) for every reporter.
A Chinese company took out billboards to complain about faulty Teslas. iUNICORN, also known as Shenma Zhuanche, spent $1 million on a Times Square smear campaign.
A whale, possibly Russia-trained, showed up in Norway. The beluga was wearing a harness imprinted with “Equipment of St. Petersburg.”
New Zealand has a slushy fund. The country’s corrections department spent more than NZ$1 million ($666,700) on 193 frozen-drink machines to keep prison guards cool.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, trained belugas, and free slushies 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.