Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Theresa May’s cabinet makes a key Brexit decision. Senior UK officials will decide whether parliament can cast non-binding indicative votes on departure options ahead of the prime minister’s European Union Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which is scheduled to be put forward in the week of June 3.
US lawmakers gather for a classified briefing on Iran tensions. Ahead of the meeting, politicians clashed on how intelligence is being interpreted, with Democrats accusing Republicans of twisting the facts to portray Iran as being provocative.
A wave of abortion protests across the US. Demonstrators will flood statehouses, town squares, and courthouses in an attempt to stop anti-abortion laws, after Alabama last week banned abortion under almost all circumstances, including in cases of rape and incest.
Major retailers kick off a big earnings week. Hardware giant Home Depot reports fourth-quarter earnings, alongside AutoZone, JCPenney, Urban Outfitters, and Nordstrom. Clothing retailer Kohl’s will also be reporting quarterly numbers, after announcing an expanded partnership with Amazon.
While you were sleeping
Hong Kong’s subway operator reversed its ban on a same-sex ad. The move came after majority-government-owned MTR faced intense backlash for censoring an advertisement from Cathay Pacific showing a gay couple holding hands. The city’s airport authority, which also banned the ad, has stuck to its decision.
France’s euthanasia debate took a U-turn. A French court reversed an earlier ruling and ordered doctors to resume life support for Vincent Lambert, who has been in a vegetative state since 2008. Doctors had halted treatment on Monday, in line with the wishes of Lambert’s wife. His mother, who wants Lambert’s life to continue, hailed the decision as a victory.
The US temporarily eased restrictions on Huawei. The Chinese telecoms giant will be allowed to buy American-made goods in order to maintain its existing phone networks and handsets, but it is still barred from purchasing American wares to manufacture new products.
Indonesia’s Joko Widodo officially won a second term as president. Final results were released a day early amid fears of unrest, confirming his victory over retired general Prabowo Subianto. Prabowo has alleged widespread voter fraud and cheating.
A judge ordered Trump to turn over his financial records. The president lost a lawsuit challenging a House subpoena for the files, dealing an early setback to his legal battle with Congress and his strategy of stonewalling all oversight demands for information. Trump’s lawyers will appeal the ruling.
Quartz Obsession
Relativity is how we understand the universe… to a point. In 1905, Albert Einstein demonstrated the relativity of time. A decade later, he showed us how time and space are one. His findings illuminate black holes and the big bang, and they keep the maps on our phones accurate, but they don’t explain quantum mechanics—in fact, they conflict with the fuzzy foundations of matter. Get a good frame of reference at the Quartz Obsession.
Membership
A guide to the new rules of management. While company cultures may still vary wildly by employer, new technology over the past two decades has bent the arc of the modern workplace toward transparency, collaboration, and a democratization of ideas. This week we dive into the new expectations of workplace leaders, including what every manager should know about giving feedback.
Matters of debate
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IPOs flop because nobody’s making money. Industry disruptors like Uber and Lyft are exciting to watch, but have no clear path to profitability.
The problem with fraternities isn’t the partying. It’s the toxic masculinity that will be their downfall.
Splashy philanthropy distracts us from systemic problems. Billionaires may occasionally volunteer to pay off student debt, but their businesses still exacerbate inequality.
Surprising discoveries
The Game of Thrones finale was blocked in China. Tencent Video, a streaming platform, said the last installment of the epic series got scrubbed because of the trade war.
A Dutch doctor has been mailing abortion pills to women in the US. The Food and Drug Administration told her she is violating federal law by selling “misbranded and unapproved new drugs.”
A climber scaled the Eiffel Tower with no ropes. Authorities closed off access to the tower after a man spent seven hours making the free ascent of 528 feet (161 meters).
Green jobs pay well. Most US jobs related to environmental protection pay better than the national median.
Bonobo mothers are nature’s best wingwomen. The monkey moms help their sons find sexual partners and ward off competitors.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, climbing ropes, and green-job listings 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 Mary Hui and edited by Isabella Steger.