Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Results roll in for the European Parliament elections. Center-right, pro-EU parties are expected to form the biggest bloc in the legislature, despite a surge in support for nationalist groups such as Marine Le Pen’s party in France. The Greens also made big gains, particularly in Germany.
France’s senate considers a Notre Dame restoration bill. Lawmakers approved a bill earlier this month to rebuild the church in five years, though it still needs approval from the upper house. France is divided over whether Notre Dame should be restored in a more modern form.
Uber launches a submarine. The two-person electric sub will allow users to explore some of Australia’s endangered coral reefs for a limited period, at $3,000 a ride. The PR initiative to raise conservation awareness follows a rough few weeks for the company, after its disappointing IPO.
The US and UK take the day off. It’s Memorial Day in the US and Spring Bank Holiday in the UK, so schools, businesses, and markets are closed.
Over the weekend
Shinzo Abe and Donald Trump met in Tokyo. At a press conference following wide-ranging talks, Trump discussed nuclear disarmament in Iran, and downplayed North Korea’s recent missile tests, while Japan announced the purchase of 105 US stealth planes. Trump’s visit included a meeting with new emperor Naruhito and the empress, and a weekend of sumo, cheeseburgers, and golf.
Fiat Chrysler and Renault confirmed tie-up talks. Italian carmaker Fiat’s merger proposal for French rival Renault could create one of the world’s biggest car companies, worth about $37 billion (paywall). The move would reshape the European auto industry, which is under strain from slowing sales and new competitors like Tesla.
New Zealand gave Boeing a boost. Air New Zealand said Monday that it would order eight 787-10 Dreamliner jets from Boeing, in a deal worth an estimated $2.7 billion. The order is a vote of confidence in Boeing, which has been in crisis mode (membership) since two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max 8 model.
The race to lead the UK Conservatives heated up. Following prime minister Theresa May’s resignation announcement, more people have thrown their name in for the party’s top post. Former foreign minister and Brexiteer Boris Johnson is the favorite, while environment secretary Michael Gove, who also campaigned for Brexit, announced his intention to run yesterday as a “unity candidate.”
Ireland voted to relax its divorce laws. Irish voters overwhelmingly approved the measure, with some 82% voting in favor of altering a four-year waiting period and moving toward approving foreign divorces.
More people died on Everest. The latest casualty was a 44-year-old British man, who died minutes after reaching the summit on Saturday. Nepal has denied that overcrowding is the sole cause for recent deaths amid criticism that the government is issuing too many permits for Everest.
Quartz Obsession
7-Eleven is the local global corner store. Of its nearly 70,000 stores, 20,000 are in Japan, twice as many as in the US. Southeast Asia is a big market, and the first stores in India are scheduled to open this year. And where it’s gone, it’s adapted: think nasi lemak curry instead of Slurpees.
Matters of debate
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Taking a walk is the best self-help. The Latin phrase solvitur ambulando (“it is solved by walking”) is more useful than any mindfulness app.
There is too much product variety in online shopping. The seemingly infinite array of options is leading to “choice anxiety.”
For kids, summer should be about sampling, not specializing. The push to focus on one thing—a particular sport or instrument, for instance—isn’t what kids need.
Surprising discoveries
Blasting loved ones’ cremains into space is a burgeoning business. In some cases, it can be cheaper than a traditional funeral.
Saudi Arabia’s abortion laws are more forgiving than Alabama’s. The US state’s new law is more restrictive than the rules in about half of Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East.
The competition to determine Japan’s best pillow fighters is underway. The sport, featuring five-person teams, is “a mix between dodgeball and chess.”
A black person will lead a Cambridge college for the first time. Barbados-born entrepreneur Sonita Alleyne is also the first woman to hold the post at the 500-year-old college.
Smack talk can cost you in China. A court fined Xu Xiaodong, a mixed martial arts fighter, nearly $60,000 for insulting a tai chi grandmaster.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, pillow fight strategies, and Slurpees 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 Cassie Werber and edited by Jackie Bischof.