Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Shinzo Abe makes a historic trip to Iran. The Japanese prime minister will meet with president Hassan Rouhani and remain in Tehran through Thursday, when he’ll get together with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The Japanese government has said the visit is purely to soothe tense relations between Iran and the US.
Lululemon reports first-quarter earnings. The athleticwear retailer has been focused on expanding outside of the US and Canada, particularly in Asia. Chinese e-commerce sales jumped 140% in the fourth fiscal quarter, and the company recently opened its first store in Osaka and its first airport store in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s extradition bill could see a vote. The controversial bill, which would allow Hong Kong to extradite suspects to China for the first time in some 90 years, comes up for a second and third reading in the city’s legislature, where it is expected to pass. An estimated 1 million people protested against the law on Sunday, but the government has pushed ahead and refused to delay or shelve the bill. Scores of local businesses have pledged to go on strike today and another rally will be held.
While you were sleeping
Leaked documents revealed a Russian influence campaign in Africa. The files detail Russia’s efforts to cultivate geopolitical allies and business opportunities on the continent. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Putin-allied oligarch whose troll factories meddled in the 2016 US presidential elections, is reportedly leading the effort.
Botswana decriminalized gay sex. The country’s high court threw out colonial-era laws that made “carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature” punishable by up to seven years in prison. The victory for LGBTQ rights comes a month after Kenya’s courts upheld its anti-homosexuality laws.
Trump reignited his bromance with Kim Jong Un. Eager to restart stalled denuclearization talks, the US president told reporters he had received yet another “beautiful letter” from his authoritarian pen pal, and seemed to denounce CIA spying on North Korea.
Amazon ended its restaurant delivery service. Amazon Restaurants had expanded to more than 20 US cities since its launch in 2015, but it caved to competition from GrubHub, DoorDash, and Uber Eats. Prime Now, the company’s grocery delivery service, is unaffected.
A man died in an electric scooter accident. The 25-year-old was zipping through the streets of Paris when he collided with a truck, marking the second electric scooter death France has seen this year. The incidents will likely intensify calls for governments to regulate the trendy new transport.
Membership
In today’s membership exclusives, reporter Chase Purdy continues his coverage on Israel’s food startup culture with a look at how it plans to avert water scarcity. Over in Private Key, John Detrixhe investigates how a group of banks is developing a crypto token, even if no one needs it.
Quartz Obsession
Why is mayonnaise such a controversial condiment? Mayo’s versatility has made it a hard-to-top staple. But this straightforward spread has a complicated place in culture—raising an emulsion of questions about authenticity, access, and who gets to decide what’s delicious. Dive in at the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Having fun is a crucial parenting skill. As demonstrated in the latest viral video sensation, a spirited back-and-forth helps babies’ brains develop.
The fashion industry needs to chill with luxury outdoor gear. It’s expensive, difficult to manufacture, and often unsustainable.
Breaking up Google could be good for investors. Smaller entities would mean more transparency and fewer surprises.
Surprising discoveries
Black and white film is making a comeback in Japan. A year after discontinuing the offering, Fujifilm has yielded to consumer pressure to bring it back.
424 people competed “virtually” in the New York City marathon last November. This year its organizers aim to attract thousands of participants from all over the globe.
Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia finally got a building permit. The Barcelona icon has technically been breaking the law since construction began in 1882.
People are asking strangers on Facebook for money. Peer-to-peer aid groups are filling in where traditional safety nets fall short.
Hackers stole 18 hours of Radiohead outtakes and demanded a ransom. The band put the unreleased recordings up for sale and pledged to give away the proceeds.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, belated building permits, and purloined Radiohead tracks 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 Jessanne Collins, Susan Howson, and Nicolás Rivero.