🌍 Biden in Europe

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Here’s what you need to know

Russia’s stock market resumed limited trading… Closed since the end of February, when prices plunged following the invasion of Ukraine, trading restarted on 33 equities, including energy giant Gazprom.

…while its cost of living skyrockets. A weak ruble means inflation is rising rapidly. In the past week, some household staples have increased as much as 14%. In one region, the cost of sugar rose 37%.

Madeleine Albright died aged 84. The child of refugees who fled the Nazis, she became the US representative to the UN, and the first woman to serve as US secretary of state.

A former Boeing pilot was found not guilty of fraud. A jury found the pilot did not deceive air-safety regulators about a 737 MAX flight-control system that was later blamed for two fatal crashes.

Toshiba’s future is uncertain. Shareholders voted down a proposal to split the company, while a competing plan to solicit buyout offers, suggested by activist shareholders, also failed.

Meme stocks are back. Shares of GameStop and AMC skyrocketed 16% and 20% Wednesday, respectively.

What to watch for

US president Joe Biden is traveling to Brussels to attend a NATO heads of state and government meeting, the first since Russia invaded Ukraine. Zelenskyy will address the summit, likely reiterating his call for a no-fly zone over his country, which NATO has so far declined to enforce.

During the summit, NATO is expected to:

💰Announce new sanctions against Russia

💡Work on measures to reduce the world’s reliance on Russian energy supplies

➡️ Confirm the deployment of four new battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia

🎖Provide increased support to Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina against possible Russian pressure

😰Discuss long-term strategies in case of nuclear attacks

Who wore it better?

Against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war, Putin was spotted in a Loro Piana coat (worth $14,000) at a political rally last week, while Zelenskyy has been stepping out in solid army green-colored tees. Putin’s official annual salary is listed at $115,000, but he can be found decked out in Italian luxury fashion and Swiss watches like Patek Philippe.

While everyday Russians have seen their wealth plummet as the ruble collapses, Putin has had no qualms showing off his lavish and luxurious wardrobe.

Since the war broke out, Zelenskyy has worn humble attire while addressing Ukrainians from Kyiv on the frontlines to boost morale—but has also caught flack on social media for his appearance while addressing US Congress.

When life becomes a game

In a way, the real world operates in a largely disconnected and inefficient system. In the metaverse, though, gaming dynamics will envelop all. People will earn points by carrying out simple tasks with every errand having potential to become a mission. ✦ One day, you’ll look back in amazement that you had to learn about Life Experience Points (LXP). You’ll need to be a member to take the plunge—try it for free for a week!

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Surprising discoveries

HBD OK! Yesterday marked the anniversary of the moment “OK” entered the US vernacular.

A World Cup medal was stolen from a footballer’s home. Manchester United player Paul Pogba is understandably more concerned about his family, who were at home during the burglary.

Wildlife advocates would like designers to pay royalties to big cats. We wear their prints—shouldn’t they benefit?

None of the Best Actress movies are nominees for Best Picture. And this is a pretty common phenomenon.

One of the worst-performing movie sequels involves a dog and a baby wreaking havoc with a magical mask. Quartz media and entertainment reporter Adario Strange couldn’t guess it—can you? Listen to the latest episode of the Quartz Obsession podcast to understand why it’s so hard to make a good sequel.

🎬 Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | Stitcher

Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, justice for Kristen Stewart, and masked dogs to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our iOS app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Hasit Shah, Annalisa Merelli, Tiffany Ap, Susan Howson, Amanda Shendruk, and Michelle Cheng.