Good morning, Quartz readers!
Today we’re launching The Happiness Experiment, which uses economics, history, and evolutionary psychology to understand how our notions of happiness have changed over time.
What to watch for today
The US, Japan, and South Korea discuss North Korea. The Defense Trilateral Talks take place annually, but this year’s event is particularly timely amid growing tensions on the Korean peninsula. Pyongyang may test another missile or nuclear warhead on a key military anniversary on April 25.
India’s finance minister visits the United States. Arun Jaitley has a packed schedule: He’ll be attending the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, participating in the G-20 meeting on the financial sector, and sitting down with US investors. He’s also slated to meet with US treasury secretary Steve Munchin and the editorial board of the New York Times.
Science fiction lovers flock to Hong Kong. The annual Melon Conference will pull in award-winning and emerging writers, filmmakers, and industry professionals who are contributing to the genre’s burgeoning renaissance in China.
While you were sleeping
Theresa May called a snap general election ahead of Brexit. The UK prime minister moved to bolster her mandate to guide the country’s exit from the European Union. A victory in the June 8 contest would also give her more leverage over Conservative Party members who are in favor of a more abrupt “hard” Brexit scenario.
A mixed bag for Wall Street earnings. Goldman Sachs fell short of profit and revenue expectations, as its vaunted trading department failed to capitalize on market conditions that benefited rivals like JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America. BofA’s profits rose 40% and its trading revenues exceeded analyst estimates.
The US “armada” sent toward North Korea was actually sailing the other direction. US officials scrambled to explain why the USS Carl Vinson and four other warships were 3,500 miles (5,600 km) from the Korean Peninsula, contrary to statements from the Trump administration. The deployment of the carrier group was initially described as a deterrent to North Korea’s Kim Jong-un.
Donald Trump ordered fewer visas for low-wage foreign workers. The US president’s new executive order does not fulfill his campaign promise to end the H-1B visa program, but will make it more difficult to internationally workers who make below-median wages for their industry. Some 85,000 foreign workers, mostly in the tech industry, have H-1Bs.
Mark Zuckerberg said augmented reality is Facebook’s “Act 2.” The social media CEO announced plans to use smartphone cameras to display virtual items in the real world, moving beyond the basic filters currently used by Facebook apps and rivals like Snapchat.
Quartz obsession interlude
Akshat Rathi on the UK’s general election Brexit re-do: “May’s Conservative Party looks set to increase its majority in parliament—it currently holds 330 seats in the 650-member parliament, and poll projections imply that it could gain 50 more in the upcoming vote … In reality, nothing is certain in today’s volatile political environment.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Being grumpy at work is good for you. That’s why corporate strategies to maximize worker happiness can quickly backfire.
Justin Trudeau is a disaster for the environment. His advocacy for Canada’s oil sands is an act of stunning hypocrisy.
Introverts make better CEOs. Extroverted corporate leaders aren’t better performers—they’re just better at schmoozing corporate boards.
Surprising discoveries
Cologne is struggling to find a llama on the lam. It escaped with 13 other animals from a petting zoo.
United Airlines used to have men-only flights. They offered steaks, brandy, and cigars until 1970, when a lawsuit shut them down.
Almost all Americans use their phones while driving. It’s no wonder that traffic deaths are on the rise.
Disabled gamers are hacking their own custom joysticks. Their inventions include input devices controlled by the head and foot.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, runaway llamas, and grumpy colleagues to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android.