Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Can Apple maintain its quarterly mojo? After a blockbuster first quarter that sent its stock to new heights, the iPhone maker may tout emerging technologies like self-driving cars, augmented reality, and machine learning. Investors will also be closely watching results from China and India.
The US senate grills Trump’s chosen ambassador to China. Iowa governor Terry Branstad will face questions on foreign trade, human rights, and his long-standing friendship with Chinese president Xi Jinping.
Australia’s central bank weighs in on interest rates. Economists predict that the benchmark rate will remain at 1.5% for the ninth straight month.
While you were sleeping
Hamas dropped its call for Israel’s destruction. The group also dropped its affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood in an attempt to improve relations with Gulf Arab states and Egypt. Israel called the announcement, made as Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas prepares to visit Washington on Wednesday, an attempt “to fool the world.”
THAAD passed a key test in South Korea… Despite Beijing’s opposition, US officials said that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system reached an initial operating capability to defend against North Korean missiles. Contrary to Donald Trump’s earlier statements, the White House national security chief said the US will pay for the $1 billion system, which has become a key issue in South Korea’s presidential election.
…And Trump said he would be “honored” to meet with Kim Jong Un. The US president said he would meet with the North Korean despot “under the right circumstances,” in a sharp departure from previous US policy. The White House quickly walked back his remarks, saying “many conditions” would need to be met.
Jacob Zuma was booed off stage at a May Day rally. The embattled South African president was asked not to attend the event by the country’s biggest trade federation, but did so anyway. After scuffles broke out between Zuma supporters and protesters, his speech was canceled.
SpaceX launched a spy satellite into orbit. Footage of the Falcon 9 carrying a surveillance satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office aloft was classified, but the company released stunning footage of the booster rocket’s return flight and gentle touchdown at Florida’s Cape Canaveral.
Quartz obsession interlude
Michael Coren on how the Luddites were right after all. ”The lesson you get from the end of the Luddites is: Do the people that are profiting off automation today want to participate in distributing their profits more widely around the population, or are they going to fight just as hard as they did back then?” Read more here.
Markets haiku
“Let’s break up the banks!” / The crowd cheers on May Day. Huh? / Wall Street likes it, too?
Matters of debate
Almost every speed limit is too low. Traffic engineers say they should be set so that 85% of drivers obey the posted limit.
Wasting time is the secret to happiness. Slacking off is more rewarding than frantically chasing “productivity.”
Standing desks are distracting. The higher vantage point gives our brains access to more human faces that we unconsciously have to interpret.
Surprising discoveries
Switzerland wants to rebuild its glaciers with snow machines. A thin coating of flakes should reflect more sunlight, protecting the ice below.
An Indian politician is handing out bats to prevent domestic violence. “If your alcoholic husband is physically abusive, thrash him,” suggests Madhya Pradesh minister Gopal Bhargava.
Drug-abusing nerds are hiding their stashes in graphic calculators. At least that’s what the US anti-drug agency claims.
Guinness is finally vegan. It took years for the brewer to phase out the use of fish bladder filters.
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