Pompeo meets Putin, WhatsApp hack, spider slingshots

Mike Pompeo sits down with Vladimir Putin. After making an unplanned stop in Brussels to meet with European leaders, the US secretary of state is due to discuss arms control, election interference, and Iran with Russia’s president in Sochi. Ukraine, Venezuela, and North Korea will reportedly round out the agenda. [Quartz Daily Brief]( Good morning, Quartz readers! What to watch for today Mike Pompeo sits down with Vladimir Putin. After making an unplanned stop in Brussels to meet with European leaders, the US secretary of state is due to discuss [arms control, election interference, and Iran]( with Russia’s president in Sochi. Ukraine, Venezuela, and North Korea will reportedly round out the agenda. Sudanese protesters and the army continue negotiations. Five demonstrators and an army major were [shot dead]( yesterday, hours after protest leaders and the military council agreed to a transitional arrangement following the ouster of president Omar al-Bashir last month. Both sides will hammer out details today. Automakers gear up for a tough day. Volkswagen faces a potentially tense annual meeting today after [advisory groups urged shareholders]( (paywall) to hold executives accountable for the “Dieselgate” emissions scandal. Meanwhile, Nissan will be taking stock after posting its [weakest annual profit]( in a decade. The Cannes Film Festival kicks off. The prestigious French cinema showcase will feature [new films from heavyweights]( including Quentin Tarantino and Pedro Almodóvar, though it is already being criticized for featuring only four films (out of 21) with female directors. The city’s five-star hotels [have spent millions on upgrades]( in preparation for the influx of Hollywood A-listers. While you were sleeping William Barr moved to probe the Russia probe. The US attorney general [appointed a federal prosecutor]( to study the origins of Robert Mueller’s investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign to determine if it was “lawful and appropriate,” [the AP reported](. The decision comes a month after the report’s findings [cited “insufficient evidence”]( (paywall) to prosecute the president. Hackers used WhatsApp calls to install spyware. The messaging service, used by 1.5 billion people worldwide, revealed that attackers had [exploited a major vulnerability]( in the app to install Israeli surveillance software on phones by calling targets, even if they did not answer their phones. It is unclear how many users were affected. Monsanto got hit with a $2 billion verdict. A court [ruled against]( the agrochemical giant and in favor of a couple who said long-term exposure to weed killer Roundup left them with cancer. Parent company Bayer insists the product is safe, but it has lost a string of recent cases, with thousands still pending. Early results showed Rodrigo Duterte’s allies set for victory. Philippines voters [threw their support behind]( the president and his policies in mid-term elections, with administration loyalist candidates poised to take nine of 12 open seats in the upper house. Official results are expected in the coming days. Vodafone suffered an earnings crash. The British telecom firm posted a [whopping £6.6 billion]( ($4.82 billion) annual loss, compared to a healthy profit a year ago, and slashed dividends to shareholders. Executives attributed the [swing]( to the sale of its India division. NASA asked for $1 billion for another moon landing. The space agency [wants the funds]( as down payment so it can send astronauts back to the lunar surface by 2024. NASA’s administrator said the mission will be named after the Greek goddess Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo, to mark its goal of putting the first woman on the moon. Quartz Obsession Staplers: Holding it together for over a century. Even in increasingly paperless offices, staplers are still a big business. There are artisan stapler-makers that will set you up with something cute or brawny—or there’s Swingline, the market leader, which has its own pop culture cachet from the 1999 cult classic Office Space. We’ve collated everything you need to know in [today’s Quartz Obsession](. Membership We continue our Boeing field guide with an examination by reporter Rosie Spinks [on consumer perceptions]( and whether the questions about Boeing’s manufacturing of the Max, and the FAA’s certification of it, will make passengers think twice about the kind of aircraft they’re stepping onto. Meanwhile over at Private Key, we dive into theories about why [crypto is surging](. Matters of debate [Join the conversation with the new Quartz app!]( A sex strike won’t erase punitive abortion laws. The well-intentioned proposal is rooted in [antiquated ideas about female sexuality](. University presses shouldn’t have to turn a profit. Their sole mission is to [spread knowledge](. The worldwide helium shortage is no laughing matter. The gas is [a crucial element]( in medical devices and chemical research. Message from our Partner Want to become a better leader? From emotional intelligence to the efficiency mindset, SmartBrief on Leadership gives you the tools to better inspire your team. There’s always room for self-improvement and we’ve got your back. [Sign up for free today.]( Surprising discoveries Just thinking about coffee can help you focus. The effect only works for people who [associate coffee]( with alertness, ambition, and productivity. Researchers found a plastic bag at the ocean’s deepest depths. An [expedition to the bottom of the Mariana Trench]( also discovered several plastic candy wrappers. The triangle weaver spider turns its web into a slingshot. Instead of simply ensnaring insects, it [creates a slingshot with its silk web]( to catapult itself forward and capture its prey. The moon is getting wrinklier. It’s [also shrinking]( according to photos from a NASA spacecraft orbiting the lunar surface. Sunscreen is better in Europe. American lotion is [goopier, greasier, and less protective]( than the stuff across the pond. Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, stapler recommendations, and good sunscreen 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 Adam Rasmi and edited by Jackie Bischof. Enjoying the Daily Brief? Forward it to a friend! They can [click here to sign up.]( If you click a link to an e-commerce site and make a purchase, we may receive a small cut of the revenue, which helps support our ambitious journalism. See [here]( for more information. To unsubscribe from the Quartz Daily Brief, [click here](.