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What to watch for today and over the weekend
Thailand holds its first democratic election since a 2014 military coup. Voting takes place on Sunday under a revamped system that is heavily tilted in favor of the ruling junta and against the populist Pheu Thai party, which has repeatedly been ousted from power after winning previous elections.
Japan’s parliament grills Facebook. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will question the social media giant as part of a competition probe into large technology companies, including Google, Apple, and Amazon.
Protesters call for a second Brexit referendum. Hundreds of thousands of people will march from London’s Park Lane to Parliament Square in an attempt to force a “People’s Vote,” less than a week before the deadline for the UK–EU split. EU leaders are divided on whether to accept Britain’s deadline extension request.
Donald Trump meets with Caribbean leaders. The US president will host heads of state from the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Chinese investment and the political crisis in Venezuela are expected to top the agenda.
While you were sleeping
Facebook admitted that it mishandled hundreds of millions of user passwords. The company said it inadvertently exposed the plain text of 200-500 million user files to all of its employees, instead of encrypting them as it intended. Krebs on Security, which broke the story, said the practice dated back to 2012.
Tesla sued a former employee for taking data and code to a Chinese rival. The company’s lawsuit against Guangzhi Cao, who left to work for China’s Xiaopeng Motors, claims he stole proprietary information related to Tesla’s Autopilot software. It also filed a separate suit against US startup Zoox Inc, saying four former Tesla employees stole logistics information.
Venezuela arrested Juan Guaidó’s chief of staff. Roberto Marrero was detained by intelligence officers (paywall), and told a confidant they planted weapons in his home in order to charge him with terrorism. The move was an escalation in the standoff between Guaidó, the country’s self-declared interim president, and the government of Nicolás Maduro.
Levi’s IPO showed it’s not too big for its britches. The iconic denim maker’s shares surged from $17 to $22.22 as investors bet on its ability to move beyond its core men’s jeans market into the broader retail fashion sector, especially in China. Descendents of founder Levi Strauss cashed in on the share offering, but will maintain voting control through a dual-class share structure.
A disappointing Alzheimer’s drug trial stung Biogen. The pharmaceutical maker and its Japanese partner Eisai halted two late-stage clinical trials of aducanumab, designed to target beta-amyloid proteins, after determining the drug was unlikely to benefit patients versus a placebo. Biogen shares fell nearly 30%.
Quartz Obsession
Beto O’Rourke was once a 1337 hacker. In high school the US presidential hopeful was a member of the Cult of the Dead Cow, one of the oldest and most influential hacker groups. The group’s activist vibes rubbed off on Beto, who began his path to politics with web design and an online news startup. Dial up the info at the Quartz Obsession.
Membership
The secret of diversifying corporate boards? Set a retirement age. A “typical company board” is still a group of old men. Last year the average board of a S&P 500 company had 11 members with an average age of 63, only two of whom were women. Boards are actually hiring more women, but the current board directors are not retiring fast enough to make a difference. Read more here.
Matters of debate
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Shoplifters deserve privacy too. Facial recognition security tools could mean a lifetime of being blackballed.
China’s economic rise has caused capitalists to reconsider. The country’s rapid technological innovations aren’t enough reason to abandon the free market.
Instagram has become a toxic stew of conspiracy theories. As other networks fight against extremism, Facebook’s youth-centric app is slipping toward the dark side.
Surprising discoveries
Birding is a fantasy sport now. Competitors don’t actually spot exotic birds, but the fervor is just as real.
There’s no screamer in “The Scream.” Edvard Munch’s masterwork actually depicts someone hearing a scream that’s a lot more disturbing.
The iPhone is not blender-proof. Scientists pulverized one to show how our electronics rely on conflict minerals.
Texas kids can soon legally sell lemonade. The era of the criminalized sugar-water stands is almost at an end.
China cloned the “Sherlock Holmes of police dogs.” It was easier than training a replacement for a decorated seven-year-old female named Huahuangma.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, puppy gumshoes, and iPhone smoothies 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 Pasick and Susan Howson.