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What to watch for today
Toyota licenses its electric-car technology to a Chinese startup. Singulato will unveil a concept car based on Toyota’s eQ microcar at the Shanghai motor show. In return for the license, Toyota will receive green-car credits under China’s new quota system.
Egypt’s parliament votes to extend its presidential term limits. Under the proposed changes, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will be able to seek two new six-year terms starting in 2022, and the military will receive expanded powers to intervene in civil matters.
Jet Airways struggles to survive. The board of the airline, formerly India’s second-biggest carrier, will meet after failing to secure emergency funding from lenders. Pilots and other staffers have not been paid since December.
While you were sleeping
A huge fire gutted the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. The blaze, possibly ignited during restoration work, caused the 850-year-old Gothic building’s spire and roof to collapse, with firefighters working into the night to try to contain the inferno. “Like all of my countrymen, I am sad tonight to see this part of us burn,” said French president Emmanuel Macron.
German prosecutors charged a former Volkswagen CEO with fraud. Martin Winterkorn and four other managers were accused of equipping some 11 million VW vehicles with “illicit defeat devices” to meet diesel emission standards. Winterkorn could get up to 10 years in jail and forfeit €11 million ($12.4 million) in corporate bonuses.
Climate protestors marched across London. Environmentalist group Extinction Rebellion demonstrated at train stations, landmarks, and Shell’s UK headquarters, where some members spray-painted the building and glued themselves to the building.
Microsoft HR is changing its internal review tactics. A newly established “Employee Advocacy Team” will take the lead on workplace investigations, while managers will get new training and diversity incentives. The policy change stems from a Quartz report on a growing furore over sexual misconduct and discrimination.
This year’s measles outbreak exceeded 100,000 cases. International travel and the anti-vaccination movement caused a 300% year-over-year uptick in exposures between January and March. Out of 555 cases reported in the US since January 1, more than 300 stem from New York City, which is facing lawsuits over its mandatory vaccination edict.
Quartz Obsession
Got a nemesis? You’re not alone. Research suggests 70% of people have had a singular enemy at some point, and social media means we’re more open about it. But we can harness those bad feelings for good:” Having the right kind of nemesis can push us towards our better selves, in terms of what we do and how we behave. Throw some side-eye towards today’s Quartz Obsession.
Membership
It may not surprise you to learn that the US has become a really terrific—maybe even the best—place to hide money from prying eyes. Our intrepid reporter Max de Haldevang went to places like Wyoming, Nevada, and other states that are in an arms race to lower the bar for corporate disclosures.
We also have a video interview with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt on the value of a good coach—in his case, former Intuit CEO Bill Campbell.
Matters of debate
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It’s an honor to work 12-hour days. Alibaba founder Jack Ma is under fire for praising the “996” lifestyle.
Africa’s startup ecosystems are at a major turning point. Funding for tech companies like Jumia have more than tripled since 2017, with investments as high as $1.2 billion last year.
The US and China treat Latin America like a playground. Diplomats are trading barbs about which nation interferes most in countries like Venezuela.
Surprising discoveries
Science clickbait is being roasted on Twitter. A Boston-based researcher is using @justsaysinmice to shame coverage that conflates rodent research with implications for humans.
A humble Portuguese pastry is a global sensation. Crafty marketing and some subtle government backing (paywall) have made the pastel de nata an Instagrammable hit.
Big Weed is paying big taxes. Uncle Sam took a $4.7 billion cut out of $13 billion in revenue in 2017, with many businesses paying in cash.
Yangtze turtles are nearly extinct. The death of the softshell species’ last-known female cuts the population down to three.
African swine fever could hurt China’s soybean market. Rapid declines in pig populations spell doom for their primary source of feed—and US tariffs aren’t making things any easier.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, cannabis tax tips, and pastel de nata recipes 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 McKinley Noble and Adam Pasick.