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What to watch for today
OPEC meets in Vienna. A Saudi-led group of member states is pushing for a cut in oil output as the impact of coronavirus decreases demand, sending prices 20% lower since the beginning of the year. OPEC+ nations join the talks on Friday.
NASA announces the name of its new Mars rover. Over 28,000 submissions from American schoolchildren were whittled down to nine finalists that faced a public vote.
Spotify holds its first awards show in Mexico City. The winners in each of the 62 categories will be determined solely by Mexican user data with the top 12 awards scheduled to be broadcast live in the US and Mexico.
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China had a rocky day on the world stage. State-linked tech giant Huawei pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a 2018 case involving theft of US trade secrets. At the UN, the US was able to successfully block China from taking control of the body’s intellectual property committee. There are also reports that China is trying to revamp its global health image by developing an alternative to the World Health Organization.
Bytedance launched a new app and Twitter unveiled “fleets.” The Chinese tech firm behind TikTok released Resso, a standalone music-streaming app, in India—home to the world’s largest number of TikTok users outside of China. In Brazil, Twitter is testing “fleets” (as in fleeting tweets) in a bid to capitalize on the disappearing story social media trend.
The IMF announced a $50 billion fund for coronavirus aid… Managing director Kristalina Georgieva said the interest-free relief funds are “available immediately” for at-risk and low-income countries, as the group cut its global growth forecasts. In the US, lawmakers agreed on $8 billion in emergency funding, while US treasury yields hit a 150-year low.
…as the virus snarls global travel… Airlines are desperate to boost demand, as some cancel flights or consider more drastic measures to shore up bottom lines. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s pilgrimage suspension now applies to its own citizens.
…and tech companies solve business disruptions… Many are encouraging employees to work from home and avoiding in-person job interviews. Supply chain snags forced Tesla to install older processors in China-made cars. Meanwhile, Facebook said it would give the World Health Organization free ads to combat Covid-19 misinformation.
…while the medical community tries for a vaccine… Chinese doctors offered themselves as guinea pigs for an untested vaccine, while the CEO of biotech company Moderna said it wouldn’t price gouge for its forthcoming vaccine. Separately, Chinese researchers discovered Covid-19 has already mutated at least once.
…and Italy prepares for the worst. Schools and universities are closed for two weeks and all sporting events will take place in empty stadiums for the next month. Meanwhile, India quarantined 15 Italian tourists who tested positive for coronavirus.
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Matters of debate
Parasite’s Oscars win should be a wake-up call for Japan. A combination of abuse and mismanagement has greatly diminished the soft power of the world’s third-largest economy.
The corporate responsibility facade is finally starting to crumble. In particular, Big Oil will face a backlash as lawyers and activists frame its contribution to climate change as a human rights violation.
Should schools close when Covid-19 cases are still rare? Across a range of countries and viruses, the results of closures are mixed.
Surprising discoveries
E.T. isn’t coming home. For two decades, anyone with a computer could assist in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence—that ends this month.
Rainforests might make climate change worse. We’re not there yet, but if current trends persist the Amazon could become a net carbon emitter.
Spotify already has more than 65 songs with “coronavirus” in the title. Quartz’s data reporter Dan Kopf counted, and the most popular is “La Cumbia Del Coronavirus.”
New Zealand birds can make predictions. Researchers found that keas are capable of “true statistical inference.”
Climate change will make some foods toxic. Both dryer and wetter weather can change the level of toxins in foods like cassava, lychee, barley, and apples.
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