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OPEC+ gathers for a crucial meeting. Major oil producing countries will try to make a decision on global crude production, but expectations are low for Saudi Arabia and Russia to agree on cutting output. Oil prices have plunged more than 50% year to date.
The Czech Republic begins lifting coronavirus restrictions. Even as lawmakers extended the country’s state of emergency until the end of the month, small shops will be allowed to re-open and Czechs will be allowed to travel abroad. Borders remain closed to foreigners, however.
The UK extends its lockdown. The government will review its lockdown measures at a Cobra emergency meeting, and foreign secretary Dominic Raab is expected to signal that the restrictions will remain in place beyond next week.
Euro zone finance ministers begin a third day of negotiations. They will resume their efforts to hammer out a massive economic rescue package after marathon talks broke down yesterday amid a dispute between Italy and the Netherlands over coronabonds. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council holds its first Covid-19 meeting after weeks of divisions among its permanent members.
Taiwan hit back against the World Health Organization. Its foreign ministry dismissed the “groundless’ accusations lobbed by the global body’s director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that the Taiwan government had coordinated racist attacks against him.
The European Research Council bristled at Mauro Ferrari. The EU’s former top scientist stepped down from the council with a stinging rebuke against the body’s governance and political operations, but the group has since issued a statement saying Ferrari’s resignation “in fact followed a written unanimous vote of no confidence.”
The five-year Yemen war takes a pause in fighting. A two-week ceasefire is expected to start at midday, after the Saudi-led coalition fighting the armed Houthi movement agreed to halt military operations. It marks a step towards UN efforts to broker a permanent ceasefire.
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Young people look to each other. Spending their time on content created by their peers rather than reading magazines featuring traditional advertisements has big implications for the future of Gen Z’s consumer habits.
Kraft Heinz is enjoying its first sales bump in years. People’s cravings for comforting high-sodium, high-fat nourishment has pushed up demand for packaged and processed foods.
Quartz daily obsession
Unicorns may not exist, but they’re everywhere. In ancient legends, horned horses were fearsome, awe-inspiring beasts associated with royalty and power. But today, they’ve become the ultra-cute, rainbow-colored playthings of children and the symbol of extravagantly valued startups. Why are the mythical creatures once again having a moment? Saddle up with the Quartz Daily Obsession.
Matter of debate
The internet is doing just fine. Web traffic in many major cities is up by as much as a quarter, as we increasingly depend on it for work, school, socializing—just about everything, really. Though there have been some slowdowns, researchers say they’re mostly minor. And that’s due to years of massive investments by Big Telecom in capacity, speed, and performance.
Surprising discoveries
Zoo Miami shared photos of clouded leopard kittens. The offspring have been secluded in a den with their mother since their February birth to protect them external stress.
Scientists created a mutant enzyme for recycling plastic bottles. The enzyme was first discovered in a compost pile, and was optimized to enhance its ability to break down PET plastic.
This painting may have inspired a Jane Austen character. A watercolor portrait of Mary Pearson, who was briefly engaged to the author’s brother, could have been a model for Lydia Bennet from Pride and Prejudice.
Record numbers of people in the UK are looking for farming jobs. One job site saw a 338% increase in searches for “fruit picker.”
A hairstylist is giving her boyfriend a new hairdo every day. She has been inspired by pop culture icons such as Princess Leia and Joe Exotic.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, fruit-picking vacancies, and funky hairdos to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app on iOS or Android and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Mary Hui and edited by Isabella Steger.