Good morning, Quartz readers!
Correction: Yesterday we wrote that a Japanese startup sprang into being to help couples get some distance. Kasoku itself existed before the pandemic—it just pivoted its short-term rental business to meet the moment.
Here’s what you need to know
Kim Jung Un (maybe) took a boat ride. Satellite images showed luxury boats favored by North Korea’s leader in the vicinity of Wonsan, a beach resort. A previous report indicated Kim’s personal train was parked in the area.
Music streaming is booming, but TV and smartphone sales will take a hit. Spotify reported $2 billion in sales in the first quarter, while Samsung and LG looked OK for now but warned Q2 will not be pretty. Meanwhile, shares of electric carmaker Nio soared after its Nio China entity scored a $989 million investment.
Shinzo Abe laid out conditions for the Tokyo Olympics to take place. The Japanese prime minister said the pandemic must be “contained” so that athletes and spectators can participate, a sentiment echoed by International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach.
Beijing is easing up on coronavirus restrictions. Along with the municipality of Tianjin and Hebei province, the Chinese capital will no longer mandate the wearing of masks outdoors or force visitors from low-risk areas into quarantine.
Hong Kongers plan an alternative Labor Day protest. After losing an appeal Wednesday against a police ban on marching, organizers said they would set up 50 street booths around the city to show support for workers’ rights and the anti-government movement.
China’s trying to get back in business
☕️👀 The US investigates Luckin Coffee. The Securities and Exchanges Commission will test its reach.
🏭😰 Europe is worried about Chinese corporate takeovers… But analysts say potential buyers might be too wary for a spending spree.
💾😰 …And the US is worried about China getting its tech. Businesses will need to obtain licenses before selling certain products to China.
📹😎 Amazon’s not sweating US–China tensions… It needs thermal cameras, and tapped a blacklisted Chinese company to get 1,500 of them.
🎬💸 …But China’s film industry isn’t getting help from anyone. Historic box office losses will have lasting effects on the way the country makes movies.
Charting top 40 hits on Spotify
Spotify data suggests that Track 1 hits are increasingly the norm (✦ Quartz member exclusive). Those tracks are usually singles, which are counted as Track 1 until the album is released later.
That tracks: People are no longer forced to buy music in bundles, and can pick and choose their favorite songs when streaming. As a result, many musicians are releasing more singles prior to album releases, according to a report from Rolling Stone. But it could also be a statistical blip—or just a result of viral TikTok dance challenges.
For Quartz members
Check out Quartz membership with a ✦ seven-day free trial
Local fitness studios are making it work. Client relationships—even virtually—are helping them compete with the big names.
Groceries may win out over restaurants in the long-term. Making meals at home is cheaper and, if workers are already home, easier to pull off after a long day.
You can read this email—and retain it—in less than a minute. You just need to know how to speed-read correctly.
We’re obsessed with bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is the world’s prettiest invader. It’s the official flower of Grenada, Guam, and cities across China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, California, and Japan—but it’s native to none of them. The cheery harbingers of summer actually originated in South America, and went worldwide shortly after the first woman to circumnavigate the globe stumbled upon them. Let your knowledge bloom with the Quartz Daily Obsession.
Surprising discoveries
Thirty-three countries have no official Covid-19 cases. Some may just not want to admit they do (looking at you, North Korea).
Traffic deaths are on the rise in some US states. Speedsters taking advantage of nearly empty roads may be the culprit.
Forget FAANG stocks, buy GRANOLAS. Goldman Sachs recommends investing in Glaxosmithkline, Roche, ASML, Nestle, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, L’Oreal, LVMH, Astrazeneca, SAP, and Sanofi right now.
There is an arts and culture magazine inspired by Taco Bell. The quarterly publication has no affiliation with the US fast-food chain.
A German soccer team could play to stands full of fans’ cardboard cutouts. For around $20, supporters can pay to have their likenesses seated in Borussia Mönchengladbach’s stadium.
You asked about internet access
How will the pandemic push governments around the world to acknowledge that access to the internet is integral and imperative to basic human needs?
Glad you asked, Melvin. We tapped Quartz senior reporter Ephrat Livni for her take on how perception of internet as a necessary utility has changed. “The pandemic has made it widely apparent that internet access is a class issue. Although the United Nations in 2016 declared that connection is a basic human right, not just a luxury for the rich, it’s clear now that those who can work or study from home are the fortunate ones.
“In the US, major wireless providers have made much ado about connecting the indigent amid the pandemic and offering reduced pricing. It’s nice but the generosity only highlights the problems with private systems. It’s impossible to say what various authorities will focus on next, but there seems to be increased awareness of our interconnectedness in physical space and the need for equality in digital space.”
✉️ Do you have a burning question about how coronavirus is changing the world?
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, Taco Bell essays, and cardboard cutouts of your likeness 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 brought to you by Susan Howson and Liz Webber.