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South Africa begins to re-open… Starting today, some businesses will be able to resume operations as the country eases into the second-highest level of a five-tier risk system, after a month of being in lockdown. The country has reported almost 5,700 Covid-19 cases.
…And Australia eased its lockdowns. The Northern Territory became the first state to lift major restrictions, allowing activities such as non-contact sports, while New South Wales will allow households to have two adult visitors at once.
The Premier League talks Project Restart. Executives from England’s top soccer clubs meet to discuss whether to resume play, buoyed by the fact that some other European leagues are eyeing a re-start this month or next—though others have outright canceled the rest of their seasons. France awarded the Ligue 1 title to Paris Saint-Germain.
Joe Biden responds to sexual assault allegations. The US Democratic presidential candidate will break his silence today on claims made by Tara Reade, who said Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993. His campaign has denied the allegations.
Armed protesters stormed Michigan’s State Capitol. They forcibly entered the building in Lansing in protest of stay-at-home orders in the state issued by Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer. Separately, Canada is expected to announce today a ban on 11 categories of assault rifles and other weapons due to a spike in gun crime.
Apple and Amazon reported earnings. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said that the company may lose money in the months ahead due to a sharp rise in coronavirus-related expenses, even as its revenue rose sharply in the first quarter. Apple stock dipped after announcing flat revenue and no future guidance due to uncertainty over the pandemic.
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- The global transition to home fitness is fraught with injury, but fitness experts say staying healthy and safe is easier than it sounds. In our latest field guide on the home fitness boom, we share their advice on working out safely.
- Tesla saw its stock surge after reporting the company’s third-consecutive profitable quarter on Wednesday. These six charts help explain the automaker’s surprisingly successful streak.
- Corporate war rooms are having a moment right now. This is why military phrases are so popular in the corporate fight against Covid-19.
We’re obsessed with the Overton window
Ready for some window shopping? Since its obscure origins in a Midwestern think tank in the 1990s, the Overton window has become one of the best-known political science concepts in the US. The idea of a mappable range of acceptable political discourse—and, more importantly, strategies for manipulating it—has entranced politicians, activists, and lobbyists for nearly 25 years. Today, it’s a go-to explanation for everything from the Trump administration’s media strategy to Brexit to Bernie Sanders’s progressive coalition-building. Change the terms of debate with the Quartz Daily Obsession.
Surprising discoveries
Eels at a Japanese aquarium are feeling pretty lon-eel-y. So why don’t you give them a video call?
Scientists discover the first-known swimming dinosaur. Longer than a Tyrannosaurus rex, meet the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus.
New Zealanders are flocking to get burgers… Police have been sent to burger chains to safely control crowds after the country’s eased its lockdown.
…but Brits won’t be getting their sausage rolls. Baked-goods chain Greggs reversed a decision to re-open some stores next week as they predict too many people will visit.
An English man built a railway in his garden. The retired British Rail worker laid 30 feet (9 meters) of tracks, complete with a hand-cranked wagon, during lockdown.
You asked about remdesivir
What’s the deal with remdesivir?
Okay, you haven’t asked yet, but we know it’s coming. Here’s what we know.
Remdesivir is an antiviral originally developed as a treatment for Ebola. It had minimal effect, but researchers later discovered it blocked some coronaviruses, including those behind SARS and MERS, from replicating in animals. Now, the drug is being tested in Covid-19 patients—and currently, the only way to get access is to be part of a clinical trial.
On April 29, we got the results—but not the data—of one US-run trial. Of 1,063 patients, those given remdesivir recovered in about 11 days, compared to 15 days for those given a placebo. It didn’t show reduced deaths, and, crucially, this is just one study. A smaller remdesivir study found no benefit compared to placebo.
The US study isn’t peer-reviewed yet—a critical vetting process for research. But based on its results, the Food and Drug Administration is expected to issue an emergency use authorization, which would let doctors treat patients with remdesivir outside of trials.
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Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, swimming dinos, and eel dates 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 Isabella Steger and edited by Mary Hui.