🌍 Berlusconi’s costly legacy

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Here’s what you need to know

Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi died. He was one of the most influential figures in the country’s republican history, and the most consequential of the past three decades—neither of which was for the better.

Apple iPhones are now among India’s top five exports. Smartphone exports nearly doubled to $10.9 billion in the past year (Apple accounts for half!), blazing past the previous year’s $5.4 billion.

US trade regulators are coming after Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. Their $69 billion proposed tie-up is facing a block from the Federal Trade Commission.

JPMorgan is settling with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims like Deutsche Bank did. The world’s largest bank was facing a lawsuit that accused it of turning a blind eye to the late human trafficker’s dealings, despite warning signs.

Fun fact: Montana’s kids are suing for climate protections

Some of the plaintiffs of Held v Montana—a lawsuit in the US state of Montana that ​​deals with the constitutional right to a “clean and healthful environment”—are so young that they won’t even testify during the trial. But most of the 16 youths, ranging in age from two to 18 at time of filing, are expected to testify this week in the first US trial of its kind. The case aims to establish a governmental duty to protect citizens from climate change, like the Dutch pulled off in 2019.

Nio reluctantly drives into the EV price wars

Joining China’s electric vehicle price war wasn’t on Nio’s itinerary, but six price cuts from Tesla alone this year have made some detours unavoidable.

The Chinese EV maker is trimming $4,200 from its price tags to rev up competition with Tesla, BYD, and others. It’s also getting rid of its free battery swap program. But what is the third most attractive EV stock in China with a $13 billion valuation trying to fend off, exactly? Well, there are a few roadblocks:

😋 Luxury EV maker Lucid is hungry, and wants a slice of China’s auto market

🤑 Tesla has made its cars nearly 50% cheaper in China than they are in the US

😱 BYD, China’s largest EV company, had some BIG profit growth last year—like, 446%

One big number: 30

The number of people in the UK who will receive £1,600 ($1,984) a month for the next two years as part of a universal basic income pilot

How many pilots like this do we really need to prove giving away money works? Quartz’s Tim Fernholz explains what these experiments can and can’t teach us.

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⚡ The White House is trying to persuade Tesla to keep the US’s EV charging standard alive

👋🏾 Women are quitting India’s biggest IT firm as it ends work-from-home

🤖 OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is expanding his road show to shape AI regulation around the globe

🧐 What kind of government documents was Trump holding at Mar-a-Lago?

Surprising discoveries

Successioncore is filling closets. Wearers of taupe suits and cashmere sweaters are all about that soft power.

A $3.4 million luxury Speedmaster watch was found to be fake. It looked real enough to fool its maker.

A warmer planet is making plane rides much bumpier. Instances of severe turbulence are up 55% from 1979 to 2020 for North Atlantic trips.

Avoiding short-term indulgences doesn’t make you happy or healthier in the long-term. In fact, giving into short-term desires—strategically, that is—may improve our wellbeing. In other words: eat the cake.

Don’t throw away that creepy doll in your grandparents’ basement. It could sell for $66,000 at an auction.

Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, mauve blazers, and chocolate cake to talk@qz.com. Reader support makes Quartz available to all—become a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Morgan Haefner.