Greensill probe, Fukushima water, $21 million moon rocks

Good morning, Quartz readers!

Here’s what you need to know

Rishi Sunak is summoned to parliament over Greensill Capital. The prime minister has ordered a review into how the now-collapsed finance firm secured government contracts, including the role of former prime minister David Cameron in lobbying the UK chancellor.

Japan will release treated radioactive water into the sea. It decided that contaminated water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant poses no safety concerns, despite objections from neighboring countries to what will be a decades-long process.

New Zealand introduced a climate change law for financial firms. The pioneering measure, would require banks, insurers, and investment managers to disclose how they will manage climate risks.

The G7 urged Russia to de-escalate on the Ukraine border. Foreign ministers of the group, plus the European Union, warned Moscow against its military buildup in the region, where tensions have run high in recent weeks.

Muslims begin a second pandemic Ramadan. The holy month, marked by fasting from sunrise to sunset, kicks off today in most of the world, with guidelines for vaccinations and social distancing.

A Minnesota officer allegedly mistook her gun for a Taser. The US cop who fatally shot a Black man during a traffic stop was heard on her body cam footage shouting “I’ll Tase you!” shortly before firing a single shot.

The US isn’t expected to label China a currency manipulator. The yuan will reportedly avoid the label in the Treasury’s upcoming foreign-exchange report. Meanwhile, Taiwan is set to be slapped with the label.

Alibaba shares jumped on news that Ant is being revamped. Chinese regulators ordered the e-commerce giant’s fintech group to restructure as a financial holding company overseen by the central bank, removing uncertainty for investors.

What to watch for

US defense secretary Lloyd J. Austin III  begins his inaugural visit to Europe, having wrapped up meetings in Israel where he recommitted to a longstanding relationship between the two countries. Here’s a rundown of the stops scheduled.

🇩🇪  Today, Austin will meet with his German counterpart, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, to reinforce the value of their defense relationship.

🇧🇪  In Belgium, with NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, Austin will discuss Russia, China, terrorism, climate change, and Covid-19.

🇬🇧  Austin will end his jaunt with a meeting with his UK counterpart Ben Wallace to discuss the importance of UK-US defense cooperation.

Charting Coinbase users

Crypto exchange Coinbase is scheduled to go public on April 14, putting a stamp of legitimacy on a company that could be valued at as much as $100 billion, according to some estimates.

The first risk Coinbase mentions in its S-1 is the whiplash inherent in prices for virtual assets. Interest in bitcoin and other digital assets blossoms when prices are climbing, and can crash when prices tank. User numbers fluctuate accordingly. John Detrixhe lists fun facts from Coinbase’s filing.

What Texas can show Joe Biden about regulation

Orphaned oil and gas wells, many leaking methane gas and spouting pollutants, are poised to pop up around the US, threatening groundwater and air quality.

Targeted in US president Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan to the tune of $16 billion, the goal of plugging wells nationwide is both urgent and admirable.

Still, Texas’s recent energy woes during periods of unusually low temperatures have shown the dangers of lackadaisical regulation of oil companies. Money alone won’t put a cap on the problem, and could leave taxpayers on the hook for years to come.

✦ Want quality news? Tim McDonnell is covering global climate change and energy issues. Don’t have a Quartz membership? Try it for free.

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✅ India approves the Russian vaccine in the midst of a virulent second Covid-19 wave

😷  India’s Covid-19 situation is becoming worse by the day

📈 A techie who once mistrusted the internet is now building one of India’s largest crypto exchanges

🌤 The countries with the highest concentrations of air pollution

Surprising discoveries

The stars aligned for Bhutan’s vaccine administration efforts. The country received doses in January, but administered them last month to coincide with key astrological dates.

A harsh punishment for lockdown violations. Tourists from the US, Mexico, Australia, and Israel were made to write an apology 500 times apiece after ignoring social-distancing measures in Tapovan.

A NASA intern stole $21 million worth of moon rocks. He wanted to have sex on them.

Met, American style. With the focus on the US’s fashion community, there will be two separate galas in September.

A Twitch streamer put himself up for sale as living art. He’ll grace your wall for five years, for a cool $5 million.

Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, gala looks, and new uses for moon rocks to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our iOS app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Mary Hui, Tripti Lahiri, Jordan Lebeau, and Susan Howson.