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Here’s what you need to know
A US jury found Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts. The former Minneapolis police officer will now await sentencing for the murder of George Floyd last year.
Alexei Navalny’s allies are calling for a “final battle.” They hope mass protests coinciding with Russian president Vladimir Putin’s annual national address today will save the ailing opposition leader.
The EU will resume using Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine. The bloc’s regulatory agency found a possible link between the shot and rare blood clots, and recommended adding a warning label.
The European Super League collapsed. All six English soccer teams including Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool made a quick retreat after announcing plans to join a breakaway 12-team league financed by JPMorgan Chase.
Xi Jinping will attend Joe Biden’s climate summit. It will be the first meeting between the Chinese and US leaders since Biden took office. Forty heads of state will gather starting tomorrow, virtually of course.
Australia is funding domestic mRNA Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing. The Victorian state government will spend 50 million Australian dollars ($39 million) to produce jabs like those of Pfizer and Moderna in the country for the first time.
Netflix’s Q1 was a mixed bag. It fell well short of its goal of 210 million subscribers, but beat earnings predictions by a dollar a share.
A US watchdog will examine the aviation regulator’s Boeing decision. The transportation department’s audit will evaluate the Federal Aviation Administration’s November decision to unground the Boeing 737 Max.
What to watch for
The Shanghai Auto Show’s opening day offers two glimpses into the future: Its hundreds of booths depict an automotive world defined by electric vehicles and self-driving technology, and the show itself is an example of the large-scale in-person events that have returned in China.
It’s just as interesting by the numbers:
$4,230: The sticker price of the Hongguang Mini, China’s best-selling EV last year after the Tesla Model 3
605: The range in kilometers of BYD’s Han, named after China’s eponymous dynasty
3: Separate firms, Alibaba, SAIC, and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Group, that collaborated to create the Zhiji IM Airo Concept vehicle.
33: Sensors on the Nio ET7’s autonomous driving model
10%: EV car sales in China during March, a first
2023: The year by which Xpeng predicts the EV market will enter a phase of rapid expansion
$87 billion: XPeng’s market value, which has been helped as of late by enthusiastic investors and grand promises it will soon produce 1 million electric cars a year, despite the fact that it has never delivered a single vehicle.
Charting data security trust in India
The Indian government’s track record with data security is abysmal, yet citizens have a lot of trust in it.
According to a YouGov online survey, as many as 35% of urban Indian respondents in a recent survey said they trusted government departments the most with the safety of their personal data. In comparison, just 14% said they trusted e-commerce sites, while only 7% have faith in social media platforms, writes Niharika Sharma.
A new era for amateur stock traders
It’s not just GameStop—retail trade is booming. With fewer barriers to entry and more time and cash on hand, a slew of non-professional traders are betting on the stock market. But some worry that the volatility they’re causing is bad news in the long run. Get into this and more in our most recent presentation: The retail trading boom and why it matters.
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Surprising discoveries
Venmo will let you buy and sell crypto. You won’t be able to use bitcoin to pay your friend back for 🍕 just yet, though.
Reddit’s got a new audio feature. The social media industry is taking Clubhouse very seriously.
There’s a new power washing simulator. It’s as satisfying, if not more so, than popping virtual bubble wrap.
The Swiss blew up a snowman. OK, the pitchfork-wielding Boeoegg is destroyed with fireworks every year, but only this year did he meet his end on Devil’s Bridge.
Amazon is getting into barbering. Londoners can try out new looks with augmented reality, commit to them with real-life stylists, and, of course, order products instantly.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, dirty houses, and Amazon haircut appointment requests 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, Nicolás Rivero, Jordan Lebeau, and Susan Howson.