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Hereās what you need to know
Elon Musk is buying Twitter. The social media company will be acquired by the billionaire for $54.20 a share, in a deal worth roughly $44 billion. Musk plans to take Twitter private.
The US escalated its message toward Moscow. Defense secretary Lloyd Austin said the US hopes the war in Ukraine will result in a āweakenedā Russia.
Lockdown fears spooked markets. Chinese stocks had their worst selloff in more than two years while oil benchmarks dropped as covid restrictions in Shanghai stretched on, and Beijing residents prepared for similar measures.
The ruble continued its rise. The Russian currency climbed to more than 77 rubles against the euro, its highest level in nearly two years, thanks to tax payments companies are expected to make this week.
Ford is making more EVs. The automaker said it will increase production of its F-150 electric truck to 150,000 vehicles in the next year, up from an initial goal of 40,000.
Coca-Colaās earnings rebounded. The beverage manufacturer posted higher sales last quarter even as the cost of goods such as corn syrup rose.
Handpicked Quartz: The Musk edition
šŖ Parag Agrawalās career as Twitter CEO could be over before it really beganā¦
š ā¦because the poison pill obviously didnāt work!
š§ So hereās why Twitter reconsidered Elon Muskās buyout dealā¦
š° ā¦and what he should focus on if he really wants to fix Twitter.
š¦ Hot take: Deleting Twitter is the new moving to Canadaā¦
š¬ ā¦and ICYMI: What Twitter founder Jack Dorsey initially said about Muskās bid
ā¦ Love stories like these? Support our mission by becoming a memberāuse code MAKEBIZBETTER to take 50% off.
What to watch for
Hong Kongās Foreign Correspondents Club has hosted the Human Rights Press Awards for a quarter century. Over the weekend, the clubās board voted to cancel the eventājust 10 days in advance.
Independent news outlet Stand News, raided by police under the 2020 national security law, was rumored to be among this yearās winners. This month, one of the judges of the event, journalist Allan Au, was arrested on sedition charges. In an email to members, club president Keith Richburg said journalists faced many āred linesā in the city, and the club made a difficult decision as it did ānot wish unintentionally to violate the law.ā
Eight journalists, including Quartzās Mary Hui, resigned from the clubās press freedom committee on Sunday, with many citing the inability to continue serving the mission of upholding press freedom given the boardās decision. (Quartzās Asia editor was also previously a board member.)
As of Monday afternoon, the clubās website no longer says it ādefend[s] press freedom in Hong Kong and across the Asia region.ā
India has a Russia shipping problem
The war in Ukraine is messing up shipping logistics for India. Indian exports to Russia are costing businesses a fortune, thanks to a surge in crude oil prices and an existing shortage in shipping vessels.
To make matters worse, ships carrying some 3,000 Indian containers bound for Russia are reportedly stuck in Europe and west Asia. Shipping companies are starting to charge exporters for returning undelivered containers, forcing some exporters to find alternative routes on land, seek new buyers in other countries, or just re-import the items.
With passages like the Black Sea blocked, India has had to redraw its routes, like using the Chinese port of Qingdao and Turkey to reach Russia and its neighbors, as well as Iranās Chabahar port. All this has significantly increased the cost pressures for exporters, with no clear end in sight.
Actually, everything has an everything shipping problem
Meanwhile, despite attempts to jumpstart its economy, Shanghaiās lockdowns are wreaking havoc on the global supply chain. Itās not a good sign for US ports, which are just now emerging from the mess caused by last yearās congestion and delays.
Even, say, the soon-to-be owner of Twitter, isnāt immune from the woes of a foundering supply chain.
Surprising discoveries
The oldest person in the world died at age 119. Kane Tanaka of Japan was born in January 1903, the same year the Wright Brothers flew the first airplane.
A forgotten cask of whisky sold for a record Ā£1 million ($1.3 million). A US buyer purchased a Ā£5,000 ($6,400) cask from the Macallan Distillery more than 30 years ago, then apparently left it there.
Speaking of forgotten booze: A bunch of cognac has gone missing. Bacardi sued American Airlines over $65,000 worth of the spirit, which allegedly disappeared on a cargo flight from Paris to Los Angeles.
Most Americans donāt want the land before time. Just 10% of US adults said they would support reviving the tyrannosaurus rex from extinction.
Snack food offerings will only take edible bugs so far. To really worm its way into mainstream acceptance, the insect industry needs to get itself on restaurant menus. Find out more in the latest episode of the Quartz Obsession podcast.
š¦ Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | StitcherĀ
Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, found booze, and more found booze to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our iOS app and becoming a member. Todayās Daily Brief was brought to you by Tripti Lahiri, Susan Howson, Courtney Vinopal, and Morgan Haefner.