Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Brexit results. It’s the moment of truth: will the United Kingdom stay in the European Union, or will it go? The vote tally is expected sometime during Europe’s morning.
Donald Trump goes to Scotland. The presumptive Republican candidate for US president is abandoning his floundering campaign to open a golf course, in a country where he’s despised by locals. One political strategist said: “Everyone knows this is the wrong thing for the nominee to be doing now.”
The new Panama canal opens. It’s a $5.4 billion fast lane for global shipping, designed to accommodate massive new container vessels. It took 10 years and 40,000 workers to widen the canal, though global shipping is currently in a deep slump.
While you were sleeping
Stocks surged on expectation of a Brexit defeat. US markets closed up more than 1% and the pound strengthened against the dollar, as investors bet that the “Remain” camp would prevail.
A masked gunman took hostages inside a German cinema. He fired four shots without hitting anyone, before German special police shot and killed him. German officials say he “appeared to have been a disturbed man.”
A jury cleared Led Zeppelin of plagiarism for “Stairway to Heaven.” A jury ruled for the band in a lawsuit that claimed its rock anthem was copied from a 1968 song by the band Spirit. The long-running dispute highlights the seemingly arbitrary enforcement of US copyright law.
A tornado killed at least 78 people in eastern China. Local authorities issued extreme weather warnings and began evacuations, but it was too late for many residents. The tornado ripped through Jiangsu province at 125 km/h, injuring hundreds of people and reducing buildings to rubble.
Volkswagen reportedly reached a $10.3 billion settlement with US regulators. Sources told Reuters the company will buy back 500,000 vehicles and set aside billions of dollars for green energy projects to settle emissions-cheating claims. US owners will reportedly receive around $5,000, but the settlement doesn’t include suits filed by US states or investors.
Quartz markets haiku
The markets seem sure
that the British will remain
but let’s count the votes
Quartz obsession interlude
Alison Griswold on the unbearable whiteness of Airbnb-ing. “Airbnb has publicly condemned discrimination, but fixing it is much tougher. It can’t be debunked like a hotel industry report or lobbied away like restrictive rental regulations. Unlike any problem Airbnb has faced before, discrimination is poisoning the platform from within.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Millennials love a good side hustle. Thanks to the 2008 financial crisis, second jobs are essential to a younger generation trying to get by.
Selfishness is learned behavior. Humans are intuitively generous and cooperative, but overthinking can override those instincts.
Artificial intelligence suffers from a dude problem. Without more female engineers, AIs will be just as biased as their human creators.
Surprising discoveries
Steve Jobs helped the Cleveland Cavaliers win the NBA title. Lebron James played Jobs’ commencement speech to motivate his teammates.
Alphabet’s latest robot can do the chores and shake its booty. The SpotMini looks a little bit like a twerking giraffe.
Elon Musk’s brother is opening a restaurant where everything is $5 or less. Kimbal Musk will have an uphill battle to undercut chains like Chipotle.
Lightning disproportionately targets the poor. Rural homes don’t have enough plumbing or wiring to divert the electrical shock.
KFC’s fried chicken boxes can double as phone chargers. The fast-food chain is giving them away in Delhi and Mumbai.
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