Apple’s e-book bill, Sharapova’s drug fail, single-malt shortage
Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Brexit fears grow. Bank of England governor Mark Carney will address parliament on the financial implications of an EU exit. The central bank is already bracing for economic turmoil from the referendum.
More US presidential results. Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan, and Mississippi will hold primaries or caucuses, with results expected Tuesday evening. Donald Trump is expected to win the crucial state of Michigan, but analysts are scrutinizing his performance there to see if his lead is flagging.
A total eclipse of the sun, for a select few. Most of Southeast Asia will be treated to a partial eclipse, but Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, and New Guinea will experience this year’s only total solar eclipse. Through the magic of international date lines, the eclipse will actually end the day before it begins.
While you were sleeping
Foreign leaders fretted about Donald Trump. Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto compared Trump to Hitler and Mussolini, and said his country would not pay for Trump’s proposed border wall. Meanwhile, diplomats from Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia have complained to their US counterparts about the Republican frontrunner’s xenophobic statements, Reuters reported.
The US killed 150 al-Shabaab fighters. The Pentagon said it stopped an “imminent” attack on US troops and their allies in Somalia by killing dozens of fighters from the extremist group. They were reportedly standing in formation when they were targeted by US drones and manned aircraft.
Maria Sharapova failed a drug test. The highest paid female athlete in the world for 11 straight years said she has been taking a medication called meldonium for a decade to treat “health issues.” The tennis star claimed to be unaware that the drug, which boosts endurance, was added to a prohibited list starting in January.
Unprecedented clashes erupted in Tunisia. More than fifty people died in fighting between the army and extremists near the Libyan border, amid fears that unrest could spill over from Libya.
The US Supreme Court stuck Apple with a $450 million bill. Justices turned down an appeal from the tech company, letting stand a lower-court ruling that forced Apple to pay a huge sum in an antitrust lawsuit over the pricing of its electronic books.
Quartz obsession interlude
Ashley Rodriguez on how to pinpoint where and when someone used your Netflix account. “Netflix’s sharing policy, which allows viewers to simultaneously stream content on up to four devices at a time, is great for the two-thirds of users who share their accounts with family and friends. It also means that people may be hitching a ride on your account with your knowing it.” Read more here.
Quartz markets haiku
So strange to see it
A tonne of iron aloft
It’s China again
Matters of debate
Africans must be able to travel freely. They need visas to travel to more than half of the countries on the continent, hurting tourism and commerce.
Law schools need to come clean. They are accused of misrepresenting alumni employment records, suckering students into taking on vast amounts of debt.
Flying is no fun for fat people. “I am watched—and judged harshly—as I try—and fail—to fit into a space that was made for someone else.”
Surprising discoveries
Time is the enemy of the global Scotch shortage. A mandatory three-year aging process makes it hard for supply to meet demand.
There is a hefty cost to pay if you’re not white, straight, and male. There’s a $300,000 tab if you’re a woman in the US tech industry, for instance.
The US accidentally created a $3 trillion industry. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) were dreamt up by market regulators after a big stock market crash.
Amazon is trying to shame workers out of stealing. Factory employees have to watch a video about wayward coworkers when they clock in every morning.
A Florida woman in a “Scooby Doo” van gave police the slip. The “Mystery Machine” van was abandoned but the fugitive remains at large.
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