China’s bosses convene, MH370 debris discovery, Russia’s rogue debt collectors
Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
China’s leaders convene under smoggy skies. The Communist Party’s rubber-stamp legislature begins its annual session, along with parallel meetings of top government officials. Air quality levels are extremely low due to industrial pollution and seasonal sandstorms.
Brazil’s woeful GDP number. The economy is expected to post a 3.7% decline for 2015—the biggest drop since 1990. Brazil is struggling with a plunge in demand for its natural resources from countries like China, government austerity programs, and stagnant consumer spending.
The Geneva International Motor Show begins. Automakers will unveil their latest high-performance cars as they look to navigate a rapidly changing industry. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, arriving early in Switzerland, suggested that Apple should hire his company to build its long-rumored Apple Car.
While you were sleeping
A pioneering shale gas executive died, a day after being indicted. Aubrey McClendon, the former CEO of Chesapeake Energy, died in a high-speed single-car crash in which he reportedly drove into an embankment. McClendon, who spearheaded the shale oil revolution that reshaped global energy markets, was accused of breaking US antitrust laws.
The UN came down hard on North Korea. The Security Council unanimously approved sanctions requiring all shipments in and out of the country to be inspected. The US and China drafted the resolution after North Korea’s latest nuclear and missile tests.
Investigators may have found more MH370 parts. Malaysia said there was a “high possibility” that debris found in Mozambique came from a Boeing 777, just like the missing Malaysia Air flight. The only other MH370 debris that has surfaced was also found in the eastern Indian Ocean.
El Chapo wants out of Mexico ASAP. Drug kingpin Joaquin Guzmán is attempting to speed up his extradition to the US in hopes of finding better prison conditions. The multiple escapee is complaining about oppressive hourly check-ins with prison guards.
A NATO general accused Russia and Syria of “weaponizing” refugees. Philip Breedlove said the two countries are facilitating the flow of criminals and terrorists into Europe, though he could not put a number on how many are coming in alongside legitimate migrants.
Quartz obsession interlude
Adam Pasick on the anonymous hipsters that are helping Spotify find hot new tracks. “The music streaming giant is taking a new approach with the expansion of its Fresh Finds playlists. They come out once a week, just like Discover Weekly. But Fresh Finds playlists aren’t personalized—instead they rely on the tastemakers among Spotify’s 100 million users, using them like an early-warning system for music.” Read more here.
Quartz markets haiku
After a brief rest
Matters of debate
There’s yet another upside to plunging oil prices. It puts pressure on autocratic regimes.
No, Mozart won’t make your baby smarter. The persistent parenthood myth is completely unsupported by science.
Valentino is hip again. The once-fading couture house is now a street style phenomenon.
Surprising discoveries
Osama Bin Laden cared more about climate change than most politicians. He called for a “political revolution” to save the world from “harmful gases.”
South Korean lawmakers set a new global filibuster record. They spent almost nine days reading aloud from Orwell’s 1984 and internet comments.
An amazing machine can play pop music with 2,000 marbles. Swedish musician Martin Molin built the machine and operates it with a crank.
Summers in much of the world may soon become unlivable. Climate change will hit central Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East particularly hard.
Debt collectors are going rogue in heavily indebted Russia. One threw a Molotov cocktail, another destroyed a baby stroller.
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