Quartz Daily Brief—Putin’s whereabouts, protests in Brazil, China’s painful reforms, marsupial selfies
Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Where in the world is Vladimir Putin? The Russian president, whose whereabouts have been a mystery since March 5, has a meeting scheduled with the president of Kyrgyzstan.
Emergency aid arrives in cyclone-stricken Vanuatu. Supplies are arriving from Australia and New Zealand after a massive storm tore through the tiny Pacific island nation on March 14. More aid has been promised from the UK, France, the UN, and the EU.
The US hits its debt ceiling. The country’s legal limit for how much it can borrow—roughly $18 trillion—goes into effect, after a one-year suspension. If Congress does not raise the limit quickly, Treasury secretary Jack Lew has vowed to use measures to maintain the country’s creditworthiness through at least October.
Over the weekend
Brazilian protestors called for Rousseff’s impeachment. More than 1 million people took to the streets across Brazil to demonstrate against president Dilma Rousseff, with many calling for her ouster over a corruption scandal involving the state-owned oil company Petrobras. Rousseff ran the company at the time of the alleged kickback scheme.
GE sold its Australian and New Zealand retail banking business. General Electric sold its consumer lending arm to a group of investors including private equity firm KKR and Deutsche Bank for A$8.2 billion ($6.3 billion) as it tries to refocus on its industrial roots.
China’s premier warned of painful reforms. At the close of this year’s National People’s Congress, premier Li Keqiang stressed the need for major economic reforms and harsh governmental intervention that would feel ”like taking a knife to one’s own flesh.” The government set the country’s growth target at 7% this year, from 7.4% in 2014.
Valeo went all-in on new-wave cars. The French auto parts maker said it would grow sales to €20 billion ($21 billion) by 2020, from €12.7 billion last year, as it focuses on internet-connected cars, hybrids, and autonomous vehicles.
An HBO documentary series had an explosive real-life finale. Robert Durst, the estranged heir to a New York real estate fortune who was suspected of multiple murders, was arrested in New Orleans for a decades-old killing. The arrest coincided with the finale of the HBO series “The Jinx,” in which a microphone caught him saying: “What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course.”
Eleven Ebola-exposed Americans were sent home. US aid workers in Sierra Leone who had contact with an Ebola-infected colleague were evacuated to the United States. Four will go straight into quarantine, while the remainder have been told to “self-isolate” for 21 days, the standard incubation period for the Ebola virus.
A suspect was arrested over a police shooting in Ferguson. Jeffrey Williams admitted to firing shots that wounded two police officers during a protest in the Missouri town last week, but says he did not intend to harm the officers. He has been charged with assault and firing a gun from a motor vehicle, and could face life in prison if convicted.
Quartz obsession interlude
Jenni Avins on the craze for secondhand yoga pants. ”Lululemon’s corporate culture—calling its store associates “educators” and managers “key leaders,” and sending employees for self-improvement at the Landmark Forum—has earned it comparisons to a cult. But it seems to be a limited-edition manufacturing practice that creates scarcity and drives the deep desire for, say, “Beachscape Wunder Under Pants.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Let’s hope Vladimir Putin is a daddy. If his disappearance is part of paternity leave, it would make the Russian president more human.
Ebola could soften up West Africa for the measles. The interruption of immunizations may create secondary epidemics.
Fossil fuels will save the world. They’ve shown no sign of running out yet, and renewables couldn’t possibly replace them anyway.
Let’s here it for some other irrational numbers. Pi Day was on Saturday, but there are other infinitely-long numbers worthy of appreciation.
There is no such thing as peacetime. War is the norm, not the exception as we would like to believe.
Surprising discoveries
A short walk can reduce chocolate cravings. A 15-minute walk reduces the urge to snack, even when sweets are readily available.
Elton John is taking on Dolce and Gabbana. The singer is campaigning against the designers’ criticism of IVF and same-sex families.
Quokka selfies are storming the internet. The cute Australian marsupial appears happy to pose for the camera.
Women won’t earn as much as men until 2058. That’s according to a new report from the US-based Institute for Women’s Policy Research.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, marsupial selfies, and pi rivals to [email protected]. You can follow us on Twitter here for updates throughout the day.