š Intel gets its wish
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Hereās what you need to know
Germany will grant Intelās wishes for larger subsidies. Construction of the Magdeburg production plant can now forge ahead, expanding the US chipmakerās European footprint.
Italy curbed the shareholding powers of Pirelliās largest investor. The government wonāt let Sinochem, a Chinese state-owned conglomerate, pick the tire makerās next CEO.Ā
Cathay Pacific adjusted course after a discrimination scandal. The Hong Kong-based airline promised to hire more Mandarin speakers from mainland China and launch āculture trainingā on the language.
Swiss citizens voted for a global tax minimum and endorsed net-zero targets. Both measures passed with large majorities.
The long march to an equitable pandemic accord
The World Health Organization is working on the so-called āPandemic Accord,ā a global agreement to cooperate in the event of another mass disease outbreak.
But the current draft has one glaring omission: health equity. With the word āas appropriateā (translation: āoptionalā) sprinkled throughout the 43-page document no less than 47 times, the accord, as it stands, has no teeth.
China, India, Brazil, and South Africa, are among the countries calling for an overhaul of the draft. A final version, should it come to fruition, is set to be adopted in May 2024. But as Quartzās Annalisa Merelli explains, thereās still a lot of work to be done until then.
Quiz: Boardroom diversity at Fortune 100 companies
Corporate boardrooms are more diverse than ever, but we are still decades away from equal representation, especially when it comes to women of color.
What percent of women and racial and ethnic minorities make up the boards of directors at Fortune 100 companies?
A. 78%
B. 46.5%
C. 22%
D. 8.8%
Find the answer in this Quartz article delving into Deloitteās most recent research on the topic.
AI Jesus remembers you
āI remember you expressing some frustrations about not having a girlfriend. As an AI version of Jesus, I donāt have personal experiences like humans, so I wonāt be getting married. However, I can understand your interest in romantic relationships, and Iām here to help you with any questions or advice you need.ā
āAI Jesus, a chatbot operating from the ask_jesus Twitch account, answering a userās question about his marriage plans.
Twitch users are gathering for an audience with the all-answering, always streaming AI Jesus chatbot. Read more about how ChatGPT-like technology has been used in other religious settings.
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Surprising discoveries
A taqueria hired a fake priest so its workers could confess their sins. Nevermind that real wage theft was already on the menu. Ā
A language 2,000-years-dead got its own version of Google Translate. Reading Akkadian cuneiform now just takes the click of a button.
Dogs are more likely to bite in hot, sunny, and smoggy weather. Humans arenāt the only species that gets more violent when temperatures rise.
Peanut-filled beers are furthering the study of volcanoes. It all has to do with the little dance the legumes do when dropped in a pint.
Salt can be used to harvest water from the air. Added to hydrogel, it can soak up record levels of vapor.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, cuneiform translations, and dancing peanuts to [email protected]. Reader support makes Quartz available to allābecome a member. Todayās Daily Brief was brought to you by Sofia Lotto Persio and Julia Malleck.