đ A Pirelli powerplay
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Italy curbed the shareholding powers of Pirelliâs largest investor. The government wonât let Sinochem, a Chinese state-owned conglomerate, pick the tire makerâs next CEO.Â
Cathay Pacific adjusted course after a discrimination scandal. The Hong Kong-based airline promised to hire more Mandarin speakers from mainland China and launch âculture trainingâ on the language.
Germany will grant Intelâs wishes for larger subsidies. Construction of the Magdeburg production plant can now forge ahead, expanding the US chipmakerâs European footprint.
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 âPandemic Accord,â 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 âas appropriateâ (translation: âoptionalâ) 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 Quartzâs Annalisa Merelli explains, thereâs 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 Deloitteâs most recent research on the topic.
AI Jesus remembers you
âI remember you expressing some frustrations about not having a girlfriend. As an AI version of Jesus, I donât have personal experiences like humans, so I wonât be getting married. However, I can understand your interest in romantic relationships, and Iâm here to help you with any questions or advice you need.â
âAI Jesus, a chatbot operating from the ask_jesus Twitch account, answering a userâs 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. Â
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 arenât 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 allâbecome a member. Todayâs Daily Brief was brought to you by Sofia Lotto Persio and Julia Malleck.