EgyptAir hijacking, Yahoo taking offers, the first cyborg Olympics

[Quartz - qz.com] Daily Brief sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! What to watch for today Turkey’s president makes an uneasy US visit. Recep Tayyip Erdogan [won’t get a one-on-one meeting with Barack Obama] (paywall) amid US concerns about Turkey’s crackdown on dissent and democracy. Later in the week, Erdogan will attend a nuclear security summit with more than 50 world leaders. Japan gives direction on economic stimulus. Prime minister Shinzo Abe will announce details of [a new stimulus package], which may include delaying a sales tax hike. He could also introduce vouchers for shopping and child care, along with a pay raise for workers at the country’s overcrowded nursery schools. The Bank of England releases stress-test scenarios for banks. The central bank also [publishes its report]on underwriting standards for mortgage lenders amid fears of a property bubble. While you were sleeping An EgyptAir flight from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked. The hijacker demanded the flight be [diverted to Larnaca airport] in Cyprus. Most passengers were released after landing. Officials at Egypt’s ministry of foreign affairs said the hijacker is seeking asylum and wants to contact with his ex-wife in Cyprus. The UN ruled that the Falkland Islands lie in Argentina’s waters. The decision [increases Argentina’s maritime territory] by 35%—or an additional 660,000 square miles—and may sway the ongoing dispute between Argentina and Britain over ownership of the islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas. Yahoo set a deadline for interested bidders. The beleaguered internet company has given potential suitors until April 11 to [submit proposals] for its core web business and Asian assets, according to the Wall Street Journal. Japan released mixed economic results for February. Retail sales [fell 2.3% month-on-month] from January, the biggest monthly contraction [since April 2014] (paywall) and a sign the economy is struggling to rebound. But overall household spending rebounded [by the most in six months] (paywall). Indonesia confirmed the hijacking of a vessel in Philippine waters. The Indonesian foreign ministry said 10 crewmen [had been kidnapped] and were being held for ransom, possibly by the militant group Abu Sayyaf. Sponsor content by Hewlett Packard Enterprise This Year in Data Compromise: Collateral Damage. The HPE Cyber Risk Report provides an overview of the latest trends in the threat landscape and supplies resources for minimizing risk. [Download your copy today.][Advertisement] Quartz obsession interlude Steve Levine on Elon Musk’s moment of truth. “If motorists buy the Tesla Model 3 in the hundreds of thousands, he will have delivered on his vow to make an electric car for the general public. The consequences of all this turning out well could be considerable profit for Musk and his investors, not to mention a new upheaval in geopolitics.” [Read more here]. Matters of debate “Solitary” confinement is even worse with a cellmate. Thousands of US prisoners are forced to share incredibly tiny spaces, sometimes with [homicidal roommates.] Tech firms now run Western politics. With democracy under threat from terrorism and rising inequality, Google and Facebook have [taken control]. America’s “Superman” obsession highlights a hypocritical attitude toward violence. It’s not always about [bad guys or good guys]. Surprising discoveries A former Nazi SS officer became an Israeli hitman. Former Mossad officers say Otto Skorzeny was [one of Hitler’s favorites]. Chinese researchers have invented a car with facial recognition. The high-tech police vehicle can [pick criminal suspects out] of a crowd. A US city is paying criminals to not murder. Convicts in Richmond, California get [up to $1,000] a month for not committing gun crimes. There are two religions where men are more devout than women. They are: [Islam and Orthodox Judaism]. Switzerland is hosting the world’s first cyborg Olympics. Disabled people who use electronic prosthetics will compete as part of “[human-machine collaborations].” Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, Tesla shares, and cyborg training tips to [hi@qz.com]. And download [our new iPhone app] for news throughout the day. Want to receive the Daily Brief at a different time? [Click here] to change your edition. To unsubscribe entirely, [click here]. Like us on [Facebook] and follow us on [Twitter]. Quartz | 233 Park Ave S, 2nd Fl | New York, NY 10003 | United States