Amazon, Twitter, and Apple report earnings

Good morning, Quartz readers! The US’s top infectious disease expert praised a Covid-19 drug. Results from a clinical trial of remdesivir in the US saw people who received the antiviral recovering faster than the placebo group, which Anthony Fauci [Quartz]( Sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! Here’s what you need to know The US’s top infectious disease expert praised a Covid-19 drug. Results from a [clinical trial]( of remdesivir in the US saw people who received the antiviral recovering faster than the placebo group, which Anthony Fauci said was “[quite good news]( An earlier study in China had found no “[significant clinical benefits]( Gilead reports earnings. The US biopharmaceutical giant behind remdesivir, which was originally created to treat Ebola, [posts first-quarter results today](. Given the buzz surrounding the drug, Gilead’s stock is already 21% up this year. Royal Dutch Shell cut its dividend for the first time since the second world war. There’s been an unprecedented fall in demand for oil, and [the company’s decision]( reverberated around London’s stock markets. France entered a recession. European central bank officials are meeting, possibly to [discuss an expansion]( in its modest bond-buying program. The need for more stimulus is growing, after new GDP data showed that Spain’s economy also [shrank by 5%]( ,compared to [France’s 5.8%.]( US retail workers are organizing a May Day strike. [Employees at Amazon]( Walmart, and Target are keeping shelves stocked and online deliveries flowing amid the pandemic. They want [better protections]( including more protective equipment. Silicon Valley vs. Covid-19 Amazon posts first-quarter earnings. The trillion-dollar company is one of the few businesses that has [emerged stronger]( during the pandemic, though rising expenses could [eat into its bottom line](. [Apple]( and [Twitter]( also report today. Facebook had a mixed day. Though the social media company [saw a sharp decline]( in ad revenues in March, it said April is looking up—news that sent its stock soaring in after-hours trading. Microsoft also reported earnings, [and it’s doing well](. Elon Musk ranted against lockdowns. Tesla reported its third straight [quarterly profit]( but that didn’t stop its CEO, who has previously said panic over the pandemic was “dumb,” from calling [California’s shelter-in-place orders “fascist.”]( Tesla’s Fremont factory remains closed. Charting top 40 hits on Spotify Spotify data suggest that [Track 1 hits are increasingly the norm]( (✦ Quartz member exclusive). Those tracks are usually singles, which are counted as Track 1 until the album is released later. That tracks: People are no longer forced to buy music in bundles, and can pick and choose their favorite songs when streaming. As a result, many musicians are releasing more singles prior to album releases, according to [a report from Rolling Stone](. But it could also be a statistical blip—or just a result of [viral TikTok dance challenges](. [A chart of the Track number of Spotify top 40 hits in the US in 2020] Sponsor content by PepsiCo Finding hope in a bowl of gazpacho. Food demand is rising, the world is warming, and the future is fraught. But this Spanish gazpacho producer is writing the future of sustainable agriculture. [Tap through this photo essay]( to see for yourself. For Quartz members Check out Quartz membership with a ✦[seven-day free trial]( Local fitness studios are making it work. [Client relationships]( virtually—are helping them compete with the big names. Groceries may win out over restaurants in the long-term. [Making meals at home]( is cheaper and, if workers are already home, easier to pull off after a long day. You can read this email—and retain it—in less than a minute. You just need to know [how to speed-read]( correctly. Quartz announcement Research shows that resume training significantly increases your chances of getting a job (and of getting a good one). [Register to join us]( later today for 'Career Building in Quarantine' and learn from a group of experts how to stand out in a crowded hiring pool. We’re obsessed with bougainvillea Bougainvillea is the world’s prettiest invader. It’s the official flower of Grenada, Guam, and cities across China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, California, and Japan—but it’s native to none of them. The cheery harbingers of summer actually originated in South America, and went worldwide shortly after the first woman to circumnavigate the globe stumbled upon them. [Let your knowledge bloom with the Quartz Daily Obsession.]( Surprising discoveries Crocs are cool (again). The controversial shoe is [having a moment]( as people avoid friends, and stay at home during the pandemic. Sweden has a smelly idea for social distancing… The city of Lund is considering [dumping chicken poop]( in a park to prevent people from gathering for today’s Walpurgis Night festivities. …while a Spanish beach tried bleach. A local official in Cádiz apologized for [spraying diluted disinfectant]( to deter crowds from getting some sun and sand. There’s a literary magazine called Taco Bell Quarterly. It’s unaffiliated with the fast food chain, but [runs poetry, essays, and stories]( about its delicacies. One German soccer stadium is filling up with cardboard cutouts. Supporters of Borussia Mönchengladbach are [placing them]( in stands to keep player morale up during the pandemic. You asked about internet access How will the pandemic push governments around the world to acknowledge that access to the internet is integral and imperative to basic human needs? Glad you asked, Melvin. We tapped Quartz senior reporter Ephrat Livni for her take on how perception of internet as a necessary utility has changed. “The pandemic has made it widely apparent that internet access is a class issue. Although the United Nations in 2016 declared that connection is a basic human right, not just a luxury for the rich, it’s clear now that those who can work or study from home are the fortunate ones. “In the US, major wireless providers have made much ado about connecting the indigent amid the pandemic and offering reduced pricing. It’s nice but the generosity only highlights the [problems with private systems](. It’s impossible to say what various authorities will focus on next, but there seems to be increased awareness of our interconnectedness in physical space and the need for equality in digital space.” ✉️ [Do you have a burning question about how coronavirus is changing the world?](mailto:needtoknow+questions@qz.com) Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, cardboard cutouts, and the latest issue of Taco Bell Quarterly to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by [downloading our app]( on iOS or Android and[becoming a member](. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Adam Rasmi and Luiz Romero. [facebook]( [twitter]( [external-link]( Enjoying Quartz Daily Brief? Forward it to a friend! They can [click here]( to sign up. If you’re looking to unsubscribe, [click here](. Quartz | 675 Avenue of the Americas, 4th Fl | New York, NY 10011 | United States Copyright © 2020 Quartz, All rights reserved.