US lockdowns extended, tech and hate speech, flying snakes

Good morning, Quartz readers! More US states are delaying the end of lockdown. The governors of Arizona and Tennessee signed executive orders yesterday that maintain many restrictions, while Georgia and Kansas are expected to follow suit today. “I [Quartz]( Sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! Here’s what you need to know More US states are delaying the end of lockdown. The governors of Arizona and Tennessee [signed executive orders]( yesterday that maintain many restrictions, while Georgia and Kansas are expected to follow suit today. “I think there was a lot of wishful thinking around the country,” said Anne Schuchat, a top CDC official. There’s good news and bad news for Boeing. [Test flights have begun]( for its updated 737 Max, which has been grounded since last year after two fatal crashes. But Norwegian Air, itself struggling badly, said that it’s suing Boeing and [canceling a deal]( to buy nearly 100 planes. Something may be afoot at Postmates. [According to Reuters]( the American on-demand delivery company is reviving plans for an IPO, while [the New York Times reports]( that Uber has made an offer to buy it for $2.6 billion. China passed a controversial national security law for Hong Kong. [Protests and free speech]( are likely to be severely restricted, although the full text is not yet available. In anticipation, the US already [began to end]( Hong Kong’s special trade status. India banned dozens of Chinese apps, including TikTok. The two countries’ dispute moves beyond a fatal border clash to[tech and trade]( say Quartz reporters in India and Hong Kong. TikTok has been [hugely popular in India]( but it’s also had [a bumpy ride there,]( and there may be [a local alternative](. Sponsor content by Xerox 56% of businesses will invest in tech for flexible work. New research shows that companies planning a return to the office are looking for tools to support a staff with diverse needs. [See how emerging tech could resolve workplace pain points](. Tech is cracking down on hate speech Twitch vs. the US president. The streaming service [banned Donald Trump’s account]( for videos of rallies featuring racist language, as part of its commitment to weed out hate speech. Reddit banned more than 2,000 subreddits, [including one that supported Trump](. CEO Steve Huffman, known for his dedication to free speech, enforced new policies banning hate speech after backlash from users. YouTube gave white supremacists the axe. Stefan Molyneux, David Duke, and Richard Spencer have all been found to be [in violation of the video platform’s newly updated policies](. Charting supply chain leaders in China It’s been a tumultuous few years for corporate supply chain managers. As if the US-China trade war wasn’t enough, along came Covid-19, which upended industries from tech to fashion and laid bare how much global corporations rely on China for manufacturing and components. China’s rising costs already had companies looking to broaden their sourcing, but [recent events are stepping up the urgency]( (✦ Quartz member exclusive). While expenses from trade-war tariffs are at the top of the list of reasons, the pandemic has caused companies to seek supply chains that are generally more resilient to disruptions. For members: Getting the picture about commuting’s future The coronavirus pandemic is transforming the way the world moves through its cities. As they often do, emojis provide a pretty decent picture of the challenges facing different places across the globe. Test how much you know about the world’s shifting commuting practices by identifying specific issues below. - [🇮🇳 🚇 💔 🚌]( - [🇺🇸 🌆 🛵 💪]( - [🇿🇦 🚐 😠💸]( Answers: 1. [It’ll take more than a pandemic to break down Delhi’s beloved Metro system]( 2. [San Francisco is leading the charge to dethrone cars]( 3. [Social-distancing is wrecking the economics of South Africa’s most dysfunctional—and vital—public transport]( Need to brush up? You can read all of these and more in our [field guide about the commuting revolution](. ✦ We ❤️ our members—find out just how much with a [seven-day free trial]( We promise that we almost always use actual words in the award-winning stories, presentations, and field guides available to members. ✦ Quartz announcement Our glasses are half-full. And we’ve got a reason yours should be too. Take 50% off Quartz membership when you sign up this week and we’re sure it’ll fill up your cup. [Sign me up!]( You asked about startup investing What will be the impact of the pandemic on the rather risk-taking angel investors and their rampant funding of tech startups? Do we expect the dynamics to change for good? An excellent question. Funding difficulties have been reported [in outlets like the Houston Chronicle]( and [Crunchbase]( due to the large number of industries that have been affected by the global Covid-19 pandemic. Angel (early stage) and venture capital investors are writing fewer checks due to the challenging operating environment and uncertain future. This has resulted in startups seeking government contracts, grants, establishing partnerships with big companies, depleting personal savings, and even going into debt to finance their companies. However, there are definitely still opportunities focused on providing goods and services that are especially in demand right now, such as remote-access IT services, critical infrastructure, and enterprise software. Globally, though, VC investors have [already tightened purse strings]( and where funds will be directed in the future has yet to be determined. [📬 Email us your coronavirus question [arrow]](mailto:reply+coronavirus@qz.com?subject=My%20coronavirus%20question) Surprising discoveries Disney is revamping its Splash Mountain rides. [The log flume ride]( is inspired by the racist live-action and animated musical film Song of the South. A ready-made pizza had a pepperoni swastika on it. It was [a rude shock]( for an Ohio couple’s family dinner. Flying snakes soar by squirming. Scientists gave the reptilian aviators miniature motion-capture suits to [unlock the secret of how they glide](. “Wild swimming” is on the rise. With pools closed, bathers in the UK are [diving into natural bodies of water]( to get their aquatic fix. An STD-like fungus could turn millions of cicadas into zombies. Insects invaded by a lethal fungus are [consumed by a singular drive to mate]( until they meet their unappealing end. Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, inoffensive pizzas, and swimming hole recommendations 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 Hasit Shah, Susan Howson, Karen Ho, Marc Bain, and Nicolás Rivero. [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.