Olympic travel, George Floyd anniversary, new richest person

Plus: India’s “black fungus” problem. [Quartz]( Sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! Here’s what you need to know US athletes should still go to the Olympics, Japanese officials insist. [That’s despite a warning]( from the US Centers for Disease Control, which advised against traveling to Japan, where Covid-19 infections are rising and vaccination rates are low. Amazon is reportedly set to buy MGM. The deal could be worth [up to $9 billion](, the Wall Street Journal reports, and would give the tech giant access to a wealth of popular content. Peloton is opening a factory in the US. The new facility in Ohio will create 2,000 jobs, the company claims, and [could ease supply issues]( for its popular at-home fitness products. Apple and Epic await a judge’s decision. Lawyers for the tech giant and gaming company closed out their arguments in [the final day of a courtroom battle]( over in-app payments. The EU will impose further sanctions on Belarus. [Belarusian airlines are already banned]( from European airspace following the forced diversion of a commercial flight and subsequent arrest of dissident Roman Protasevich. US secretary of state Anthony Blinken begins his Middle East tour. He landed in Israel this morning, and aims to [consolidate the ceasefire]( in Gaza. Sponsor content by Fidelity Investments Stock have too high a price? Buy a slice. Trade fractional shares with Fidelity and own a slice of your favorite companies with as little as $1. [Learn more]( Stocks by the SliceSM at Fidelity. Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC. What to watch for One of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s most frequently repeated quotes is: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Over time, we’ve learned the arc doesn’t bend on its own; it bends under the collective weight of millions of humans who replace the inertia of our past with the vibrancy of our brighter future. —Robert F. Smith, CEO, Vista Equity Partners Today is the anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, whose death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer set off an international antiracism movement. Instead of the sweeping police reform bill Joe Biden had promised by today, the US president will [host Floyd’s family at the White House](. Legislators aren’t the only ones behind in their equality goals. Robert F. Smith, quoted above, says companies who are directing funds towards these initiatives are on the right track, but lasting impact will depend on how they also [build infrastructure and donate brainpower]( to solving some of society’s deepest problems. We asked a number of business leaders what progress has been made in the past year, and what we need to do to keep striving towards equality. Quartz will be publishing a series of their responses over the coming week. Charting the stock that created the world’s richest person Bernard Arnault, CEO and majority owner of French luxury group LVMH, has surpassed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to become [the world’s richest person](, Marc Bain reports. [A chart showing the rise of LVMH stock prices, which dipped in early 2020 but have risen steeply since.] Whereas Bezos built his fortune as the proprietor of the internet’s “everything store,” Arnault made his name and money from a collection of companies specializing in finely made leather goods, couture fashion, and high-end spirits. Over the past several months, LVMH, the parent of brands like Louis Vuitton and Tiffany, has seen its sales come roaring back from the pandemic, particularly among Chinese and US shoppers. India’s “black fungus” problem Mucormycosis, colloquially known as black fungus, is a serious fungal infection that was seen in small numbers in India before Covid-19. But it is now affecting post-Covid patients in larger numbers. Thus far, this surge has been attributed to the improper use of steroids to treat Covid-19 patients, coupled with poorly managed diabetes. But steroids are not the true villains—the problem lies in how they’re prescribed. Manavi Kapur talks to pulmonologist Lancelot Pinto about [what’s causing the unprecedented rise](, and how such an infection can best be avoided. ✦ Gain access to all of Quartz’s coverage of [India’s Covid crisis]( by [trying out a Quartz membership]( for free. Handpicked Quartz 🚨 [The Belarus plane “hijacking” highlights the pitfalls of crisis communication]( 🥱 [Streaming services are vying to create the least annoying ad experience]( 🚫 [Japan’s best-known tech investor thinks holding the Olympics is a terrible idea]( 🔨 [Why Facebook, Google, and Amazon want to build online payments platforms for India]( 👍 [ESG remains a relevant pathway to a good society]( 👟 [South Africans are upset Adidas isn’t selling this one shoe to them]( 🍆 [Tinder is using AI to monitor DMs and tame the creeps]( 🏝 [Airbnb’s newest features are a response to the work-from-anywhere trend]( Surprising discoveries The Gates Foundation sold all its Apple and Twitter stock. Its trust [invested in South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang]( instead. A Japanese baby food maker spent Â¥2.7 million ($25,000) on two melons. Hokkaido Products plans to [give pieces of the auctioned fruit]( to 10 families with children. Nine South Korean cities and towns have claimed Samsung’s ex-chairman as a native son. They all want to [host his art collection](, which is valued at about $2.2 billion. Thieves made off with £1 million ($1.4 million) of treasures from a UK castle. Among the [stolen items]( are rosary beads belonging to Mary Queen of Scots. Police identified a drug dealer from his picture of a block of cheese. The photo showed enough of his [palm and fingerprints]( to make a match. SHARE TO EARN SWAG Coffee cups, tote bags, free membership, and more. Refer the Quartz Daily Brief to friends, family, and coworkers to earn all of these premium prizes. [Share the Daily Brief today]( and start reaping the rewards. Correction: Yesterday’s email erroneously included China as one of the eight nations bordering the Arctic. Those are Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the US (via Alaska), Canada, Denmark (via Greenland), and Iceland. China does not border the Arctic but [is investing in projects there](. We regret the error. Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, stock tips from the Gates Foundation, and why your town deserves Lee Kun-hee’s art collection to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by [downloading our iOS app]( and [becoming a member](. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Hasit Shah, Jane Li, Mary Hui, Susan Howson, and Liz Webber. [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 10010 | United States Copyright © 2021 Quartz, All rights reserved.