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What to watch for today and over the weekend
Empty stadiums in Italy. The country’s top soccer league, the Serie A, will resume matches on the weekend following a number of postponements and a government decree that spectators cannot attend sporting events due to coronavirus. Over 140 people have died from the disease in Italy. The English Premier League is also mulling a move to play games behind closed doors, and has already advised players and match officials against shaking hands in this weekend’s fixtures.
US job numbers. Economists estimate that some 175,000 new jobs were added to the US economy in February, but today’s report could be the last healthy one for a while due to a slowdown caused by coronavirus.
International Women’s Day. People will gather across the globe on Sunday to march for women’s rights. Activists in Pakistan have received permission for their version of the women’s march with a warning not to violate “moral values,” but elsewhere, such as in Kazakhstan, events have been called off due to coronavirus.
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Turkey and Russia reached a ceasefire. Following a meeting between leaders of the two countries in Moscow, the announcement freezes the advance by Russia-backed Syrian forces in Idlib province, where almost a million people have been displaced. The two sides will establish a security corridor with joint patrols.
South Korea rationed face masks. The government banned the export of face masks and enacted a domestic rationing policy to evenly allocate supplies. Starting this weekend, authorities will also distribute two masks per person using an unusual system based on a person’s year of birth, as cases in Korea surged past 6,000. The government also blasted Japan for its new policy to quarantine visitors from Korea, amid a broader diplomatic fallout between the two countries.
India’s Yes Bank tanked. The lender’s shares fell as much as 30% after the central bank announced yesterday it would take over its board and halt operations temporarily. Yes Bank, India’s fifth-largest private lender, failed to raise sufficient capital to offset a rise in bad loans.
OPEC backed its biggest cuts since 2008. The group of oil-producing states agreed to cut output by 1.5 million barrels per day to halt the slide of prices, which have already fallen by around 20% this year. The deal is still waiting on approval from the broader OPEC+ group, which includes Russia and Kazakhstan.
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The slow wear-and-tear of toxic stress. When a child faces constant and unrelenting stress, from neglect, or abuse, or living in chaos, it may derail normal development. Figuring out how to address stressors before that happens is one of the biggest questions in the field of childhood development today. Take a breath, then read the Quartz Daily Obsession.
Matters of debate
Elizabeth Warren was “too competent.” Many American voters found the idea of an intelligent, confident woman condescending and alienating.
A Hermès bag is a better investment than art. One-year returns on the coveted Birkin bags beat out other alternative investments by a large margin.
The world is sexist. A United Nations study finds that nearly 90% of all people—that is, both men and women—are prejudiced against women.
Surprising discoveries
Mexico illegally destroyed a protected forest. State-owned oil company Pemex defied a government order by cutting down mangrove trees to build an $8 billion oil refinery.
Italians are passionate about penne. A coronavirus-caused run on grocery stores in Italy has boiled over into a debate over noodles, sauce, culture, and life.
Fake versions of WhatsApp are wildly popular in Africa. “WhatsApp mods” are directly shared from one device to another, or downloaded from sources outside official app stores.
Major League Baseball has progressive cannabis policies. It’s common sense, as CBD-based pain relief products may be far safer than opioids.
A sacred statue was hit by a truck. The mayor of Easter Island is introducing new vehicle restrictions after a truck damaged a moai sculpture.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, intact sculptures, and smooth pasta 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 written by Isabella Steger and edited by Amanat Khullar.