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What to watch for today
Coachella could be postponed, or even canceled. As new coronavirus cases appear in the California county where the festival is based, they could delay it to October if enough headline artists, including Frank Ocean, are still available.
The Grand Princess continues to let passengers go in California. Many left the quarantined cruise ship on Monday, but thousands are still there, and some are confused by official instructions. For days, passengers were told to self-isolate, but people leaving the ship were allowed to queue, and boarded buses together.
The US holds more Democratic primaries. Six states go to the polls to choose who should face Donald Trump in the presidential election. Michigan is getting most of the attention, and Bernie Sanders won the state in 2016. But Joe Biden leads the delegate count.
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Markets recovered from Monday’s historic crash… After dropping 30% yesterday, as Russia and Saudi Arabia began a price war, oil prices recovered 4% this morning. Asian and European markets bounced back, while S&P 500 futures were also up.
…as stimulus packages were promised. Italy is expected to invest $11 billion, while Japan promised a second aid package worth $4 billion, and the EU considered aid to countries badly hit by the outbreak (paywall). Three charities, including Bill Gates’ foundation, pledged $125 million for coronavirus treatments.
China tried to signal that it is past the outbreak’s peak. President Xi Jinping visited Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, for the first time since the outbreak began in January. The number of new cases has slowed in China.
Italy woke up to the first day of a nationwide lockdown. The entire country is under curfew; nowhere else in the world has implemented such a drastic policy. There had better be something good on TV, as all public entertainment, including soccer, is suspended.
One of India’s most celebratory days has been substantially less fun because of coronavirus. Holi, the festival of colors, is usually a big party, but this year, fears of catching a dangerous disease have slowed it down. Forty people have contracted the virus in India.
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AI can be prejudiced, just like people. Quartz contributor Helen Edwards reports on how human biases get imported into AI—and how lawmakers and the tech industry are trying to fix the problem.
Quartz daily obsession
The Bachelor is trashy, unrealistic, and somewhat sexist—but we can’t look away. The reality show has run for 24 seasons, entertaining audiences at home and across Twitter with the antics of attractive young people with an open bar and nothing to do but feud and fall in love. If you’re here for the right reasons, join us for the Quartz Daily Obsession.
Matters of debate
Coronavirus makes a US recession more likely. Quartz’s forecasters’ estimates of the likelihood have doubled since January.
Kids are the biggest problem for parents when schools are closed. But there are ways to give them stability.
Low oil prices won’t help airlines. It’s because they take “hedging positions,” which protect them from sudden hikes in price.
Surprising discoveries
We’ve been taking out insurance policies for 30,000 years. Prehistoric people may have used ostrich eggshell beads to protect their assets.
The 500 richest people lost a combined $239 billion on Monday. The markets were unkind to billionaires.
The UN selected chimpanzee nut-cracking for conservation. It’s the first time an animal activity has been considered for this status.
The humble bean is having a moment in the US. Over the last five years, legume consumption in the US increased by 73%.
Countries have their own favorite coronavirus-fighting songs. A memorable chorus can help people wash their hands for 20 seconds.
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