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What to watch for today and over the weekend
India’s foreign tourist ban begins… It will stop issuing tourist visas starting today until April 15, only allowing diplomatic or employment visa holders into the country. India has 74 confirmed coronavirus cases and one death.
…and the English Premier League prepares for suspension. The decision is expected after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for coronavirus. The league will hold an emergency meeting today.
Greece gets a new president. Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou will become the country’s first female president Sunday as Greece works out how to address the influx of migrants arriving via the Turkish border. Her presidential handover ceremony has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Markets had another rough day. Investors dumped stocks so quickly that Wall Street’s 15-minute circuit breaker was again triggered, and major indexes fell into official bear territory after plunging 10%, the worst fall since 1987. Markets across Asia also crashed this morning.
The Australian Grand Prix was canceled. Formula 1 called off the race in Melbourne originally slated for tomorrow, after a McLaren team member tested positive for coronavirus. The Australian government also said that an effective ban on gatherings of over 500 people would come into effect on Monday.
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau contracted coronavirus. The wife of the Canadian prime minister tested positive for the illness, meaning both of them will now be under quarantine for 14 days. Justin Trudeau will address the country today. Separately, both US president Donald Trump and his deputy Mike Pence said they don’t need testing despite being in close contact with an aide of the Brazilian president who had tested positive.
A US judge ordered Chelsea Manning’s release from prison. He ruled that the former army intelligence officer no longer needed to testify in court. Manning, who has been detained since May after refusing to answer further questions about WikiLeaks, attempted suicide a day earlier.
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Matters of debate
Don’t ask your employees if they have Covid-19. This numbers among other tips from HR professionals as the workplace changes.
The internet is not safe for females. Online abuse can force women out of work and girls to skip school.
The prepping industry should have been prepared for an actual global emergency. Supplies like two-way radios and knives are flying off the shelves.
Surprising discoveries
China’s foreign ministry is endorsing coronavirus conspiracy theories. A spokesman said on Twitter that the US army might be responsible for bringing the virus to China.
A tiny Harry Potter book is going on sale. The micro flip-book handwritten by J.K. Rowling is expected to sell for as much as £150,000 ($188,000).
A library on Minecraft is storing censored works of journalism. The game is still accessible in countries which have tight censorship controls.
Self-published coronavirus books are proliferating on Amazon. Many just plagiarize chunks of media reports and official medical advice.
Bidet sales have gone from a trickle to a flood. As consumers hoard toilet paper, the toilet sprayer industry is cleaning up.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, Japanese toilets, and mini books 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.