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What to watch for today and over the weekend
Schools in the UK close indefinitely. Classrooms will be shut starting today to some 8 million students across the country, and national exams canceled, in a bid to combat the growing outbreak. Some schools will remain open to look after the children of frontline staff, and vulnerable students.
Iran rings in the new year. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will mark Nowruz by pardoning 10,000 prisoners. The move comes after Tuesday’s release of 85,000 prisoners, intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus in overcrowded prisons. A jailed Australian academic remains behind bars, however.
The Canada-US border will likely close to non-essential travel. The restrictions are expected to take effect tonight, though both sides are still working out final details. Meanwhile, the US issued the highest possible global travel advisory as it urged Americans not to travel abroad.
India orders a one-day “people’s curfew.” A daytime curfew will take place across the country Sunday, as prime minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to stay home between 7am and 9pm except for emergency reasons or essential services.
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The Olympic flame arrived in Japan. After Greece handed the flickering torch to the host country in Athens yesterday, the aircraft carrying the torch landed at an air base in Miyagi prefecture. Tokyo insists the games will go on as scheduled in July.
India executed four men linked to the Delhi bus rape case. They had been convicted in 2013 for their brutal gang attack on a 23-year-old physiotherapy student, who died from her injuries days after the incident.
An ex-Uber engineer pleaded guilty to stealing trade secrets. Anthony Levandowski, who used to lead the self-driving unit, took a plea deal over accusations that he took sensitive documents from Google before joining the ride-share giant. He faces up to 30 months in jail.
Several US senators dumped stocks before the market plunged. Senate Intelligence chair Richard Burr, a Republican of North Carolina, and his wife sold major holdings last month, just days after he penned an op-ed saying the US was prepared to fight the pandemic. Three other senators also ditched stocks around the same time.
California issued a statewide stay-at-home order. Governor Gavin Newsom barred his state’s 40 million residents from non-essential movements as he predicted the number of infections could far exceed the state health care system’s capacity.
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Growing families. Fertility care has given more trans people the chance to have biological children, and inclusive care providers are leading the way. Learn more in our field guide to the business of fertility.
Here to troubleshoot your WFH situation. So much of it boils down to ergonomics, systems, focus, context, and human contact. Let us explain.
Quartz daily obsession
Quantum computers are straight out of a sci-fi novel. They use the uncertainty at the heart of quantum physics to make certain calculations. Companies like IBM and Google are working feverishly to hit what researchers call “quantum advantage,” but so far the technology can’t supplant classical, binary computing. Let’s try to reduce the uncertainty with the Quartz Daily Obsession.
Matters of debate
Workers are the priority, not shareholders. Money from the huge bailouts might go the wrong place, again.
Handshaking is over. And that’s why the world needs an elbow bump emoji.
It’s the perfect moment to change how we do capitalism. Governments should seize the opportunity to rethink their responsibilities.
Surprising discoveries
Netflix is cutting streaming quality in Europe. The temporary measure will be in place for the next 30 days to cope with surging demand.
Legos take hundreds of years to break down in the ocean. Researchers made the calculation after analyzing the chemical composition of washed-up building blocks.
Vampire bats share blood to cement friendships. A new study describes the behavior as a “kind of horrifying French kiss.”
Taxi drivers are rescuing endangered seabirds in New Zealand. They patrol the streets searching for dazed chicks that have crash landed in the fog.
Marvel has a new nonbinary superhero. Snowflake, whose name is causing controversy, will join the New Warriors.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, discombobulated seabirds, and sturdy Legos. 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 Mary Hui and edited by Isabella Steger.