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The UK and EU hold their first joint Brexit meeting. After the talks were delayed due to Covid-19, senior British minister Michael Gove and European Commission vice president Maros Šefčovič will chair a virtual conference to discuss the Brexit timetable.
Hungary votes on a sweeping coronavirus emergency law. Parliament is expected to pass a bill without opposition support that would allow prime minister Viktor Orbán to extend a state of emergency indefinitely and largely rule by decree. Human rights groups have warned the legislation would give the state unlimited powers.
Donald Trump backed away from quarantining the New York tri-state region. The US president opted for a strong travel advisory instead. He also announced yesterday an extension of the restrictive social distancing guidelines through the end of April, and said that keeping US Covid-19 deaths to 100,000 would be “a very good job”—a U-turn from his earlier calls to re-open the country by Easter.
Australia rolled out new coronavirus control measures. The states of New South Wales and Victoria will impose a two-person limit on public gatherings from midnight tonight. Separately, the Indonesian government will decide today on whether to lock down Greater Jakarta, home to nearly 30 million people. Many fear the move would spark unrest.
A WHO official hung up on a reporter who asked about Taiwan. Bruce Aylward, the body’s assistant director general, appeared to pretend to not have heard a reporter’s question over a video call about whether the agency would reconsider Taiwan’s membership. When pressed, he ended the interview. Many have pointed out that Taiwan’s continued exclusion from the WHO poses global health risks.
Russia closes all of its border crossings. The world’s largest nation by area is temporarily shutting down all vehicle, rail, and pedestrian checkpoints, plus maritime borders. Last week it halted all international flights.
Japan looks set to expand travel restrictions. It’s expected to refuse entry to all foreigners and citizens traveling from the US, China, South Korea, and most of Europe. Meanwhile, car maker Toyota said it would temporarily shut all plants in Europe and Russia. And a spike in Tokyo’s cases after the Olympics were postponed has raised questions about possible under-reporting earlier.
The Netherlands recalled defective masks made in China. About 600,000 of them had already been distributed to local hospitals, the health ministry said. Earlier this month Spain and Turkey complained of faulty rapid testing kits from China.
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Podcasts face pandemic peril. After lockdowns eliminated the morning commute, shows have struggled to find a new time slot in people’s lives. Listenership is down across the board. But the bigger threat to the industry is a drop in ad revenue as businesses cut back on spending.
Quartz daily obsession
French fries are one of the world’s best-traveled and best-loved dishes. From Quebecois poutine to Spanish patatas bravas, there are dozens of ways to slice, fry, and drizzle potatoes around the world. Are french fries really French? Does it matter? Dip right in with the Quartz Daily Obsession.
Matter of debate
“Social distancing” needs a rebrand. A growing number of public health experts are following the World Health Organization’s lead and embracing the term “physical distancing.” After all, they argue, we need strong social connections more than ever as we stay home to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Surprising discoveries
The last known slave ship survivor has been identified. A researcher pieced together the story of Matilda McCrear, a captive aboard the last transatlantic slave ship.
A children’s librarian created an online Harry Potter-themed escape room. The free game for bored kids stuck at home can be played as an individual or as a group.
A global condom shortage looms. The world’s biggest manufacturer says its stockpile will only last another two months.
Astronauts could one day build moon habitats using their own urine. Mixing urea with moon dust creates a remarkably strong 3D-printing material.
Stargazers have some of their best views yet. Widespread lockdowns have curbed pollution and cleared up the night sky (paywalled).
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, latex supplies, and comet sightings 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 Mary Hui and edited by Isabella Steger.