Good morning, Quartz readers!
Here’s what you need to know
US intelligence officers reported that China intentionally underreported coronavirus cases. A classified report delivered to the White House said that infection and mortality statistics released by China have been doctored from the beginning, leaving the rest of the world unprepared.
Beijing is keeping an eye on test quality. After European countries reported defective coronavirus test imports, China’s National Medical Products Administration established new rules that require manufacturers to register before being cleared by customs. At the same time, the EU ruled that Huawei’s donation of face masks to the bloc was an act of pure solidarity.
Quarantined Chinese can’t stop stealing movies online. A recent surge in piracy coincided with the shutdown of the country’s movie theaters, which cost China’s box offices $2 billion in the first two months of 2020.
Garment workers are losing their livelihoods. In Bangladesh, more than a million people have been laid off as fashion brands like Primark, C&A, and Zara cancel or suspend orders. Some are refusing to pay for work already done.
T-Mobile and Sprint completed their merger. After a year of hurdles, the papers are signed, and John Legere is no longer T-Mobile’s CEO. With that, the US is down from four to three wireless giants.
Mental health was an increasingly visible issue in the workplace before coronavirus. Now that we’re isolated from one another, it’s all the more important to address. Register here for a virtual workshop today at 11am EDT (11pm HKT) on mental wellness, support, and anxiety relief in the trying days of quarantine.
Subscribe to Quartz’s free newsletter on Covid-19 and learn how the pandemic is affecting the health of the global economy.
Protesting in a pandemic
Coronavirus has crippled global protest movements. From Algeria to South Africa to Hong Kong, shutdowns have halted large-scale street protests. While some continue on balconies or online, the impact is trifling compared to the disruption caused when protesters take to the streets.
On Tuesday, Hong Kong police stormed into a subway station and beat passengers indiscriminately. They told people to leave “to avoid the spread of the disease.” A new rule passed last week banned public gatherings of more than four people in the city.
Quartz membership
Virtual productivity is here to stay. The coronavirus pandemic is leaving an indelible mark on our classrooms and our workplaces.
Quartz daily obsession
Auctions are ancient. Selling off goods to the highest bidder dates back thousands of years, and has been used to find buyers for Roman emperorships, Nobel prizes, and celebrity kidney stones. But throughout its history, the practice has also been intimately bound up with the trade of human beings. As auctions step into the digital age, their revenues show no sign of slowing down. Raise a paddle with the Quartz Daily Obsession.
Matter of debate
I’ll be Mario, you can be Luigi. Video games are a reliable defense against quarantine-induced anxiety, if only for a couple of hours at a time. Judging by the run on Nintendo Switch consoles around the world, many people have the same idea. What are you playing?
Surprising discoveries
Bored celebrities are making Covid-19 PSAs. Some of them are not bad, but some are practically unwatchable.
DeepMind is coming for your Pong high score. Its new AI mastered all 57 Atari games.
Malaysian women are not having the government’s coronavirus tips. Its “advice” includes not nagging your husband and being sure to wear makeup at home.
Have your own adventure 20,000 leagues under the sea. For $750k, you can take a trip to the Mariana Trench (which, at 11km deep, is more like two leagues).
Goats are taking over a Welsh town. They’re rampaging through empty streets and eating hedges as humans retreat indoors.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, opportunistic goats, and deep-sea tickets 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 brought to you by Susan Howson and Liz Webber.