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Boris Johnson moved to the intensive care unit. The British prime minister tapped foreign secretary Dominic Raab to step in for him, but the UK has no clear succession plan and there are concerns about what Johnson’s absence could mean for the UK’s coronavirus response.
Euro zone finance ministers meet. They will discuss how to rescue their economies from the effects of the pandemic. A key point of contention will be the so-called “coronabonds,” or shared debt. Other ideas on the table are emergency credit lines from the eurozone’s bailout fund, and a €100 billion ($108 billion) job protection scheme.
Denmark and Austria announced plans to ease coronavirus lockdowns. They are the first European countries to reveal staggered timelines for rolling back restrictions and re-open societies. Austria will begin opening small shops next Tuesday (April 14), followed by larger shops in May. Denmark will reopen nurseries and primary schools next Wednesday (April 15).
Two former Fox executives were charged in a FIFA bribery case. The US justice department charged Hernan Lopez and Carlos Martinez with wire fraud and money laundering offences in a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving kickbacks to FIFA officials in exchange for rights to major soccer tournaments.
Australia overturned the sexual abuse convictions of cardinal George Pell. The country’s highest court unanimously acquitted him of abusing two teenage choirboys in the 1990s, when he was the archbishop of Melbourne. He will immediately stop serving his six-year sentence.
Japan declares a state of emergency. Prime minister Shinzo Abe will make the declaration today for Tokyo and six other prefectures as the country battles a rapid spread of coronavirus cases. The government is also expected to finalize a 108 trillion yen ($990 billion) stimulus package.
Wisconsin goes to the polls. The in-person Democratic primary is going ahead after the state’s top court overturned the governor’s order to postpone the election over coronavirus concerns. In another blow to Wisconsin Democrats, the US Supreme Court sided with Republicans and ruled against an attempt to extend the deadline for absentee voting.
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Gen Z is the first generation to bypass traditional cultural gatekeepers, defining their own tastes, trends, and values. Our latest field guide explores the implications for the way this generation shops and spends, even as the coronavirus pandemic shifts the stakes.
Quartz daily obsession
Everyone sneezes, but we don’t all sneeze the same way. English speakers tend to say “Achoo!” Those who speak Japanese favor “Hakashun!” But the deaf say nothing at all. The explosive reflex can be ignited by sunshine or sex, and can spray droplets of saliva and mucus as far as 200 feet—that is, if the sneeze wasn’t caught in one’s elbow or hand. Cover your nose, wash your hands, and join us for the Quartz Daily Obsession.
Matter of debate
Covid-19 is reinventing fashion. Major upheavals are underway for the sector, which is heavily reliant on discretionary spending. Among other changes, industry experts think consumers will reassess what “value” means, companies will make fewer but more unique products, and—perhaps best of all—clothes will be more comfortable.
Surprising discoveries
Scientists figured out the age of the world’s largest fish. Thanks to Cold War-era atomic bomb tests, researchers can now calculate how old endangered whale sharks are.
People are creating miniature clay models of their ideal homes. The tiny sets are keeping people busy during isolation.
An orangutan became a hygiene influencer. A video posted by the US Center for Great Apes shows our evolutionary cousin scrubbing its hands for more than 20 seconds.
Black holes eat their siblings. It might explain how they got so large in the first place.
The NBA is readying a televised H-O-R-S-E competition. It’s one way to keep fans tuned in while still complying with physical distancing guidelines.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, hungry black holes, and tiny homes 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.