Coronavirus Update

Global cases rose above 215,000 yesterday with more than 8,700 confirmed deaths. According to the NYT, the number of confirmed U.S. cases rose to more than 8,017 with 143 confirmed deaths.

• The Senate voted 90-8 to pass a House-approved ‘phase two’ emergency spending package on Wednesday (later signed into law by President Trump) - tune in tomorrow for an in-depth look at the government’s legislative actions against the virus.
• The first two members of Congress - Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Rep. Ben McAdams (D-UT) - tested positive for the virus late Wednesday.
• The U.S. & Canada have closed their shared border to all nonessential travel.
• President Trump on Wednesday announced plans to block the entry of certain migrants and asylum-seekers at the southern border.
• A federally funded study published yesterday shows how long coronavirus can survive in air particles and on certain common surfaces.
• The European Central Bank unexpectedly announced a 750 billion euro bond-buying program late Wednesday.

Iraqi President Taps New PM

Iraqi President Barham Saleh formally named Adnan al-Zurfi as his prime minister-delegate, after the country’s political parties could not decide on a consensus candidate. Mr. Zurfi will have 30 days to form a cabinet and win parliamentary approval, which seems unlikely given the current opposition to his nomination.

More: Iraqi officials said at least three rockets struck Baghdad’s Green Zone (2km away from the U.S. Embassy) on Tuesday - the fourth such attack in under a week.

Earthquake Shakes Salt Lake City

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Salt Lake City area in Utah early Wednesday morning, leaving 73,000 homes and businesses without power - the city’s airport was also closed. There were no reports of injuries or major structural damage.

More inclement weather news: Experts have warned of an outbreak of severe thunderstorms (with the potential to form tornadoes) forecasted to hit large sections of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas today.

The Coronavirus Effect

• U.S. stock indexes dropped roughly 5% on the day, recovering slightly after another circuit breaker was triggered around 1 pm ET.
• Oil prices dropped as much as 26%, hitting an 18-year low.
• Detroit’s ‘Big Three’ automakers (Ford, GM, & Chrysler) have agreed to halt operations at all factories in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada until at least Mar. 30.
• The NYSE announced it will temporarily close its trading floor and move to electronic trading beginning Monday.
• Sling TV announced it’s making some of its content available for free - no account or credit card required.
• Target, Home Depot, and Best Buy have unveiled new store restrictions amid increased demand.

Return of the Mac

Apple on Wednesday unveiled the all-new 2020 iPad Pro - available in 11-inch & 12.9-inch variants - that features new 3D scanning technology. Apple also introduced a new 13-inch MacBook Air with twice as much storage than the previous version.

Content Discontent

Chinese-based social media app TikTok announced Wednesday that it has formed an independent Content Advisory Council staffed with experts in child safety, hate speech, and misinformation. The group will meet later this month to review existing policies and discuss future content moderation strategies.

Take The Cake

Many small businesses have borne the brunt of the impact from the coronavirus outbreak (and subsequent nationwide quarantine). San Francisco bakery Butter&, however, recently saw their busiest day in history thanks to a bit of innovation.

The local bakery introduced a new delivery item - a gourmet “quarantine cake” that serves 1-2 people and comes with a PSA in frosting, such as “wash your hands” or “don’t touch your face.”

The Round Mound of Renown

Most retired professional athletes are protective of the awards and trophies accumulated over a long career. A notable exception is Charles Barkley, who recently revealed plans to auction off his entire collection of NBA memorabilia.

The basketball legend’s decision to sell was not made on a whim - Barkley will use all of the proceeds to build 20 affordable houses in his hometown of Leeds, Alabama.

State of the Art

The coronavirus outbreak has caused nearly all museums and art galleries across the globe to close, leaving millions of people across the world confined indoors until further notice.

For anyone itching to experience beautiful art without leaving your home, Google Arts and Culture has partnered with over 2,500 museums and galleries to offer virtual tours of their vast collections.

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