Global markets plunge as COVID-19 spreads

Saudi Arabia cut export oil prices by nearly 10%, after Russia refused to join OPEC in cutting oil production as the spread of the novel coronavirus slows global demand. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( Global markets are struggling to deal with the continued spread of COVID-19, and a cut to export oil prices adds another level of uncertainty. Meanwhile, northern Italy is on lockdown and schools have closed nationwide. Students rejoice, but parents worry. Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani's inauguration was disrupted by blasts Monday, and rival Abdullah Abdullah held his own swearing in ceremony. The crisis at the Greece-Turkey border continues to unfold. The World is following it on the ground in Greece. --------------------------------------------------------------- In the news today Global markets reel and northern Italy shuts down amid COVID-19 [People walk past the Bombay Stock Exchange building in Mumbai, India, March 9, 2020.]( Credit: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters Saudi Arabia [cut export oil prices]( by nearly 10% after Russia refused to join OPEC in cutting oil production as the spread of the novel coronavirus slows global demand. The move adds more [uncertainty to global markets]( already dealing with the fallout of the outbreak. A [lockdown of northern Italy]( is the largest clampdown against the spread of the virus in the Western world. And across the country, school closures announced last week were met with joy by some students. But childcare alternatives are [taking an economic toll on parents]( and could end up putting grandparents at risk. From The World: [Nigeria fights fake news about coronavirus]( Also: [Dictatorships are making the coronavirus outbreak worse]( Blasts in Kabul as rival inaugurations are held A [series of blasts disrupted the presidential inauguration]( of Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani Monday. He and his rival Abdullah Abdullah both [held oppposing swearing-in ceremonies]( in a locked-down Kabul. The [international community has backed]( Ghani, who recently declared victory in a contested September election. But Abdullah has significant domestic support. The political crisis could have major [implications for intra-Afghan talks]( following the agreement signed by the US and the Taliban last month in Qatar. More: [Details of the US-Afghanistan peace deal remain secret]( Elsewhere: [Blast targets Sudanese PM's convoy in apparent assassination attempt]( --------------------------------------------------------------- The Number in the News: 200 A group in London has distributed more than 200 access codes to help people find a free, well-maintained loo when they need one. Sophie Bowley-Aicken, one of the group's founders, says access to London’s public bathroom facilities has been steadily declining. The group believes maintaining free access to bathrooms is important to uphold the state of British society. Hear more about how class privilege intersects with restroom access on London on today’s episode of [The Number in the News](, The World’s daily smart speaker show. You’ll learn one number you won’t forget and why it’s in the news today. [Click here]( to add The Number in the News to your Amazon or Google flash briefing and hear a new episode seven days a week. Trial of MH17 downing begins in The Hague Legal proceedings in the 2014 [downing of the MH17 aircraft]( over eastern Ukraine have begun in The Hague. Three Russians and one Ukrainian are accused of murdering the 298 people onboard the Malaysia Arlines flight. Russia has denied any involvement, and none of the accused are expected to appear in the trial. All the men identified were senior commanders in the Russian-backed Donetsk People’s Republic, fighting against Ukrainian forces. Meanwhile, an [Ethiopian draft report blames Boeing]( one year after a 737 MAX plane crashed six minutes after takeoff, killing 157. [Refugees caught in the middle of Greek-Turkish political standoff]( [Migrants run away from tear gas as they clash with Greek riot police at Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing with Greece's Kastanies on March 6, 2020.]( Credit: Marko Djurica/Reuters Tens of thousands of migrants have been trying to get into Greece since late February, when Turkey said it would no longer stop them from leaving. On Friday, Greek and Turkish security forces [used tear gas]( to disperse the crowds near the Kastanies-Pazarkule border crossing. Even before Turkey open its borders for refugees and asylum-seekers to leave for Europe, [the Greek island of Chios was an epicenter of tension]( over EU policies that made several Greek islands de facto holding sites for some 42,000 refugees and migrants. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s move only exacerbated those tensions. And refugees are caught in the middle. Listen this week on [The World]( as reporter Lydia Emmanouilidou follows the story from Greece. --------------------------------------------------------------- Morning meme As Italy enters a lockdown, the red wine is flowing ... accidentally, from people's sinks. A [malfunction at a winery]( in Castelvetro, northern Italy, leaked 1,000 liters of wine into the water supply, likely adding a bit of levity to anti-viral handwashing routines. --------------------------------------------------------------- In case you missed it on The World - [Nurses know]( - [Malawi passes bill to legalize industrial and medicinal cannabis]( - [Embassy for sale, or not]( - [Migrants caught in the middle of Greece/Turkey standoff]( - [Planning for pandemic]( - [School’s out]( - [Public shaming in Beirut]( - [Historian pushes for mural memorializing Jack the Ripper’s victims]( - [Have US sanctions slowed Iran’s ability to contain coronavirus?]( - [Stop touching your face]( Don't forget to subscribe to The World's Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: [RadioPublic](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Stitcher](, [Soundcloud](, [RSS]( [The World logo]( [The World on Facebook]( [The World's Twitter account]( [Donate]( | [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( Top of the World is written weekday mornings by the team at [The World](. [The World]( is produced by [PRX](, [WGBH](, and the [BBC](.