Showtime for Trump and Clinton, Lego growth, space internet
Good morning, Quartz readers!
Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The biggest night yet for the US presidential election. Twelve states will host Democratic and Republican presidential primaries, with results starting to come in at 7pm ET (8am HK). Donald Trump is expected to dominate the Republican field, although his victory may not be decisive, while Hillary Clinton could lock up her race against Bernie Sanders.
The UN Security Council votes to punish North Korea. The proposed sanctions are in response to the country’s latest nuclear tests, and include mandatory checks on cargo ships coming in and out of the country. The resolution was drafted by the US and China, and has already been delayed by Russia.
Brazil’s central bank holds a somber meeting. The bank will likely keep its benchmark rate at 14.25% as the country’s economic outlook worsens. GDP shrank more than 4% in 2015.
While you were sleeping
The battle between Apple and the FBI played out in Congress. FBI director James Comey said the agency was “asking Apple to take away the vicious guard dog and let us pick the lock” of a terrorist’s iPhone. But he also struggled to answer technical questions and admitted that mistakes were made in the FBI’s investigation.
The Honeywell-United Technologies mega-merger hit the rocks. Honeywell called off its pursuit of its aerospace rival. It claimed that United executives weren’t willing to negotiate over major details of the proposed $90 billion acquisition, like who would run the company or how to secure anti-trust approval.
Lego posted stellar profits. The Denmark-based toymaker’s net profit increased 31% to 9.2 billion Danish kronor ($1.34 billion) during 2015, thanks in part to strong video game sales. That’s more than the profits of American toymakers Mattel and Hasbro put together.
Brazil arrested a Facebook executive for refusing to share user data. Diego Dzodan is being held over messages on Facebook subsidiary WhatsApp that Brazilian police want to use for a criminal investigation. Facebook says it does not have access to the encrypted information.
Volkswagen continued its downward streak in the US. The company reported a 13% drop in US sales in February, the fourth monthly decline in a row as it continues to experience fallout from an emissions-cheating scandal uncovered last year.
Quartz obsession interlude
Josh Horowitz and Heather Timmons on how the Sharp-Foxconn deal fell apart. “Much of the blame should be attributed to the advisers to both sides, deal experts say… Despite all this high-powered advice, Foxconn reportedly got cold feet after a 100-point list of potential contingent liabilities, amounting to 350 billion yen ($3.1 billion), mysteriously emerged (paywall) at the last minute, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read more here.
Quartz markets haiku
Matters of debate
Your checking account might be easier to hack than your email. Banks don’t require the most secure login credentials.
Donald Trump might be the most consequential Republican since Reagan. His campaign is transforming an alliance of free-market conservatives into a populist, nativist party.
Don’t test your kids for grit. Non-cognitive skills like empathy and self-control are difficult to measure.
Surprising discoveries
NASA wants to bring the internet to outer space. Engineers are developing plans for a high-speed internet network that spans the solar system.
Orchestras have been butchering a famous George Gershwin song. “An American in Paris” calls for a special kind of French horn—the ones on taxi cabs.
Wool sneakers are disrupting the shoe industry. They supposedly walk the line between sporty and high-fashion.
The French hate their offices; Indians love theirs. A Steelcase survey found that French workers feel constrained by too many rules, while Indians find a refuge from crowded cities.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, wool kicks, and wildflower bouquets to [email protected]. And download our new iPhone app for news throughout the day.