Tesla criminal probe, downed Russian plane, spider nursery rhymes

Good morning, Quartz readers!

What to watch for today

The Bank of Japan is all talk, no action. Economists unanimously agree that governor Haruhiko Kuroda will keep interest rates where they are (paywall). Even though the BOJ has pledged to keep rates low, some analysts think it may be “stealth tapering” (paywall) by cutting back on asset purchases.

EU leaders talk Brexit in Salzburg. UK prime minister Theresa May will try to convince her counterparts to embrace her “creative” Brexit plan, as the clock ticks down toward a disruptive “no deal” exit.

Afghanistan’s president visits India. Ashraf Ghani will hold talks with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, with a new development agreement and regional security issues high on the agenda.

While you were sleeping

Syria accidentally shot down a Russian military plane, killing 15 people. Both countries blamed Israel, which was conducting an attack on Syrian positions when the Russian plane allegedly got caught in the crossfire. Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke with Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, calling the incident “a chain of tragic accidental circumstances.”

The US opened a criminal fraud investigation into Tesla and Elon Musk. Prosecutors requested documents related to Musk’s claim that he had “funding secured” to take Tesla private.  That move, seen as an attack on Tesla short sellers, triggered wild gyrations in Tesla’s stock before Musk abandoned the plan.

Tilray can now import medical marijuana into the US… The Drug Enforcement Agency approved the Canadian company’s CBD product for a clinical trial. The news sent Tilray’s stock to an all-time high and pushed its valuation over $14 billion, topping rival Canopy Growth to become the world’s most valuable cannabis company.

…And South Africa legalized it. The government and law enforcement both still oppose legalization, but the country’s Constitutional Court made a binding decision that growing and smoking weed is now permitted. Police countered that looser restrictions would complicate efforts against drug trafficking, but others say new laws will weaken gang influence.

Facebook was sued over biased job ads. The ACLU suit maintains that Facebook and 10 employers used a system that lets hirers select who sees their ads based on age and sex. The charges position Facebook as a recruiter in the process, and so liable for breaking federal discrimination law.

Quartz Obsession interlude

Natasha Frost on how the story of segregation in Los Angeles was only preserved by its black-owned papers: “White-owned papers published headlines like ‘Keep Maywood White,’ while the South Los Angeles Homeowners’ Association issued written advice on how to ‘Protect Your Home Against the Encroachment of Non-Caucasian People.’ It was especially galling for people of color … “to be drafted into a war that was all about fighting the Nazis and fighting another version of white supremacy that somehow Americans pretended didn’t exist [in the United States].” Read more here.

Matters of debate

Soon-Yi Previn deserves to be heard. Woody Allen’s wife has a right defend her husband, just like his fiercest critics.

Women are better traders than men. In stressful financial situations, men are more likely to panic.

Open borders hurt immigrants. They create a permanent underclass (paywall) that’s difficult to escape.

Surprising discoveries

Skin grafts could treat cocaine addiction. A natural enzyme that breaks down the drug could be introduced by stem cells carrying a modified gene.

Spiders caused nursery rhyme terror. A UK town was plagued by a bodiless singing voice until investigators found that bugs were triggering an unusual security system.

Great white sharks have hit ocean paydirt. The yearly congregation of sharks in the Pacific is there for the all-you-can-eat buffet of tiny sea creatures.

Venezuelans felt salty about Maduro’s “Salt Bae” feast. The president’s lavish meal at the celebrity chef’s restaurant didn’t sit well with a nation in financial crisis.

Maine lobsters will get pot before the pot. A restaurateur believes in getting the crustaceans high before boiling them to death.

Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, spooky songs, and chilled-out seafood to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android. Today’s Daily Brief was written by and edited by Susan Howson and Adam Pasick.