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What to watch for today and over the weekend
Trump issues his first veto. The president vowed to veto a congressional resolution to block his declaration of a border national emergency. Democrats in the US Senate were joined by 12 Republicans in delivering a rebuke to the executive action, following passage by the Democrat-controlled House.
Students around the world go on climate strike. Inspired by Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish climate activist who was just nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, students in more than 100 countries will hold school walkouts to protest climate inaction.
FIFA meets to discuss the future of soccer. The sport’s global governing body will consider expanding the 2022 World Cup to 48 teams, as well as a a multibillion-dollar proposal for a new World Cup-style competition for top clubs.
The state of US manufacturing. Industrial production figures are expected to show modest growth last month, reversing a decline in January. Manufacturing output numbers are also due, and they are expected to show a similar uptick in February.
While you were sleeping
At least 49 people were killed in shootings at two mosques in New Zealand. The attacks took place during Friday prayers in Christchurch. Three suspects are in custody and one gunman was identified as an Australian-born national. Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison described the shooter as an “extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist.” New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern said it was one of the nation’s “darkest days.”
Boeing halted 737 Max deliveries. The company will continue building the aircraft model but will assess the impact of worldwide restrictions in the aftermath of two deadly crashes in five months. Separately, China’s grounding of the Boeing jetliners may scuttle a major order linked to a US-China trade deal.
Tesla unveiled its new SUV. The long-anticipated Model Y is priced between $39,000 and $60,000, and will start hitting the roads in late 2020 as the carmaker attempts to reach cost-conscious customers who want an all-electric SUV.
China passed a new foreign investment law. The legislation bars government agencies from demanding foreign companies hand over technology secrets in exchange for market access. The law, which will come into effect next year, may help China resolve its trade war with the US.
The SEC accused Volkswagen of “massive fraud.” The US securities regulator sued the German automaker for deceiving investors by issuing securities while concealing it was cheating on diesel-emissions standards. The company has dismissed the allegations, which stem from a 2015 scandal that cost it billions of dollars.
Mt. Gox’s chief was found guilty of data manipulation. Disgraced bitcoin mogul Mark Karpeles was given a suspended jail term of two and a half years by a Tokyo court. Karpeles denied the charges and has blamed the bitcoin that went missing in 2014 on hackers.
Membership
We’re wrapping up our field guide on sovereign-wealth funds. Now that you’re up to speed on the funds, check out our handpicked resources to stay informed about their latest doings. Friday also means Consummate Consumer, and this week we have an easy-to-employ, nine-step strategy that will radically improve your privacy online. The whole program takes less than 20 minutes and will make you annoyingly opaque to online snoops.
Quartz Obsession
Sentiment analysis: Increasingly sophisticated technology can tell what part of the workday is unhappiest (4pm), what consumers think of brands, and how microexpressions betray your innermost thoughts. It’s a powerful new tool for companies like Facebook and the investment firm BlackRock, but what happens if it falls into the wrong hands? Get all the feels at the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Boeing and the US government are tied together by money. The 737 Max crisis is part of a long and complicated relationship.
Tesla’s finally making a mass-market car the masses will want. Its Model 3 sedan was supposed to be mass market but the Model Y baby SUV is the kind of car Americans really love.
Trump is prepping his followers for violence. His musings about the “tough people on his side” are a subtle warning to foes.
Surprising discoveries
The hot new teen messaging app is… Google Docs? Kids are reportedly using it to gossip when they should be doing homework.
Soft foods gave us an overbite—and the F-word. The switch to soft, processed foods changed our jaw growth and allowed us to make “f” and “v” sounds.
A US court affirmed the right to flip the bird at cops. The ruling vindicated a Michigan woman who sued after she got a traffic ticket for making a gesture “without four of her fingers showing.”
A smartphone saved an Australian man from an arrow to the neck. He received only a small laceration—but his phone wasn’t so lucky.
A lot of Tumblr users were only there for the porn. The site’s page views plunged after it banned “female-presenting nipples” and other adult content.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, soft foods, and heroic smartphones to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Adam Rasmi and edited by Jason Karaian.