Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
Protesters call for a second Brexit referendum. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to turn out for Saturday’s march in London, as the prospect of a no-deal Brexit draws dangerously close.
Donald Trump meets with Caribbean leaders. The US president will host heads of state from the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Chinese investment and the political crisis in Venezuela are expected to top the agenda.
AIPAC’s annual meeting kicks off. Several notable Democratic presidential candidates will skip the pro-Israel lobby group’s three-day conference, which begins Sunday in Washington. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is gearing up for a highly contested election, will meet with Trump before closing the conference with an address.
Italy signs a Belt and Road deal with China. The debt-laden country will be the first major democracy to join China’s global infrastructure plan, despite US opposition and concerns from other EU nations about growing Chinese clout in the region.
Thailand holds its first national election since a 2014 military coup. Voting rules are heavily tilted in favor of the ruling junta and against the populist Pheu Thai party, which has repeatedly been ousted from power after winning previous elections.
While you were sleeping
Indonesia scrapped its massive Boeing order. Airline Garuda canceled a multi-billion dollar order for 49 Boeing 737 Max 8s, the plane involved in two deadly crashes in recent months. Reuters reports the US plane manufacturer will require a cockpit light on Max jets warning of the issue that may have contributed to the crashes.
New Zealand broadcast the Islamic call to prayer. It was followed by a two-minute silence to mark a week since terrorist attacks at two Christchurch mosques killed 50 people. Addressing the Muslim community, prime minister Jacinda Ardern said, “New Zealand mourns with you, we are one.”
The death toll from a chemical blast in China soared. A huge explosion Thursday afternoon at a chemical plant in eastern China has killed 47 people and injured 90.
The US sanctioned two Chinese firms doing business with North Korea. They are the first targeted actions against Pyongyang since the collapse of the summit between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump in Vietnam last month.
The EU approved a Brexit delay. European leaders agreed to a two-part plan to extend the March 29 deadline for Britain’s departure. The UK will have until May 22 if parliament approves prime minister Theresa May’s withdrawal deal next week. If her deal fails, the EU will back a shorter delay until April 12.
Quartz Obsession
Beto O’Rourke was once a 1337 hacker. In high school the US presidential hopeful was a member of the Cult of the Dead Cow, one of the oldest and most influential hacker groups. The group’s activist vibes rubbed off on Beto, who began his path to politics with web design and an online news startup. Dial up the info at the Quartz Obsession.
Membership
The secret of diversifying corporate boards? Set a retirement age. A “typical company board” is still a group of old men. Last year the average board of a S&P 500 company had 11 members with an average age of 63, only two of whom were women. Boards are actually hiring more women, but the current board directors are not retiring fast enough to make a difference. Read more here.
Matters of debate
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Shoplifters deserve privacy too. Facial recognition security tools could mean a lifetime of being blackballed.
Serving is skilled labor. We need to confront the cultural stigma against service industry workers.
Instagram has become a toxic stew of conspiracy theories. Facebook’s youth-centric app is slipping toward the dark side.
Surprising discoveries
Birding is a fantasy sport now. Competitors don’t actually spot exotic birds, but the fervor is just as real.
There’s no screamer in “The Scream.” Edvard Munch’s masterwork actually depicts someone hearing a scream.
The iPhone is not blender-proof. Scientists pulverized one to show how our electronics rely on conflict minerals.
China cloned the “Sherlock Holmes of police dogs.” It was easier than training a replacement for a decorated seven-year-old female named Huahuangma.
March Madness is vasectomy month. Urologists report a surge in the procedure during the US college basketball tournament, when men can binge watch at home with ice packs in hand.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, real exotic bird sightings, and iPhone smoothies 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 Jackie Bischof.