What to watch for today and this weekend
A new crew heads to the International Space Station. Launching from Kazakhstan, American Jeffrey Williams and Russians Alexey Ovchinin and Oleg Skripochka will embark on a nine-minute, 17,500-mph ride into orbit. Williams will surpass Scott Kelly’s US spaceflight record during his six-month mission.
The EU tries to sell Turkey on a migrant deal. Leaders of 28 EU nations are hoping Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoğlu will agree to take back migrants arriving in Greece from Turkey. In return, the EU has pledged to take Syrian migrants from Turkey. Cyprus is refusing to approve plans to fast-track Turkey’s EU membership until it opens its ports to Cypriot goods.
Tiffany reports fourth-quarter results. The strong US dollar and weak spending spells bad news for the jeweler, which relies heavily on foreign tourists’ euros and yen. Its stock lost nearly 16% over the last year.
Spring is making its earliest appearance in 120 years. The vernal equinox, which marks the Sun’s passing from the southern hemisphere to the north, is set for March 20, which would be spring’s earliest start since 1896.
While you were sleeping
North Korea fired another ballistic missile. Launched from north of Pyongyang, the missile traveled 800 km (497 miles) eastward, crossing most of the Sea of Japan. The demonstration comes right after the US issued strong sanctions against North Korea this week.
The GOP plotted Donald Trump’s demise. Leading conservatives met privately in Washington to strategize on how to stop the billionaire winning the Republican party nomination. They are exploring “other avenues” rather than leaning on Trump’s rival, Ted Cruz, the AP reported. Meanwhile, senator Lindsey Graham threw his backing behind Cruz.
Brazil’s congress started impeachment proceedings against the president. Dilma Rousseff will go before a special committee to respond to allegations (paywall) she tampered with the federal budget. Street protests and calls for her resignation have plunged the country into chaos since she tried to appoint ex-president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the cabinet this week.
Chile lifted its abortion ban. The proposal, which is awaiting Senate approval, will permit termination in cases of rape, risks to the mother’s health, or an unviable foetus. Abortion was legal in Chile, a predominantly Catholic country, until 1989, when it was banned by former dictator Augusto Pinochet.
Toshiba shares rose 4% after the sale of its medical unit. The Japanese tech giant sold the division to Canon for $5.9 billion as it prepared to unveil a new strategy in the wake of a US fraud investigation. It is also considering a writedown on its nuclear power unit.
Quartz obsession interlude
Allison Schrager on misconceptions about the US prescription drug crisis. “A common explanation for the epidemic is economic conditions—the hollowing out of the middle class and economic malaise has left white Americans so distressed they are turning to opioids, and Donald Trump. But, in both cases, that argument is too simplistic to explain a deeper issue.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
America’s weed boom is only for white people. Minorities who bore the brunt of the “war on drugs” are missing out on the growing legal marijuana industry.
Crying at work should not be shameful. It’s yet another area where women are stigmatized.
Robots need their own pronouns. As science fiction becomes reality, we should add “rhe” or “rer” to our vocabulary.
Surprising discoveries
A newly discovered Viking crucifix could reshape Denmark’s history. It suggests Christianity there is much older than experts thought.
The Cambodian prime minister has denied buying Facebook likes. It just so happens that lots of people in India like him.
There’s an algorithm that knows if you are tweeting drunk. Keep that in mind the next time you reach for your phone.
The “best book written in the Irish language” is finally available in English. It has scared off translators for 70 years.
People with autism die younger. A survey in Sweden showed those suffering from autism die on average 16 years earlier, often from epilepsy or suicide.
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