Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
A Snap IPO test run. Traders will send sample orders to the New York Stock Exchange Saturday in an effort to test the system for bugs and glitches. The NYSE is hoping to avoid another WTF moment like Facebook’s chaotic IPO in 2012.
Taiwan talks unemployment. The country reports (paywall) its January unemployment rate. Unemployment fell slightly in December to a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.82%.
Indonesia’s president visits Sydney. Joko Widodo will meet with Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull on Saturday, Widodo’s first visit since being elected in 2014. US president Donald Trump’s criticism of Australia may help ease some longstanding tensions between the two countries as they seek to strengthen regional ties.
Nokia shows off new phones. The Finnish company will livestream the unveiling of new Android smartphones from the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona on Sunday. Consumers are also anticipating a revamp of the iconic and “indestructible” Nokia 3310.
While you were sleeping
The White House backpedaled on China… In interviews, Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said the administration would not make any announcements (paywall) about China’s currency manipulation before April. During his campaign, Trump vowed to declare China a “currency manipulator” on his first day in office.
… and had a tense time in Mexico. A visit by secretary of state Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security chief John Kelly that was meant to smooth relations between the two countries instead highlighted the tension (paywall) between them.
Iraqi forces stormed Mosul airport. The largely destroyed airport had been under ISIL control since 2014. The operation was part of a renewed effort, which began last week, to recapture the western part of the city. Liberating the east took three months.
Geert Wilders suspended his election campaign. The far-right Dutch politician stopped public campaigning for upcoming parliamentary elections after a member of his security team was arrested for allegedly leaking his location to a criminal gang. Known for his anti-Islam views, Wilders has had 24-hour police protection for more than 10 years.
SpaceX hits its mark. Four days after its historic rocket launch, the company’s Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station, delivering 5,500 lbs of supplies and experimental materials. Like the launch, the docking was delayed by a day, this time due to a glitch in the spacecraft’s GPS.
Quartz obsession interlude
Akshat Rathi imagines life on seven newly discovered exoplanets. “We don’t know if any of Trappist-1’s planets have moons, but they likely don’t need them for the view. On the third rock from the dim star, the second rock would look twice the size our moon looks to Earthlings and the remaining planets could line up to create a view that even science-fiction authors haven’t imagined.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Trump’s war on the press is strategic. Branding critics as dishonest is the same technique that won him the election.
Being shy is actually an advantage. Shyness allows for the kind of inventive thinking and creativity that eludes extroverts.
Uniqlo killed Japanese street style. Tokyo’s famous Harajuku fashion has been co-opted and commercialized by corporations, celebrities, and attention-seekers.
Surprising discoveries
Snail venom is an opioid alternative. One compound in crown snails’ poisonous venom can block nerve pain for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
The US deports so many people it has its own airline service. “ICE Air Operations” has flown hundreds of thousands of immigrants since 2006.
Lucille Ball’s mom is featured on the laugh track for Frasier. Her signature chuckle can also be heard on The Beverly Hillbillies.
There’s a code of ethics for photo retouchers. The five-part oath encourages the promotion of healthy body image.
New Jersey replaced its bail system with an algorithm. It mathematically assesses the risks of defendants fleeing or committing violent crimes before trial.
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