Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Donald Trump tries again. The White House’s new executive order—which replaces the chaotic “Muslim ban” issued in January—could be signed today. It may ban visitors from six Muslim-majority countries, but could include a few days’ notice before it starts. Iraq will likely be excluded this time around.
French conservatives gather to chart a course ahead. Less than 50 days from the presidential election their candidate Francois Fillon faces falling popularity and a criminal investigation into whether he paid public money to family members for work they did not do. Over the weekend he refused to stand down, but many in his party are seeking alternative candidates.
The US Commerce Department reports on factory goods orders. Most economists expect they increased 1% (pdf) in January, following a rise of 1.3% in December.
Over the weekend
Trump claimed Obama wiretapped him. The US president made the allegations in a string of early morning tweets, without any evidence, and his predecessor denied it. Now the White House is calling for a congressional investigation into the conspiracy, which Trump likely read about in the far-right news site Breitbart.
GM agreed to sell Opel for $2.3 billion. The buyer, France’s PSA Group, already has Peugeot and Citroen and will now pass Renault for second place in European market share. Volkswagen still leads. GM exits Europe having lost money there for 16 straight years.
North Korea launched more ballistic missiles into the sea. The projectiles landed as close as 190 miles (300 km) from Japan’s northwest coast, according to Japanese authorities. Pyongyang appeared to be reacting to military drills conducted by the US and South Korea.
China set lower GDP targets. Chinese Communist Party premier Li Keqiang said the economy will grow “around 6.5%” this year, thanks to a “more complicated and grimmer” global economic outlook. That’s down from 6.7% in 2016, and the lowest rate in more than 25 years.
Deutsche Bank planned a revamp. The German bank will raise $8.5 billion in capital, list its asset management business, and sell some investment banking assets, the board decided on Sunday. The troubled finance giant has suffered huge losses and fines in recent years.
IBM launched a division to commercialize quantum computing. Called IBM Q, the new unit will move the technology beyond the “research for the sake of research” phase. Quantum computers, by doing all the steps of a calculation simultaneously, promise to be infinitely faster than traditional devices. IBM has suffered 19 consecutive quarters of falling revenue.
The US suspended fast-track H-1B visas. Companies won’t be able to pay extra to expedite H-1B visa applications that bring skilled overseas workers into the country. Tech, consulting, and outsourcing companies are likely to be most affected. The suspension starts on April 3 and could last up to six months.
Quartz obsession interlude
Ana Campoy on the Trump surprise in US immigration reform: “A first glance, he’s an extremely unlikely candidate for the task of reaching a compromise on this issue. But he obviously knows how to talk to the people most against immigration reform, namely conservative Americans scared that foreigners are changing their country for the worse. And the trust he gained with these voters proved fairly unshakable, over the course of a long race filled with scandal and controversy.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Apple has given up on its computers. A string of underwhelming hardware and software updates shows it cares only about its cash cow, the iPhone.
Baring your breasts is feminist. Emma Watson says criticism over her Vogue magazine cover reveals misconceptions about feminism.
US colleges are breeding intolerance. A protest that turned violent at Middlebury College shows students can’t cope with different opinions (paywall).
Surprising discoveries
Football hooliganism could become its own sport. It’d be a way to turn fan aggression “in a peaceful direction,” argues a Russian lawmaker.
Plans for a nuclear submarine showed up in a charity shop. Detailed schematics for the HMS Trafalgar were discovered in the lining of a suitcase donated to a thrift shop in Wales, the store’s manager told the BBC.
Trump has been bad for gun manufacturers. Sales have fallen dramatically because customers are less worried that new laws will make purchases harder.
A 3D-printing robot can build new homes in a day. Apis Cor, a 3D-printing company, can lay down the concrete for a small house in less than 24 hours.
China now has a People’s Choice Award for judges. The public can vote for their top 10 favorites from dozens of nominees.
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