US Super Tuesday voting, Argentina’s debt deal, Google’s self-driving car crash
Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton try to take a commanding lead. Thirteen states will vote on “Super Tuesday,” the single biggest day of the US presidential primary season. Trump, at the top of the Republican field, and Clinton, leading the Democrats, are both ahead by double-digit margins in most of the contests.
Japan could get paid to borrow money. The interest rate on 10-year government bonds may dip into negative territory when 2.4 trillion yen ($21 billion) of debt are sold. That would mean investors would pay Japan to take their money, breaking one of simplest rules of finance.
Apple faces Congress. General counsel Bruce Sewell will warn the House Judiciary Committee that allowing the FBI’s request for access to an iPhone would jeopardize cybersecurity and lead to more crime.
While you were sleeping
Argentina ended an epic debt default battle. The country agreed to pay $4.65 billion to four US hedge funds, including one belonging to billionaire Paul Singer, who first sued Argentina for repayment 13 years ago.
More violence erupted in Europe over migrants. Migrants and refugees trapped in Greece by new border closings tore down a fence on the Macedonian border, drawing tear gas from police. Meanwhile, French authorities started the court-ordered demolition of the camp in Calais, sparking clashes with refugees.
A Google self-driving car crashed into a bus. Alphabet, Google’s parent, said it “clearly bears some responsibility” for an accident, when one of its autonomous vehicles incorrectly assumed the bus would yield. No one was injured in the accident, but it underplays the difficulty of modeling the complex interactions between drivers that we all take for granted.
Tesla workers walked out. At least 100 construction workers building a battery factory near Reno, Nevada left their posts, protesting against the use of out-of-state workers. Tesla, which says it is still ahead of schedule, received a massive tax break for promising to hire 6,500 workers from Nevada.
Valeant had a really bad day. The troubled drugmaker’s “female Viagra” drug was panned by European researchers, and it was forced to withdraw its financial guidance as its CEO returned after an illness. Valeant also disclosed that it was being investigated by the Securities and Exchange in Commission over a company it acquired last year.
Quartz obsession interlude
Sarah Todd on how to make the most out of Leap Day. “As a famous psychology experiment dating back to 1908 shows, we perform best when we’re working in a state of ‘optimal anxiety’—a state we can reach by pushing ourselves to take on new challenges and risks. … So if you’re looking to free yourself from inertia, here are a few concrete ways to take a leap.” Read more here.
Quartz markets haiku
February, oy!
Matters of debate
Uber and Airbnb epitomize the divide between capital and labor. The rich hosts get richer; the poorer drivers struggle to get by.
There’s an evolutionary explanation for moral outrage. Loudly denouncing things we find offensive makes us appear more trustworthy.
Donald Trump has a long history with white supremacists. His refusal to condemn racists this weekend speaks to his longstanding ties.
There’s a very choosy literary magazine for doctors. It accepts less than 2% of poetry, short stories, and essays submitted by medical professionals.
Horses can read human facial expressions. They tend to look at angry faces from the left, thus using the right side of their brains.
A Brazilian night club’s lights are controlled by movements on the dancefloor. It makes the building an extension of dancers’ bodies.
A humble white teapot is the most important object in the history of computers. For decades it was used to test 3D-rendering software.
London’s disaster training is both bloody and elaborate. The four-day exercise involves an entire custom-built subway station.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, poems by physicians, and disaster-preparedness guides to [email protected]. And download our new iPhone app for news throughout the day.