Trump’s landslide win in Nevada, helicopter drops and the art of the apology

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Donald Trump’s victory in Nevada comes one week before the crucial Super Tuesday contests when voters in 12 states, including a number in the southern Bible Belt, will cast their ballots.

In one of the most surprising developments in Nevada, NBC News exit polls found Mr Trump had won 44 per cent of the Hispanic vote, compared with 29 per cent for Florida senator Mr Rubio, who is a fluent Spanish speaker, and Texas senator Mr Cruz on 18 per cent.

Mr Trump has repeatedly claimed to have strong support from Hispanics despite his signature policy to deport 11m — mostly Mexican — illegal immigrants and to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. “Number one with Hispanics. I am really happy about that,” Mr Trump said in his victory speech. Crony capitalist. (FT, NYT)

In the news

Email scandal haunts Clinton campaign A US federal judge has ruled that aides to Hillary Clinton and US state department officials should be questioned under oath about whether her use of a private email server intentionally skirted federal open records laws. It is the latest sign that the controversy will continue to dog Mrs Clinton throughout her presidential campaign, where she is currently the Democratic frontrunner. (FT)

Zika: sexual transmission cases rise The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating over a dozen new cases of possible sexual transmission of the Zika virus, including several involving pregnant women. If confirmed, the unexpectedly high number would have major implications for controlling the virus, as scientists had believed sexual transmission of Zika to be extremely rare. (Gizmodo, NYT)

FBI sought multiple iPhone access It’s not just San Bernardino. The Justice Department has gone to court to force Apple to help investigators extract data from more than a dozen iPhones in federal cases across the country, unsealed court documents show. (The Verge)

Nike founder invests in leadership Philip Knight has given $400m to Stanford University, equalling the largest individual donation to a US college, for an international programme to draw potential world leaders to Silicon Valley. The donation marks the largest contribution to a $750m fund for an elite graduate scholarship scheme to rival established programmes such as the 114-year-old Rhodes Scholarships at Oxford university, whose alumni include former president Bill Clinton. (FT)

Obama’s plan to close Guantánamo Barack Obama has sent Congress a $475m plan to close the controversial prison complex, arguing that keeping it open drains military resources and provides terrorists with a recruitment tool without making the US any safer. The plan is expected to face stiff opposition from Republicans. Why the plan is fatally flawed. (WSJ, Fox)

It’s a big day for

SpaceX, which is scheduled to launch its next Falcon 9 rocket on a mission to send an SES television and communications satellite into orbit. Once its payload has been delivered, the Falcon 9 will make another attempt at a sea landing. This rocket is the same improved version as the one that made a successful ground landing in December, but the high orbit to which it must travel will present extra challenges in today’s landing attempt, making failure a likely outcome. (The Verge)

Food for thought

India: If they can make it there The country’s hopes of climbing out of poverty hang on Narendra Modi coming good on his manufacturing promises. The launch event — where the stage itself burst into flames — did not exactly bode well. (FT)

Helicopter drops on the horizon The economic forces that have brought the world economy to zero real interest rates and, increasingly, negative central bank rates are strengthening, writes the FT’s Martin Wolf. “Policymakers must prepare for a new “new normal” in which policy becomes more uncomfortable, more unconventional, or both.” (FT)

Why we need humanities Enthusiasm for the study of humanities is much diminished and our data-driven culture bears much of the blame, writes Arnold Weinstein. The arts can no longer compete with the prestige and financial pay-offs promised by studying the STEM fields — a curriculum integrating science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “These are all worthy disciplines that offer precise information on practically everything. But, often and inadvertently, they distort our perceptions; they even short-change us.” (NYT)

The art of the apology Research shows that effective apologies all tend to share a set of underlying features. For close relationships, it’s all about timing; say sorry too soon and you might miss a crucial step towards reconciliation. (The Atlantic)

How to deal with North Korea The dictatorship is now the world’s most dangerous nation. Japan, South Korea and the US need to take rapid steps to improve missile defence and naval collaboration while imposing tougher sanctions on Pyongyang, writes former Nato supreme commander James Stavridis. (NAR)

Video of the day

Phonemakers turn to wearable devices Amid a saturated smartphone market, mobile phonemakers are looking to wearable devices to boost profits. The FT’s Daniel Garrahan examines the many wearables on display at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. (FT)