Elon Musk could test Mars rocket next year, China's at risk for a banking crisis, and more trending news

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Billionaire Elon Musk says he’ll be ready to test his Mars spaceship next year. Musk, who held an unplanned Q&A at SXSW, told the audience that SpaceX will be set to send the rocket to do “short flights, up and down flights” at the beginning of 2019, although he did acknowledge that this may be optimistic. Musk ultimately wants to build a human colony on Mars. ? Share your thoughts: #SpaceXMarsFlights

China’s economy is most at risk of a financial crisis, according to the Bank of International Settlements. The nation’s high level of debt makes its economy more vulnerable, per the organization’s quarterly review — but there are signs that China’s economy is improving, with its government working to slow debt accumulation. The report also found that Hong Kong and Canada are susceptible to banking risks, due in part to sharp hikes in property prices. ? Share your thoughts: #ChinaBankWarning

The White House unveiled a proposal for gun safety in schools. The plan includes training and arming school staff, as well as improvements to mental health services. The proposal does not raise the age limit to buy certain guns, but it does recommend a commission to study a number of issues, including age restrictions for gun purchases and the effects of violent video games. The plan comes after a school shooting in Florida killed 17 people. ? Share your thoughts: #TrumpGunPlan

File-sharing company Dropbox is aiming to raise up to $648 million in its IPO. The company is offering 36 million shares between $16 and $18 each, which would set a fully-diluted valuation as high as $9.9 billion. Dropbox is expected to begin trading next week on the Nasdaq (as DBX), and other private tech firms will be watching: Dropbox’s IPO and Spotify’s direct listing “could presage a series of stock market debuts,” predicts The New York Times. ? Share your thoughts: #DropboxIPO

The Northeast is bracing for its third major storm in less than two weeks. Another nor’easter could hit the region tonight, Reuters reports; although the storm won’t affect as wide an area as the previous two, New England could see blizzard conditions, some flooding and power outages. More than 2 million homes and businesses in the Northeast lost power during recent winter storms, and nearly 3,300 flights were cancelled. ? Share your thoughts: #NortheastSnow

Idea of the Day: “We live in a country where often CEOs and other executive leaders have held mythic status in the public mind,” writes New Profit Chairman Jeffrey Walker. But the challenges of today require leaders who focus on collaboration and “collective purpose” — on building successful teams, not individual glory.

“Heroes are essential, but they are not enough.”

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— Katie Carroll & Jessica Hartogs / Share this using #DailyRundown

From earlier: #ForeignStudentVisas