Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The UN meets about North Korea. At the request of the US, Japan, Britain, France, and South Korea, the United Nations Security Council will meet to discuss a nuclear test conducted by North Korea over the weekend. Diplomats say reprisals could include banning certain exports, cutting off oil supply, preventing North Koreans from working abroad, and adding top officials to a blacklist. US president Donald Trump will also meet with his national security team Monday. Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said the administration is readying harsher economic sanctions.
A fraud trial against former Tesco execs kicks off. Three former executives face charges of concealing truths about the company’s finances, a deception that led to a £263 million ($340 million) profit overstatement in 2014. Once uncovered, the error hurt Tesco’s stock and caused a PR crisis for the 98-year-old company.
BRICS summit sessions begin. The leaders of the BRICS nations will meet to discuss economic development, cultural cooperation, and international security and diplomacy. While addressing the summit yesterday, Chinese president Xi Jinping alluded to the threat posed by North Korea, saying that “hotspot issues” and “incessant conflicts” in some parts of the world pose “challenges to world peace.”
Over the weekend
North Korea may have tested its most powerful nuke yet. On Sunday, the nation claimed to have successfully conducted a test of a hydrogen bomb that it says could be placed on an intercontinental ballistic missile. The test—North Korea’s sixth—resulted in a tremor measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, compared with a 5.3-magnitude tremor after its last test in September 2016.
Cambodia’s opposition leader was arrested for treason. Kem Sokha, the head of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, was removed from his home on Sunday (paywall). The government has accused Sokha of conspiring with foreigners in a secret plot to harm the nation.
A NASA astronaut returned from her record-breaking mission. Peggy Whitson returned to Earth from the International Space Station on Saturday after 665 days off-planet. Whitson spent more consecutive days in space than any other American or woman; at 57, she was also the world’s oldest woman in space.
Narendra Modi shook up his cabinet. The Indian prime minister reshuffled top leadership on Sunday, axing six ministers and bringing in non-elected bureaucrats and diplomats as part of a broader technocratic shift (paywall). Among the changes: Nirmala Sitharaman was reassigned from her role as trade minister to become the new defense minister.
Tim Cook reaffirmed his support of DREAMers. Apple’s CEO tweeted on Sunday that he stands with the 250 Apple employees who are DREAMers—young immigrants authorized through DACA to work legally in the US with a path to citizenship. Cook is one of several Silicon Valley CEOs who have spoken out in anticipation of Trump’s decision on DACA this week.
Quartz obsession interlude
Anne Quito on the must-see mecca of mid-century modern design: Columbus, Indiana. “With some 80 notable structures—schools, libraries, banks, and public buildings—Columbus offers a Disneyland-like experience for visiting architecture gawkers. There’s endless fodder for Instagram vignettes. But it’s devoid of large tour buses, slow-moving tour groups, or even a direct shuttle from the airport, giving the town a precious, unspoiled quality.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
America needs unions now more than ever. Middle class anxiety, which fuels bitter politics, will not be resolved until workers have more leverage (paywall).
It’s time for Uber’s board to grow up. With a new CEO in place, the company should take a closer look at dysfunction within its board of directors.
Netflix is reshaping movie culture. By focusing on exclusive content (paywall), Netflix contributes to the loss of our collective cultural memory.
Surprising discoveries
For one year, all South Asians in the US were considered “white.” For most of the 20th century, the US census did not consider South Asians a distinct race.
There’s a black market for Instagram verification. Securing that little blue check can run you up to $15,000.
Thailand’s stray dogs might get “smart” vests. Developed by an advertising agency, the vests transmit live streaming video from a hidden camera whenever the wearer barks.
The US Food and Drug Administration considers ecstasy a potential “breakthrough therapy.” If clinical trials of MDMA’s effect on post-traumatic stress disorder are successful (and funded), the FDA could fast-track its approval process.
There are only three fluent speakers of southern Africa’s original language. One of them, 84-year-old Katrina Esau, has spent 10 years teaching children to speak Nluu out of a school in her home.
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