Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
Cambodia holds sham elections Sunday. Prime minister Hun Sen—in power for over 30 years—will win what is widely regarded as a rigged contest, as the nation’s slide toward naked authoritarianism continues. Last year authorities dissolved the main opposition party. US and EU economic penalties could follow, but China has Hun Sen’s back.
A blood moon rises, planets align, and a storm arrives. On Friday, much of the world will see a blood moon during the longest lunar eclipse of the century (here’s some moon music to set the scene), while the naked eye will be able to see five planets. In Japan, Typhoon Jongdari will bring rainfall and harsh winds, but also end the nation’s fatal heat wave.
GDP data and quarterly numbers from Twitter and Merck. Many economists expect US second-quarter GDP growth to exceed 4%, a pace not seen since 2014. Wall Street analysts think Twitter will report a surge in revenue and its third consecutive profitable quarter, while pharmaceutical giant Merck will likely beat estimates.
While you were sleeping
Protestors took to the streets across Poland. Demonstrators rallied after president Andrzej Duda signed into law a measure enabling the ruling right-wing government to effectively take control of the country’s supreme court. Protestors sang the national anthem and chanted “shame” and “free courts.”
Amazon both did and didn’t deliver. The e-commerce giant recorded $52.9 billion in revenue in the second quarter, a 39% year-on-year increase, but fell short of expectations. Profits hit a new record, reaching $2.5 billion for the first time, while Amazon Web Services posted a 49% jump in sales to $6.1 billion.
North Korea returned US soldiers’ remains. Officials handed over 55 cases containing the potential remains of American servicemen killed in the Korean War. Today marks the 65th anniversary of the armistice that ended the fighting (though not, technically, the war).
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s shares took a turn. European regulators think the company’s immunotherapy treatment for kidney cancer should not be approved. The news sent shares down 3.2%, despite the pharmaceutical giant reporting strong second-quarter earnings and an improved full-year forecast.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Ephrat Livni on the terrifying history of lunar eclipses. “Now we know the strange occurrence simply means the moon is transiting through the shadow of our planet… Historically, however, the disappearance of the moon—and the accompanying bloody hue of a lunar eclipse—was experienced as extremely meaningful and disconcerting.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Genetic engineering is the key to our survival. In a future of 3D-printed guns, bioterrorism, and accelerated climate change, artificially improving our genes isn’t a bad idea.
The crumbling world order spells opportunity for the BRICS. Backing the multilateral trading arrangements the US seems to be dumping can strengthen their position.
Facebook isn’t a monopoly. Plenty of its competitors do certain things better, and regulators don’t need to break it up (paywall).
Surprising discoveries
A cat-poop parasite actually boosts business smarts. However, toxoplasma gondii is also linked to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
South Yorkshire vandals keep abusing a shrubbery sculpture. A local artist says people keep “going through the motions of having sex” with his female-formed topiary.
Only 13% of our oceans are unpolluted. Just Earth’s poles and a small portion of the Pacific remain largely unaffected by fishing, shipping routes, and pollution.
The world’s oldest person has died. Japanese citizen Chiyo Miyako, born on May 2, 1901, held the official record, which now passes to another 117-year-old.
Someone hijacked Betsy DeVos’s yacht. The US education secretary’s $40 million luxury boat sustained up to $10,000 in scrapes.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, longevity secrets, and wayward watercraft to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Steve Mollman and edited by Alice Truong.