Good morning, Quartz readers!
Have you checked out our new podcast FWD: Thinking? In the latest episode, Manoush Zomorodi talks about launching a women-led startup after a sexual-harassment scandal rocked her former employer. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher for lessons on how to build a business after you quit your job.
What to watch for today
Google employees protest sexual misconduct by senior executives. A planned walk-out across its offices in the wake of a New York Times exposé has received support from CEO Sundar Pichai.
Apple reports quarterly earnings. Even in one of the company’s slower quarters, it’s expected to have sold heaps of iPhones. But investors will be especially focused on the company’s fast-growing revenue from services, subscriptions, and content.
Amazon’s US workers get a raise. The new $15 minimum wage goes in effect for its 250,000 full-time employees and 100,000 seasonal workers.
An update on the UK’s economy. Economists expect the Bank of England to keep interest rates unchanged after raising them three months ago. The central bank’s growth and inflation forecasts will likely show a slight pick-up, and new manufacturing data is expected to point to an improvement in business conditions.
While you were sleeping
The black box for Lion Air’s crashed plane was found. Indonesia’s navy dive team found the recording device at about 30 meters (100 feet) under the sea, after flight JT610 crashed on Monday. The search also identified the crash’s first victim, a 24-year-old civil servant.
South Korea allowed conscientious objection to military service. The Supreme Court case involved only one defendant, a 34-year-old Jehovah’s Witness, but the landmark ruling overturns five decades of precedent and will affect more than 900 pending cases.
Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled a ban on recreational marijuana was unconstitutional. The decision does not legalize recreational use of cannabis, which is up to Congress, but all courts in Mexico must allow adults to consume it without interference from the state.
Kim Jong Un’s travel plans were revealed. Speaking before parliament, South Korean president Moon Jae-in said the North Korean leader would visit Seoul “soon” and that a second Trump-Kim summit is “near at hand.” Kim is also expected to travel to Russia and could meet with Japan’s prime minister. His remarks come after South Korea’s spy agency observed North Korea preparing for international inspections.
Peru’s former first lady was ordered back to jail. A judge ruled opposition leader Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, should be placed behind bars to keep her from fleeing ahead of her corruption trial. She is under investigation for allegedly using her political party to launder money for Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.
Obsession interlude
Matthew De Silva and Corinne Purtill on bitcoin’s greatest mystery: “Satoshi Nakamoto is one of the wealthiest people on the planet. This person—or persons—has managed to throw global markets into a tizzy, without leaving home (wherever that may be). We know that he—or she—upended the traditional finance system and created a brand-new currency. We just don’t know who he is.” Go down this rabbit hole with the Quartz Obsession email.
Matters of debate
Inequality spells doom for republics. By that yardstick, America’s current decline began in the 1970s (paywall).
You shouldn’t think of your work self as separate from your home self. People who perceive their identities as distinct are more likely to make unethical decisions.
Corporate America is past its “peak.” Use of the word on earnings calls hit its own peak last year.
Surprising discoveries
New iPhones are allergic to helium. Their sensitive timekeeping chips don’t work in the presence of some gases.
There was a secret US Supreme Court love affair. William Rehnquist had proposed marriage to Sandra Day O’Connor before they joined the high court.
An influencer was sued for not wearing Snap’s Spectacles. Luka Sabbat failed to don the high-tech glasses at Milan’s and Paris’s fashion weeks.
Cockroaches have a killer karate kick. It’s how they fend off a parasitic wasp that reproduces by turning roaches into zombies.
Taipei’s mayor dropped a rap video. “Do Things Right” implores citizens to not steal chickens or pet dogs—slang for being lazy and engaging in petty thievery.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, unwanted smartglasses, and secret marriage proposals 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 Alice Truong and edited by Isabella Steger.