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What to watch for today
South Korea’s anti-bullying law goes into effect. The law is a revision of labor standards meant to curb harassment, defined as any type of suffering brought on by employees or employers using a position of power to act outside their scope of work. South Korea is experiencing a backlash against a culture of elite male entitlement.
India checks out the moon. The nation’s space program decides when to retry the launch of its Chandrayaan 2 moon mission, which was aborted an hour before its scheduled Monday launch due to technical difficulties. Meanwhile, a lunar eclipse will be visible to skygazers in the nation—and throughout much of the rest of the world.
Facebook defends Libra to the US Congress. David Marcus, head of the social media giant’s blockchain subsidiary, Calibra, released his prepared testimony before his Senate appearance. The planned cryptocurrency will be regulated by the Swiss government, but will comply with US tax laws, his testimony said.
While you were sleeping
Amazon Prime Day delivered workforce strikes. Thousands of warehouse employees around the globe ceased work to protest poor pay and conditions, with some arguing that consumer participation in the two-day mega-sale is akin to crossing a picket line. Amazon customers, however, complained about site glitches that interfered with their deal-getting.
The UN reported on world hunger. The news isn’t good—820 million people are going hungry, and the number has been rising for three years. To make matters worse, climate change has led to a decline in farming, and the UN says its goal of eradicating hunger by 2030 is an “immense challenge.”
Ebola spread to a major Congolese city. A year into the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ebola outbreak, officials reported that an infected man reached Goma, a city of 2 million with an international airport just a kilometer away from the Rwandan border.
Trump made life harder for refugees… A new rule will require any migrants who pass through another country en route to the US to apply for refugee status in that country before they can seek asylum on American soil. The rule is set to take effect on Tuesday, but the American Civil Liberties Union has already vowed to challenge it in court.
…And doubled down on his racist attacks. Congressional Democrats indicated they’d make a move to formally censure the president for suggesting that four of their members “go back” to the countries they “originally came from.” Trump defiantly responded by saying that “if you hate our country” then “you can leave.”
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The new philanthropy. Amid growing inequality and skepticism about the motives of billionaires, a new philanthropy is taking shape. Evidence-based and results-driven, donors are rethinking where and how they give. This week, Quartz reporter Natasha Frost will dive into the “lives saved per dollar” approach of large and small foundations, starting with her state-of-play memo today. We’ve also published a new episode in our popular Because China video series, focused on China’s efforts to rebuild Greece’s economy and establish a toehold in Europe.
Quartz Obsession
Is the end truly nigh? Climate collapsers have united in communities preoccupied with climate eschatology—the idea that a warming Earth will radically change life as we know it. They’re different from apocalyptic groups or doomsday cults. Their concerns are based on scientific evidence (even if their predictions are speculative), and they’re working to avoid the end, not reveling in its approach. Get to know them (before it’s too late) with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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It’s time to turn our children into cyborgs. Not using high-tech tools to augment kids’ lives is as morally perilous as using them irresponsibly.
Leave Florida Man alone. The state’s weirdest crime stories often punch down at the homeless and mentally ill.
Americans just can’t quit their microwaves. Nuking frozen dinners is a symptom of the country’s eternal technological optimism.
Surprising discoveries
Vermont found cannabis growing in the statehouse flower garden. Police removed 34 plants but decided not to open a criminal investigation.
NASA will grow chile peppers in space. The hardy plants will be the first fruit the space agency has ever grown on the International Space Station.
You can cow your enemies with a head tilt. Angling your head down makes you seem more intimidating and in command.
The internet wants to raid Area 51. Over 1 million people have RSVPed to a viral Facebook event dedicated to storming the secretive military installation.
Foam could be the key to life on Mars. Nicknamed “solid smoke,” silica aerogel could help warm the planet’s frozen soil enough to grow plants.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, space peppers, and Area 51 floor plans to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Susan Howson and Nicolás Rivero.