Trump’s rust belt politics, Ebola cure, $4 million hourly wage

Trump visits Pennsylvania. The US president will tour Shell’s upcoming petrochemicals plant outside Pittsburgh, in a nod to the blue collar support that helped propel him into office. Critics say the plant, which was announced during the Obama administration, will contribute substantially to air pollution in the state. [Quartz Daily Brief]( Good morning, Quartz readers! What to watch for today Trump visits Pennsylvania. The US president [will tour]( Shell’s upcoming petrochemicals plant outside Pittsburgh, in a nod to the blue collar support that helped propel him into office. Critics say the plant, which was announced during the Obama administration, will contribute substantially to air pollution in the state. A legal challenge to Boris Johnson’s Brexit shutdown. A petition backed by more than 70 MPs and peers seeks to rule as “unlawful and unconstitutional” the prime minister’s plan to suspend parliament to force a no-deal EU departure. [The initial hearing takes place today]( in Edinburgh. JD.com hopes to turn a profit. The Chinese e-commerce giant and Alibaba rival is [expected to report]( sluggish second-quarter revenue growth, but could be [helped by cost-cutting measures](. Chinese tech firms [have been hit]( by a slowdown in economic growth and consumer spending caused in part by the US-China trade war. While you were sleeping John Bolton began another day of meetings with UK officials. The US national security adviser [talks today]( to the secretaries of defense, international trade, and Brexit. After meeting with prime minister Boris Johnson yesterday, Bolton floated the possibility of[sector-by-sector trade deals]( to help the UK deal with a potential no-deal Brexit. Hong Kong’s airport faced another day of disruption. Protesters rallying against police brutality returned to the airport [for a fifth day]( after effectively forcing the major transport hub [to shut down]( yesterday. Flights have [resumed,]( with airlines working to clear a backlog. The UN began investigating North Korea for cyberattacks. Experts are probing at least 35 cases across 17 countries for [theft of cryptocurrency]( used to allegedly raise funds for weapons programs. The hacks may have netted Pyongyang as much as $2 billion, according to a report to the Security Council. Singapore slashed its growth outlook. Amid worsening global conditions and final second-quarter data showing a sharp contraction, the city-state [cut its expected growth for the year]( to between 0% to 1%, down from its previous estimate for 1.5% to 2.5%. Scientists announced an Ebola cure. Amid the second-largest-ever Ebola outbreak, scientists in the DR Congo said that two new treatments for the disease have [saved roughly 90% of infected patients]( and the drug will now be offered to all patients. Quartz Membership [Automation]( advanced manufacturing, AI, and the shift to e-commerce are dramatically changing the nature of work. Ride-sharing startups and others are ushering in the rise of part-time work and redefining what it means to be an employee. As the world becomes more closely connected, migration is also creating [more diverse and blended workforces](. Join us as we [explore the future of work]( and how employees and employers can prepare. Quartz Obsession A checklist can save your life—and lots of others. Astronauts, pilots, and doctors rely on them to navigate complex tasks, knowing that the modern world can exceed even their well-tuned brains. But even when it’s not life or death, checklists are useful in the business world to make sure you’re not missing anything when you hire, invest, or negotiate. [Check it out at the Quartz Obsession.]( Matters of debate It’s time for a meat tax. Sin taxes discourage harmful behaviors like smoking, so why not do the same for [rampant meat eating]( We’re seeing the rise of a new servant class. Jobs catering to the whims of the wealthy [are not a good thing](. Tourist hotspots should enact congestion pricing. Over-tourism could be resolved with this [simple textbook economics solution](. [Join the conversation with the new Quartz app!]( Quartz announcement Help us do better. In 2018, we surveyed 6x more female CEOs than the percentage of women that occupy CEO positions in top global companies for our Global Executives Study. [Take the 2019 survey here](. Surprising discoveries The Milky Way is even more lit. Our galaxy’s massive black hole just emitted [the biggest flare]( astronomers have ever recorded. Stock ticker mix-ups cost investors $1 million a year. When Ford Motors makes news, confused investors [rush to buy shares]( in FORD (Forward Industries). The world’s richest family now makes $4 million per hour. [Rolling back all those prices]( at Walmart hasn’t slashed the Waltons’ budget. Pompeii had sorcerers. A box full of [colorful crystals and symbolic objects]( was found alongside a group of women in one house. Australia may no longer be able to call some local cheeses feta. The EU wants a trade deal to protect the names of hundreds of products, including [scotch beef and gorgonzola](. Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, Pompeii crystals, and generic cheese to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by[downloading our app]( and[becoming a member](. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Adam Rasmi and edited by Jackie Bischof. Enjoying the Daily Brief? Forward it to a friend! They can [click here to sign up.]( Want to advertise in the Quartz Daily Brief? Send us an email at ads@qz.com. To unsubscribe from the Quartz Daily Brief, [click here](.