Skimm'd while time-traveling

"More than just a candle that vaguely resembles Joe Biden" – The description for a Joe Biden-scented candle. Just what the people wanted.

THINGS THAT MEAN BUSINESS

Google employees

The Story

Yesterday, thousands of Google employees from around the world temporarily left their standing desks and sleeping pods.

Don't make me Google why.

It was to protest the company's treatment of women and sexual harassment. This has to do with a recent report about senior execs who were accused of sexual misconduct and were still paid millions to pack their bags. Google's CEO responded to the report by saying 48 people were fired for sexual harassment but didn't get a payoff. Google employees said 'there's nothing impressive about that' and staged a worldwide walkout. They're asking for better HR practices. A commitment to ending Google's pay gap. And an end to forced arbitration – which prevents employees from suing Google publicly.

Anything else?

Google employees aren't the only ones in the tech world with opinions. Yesterday, more than 50 companies – including Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook – signed a letter calling on the Trump admin not to roll back transgender rights.

theSkimm

You've been hearing about the #MeToo movement in places ranging from Hollywood to Capitol Hill. Now, Google employees are saying 'Time's Up' to the male-dominated Silicon Valley.

PS: GV (formerly Google Ventures) is a minority investor in theSkimm.

The Justice Department

The Story

The Trump administration is cracking down on China.

Really. How?

The DOJ is teaming up with a bunch of other gov agencies to focus on economic espionage – like when China allegedly spies on US businesses and steals trade secrets. You've been hearing about these kinds of cases a lot recently (see: this and this). Now, the DOJ's reportedly working to uncover researchers and employees in the defense industry who could've been "co-opted" by China. As part of its focus on China, the DOJ announced yesterday it has charged three people and two companies it says were trying to steal tech from an Idaho-based company.

theSkimm

This all comes as the two countries have been going tit-for-tat against each other with trade tariffs – a move President Trump says is to stop China from taking advantage of the US on trade. The latest: Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are getting ready to meet up at the G-20 summit this month. Eyes are on whether they can smooth things over in person.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

What to say when your cousin asks if you'll watch her cat...

Pass. Yesterday, South Korea's Supreme Court ruled that men there can reject mandatory military service for religious reasons. For years, South Korea has required men to serve two years in the military as a way to deal with its feisty neighbor in the North. In 2004, the court said it's illegal for men to avoid serving for reasons like their religious faith. So each year, hundreds of men – many Jehovah's Witnesses – are imprisoned for refusing to serve. Yesterday, the Supreme Court overturned one guy's conviction. And the ruling is expected to affect the cases of more than 900 other men. This comes as South Korea's prez has been easing tensions with the North. Like today, when the two countries announced they're officially throwing their hat into the ring to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympics.

What people are watching…

Pakistan. People there are protesting the overturned death sentence for blasphemy of Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi. Blasphemy: when people insult or offend something sacred. Bibi's case started when she drank water from a cup before passing it to a group of Muslims – who refused to drink out of it because of her religion. They demanded she convert to Islam but she refused. And they later alleged she had insulted Islam's Prophet Muhammad. She was convicted and sentenced to death in 2010. Pakistan's Supreme Court took her case but its decision was delayed for weeks. That's because people who supported Pakistan's blasphemy laws promised to paralyze the country and kill the judges if they didn't uphold her punishment. Earlier this week, the court decided to overturn her sentence anyway. A very big move. Thousands have been protesting since – bringing parts of the country to a standstill. Today, the protests are expected to get worse.

What to say when your friend betrays you…

Just like Merck. The pharmaceutical giant is ending a long-term deal that sends life-saving vaccines to kids in West Africa. Each year, rotavirus kills about 200,000 children. In 2011, Merck shook hands on a deal to sell its rotavirus vaccine in low-income countries at a very reduced price. But earlier this year, Merck got approval to start selling the vaccine in China…where it could sell for 10 times what these other countries pay. Now, Merck is saying it won't be able to deliver the amount of vaccines promised to these countries this year and next. And will reportedly stop altogether in 2020 – which means more than 2 million kids may not be vaccinated that year.

What to say when you catch feelings listening to Carly Rae Jepsen's new song…

Can your feelings handle Harry Styles interviewing Timothée Chalamet?

What to say when you hear people have been voting early…

Were you one of them?

SKIMM READS

"The Witch Elm" by Tana French

This new book from one of our favorite thriller writers is about a 27-year-old guy living a charmed life. But everything changes when he gets seriously injured, moves to his uncle's house to recuperate...and the house is haunted in more ways than one. Halloween: it wasn't over, it still isn't over. Get it here.

PS: Want to check out our other Skimm Reads? Here you go.

SKIMM PICKS

For when you need a reason to swoon...

Say 'hey lassie' to "Outlander" season 4. The internet's fave couple is trading tartan for stars and stripes after being shipwrecked in the US. Season 4 of "Outlander" premieres this Sunday on STARZ. Need a refresher after the Droughtlander? Start a free trial and catch up on the app.*

For when you say 'the book was better'…

Read our guide to books you can also binge-watch. Then watch them, or don't.

SKIMM BIRTHDAYS

* indicates Skimm'bassador. Cake, cake, cake.

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