Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Emmanuel Macron arrives in Tokyo. The French president, along with other world leaders, is taking advantage of the G20 summit in Osaka to do some diplomatic work in the area. Macron and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe will most likely discuss cooperation on maritime security, a key part of France’s developing Indo-Pacific strategy, before the meeting.
Hong Kong protesters send messages. A morning march to 19 foreign consulates will result in petition letters urging diplomats to press Chinese president Xi Jinping on freedoms and democracy in Hong Kong at the G20, which begins Friday. A rally is also scheduled for the evening. China said Monday that it would not allow any discussion of Hong Kong at the event.
General Mills shows results of its foray into pet food. The US food giant is expected to continue its upward trend with a possible dip in earnings but a significant rise in revenue, thanks to its acquisition of natural pet food brand Blue Buffalo last year. Meanwhile, BlackBerry’s earnings will reveal how its pivot to US government technology and antivirus services has affected its bottom line.
While you were sleeping
US border chief John Sanders stepped down… The acting Customs and Border Patrol commissioner had been on the job just two months. Sanders failed to reduce the number of migrants entering the US, and lobbied unsuccessfully for an extra $4.5 billion in funding from Congress to improve conditions at detention centers, which face shortages of bedding, hygiene products, and food.
…while a new White House spokesperson stepped up. Stephanie Grisham, first lady Melania Trump’s former communications chief, has established the kind of combative relationship with the media that the president loves–which will be on display if and when the new press secretary brings back the daily briefing, which hasn’t been held in more than three months.
Trump threatened Iran with “obliteration.” The spat between Washington and Tehran got personal after president Hassan Rouhani called US sanctions “outrageous and idiotic” and suggested the White House was mentally ill. Trump shot back on Twitter, calling Rouhani’s remarks “ignorant and insulting,” and flexed the US military’s “great and overwhelming force.”
AbbVie bought botox-maker Allergan. The $63-billion deal gives the pharmaceutical giant a commanding position in the $8 billion market for beauty drugs. AbbVie is looking for new revenue sources as its patent on Humira, the world’s best-selling drug, is set to expire.
France was found accountable for bad Parisian air. A woman and her daughter, both of whom suffer from respiratory problems, sued the nation for failing to sufficiently control air quality in the Paris area. The ruling said the French state had failed to effectively reduce pollution, but declined to grant the plaintiffs the damages they sought.
Quartz Membership
Interested in becoming a member? Find out more.
It’s day two of our guide to traveling like a pro, and today we’re looking at when to find the best hotel deals, and how to apply for the US government’s expedited screening programs for frequent fliers, including Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. In our members-only video series, we chat with Box CEO Aaron Levie on the questions every founder should answer in their pitch to investors.
Quartz Obsession
Cash is no longer king. In South Korea, 89% of consumer payments are cashless, and paper money is becoming an oddity in Chinese cities. Plus, in an increasing number of communities, local banks have left towns and ATMs high and dry. The Quartz Obsession looks at what happens when cash deserts appear.
Matters of debate
Join the conversation with the new Quartz app!
Trump’s China trade war is changing history. The convergence of one, integrated global market no longer seems inevitable.
There’s nothing new about “biohacking.” We’ve been gradually altering our bodies since the dawn of agriculture.
“Aggression detectors” are dangerous snake oil. Schools have been installing the unproven and invasive surveillance devices to boost security, but they’re flawed and unreliable.
Surprising discoveries
Tencent ended an era of Chinese hook-up culture. The tech giant ended “drift bottle,” which allowed users to send anonymous messages to prospective lovers.
A desert space camp teaches doctors Martian medicine. Earthlings inhabit a remote Utah silo and roleplay their way through medical disasters on the Red Planet.
The US constitution protects Scabby the rat. A federal judge ruled that the giant inflatable cartoon rodent used during union protests counts as protected speech.
Airbnb will now rent you a tropical island. The startup’s new “luxe” tier also offers medieval castles, with an average listing price of $14,000 per week.
“Plasticrust” is the world’s newest, grossest form of pollution. Scientists are finding scabby, blue-green plastic encrusted onto rocks on the shore of Madeira.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, DIY biohacks, and inflatable rats 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 Nicolás Rivero, Susan Howson, and Holly Ojalvo.