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What to watch for today
More turbulence for Cathay Pacific. Trade unions plan to demonstrate near its operational hub in response to the airline firing a labor leader for backing the Hong Kong protests. The company, pressured by Beijing, warned it will show “zero tolerance” for employees supporting the rally.
A landmark ruling in the US opioid crisis. An Oklahoma judge is expected to rule on whether Johnson & Johnson will be held responsible for the state’s deadly opioid epidemic. A decision against the company could mean large payouts in similar cases across the US.
A reading on Germany’s business climate. Amid fears the EU’s largest economy is entering a recession, investors await results of the latest Ifo survey, which provides insight into what executives from a range of industries are thinking.
Over the weekend
South Korea irked Tokyo some more. Its forces began two days of expanded drills Sunday around the Dokdo (or Takeshima, in Japan) islands, which both nations claim. Days earlier it scrapped an intelligence-sharing agreement with its neighbor.
Trump ruined dinner at the G7 summit. The US president caused a heated argument by insisting that Russia be readmitted to the group, an idea his counterparts resisted, saying only liberal democracies belong. Russia was ejected for its annexation of Crimea.
The US and Japan drew closer to a trade deal. The two sides agreed in principle to the core elements of an agreement, with the hope being that Donald Trump and Shinzo Abe will sign it next month in New York. Suffering US farmers stand to win big.
Republican Joe Walsh announced he’ll run for US president. The conservative talk-show host and former congressman called Trump “the worst of who we are” and said the nation could not take another four years of him. Trump has a solid approval rating among Republicans, however.
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Matters of debate
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Art institutions are getting too ideological. Museums do not need to promote social justice.
Being nice can hurt your career. Prioritizing it over honesty has serious downsides.
Human-led curation has a place amid algorithms. Even Netflix, famous for its use of the latter, is now offering movie collections made by people.
Surprising discoveries
Hong Kong protestors are attacking “smart” lampposts. They suspect the high-tech structures are surveillance tools.
A SpaceX launch has prompted warnings to exit homes. Windows of nearby houses could shatter in the event of an “overpressure event.”
A pumice raft bigger than Manhattan is bobbing around the Pacific. The volcanic rock is so porous it floats.
PlayStation’s first movie lost its director—for the fifth time. Maybe it’s a sign the action-adventure game Uncharted doesn’t belong on the big screen.
NASA is investigating what may be the first space crime. The long arm of the law reaches beyond Earth’s bounds.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, chunks of pumice, and your very own movie recommendations to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Steve Mollman and Daniel Wolfe.