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What to watch for today
Carrie Lam goes to Beijing. Hong Kong’s chief executive is set to participate in celebrations of China’s 70th anniversary while tensions in her city have never been higher.
Manila transit workers go on strike. Bus and jeepney drivers say the country’s requirements to phase in safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles is too much of a financial burden. Many schools and government agencies are suspending operations for the day.
Updates on the European economy. From Germany, releases on unemployment, consumer prices, and retail sales are due. From the UK: housing prices, lending, and final GDP readings. From Italy: unemployment and consumer prices.
Over the weekend
Hong Kong protested. Demonstrators hurled petrol bombs, and police used water cannons and fired bullets into the air as violence erupted again in various neighborhoods. Uniformed officers appeared to repeatedly and deliberately pepper-spray a group of journalists.
Elon Musk delivered his annual SpaceX presentation. In Texas, the CEO said the Starship prototype towering behind him would do controlled hops in the next few months. Meanwhile NASA’s chief chided the company for being years behind schedule on a separate taxpayer-funded project.
Organizers stumbled at the World Athletics Championships. Even with middle-of-the-night start times, the heat and humidity in Doha were too much for many participants. Dozens dropped out of the marathon and race walk events. Inside a climate-controlled stadium, US sprinter Christian Coleman won the men’s 100m sprint, after nearly being banned for missing drug tests.
Flooding in India has killed dozens. Heavy rains in Northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state has left at least 44 dead.
José José died. The Mexican singer known as “the Prince of Song” was nominated six times for Grammy awards. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Quartz Obsession
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Matters of debate
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Economists don’t deserve your anger. Accusations that they exacerbate inequality and engage in groupthink are not justified.
Music business models that work in the West won’t work in Africa. The role of informal vendors in countries like Liberia can’t be ignored.
Young girls shouldn’t bear the burden of climate action. They should be in school, not on the streets demanding more from government leaders.
Surprising discoveries
China recently gave away over 620,000 TVs. Authorities want the Oct. 1 parade marking their 70th year in power to be widely watched.
The 737 Max’s most problematic system has a military predecessor that works better. The MCAS on Boeing’s KC-46A Pegasus already has the features now deemed missing in the 737 Max version.
Sneakers are set to become the largest footwear category in the US. Credit (or blame) goes to the ascent of athleisure.
George Carlin understood white fragility. In a 1990 interview, the late comedian expressed worries to Larry King about Andrew Dice Clay’s stand-up act in a cultural analysis that can still apply today.
Indonesia is putting out fires by making it rain. Authorities have used over 200 tons of salt to seed clouds and create artificial rain to extinguish wildfires.
Correction: The previous edition misstated Airbnb’s valuation as $47 billion. It is $31 billion.
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