The World
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper said he does not support the use of active-duty military forces — nor invoking the Insurrection Act — in quelling countrywide unrest, as mass demonstrations across the U.S. gave way to a night of relative calm, in contrast with the destruction of recent nights. (Washington Post, Wall Street Journal)
British prime minister Boris Johnson described the death of George Floyd as “appalling” and “inexcusable,” but also cautioned protests to stay “lawful and reasonable.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paused for 21 uncomfortable, televised seconds before saying: “We all watch in horror and consternation what’s going on in the United States.” (The Guardian, New York Times)
Half of the nation’s registered voters said race relations will be a factor in their vote for president this year. (Monmouth Poll)
The U.S. barred Chinese passenger carriers from flying to the country starting on June 16 as it pressures Beijing to let U.S. air carriers resume flights amid simmering tensions. Meanwhile, the UK offered hope of refuge to 3m Hong Kong people, including possible citizenship if Beijing removes freedoms. (Reuters, The Times)
Chinese troops in Tibet held an infiltration exercise to test their combat readiness amid border tensions between China and India. Meanwhile, Taiwan braces for 'surge of refugees' from Hong Kong, and the AP reports that China delayed releasing coronavirus info, frustrating WHO. (South China Morning Post, Nikkei Asian Review, Associated Press)
Almost one-third of unemployment benefits estimated to be owed to millions of Americans who lost jobs haven’t been paid. Further, a $600 billion Federal Reserve loan program designed to help tens of thousands of companies is heading for trouble before it even begins. (Bloomberg, Politico)
The American Hospital Association is urging HHS to distribute at least $50 billion more in "urgently needed" funding as providers continue to wrestle with financial challenges. (HealthcareDive)
Two leading medical journals expressed concern about potential flaws in the data produced to draw major conclusions about Covid-19 — that certain heart drugs are safe, and that hydroxychloroquine is not. Subsequently, the WHO resumed its hydroxychloroquine trial. (STATNews, CNBC)
Solar, wind and other renewable sources surpass coal in U.S. energy generation for first time in 130 years. (The Guardian)
Finance
U.S. private payrolls fell less than expected in May, suggesting layoffs were abating as businesses reopen. Meanwhile, Moody’s Analytics economist Mark Zandi said there are signs that the worst of the jobs crisis is over, as is a steep recession brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters, CNBC)
The U.S. yield curve steepened as 30-year Treasury falls from favour and yields reached their highest levels since March. This follows increased borrowing required to fund a massive economic stimulus and signs of the Fed’s shifting policy. (Financial Times)
Wall Street strategists say dollar could be set for ‘dramatic’ falls, as the U.S. currency has dipped to nearly three-month lows against its peers over past week. (Financial Times)
A top HSBC executive signed a petition supporting China’s move to impose security legislation on Hong Kong, putting the bank squarely on the side of Beijing. Standard Chartered said it believes China’s national security law can help “maintain the long term stability of Hong Kong.” (Wall Street Journal, Reuters)
AMC Theaters says it has ‘substantial doubt’ it can stay in business. (New York Times)
The 2020 best & worst states for business: CEO poll ranks TX no. 1 and CA last. (Chief Executive)
Technology
Zoom reported revenue growth of 169% from the previous year, and nearly doubled its revenue guidance for the full year, as the pandemic drove millions of new customers and turned it into a household name. (CNBC)
Snapchat will no longer promote President Trump's account on its "Discover" page of curated content, taking action for comments he made elsewhere. That's going farther than other big tech firms. (Axios)
In an internal video call with Facebook employees obtained by Recode, CEO Mark Zuckerberg doubled down on his controversial decision to take no action on last week’s post from President Trump. Civil rights leaders say they’re ‘disappointed and stunned’ after call with Facebook’s Zuckerberg and Sandberg. (Recode, CNBC)
Uber’s grocery-delivery expansion plans face questions as chains rebel. Uber also faces legal challenges in California over its handling of drivers. (The Information)
Google pulls ‘Remove China Apps’ from Play store: The top trending app in India, which was downloaded more than 5 million times since late May and enabled users to detect and easily delete apps developed by Chinese firms. (TechCrunch)
The White House took a step towards retaliating against other country’s taxes on tech giants, opening a trade investigation into several countries’ plans to make companies such as Facebook and Amazon pay more in local markets. (The Daily Telegraph)
Smart Links
What is the U.S. Entity List? (The Wire China)
Ancient DNA offers clues to physical origins of Dead Sea Scrolls. (National Geographic)
Dozens of mammoths under new airport. (Smithsonian)
Genetic analysis: Populations started mixing 8,500 years ago — before cities began to rise. (Harvard Gazette)
Voting data traded on dark web. (New Scientist)
Flexible feet help robots walk faster. (Science Daily)
SpaceX launch puts spotlight on space startups. (The Information)