Media Tycoon Arrested in Hong Kong | Executive Orders Cause Chaos

1. Hong Kong Media Tycoon Detained Under Security Law

Jimmy Lai, 71 — one of the city’s most prominent pro-democracy activists — was detained this morning along with six others for alleged “collusion with foreign forces.” Many had warned that new national security laws imposed on Hong Kong by mainland China would lead to a crackdown on free speech, though supporters of the law maintain it’s necessary to ensure stability. Shares in Lai’s company, Next Digital, plunged at first — then swung back up 344 percent after calls from pro-democracy online forums to show solidarity. If Lai is convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Sources: FT (sub), Reuters

2. Trump Executive Orders on Virus Relief Cause Confusion

With Congress unable to pass swift COVID-19 relief, President Donald Trump tried to bypass the legislative branch altogether with executive orders on extra unemployment benefits, a partial eviction ban and deferring payroll tax. But some of those measures may be unconstitutional because they use spending powers reserved for Congress, and it could take months to create systems to defer payroll taxes — which fund Social Security and Medicare benefits. Still, as OZY co-founder Carlos Watson explained on MSNBC, “They were looking for some kind of maneuver to be able to say later on that they did something.”

Sources: WSJ (sub), Washington Post, MSNBC

3. Belarus Erupts in Protests After Disputed Election

Alexander Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 1994, and Sunday’s election handed him another term with 80 percent of the vote. That didn’t sit well with the opposition, which alleged widespread fraud, including polling places running out of ballots after more than 100 percent of eligible voters apparently turned out. Challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a political newcomer who stepped in after her activist husband was jailed, inspired massive rallies and popular support — but won only 10 percent of the official vote. Her supporters took to the streets, where dozens were arrested and one was killed by a police van.

Sources: The Guardian, BBC, OZY

4. Beirut Protests Continue as Death Toll Rises

Nine members of Lebanon’s Parliament and three government ministers have resigned as protests continue after a devastating explosion flattened part of Beirut. The death toll has risen above 200 and dozens are still missing, including workers in the port’s grain silos. Loved ones are holding out hope they may still be found despite a slow rescue response. For two straight days, protesters and police have clashed in clouds of tear gas. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a virtual donor conference to raise nearly $300 million for relief … and an inquiry into who holds responsibility for the crisis.

Sources: Al Jazeera, BBC, Reuters

5. Also Important …

India’s largest crocodile park says it’s struggling for funds during lockdown. Amazon is exploring turning mall space into fulfillment centers. And a round table of five former directors of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the country’s inadequate response to COVID-19 is largely a question of leadership.

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6. Meet the Troublemaker

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1. Golf Newcomer Wins PGA Championship

He had the drive. Collin Morikawa, 23, only went pro last year, but yesterday he hit an extraordinary shot to just seven feet from the hole on a 294-yard 16th hole, clinching his first major title at the first pandemic-era major. There was no roar from the audience, as there was no audience: "This is one time I really wish there were crowds," Morikawa said later. Meanwhile, in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, 17-year-old Rose Zhang needed two extra holes to dethrone defending champ Gabriela Ruffels after playing 36 holes to a stalemate, the longest tournament match since 1966.

Sources: ESPN, NYT, Golf Digest

2. Kiribati Will Lift Islands to Avoid Rising Sea

It’s just trying to keep its head above water. While a previous administration of the archipelago nation bought land in Fiji as a potential refuge if climate change makes Kiribati uninhabitable, current President Taneti Maamau’s new plan is to elevate the islands by dredging nearby waters for fill. Maamau, who’s seen as allied with China and was just reelected in June, says he won’t accept large loans or allow China to build a base on its strategically key Christmas Island, though China has funded similar infrastructure projects before to gain military access to other small countries.

Source: The Guardian

3. Diamond-Encrusted Face Mask Is World’s Most Expensive

But does it make him look like the Lone Ranger? An unidentified Chinese businessman living in the U.S. reportedly ordered the $1.5 million face mask to two specifications: That it be finished by year’s end, and that it be the world’s most expensive. The 18-carat gold mask, which has N99 filters, is covered in 3,600 white and black diamonds and weighs a little over half a pound — about 100 times more than a surgical mask. Meanwhile, nurses across the U.S. protested last week over continuing shortages of personal protective gear for front-line health care workers.

Sources: SCMP, Chicago Tribune

4. The Racial Divide Over Remote Learning

In Oxford, Mississippi, Black children account for a third of the school district, but more than half of the students who plan to initially learn remotely this fall. That’s a reflection of a nationwide trend, OZY reports : Black families, which have been hit harder by the pandemic, are more worried about contracting the disease — especially since inequalities in medical care mean they can’t trust that they’ll get adequate treatment in hospitals. Still, that could fuel a different kind of gap, with Black children projected to lose out on the educational benefits of months of in-school learning.

Source: OZY

5. Disneyland Walks Back Opening Hours

Maybe they should just let it go. Disney began phased reopening of its parks last month, but says it will scale back its Florida park’s hours due to a surge in coronavirus cases. People probably wouldn’t have come anyway: A new poll found that 78 percent of parents don’t want to go back to a theme park this year (and only 47 percent want to visit next year). And there may be socially distanced alternatives: You can now experience several Disney coasters in VR via PlayStation game creation platform Dreams — including waiting in line.

Sources: THR, OC Register, Venture Beat