Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Earnings day for drugs, planes, and handbags. Drug makers Eli Lilly and Biogen, US wireless carriers AT&T and Verizon, and aerospace giant Lockheed Martin are all expected to report higher quarterly profits. Meanwhile, French luxury house LVMH may address concerns over a slowdown in spending by Chinese consumers.
The US trade representative holds a public hearing on more Chinese tariffs. The discussion will revolve around the list of $16 billion in Chinese products that might be subject to additional tariffs in the escalating trade war.
Israel could loosen its grip on Gaza. Defense minister Avigdor Lieberman said it could reopen Gaza’s main commercial crossing and extend the territory’s fishing zone if a ceasefire with Hamas holds. Restrictions on the goods crossing were imposed earlier this month after protests by Palestinians broke out.
The former US ambassador to Russia visits the White House. Michael McFaul, who served in the role during the Obama administration and is an outspoken critic of the Kremlin, is meeting with US officials to discuss Russia’s harassment of former US officials. Vladimir Putin suggested during his meeting with Donald Trump that Russia should be allowed to interrogate American officials, including McFaul.
While you were sleeping
Nicaragua’s political crisis deepened. Long-time president Daniel Ortega said in an interview with Fox News that he would remain in power for the rest of his term until 2021, defying calls from protesters to step down. Hundreds of people have died in months of protests, including allegedly two young people who took shelter inside a church who were gunned down by Ortega’s forces.
Deadly wildfires raged near Greece’s capital. At least 20 people have died in the fire in a resort town east of Athens popular with local tourists. Firefighters also battled a wildfire west of Athens on Monday with residents told to leave their homes.
North Korea started dismantling a rocket launch site. That’s according to satellite images of the Sohae station in the country’s northwest, which North Korea insists was used for launching satellites, not ballistic missiles. Trump tweeted yesterday that North Korea hadn’t launched a missile in nine months.
A suspect was identified in Toronto’s mass shooting. The gunman, who died in yesterday’s shooting, was identified as 29-year-old Faisal Hussain but his motive remains unknown. Two people, a 10-year-old girl and 18-year-old woman, were killed.
Prosecutors got a dozen secret Michael Cohen recordings. The audio clips were seized in April, but federal prosecutors did not have judiciary clearance to listen to them until now. The contents of the tapes have not been disclosed, but they may put additional pressure on the president’s former lawyer and fixer to testify against Trump.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Oliver Staley on diversity in companies’ stock photos. “Because the images are designed to be reused over and over, they tend to be boringly inoffensive. In their blandness, however, they can do a lot of quiet work perpetuating insidious stereotypes. The people featured in stock photos for office workers, for example, are overwhelmingly white.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
The music industry’s #MeToo moment is still a long way away. The relative lack of social value afforded to black women and girls in America continues to sustain the careers of artists like R. Kelly.
The US economy feeds on low-income consumer debt. The poorer half of the population is spending more despite their own financial woes.
It’s easier to lie in a foreign language. Research suggests it also takes longer to tell the truth.
Surprising discoveries
Uber customers are falling prey to vomit fraud. Drivers allegedly lie about passengers puking to pocket big clean-up fees.
Amazon has patented robotic arms that can throw things around. The robots will use sensors and databases to effectively move warehouse inventory.
Mozambique got a gift of 200 elephants. Diamond producer De Beers transported the animals from its game reserve in South Africa to help replenish elephant numbers in the neighboring country.
Users are suing a vape maker for their nicotine addiction. The lawsuits allege that Juul is deceptively marketed as safe.
India hearts IKEA. Except for the bit (paywall) where you have to assemble your own furniture.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, diverse stock photos, and extra elephants to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Isabella Steger and edited by Alice Truong.