Pakistan election results, new Venezuela banknotes, Mars lake

Good morning, Quartz readers!

What to watch for today

Pakistan awaits its new prime minister. Former cricket star Imran Khan is in the lead after a partial vote count, but counting has been delayed due to “technical failures” while a suicide bomber killed 31 at a polling station in Quetta. The opposition led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has also alleged vote rigging.

More earnings. Nestlé, US cable provider Comcast, and drug makers Allergan and AstraZeneca will all announce their numbers. Amazon, whose stock price is near a record high, releases its second-quarter earnings after the market close.

The European Central Bank meets in Frankfurt. The bank’s governing council will convene to further discuss plans for unwinding its massive stimulus from the financial crisis, including how to reinvest funds from maturing bonds and plans for an interest rate increase in 2019.

US Congress holds a hearing on Xinjiang. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China will discuss the issue of human rights in the far western region of China, including the extent of surveillance there and allegations that a large number of Muslim Uyghurs are being incarcerated in re-education camps.

More NAFTA negotiations are underway. After hosting his Canadian counterparts yesterday in Mexico City, economy minister Ildefonso Guajardo travels to Washington (paywall) to meet with US trade representative Robert Lighthizer. Canada and Mexico have reiterated that they are committed to a trilateral agreement despite the bilateral meetings.

While you were sleeping

Jean-Claude Juncker eased trade-war tensions. The European Commission president visited the White House, where he lobbied for both sides to work out a plan to reduce tariffs. Trump reported that he felt “something very positive” would come of the meeting.

A large deal in Australian media was proposed. TV network Nine and newspaper publisher Fairfax announced a A$4 billion ($2.98 billion) merger with the new entity to be called Nine and majority controlled by the network. A change to the law in 2017 allows one single company to own TV, print, and radio outlets in the same city.

Japan executed more sarin cult members. They include six more former members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult, which released sarin nerve gas into the Tokyo subway in 1995. The cult’s founder and six other of his followers were executed earlier this month.

Venezuela announced a new plan to combat hyperinflation. President Nicolas Maduro said the country would print new banknotes with five fewer zeros, as inflation is expected to reach 1 million percent this year. Maduro said the plan would lead to “great revolutionary changes in the economy.”

Trump postponed his second Putin meeting. US national security advisor John Bolton said that the delay was due to the investigation into election meddling, and indicated the two presidents would meet sometime in 2019 “after the Russia witch hunt is over.”

Quartz Obsession interlude

Annaliese Griffin on Norway’s answer to the Kit Kat. “[T]he bar is considered a tursjokolade, or ‘tour chocolate,’ a bite to enjoy and energize with while skiing, hiking, or otherwise being generally rosy-cheeked and Nordic. The wrappers feature trekking maps and profiles of famous trekkers, and Freia, the Norwegian confectioner that makes Kvikk Lunsj, has a website that suggests that the rest of the world is not having nearly as much fun eating chocolate as they are in Scandinavia.” Read more here.

Matters of debate

Don’t confuse Pride parades with LGBTQ equality. Awareness might be on the rise, but there are still significant hurdles to overcome in the workplace.

US airlines aren’t responsible for standing up to China on Taiwan. Carriers are caving in to Beijing’s demands to designate Taiwan as a part of China, but it’s governments that should be putting up the resistance (paywall).

Indians are paying the price for Silicon Valley-engineered tech addiction. The spread of smartphones and availability of cheap data are deepening social fissures in the country.

Surprising discoveries

Switzerland is banning fireworks because of the heatwave. Fears of forest fires mean the traditional fireworks display will also be canceled on its national day on Aug. 1.

The US embassy in London is selling off stuff it doesn’t want. Including 1,200 rolls of toilet paper.

New Zealand is picking a fight with Australia over its flag. At a particularly low point in relations between the two countries, the acting Kiwi prime minister says Australia copied its flag design.

Scientists have detected what could be a huge underground lake on Mars. The discovery requires more analysis, but, if true, increases the likelihood of life on the planet.

Some sex dolls in China are AI powered. They can answer basic questions but can’t hold long conversations.

Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, Norwegian chocolate, and extra TP 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.