Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Tencent Holdings announces second-quarter earnings after a major setback. The Chinese company was forced to pull out of a popular game on Monday, and shares fell by 3.4% after the news. China’s gaming industry is experiencing its slowest growth in a decade, and investors will look to Wednesday’s report to see how Tencent is coping with mainly overseas demand.
India celebrates its 72nd independence day. Prime minister Narendra Modi will hoist the nation’s flag at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi, then address the nation. Observers expect that Modi’s speech will focus on the success of his party, especially with upcoming elections in 2019.
The US releases retail figures for July. Analysts expect retail sales to rise and spending to stay firm, but fear that tariffs will soon be felt by the consumer. Macy’s and Cisco Systems will also report earnings on Wednesday: Observers predict Macy’s report to be similar to last year’s, and will watch out for product orders and software growth when it comes to Cisco.
While you were sleeping
More than 20 people are dead after a bridge collapsed in Italy. A section of of the Morandi highway bridge in Genoa collapsed during stormy weather, sending vehicles plummeting 100 meters (328 feet) to the ground. After touring the site, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has said that at least 22 are killed, with 16 injured.
Donald Trump’s campaign took legal action against a former aide. The campaign filed for arbitration against Omarosa Manigault Newman, an ex-White House official that published a tell-all claiming the president was a racist and in mental decline. Trump has hired lawyer Charles Harder, best known for representing Hulk Hogan in his sex-tape lawsuit.
Tesla formed a three-member panel to vet any Elon Musk proposal. It will consist of Robyn Denholm, the company’s first female board member, Linda Johnson Rice, the first African American and second female, and Brad Buss. The committee was mainly created to evaluate taking the firm private, which Musk has proposed, claiming he’s secured funding.
Nebraska used fentanyl for an execution. This is the first time that the drug, which is at the heart of the US opioid crisis, has been used for capital punishment (paywall). Carey Dean Moore was found guilty of two murders in the late 1970s, and his death became Nebraska’s first execution since 1997, despite the state legislature’s attempt to ban the punishment.
British emigrants living in the EU legally challenged Brexit. The UK citizens claim that the Electoral Commission’s ruling on leave campaign spending, which resulted in police reports and punitive fines against two officials, invalidated the Brexit vote. The claimants say that the 2016 referendum was consequently not a lawful, free, or fair vote.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Jennifer Robison on why parents need best friends at work: “Managers can help navigate work issues. Spouses can help think through family stuff. But only a best friend at work can do both, with an abiding concern for the person struggling to sort it all out.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Let’s just become one with robots. Living in a world where the line between humanity and technology is nebulous means more possibility and more group solidarity (paywall).
The Space Force isn’t ridiculous. Its creation would bring welcome attention and resources to an increasingly important domain.
Sexbots could make marriages stronger. Just as the microwave helped blur gender roles, so could new technology let couples focus on love, not sex.
Surprising discoveries
Southwest Air says horses can fly. The airline’s new policy says you can have one comfort cat or dog—or a miniature horse if it’s assisting you physically (paywall).
New Zealand is battling an avocado crime wave. A shortage has sent prices skyrocketing, with well-organized criminals stripping trees of fruit under cover of night.
An 81-year-old will compete at the Asian Games. Malaysia will send bridge player Lee Hung Fong, along with 11-year-old skateboarder Ian Nuriman Amri.
The US Civil War helped tattoos become mainstream. Soldiers got inked to help the army identify their bodies if they died.
Parisians are turning up their noses at open-air urinals. The city says men will just go in the streets without them, but critics say the odd red funnels are far too public.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, horse-width airplane seats, and private toilets 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 and edited by Susan Howson and Aisha Hassan.