Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The US defense secretary plays matchmaker in Tokyo. Mark Esper will urge Japan and South Korea to maintain their intelligence-sharing pact, even though the countries’ relationship has soured over trade issues and historical grievances. Esper said he hopes the neighbors will resolve their disputes and focus on confronting China and North Korea.
India decides on rate cuts. The country’s central bank is expected to ease interest rates by a quarter point for the fourth time in a row. Investors and government officials have called for larger cuts to jolt a sluggish economy back into gear.
Lyft releases its second-ever earnings report. The company’s stock has already shed nearly a quarter of its value since its IPO, and Lyft is expected to miss revenue expectations while the cost of promotions and driver incentives stays high. Also reporting: Toshiba, Wendy’s, AIG, CVS Health Care, and Capri Holdings, the footwear overlords of Jimmy Choo and Versace.
While you were sleeping
India’s neighbors weighed in on Kashmir. Pakistan and China, which each claim parts of Jammu and Kashmir, condemned India’s decision to revoke the Muslim-majority state’s ability to set its own laws. Kashmir remains on a telecoms blackout, which Indian authorities hope will tamp down protests.
Wall Street recovered from its yuan hangover. After China stabilized its currency and the Trump administration announced another round of trade talks, US stocks bounced up 1%. Tech stocks, which are especially impacted by China’s actions and had tanked hard on Monday, led Tuesday’s rebound.
Snapchat said it’s taking on $1 billion in debt. Money-losing Snap saw its shares fall 1.5% after it announced that it would be putting long-term debt on its books for the first time ever. Snap was cagey about what it needs the money for, but mentioned buying “complementary businesses, products, services, or technologies.”
Apple rolled out its new credit card. Did you get an invite? The tech giant sent word to a select group of customers who applied to be “notified” about the release. Backed by Mastercard and Goldman Sachs, the digital card relies on contactless payments, which Apple explains in 10 instructional videos that also debuted today. The rest of us can apply later in August.
Toni Morrison died. The 88-year-old’s legendary literary career produced 11 novels, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning Beloved. As an editor at Random House, she helped elevate a generation of black authors. Morrison also warned against the danger of white supremacist violence.
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Today’s installment of our week-long field guide on supporting new parents looks at how money from tech investors is joining established, deep-pocketed philanthropists to invest in early childhood. The newcomers, writes Quartz reporter Jenny Anderson, are compelled by the science and economics of early-childhood investment and the power of technology. But what the tech sector offers in bravado and bold thinking, it often lacks in humility.
Quartz Obsession
“We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.” Toni Morrison made that remark when she won the Nobel prize for literature in 1993. Join the Quartz Obsession in exploring just how big an impact Morrison made on the world.
Matters of debate
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India’s in real danger of losing an upper hand. The repercussions of Article 370 will include the dismantling of the country’s reputation as a liberal democracy.
Don’t FaceTime in a crowded public place. Especially if you’re not wearing headphones.
Email might be less productive than in-person meetings. Just ask an expert in distributed systems research.
Surprising discoveries
Tardigrades are stranded on the moon. Dehydrated water bears probably survived an Israeli spacecraft crash, but they can’t reproduce.
GrubHub is siphoning money from restaurants. Yelp will now send users directly to the delivery service, which charges the businesses a commission.
A reservoir had been hiding an ancient Thai temple. Thousands are flocking to the drought-parched area to take in the rare sight.
Mammal brains aren’t cut out for Mars. Low-level radiation exposure could cognitively impair deep-space travelers.
Selfies could be the new blood pressure test. The rate at which light bounces off hemoglobin near the surface of the skin could make testing more accessible.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, parched water bears, and high-pressure selfies to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Susan Howson and Nicolás Rivero.