What to watch for today
The Bank of England holds its monetary policy meeting. The central bank is expected to keep its benchmark rate steady, in its first meeting since inflation rates turned negative in April.
NASA tries again with its flying saucer test. Stormy seas forced the delay of the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator’s test flight, which is now scheduled for 5:30pm GMT.
JM Smucker opens the lid. The consumer food giant, whose holdings include jam and peanut butter, is expected to report a decline in profits due to higher coffee prices in the United States. Other companies reporting earnings include Verifone, Lands End, Michaels, and Navistar.
The Tiananmen Square protests are remembered. On June 4, 1989, the Chinese army massacred pro-democracy protesters in Beijing. Although censors go to elaborate lengths to suppress remembrances of the event, Chinese students and victims’ families have called for accountability for the killings.
While you were sleeping
T-Mobile US is in deal talks again. The mobile carrier is in merger talks with the US’s second-largest satellite TV operator, Dish Network, according to the Wall Street Journal (paywall). But key issues, such as price, have yet to be decided between the $30 billion-plus companies.
The FBI began probing the Russia and Qatar World Cups. Investigators are looking into the decision to award the 2018 and 2022 tournaments to Russia and Qatar, respectively, in the wake of FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s resignation amid a bribery scandal. Officials from both countries dismissed speculation that the tournaments could be relocated.
A FIFA official’s confession was unveiled. Former executive committee member Chuck Blazer testified that he and others accepted bribes connected to the 2010 South Africa World Cup, the 1998 World Cup, and from a sports marketing company. US prosecutors unsealed Blazer’s 2013 testimony Wednesday night. South Africa denies paying a $10 million bribe to FIFA.
Families protested the response to a cruise ship sinking. Relatives of those on board a Chinese boat that sank on Monday night in the Yangtze River surged through police cordons Wednesday night, angry over a lack of information about the rescue attempt. China has been censoring online discussion about the accident and rescue effort, as well as news reports; 65 of the nearly 500 people on board have been confirmed dead.
Greece rejected a deal from its creditors. Prime minister Alexis Tsipras called the conditions requested by the European Commission in return for further bailout funds unreasonable, kicking off yet another round of negotiations. Greece’s payments due to the International Monetary Fund total over €1.5 billion this month alone.
Brazil raised its base rate to a five-year high. The central bank increased the rate by half a percentage point, to 13.75%, the highest it’s been since January 2009. Bank president Alexandre Tombini is determined to reduce inflation to 4.5%, even at the expense of rising unemployment.
Quartz obsession interlude
Alice Truong on a new era for advertising. “PriceWaterhouseCoopers (paywall) estimates that online advertising, which in 2014 brought in $49.45 billion in revenue in the US, will climb to $83.89 billion by 2019. That year will prove to be a major tipping point in advertising, with online ads overtaking television for the first time.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Graduates, don’t take those enticing corporate jobs. They will ruin your life forever.
The current wave of political correctness will soon die. All the witch hunts and campus debates are too absurd to last.
A culture of impunity isn’t limited to FIFA. Many spheres, banking included, enjoy such power.
The Red Cross failed Haiti spectacularly. It raised nearly half a billion dollars but built only six homes.
A loved one’s passing means embracing “Option B.” Says Sheryl Sandberg on the death of her husband.
Surprising discoveries
Ebola drugs may have been on the shelves all along. Researchers found two existing drugs that could treat the disease.
Superwolves and other hybrid species are evolving before our eyes. They are a symptom of climate change.
Americans prefer George W. Bush to Barack Obama. Bush is viewed favorably for the first time in a decade.
Only 2% of investment funds are managed by women—even though they are often better at investing.
A Danish politician bared all. John Erik Wagner is running an unusually revealing campaign for prime minister.
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