What to watch for today
Obama’s uncomfortably-timed Argentina trip. The US president will pay tribute to the victims of the “dirty war” on the 40th anniversary of Argentina’s US-backed military coup. Some protests are expected, but polls show most Argentinians view his trip in a positive light.
The US eases up on China’s ZTE. A strict ban on selling equipment to the telecom and smartphone maker will be lifted for three months, after the Chinese government complained the move would decimate ZTE’s business. The US Commerce Department sanctioned the company two weeks ago for allegedly re-exporting goods to Iran.
Earnings, earnings, earnings. Accenture and Winnebago report second-quarter earnings today, and they look good: The consulting firm is expected to benefit from increased demand in North America; the motorhome maker is racking up more sales of its cheaper models. Gamestop, on the other hand, is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings below analysts’ estimates.
While you were sleeping
An intense manhunt for a Brussels bomber. Police are searching for an unidentified man who was spotted on airport security footage alongside Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, one of two brothers who carried out suicide bombings that killed 31 people. The man was carrying explosives but is believed to have escaped after they did not detonate.
Turkey said it warned Belgium before the attack. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his government detained el-Bakraoui at the Turkey-Syria border in June, deported him, and alerted Belgium that he was a “foreign terrorist fighter.”
Virgin America put out a “for sale” sign. The airline backed by Richard Branson saw its stock climb 13% on the news before trading was halted, making it worth about $1.5 billion. According to Bloomberg sources, there are bidders interested in buying part or all of the company, but no decision has been made yet.
One of oil’s founding families is divesting from fossil fuels. The Rockefeller Family Fund also issued a stinging rebuke to ExxonMobil, a corporate descendent of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil, for hiding the risks of climate change.
An Israeli company emerged as the FBI’s mystery helper. Cellebrite, a unit of Japanese pachinko maker Sun Corporation, is reportedly helping the US government access a terrorist’s iPhone without Apple’s involvement. The company would not confirm its involvement, but public records show that it has done extensive business with US law enforcement agencies.
Quartz markets haiku
There’s just too much oil
Prices fall, and still they pump
Gas is cheap, at least
Quartz obsession interlude
Josh Horwitz on Facebook’s potential concessions to China. “When authorities demand Facebook share information about the location or posts of an activist, a journalist, an outspoken scientist, or a local whistleblower, for example, Facebook will have to comply, or risk being blocked. And when that activist or journalist is punished, Facebook will be responsible.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Apple is boring now. Instead of leading the technology industry, it is churning out an endless cycle of sequels and spin-offs.
Isolating Muslims will only make terrorism worse. Republican candidates are quixotically trying to make America more like Europe.
Professional tennis is a perfect microcosm of the patriarchy. Even equal pay doesn’t translate into equality.
Surprising discoveries
A Belarusian singer wants to bring live wolves on stage for Eurovision. He also plans to be naked.
The word “okay” is 177 years old. It was first used in a Boston newspaper to make fun of a rival.
The Australian prime minister’s slogan accidentally name-checked a political satire. Veep used “continuity and change” as an oxymoron.
South Sudan disavowed an endorsement of Donald Trump. The government may be accused of war crimes, but some things are beyond the pale.
Two Syrian refugees rescued a far-right German politician from a car crash. His party has called refugees “invaders” and “lawless primates.”
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, live wolves, and oxymorons to hi@qz.com. And download our new iPhone app for news throughout the day.