Quartz Daily Brief—Russia’s gas deal, eBay’s data breach, EU elections, laundry apps
Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Eurosceptic parties dominate the EU elections. Increasingly sour sentiment about the EU (mainly in its austerity-stricken countries) could mean more seats for parties like UKIP, which wants to pull the UK out. Despite widespread voter apathy, major issues include unemployment and immigration.
Thai politicians return to the table. After Thailand’s opposing parties failed to reach agreement at talks earlier this week, they meet again to discuss how to end violent protests and reform the government.
HP proves its turnaround message. The company’s stock is up about 9% in the last three months, and its second-quarter earnings will have to assure investors that their faith is founded. Despite waning PC sales globally, analysts expect HP to buck this trend.
Berlin’s traffic makes a gender statement. German lawmakers will discuss whether to introduce a female version of the red and green Ampelmann pedestrian crossing light, to be called the Ampelfrau. It’s more than just a traffic sign; the iconic image is sort of a logo for Berlin.
While you were sleeping
Russia’s Gazprom looked east. Putin bagged his country the world’s biggest energy user when Russia and China agreed a $400 billion gas deal, ending more than 10 years of negotiations. This will alleviate some of the European pressure on Moscow’s energy sector due to sanctions and a price war with Ukraine.
EBay got hacked. The shopping site asked its 145 million users to change their passwords after revealing that hackers stole account information two months ago, including home addresses, phone numbers and birth dates. Card details and financial information weren’t stolen, it said.
Hosni Mubarak went back behind bars. The former Egyptian president, who left jail last year after a previous conviction was overturned, landed a three-year prison sentence for embezzling public funds. He and his two sons, who were also convicted, will have to pay a $3 million fine and repay $17.6 million they stole.
Europe’s financial woes crept north. The Netherlands’ economy shrank by 1.4%, an EU-wide low for the quarter, while Finland posted its second straight year without growth. Finland’s problem isn’t the eurozone crisis, however… it’s Nokia (paywall).
The fight for AstraZeneca isn’t over. Some of the company’s biggest shareholders said they weren’t happy with AstraZeneca’s refusal to negotiate after rejecting an improved $119 billion bid from Pfizer. Pfizer’s deadline for tabling a concrete offer is 5pm UK time on Monday, or it has to walk away for six months.
Google’s sitting on a large pile of foreign cash. Google will be keeping its overseas revenues abroad so it can spend that money on acquisitions and protect it from the US tax man. The company said the $20-$30 billion of foreign earnings is necessary to beat competition by buying foreign targets and technology rights.
Quartz obsession interlude
John McDuling on the simple, brilliant logic behind AT&T’s purchase of DirecTV. “The race is on to launch America’s first full-fledged internet TV service (as distinct from subscription-based video-on-demand services such as Netflix and Hulu). Internet TV could, in theory, be more affordable than cable and have more functionality, especially for sports fans. Dish Network is currently in the lead, and Verizon bought Intel’s fledgling platform earlier this year. If AT&T is heading toward a world where it sells DirecTV over the internet, either to its own mobile customers or to everyone, then it would be a game changer for the industry.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Actually, we aren’t working harder than ever. It just feels like we are because there’s no clear line between work and leisure.
The Russia-China gas deal isn’t such a win for Putin. It’s hardly a surprise, and China—the winner, if there is one—will probably pay less than Europe.
British TV hasn’t really changed in 50 years. That’s the secret to its success.
“Grit” is more important than ability. That’s what Janet Yellen told NYU’s graduating class.
Soaring house prices aren’t a central bank problem. They’re a government problem, and the UK government should scrap its “Help to Buy” scheme.
Surprising discoveries
France ordered 2,000 trains that don’t fit in its stations. That messy mistake will set it back almost $70 million.
Speech-giving can be a lucrative pastime. It’s earned Hillary Clinton almost $5 million in the last 15 months.
Silicon Valley’s latest race is between laundry apps. It’s disruptive, but at least it’s clean.
Eminem is Spotify’s most-streamed artist. But the most-listened-to song, with 235 million streams, is Avicii’s “Wake Me Up.”.
The jump in price of a London home in the last six months could fund a degree. A year’s worth could buy you a Jaguar Coupé.
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