Quartz Daily Brief—World Cup probe, airplane emissions, online ads ascendant, Walmart’s dress code
Good morning, Quartz readers!
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 Thursday.
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 26th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests. 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
The FBI is now 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. The two countries dismissed speculation that the tournaments might potentially be relocated.
The US plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions from airplanes. The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to announce that jet fuel exhaust is a major contributor to global warming and therefore a risk to human health. The airline industry and Republican lawmakers oppose the move.
Encouraging signs from the US economy… The country’s trade deficit shrank by a larger-than-expected 19.2% in April from the previous month, reflecting the end of a punishing dockworker strike, which could give US GDP growth a much-needed boost. Separately, the Federal Reserve said economic activity expanded throughout the country from early April to late May.
…and from the euro zone. The European Central Bank voted to keep short-term interest rates low. It also announced that retail sales were up 2.2% from last April, and that unemployment was down to 11.1%.
Heavy fighting in Ukraine resumed. After months of relative calm, government forces and pro-Russian rebels battled for control of the the town of Maryinka in the east of the country. Both sides used heavy artillery. That makes it unlikely that the EU will relax or lift Russia sanctions any time soon.
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 FIFA scandal is emblematic of a larger issue. The culture of impunity thrives in many spheres.
Hillary Clinton’s record doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. She should reconsider running on a foreign policy platform.
The Red Cross has epically failed in Haiti. It raised nearly half a billion dollars but built only six homes.
A loved one’s passing means embracing “Option B.” Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg on the death of her husband.
Surprising discoveries
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 a NSFW campaign for prime minister.
Wal-Mart relaxed its employee dress code. Jeans are now allowed—but not just any jeans.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, lurid political billboards, and hybrid wolves to [email protected]. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day.