What to watch for today
Pivotal rulings from the US Supreme Court. Closely watched decisions on same-sex marriage and government regulation of power plant emissions could arrive either today or Monday. It’s also the anniversary of two landmark Supreme Court cases that struck down laws banning gay and inter-racial marriage.
A seven-nation confab on Iran’s nuclear deal. Officials from the US, France, Russia, China, Britain, and Germany join Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Vienna to finalize limits on Iran’s nuclear program. The goal is to hammer out a deal for Iran to give up some of its nuclear ambitions in exchange for lifted sanctions before June 30.
The Apple Watch rollout continues. The device goes on sale in Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan in Asia; Italy, Spain, and Switzerland in Europe; and in Mexico.
Argentinian GDP figures. The Latin American economy is expected to have grown 1.2% in the first quarter, from 0.4% in the fourth quarter last year.
While you were sleeping
Obamacare survived a major legal challenge. The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against a Republican challenge that argued subsidies helping millions of Americans pay for healthcare are illegal. The claim rested on ambiguous wording in president Barack Obama’s signature legislation; chief justice John Roberts replied, “Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them.”
Nike out-ran estimates. The sportswear maker’s fiscal fourth-quarter net income was $865 million, up 24% from the same period a year earlier. The result was well ahead of analyst expectations and included strong future orders. In the US a shift to casual “athleisure” apparel helped boost sales.
More of Hillary Clinton’s emails are missing. The State Department said that 15 emails sent or received by the former secretary of state over Libya remain at large, raising questions over whether Clinton deleted work-related emails, according to the New York Times (paywall). Clinton used her private email address while in office, but said she handed over all work-related emails.
Green shoots in Japan’s economy. Core consumer prices rose 0.1% in May from a year earlier, slightly beating expectations that they would remain unchanged; household spending also rose, and the job market is at its best in 23 years (paywall). That will offer some welcome relief for the central bank charged with raising inflation to 2%, but more stimulus is expected.
Aetna neared an acquisition of its smaller rival. The US’s second-largest health insurer by market value could take over Humana as early as this weekend, according to Bloomberg. Aetna made a formal bid for the company earlier this week after insurance giants Cigna and Anthem were discovered to be holding merger talks of their own.
Univision protested Donald Trump. The US’s biggest Spanish-language TV channel won’t air the Miss USA or Miss Universe pageants, in retaliation to comments by their owner Donald Trump, the mogul and long-shot presidential candidate who recently said Mexican immigrants bring drugs, crime, and rape to the United States.
Quartz obsession interlude
Max Nisen on Facebook’s diversity update. “After following Google’s lead and releasing diversity statistics last year, Facebook provided its first update today. The good: There’s been some improvement. The bad: It’s clear that changing hiring practices and becoming more diverse is going to be a long process in Silicon Valley.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Iran is about to become a free-for-all. Oil companies and other firms are preparing for the pariah country to reopen for business.
Thank Google for your fast broadband. The tech company’s investment in fiber-optic lines spurred cable companies to follow suit.
Revealing your salary to your partner is overrated. There’s a lot to be said for the autonomy of keeping that information private.
The US needs new nukes. Its current weapons arsenal is rotting, and Russia isn’t getting any friendlier.
Obamacare deserves to live, because it’s working. US health care inflation has dropped markedly since its inception.
Surprising discoveries
Bright lights can trigger big sneezes. The reflex is embedded in our DNA.
Germany is bringing back its deathtrap doorless elevators. They don’t stop, meaning passengers must jump in and out at the right floor.
Lululemon is recalling 300,000 workout tops that may attack your face. Hard-tipped elastic drawcords have injured seven people.
Alligators like to make waves during breeding season. Their sub-audible vibrations create unique wavy patterns known as a “water dance.”
A fashion model went rogue on the runway. He unfurled a “Kill Angela Merkel” sign and was later punched by designer Rick Owens.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, elevator strategies, and stray Clinton emails to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day.