Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The US Supreme Court starts a packed two weeks. Expect a series of opinions, likely starting from today, as the court wraps up its 2018-2019 term. Some rulings could influence future presidential elections, including on cases concerning partisan gerrymandering and whether the next US census can ask about citizenship.
The face of Europe’s far-right meets the Trump administration. Italian deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini, a populist known for his anti-migrant positions, is scheduled to sit down with vice president Mike Pence today in Washington. His US tour will also include a meeting with secretary of state Mike Pompeo and, possibly, president Donald Trump.
Hearings on yet more US tariffs on Chinese goods begin. It is the first of seven days of public discussions on Trump’s proposed tariffs on $300 billion worth of Chinese goods, as major American businesses warn of massive layoffs and potential damage to economic growth.
Iran retreats further from a nuclear pact. The country will scale back compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal that it signed with six world powers, after the US quit the accord in 2018 and reintroduced sanctions. The announcement comes as Iran faces more blame for last week’s attack on two oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.
The ad industry gathers in Cannes. The 66th annual Cannes Lions advertising conference—or rather, International Festival of Creativity—opens on the French Riviera. Speeches and awards are the official reason for the gathering, but schmoozing on yachts and dealmaking over rosé is just as important. Sign up for our pop-up Cannes Daily Brief for all the news and gossip from the south of France this week.
Over the weekend
Huawei announced a hefty hit. The Chinese telecom firm’s founder, Ren Zhengfei, said today that revenue would be $30 billion below forecasts over the next two years. It’s the first time (paywall) the CEO has pegged a dollar amount on the cost of the Trump administration’s ban on US companies doing business with it.
Hong Kong’s protesters forced the government to backtrack. The city’s chief said she would indefinitely suspend a bill allowing the extradition of suspects to mainland China. Hong Kong still saw another massive protest yesterday calling for the bill to be totally withdrawn, amid anger over police use of force.
A massive blackout in South America. Tens of millions of people went without electricity after all of Argentina and Uruguay, along with parts of neighboring countries, lost power. Investigators are still figuring out what went wrong.
The Paris Air show opened. The biggest event in commercial aviation kicked off today haunted by Boeing’s troubles with the 737 Max. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg on Sunday admitted his company made mistakes after the plane was involved in two deadly crashes. The company will also have to contend with the expected debut of a new long-range airliner (paywall) from rival Airbus.
A deadly blast rocked Somalia’s capital. Two car bombs left 11 dead and 25 injured in Mogadishu on Saturday, while at least 10 Kenyan police officers were killed near the Somali border after their vehicle struck an explosive device. The al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for both events.
Quartz obsession interlude
Tiny houses do more with less. They’re a strategy for dealing with soaring housing costs in urban centers, a nifty design challenge, and a minimalist response to consumer culture. They’re also part of a long history of living in small spaces, whether by necessity or choice. Read about the big ideas behind tiny houses in the Quartz Obsession.
Membership
The CBD boom is upon us. The hemp-based wellness serum is showing up in everything from beverages to massage oils, as companies seek to capitalize on changing attitudes toward marijuana, and concerns over stress and anxiety. Guiding you through this gold rush is Quartz’s global lifestyle reporter, Jenni Avins. She begins her field guide of CBD with her state of play memo, a comprehensive look at CBD’s past, present, and future.
Matters of debate
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Let’s abolish time. People should follow their instincts, not the clock, argues Norwegian Kjell Ove Hveding.
There’s a pressing need for dedicated LGBTQ media. Stories go untold when there’s a lack of trans and queer reporters and editors.
Crystals are the new blood diamonds. Their contribution to your “healing” is harming the earth.
Surprising discoveries
Billionaires aren’t paying up for Notre Dame. Small donations from Americans have delivered most of the funding to rebuild the torched Paris cathedral thus far.
Japan cracks down on fruit smugglers. Tokyo wants to prevent domestically-bred “high-end fruit” like the Shine Muscat grape from being grown abroad without permission.
Mini-bagels date back to the bronze age. Archaeologists exploring a 3,000 year-old site found tiny charred bread disks that might have been used for food or rituals.
Indian startups are offering their employees siestas. Other heat-beating perks on offer include flexible hours and fancy cold drinks.
Researchers are testing a vaccine for stress. Bacterium that decreased stress reactions in mice might hold the key.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, ancient bagels, and chill pills to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Adam Rasmi and edited by Jackie Bischof.