What's in the news?

[TheGlyphstone]

The White House Ethics Director has quit:

http://www.npr.org/2017/07/07/536018496/exiting-ethics-chief-walter-shaub-calls-trump-white-house-a-disappointment

[Oniya]

The White House Ethics Director has quit:

http://www.npr.org/2017/07/07/536018496/exiting-ethics-chief-walter-shaub-calls-trump-white-house-a-disappointment

'Nope!  We outy!'

[Trigon]

Resignation seems to be a reoccurring theme within the Trump administration 

[TheGlyphstone]

Resignation seems to be a reoccurring theme within the Trump administration 

Usually 'resignation' though. This one is slightly more likely to be voluntary.

[gaggedLouise]

Resignation seems to be a reoccurring theme within the Trump administration 

Well, his tagline vs others used to be "U R fired!"

[Lustful Bride]

After three years of violence, bloodshed, and oppression. Isis has officially been kicked out of Mosul. The city has been liberated and remaining IS forces are being hunted down or are on the retreat.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mosul-liberated-as-islamic-state-faces-total-defeat-in-iraq/ar-BBE3Yo9?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[RedRose]

So many people in the French government have resigned too... Not sure what's going on.

[Trigon]

So many people in the French government have resigned too... Not sure what's going on.

For what reason though? I think that would be the dividing line between Macron and Trump here...

[RedRose]

Very unclear. One claimed he wanted to devote to another path, another one got too much flak for betraying his party and joining Macron...

[Trigon]

Very unclear. One claimed he wanted to devote to another path, another one got too much flak for betraying his party and joining Macron...

That doesn't seem so bad then. If they are quitting for personal reasons, as seems to be the case with Macron here, then probably nothing to worry about. whatever. On the other hand, people are quitting the Trump administration due to serious ethical or even potentially legal concerns...

[Lustful Bride]

China issues ban on Homosexual material in any form of media. Going so far as to say that internet video providers should have 3 censors to keep an eye out for it and other banned material.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/china-gay-online-ban-homosexual-a7818166.html

[Sara Nilsson]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40574564

US President Donald Trump's son has released an email chain showing he was keen to accept "sensitive" information on Hillary Clinton from a Russian national.

It is likely he only released it because he knew the NY times was about to publish it. But I mean.. looking at those emails is enough to make my brain melt. And this is after he under oath swore he didn't.. I .. eh?

[Lustful Bride]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40574564

US President Donald Trump's son has released an email chain showing he was keen to accept "sensitive" information on Hillary Clinton from a Russian national.

It is likely he only released it because he knew the NY times was about to publish it. But I mean.. looking at those emails is enough to make my brain melt. And this is after he under oath swore he didn't.. I .. eh?

I genuinely think that when enough evidence is finally brought to bear and no reason able doubt remains, Trump is going to pull a Nixon and resign before impeachment.

"You cant fire me, I quit!"

[Regina Minx]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40574564

US President Donald Trump's son has released an email chain showing he was keen to accept "sensitive" information on Hillary Clinton from a Russian national.

Not just a Russian national. A Russian who had received her information directly from the Russian government, with the stated aim of electing Donald Trump.

Bob Goldstone: Want Putin's help getting daddy elected?
DJTJr: I'd love it!

[HairyHeretic]

So how does that actually impact things on a legal level? Is this something that would warrant impeachment or action that even the republicans can't ignore away?

[LisztesFerenc]

So how does that actually impact things on a legal level? Is this something that would warrant impeachment or action that even the republicans can't ignore away?

  It means he lied under oath about contacting a foreigner with ties to a somewhat hostile government to gain intel to use against a political opponent.

[Sara Nilsson]

  It means he lied under oath about contacting a foreigner with ties to a somewhat hostile government to gain intel to use against a political opponent.

Wasnt that what they tried to hang Bill on? That he lied under oath about not having sex with Monica?

[gaggedLouise]

Wasnt that what they tried to hang Bill on? That he lied under oath about not having sex with Monica?

Well, this time around it's not the president but his son (and adviser). But it adds more shit to the fan on Trump Sr.

Plus, having or not having sex with Monica wasn't in itself a political act when it happened - but for Trump Jr to have meetings with Russians (with some connections to the Kremlin) about how to get their help in the election campaign, that looks like political wheely-dealing.

[gaggedLouise]

Paris and Los Angeles are set to host the 2024 and 2028 summer Olympics. They have been the only candidates left running for '24 for some time, and the IOC has agreed to give them the two games, hoping that they'll settle between them who is to go first (if the two can't decide, there will be a normal vote on it by the IOC in September).

Both cities have hosted the games twice before, and are eager to do it again. Sounds like fairly solid choices (unless Cali goes bankrupt in the meantime) :)

[RedRose]

Actually Parisians aren't so enthusiastic about added costs, traffic and security issues

[Beorning]

Meanwhile, in Central Europe, Poland's journey toward becoming an authoritarian state continues... Bad stuff happened in the Parliament yesterday. Very bad stuff:

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/07/poland-new-law-undermines-the-independence-of-the-judiciary/

Basically, the ruling party voted through the law that puts the courts under the influence of the Minister of Justice. Now the MoJ will be able to promote the judges who issue verdicts good for the ruling party - as well as derail the judges who don't comform. Also, the National Judiciary Commission - which oversees the judiciary system in Poland - will fall under the influence of the ruling party. Finally, the most brazen idea (one that the AI article doesn't cover) is a proposed bill that will, basically, sack all of the judges from the Supreme Court. Or, more specifically, *most* of the judges. Some of the judges will stay... and again, the MoJ is going to personally choose which ones. You get that?

This is sick. 

[Lustful Bride]

Man stuck in ATM uses Reciept notes to ask for help.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/texas-man-stuck-in-atm-slides-help-me-note-in-receipt-slot-to-bystanders/ar-BBEl9mO?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[Beorning]

Man stuck in ATM uses Reciept notes to ask for help.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/texas-man-stuck-in-atm-slides-help-me-note-in-receipt-slot-to-bystanders/ar-BBEl9mO?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

You took that from the link I posted, didn't you?

BTW. Another bit of depressing news from over here:

Recent poll revealed that 51% of Poles would prefer for Poland to leave the EU, if it was forced to take in some of the Middle Eastern refugees.

I'll repeat: on one hand, there are countless political and economical upsides of being a part of the EU. On the other, there's a matter of allowing a few thousands of refugees to settle in Poland (which has populat of 40 million people or so). And, when faced with such a choice, 51% of Poles say that it'd be okay to lose the former, if it was the price of not letting the latter happen.

I don't want to live in this country anymore... :(

[NightLux]

Paris and Los Angeles are set to host the 2024 and 2028 summer Olympics. They have been the only candidates left running for '24 for some time, and the IOC has agreed to give them the two games, hoping that they'll settle between them who is to go first (if the two can't decide, there will be a normal vote on it by the IOC in September).

Both cities have hosted the games twice before, and are eager to do it again. Sounds like fairly solid choices (unless Cali goes bankrupt in the meantime) :)

I seriously wish they'd permanently put the games back in Greece.  It'd make the cost of the games so much cheaper (reuse buildings) and even give people from countries without luxurious training facilities a place to train.

[Oniya]

Maryam Mirzakhani has died.