The Presidential Daily Brief - 05/31/2016

[The Presidential Daily Brief] [The Presidential Daily Brief] IMPORTANT May 31, 2016 [A child walks in the wreckage of Idlib's National Hospital after airstrikes partially demolished it. Source: Getty] [Many Casualties After 'Russian' Airstrikes in Idlib] At least 23 people in northwestern Syria were killed by bombings being blamed on the Russian army, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said today. Idlib, considered a stronghold for Syrian rebels and for the [al-Qaida] ally Nusra Front, isn't covered by the recent truce. It had been calm nonetheless - until last night, when ten airstrikes hit the city, destroying residential areas and part of a hospital. Russia has denied carrying out the attacks. Seven children are reportedly among the dead, and the toll is expected to rise. Sources: [BBC], [Al Jazeera] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Obama Administration Struggles with Refugee Quotas] He talks a good game. But some say President Obama's soaring rhetoric emphasizing acceptance of refugees fleeing persecution has hit a snag: bureaucracy. His push to bring 10,000 Syrian migrants into the U.S. has resettled only 2,500 so far - a slowdown some blame on anti-refugee legislative backlash dragging down the vetting process. Meanwhile, America's deportation policies toward Central American immigrants, called draconian by critics, have some nations raising an eyebrow, especially while the U.S. asks the rest of the world to take a share of [refugee communities]. Sources: [NYT] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Libertarian Ticket Aims for US Mainstream] Here come the dark horses. Sensing an opportunity while expected nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton remain historically unpopular, the Libertarian Party convention narrowly tapped ex-New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson and ex-Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, both experienced former [centrist Republicans], to lead their ticket. The party hasn't completely got its act together yet: Johnson was booed for saying he would have signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and another candidate performed a striptease on the convention stage. Still, they're hoping to poll at 15 percent, the threshold for debate participation. Sources: [WSJ (sub)], [Boston Globe], [CNN] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Europe Advocates Leniency for 'Sharing Economy'] They're taking the law into their own hands. This week, the European Commission will set new guidelines for startups such as Airbnb and Uber, and the news isn't all bad for business. In fact, regulators are driving to end drastic action - like massive fines for renting Airbnbs in Berlin or threatened jail time for [Uber] executives in France - by creating EU-wide regulations that would likely be friendlier to sharing-economy stalwarts. However, startups may hit the brakes on attempts to define their workers as "employees," an ongoing fight stateside. Sources: [FT (sub)] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] Briefly Poland's justice minister backs Roman Polanski extradition. [(BBC)] Fighting continues as Iraqi troops storm Fallujah. [(Reuters)] Bernie Sanders rally sees onstage scuffle. [(CNN)] Transportation strikes throw France into chaos. [(France24)] Another Brazilian minister quits over leaked tape. [(WSJ)] sub [The Presidential Daily Brief] INTRIGUING [Social Media Cries Out for Simian Justice] They're going ape. After Cincinnati zookeepers killed an endangered 420-pound [gorilla] to protect the 4-year-old boy he was dragging around, there was relief - and outrage. Harambe, 17, born in Texas and sent to Ohio in hopes of breeding lowland gorillas, was killed unnecessarily, some posted. Others hurled neglect charges at the boy's mother, who protested that she keeps "a tight watch" on her offspring. Zoo officials say they stand by their decision, but the gorilla exhibit is now under review and the USDA is investigating. Sources: [People], [WHIO], [Miami Herald], [Cincinnati.com] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] [A Robot for the Price of a Laptop] The fourth law of robotics: Be adorable! Maybe that's why Zenbo, the new personal [robot] butler from Asus, has a face like a Pixar character. The Taiwanese computer-maker touted its voice-controlled creation, which will retail for under $600, as a helpmate for seniors - one that can sing, shop online, adjust lighting and even send for help if its human companion falls and can't get up. The company is now opening a developer program to allow new apps to add functionality and personality to its rolling robot. Sources: [The Verge], [Fortune] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] [The Friendly New Nuclear: Molten Salt Reactors] Could this power new debate? After catastrophic accidents like Fukushima and Chernobyl, nuclear energy's become unpopular. But in the face of climate change, some are betting on technology that dissolves nuclear fuel in molten salt, producing higher temperatures with lower pressure and reduced fallout risk. Originally conceived in the 1950s, it was shelved for not producing weapons-grade material. Now Bill Gates has money in it, while China and the U.S. are even collaborating on development - but it's unlikely to take off until it becomes as cheap as coal. Sources: [OZY] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] ['Roots' Remake Stirs Controversy] History can be hard to watch. The four-night remake of the miniseries about [slavery] in America debuted Monday on The History Channel, A&E and Lifetime. Bloodier and more foreboding than the 1977 original, the eight-hour event befits the tensions of the Black Lives Matter era. Rapper Snoop Dogg is boycotting, explaining, "They just want to keep showing the abuse that we took." But LeVar Burton, who starred in the original and co-produced the remake, says he hopes the discussion will "deal honestly with what continues to hold us back." Sources: [The Wrap], [People] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Warriors Storm Back to Clinch Finals Berth] It's a rematch. Golden State trailed early on its home court, but dominated the third quarter and held on in the fourth to take down feisty Oklahoma City 96-88, winning the West in an intense Game 7. Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, who scored 36 points, continued their near-unguardable exploits from deep, with Curry fittingly providing the final dagger. The first [NBA] team in 35 years to overcome a 3-1 conference finals deficit, Golden State will again face LeBron James' Cavaliers for the title starting on Thursday. Sources: [SI], [Yahoo Sports] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] Your 8 must reads to get you ahead of the curve RISING STARS [Flack Attack! New York City's PR King] [Read In Full] 2016 [Are U.S. Elections Free and Fair? Let Foreigners Decide.] [Read In Full] ACUMEN [Swedes to Norway: Get Over Here] [Read In Full] 20M people love reading OZY every month. Be part of the revolution. [Facebook] [Twitter] [Instagram] [Vimeo] [Youtube] Add us to your Address Book | Having trouble viewing this email? [Read Online] This email was sent to {EMAIL} This email was sent by: OZY Media 800 West El Camino Mountain View, CA 94040 [Manage Subscriptions] | [Unsubscribe from this email] | [Privacy Policy]