The Presidential Daily Brief - 07/06/2016

[The Presidential Daily Brief] [The Presidential Daily Brief] IMPORTANT July 6, 2016 [Oscar Pistorius arrives for his sentencing hearing this morning in Pretoria's High Court. Source: Getty] [Oscar Pistorius Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Murder] There's no running from justice. Though the South African Olympian's conviction for killing his girlfriend in 2013 comes with a minimum [sentence] of 15 years, a judge can reduce it for "substantial and compelling reasons" - and that's just what Judge Thokozile Masipa did this morning. Citing his previous prison time and the fact that nothing can bring Reeva Steenkamp back, she sentenced Pistorius to just six years in prison. It's a compromise that'll also displease the defense, which was hoping to see Pistorius hospitalized instead. Sources: [BBC], [The Guardian] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] [FBI Recommends No Charges Over 'Careless' Clinton Emails] Mark this one "return to sender." After a year-long investigation, the FBI has recommended that Hillary Clinton not be charged for mishandling classified information on her homebrew email server, though Director James Comey blasted the former secretary of state and her staffers for "extremely careless" correspondence and contradicted her past statements about what she did and why. Donald Trump said the lack of criminal charges proves the system is "rigged," and later praised [Saddam Hussein's] acumen for killing terrorists, stirring up yet another controversy of his own. Sources: [NYT], [USA Today], [CNN], [Politico] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Protests in Louisiana After Shooting Video Circulates] "They didn't have to shoot him," said Abdul Muflahi, who owns the Triple S Food Mart, the site of Tuesday's police shooting of 37-year-old Alton Sterling. After video spread online of two Baton Rouge, Louisiana, officers shooting the Black man, more than a hundred [protesters] took to the streets, calling for action. Baton Rouge's police chief says both officers' body cameras fell off during the incident, and both are on administrative leave. Now Congressman Cedric Richmond says there should be a federal investigation of the "deeply troubling" incident. Sources: [The Guardian], [AP], [The Independent] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Yen Soars, Global Economy Stutters Over Brexit Malaise] Investors are looking for any safe port. With the pound at a 31-year low and falling, those safe ports are bonds, gold and the yen. U.K. asset managers are now prohibiting investors from pulling out of commercial property funds, sparking fears of a real estate slide. Meanwhile, the [yen] rose in Tokyo trading and the yield on 20-year Japanese government bonds fell below zero for the first time - a trend that's expected to continue as investors watch the Bank of Japan's probable rate reduction later this month. Sources: [FT (sub)], [WSJ (sub)] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] Briefly Long-awaited Chilcot report on Iraq War released in Britain. [(The Independent)] University of Tennessee reaches settlement on athlete sex assault cases. [(ESPN)] Human head found on Fiji beach. [(BBC)] U.N. speaks out against Internet shutdowns. [(Buzzfeed)] Taiwan braces for 2016's first super typhoon. [(CNN)] INTRIGUING [Cities Struggle To Cope With 21st Century Rodent Problem] The invaders are already among us - just check your local subway. Cities all over the world are seeing a serious spike in rats, with tourism and public health suffering as a result. The real problem? Surprisingly few extermination methods, high-tech or otherwise, work in major urban areas. That's not to say people are short of ideas. Somerville, Massachusetts, encourages citizens to call 311 whenever they see a rat, and a recent Roman mayoral candidate suggested enlisting half a million feral cats to get the job done. Sources: [OZY] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Exploding E-Cigarettes Spark A Wave Of Lawsuits] Never mind the potential long-term health effects. Dozens of [smokers] have filed lawsuits against e-cigarette companies with far more immediate complaints: Their devices are exploding. E-cigarettes run on lithium ion batteries, like hoverboards, which are banned by most airlines for their tendency to catch fire. These unexpected detonations have had serious consequences for some smokers, including amputated fingers and reconstructive facial surgery. As the FDA begins regulating e-cigarettes as tobacco products, manufacturers must now work on more than one front to make these alternatives safer. Sources: [Time] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Study: Pasta Can Help You Lose Weight] No need to say basta pasta! Researchers have found that, contrary to popular belief and low-carb diet promoters, [noodles] and shells have been associated with weight loss. The Italian study of over 23,000 participants revealed that eating pasta as part of a Mediterranean diet can reduce chances of obesity - perhaps, researchers theorized, because pasta tends to come with healthful additions like olive oil and garlic. Those involved say spaghetti and macaroni should be eaten in moderation, but that Italy's modern pivot away from pasta could be a mistake. Sources: [Huffington Post], [The Local] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Swedish Music Festival Sexual Assaults Lead to Band Boycott] They're holding on to what they believe. Mumford and Sons, who played last weekend's Bravalla music festival, announced they won't be returning next year after five rapes and 12 sexual assaults were reported during the three-day event. "We're gutted by these hideous reports," they wrote on Facebook, demanding that authorities do more to combat the problem. Police at the festival reportedly handed out bracelets saying "Don't grope." Another recent Swedish festival had 35 reported groping incidents, leading the prime minister to vow to tighten [sexual assault] laws. Sources: [Jezebel], [Variety] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Cubs, Red Sox Pack All-Star Lineups] The votes are in. The entire [Cubs] infield - including sluggers Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant - will suit up in San Diego for next week's MLB All-Star Game, a first for a single team since 1963, and part of a group of seven Chicago National League All-Stars. Boston sends David Ortiz and five others to compete for the American League, though the Red Sox could tie the Cubs for entries if second baseman Dustin Pedroia wins the fan vote to fill the final slot. Sources: [ESPN] Share: [Facebook] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Twitter] Your 8 must reads to get you ahead of the curve FAST FORWARD [Smell a Rat? You're Not Alone] [Read In Full] TRUE STORY [How Was Your Day ... Venezuelan Bachaquero?] [Read In Full] 2016 [A Speech That Could End Hillary's Email Controversy] [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? 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