The Fitness Magazine: Your Presidential Daily Brief: Manuel Noriega Dead at 83

IMPORTANT

May 30, 2017

General Manuel Antonio Noriega, shown here in 1988 when he was leader of Panama, has died at the age of 83. Source: Getty

Panama Strongman Manuel Noriega Dies at 83

He called himself "El Man." The colorful general, de facto dictator of Panama for six years, has died of complications from brain surgery. Noriega was a cagey American ally, passing secrets to all sides, until he was deposed in 1989 over ties to drug trafficking and a wave of anti-American sentiment that led to the shooting of a U.S. soldier. He served time in the states and in Panama, writing in his 1997 memoir, "I only ask to be judged on the same scale of treachery and infamy of my enemies."

Sources: BBC, NYT

Hundreds of Thousands Evacuated as Cyclone Hits Bangladesh

They're weathering the storm. With the subcontinent already reeling from flooding in Sri Lanka that's killed 177, Cyclone Mora made landfall on Bangladesh's southeastern coast with wind speeds up to 73 mph. Hundreds of thousands have been evacuated as authorities scramble to get more than 1 million people out of the storm's path and into shelters. With rice prices at record highs and government stores of rice dipping dangerously low, concerns over supplies are growing as waters are expected to surge four to five feet along the coastline.

Sources: Reuters, CNN, BBC

Texas Lawmakers Scuffle Over Immigration

Hateful words become hateful actions. More than 1,000 protesters gathered at the Texas State House to protest SB4, a new law banning "sanctuary cities," until GOP Rep. Matt Rinaldi told his fellow lawmakers that he'd called immigration officials on the demonstrators. That led to a confrontation in which Rinaldi threatened to shoot Democratic Rep. Poncho Nevárez - but only, Rinaldi claimed later on Facebook, in self defense. It is legal for Texas legislators to carry concealed firearms. Democrats now say they're worried that threats and racism are becoming normalized by "Trump rhetoric."

Sources: Washington Post, NYT

Goldman Sachs Lambasted Over Venezuela Deal

Follow the money. Though opponents of President Nicolas Maduro have urged international institutions not to offer financial aid to Venezuela's government, Goldman Sachs bought a $2.8 billion bond - and in doing so may have thrown Maduro the lifeline he needs to hold on to power. Now the head of the country's opposition-controlled National Assembly is not only decrying what he describes as Goldman's attempt to "make a quick buck off the suffering of the Venezuelan people," but recommending that future Venezuelan governments refuse to honor the debt.

Sources: WSJ (sub), Bloomberg

Briefly

Know This: Australia has proposed a plan to deny passports to convicted pedophiles. A car bomb in Baghdad struck an ice cream shop, killing 15. And the EU is planning to launch thousands of free Wi-Fi hotspots by 2020.

Read This: A passenger who witnessed last week's attack on a Portland train gave her account of the last moments of two men murdered for trying to stop another passenger from spouting racist vitriol at two teenage girls. She said: "I just kept telling him, 'You're not alone. We're here. What you did was total kindness. You're such a beautiful man. I'm sorry the world is so cruel.'"

Talk to Us: We want your feedback on the Presidential Daily Brief - what you think we're doing right and what we should be doing differently. Send us an email at pdbrief@ozy.com.

INTRIGUING

Trudeau Hopes for Papal Apology Over Historical Abuses

Confess and repent. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked Pope Francis to formally apologize to Canada's First Nations people on behalf of the Catholic Church over its religious "residential schools." From the late 19th century, around 150,000 children - 30 percent of indigenous kids - were placed in government-funded, often church-administered schools designed to make them abandon native culture, in what a 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission report called "cultural genocide." Many were also abused. Trudeau says Francis, who may visit Canada in 2018, seemed open to an apology.

Sources: BI, Huffington Post

Russia Tests First Post-Soviet Commercial Aircraft

It's finally getting off the ground. Irkut, an aviation manufacturing subsidiary of Russia's state-controlled United Aircraft Corporation, has announced that the MS-21, a medium-range passenger plane, successfully carried out a 30-minute maiden flight Sunday. Reaching speeds of 186 mph and an altitude of 3,280 feet, the MS-21 marks Russia's first real foray into the aviation market in the post-Soviet era. Coming just weeks after China launched its first passenger jet, Russia's new plane could be another competitor for Boeing and Airbus.

Sources: Irish Times, Fortune

How Eye-Tracking Tech Could Change the Workplace

Big Brother's coming to work. Glasses that track where you're looking and whether you're concentrating may be the next way your boss will monitor your productivity. While similar technology's been used for research in the past, developers in Sweden say it could benefit the workplace too, tracking fatigue and focus over the course of a shift. Though training times at test companies have in some cases been reduced by as much as two-thirds, critics say the potential for employer abuse could lead to serious invasions of privacy.

Sources: OZY

Legendary Sports Journalist Frank Deford Dies at 78

He was called the "Clark Gable of sports writing." The award-winning novelist and sports journalist, who passed away Sunday in Key West, Florida, published 18 books during his career and spent 50 years writing for Sports Illustrated. The Baltimore native was also behind famed media flop The National, a sports tabloid that cost $150 million during its 18-month early-1990s run. In 2013, Deford became the first sportswriter to get the National Humanities Medal, before retiring earlier this month from 37 years at National Public Radio.

Sources: THR, ESPN, Variety

Tiger Woods Blames Medication for DUI Arrest

It all comes back to his back. The legendary golfer was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence in Jupiter, Florida, early Monday morning, but released a statement explaining that it wasn't alcohol that left him driving erratically, but a cocktail of medications. Woods, 41, infamously drove his SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree in 2009 while under the influence of Ambien. He underwent surgery last month, his fourth in three years, and has said he still hopes to play professional golf again despite chronic back problems.

Sources: ESPN, Bleacher Report, USA Today