The Fitness Magazine: Your Presidential Daily Brief: Multiple Fatalities in London High-Rise Fire

IMPORTANT

June 14, 2017

A deadly inferno engulfs London's Grenfell Tower early today. Source: Getty

Deadly Blaze Engulfs London High-Rise Tower

"I have never seen anything of this scale." So said London's fire commissioner of the inferno that engulfed the 24-story Grenfell Tower in Kensington overnight. More than 200 firefighters battled the flames, attempting to rescue potentially hundreds of residents, many of whom were asleep when the blaze broke out after midnight. Six fatalities were reported, while some residents remained unaccounted for. Dozens were taken to hospitals after witnesses reported hearing cries for help and seeing people leaping from the 1970s structure, which had reportedly been slated for fire safety renovations.

Sources: CNN , AP, The Guardian

Sessions Denies Kremlin Links, Refuses to Quote Trump

A "detestable lie." That's how Attorney General Jeff Sessions described suggestions that he colluded with Russian election meddlers. Testifying Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sessions said he couldn't recall a reported third undisclosed meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. He also refused to reveal his discussions with President Donald Trump, unlike ousted FBI Director James Comey. While there's a tradition of keeping presidential conversations confidential, one Democratic senator called it "stonewalling." Legal experts say if he's hiding malfeasance, it ultimately won't be shielded by executive privilege.

Sources: AP, The Atlantic, Washington Post

Parents Say Released Son Was 'Brutalized' by North Korea

He's still serving his sentence. After more than 17 months in a North Korean prison, 22-year-old Otto Warmbier headed home on Tuesday, but his parents say he's been comatose for 15 months after being "brutalized" by his captors. A University of Virginia student on a tour, he was arrested in January 2016 and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for allegedly stealing a political banner. Pyongyang said that Warmbier contracted botulism after his trial, was given a sleeping pill and never awakened. His chance of recovery is uncertain.

Sources: BBC, AP, Washington Post, WLWT

Chinese Government Reportedly Detains Anbang Chairman

It's hard to run an empire from jail. Under Wu Xiaohui, Anbang Insurance became known for smart mergers. But now he's out - "unable to perform his duties," according to the company - after being detained by Chinese authorities. Wu hasn't been charged and it's unclear if an investigation is underway. Anbang, boasting $242 billion in assets, bought New York City's iconic Waldorf Astoria hotel for $2 billion, and negotiated with presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner for a $4 billion Fifth Avenue development deal that was canceled in March without explanation.

Sources: FT (sub), BBC

Briefly

Know This: Nearly 200 congressional Democrats plan to sue President Trump today over alleged foreign financial conflicts. The jury is still deliberating on the eighth day of Bill Cosby's Pennsylvania sexual assault trial. And former RNC boss Ed Gillespie has barely held off a surprisingly strong challenge from Virginia Trump campaign chair Corey Stewart for the GOP gubernatorial nomination.

Lost Legend: "During her time with the Stones, Pallenberg became a muse for the band. She provided backing vocals for 'Sympathy for the Devil' and Mick Jagger was said to have remixed tracks ... based on her feedback." - Obituary for Anita Pallenberg, former girlfriend to Rolling Stones band members Keith Richards and Brian Jones. She recently died at age 73 of undisclosed causes.

Answer This: Tell us how you really feel. OZY's next TV show, Third Rail With OZY, is launching on PBS this fall! To kick things off, we're shelving the PC and sparking debates. Each Wednesday, we'll post a provocative question, with a focus on topics that might make it onto the show. This week, we delve into privacy and security: Should tech companies surrender your data to the FBI? Go deep. Email thirdrail@ozy.com with your thoughts or a personal story, and we might feature your answer next week.

INTRIGUING

US Coal Jobs Pale in Comparison to Other Industries

Is the canary beyond saving? When President Trump praised the opening of a new Pennsylvania coal mine Monday, he omitted one key fact: It will employ 70 people, compared to 92 for an average supermarket. The coal industry - with an estimated 15,000 miners nationwide - was one of Trump's justifications for dumping the Paris climate agreement. But labor statistics show that America has many larger workforces, like 127,000 drywall installers and 279,000 personal trainers. With increased federal focus they could prove a gold mine for future employment.

Sources: Quartz, Slate

Congress Searches for Intelligent Life

A few small words for man, one giant leap for NASA. A seemingly minor addition to the 2017 NASA Authorization Act may launch us closer to learning whether there's really life out there. By ordering the space agency to "search for life's origins, evolution, distribution, and future in the universe," Congress effectively gave NASA permission to seek out extraterrestrials. And they've already begun: Scientists have identified thousands of exoplanets, some in the Earth-like "Goldilocks zone." Next year a massive new telescope will begin detecting life-indicating gases emanating from those worlds.

Sources: The Atlantic

Mario Fans Take Their Karts on the Road IRL

Ready to get real behind the wheel? A 25-year love affair with Mario Kart has spawned a real-life driving culture, with costumed fans taking to DIY battery-powered children's Power Wheels, sometimes turbocharged for blazing 26-mph racing. Though Nintendo tried to shut down a Tokyo-based MariCar tour of the city, they've been friendlier toward a less commercial subculture that encourages Mario enthusiasts to construct their own costumes and cars in honor of their beloved characters - and experts say the craze is just getting revved up.

Sources: OZY

French Worry Butter Shortage Will Endanger Croissants

Petit-déjeuner could get more petit. Wholesale dairy prices have nearly doubled since April 2016, and recent studies showing that butter is healthier than previously believed have stoked Western demand. Now the French Bakers' Federation warns that the price of croissants, which are about 25 percent butter, could skyrocket in the coming months. Even worse, there might be a shortage of the iconic flaky pastries. That could bring pain - and not the crusty kind - to family bakeries that can't eat the extra cost or risk losing clientèle with higher prices.

Sources: Telegraph

Will the Warriors Snub Trump?

They haven't even been asked yet. But after Golden State won the NBA championship Monday, many speculated that the whole team might avoid the traditional congratulatory White House ceremony. Bay Area representative and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi jumped on the snubwagon, inviting them to Capitol Hill instead. The Warriors say they haven't gotten a White House invitation yet, but "will make those decisions when and if necessary." As Stephen Curry and coach Steve Kerr have been openly critical of the administration, Pelosi might need to get the red carpet ready.

Sources: USA Today