The Fitness Magazine: Your Presidential Daily Brief: UK Rocked by Election Result

IMPORTANT

June 9, 2017

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the U.K. Labour Party, is calling on Prime Minister Theresa May to resign after the Conservatives lost their majority in Parliament in yesterday's election. Source: Getty

In Shock Result, British Conservatives Lose Majority

It's June 9, but May's not gone yet. Prime Minister Theresa May, refusing calls to resign, has announced she'll strike a coalition deal with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party in order to form a government after the election she called, expected to increase her party's majority and ease internal Brexit negotiations, instead ended in a hung parliament. A massive surge for the Labour Party left Conservatives short of the 326 seats necessary for a majority. Meanwhile, bruising losses for the Scottish National Party cast doubt on a second independence referendum for Scotland.

Sources: BBC, FT (sub), The Guardian

Comey Faces Congress, Accuses Trump of 'Lies'

"Lordy, I hope there are tapes." That's what former FBI Director James Comey told the Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday regarding his conversations with President Donald Trump. During the highly anticipated hearing, Comey said he felt that the president had pressured him to drop an FBI investigation, breaching the independence of the organization and setting up a potential obstruction of justice case against Trump. House Speaker Paul Ryan, however, argued that "the president's new at this," and may not have been aware of protocols. Trump's lawyer simply denied the allegations.

Sources: NYT, WSJ (sub), Politico

Qatar Decries Regional Hostility, Seeks Trump's Help

Is he their only hope? Qatari officials say President Trump's aid will be crucial to repairing the nation's ties with its neighbors, after nine countries severed diplomatic relations over allegations of supporting terrorism. The crisis was provoked by inflammatory quotes from Qatar's leader that the U.S. called fake statements planted by a hacker. Qatar's foreign ministry said it's "not ready to surrender," but its ambassador to the U.S. said Qatar's willing to make concessions and consider demands from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE, which will be submitted within ten days.

Sources: CNN, FT (sub)

Reality Winner Pleads Not Guilty to Leaking Classified Report

That's a turnaround. After confessing to the FBI that she'd printed top secret information about Russian attempts to disrupt the U.S. election and mailed documents to news outlet The Intercept, the 25-year-old federal contractor has now entered a not guilty plea. Winner is being held without bail while agents comb her possessions for clues, as well as her notoriously anti-Trump social media accounts. Prosecutors indicate she may have leaked other information previously. If convicted, Winner could see 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

Sources: NYT, The Atlantic

Briefly

Know This: The U.S. debt ceiling has once again become a battleground as Congress tries to raise it before the August recess. Alphabet has arranged to sell robotics company Boston Dynamics to Softbank, in what many are taking as a sign that Google's empire isn't interested in developing robots. And Saudi Arabia's soccer federation has apologized after the Saudi team refused to observe a moment of silence for the London Bridge attack victims before a World Cup qualifying match with Australia.

Try This: Feeling presidential after a week of briefings? Prove it with the PDB quiz.

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 launching debates. Each Wednesday, we'll post a provocative question, with a focus on topics that might make it onto the show. Our Third Rail With OZY question this week delves into identity: Is it more acceptable to be transgender than transracial? Why or why not? Go deep. Email thirdrail@ozy.com with your thoughts or a personal story, and we might feature your answer next week.

OZY and GE are partnering to bring you an inside look at additive manufacturing.

Could Da Vinci Have Predicted This? The Tech That Italy's Leading

The small Italian town of Cameri has long been overlooked in favor of its flashier neighbors, Milan and Turin. And yet it possesses one of the most advanced factories in Europe. The 3D-printing factory has quickly garnered a rep as leading the charge to change how things get made.

Sources: OZY | GE ON DIGITAL INDUSTRY

INTRIGUING

Madrid Launches Anti-'Manspreading' Campaign

They're the knights who say "knee." Manspreaders - passengers who extend their knees and legs past the boundaries of their seat - are no longer welcome on Madrid's subway. The Spanish capital has followed New York City by posting signs warning against the practice, putting it on par with smoking and littering. Women's groups have been campaigning for the change for months, hoping to battle what they call a toxic culture of machismo that makes women uncomfortable on public transit. It's not clear if offenders will be fined for manspreading.

Sources: Huffington Post, The Independent

Japan Passes Legislation Allowing Emperor to Abdicate

Unlike millennials, he'll get to retire. Emperor Akihito, 83, has reigned over Japan for 28 years and he's hinted for months that he'd like to abdicate - but had to wait for lawmakers to approve the first such resignation in 200 years. The new law only applies to Akihito, but it also includes a resolution asking parliament to consider allowing female royals to remain in the imperial family when they marry. The emperor's expected to step down around December 2018, when his son Naruhito will assume the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Sources: Time

Want to Quit Smoking? Move to Sweden

Cold turkey isn't the only way. Sweden's rate of smoking is Europe's lowest, and experts credit the reduction not to shame but to alternatives. Since the 1990s, "snus," smokeless tobacco pouches, have been sold more widely than cigarettes. By 2014, Sweden posted the lowest lung cancer death rate among men in all of Europe, and today only 5 percent of Swedes smoke daily, while 15 percent use snus. But critics argue that quitting nicotine altogether is the safest option, and the U.S. and EU still have strict restrictions on smokeless tobacco.

Sources: Bloomberg

Report: Russian Hackers Talked Via Britney Spears' Instagram

It was hiding in plain sight. A report from Slovakian security firm ESET indicates that Russian hackers may have communicated through coded Instagram comments on the pop star's posts - likely not a referendum on Britney's contributions to music, but merely an easy place to leave instructions and be overlooked by authorities. One comment, which reads "#2hot make loved to her, uupss #Hot #X" sent those in the know to a command and control server for malware. ESET's report blames the comments on Turla, a group known for attacking governments.

Sources: Rolling Stone, Vox

Tae Kwan Do Superstars Accused of Sexual Misconduct

Gold medals can't get you out of everything. But two-time Olympic champion Steven Lopez was reportedly allowed to compete in the Rio Games despite an ongoing multiyear investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against him and his coach and brother Jean. Four women said they were sexually assaulted by the Lopez brothers, who have denied all charges. The investigation, which follows similar scandals in gymnastics and swimming, could spur more measures aimed at preventing sexual abuse. Steven Lopez will compete at the world championships in South Korea this month.

Sources: USA Today, Houston Chronicle