The Fitness Magazine: Your Presidential Daily Brief: Venezuelan Vote Rebukes Maduro

IMPORTANT

July 17, 2017

Voters in Caracas cast their ballots yesterday in a non-binding referendum that saw a huge percentage opposed to President Nicolas Maduro's drastic constitutional reforms. Source: Getty

Venezuela's Unofficial Referendum Delivers Blow to Maduro

Dissent is powerful. Sunday's "public consultation," called by Venezuela's opposition parties in a bid to destabilize President Nicolas Maduro, has no legal status. But 98 percent of the 7.2 million who cast ballots opposed Maduro's plan to create a new legislative body and supported holding new elections before his term ends in 2019. About 19.5 million Venezuelans are registered to vote, but every election since 2015 has been postponed. The opposition hailed it as a victory, hoping it'll give protesters new energy even as Maduro's expected to ignore the outcome.

Sources: NYT,BBC

Trumpcare Vote Postponed for McCain's Surgery

Good thing he's got insurance. The GOP's sweeping health bill is facing another delay as Sen. John McCain recovers from a craniotomy on Friday to remove a large blood clot above his eye. He'll be away for at least a week — and with two of the Senate's 52 Republicans already opposing the latest version of the bill, GOP leaders need every vote. The delay may give them time to shore up support, but it also gives the bill's many opponents — including state governors, insurance companies and voters — time to mobilize.

Sources: WSJ (sub),Washington Post,NYT

Secret Service Denies Lawyer's Claims About Trump Jr. Meeting

They're not shielding him on this. Jay Sekulow, one of President Donald Trump's personal lawyers, suggested yesterday that the Secret Service would have vetted attendees at a controversial campaign meeting between Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, a Russian lawyer, a Russian-American lobbyist and at least two others. But the Secret Service has responded that Trump Jr. wasn't under their protection in June 2016, and therefore they wouldn't have screened the meeting's guests, eliminating that line of defense. Sekulow maintains that President Trump was unaware of the meeting.

Sources: Reuters,CNN

US Officials: Qatar Cyberattack Originated in UAE

All it took was a little push. A report from U.S. intelligence sources indicates that senior United Arab Emirates officials orchestrated May's cyberattack on Qatar's state media, fabricating incendiary quotes from Qatari leader Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani. Those quotes — which Qatar has maintained were planted by hackers — led to the nation being shunned by several Gulf neighbors, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which unsuccessfully pressured Qatar to submit to a list of demands in exchange for lifting the blockade. The UAE denies orchestrating the hack.

Sources: Washington Post

Briefly

Know This: South Korea has proposed military talks with Pyongyang, the first since 2015. Oscar winner Martin Landau has died at the age of 89. And Iran has sentenced American student Xiyue Wang to 10 years in jail for alleged spying.

Remember This Number: Thirty-six percent. That's the proportion of Americans who approve of President Trump's job performance, a six-point drop since April that analysts are blaming on his handling of health care reform and rumors of Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign. It's the lowest six-months-in rating for any U.S. president in 70 years.

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, focusing on topics that might make it onto the show. This week: Should cheating be grounds for a divorce anymore? 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.

Created with: JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The Secret to Eradicating Youth Unemployment?

The job hunt can be demoralizing, especially if you're one of the 11 percent of young people unemployed in this country. And yet companies are desperate for skilled workers. The solution? Get the right training.

Sources:OZY

INTRIGUING

Zombie Movie Pioneer George Romero Dies at 77

He inspired whole generations. Romero's cult classic Night of the Living Dead, made for just $114,000 in 1968, set tropes that are still lurching through modern zombie movies and TV shows like The Walking Dead and 28 Days Later. Horror fans, including directors Robert Rodriguez, Jordan Peele and Eli Roth, took to Twitter to eulogize Romero, who died yesterday after a brief battle with lung cancer. Stephen King, who adapted his short stories into Romero's 1982 comedic horror anthology Creepshow, wrote, "George, there will never be another like you."

Sources: Variety,Deadline

The Secret Cash Stashes of the Mega-Rich

The family that banks together outflanks together. Many of the world's ultrawealthy send billions to Wall Street hedge funds for investment, but others opt for a "family office," a private investment vehicle set up by an individual family to preserve both control and secrecy. While exact numbers are unknown due to the secretive nature of family offices, some estimates have put their combined size at a staggering $4 trillion — surpassing the entire $3.2 trillion hedge fund industry — with an emphasis on long-term investments to preserve wealth.

Sources: OZY

In China, Your Nurse Might Soon Be a Robot

Maybe we all need some tender loving carebots. Having spent more than $3 billion on industrial robots in 2015 alone, China's already the world's largest producer. Now it's looking to service-oriented robots, starting with the elderly care industry. With rapidly growing ranks of retirees — 25 percent of the world's seniors — China's nursing homes struggle with high labor costs and low profitability. Several dozen facilities are now testing robots that monitor residents' health, help them stay in touch with family, and simply keep them company.

Sources: Quartz

Next 'Doctor Who' Incarnation Will Be Female

It's about timey-wimey. Jodie Whittaker has been revealed as the 13th iteration of the beloved Time Lord. Whittaker, best known for British crime drama Broadchurch, said she hopes fans won't be "scared" by the gender reversal, noting that "Doctor Who represents everything that's exciting about change." The announcement comes just three months after the long-running sci-fi show debuted its first openly gay companion to the time-traveling alien lead. Whittaker will take over the role from Peter Capaldi when the Doctor regenerates in this year's Christmas special.

Sources: THR,EW

Roger Federer Wins Record Eighth Wimbledon Title

The ball's in his court now. Without dropping a set all tournament, the 35-year-old Swiss maestro surpassed the record held by Pete Sampras and William Renshaw, taking his 19th Grand Slam title and becoming the oldest man to win it all at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. His opponent, Marin Cilic, 28, was battling a foot injury and succumbed 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 after just an hour and 41 minutes on the court. Afterward, Federer, who's on track for No. 1 status, described the win as "magical, really."

Sources: USA Today,SI,ESPN