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Everything you need to know about the world today curated by VICE.Senate GOP Continues Obamacare Repeal Effort
Vice President Mike Pence was forced to break a tied vote in the Senate to allow Republicans to launch debate on axing the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a Obamacare on Tuesday. But a late night vote on an actual bill—the Better Care Reconciliation Act, the latest version of "repeal and replace,"—failed to win even 50 votes, much less the 60 needed to pass. More attempts to pass some version of repeal are expected in the days (or hours) ahead.—VICE News/NYTSessions Expected to Announce New Leak Investigations
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is reportedly preparing to make public several criminal investigations into government leaks in the coming days. This after President Trump on Tuesday demanded Sessions "be much tougher on leaks in the intelligence agencies," continuing his unusually blistering and public criticism of his own Cabinet official. When asked whether he would fire Sessions, Trump said, "We'll see what happens." Sessions is not expected to resign of his own accord.—The Washington PostManafort No Longer Giving Public Testimony
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort will not speak at a public hearing in Congress this week after the Senate Judiciary Committee withdrew a subpoena. Instead, Manafort spoke privately to the committee Tuesday, explaining his role in a meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower during the campaign. Manafort has apparently agreed to give further evidence to the committee as it continues to investigate Russian election interference.—APStudy of Football Players' Brains Reveals Widespread CTE
A study of the brains of 111 deceased NFL players has revealed 110 of them suffered from the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Dr. Ann McKee, author of the study, conceded "tremendous selection bias" since many families had given permission for the brain study because they had seen signs of CTE in loved ones before they died.—The New York TimesNorth Korea Warns Against Regime Change with Nuclear Threat
The North Korean foreign ministry has warned it will "preemptively annihilate" any nation that threatens the sovereignty of its leadership, according to a state news report. A spokesman said North Korea "will strike a merciless blow at the heart of the US with our powerful nuclear hammer," should the US offer any indication of an attempt to get rid of Kim Jong Un.—CNNWildfires in France Force 10,000 to Evacuate
At least 10,000 people in France's Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region were evacuated from their homes Tuesday night to avoid rapidly spreading wildfires. A stretch of 15.4 square miles on the southern coast, nearby mountains, and on Corsica—the Mediterranean island where Napoleon was born—has been consumed by the blaze.—BBC NewsLibyan Rivals Agree to Ceasefire
Two rival sources of power in Libya have struck a ceasefire deal following talks in Paris. Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, who helms a government in Tripoli in the west backed by the UN, and Khalifa Haftar, the military commander who controls the east, also committed to organizing national elections.—The GuardianVatican Cardinal to Plead Not Guilty to Sex Crimes
The Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell intends to plead not guilty to what are being called historical sexual abuse charges, his lawyer revealed at a brief court appearance with his client in Melbourne, Australia. The magistrate ruled the full list of charges would not be published at this stage. The next hearing will take place October 6.—ReutersDiCaprio to Executive Produce 'The Right Stuff' Series
Leonardo DiCaprio has signed up as an executive producer for a TV series based on Tom Wolfe's book The Right Stuff. His production company is partnering with National Geographic on the show about pilots who became elite astronauts in a Cold War–era race with the Soviets.—DeadlineKendrick Lamar Nabs Eight VMA Nominations
Kendrick Lamar earned eight nominations at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, including artist of the year and video of the year for "HUMBLE." The Weeknd and Katy Perry are up for five awards each in the event held August 27.—Billboard'Wonder Woman' Sequel Set for 2019
Warner Bros. has revealed the scheduled release date for Wonder Woman 2 as December 13, 2019. The first movie has already taken $389 million at the North American box office since its release in June.—Entertainment WeeklyMatt Groening Developing a Netflix Show About a Drunk Princess
Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, is working on a new animated series for Netflix about a drunk princess called Disenchantment. The network also revealed that Abbi Jacobson from Broad City is to voice the lead, named Bean.—VICESegregated US Cities Have the Worst Noise Pollution
Noise pollution is most prevalent in the most segregated US cities, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have found in a new study. The analysis relied on millions of hours of sound and noise data gathered over 13 years.—Motherboard
US News
Vice President Mike Pence was forced to break a tied vote in the Senate to allow Republicans to launch debate on axing the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a Obamacare on Tuesday. But a late night vote on an actual bill—the Better Care Reconciliation Act, the latest version of "repeal and replace,"—failed to win even 50 votes, much less the 60 needed to pass. More attempts to pass some version of repeal are expected in the days (or hours) ahead.—VICE News/NYTSessions Expected to Announce New Leak Investigations
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is reportedly preparing to make public several criminal investigations into government leaks in the coming days. This after President Trump on Tuesday demanded Sessions "be much tougher on leaks in the intelligence agencies," continuing his unusually blistering and public criticism of his own Cabinet official. When asked whether he would fire Sessions, Trump said, "We'll see what happens." Sessions is not expected to resign of his own accord.—The Washington Post
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Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort will not speak at a public hearing in Congress this week after the Senate Judiciary Committee withdrew a subpoena. Instead, Manafort spoke privately to the committee Tuesday, explaining his role in a meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower during the campaign. Manafort has apparently agreed to give further evidence to the committee as it continues to investigate Russian election interference.—APStudy of Football Players' Brains Reveals Widespread CTE
A study of the brains of 111 deceased NFL players has revealed 110 of them suffered from the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Dr. Ann McKee, author of the study, conceded "tremendous selection bias" since many families had given permission for the brain study because they had seen signs of CTE in loved ones before they died.—The New York Times
International News
The North Korean foreign ministry has warned it will "preemptively annihilate" any nation that threatens the sovereignty of its leadership, according to a state news report. A spokesman said North Korea "will strike a merciless blow at the heart of the US with our powerful nuclear hammer," should the US offer any indication of an attempt to get rid of Kim Jong Un.—CNNWildfires in France Force 10,000 to Evacuate
At least 10,000 people in France's Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region were evacuated from their homes Tuesday night to avoid rapidly spreading wildfires. A stretch of 15.4 square miles on the southern coast, nearby mountains, and on Corsica—the Mediterranean island where Napoleon was born—has been consumed by the blaze.—BBC News
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Two rival sources of power in Libya have struck a ceasefire deal following talks in Paris. Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, who helms a government in Tripoli in the west backed by the UN, and Khalifa Haftar, the military commander who controls the east, also committed to organizing national elections.—The GuardianVatican Cardinal to Plead Not Guilty to Sex Crimes
The Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell intends to plead not guilty to what are being called historical sexual abuse charges, his lawyer revealed at a brief court appearance with his client in Melbourne, Australia. The magistrate ruled the full list of charges would not be published at this stage. The next hearing will take place October 6.—Reuters
Everything Else
Leonardo DiCaprio has signed up as an executive producer for a TV series based on Tom Wolfe's book The Right Stuff. His production company is partnering with National Geographic on the show about pilots who became elite astronauts in a Cold War–era race with the Soviets.—DeadlineKendrick Lamar Nabs Eight VMA Nominations
Kendrick Lamar earned eight nominations at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, including artist of the year and video of the year for "HUMBLE." The Weeknd and Katy Perry are up for five awards each in the event held August 27.—Billboard'Wonder Woman' Sequel Set for 2019
Warner Bros. has revealed the scheduled release date for Wonder Woman 2 as December 13, 2019. The first movie has already taken $389 million at the North American box office since its release in June.—Entertainment WeeklyMatt Groening Developing a Netflix Show About a Drunk Princess
Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, is working on a new animated series for Netflix about a drunk princess called Disenchantment. The network also revealed that Abbi Jacobson from Broad City is to voice the lead, named Bean.—VICESegregated US Cities Have the Worst Noise Pollution
Noise pollution is most prevalent in the most segregated US cities, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have found in a new study. The analysis relied on millions of hours of sound and noise data gathered over 13 years.—Motherboard