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Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.Death Penalty for ‘High-Volume’ Drug Dealers Wins Trump's Favor
The president has privately expressed interest in allowing the US to execute drug dealers, according to sources close to him. Trump is said to have more than once compared drug dealers to serial killers and praised policies in Singapore, where drug traffickers can be sentenced to death. Kellyanne Conway, who helms the White House’s anti-drug initiative, suggested Trump’s remarks about dealers and the death penalty referred only to “high-volume” traffickers.—AxiosWeinstein Co. Gives Up on Sale, Moves Toward Bankruptcy
The production company's board announced the decision after one final attempt to sell itself to a group of investors led by Maria Contreras-Sweet, President Obama’s former small business administration chief. The Weinstein Company's board said it was “an extremely unfortunate outcome for our employees, our creditors, and any victims.”—Los Angeles TimesDianne Feinstein's Path Gets Steeper in California Primary
The veteran US senator could not get the 60 percent of California Democratic Party votes she needed to win official backing and campaign cash for a June primary against rival Kevin de Leon. State Senate leader De Leon, determined to be seen as the more in-touch, left-y candidate, said it was “an astounding rejection of politics as usual.”—APFlorida Lawmakers Want Parkland Sheriff Suspended
State House Speaker Richard Corcoran and fellow Republicans asked Florida governor Rick Scott to put Broward County sheriff Scott Israel on leave. They claim he “failed to maintain a culture of alertness” prior to the mass shooting at the Parkland high school. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was investigating the police response to the shooting.—The Washington Post
Gas Attack Suspected in Eastern Ghouta
A medical volunteer group said the Syrian government used chlorine gas in strikes on eastern Ghouta, the rebel-held turf on the edge of Damascus that has seen hundreds perish in horrific violence inflicted by the regime in recent days. Syria’s Civil Defense said one child was killed after suffocating. Bashar al Assad’s forces kept on the offensive Sunday despite a unanimous vote at the UN Security Council backing a 30-day ceasefire.—Al JazeeraNigeria Intensifies Hunt for Kidnapped Schoolgirls
President Muhammadu Buhari apologized to the parents of 110 girls apparently seized by Boko Haram last week amid reports soldiers were removed from the town of Dapchi before the children got kidnapped from school. Buhari promised additional security personnel and planes were being made available to hunt for the kidnappers.—BBC NewsChina Ready to Scrap Two-Term Limit on the Presidency
The ruling Communist Party introduced a plan to change the constitution to allow President Xi Jinping to stick around for good. While state newspapers have been supportive, one of Hong Kong’s leading pro-democracy campaigners, Joshua Wong, said it would mean “China would again have a dictator as her head of state.”—ReutersNorth Korea Willing to Talk to US, South Says
South Korean president Moon Jae-in said Pyongyang was open to negotiating directly with the US after meeting with a senior North Korean official over the weekend. “The United States needs to lower the threshold for dialogue, and North Korea should express a willingness to denuclearize,” Moon said.—The New York Times‘Black Panther’ Takes in $700 Million Worldwide
The landmark superhero movie earned another $108 million in North American theaters over the weekend. Only Star Wars: The Force Awakens has enjoyed a more successful second weekend at the domestic box office. The Marvel movie has now taken in $704 million globally.—ForbesKevin Smith Suffers Major Heart Attack
The Clerks director tweeted a photo of himself recovering in the hospital after he had a “massive” heart attack. “If I hadn’t canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would’ve died tonight,” he told fans.—The Hollywood ReporterMichelle Obama Memoir Set to Drop in November
The former first lady announced her autobiography Becoming will hit store shelves November 13, one week after the midterms. Pre-orders of Obama’s book already landed it in Amazon’s top 20 Sunday night.—APAlice Glass Says Defamation Suit Dismissed
The former Crystal Castles singer told fans Ethan Kath's lawsuit against her was axed in court. Glass, who has accused Kath of sexual assault and abuse, called it “a victory for survivors of abuse and sexual misconduct.”—NoiseyNew Zealand PM Called ‘Attractive’ in Strange Interview
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was told by an interviewer for Australia’s 60 Minutes she was “attractive” and also asked when her baby was conceived. “I wasn’t particularly offended or phased by the interview,” said Ardern, who is pregnant.—VICEForty-Five Music Festivals Agree to Gender-Balanced Lineups
The PRS Foundation has a launched a campaign to ensure music festivals feature an equal number of male and female performing artists by 2022. So far, 45 festival have committed to the goal.—NoiseyMake sure to check out the latest episode of VICE's daily podcast. Today we’ll hear from Tristan Walker, the founder and CEO of two hair care brands created specifically for people of color.Sign up for our newsletter to get the best of VICE delivered to your inbox daily.
US News
The president has privately expressed interest in allowing the US to execute drug dealers, according to sources close to him. Trump is said to have more than once compared drug dealers to serial killers and praised policies in Singapore, where drug traffickers can be sentenced to death. Kellyanne Conway, who helms the White House’s anti-drug initiative, suggested Trump’s remarks about dealers and the death penalty referred only to “high-volume” traffickers.—AxiosWeinstein Co. Gives Up on Sale, Moves Toward Bankruptcy
The production company's board announced the decision after one final attempt to sell itself to a group of investors led by Maria Contreras-Sweet, President Obama’s former small business administration chief. The Weinstein Company's board said it was “an extremely unfortunate outcome for our employees, our creditors, and any victims.”—Los Angeles Times
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The veteran US senator could not get the 60 percent of California Democratic Party votes she needed to win official backing and campaign cash for a June primary against rival Kevin de Leon. State Senate leader De Leon, determined to be seen as the more in-touch, left-y candidate, said it was “an astounding rejection of politics as usual.”—APFlorida Lawmakers Want Parkland Sheriff Suspended
State House Speaker Richard Corcoran and fellow Republicans asked Florida governor Rick Scott to put Broward County sheriff Scott Israel on leave. They claim he “failed to maintain a culture of alertness” prior to the mass shooting at the Parkland high school. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was investigating the police response to the shooting.—The Washington Post
International News
A medical volunteer group said the Syrian government used chlorine gas in strikes on eastern Ghouta, the rebel-held turf on the edge of Damascus that has seen hundreds perish in horrific violence inflicted by the regime in recent days. Syria’s Civil Defense said one child was killed after suffocating. Bashar al Assad’s forces kept on the offensive Sunday despite a unanimous vote at the UN Security Council backing a 30-day ceasefire.—Al JazeeraNigeria Intensifies Hunt for Kidnapped Schoolgirls
President Muhammadu Buhari apologized to the parents of 110 girls apparently seized by Boko Haram last week amid reports soldiers were removed from the town of Dapchi before the children got kidnapped from school. Buhari promised additional security personnel and planes were being made available to hunt for the kidnappers.—BBC News
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The ruling Communist Party introduced a plan to change the constitution to allow President Xi Jinping to stick around for good. While state newspapers have been supportive, one of Hong Kong’s leading pro-democracy campaigners, Joshua Wong, said it would mean “China would again have a dictator as her head of state.”—ReutersNorth Korea Willing to Talk to US, South Says
South Korean president Moon Jae-in said Pyongyang was open to negotiating directly with the US after meeting with a senior North Korean official over the weekend. “The United States needs to lower the threshold for dialogue, and North Korea should express a willingness to denuclearize,” Moon said.—The New York Times
Everything Else
The landmark superhero movie earned another $108 million in North American theaters over the weekend. Only Star Wars: The Force Awakens has enjoyed a more successful second weekend at the domestic box office. The Marvel movie has now taken in $704 million globally.—ForbesKevin Smith Suffers Major Heart Attack
The Clerks director tweeted a photo of himself recovering in the hospital after he had a “massive” heart attack. “If I hadn’t canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would’ve died tonight,” he told fans.—The Hollywood ReporterMichelle Obama Memoir Set to Drop in November
The former first lady announced her autobiography Becoming will hit store shelves November 13, one week after the midterms. Pre-orders of Obama’s book already landed it in Amazon’s top 20 Sunday night.—AP
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The former Crystal Castles singer told fans Ethan Kath's lawsuit against her was axed in court. Glass, who has accused Kath of sexual assault and abuse, called it “a victory for survivors of abuse and sexual misconduct.”—NoiseyNew Zealand PM Called ‘Attractive’ in Strange Interview
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was told by an interviewer for Australia’s 60 Minutes she was “attractive” and also asked when her baby was conceived. “I wasn’t particularly offended or phased by the interview,” said Ardern, who is pregnant.—VICEForty-Five Music Festivals Agree to Gender-Balanced Lineups
The PRS Foundation has a launched a campaign to ensure music festivals feature an equal number of male and female performing artists by 2022. So far, 45 festival have committed to the goal.—NoiseyMake sure to check out the latest episode of VICE's daily podcast. Today we’ll hear from Tristan Walker, the founder and CEO of two hair care brands created specifically for people of color.Sign up for our newsletter to get the best of VICE delivered to your inbox daily.