Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.Trump Jr. Sorta (Maybe?) Contrite About Russian Lawyer Meeting
Donald Trump Jr. said he "probably would have done things a little differently" with respect to meeting a Russian lawyer for dirt on Hillary Clinton. In an interview with FOX News Tuesday night, Trump Jr. described his meeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya as "opposition research." Meanwhile, officials briefed on the matter say Trump Jr.'s emails with Veselnitskaya's intermediary Rob Goldstone were found by Jared Kushner's lawyers, leading to a revision on his security clearance forms.—FOX News/The New York TimesGOP Senators to Reveal Revised Health Care Bill
Republicans in the Senate are expected to reveal a revised version of their sprawling and deeply unpopular healthcare bill Thursday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the August recess will be pushed back two weeks in hopes of passing the legislation.—The Hill
US News
Donald Trump Jr. said he "probably would have done things a little differently" with respect to meeting a Russian lawyer for dirt on Hillary Clinton. In an interview with FOX News Tuesday night, Trump Jr. described his meeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya as "opposition research." Meanwhile, officials briefed on the matter say Trump Jr.'s emails with Veselnitskaya's intermediary Rob Goldstone were found by Jared Kushner's lawyers, leading to a revision on his security clearance forms.—FOX News/The New York TimesGOP Senators to Reveal Revised Health Care Bill
Republicans in the Senate are expected to reveal a revised version of their sprawling and deeply unpopular healthcare bill Thursday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the August recess will be pushed back two weeks in hopes of passing the legislation.—The Hill
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Free Speech Group Sues Trump for Blocking Critics on Twitter
The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University has launched a lawsuit against President Trump for blocking non-fans on Twitter. Along with seven Twitter users blocked by Trump, the institute is a plaintiff in the lawsuit arguing that being blocked for criticizing the president is a denial of free speech rights under the First Amendment.—MotherboardTillerson Strikes Deal with Qatar to Combat Terrorism Financing
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson praised Qatar for responding to President Trump's call "to stop the funding of terrorism" on Tuesday. Tillerson was in Doha where Qatar and the US signed an agreement "to interrupt, disable terror financing flows and intensify counterterrorism activities globally." This could help ease tension with miffed neighbors who have imposed sanctions on and cut off relations with Qatar.—VICE NewsSyrian Monitoring Group Claims ISIS Leader Has Died
The ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi is dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The monitoring group claims to have "confirmed information"—including corroboration from an ISIS source "of the first rank"—that Baghdadi has been killed. In June, Russia's defense ministry claimed, to some skepticism, that Baghdadi may have been among those killed in an airstrike just outside the group's former stronghold of Raqqa.—ReutersChina Prepares to Set Up First Military Base in Africa
According to state media, Chinese military personnel are headed to the East African nation of Djibouti to establish its first base overseas. The outpost will apparently be used for peacekeeping and aid work, as well as military training. Djibouti is also proximal to key shipping turf around the Horn of Africa.—BBC News
The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University has launched a lawsuit against President Trump for blocking non-fans on Twitter. Along with seven Twitter users blocked by Trump, the institute is a plaintiff in the lawsuit arguing that being blocked for criticizing the president is a denial of free speech rights under the First Amendment.—MotherboardTillerson Strikes Deal with Qatar to Combat Terrorism Financing
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson praised Qatar for responding to President Trump's call "to stop the funding of terrorism" on Tuesday. Tillerson was in Doha where Qatar and the US signed an agreement "to interrupt, disable terror financing flows and intensify counterterrorism activities globally." This could help ease tension with miffed neighbors who have imposed sanctions on and cut off relations with Qatar.—VICE News
International News
The ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi is dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The monitoring group claims to have "confirmed information"—including corroboration from an ISIS source "of the first rank"—that Baghdadi has been killed. In June, Russia's defense ministry claimed, to some skepticism, that Baghdadi may have been among those killed in an airstrike just outside the group's former stronghold of Raqqa.—ReutersChina Prepares to Set Up First Military Base in Africa
According to state media, Chinese military personnel are headed to the East African nation of Djibouti to establish its first base overseas. The outpost will apparently be used for peacekeeping and aid work, as well as military training. Djibouti is also proximal to key shipping turf around the Horn of Africa.—BBC News
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Five Suspected ISIS Militants Killed in Turkish Raids
Five ISIS-linked militants were killed during a police sweep in the Turkish city of Konya. Four officers were injured in the action, and weapons and ammunition were seized. Police reportedly suspected the group had been planning a terrorist attack to in some way coincide with tributes to victims of last year's coup attempt.—Deutsche WelleChinese Dissident in B Condition
Liu Xiaobo, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate jailed by China and suffering from liver cancer, is now in critical condition. A statement from the First Hospital of China Medical University revealed Liu has experienced both respiratory and renal failure. His family has declined a breathing tube necessary to keep him alive.—APParis and Los Angeles Set to Host Olympics
The International Olympic Committee has decided Paris and Los Angeles can negotiate who will host the Olympic Games in 2024, and who will host in 2028. The mayors of both cities held hands on stage in Lausanne, Switzerland, to celebrate the decision.—TIMEJoe Scarborough Leaving the GOP
Morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough said he will split with the Republican Party and become an independent. Appearing with co-host and fiancée Mika Brzezinski on The Late Show, Scarborough told Stephen Colbert the GOP's defense of Trump was "disgusting."—USA TodayTarantino Reportedly Helming Manson Family Movie
Quentin Tarantino is said to be working on a movie about the Manson Family murders. According to anonymous sources, the Weinstein brothers are involved in the project about the death of Sharon Tate and four others in 1969.—The Hollywood ReporterBlink-182 Member Claims His Own Witchcraft Stopped Fyre Festival
Blink-182 singer-guitarist Matt Skiba claimed he used witchcraft to ruin the Fyre Festival. The band officially pulled out due to technical concerns, but Skiba said: "I put all the electricity and energy in my body against that thing happening."—SPINNetflix Reveals 'Stranger Things' Release Date
Netflix has revealed the fall release date for the next season of Stranger Things. The show's Twitter account tweeted a teaser video and the official drop date of October 27, right in time for Halloween.—VICE
Five ISIS-linked militants were killed during a police sweep in the Turkish city of Konya. Four officers were injured in the action, and weapons and ammunition were seized. Police reportedly suspected the group had been planning a terrorist attack to in some way coincide with tributes to victims of last year's coup attempt.—Deutsche WelleChinese Dissident in B Condition
Liu Xiaobo, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate jailed by China and suffering from liver cancer, is now in critical condition. A statement from the First Hospital of China Medical University revealed Liu has experienced both respiratory and renal failure. His family has declined a breathing tube necessary to keep him alive.—AP
Everything Else
The International Olympic Committee has decided Paris and Los Angeles can negotiate who will host the Olympic Games in 2024, and who will host in 2028. The mayors of both cities held hands on stage in Lausanne, Switzerland, to celebrate the decision.—TIMEJoe Scarborough Leaving the GOP
Morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough said he will split with the Republican Party and become an independent. Appearing with co-host and fiancée Mika Brzezinski on The Late Show, Scarborough told Stephen Colbert the GOP's defense of Trump was "disgusting."—USA TodayTarantino Reportedly Helming Manson Family Movie
Quentin Tarantino is said to be working on a movie about the Manson Family murders. According to anonymous sources, the Weinstein brothers are involved in the project about the death of Sharon Tate and four others in 1969.—The Hollywood ReporterBlink-182 Member Claims His Own Witchcraft Stopped Fyre Festival
Blink-182 singer-guitarist Matt Skiba claimed he used witchcraft to ruin the Fyre Festival. The band officially pulled out due to technical concerns, but Skiba said: "I put all the electricity and energy in my body against that thing happening."—SPINNetflix Reveals 'Stranger Things' Release Date
Netflix has revealed the fall release date for the next season of Stranger Things. The show's Twitter account tweeted a teaser video and the official drop date of October 27, right in time for Halloween.—VICE