Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.Trump Will Be 'Angry' If Health Bill Fails
President Trump said he will be "very angry" if the Senate fails in its effort to pass a health care bill in the near future. Speaking to evangelical leader Pat Robertson for the Christian Broadcasting Network, Trump said: "I will be very angry about it and a lot of people will be very upset… Mitch [McConnell] has to pull it off." In a separate interview with Reuters, Trump defended his son over his meeting with a Russian lawyer. "I think many people would have held that meeting," he said.—AP / ReutersTwo US Volunteer Fighters Killed in Syria
Two Americans have been killed in Syria fighting against ISIS alongside a Kurdish militia group. Robert Grodt, 28, and Nicholas Alan Warden, 29, had been fighting with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Raqqa when they were killed last week. Warden, whose father said he was a US Army veteran, had been motivated at least in part by the terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Orlando, and Paris.—AP
US News
President Trump said he will be "very angry" if the Senate fails in its effort to pass a health care bill in the near future. Speaking to evangelical leader Pat Robertson for the Christian Broadcasting Network, Trump said: "I will be very angry about it and a lot of people will be very upset… Mitch [McConnell] has to pull it off." In a separate interview with Reuters, Trump defended his son over his meeting with a Russian lawyer. "I think many people would have held that meeting," he said.—AP / ReutersTwo US Volunteer Fighters Killed in Syria
Two Americans have been killed in Syria fighting against ISIS alongside a Kurdish militia group. Robert Grodt, 28, and Nicholas Alan Warden, 29, had been fighting with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Raqqa when they were killed last week. Warden, whose father said he was a US Army veteran, had been motivated at least in part by the terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Orlando, and Paris.—AP
Advertisement
Afghan Girls Gain US Entry After Trump Intervenes
President Trump has apparently intervened to help a group of Afghan girls gain entry to the US for an international robotics competition in Washington, DC. Although the State Department denied their visas, the White House said Trump asked National Security Council officials to help, prompting the Department of Homeland Security to allow the group entry under the "parole" system for ten days.—PoliticoUCLA Campus Partly Evacuated After Bomb Threat
Thousands of students evacuated the University of California, Los Angeles's Westwood campus late Wednesday following a bomb threat at a recreation center. Initial searches did not turn up any explosives.—Los Angeles TimesFive Chechens Jailed Over Killing of Putin Critic
A Russian court has sentenced five Chechen men for killing opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, a critic of the Putin government, near the Kremlin. Apparent gunman Zaur Dadayev was sentenced to a 20-year term, while four others who prosecutors said helped plan the 2015 fatal shooting were sentenced to between 11 and 19 years in prison.—Sky NewsFormer Brazilian President Found Guilty of Corruption
The former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison after being found guilty of corruption. Lula remains free because of an appeal lodged by his legal team, who insisted on his innocence. He was found guilty of accepting valuable work on a luxury apartment as a bribe from an engineering company. But the popular figure is also widely thought to be planning a presidential run again next year, raising the specter of more political chaos if he does in fact get imprisoned.—VICE News
President Trump has apparently intervened to help a group of Afghan girls gain entry to the US for an international robotics competition in Washington, DC. Although the State Department denied their visas, the White House said Trump asked National Security Council officials to help, prompting the Department of Homeland Security to allow the group entry under the "parole" system for ten days.—PoliticoUCLA Campus Partly Evacuated After Bomb Threat
Thousands of students evacuated the University of California, Los Angeles's Westwood campus late Wednesday following a bomb threat at a recreation center. Initial searches did not turn up any explosives.—Los Angeles Times
International News
A Russian court has sentenced five Chechen men for killing opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, a critic of the Putin government, near the Kremlin. Apparent gunman Zaur Dadayev was sentenced to a 20-year term, while four others who prosecutors said helped plan the 2015 fatal shooting were sentenced to between 11 and 19 years in prison.—Sky NewsFormer Brazilian President Found Guilty of Corruption
The former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison after being found guilty of corruption. Lula remains free because of an appeal lodged by his legal team, who insisted on his innocence. He was found guilty of accepting valuable work on a luxury apartment as a bribe from an engineering company. But the popular figure is also widely thought to be planning a presidential run again next year, raising the specter of more political chaos if he does in fact get imprisoned.—VICE News
Advertisement
UK Refuses to Release Full Extremist Funding Report
The British government has been accused of trying to shield Saudi Arabia from criticism after declining to publish a full report into the funding of Islamist extremist groups. The opposition Labour Party's home affairs spokesperson Diane Abbott said there was "strong suspicion" the decision was made to protect "trade and diplomatic priorities, including in relation to Saudi Arabia."—ReutersUN Discovers 38 Possible Mass Graves in Congo
United Nations-led investigators have discovered what appear to be 38 mass graves in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to the UN peacekeeping mission, it brings the total number of mass graves found in the African nation—where fighting between the government and militants has intensified since last August—to 80.—Al JazeeraShia LaBeouf Apologizes for 'New Low'
Shia LaBeouf has issued an apology after a video appeared to show him accusing a black police officer in Georgia of arresting him because he was white. "I am deeply ashamed of my behavior and make no excuse for it," he said. "It is a new low. A low I hope is a bottom."—The Hollywood ReporterJoey Bada$$ Says He Inspired JAY-Z
Joey Bada$$ has claimed his own work helped inspire JAY-Z's 4:44. "I know I was an inspiration to that album," he said. "I love the album, it's great. I'm glad he spoke about everything he spoke on and I'm glad I could be inspirational."—BillboardDemocrat Files Articles of Impeachment Against Trump
California US congressman Brad Sherman has officially filed articles of impeachment against President Trump. The Democrat believes Trump's conversations with former FBI Director James Comey, and subsequent move to fire him, constitute obstruction of justice.—VICELana Del Rey Drops A$AP Rocky Collaborations
Lana Del Rey released two new tracks from her forthcoming album Lust for Life album featuring A$AP Rocky. "Groupie Love" is a pop ballad, while club track "Summer Bummer" also features Playboi Carti.—NoiseyUS Star Knocks out World No. 1 to Reach Wimbledon Semis
Sam Querrey has become the first male American tennis player to reach a Grand Slam semifinal since Andy Roddick in 2009. Querrey knocked reigning champion Andy Murray out of Wimbledon, winning in five sets.—VICE Sports
The British government has been accused of trying to shield Saudi Arabia from criticism after declining to publish a full report into the funding of Islamist extremist groups. The opposition Labour Party's home affairs spokesperson Diane Abbott said there was "strong suspicion" the decision was made to protect "trade and diplomatic priorities, including in relation to Saudi Arabia."—ReutersUN Discovers 38 Possible Mass Graves in Congo
United Nations-led investigators have discovered what appear to be 38 mass graves in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to the UN peacekeeping mission, it brings the total number of mass graves found in the African nation—where fighting between the government and militants has intensified since last August—to 80.—Al Jazeera
Everything Else
Shia LaBeouf has issued an apology after a video appeared to show him accusing a black police officer in Georgia of arresting him because he was white. "I am deeply ashamed of my behavior and make no excuse for it," he said. "It is a new low. A low I hope is a bottom."—The Hollywood ReporterJoey Bada$$ Says He Inspired JAY-Z
Joey Bada$$ has claimed his own work helped inspire JAY-Z's 4:44. "I know I was an inspiration to that album," he said. "I love the album, it's great. I'm glad he spoke about everything he spoke on and I'm glad I could be inspirational."—BillboardDemocrat Files Articles of Impeachment Against Trump
California US congressman Brad Sherman has officially filed articles of impeachment against President Trump. The Democrat believes Trump's conversations with former FBI Director James Comey, and subsequent move to fire him, constitute obstruction of justice.—VICELana Del Rey Drops A$AP Rocky Collaborations
Lana Del Rey released two new tracks from her forthcoming album Lust for Life album featuring A$AP Rocky. "Groupie Love" is a pop ballad, while club track "Summer Bummer" also features Playboi Carti.—NoiseyUS Star Knocks out World No. 1 to Reach Wimbledon Semis
Sam Querrey has become the first male American tennis player to reach a Grand Slam semifinal since Andy Roddick in 2009. Querrey knocked reigning champion Andy Murray out of Wimbledon, winning in five sets.—VICE Sports