Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.Trump Goes in on Legal Immigrants
President Trump has announced his support for a Senate Republican bill to cut the number of legal immigrants allowed entry to the US by 50 percent over the next decade. The president said the proposed RAISE Act would introduce a points-based system to help Americans who feel "low-skilled" immigrants are undercutting wages. Congressman Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, said the bill "will make America weaker."—VICE NewsTrump Wanted US Commander in Afghanistan Out, Report Says
The president more than once proposed firing the commander of US forces in Afghanistan at a recent meeting with his defense chiefs. Trump asked that General John Nicholson be replaced in a July 19 meeting with the defense secretary and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. "We aren't winning. We are losing," he apparently fumed.—VICE News
US News
President Trump has announced his support for a Senate Republican bill to cut the number of legal immigrants allowed entry to the US by 50 percent over the next decade. The president said the proposed RAISE Act would introduce a points-based system to help Americans who feel "low-skilled" immigrants are undercutting wages. Congressman Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, said the bill "will make America weaker."—VICE NewsTrump Wanted US Commander in Afghanistan Out, Report Says
The president more than once proposed firing the commander of US forces in Afghanistan at a recent meeting with his defense chiefs. Trump asked that General John Nicholson be replaced in a July 19 meeting with the defense secretary and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. "We aren't winning. We are losing," he apparently fumed.—VICE News
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Kelly Tells Sessions His Job is Safe
The newly appointed White House chief of staff John Kelly called Attorney General Jeff Sessions to tell him he would be staying in the job, according to officials familiar with the conversation. Kelly reportedly informed the Department of Justice boss that President Trump remained frustrated with him, but there was no expectation he would resign.—APScaramucci to Explain Firing in Live Online Event
Anthony Scaramucci, the former White House communications director fired only 10 days into the job, will share his thoughts on the surprise dismissal during an online event broadcast live this Friday. Scaramucci said he only ever planned on being at the White House for between six and nine months anyway, describing himself as a "special purpose vehicle" brought in to stop leaks.—CNNRussian Prime Minister Calls US Sanctions 'Trade War'
Russia's prime minister Dmitry Medvedev said US sanctions signed into law by President Trump Tuesday constitute a "full-scale trade war" against his country. In a post on Facebook, Medvedev wrote: "The hope that our relations with the new American administration would improve is finished." He added that the White House had revealed its "utter powerlessness."—ReutersBrazilian President Wins Congressional Vote on Corruption
Brazilian lawmakers in that country's lower house of Congress have voted against sending President Michel Temer forward to face corruption charges at the Supreme Court. Opposition parties could gather only 227 votes, short of the 3,421 required. Temer has refuted allegations he took bribes from the head of meatpacking company JBS.—BBC News
The newly appointed White House chief of staff John Kelly called Attorney General Jeff Sessions to tell him he would be staying in the job, according to officials familiar with the conversation. Kelly reportedly informed the Department of Justice boss that President Trump remained frustrated with him, but there was no expectation he would resign.—APScaramucci to Explain Firing in Live Online Event
Anthony Scaramucci, the former White House communications director fired only 10 days into the job, will share his thoughts on the surprise dismissal during an online event broadcast live this Friday. Scaramucci said he only ever planned on being at the White House for between six and nine months anyway, describing himself as a "special purpose vehicle" brought in to stop leaks.—CNN
International News
Russia's prime minister Dmitry Medvedev said US sanctions signed into law by President Trump Tuesday constitute a "full-scale trade war" against his country. In a post on Facebook, Medvedev wrote: "The hope that our relations with the new American administration would improve is finished." He added that the White House had revealed its "utter powerlessness."—ReutersBrazilian President Wins Congressional Vote on Corruption
Brazilian lawmakers in that country's lower house of Congress have voted against sending President Michel Temer forward to face corruption charges at the Supreme Court. Opposition parties could gather only 227 votes, short of the 3,421 required. Temer has refuted allegations he took bribes from the head of meatpacking company JBS.—BBC News
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Venezuelan President Denies Doctoring Voting Data
Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro has rejected a claim that the turnout in Sunday's referendum vote on his new "constituent" legislative body had been deliberately exaggerated. Smartmatic CEO Antonio Mugica, whose company provided the voting machines, said the count had been "tampered with." But Maduro said Mugica had been "pressured to the neck by the gringos and the Brits."—APFather of Girls' Robotics Team Captain Killed in Mosque Attack
The father of one of the teenage girls from Afghanistan who took part in a robotics competition in the US has died of injuries suffered in Tuesday's mosque attack in Herat. The father of 14-year-old Fatemah Qaderyan was one of 32 people killed in the attack claimed by ISIS. The girls' robotics coach said Qaderyan, captain of the team, is "angry and grieving."—Al JazeeraKidd Creole Charged with Killing Homeless Man
Nathaniel Glover—the Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five rapper better known as Kidd Creole—has been arrested and charged with the murder of a homeless man in New York City. Police said 55-year-old John Jolly, an ex-con, died of stab wounds.—NY Daily NewsA$AP Rocky Teases New 'Awge' Website
A$AP Rocky has announced a new "Awge" website that will release his collective's music, videos, and other "a whole bunch of other kool shit" during the month of August. Rocky's A$AP mob is dropping the Cozy Tapes Vol. 2 compilation August 25.—BillboardPaul McCartney Drums on Foo Fighters Track
Foo Fighters have revealed that Paul McCartney played drums on a track off their new album Concrete and Gold. "He's a pal," said Dave Grohl of the former Beatle. "He's the most wonderful person in the world."—ET CanadaFugazi Approves of Opera Based on Their Music
Legendary US punk rock group Fugazi has approved an opera based on its music. "All of us were both blown away and disoriented by the work," said guitarist and singer Guy Picciotto of the opera by Object Collection.—NoiseyNAACP Issues Travel Warning for Entire State of Missouri
The NAACP has issued its first-ever travel warning for a US state, advising "extreme CAUTION" when going to Missouri. "Race, gender, and color based crimes have a long history in Missouri," the civil rights group wrote in its statement.—VICEDEA Officials Met with Malware Phone Hacking Company
Drug Enforcement Administration officials held a meeting with NSO Group, internal government emails have revealed. Describing itself as "a leader in the field of Cyber warfare," NSO Group sells malware products that can intercept smartphone data.—Motherboard
Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro has rejected a claim that the turnout in Sunday's referendum vote on his new "constituent" legislative body had been deliberately exaggerated. Smartmatic CEO Antonio Mugica, whose company provided the voting machines, said the count had been "tampered with." But Maduro said Mugica had been "pressured to the neck by the gringos and the Brits."—APFather of Girls' Robotics Team Captain Killed in Mosque Attack
The father of one of the teenage girls from Afghanistan who took part in a robotics competition in the US has died of injuries suffered in Tuesday's mosque attack in Herat. The father of 14-year-old Fatemah Qaderyan was one of 32 people killed in the attack claimed by ISIS. The girls' robotics coach said Qaderyan, captain of the team, is "angry and grieving."—Al Jazeera
Everything Else
Nathaniel Glover—the Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five rapper better known as Kidd Creole—has been arrested and charged with the murder of a homeless man in New York City. Police said 55-year-old John Jolly, an ex-con, died of stab wounds.—NY Daily NewsA$AP Rocky Teases New 'Awge' Website
A$AP Rocky has announced a new "Awge" website that will release his collective's music, videos, and other "a whole bunch of other kool shit" during the month of August. Rocky's A$AP mob is dropping the Cozy Tapes Vol. 2 compilation August 25.—BillboardPaul McCartney Drums on Foo Fighters Track
Foo Fighters have revealed that Paul McCartney played drums on a track off their new album Concrete and Gold. "He's a pal," said Dave Grohl of the former Beatle. "He's the most wonderful person in the world."—ET CanadaFugazi Approves of Opera Based on Their Music
Legendary US punk rock group Fugazi has approved an opera based on its music. "All of us were both blown away and disoriented by the work," said guitarist and singer Guy Picciotto of the opera by Object Collection.—NoiseyNAACP Issues Travel Warning for Entire State of Missouri
The NAACP has issued its first-ever travel warning for a US state, advising "extreme CAUTION" when going to Missouri. "Race, gender, and color based crimes have a long history in Missouri," the civil rights group wrote in its statement.—VICEDEA Officials Met with Malware Phone Hacking Company
Drug Enforcement Administration officials held a meeting with NSO Group, internal government emails have revealed. Describing itself as "a leader in the field of Cyber warfare," NSO Group sells malware products that can intercept smartphone data.—Motherboard