SPOTLIGHT: HOW LOW WILL TRUMP GO?

Waking up in European Central Time to the morning headlines means two things right now: Rio Olympic results and Donald Trump’s new low. We’ve been trying to digest the latest installment of the latter after the Republican nominee in his inimitable, er, offhanded way, said yesterday in North Carolina that supporters of gun rights “can do” something to stop Hillary Clinton from reaching the presidency. Was that a major party presidential nominee calling for the assassination of his opponent? Was it a bad joke gone worse? Are we serious, folks?

This is indeed a new (dangerous) low. But what caught our attention at the moment of the punchline was the reaction of Trump’s own supporters, sitting behind the candidate. Watch here. Those who appear to be following what he says understand instantly what he was hinting at: One chuckles awkwardly, several wince, one man in a white beard and red shirt appears to say something like “ouch.” Presumably, all will vote for Trump come November.

Trump is now on a weeks-long slide in the polls, which some say explain his near daily crossing-of-the-lines. Whether the spiral of rhetoric will continue downward, and what effect it will have on the actual election, remain to be seen. Many have noted that the poisonous impact of Trump’s time on the political stage will last regardless of the results; others see this all as the ultimate exercise in democracy. It should, however, be noted that by law it is a criminal offense in the United States to call for the assassination of a presidential candidate. The Secret Service has been notified.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR TODAY

  • Fifth day of the 2016 Rio Olympics: archery, swimming, tennis, basketball, football, hockey, table tennis, diving and more.
  • Demonstrations in Chile against pension reform plan.
  • Captain America bronze statue to be unveiled in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.

DILMA TO BE TRIALED

With 59 votes to 21, Brazilian senators decided to go ahead with an impeachment trial against elected President Dilma Rousseff, who was suspended in May. A two-thirds majority (54 votes) will be enough to impeach Dilma, in a final vote to be held after the trial —probably around Aug. 25, according to Folha de S. Paulo.

— ON THIS DAY

Can you guess which world-famous museum opened its doors for the first time 223 years ago on this day? The answer here, in your 57-second shot of History.

VERBATIM

“As you know, I’m fighting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s ambassador. His gay ambassador, the son of a whore. He pissed me off,” Philippines controversial president Rodrigo Duterte said in televised comments that have sparked a diplomatic row with Washington. The Philippines envoy to the U.S. has been summoned.

CHILDREN ABUSED IN AUSTRALIAN OFFSHORE DETENTION CENTER

Documents leaked to and published by The Guardian lay bare more than 2,000 cases of abuse at an Australian detention center for asylum seekers on the island of Nauru. More than half of the reported cases involve children, with reports of violent treatment, death threats and sexual abuse.

— WORLDCRUNCH-TO-GO

The stadiums are standing, the opening ceremony went fine, transportation seems to be working … It looks like Rio de Janeiro may have pulled off its Olympic feat. But as António Prata writes for Brazilian daily Folha de S. Paulo, the country’s everyday problems remain unaddressed: “Olympic Rio quickly gives way to a grittier Rio. Outside the window, I’m looking at Curicica, not far from the “City of God,” but this might as well be Caracas or Islamabad. As Brazilian rapper Mano Brown once said: ‘The outskirts of a city are outskirts no matter where you are.’

Its colors and yellow-clad staff make the Bus Rapid Transit system look like an alien capsule, against the ochre-and-grey construction site backdrop. Every now and then, we drive past an armored vehicle with armed soldiers around it. I came to see an Olympic event but I feel like I’ve ended up in an episode of Homeland.”

Read the full article, The Olympics May Just Be The Only Thing That Works In Brazil.

PORTUGAL WILDFIRES

Forest fires burned into Wednesday on Portugal’s Madeira Islands, killing at least three people, injuring 174 and forcing the evacuation of more than 1000 from homes and hotels. See how Portuguese daily Publico featured the news on its front page today.

— MY GRAND-PERE’S WORLD

And All That Jazz — Lafayette, 1992

DEADLY FIRE AT BAGHDAD HOSPITAL

At least 11 newborn babies were killed in an electrical fire at a Baghdad hospital, AP reports.

MORE GOLD FOR PHELPS

If Michael Phelps was a country, he’d now be the 39th most successful in Olympic history, after the swimmer won his 20th and 21th gold medals.

MORE STORIES, EXCLUSIVELY IN ENGLISH BY WORLDCRUNCH

RAT ROBOTS HAVE FEELINGS TOO, YOU GUYS

Researchers at the Kazan Federal University in Russia managed to scare artificial intelligence. The team of scientists and graduate students developed a computer program that simulates a rat’s brain, and successfully caused the AI to experience fear and disgust, according to Russian daily Kommersant. Can software smell like cats and cheese?

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