Saudi Oil Production Surges By Over 400,000 Barrels In June: OPEC
OPEC has responded to Trump's demands for more output.
https://www.zerohedge.com/
Helps explain yesterday's EO:
Trump signs order giving agency heads more power to appoint regulatory judges
The order allows agency heads to directly hire Administrative Law Judges, the officials who rule on legal issues related to government regulations.
Previously, appointments had to go through the Office of Personnel Management, but the Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the judges should be considered “inferior officers” rather than regular employees.
There are about 2,000 of the judges employed throughout the government, primarily in the Social Security Administration, according to Politico.
The order will also make it easier for the Trump administration to fire the judges, and follows the president’s May directives that made it easier to fire federal employees.
The White House said in a statement the the order “reduces legal uncertainty” about judges’ appointments, and preempts arguments that their decisions should be overturned.
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/396451-trump-signs-order-giving-agency-heads-more-power-to-appoint
Dude needs support:
‘I’m not an isolated case’: Doctor fired for refusing to use trans pronouns speaks out
Dr. Mackereth, who is a Christian, worries about what the DWP’s action implies about freedom of speech – and thought – in the UK.
“I’m not attacking the transgender movement. But, I’m defending my right to freedom of speech, and freedom of belief,” said Mackereth, according to the UK Telegraph. “I don’t believe I should be compelled to use a specific pronoun. I am not setting out to upset anyone. But, if upsetting someone can lead to doctors being sacked then, as a society we have to examine where we are going.”
“I said that I had a problem with this. I believe that gender is defined by biology and genetics and that as a Christian the Bible teaches us that God made humans male or female. I could have kept my mouth shut but it was the right time to raise it,” he said.
“By stating what has been believed by mankind for centuries – namely that gender and sex are determined at birth – you can come under ferocious attack,” he continued. “If we are no longer allowed to say that you believe sex and gender are the same and are determined at birth, everyone who holds my views can be sacked on the spot under this Act. I’m not an isolated case.”
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/im-not-an-isolated-case-doctor-fired-for-refusing-to-use-trans-pronouns-spe
Sinclair Broadcasting plans to launch streaming service
Sinclair Broadcast Group is working on a streaming news service that could launch later this year, Buzzfeed News reported Wednesday.
The company has submitted a trademark application for a free streaming app, called STIRR, Buzzfeed reported. Sources familiar with the project told the news outlet that the app would offer local and national news, as well as other on-demand programming.
The right-leaning media giant is seeking to merge with Tribune Media. If approved, the deal would give Sinclair ownership of local news stations that reach nearly three-quarters of American households.
Critics have urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reject the deal, warning that it would give Sinclair to much influence over the local media landscape.
Sinclair found itself at the center of controversy earlier this year after Deadspin compiled clips of network anchors across the country reading the same statement in which they say that they are “concerned about the troubling trend of irresponsible, one-sided news stories plaguing our country."
http://thehill.com/homenews/media/396458-sinclair-broadcasting-plans-to-launch-streaming-service-report
Murdoch’s Fox raises bid for Sky to $32.5 billion
Fox has been attempting to purchase Sky since December 2016, and has increased its offer by more than 30 percent since then, according to the AP.
Fox has faced significant hurdles in attempting to purchase the service: British regulators recommended earlier this year the government block a merger with Sky over fears the Murdoch family trust would have “too much control” over news in the country.
http://thehill.com/homenews/media/396457-murdochs-fox-raises-bid-for-britains-sky-to-325-billion
Mystery hacker trying to sell stolen US military documents, cybersecurity researchers say
The revelation comes after military officials said in June that the Department of Defense inspector general was probing a separate security breach. Earlier this year, a series of cyberattacks sponsored by Chinese government hackers infiltrated the computers of a U.S. Navy contractor, allowing a large amount of highly-sensitive data on undersea warfare to reportedly be stolen.
But there was no evidence the mystery hacker was tied to a foreign country or specifically was seeking to steal military documents, the firm told the Wall Street Journal.
Instead, they said the hacker scanned swathes of the Internet to find Netgear routers that were set up improperly, and then exploited a vulnerability to swipe documents from machines. The purported documents the hacker obtained related to maintenance of the drones, which are used for overseas strikes and surveillance missions.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/07/11/mystery-hacker-trying-to-sell-stolen-us-military-documents-cybersecurity-researchers-say.html
Kek!
French ambassador on Trump-NATO meeting: 'Foreplay matters, always'
"There is a legitimate debate about burden sharing, there is a legitimate debate about the future of this alliance that we have created in 1949 in very different circumstances so let's wait for the summit itself, what really the president of the United States is going to say, but also is going to ask," Araud said at a Washington Post Live event.
"Well, let's be a little more undiplomatic and say what you really think here," Washington Post corespondent Marcy Jordan pressed, drawing laughter from the audience.
"No way!" Araud replied.
"How does the style, I mean does it matter then? Does the opening tone matter?" Jordan continued.
"The foreplay matters, always," Araud said as the crowd began bursting with laughter.
"I'm French!" Araud added, turning to the camera with a mischievous glance. He continued: "In a sense you have an unusual president so its leading to an unusual way of debating between allies, but let's go back to the substance of the proposals and requests."
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/french-ambassador-on-trump-nato-meeting-foreplay-matters-always