Time to Diagnose Trump?
Throughout the 2016 U.S. presidential election, pundits across the political spectrum opined on Trump’s obstreperous, impulsive campaigning, often pathologizing his ticks as symptoms of greater moral or psychological failing. But seven chaotic months into Trump’s chaotic presidency, Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson has joined a chorus calling for a professionalization of this punditry in the form of a serious public debate on the president’s mental health.
“We don’t know how to even begin inquiring into a president’s mental health, so we rationalize aberrant behavior as being part of some subtle strategy,” Robinson wrote. “But if Trump were really playing three-dimensional chess, presumably he’d be getting things done.” Citing recent comments from Tennessee’s Republican Senator Bob Corker that Trump has not demonstrated the “stability” to be president, Robinson concludes that the time has come for the public to consider calling for Trump’s removal under the 25th amendment, which deals with presidential incapacitation. Though Robinson writes non-experts writing about the president’s mental health without diagnosing him in person is “uncomfortable” and unscientific, “it is irresponsible not to” do so, as Trump’s mental health has increasingly become American politics’ elephant in the room.
No more outlandish names for Chinese companies
What Are You Looking At Shenzhen Technology Company, King of Nanning, Guangxi and His Friends Trading Company Ltd and other such outlandishly named companies have been told to get a new name if they want to remain operational. After years of letting companies choose names as they pleased, Chinese regulators are reportedly cracking down on companies whose names are more than a mouthful. Regulators feel that some of the names have been used to deceive customers and in some cases cases even sound like invitations to have sex.
So now there are strict guidelines on what companies can be named, which means no names linked to terrorism, gender, religious terms or race. Companies also can’t have names to imply they are nonprofit organizations.
Trump didn’t want to send more troops to Afghanistan
In his first national security address on Monday night, President Trump pledged to send more American troops to continue the war in Afghanistan.
“Our troops will fight to win,” he stated, announcing a new plan which increases military presence in Afghanistan and places more conditions on Ashraf Ghani’s government.
While he did not give specific details, a plan drafted by Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster involves sending more than 4,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. Both men have been involved in Afghanistan in a military capacity in the past.
The decision came after deliberation with his war cabinet, which is dominated by military leaders. According to the New York Times, the move to increase America’s presence was opposed by former chief strategist Steve Bannon, who favoured hiring private military contractors instead. With his removal from the White House, the primary opposition to military presence ended. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who objected to the absence of diplomatic engagement in McMaster’s plan, was unable to exert greater influence as the State Department did away with the office for a special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan in June.
Before he become president, Trump criticized America’s involvement in Afghanistan several times, calling for a complete withdrawal of troops and claiming that the government was “wasting its money”.
Denmark’s Prince is refused a drink
Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik was initially denied entry into a bar in Brisbane, Australia since he did not have an ID. According to BBC, it is only after the intervention of dignitary protection police officers that he was let into the bar.
The prince arrived at the bar, Jade Buddha, just before midnight Friday with his entourage and police officers in plain clothes who told staff at the bar that an ID was not required in this case.
Queensland has strict liquor laws and it is compulsory to have proper identification such as passports and driving licences to enter premises serving alcohol at night.
It was only after security determined the Princes’ identity on the internet and the officers contacted the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation that the Prince was allowed to enter the bar Phil Hogan, co-owner, Jade Buddha told ABC Radio.
Hogan went on to criticize the stringent rules, calling them “a nightmare”.
The state government however has defended the law placed in order to reduce harm due to alcohol.
“More than 1.4 million IDs have been scanned since the laws were introduced in July and more than 70 violent offenders stopped from entering licensed venues as a result,” Yvette D’Ath, attorney general was quoted as saying in a Guardian report.
The prince is in Australia for a yachting regatta and the incident has been labeled as ‘‘a cringe-inducing blunder’’ by the Brisbane Courier Mail.