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Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.Trump Goes After His Own Law Enforcement Officials (Again)
The president went back on the offensive Friday morning ahead of the expected release of a controversial anti-FBI memo, claiming on Twitter that the FBI and Justice Department “have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans.” Former FBI director James Comey backed the bureau for “speaking up” against the release. He said “weasels and liars never hold the field.”—VICE News/CNNDonald Trump Jr. Implies Andrew McCabe Was Fired
The president’s son suggested the former deputy director of the FBI was dismissed, despite White House attempts to distance the administration from word of his official resignation earlier this week. In a Thursday tweet, Trump Jr. said the furor over the memo on FBI surveillance was “good enough to fire McCabe” and “big enough to fire a senior official a month before retirement.”—The HillUS Airstrikes in Yemen Spike
The US military hit the war-torn Arab country with at least 131 airstrikes in 2017—six times as many strikes carried out in the final year of Obama's presidency. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and ISIS militants were said to be the primary targets. The Pentagon also confirmed there was “a small amount of US personnel in Yemen.”—NBC News12-Year-Old Girl Booked After School Shooting
Los Angeles police took an unidentified girl into custody after a shooting at Salvadore Castro Middle School on Thursday morning left at least five people hurt. She was booked on suspicion of negligent discharge of a gun. One 15-year-old boy was reportedly in stable condition with a head wound, while a 15-year-old girl was said to be in “fair” condition after being shot in the wrist.—VICE News/AP/LA TimesRoughly 90 Migrants Possibly Drowned in the Mediterranean
A boat carrying dozens of migrants capsized off the coast of Libya Friday morning, with ten bodies discovered on shore. The International Organization for Migration said survivors indicated most passengers had been from Pakistan and gave “an estimate of 90 people who drowned during the capsize.”—ReutersHundreds of Trapped Mine Workers Saved in South Africa
More than 900 workers stuck underground at a Free State province gold mine during a power outage Wednesday night were freed Friday morning. The company running the mine said the miners would get medical checks, while the union said corporate management was “doing far too little to prevent accidents.”—The GuardianFive Immigrants Shot in French City of Calais
A shooting during a fight between Afghan and Eritrean immigrants left five people hospitalized with bullet wounds in northern France. Around 100 Eritreans and 30 Afghans were reportedly involved in a two-hour battle after clashing in a line for food in southern Calais.—BBC NewsFidel Castro’s Son Commits Suicide
Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, the oldest son of Cuba’s late former communist leader Fidel Castro, has taken his own life at the age of 68, according to state media. Cubadebate said Castro Diaz-Balart, also known as “Little Fidel,” had previously been treated by doctors while in a “deeply depressed state.”—APRobert Wagner Named Person of Interest in Natalie Wood's Death
Investigators want to talk to the 87-year-old actor about the woman's fatal drowning in 1981. The Los Angeles County sheriff’s office declared the death of Wagner’s wife “suspicious.” A statement from the sheriff’s office revealed “we have witness statements that portray a new sequence of events on the boat that night.”—CBS NewsRecording Academy Creates 'Female Advancement' Task Force
Widely criticized for saying female artists needed to “step up,” Recording Academy boss Neil Portnow has announced a new advisory panel for the Grammys. Portnow said the task force would try to address “explicit barriers and unconscious biases."—VarietyKanye and Solange Sued for Alleged Copyright Breach
Prince Phillip Mitchell has reportedly filed a lawsuit claiming both artists infringed copyright by using his track “If We Can’t Be Lovers.” Mitchell is given a co-writing credit on Kanye’s song “Everything I Am” and Solange’s “Fuck the Industry."—PitchforkFire Department Responds to 'Game of Thrones' Set
A blaze filmed for the final season of the HBO show was so big residents in Northern Ireland called the local fire department. Facebook user Steven McAuley shared footage of the flames, with one fan site claiming the scene involved Winterfell.—VICECryptocurrencies Tank by $100 Billion in a Day
The huge sum got wiped off the digital currency market in a 24-hour period, part of a $400 billion drop over the past six weeks. Bitcoin dropped 14 percent Thursday, falling to $8,100—its lowest price in more than two months.—VICE NewsMake sure to check out the latest episode of VICE's daily podcast. Today we're talking about a virtual reality experience that might make you less afraid to die.Sign up for our newsletter to get the best of VICE delivered to your inbox daily.
US News
The president went back on the offensive Friday morning ahead of the expected release of a controversial anti-FBI memo, claiming on Twitter that the FBI and Justice Department “have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans.” Former FBI director James Comey backed the bureau for “speaking up” against the release. He said “weasels and liars never hold the field.”—VICE News/CNNDonald Trump Jr. Implies Andrew McCabe Was Fired
The president’s son suggested the former deputy director of the FBI was dismissed, despite White House attempts to distance the administration from word of his official resignation earlier this week. In a Thursday tweet, Trump Jr. said the furor over the memo on FBI surveillance was “good enough to fire McCabe” and “big enough to fire a senior official a month before retirement.”—The Hill
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The US military hit the war-torn Arab country with at least 131 airstrikes in 2017—six times as many strikes carried out in the final year of Obama's presidency. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and ISIS militants were said to be the primary targets. The Pentagon also confirmed there was “a small amount of US personnel in Yemen.”—NBC News12-Year-Old Girl Booked After School Shooting
Los Angeles police took an unidentified girl into custody after a shooting at Salvadore Castro Middle School on Thursday morning left at least five people hurt. She was booked on suspicion of negligent discharge of a gun. One 15-year-old boy was reportedly in stable condition with a head wound, while a 15-year-old girl was said to be in “fair” condition after being shot in the wrist.—VICE News/AP/LA Times
International News
A boat carrying dozens of migrants capsized off the coast of Libya Friday morning, with ten bodies discovered on shore. The International Organization for Migration said survivors indicated most passengers had been from Pakistan and gave “an estimate of 90 people who drowned during the capsize.”—ReutersHundreds of Trapped Mine Workers Saved in South Africa
More than 900 workers stuck underground at a Free State province gold mine during a power outage Wednesday night were freed Friday morning. The company running the mine said the miners would get medical checks, while the union said corporate management was “doing far too little to prevent accidents.”—The Guardian
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A shooting during a fight between Afghan and Eritrean immigrants left five people hospitalized with bullet wounds in northern France. Around 100 Eritreans and 30 Afghans were reportedly involved in a two-hour battle after clashing in a line for food in southern Calais.—BBC NewsFidel Castro’s Son Commits Suicide
Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, the oldest son of Cuba’s late former communist leader Fidel Castro, has taken his own life at the age of 68, according to state media. Cubadebate said Castro Diaz-Balart, also known as “Little Fidel,” had previously been treated by doctors while in a “deeply depressed state.”—AP
Everything Else
Investigators want to talk to the 87-year-old actor about the woman's fatal drowning in 1981. The Los Angeles County sheriff’s office declared the death of Wagner’s wife “suspicious.” A statement from the sheriff’s office revealed “we have witness statements that portray a new sequence of events on the boat that night.”—CBS NewsRecording Academy Creates 'Female Advancement' Task Force
Widely criticized for saying female artists needed to “step up,” Recording Academy boss Neil Portnow has announced a new advisory panel for the Grammys. Portnow said the task force would try to address “explicit barriers and unconscious biases."—VarietyKanye and Solange Sued for Alleged Copyright Breach
Prince Phillip Mitchell has reportedly filed a lawsuit claiming both artists infringed copyright by using his track “If We Can’t Be Lovers.” Mitchell is given a co-writing credit on Kanye’s song “Everything I Am” and Solange’s “Fuck the Industry."—Pitchfork
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A blaze filmed for the final season of the HBO show was so big residents in Northern Ireland called the local fire department. Facebook user Steven McAuley shared footage of the flames, with one fan site claiming the scene involved Winterfell.—VICECryptocurrencies Tank by $100 Billion in a Day
The huge sum got wiped off the digital currency market in a 24-hour period, part of a $400 billion drop over the past six weeks. Bitcoin dropped 14 percent Thursday, falling to $8,100—its lowest price in more than two months.—VICE NewsMake sure to check out the latest episode of VICE's daily podcast. Today we're talking about a virtual reality experience that might make you less afraid to die.Sign up for our newsletter to get the best of VICE delivered to your inbox daily.