Barack Obama. Photo via Wikimedia.
Everything you need to know in the world this morning, curated by VICE.
US News
- Poll: Americans Support Muslims Not Trump
A new poll shows 57 percent of Americans disagree with Donald Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country. It also reveals Muslims are viewed more positively than Trump: nearly 60 percent view Muslims favorably; the same percentage view Trump negatively. —The Washington Post
- Ex-Cop Guilty of Sex Crimes
Former Oklahoma police officer Daniel Holtzclaw has been found guilty of five counts of rape and 13 other counts of sexual assault against a dozen African American women. The mother of one of Holtzclaw's accusers clapped as the verdicts were read. —ABC News
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- Obama To Take Action on Gun Checks
President Obama has directed the White House to come up with a proposal to expand background checks on gun buyers without the approval of Congress. His adviser Valerie Jarrett revealed Obama had asked his team to "finalize" recommendations. —NBC News
- Uber Drivers Can Sue
A California judge has cleared the way for 160,000 Uber drivers to sue the company in an effort to be reclassified as permanent employees. It began as a lawsuit brought by four former drivers, but could force a change in Uber's entire business model. —VICE News
International News
- Islamic State Selling Oil To Assad
Islamic State militants have made $500 million selling oil, with large amounts sold to Bashar al-Assad's Syrian government. A US Treasury official claimed oil is also making its way to Turkey, and militants have looted up to $1 billion from bank vaults in Syria and Iraq. —Reuters
- Geneva on High Alert
Security officials in Geneva are looking for five suspects in connection with investigations into the Paris terror attacks. A photograph of men suspected of being part of a terrorist network was circulated among police patrols. —CNN
- Trudeau Gives Refugees Warm Welcome
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greeted Syrian refugees with winter coats when the first resettlement plane arrived in Toronto. He has pledged to resettle 25,000 refugees by the end of February. —AP
- COP21 Overruns
Negotiators at the Paris climate conference aim to reach a global agreement on Saturday, a day later than expected. The level of compensation for nations most affected by climate change remains unresolved. —BBC News
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Everything Else
- Serial is Back
Podcast phenomenon Serial has returned. The first episode features Bowe Bergdahl, the US army sergeant who spent five years in Taliban captivity, explaining how he got captured. —The New York Times
- New Zealand Picks a Flag
The country has voted for a blue, black and silver fern design its favorite potential new flag. It will now go up against the existing flag, based on the British union jack, in a referendum. —New Zealand Herald
- How to Have Sleep Orgasms
Around 37 percent of women experience orgasms in their sleep by the age of 45. Basically, if you've got a working clitoris and/or vagina, you can dream-climax. —Broadly
- France Won't Be Blocking Public Wi-Fi
France does not have plans to block Tor or public wi-fi, Prime Minister Manuel Valls confirmed, despite lobbying from the French police to do so in the wake of terror attacks. —Motherboard