The VICE Morning Bulletin

NBA star Stephen Curry in a screenshot from the anti–gun violence ad produced by the league.

Everything you need to know in the world this morning, curated by VICE.

• Spring-Like Storms Kill Seven
  At least seven people have been killed by spring-like storms and tornados sweeping across the South on Wednesday. Rescue teams are out looking for missing residents following the severe weather, and meteorologists are warning of more storms ahead. – ABC News
• Black Lives Matter Protestors Disrupt Airport
  After protesting at Mall of America, hundreds of Black Lives Matter activists blocked access to a terminal at Minneapolis-St.Paul International. A total of 15 were arrested over the course of the day. Protesters continue to demand police release the tape of Jamar Clark's fatal shooting by police officers. – USA Today
• New Year Deportation Raids Expected
  The Department of Homeland Security has begun preparing a series of early January raids to deport hundreds of families. It would be the first large-scale effort to deport those coming to the US to escape violence in Central America since the beginning of last year. – The Washington Post
• NBA Joins Gun Debate
  The NBA is to debut a controversial ad campaign during Christmas Day basketball games. In a commercial made in partnership with Michael Bloomberg's gun-control group, stars like Stephen Curry will join relatives of victims to urge an end to gun violence. – The New York Times

• Westerners Warned in Beijing
  American, British, and French embassies has received information about possible threats to westerners in the Sanlitun shopping area of Beijing "on or around" Christmas Day. The government has tightened secruity in the Chinese capital's malls, but said it was not related to the warnings. – CNN
• Taliban Claims Takeover in Sangin
  The Taliban claims to have seized control of the Sangin district in Afghanistan's Helmand province. However the Afghan military insists the fighting continues after reinforcements were rushed to the district and the US conducted air strikes on Taliban targets. – AP
• Syrian Government Ready for Peace Talks
  Syria's Foreign Minister says Bashar al-Assad's government is ready to take part in peace talks in Geneva, and hopes a "national unity government" can be formed. The United Nations plans to convene peace talks in Geneva towards the end of January. – Reuters
• Hospital Fire in Saudi Arabia
  At least 25 people have been killed and 100 injured in a hospital fire in southern Saudi Arabia. The blaze, now extinguished, began at the intensive care and maternity departments of the Jazan General Hospital, and an investigation to find the cause is now underway. – Al Jazeera

• Rapper King Louie Shot in Head, Now Recovering
  Louis Johnson Jr., better known as King Louie, is recovering in hospital after being shot in the head while driving his car. The Chicago rapper is now "awake and talking" according to his management team. – Chicago Sun Times
• The Beatles Finally Streamable
  All 224 studio songs recorded by John, Paul, George, and Ringo have been added to all major streaming services this morning. It doesn't make "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" sound any better. – Billboard
• Internet Helps Cafeteria Lady Get Job Back
  Dalene Bowden was fired for giving a free meal to a 12-year-old girl who didn't have any lunch money. But thanks to an online petition signed by 74,000 people, Bowden has her Idaho cafeteria job back before Christmas. – NBC News
• How to Catch the 'Affluenza Teen'
  Ethan Couch, the 18-year-old who ducked prison after killing four people in a drunk-driving accident, is still on the run. One private investigator thinks texts and social media could be the key to catching him. – VICE
• Jon Stewart's Family Is Opening an Animal Sanctuary
  Jon and Tracey Stewart will start raising rescued farm animals on their 12-acre New Jersey property next year. "Jon has a policy: no nighttime predators," says Tracey. – Motherboard
• Stoner Sloth Won't Stop Weed Use
  As 2015 comes to a close, the internet is having a good laugh at "Stoner Sloth", a misconceived series of anti-weed ads produced by the Australian government. – VICE