Venezuelan Version of Bitcoin, Missing Egyptian Leader, and Pixar's 'Coco': The VICE Morning Bulletin

Jared Kushner Still 'Optimistic' on Middle East Peace Deal
President Trump's son-in-law said he remains “optimistic that there is a lot of hope” for real negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians. His claim came amid warnings about the possible US recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, with Trump reportedly getting close to announcing whether he backs the policy change. Jordan's foreign minister said Sunday he told Secretary of State Rex Tillerson the move might have "dangerous consequences."—The New York Times / The Hill

California Teenager Confesses to Molesting Dozens of Children
Joseph Hayden Boston, 18, has been charged with the sexual assault of two minors after he told his mother that he had molested an eight-year-old boy and a four-year-old boy at a motel. Upon questioning by investigating officers, Boston also "admitted to molesting upwards of 50 children since he was ten years old in different cities where he had lived," according to Riverside Police Department.—CBS News

Home of Former Yemeni President Is Bombed
Houthi militants have reportedly destroyed the home of Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's president until 2012, in a bomb attack in the capital Sanaa. Saleh is believed to have died in the attack. The Houthis are fighting forces allied to Saleh and his General People's Congress party in the city.—Al Jazeera / The New York Times

US and South Korea Launch New Drills
On Monday, the allies began a series of military exercises in the Korean peninsula with stealth fighter aircraft maneuvers. Around 12,000 personnel from the US Armed Forces will join their South Korea counterparts for annual exercises this week. North Korean state news warned that the drills were "driving the tension… to the brink of a nuclear war."—VICE News

Venezuelan Leader Announces New Digital Currency
President Nicolas Maduro said his government would create a "Petro" cryptocurrency to help "overcome the financial blockade" imposed by US sanctions. Giving few details, Maduro said the Petro would be backed by oil and other assets. Opposition politician Angel Alvarado said the concept was "Maduro being a clown."— BBC News

Former Egyptian Prime Minister No Longer Missing
Ahmed Shafik has shown up safe on Egyptian TV after family members said they believed he had been kidnapped by the country's authorities upon returning to Egypt. Shafik, who had been living in exile in the United Arab Emirates before being deported Saturday, told Dream TV he was still weighing a possible run for the Egyptian presidency next year.—Al Jazeera

'Coco' Grosses More Than $100 Million
The Pixar-Disney animation remains top of the North American office after taking $26.1 million USD during its second weekend, pushing its domestic haul to $108.7 million USD. Disney’s Thor: Ragnorak has now taken $816.4 million USD around the world.—The Hollywood Reporter

'Call Me By Your Name' Wins Critics' Awards
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association picked the coming-of-age love story as the best movie of the year. Its Italian director Luca Guadagnino shared the best director award with Guillermo del Toro, selected for The Shape of Water.—Deadline

Zoë Kravitz’s Band Drops New Single
Lolawolf, Kravitz's R&B-electropop project with Jimmy Giannopoulos, has released new track "Baby I’m Dying" from its upcoming album. The Max Basch-directed video features Kravitz in New York City's Chinatown.— i-D

Cheese Is Good for You, Says Chinese Scientists
Researchers at Soochow University in Suzhou found that eating 40 grams of cheese per day can cut your chances of developing heart disease by 14 percent. The team looked at 15 cheese-focused studies from around the world.—VICE