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The VICE Morning Bulletin

The VICE Morning Bulletin

Attorneys general to sue President Trump over foreign payments, Puerto Rico opts for US statehood in disputed (non-binding) vote, Russian opposition leader detained ahead of Moscow rally, and more.
Photo by RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP/Getty Images

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

US News

Attorneys General Sue President Trump over Foreign Payments
The Attorney General for Maryland Brian Frosh and his District of Columbia counterpart Karl Racine were set to file a lawsuit against President Trump Monday over his private business interests. The claim reportedly alleges Trump has violated the Constitution by receiving payments from foreign governments since taking office. It states that the president is "deeply enmeshed with a legion of foreign and domestic government actors."—The Washington Post

Former Federal Prosecutor Talks 'Unusual' Calls from Trump
Former US attorney Preet Bharara spoke out Sunday about receiving "unusual" and "uncomfortable" phone calls from Donald Trump. After speaking with Trump twice when he was President-elect, Bharara declined to return a third call in March because, he said, it appeared Trump was attempting to "cultivate some kind of relationship." He was told to resign less than 24 hours later, along with his colleagues.—CNN

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Puerto Rico Vote for US Statehood Sullied by Low Turnout
Voters in Puerto Rico have opted overwhelmingly for US statehood in a non-binding referendum on the issue. Around 97 percent of participants voted for statehood, but only around 23 percent of eligible voters on the island actually cast their ballots. Two of the territory's more prominent political parties urged a boycott and argued the low turnout reflected lack of interest in becoming the 51st state.—NBC News

Trump Ordered Priebus to Get White House in Order, Report Says
President Donald Trump reportedly warned Chief of Staff Reince Priebus he had until July 4 to address the "mess" in the White House. According to anonymous officials and advisors, Trump rebuked Priebus with his former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and deputy campaign manager David Bossie present, alluding to their potential as "fresh blood."—Politico

International News

Macron's Party Set for Massive Majority in French Parliament
French President Emmanuel Macron's party La République en Marche and allies are set for a significant majority in Parliament, the first round results of the country's latest elections indicate. Along with centrist partner MoDem, the party won about 32 percent of the vote, leaving the two parties with up to 430 seats in the 577-seat national assembly, according to projections. The final round of voting takes place June 18.—The Guardian

Kuwait Attempts to Ease Qatar Dispute
Kuwait says Qatar is ready to discuss the policy concerns of its Arab neighbors, after Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties to Qatar over its alleged support of extremists. "[Kuwait] affirms the readiness of the brothers in Qatar to understand the reality of the qualms and concerns of their brothers," said Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah.—Al Jazeera

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Russian Opposition Leader Held Ahead of Moscow Rally
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been detained by police officers at his home ahead of a protest in central Moscow Monday, according to his wife. Thousands of Russians were expected to rally near the Kremlin after Navalny called for a rally against corruption. Navalny had been given permission to hold a protest elsewhere, but switched it to a more central location.—BBC News

Roughly 900 Prisoners Escape in DRC Jailbreak
Gunmen stormed a prison in Beni, North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo Sunday, sparking a firefight that killed 11 people, including eight guards. Hundreds were freed, including captured members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militant group.—Deutsche Welle

Everything Else

Halsey Album Debuts at No.1 on Billboard 200
Halsey's Hopeless Fountain Kingdom debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200, making her the first female artist of the year nab the top spot. It moved 106,000 equivalent album units, including 76,000 old-school sales.—Billboard

Musical About Teen Suicide Wins Six Tonys
Dear Evan Hansen, a Broadway production about teen suicide and social-media anxiety, has won best new musical at the Tony Awards. It won six prizes in all, including best actor for Ben Platt, who plays the 17-year-old lead.—The Guardian

'Wonder Woman' Demolishes 'The Mummy' at the Box Office
The Mummy opened to a modest $32.2 million at the North American box office, easily beaten by Wonder Woman, which raked in another $57.2 million in its second weekend. The DC Comics adaptation has now earned $435 million around the world.—AP

Trump Reportedly Doesn't Want UK Visit Because of Protests
President Trump reportedly told Prime Minister Theresa May he would not make a planned state visit to the UK if he faced large protests. According to a Downing Street adviser, Trump's team called about delaying the visit sometime in the past few weeks.—VICE News

Planets Orbiting TRAPPIST-1 Might Not Be Habitable
A fresh look at red dwarf star data indicates the exoplanet-hosting TRAPPIST-1 system discovered by NASA may not be hospitable after all. Researchers found red dwarfs emitting frequent solar flares, diminishing the chances of habitability in their systems.—Motherboard

Dr. Seuss Museum Opens in Massachusetts
A museum memorializing the artwork of Dr. Seuss has opened in Springfield, Massachusetts, the town where illustrator Theodor Geisel was born. The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum includes a storytelling space and the artist's studio.—Creators