The VICE Morning Bulletin
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The VICE Morning Bulletin

Harward turns down national security adviser gig, Trump will draw up new travel ban order, thousands to skip work and attend "general strike" rallies, and more.

US News

Harward Turns Down National Security Adviser Role
President Trump's choice to replace former national security adviser Michael Flynn has turned the job down. Retired vice admiral Robert Harward said it was "purely a personal issue," but had reportedly been keen to bring in his own staff to the National Security Council, which may have clashed with White House plans. Trump was said to be hoping to persuade Harward to change his mind.—AP / Financial Times

Trump Will Draw Up New Travel Ban Order
Rather than continue to appeal suspension of its travel ban, the Trump administration will instead focus on a new executive order. A Justice Department court filing said that order will 
"eliminate what the panel erroneously thought were constitutional concerns." At his chaotic Thursday press conference, President Trump said the order would be "tailored" to overcome "a very bad decision."—CNN

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Thousands to Attend 'General Strike' Rallies
More than 100 anti-Trump rallies are expected to take place in cities across the country today, part of an attempted no-work "general strike" organized by Strike4Democracy and other protest groups. More than 15,000 people expressed an interest in attending a Washington Square Park rally in New York City on the event's Facebook page.—NBC News

Vice President Pence Begins European Tour
Vice President Mike Pence is doing a stint in Europe in an effort to reassure US allies about the Trump administration's foreign policy agenda. Pence was to attend the Munich Security Conference in Germany Friday before meeting German chancellor Angela Merkel Saturday. On Sunday, he heads to Brussels to meet NATO and European Union leaders.—AP

International News

Pakistani Forces Kill 39 in Security Crackdown
Pakistan has killed 39 militants in security operations after a suicide bombing at a Sufi shrine in the Sindh Province left at least 88 people dead. ISIS has claimed responsibility for Thursday's bombing at the shrine.—Al Jazeera

Samsung Group Chief Arrested in Corruption Investigation
South Korean police have arrested acting Samsung Group chief Jay Y. Lee over his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal that has seen parliament impeach President Park Geun-hye. Samsung has been accused of donating to nonprofits operated by Geun-hye's friend, in exchange for special treatment by the government. Prosecutors have 20 days to file specific charges against Lee.—BBC News

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Poll Shows Angela Merkel Losing to Rival
A new poll shows Martin Schulz, the German Social Democrats' candidate for September's elections, leading Chancellor Angela Merkel. The ZDF poll shows 49 percent of Germans want Schulz as chancellor, compared to 38 percent who prefer Merkel. A January poll showed Merkel leading Schulz by four points. German elections, however, do not directly choose a leader but rather a party and its candidates to parliament. —Reuters

Tony Blair Calls on Brits to 'Rise Up' Against Brexit
Tony Blair, the former prime minister of the UK, has launched a campaign to persuade fellow Brits to change their minds about Brexit, despite the country voting in favor of leaving the European Union last year. He called on supporters of the UK remaining inside the EU to "rise up in defense of what we believe."—The Guardian

Everything Else

Zuckerberg Shares Manifesto for 'Global Community'
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has extolled the virtues of globalization and rejected isolationism in a lengthy post. "Our greatest opportunities are now global… Our greatest challenges also need global responses," Zuckerberg wrote.—TIME

Bieber's Alleged Headbutt Investigated by LA Cops
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said it is investigating an incident in which Justin Bieber allegedly headbutted a man at a restaurant. The department said a witness saw the incident, but the alleged victim has not filed a police report.—AP

Future Drops 17-Track New Album
Future has released his new, self-titled, 17-track album that features no collaborations. In a Beats 1 interview with Zane Lowe, the Atlanta rapper said he "just focused on creatively coming out with something special on my own."—Noisey

Study Reveals Elite Wage Gaps
Female graduates from elite universities earn roughly 16 percent less than their male counterparts, according to a study in Social Science Research, while graduates from top universities in general earn 21 percent more than graduates from "lowest-tier" schools.—Motto

More Than 200 Republicans Skip Town Hall Events
More than 200 Republicans in Congress are reportedly skipping town hall events with constituents as they head home for a weeklong recess. Just 88 in-person town halls have been scheduled for February, according to data compiled by Legistorm.—VICE News

Walmart Sued Over Fake Craft Beer Claims
An Ohio man is suing Walmart over claims that its "Trouble Brewing" products are "craft" beers. The class action lawsuit filed by Matthew Adam alleges Walmart used "fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair" practices to sell the four beers in question.—Munchies