The VICE Morning Bulletin

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

North Korea Threatens to Strike US Territory of Guam
The North Korean regime has threatened to launch a missile strike on the US island territory of Guam in the Pacific. According to a state news report early Wednesday, the North Korean military is "carefully examining" rocket attacks there. On Tuesday, President Trump warned North Korea that threats to the US "will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen." Benjamin J. Cruz, speaker of the island's legislature, said, "We're just praying that the United States and the… defense system we have here is sufficient enough to protect us."—VICE News/AP

Trump Administration Struggling to Enforce Deportations, Data Shows
The latest Department of Justice statistics show orders to deport immigrants have risen almost 31 percent this year compared with the equivalent six-month period in 2016. Actual deportations, however, have fallen to an average of 16,900 per month over the past five months, compared to an average of more than 20,000 monthly during the Obama administration's last full fiscal year.—The Washington Post/Politico

Trump Sent Messages to Mueller Through Lawyers
President Trump has reportedly informed Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the US election, of his "appreciation and greetings" in messages delivered by the president's legal team. Trump's attorney John Dowd said, "He appreciates what Bob Mueller is doing. He asked me to share that with him and that's what I've done."—USA Today

Mormon Church Leader Excommunicated
James J. Hamula, a prominent figure in the Mormon Church, has been expelled—the first excommunication of a high-profile leader from the Utah-based religion since 1989. A church spokesman did not give the reason Hamula was forced to leave but said it was not because of apostasy, the term used for abandoning church beliefs or principles.—CBS News

South Korea and Japan Respond to North Korean Threat
South Korean president Moon Jae-in has responded to the heightened level of threat from North Korea by calling for an "intensive" upgrade of his nation's military force. Moon said he wanted "a complete overhaul, instead of minor improvements." Addressing the "increasingly difficult" situation, Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said "the US's deterrence capability is extremely important to Japan."—CNN

Earthquake in China Leaves At Least 19 Dead, 247 Injured
At least 19 people were killed and 247 injured by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that ravaged China's Sichuan province on Tuesday. Rescue teams have been helping thousands of people stranded by landslides to safety after the quake struck an area near a nature reserve popular with tourists. Another earthquake, magnitude 6.6, injured at least 32 more people when it hit in the Xinjiang region early Wednesday.—Reuters

Kenyan Opposition Leader Claims Early Election Results 'Fake'
The Kenyan presidential candidate Raila Odinga has claimed early election results have been doctored by hackers. According to Kenya's electoral commission, President Uhuru Kenyatta leads his opponent Odinga 54.3 percent to 44.8 percent, with more than 95 percent of votes now counted. Odinga, however, dismissed the results as "fake," casting a pall over a country with a legacy of election-related violence.—BBC News

Taliban Releases 235 People Taken Hostage in Afghan Village
The Taliban has freed 235 civilians it had taken hostage in the Afghan region of Sar-e Pul, the local governor's office said Tuesday. An official said an "unknown number" of people remain in captivity in Mirzawalang after an attack on the village by Taliban and ISIS fighters. The militants killed around 50 people, including civilians, in the attack on a local, government-supported force in Mirzawalang over the weekend.—AFP

Glen Campbell Has Died at 81
Glen Campbell, the legendary singer and songwriter, has died at the age of 81. The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson paid tribute to "an incredible musician and an even better person," while Dolly Parton described him as "one of the greatest voices of all time."—Noisey/Pitchfork

Spike Lee to Host Rally for Colin Kaepernick
Filmmaker Spike Lee is to host an event in support of quarterback Colin Kaepernick outside the NFL's headquarters later this month. The football player is currently without a team, having sparked controversy for taking a knee during the national anthem last season.—Rolling Stone

Selena Gomez to Star in Woody Allen Film
Selena Gomez is set to star in one of Woody Allen's upcoming movies. Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet are also signed up for the untitled film, set for an Amazon Studios release. Allen's completed movie Wonder Wheel is due out in October.—The Hollywood Reporter

Rihanna Dismissed Diplo Track as 'Airport' Reggae
Rihanna reportedly rejected one of Diplo's tracks despite the DJ-producer's long-held desire for a musical collaboration. "So I played her a song. And she was like, 'This sounds like a reggae song at an airport," he said. "I was like, 'I'm gonna go kill myself.'"—Noisey

Company Behind 56,000-Ton TV Dump Forced to Pay $14.2 Million
The founders of a defunct recycling company have been ordered to pay $14.2 million to cover the costs of cleaning up 56,000 tons of old TVs left in a warehouse. The founders of Closed Loop will also need to pay almost $4 million in unpaid rent.—Motherboard

FBI Alleges Teen Sold Jewish Center Bomb Threats on Dark Web
After a 19-year-old Israeli American was arrested for allegedly carrying out a series of bomb threats against US schools and Jewish centers earlier this year, the FBI now believes he performed the service, at least in some cases, for money. Michael Kadar allegedly ran a business on the dark web, charging clients as little as $30 for each phoned in or emailed threat.—VICE