Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.Senate GOP Unveils Healthcare Bill
Senate Republicans finally disclosed the details of their secret healthcare bill Thursday, a plan expected to include deep cuts to Medicaid and an end to Planned Parenthood funding. Unlike the House healthcare bill, the Senate's legislation was said to peg federal insurance subsidies to income rather than age.—The Washington PostFeds Say Russian Hackers May Have Targeted Elections in 21 States
Russian hackers could have targeted election systems in 21 states during the 2016 presidential race, according to Department of Homeland Security officials. Agency brass told the Senate Intelligence Committee there was evidence of attempts to interfere with the process across the nation, pointing to "Russian government-linked cyber actors," though actual vote-counting did not seem to be affected—CNN
US News
Senate Republicans finally disclosed the details of their secret healthcare bill Thursday, a plan expected to include deep cuts to Medicaid and an end to Planned Parenthood funding. Unlike the House healthcare bill, the Senate's legislation was said to peg federal insurance subsidies to income rather than age.—The Washington PostFeds Say Russian Hackers May Have Targeted Elections in 21 States
Russian hackers could have targeted election systems in 21 states during the 2016 presidential race, according to Department of Homeland Security officials. Agency brass told the Senate Intelligence Committee there was evidence of attempts to interfere with the process across the nation, pointing to "Russian government-linked cyber actors," though actual vote-counting did not seem to be affected—CNN
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Authorities Investigate Airport Stabbing as Terrorism
Law enforcement is investigating an act of terrorism after police officer Jeff Neville was stabbed in the neck Wednesday at Bishop Airport in Flint, Michigan. A middle-aged Canadian suspect, Amor Ftouhi, was taken into custody. According to FBI agent David Gelios, the suspect has been talkative, revealing "a hatred for the United States." Lieutenant Neville is currently in stable condition at the hospital.—VICE News/NBC NewsTrump Wants Solar Panels on Border Wall
President Trump suggested at a rally Wednesday night that he'd like to outfit the long-promised wall along America's southern border with solar panels. "Solar creates energy and pays for itself," he said at the Iowa rally. "And this way, Mexico will have to pay much less money. And that's good, right?" Trump also said he did not want "a poor person" in any key economic roles in his administration.—VICE NewsMosque Where ISIS Launched 'Caliphate' Destroyed
ISIS fighters blew up the Grand al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul Wednesday, according the Iraqi military. It was the site where leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi spoke soon after the declaration of a "caliphate" in 2014. Iraq's prime minister said the destruction of the mosque was a "declaration of defeat" as pro-government forces close in on ISIS in the Old City. Meanwhile, ISIS claimed the mosque was hit by an American strike, which the US denied.—VICE News/The GuardianAt Least 29 Killed in Explosion Outside Afghan Bank
At least 29 people were killed and at least 60 more injured in a car bomb attack Thursday outside a bank in Afghanistan's Helmand Province. According to the governor's spokesman, the bomb went off at about noon in Lashkar Gah, where security personnel and civilians were collecting their pay. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.—Al Jazeera
Law enforcement is investigating an act of terrorism after police officer Jeff Neville was stabbed in the neck Wednesday at Bishop Airport in Flint, Michigan. A middle-aged Canadian suspect, Amor Ftouhi, was taken into custody. According to FBI agent David Gelios, the suspect has been talkative, revealing "a hatred for the United States." Lieutenant Neville is currently in stable condition at the hospital.—VICE News/NBC NewsTrump Wants Solar Panels on Border Wall
President Trump suggested at a rally Wednesday night that he'd like to outfit the long-promised wall along America's southern border with solar panels. "Solar creates energy and pays for itself," he said at the Iowa rally. "And this way, Mexico will have to pay much less money. And that's good, right?" Trump also said he did not want "a poor person" in any key economic roles in his administration.—VICE News
International News
ISIS fighters blew up the Grand al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul Wednesday, according the Iraqi military. It was the site where leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi spoke soon after the declaration of a "caliphate" in 2014. Iraq's prime minister said the destruction of the mosque was a "declaration of defeat" as pro-government forces close in on ISIS in the Old City. Meanwhile, ISIS claimed the mosque was hit by an American strike, which the US denied.—VICE News/The GuardianAt Least 29 Killed in Explosion Outside Afghan Bank
At least 29 people were killed and at least 60 more injured in a car bomb attack Thursday outside a bank in Afghanistan's Helmand Province. According to the governor's spokesman, the bomb went off at about noon in Lashkar Gah, where security personnel and civilians were collecting their pay. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.—Al Jazeera
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Turkish President Talks Qatar with Newly Crowned Saudi Prince
Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed the diplomatic crisis in the Gulf Thursday with Saudi Arabia's King Salman and his new crown prince. Sources close to Erdogan's office said "agreement was reached on increasing efforts towards ending tension in the region related to Qatar," while Turkey is sending food and a small number of troops to help the embattled Gulf nation. It's been more than two weeks since Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, and the UAE cut ties with Qatar over its alleged support of extremist groups.—ReutersEarth's Population to Hit 8 Billion by 2023
Eight billion people are projected to live on Earth by 2023, according to the United Nations' latest annual estimate. Half of the population growth by 2050 is predicted to come from only nine countries: the US, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Indonesia.—The GuardianJudge Releases Names of Cosby Trial Jurors
The judge in the Bill Cosby mistrial has released the names of all 12 jurors and six alternates, but will not disclose the content of their debate. The prosecution in the case opposed the release of their names, arguing it could have "a chilling effect on future jurors."—CNNFuture Announces 34 New Shows Worldwide
Future has announced details of the Future Hndrxx Tour, adding 34 dates at venues across the globe. The artist will play shows in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa, as well as North America.—The FaderTeens Today Having Less Sex Than Gen-Xers
American teens are having less sex than their past counterparts did at their age, according to a report by the US Centers for Disease Control. Just 42 percent of girls and 44 percent of boys aged 15–19 said they'd had sex, compared to 51 percent of girls and 60 percent of boys back in 1988.—NewsweekMims Wins $50,000 TechCrunch Prize
Mims, the rapper behind the aughts classic "This is Why I'm Hot," won a $50,000 TechCrunch prize for a music-making app. Mims co-developed RecordGram, a mobile recording studio, alongside DJ Blackout.—NoiseyNew 'Game of Thrones' Trailer Released
HBO released a new trailer Wednesday for season seven of Game of Thrones. Showing a series of battle preparations, it features Jon Snow urging the houses of Westeros to fight together "because the enemy is real. It's always been real."—VICE
Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed the diplomatic crisis in the Gulf Thursday with Saudi Arabia's King Salman and his new crown prince. Sources close to Erdogan's office said "agreement was reached on increasing efforts towards ending tension in the region related to Qatar," while Turkey is sending food and a small number of troops to help the embattled Gulf nation. It's been more than two weeks since Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, and the UAE cut ties with Qatar over its alleged support of extremist groups.—ReutersEarth's Population to Hit 8 Billion by 2023
Eight billion people are projected to live on Earth by 2023, according to the United Nations' latest annual estimate. Half of the population growth by 2050 is predicted to come from only nine countries: the US, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Indonesia.—The Guardian
Everything Else
The judge in the Bill Cosby mistrial has released the names of all 12 jurors and six alternates, but will not disclose the content of their debate. The prosecution in the case opposed the release of their names, arguing it could have "a chilling effect on future jurors."—CNNFuture Announces 34 New Shows Worldwide
Future has announced details of the Future Hndrxx Tour, adding 34 dates at venues across the globe. The artist will play shows in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa, as well as North America.—The FaderTeens Today Having Less Sex Than Gen-Xers
American teens are having less sex than their past counterparts did at their age, according to a report by the US Centers for Disease Control. Just 42 percent of girls and 44 percent of boys aged 15–19 said they'd had sex, compared to 51 percent of girls and 60 percent of boys back in 1988.—NewsweekMims Wins $50,000 TechCrunch Prize
Mims, the rapper behind the aughts classic "This is Why I'm Hot," won a $50,000 TechCrunch prize for a music-making app. Mims co-developed RecordGram, a mobile recording studio, alongside DJ Blackout.—NoiseyNew 'Game of Thrones' Trailer Released
HBO released a new trailer Wednesday for season seven of Game of Thrones. Showing a series of battle preparations, it features Jon Snow urging the houses of Westeros to fight together "because the enemy is real. It's always been real."—VICE