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Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.Chuck Schumer Withdraws Border Wall Offer
The Senate Minority Leader said his party’s reported offer of $25 billion to help construct a wall on the southern border was now “off the table.” Schumer added that negotiations with the GOP over DACA and border security funding would “have to start on a new basis.” Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn said an agreement on immigration before the next budget deadline of February 8 “strikes me as highly difficult.”—APMueller Questioned Sessions and Comey
Both the attorney general and the former FBI director have been interviewed by Robert Mueller’s special counsel team investigating Russia's role in the 2016 election. Jeff Sessions was questioned last week, while James Comey reportedly answered investigators’ questions in late 2017. Asked about Sessions’s interview, President Trump said he was “not at all concerned."—NBC NewsTrump Reportedly Asked Acting FBI Director How He Voted
The president asked the then-acting director of the FBI Andrew McCabe which presidential candidate he had voted for during a White House meeting in May, according to anonymous officials. McCabe, now the deputy director of the bureau, is said to have told Trump he didn’t vote. One official said McCabe found the exchange “disturbing.”—The Washington PostTeenager Facing Murder Charges After School Shooting
A 15-year-old boy suspected of killing two people after opening fire at Marshall County High School in Kentucky on Tuesday has been taken into police custody. The Kentucky State Police commissioner said he faced several charges, including two counts of murder and more than one count of attempted murder. A 15-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy were killed and 18 others injured in the shooting.—ABC NewsChildren's Charity Attacked in Afghanistan
At least two people died in an apparent ISIS assault on the offices of the international aid agency Save the Children in Jalalabad Wednesday morning. A suicide car bomb and rocket-propelled grenade were reportedly used to force entry into the agency's compound, leaving Afghan forces battling with militants to secure it. At least 12 people were wounded, according to officials.—BBC NewsBenghazi Rocked by Deadly Car Bombings
Dozens of people—at least 33—were killed when two car bombs went off outside of a mosque in the Libyan city Tuesday night. The second bomb reportedly went off after medical workers and security forces arrived at the scene.—Al JazeeraEarthquake Hits Off Coast of Japan
The magnitude 6.2 quake struck in the Pacific Ocean Wednesday, about 60 miles northeast of the Japanese island of Honshu. Although felt on Honshu and the nearby island of Hokkaido, no destruction had yet been reported. It was the third major earthquake registered in the especially seismically active Pacific region in just two days.—The IndependentVenezuelan President Seeks Reelection
Incumbent Nicolás Maduro told the media he's “ready to be a candidate” in a presidential election set to take place before the end of April. Opposition politician Maria Corina Machado voiced doubts the vote would be legitimate. “These are not elections, it’s a military occupation with a fraudulent election board,” she said.—ReutersAuthor Ursula K. Le Guin Dies at 88
The sci-fi and fantasy writer died Monday at her home in Portland, Oregon, her family announced Tuesday. Stephen King paid tribute to “one of the greats” on Twitter: “Not just a science fiction writer; a literary icon. Godspeed into the galaxy.”—The GuardianShakira Investigated for Possible Tax Evasion
Spanish tax authorities have passed their examination of the Colombian pop star’s finances onto Barcelona’s prosecutor, suspecting she may owe income taxes for a period between 2012 to 2014. Shakira has hired the accounting firm PwC.—BillboardJordan Peele Cried When Oscar Nominations Dropped
After his film Get Out received four nominations, Peele responded by calling its star Daniel Kaluuya, nominated for best actor. “You know when you’re on the phone trying to disguise the sound of an ugly cry? I failed at that,” Peele shared on Twitter.—The AV ClubDylan Farrow Criticizes Justin Timberlake
Farrow went after the singer for working with Woody Allen, whom she has accused of sexually assaulting her as a child. She responded to a question posed by Timberlake on Twitter by saying “you can’t support #TIMESUP and praise sexual predators at the same time.”—NoiseyA$AP Rocky Drops New Track
The rapper shared a new song on Soundcloud called “5IVE $TAR$.” A description for the track on his “AWGE Shit” page also suggested a new project titled “TESTING” was in the works.—NoiseyChloë Sevigny Had a Séance in Lizzie Borden’s House
The actress said she prepared for Lizzie, a new movie about the 19th-century woman who allegedly killed her parents with a hatchet, by taking part in a séance. “It was terrifying,” Sevigny said, claiming an ex-boyfriend “felt a presence pushing down on him.”—VICEMake sure to check out the latest episode of VICE's daily podcast. Today we’re taking a closer look at the famously disastrous Fyre Festival.
US News
The Senate Minority Leader said his party’s reported offer of $25 billion to help construct a wall on the southern border was now “off the table.” Schumer added that negotiations with the GOP over DACA and border security funding would “have to start on a new basis.” Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn said an agreement on immigration before the next budget deadline of February 8 “strikes me as highly difficult.”—APMueller Questioned Sessions and Comey
Both the attorney general and the former FBI director have been interviewed by Robert Mueller’s special counsel team investigating Russia's role in the 2016 election. Jeff Sessions was questioned last week, while James Comey reportedly answered investigators’ questions in late 2017. Asked about Sessions’s interview, President Trump said he was “not at all concerned."—NBC News
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The president asked the then-acting director of the FBI Andrew McCabe which presidential candidate he had voted for during a White House meeting in May, according to anonymous officials. McCabe, now the deputy director of the bureau, is said to have told Trump he didn’t vote. One official said McCabe found the exchange “disturbing.”—The Washington PostTeenager Facing Murder Charges After School Shooting
A 15-year-old boy suspected of killing two people after opening fire at Marshall County High School in Kentucky on Tuesday has been taken into police custody. The Kentucky State Police commissioner said he faced several charges, including two counts of murder and more than one count of attempted murder. A 15-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy were killed and 18 others injured in the shooting.—ABC News
International News
At least two people died in an apparent ISIS assault on the offices of the international aid agency Save the Children in Jalalabad Wednesday morning. A suicide car bomb and rocket-propelled grenade were reportedly used to force entry into the agency's compound, leaving Afghan forces battling with militants to secure it. At least 12 people were wounded, according to officials.—BBC NewsBenghazi Rocked by Deadly Car Bombings
Dozens of people—at least 33—were killed when two car bombs went off outside of a mosque in the Libyan city Tuesday night. The second bomb reportedly went off after medical workers and security forces arrived at the scene.—Al Jazeera
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The magnitude 6.2 quake struck in the Pacific Ocean Wednesday, about 60 miles northeast of the Japanese island of Honshu. Although felt on Honshu and the nearby island of Hokkaido, no destruction had yet been reported. It was the third major earthquake registered in the especially seismically active Pacific region in just two days.—The IndependentVenezuelan President Seeks Reelection
Incumbent Nicolás Maduro told the media he's “ready to be a candidate” in a presidential election set to take place before the end of April. Opposition politician Maria Corina Machado voiced doubts the vote would be legitimate. “These are not elections, it’s a military occupation with a fraudulent election board,” she said.—Reuters
Everything Else
The sci-fi and fantasy writer died Monday at her home in Portland, Oregon, her family announced Tuesday. Stephen King paid tribute to “one of the greats” on Twitter: “Not just a science fiction writer; a literary icon. Godspeed into the galaxy.”—The GuardianShakira Investigated for Possible Tax Evasion
Spanish tax authorities have passed their examination of the Colombian pop star’s finances onto Barcelona’s prosecutor, suspecting she may owe income taxes for a period between 2012 to 2014. Shakira has hired the accounting firm PwC.—BillboardJordan Peele Cried When Oscar Nominations Dropped
After his film Get Out received four nominations, Peele responded by calling its star Daniel Kaluuya, nominated for best actor. “You know when you’re on the phone trying to disguise the sound of an ugly cry? I failed at that,” Peele shared on Twitter.—The AV Club
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Farrow went after the singer for working with Woody Allen, whom she has accused of sexually assaulting her as a child. She responded to a question posed by Timberlake on Twitter by saying “you can’t support #TIMESUP and praise sexual predators at the same time.”—NoiseyA$AP Rocky Drops New Track
The rapper shared a new song on Soundcloud called “5IVE $TAR$.” A description for the track on his “AWGE Shit” page also suggested a new project titled “TESTING” was in the works.—NoiseyChloë Sevigny Had a Séance in Lizzie Borden’s House
The actress said she prepared for Lizzie, a new movie about the 19th-century woman who allegedly killed her parents with a hatchet, by taking part in a séance. “It was terrifying,” Sevigny said, claiming an ex-boyfriend “felt a presence pushing down on him.”—VICEMake sure to check out the latest episode of VICE's daily podcast. Today we’re taking a closer look at the famously disastrous Fyre Festival.