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The VICE Morning Bulletin

The VICE Morning Bulletin

Millions prep for total solar eclipse, Trump to outline new US strategy for Afghanistan, ten sailors missing after US warship hits oil tanker, and more.
Photo by JOSEPH BARRAK/AFP/Getty Images

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

US News

Ten Sailors Missing After US Warship Hits Oil Tanker
Ten US Navy sailors were missing Monday after the USS John S. McCain hit a merchant ship carrying oil near Singapore. Five others were wounded in the crash, the second high-profile Navy accident since June.—VICE News

Trump to Outline New Strategy for Afghanistan
President Trump is expected to announce his military strategy for Afghanistan in a primetime speech Monday evening. Trump has reportedly been considering an increase of about 4,000 troops, which General John Nicholson—the US military commander in Afghanistan—requested. The White House said Trump's speech would include details on wider military policy for South Asia.—Reuters

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University of Texas Removing Four Confederate Statues
The University of Texas is taking down four Confederate statues from the campus's Main Mall. President Greg Fenves said they had turned into "symbols of modern white supremacy and neo-Nazism." Removal work began Sunday night, and all four monuments were set to be down from the mall sometime Monday.—CBS News

Millions Set to Watch the Total Solar Eclipse
Millions of Americans are expected to watch the moon block out the sun Monday afternoon, the first total solar eclipse to stretch nationwide in decades. Viewing parties were organized across the 14 states in the path of the eclipse, an event set to begin at 1:16 PM EST near Lincoln City in Oregon.—AP

International News

North Korea Calls US-South Korea Drills 'Reckless'
North Korea has condemned the US and South Korea for holding an 11-day program of joint military drills, starting Monday. A North Korean government newspaper called the decision "reckless," adding that the exercises were driving the situation toward the "uncontrollable phase of a nuclear war."—AP

At Least One Killed in Vehicle Attack in Marseille
At least one person has been killed and another wounded after a van plowed into two separate bus shelters in the French city of Marseille. The vehicle's driver, a 35-year-old man, has been arrested in connection with the attacks. According to a French TV report, police had little initial information about a possible motive.—The Guardian

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Russian Air Strike Claims 200 ISIS Fighters in Syria
A Russian airstrike killed more than 200 ISIS fighters, according to the country's defense ministry. The militants were heading for the ISIS stronghold of Deir al-Zor inside Syria when they were hit by the barrage.—Reuters

Spanish Police Say Terrorists Were Planning Larger Attack
Spanish cops revealed that the terrorist group behind 14 deaths in Barcelona and Cambrils had stockpiled 120 gas canisters for a larger-scale attack. They were discovered at a house in Alcanar where an explosion took place Wednesday. Catalonia's police said the group was formed of 12 men, and authorities are still searching for the driver in the Barcelona vehicle attack.—BBC News

Everything Else

Tributes Paid to Jerry Lewis, Dead at 91
Tributes have flooded in for the legendary comic Jerry Lewis, who has died at the age of 91. Martin Scorsese described Lewis as "a great artist" and "a remarkable man," while Jim Carrey called him "an undeniable genius."—Rolling Stone

Petition Launched to Replace Confederate Monument with Missy Elliot Statue
A new petition on Change.org is urging the city of Portsmouth, Virginia, to replace a Confederate monument with one of Missy Elliot. The author of the petition said the Portsmouth native would "encapsulate the culture and spirit of the city."—Noisey

Kesha Tops the Album Chart
Kesha's new album Rainbow debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Her second top-selling record enjoyed 116,000 in equivalent album sales, while Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. dropped to No. 2 with 43,000.—Billboard

'The Hitman's Bodyguard' Takes No.1 Spot at the Box Office
The Hitman's Bodyguard has claimed the top spot at the North American box office, earning $21.6 million in its opening weekend. Steven Soderbergh's movie Logan Lucky debuted to only $8.1 million.—The Hollywood Reporter

Ryan Adams Calls Father John Misty 'Self-Important Asshole'
Ryan Adams has taunted Father John Misty on Twitter, calling him "the most self-important asshole on earth." Adams also compared Misty's music to "shit Elton John," before apologizing on Instagram by saying: "I'm human & I have bad days."—Noisey

Chance the Rapper and Taylor Bennett Drop Collaboration
Chance the Rapper and his brother Taylor Bennett have released a new track on Soundcloud entitled "Gimmie a Call." The song is part of Bennett's Throw Aways: UNMIXED tape, now streaming until August 26.—Noisey