FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

The VICE Morning Bulletin

The VICE Morning Bulletin

Roy Moore vows to sue over allegations he pursued sexual encounters with teens, more than 400 killed by earthquake in Iran, Trump touts friendship with Rodrigo Duterte, and more.
Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

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

US News

Roy Moore Threatens Lawsuit With Campaign Under Fire
The Alabama Republican vying for the US Senate promised to sue after the Washington Post published a story detailing allegations of sexual misconduct against him made by four women who were teens at the time. Speaking to a crowd in Alabama Sunday evening, Moore said claims he was “involved with a minor child are completely false and untrue.” One woman alleged Moore touched her inappropriately when she was 14.—AP

Trump Touts Friendship with the Philippines' Duterte
President Trump said he enjoyed “a great relationship” with Rodrigo Duterte ahead of formal talks with the Philippine president in Manila Monday. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump “briefly” broached the subject of human rights with Duterte during an initial meeting “in the context of the Philippines’ fight against illegal drugs.”—USA Today

Advertisement

NSA Investigating Breach of Hacking Tools
The National Security Agency and the FBI have spent the past 15 months trying to understand how a group called “the Shadow Brokers” obtained NSA cyber-weapons. Some officials said they believed Russian hackers were the chief suspects, but investigators were also looking into the possibility of an internal leaker. One former NSA hacking team employee described it as “a disaster on multiple levels.”—The New York Times

Joe Biden Goes Cold on 2020 White House Bid
The former vice president said he was “not sure it’s the appropriate thing” for him to run for the presidency in 2020. Referring to the need for political change, Biden told Snapchat’s Good Luck America show: “I’d much prefer to be helping someone turn it around than being the guy trying to turn it around.”—CBS News

International News

More than 400 Killed by Earthquake in Iran and Iraq
A magnitude 7.3 quake rocked the border between the two countries on Sunday, killing hundreds (mostly Iranians) and wounding 6,000 more, according to state TV. Though a majority of victims were in Iran's Sarpol-e Zahab region, at least six people were found dead in Iraq. As rescue teams continued to look for survivors, many towns and cities in the region were struggling with power cuts.—Reuters

Lebanese Leader Returning Home to Resign
Currently in Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Saad Hariri said he would be back in Lebanon this week to “resign in the constitutional manner.” Both Iran and its Shia allies in Lebanon’s Hezbollah faction have claimed the Saudis were holding Hariri against his will. But Hariri, a Sunni, has insisted he is free to leave and blamed Hezbollah for “destroying the country.”—BBC News

Advertisement

Venezuela Set for Crisis Talks with Creditors
President Nicolás Maduro has insisted his country will not default on its debts ahead of a crucial meeting with international creditors Monday. Despite growing repayment obligations and US economic sanctions, Maduro said he was confident Venezuela would “renegotiate and refinance all the debt.”—AP

North Korean Soldier Shot by His Own While Defecting
A member of North Korea’s military was shot and wounded as he crossed the demilitarized zone into South Korea to defect. The soldier was said to be in recovery at a hospital after making it through the Joint Security Area, according to the South Korean military.—Bloomberg

Everything Else

Brand New Frontman Apologizes for ‘Mistreating’ Women
The band’s singer Jesse Lacey wrote in a Facebook post that his “addictive relationship with sex” meant he had “hurt people [and] mistreated them.” The offering followed Nicole Elizabeth Garey’s accusation Lacey had asked her for nude photos when she was 15.—Noisey

Advertisers Ditch ‘Hannity’ Over Roy Moore
Five companies have announced they will pull ads from Sean Hannity’s FOX News show amid the host's coverage of sexual misconduct allegations against Roy Moore in Alabama. Media Matters for America said Hannity has verbally attacked the women who accused Moore, an Alabama Republican running for Senate, of pursuing sexual relationships when they were teenagers.—NBC News

Advertisement

Shawn Mendes Triumphs at MTV EMAs
The 19-year-old star won awards for best artist, best song, and best fans at Sunday's ceremony in London. Eminem won best hip-hop act, despite not releasing an album in the past year. “I don’t really know how I got this,” said the rapper.—Billboard/Noisey

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Holds Box Office Top Spot
The Disney and Marvel Studios’ movie claimed $56.6 million in its second weekend, taking its North American earnings to $211.6 million. Daddy’s Home 2 exceeded industry expectations, earning second place with $30 million.—The Hollywood Reporter

Bill Gates Promises $100 Million to Fight Alzheimer’s
The Microsoft founder pledged $50 million to the Dementia Discovery Fund, an enterprise aimed at finding treatments for Alzheimer’s. Gates will donate a further $50 million to startups researching the brain disease.—Reuters

Punk Rock Legend Fred Cole Dies at 69
Fred Cole, singer and guitar player with bands Dead Moon and Pierced Arrows, has died after a struggle with cancer. Record label Voodoo Doughnuts Recordings described Cole as “the real fucking deal. No one lived life to its fullest like Fred did."—Noisey

Make sure to check out the latest episode of VICE's daily podcast. Today we delve into suicide, and why it's important to talk openly about the topic.