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Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.Democrat Says FBI Memo Was 'Secretly Altered'
Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, claimed “material changes” were made to the memo alleging surveillance abuses at the FBI before it was sent to the White House for possible release. A spokesman for the GOP-led committee said the Democrats were “complaining about minor edits.” The FBI, meanwhile, announced it had “grave concerns about material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo’s accuracy.” The memo was set to be released as early as Thursday.—CBS NewsFormer Trump Spokesman Slated to Speak with Special Counsel
Mark Corallo, a former spokesperson for the president’s legal team, was reportedly set to tell Robert Mueller about the on-flight deliberations on how best to explain Donald Trump Jr.’s 2016 meeting with several Russians at Trump Tower. According to three sources, Corallo will inform investigators that communications director Hope Hicks at one point said Trump Jr.’s emails “will never get out.”—The New York TimesSan Francisco Wipes Out Weed Convictions
The city’s district attorney planned to dismiss 3,038 misdemeanor convictions for pot-related offenses going back to 1975 now that recreational weed is legal in California. The DA’s office was also going to look into almost 5,000 felony marijuana convictions and consider if they should be knocked down to misdemeanors.—VICE NewsDHS Says Protected Syrians Can Stay Longer
The Department of Homeland Security was set to extend temporary protected status (TPS) to roughly 6,900 Syrian refugees living in the US for another 18 months. However, more recent escapees from the war-torn nation were not to receive the same privilege. The American Immigration Council said it was “deeply disappointed” more Syrians wouldn't be able to apply.—ABC NewsMore Rohingya Mass Graves Uncovered
Cellphone video and interviews with dozens of Rohingya refugees revealed five mass grave sites in or near the village of Gu Dar Pyin in Myanmar. Surviving villagers estimated that up to 400 people there could have been killed. Myanmar’s government has conceded the reality of only one mass grave, in the vallage of Inn Din, since attacks (some called them genocidal ones) began on the Muslim minority began in August.—APPolish Lawmakers Back Holocaust Legislation
The country's upper legislative house voted in favor of a bill banning any accusations that the nation was complicit in the Holocaust, while also banning references even to individual collaborators. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the legislation, but Polish president Andrzej Duda indicated he will sign it into law.—BBC NewsTurkish Court Overturns Decision to Free Amnesty Chair
A court in Istanbul blocked the release of the chairman of the Turkish branch of Amnesty International. Jailed over terrorism charges, Taner Kilic had been granted a conditional release Wednesday, only to see the decision annulled after prosecutors appealed. Amnesty’s secretary general described the U-turn as “devastating.”—ReutersFire at Japanese Welfare Facility Leaves 11 Dead
Eleven people were killed Wednesday when a blaze consumed a communal home in the city of Sapporo late Wednesday. Five of the 16 residents were rescued by firefighters. The head of the organization in charge of the home confirmed the building had no sprinklers. “I wish we had made the facility more properly equipped,” he said.—APKendrick Lamar Reveals ‘Black Panther’ Album Track-list
The rapper shared full details of the Marvel movie’s 14-song soundtrack, due out February 9. Lamar is involved in five tracks, including a new one with the Weeknd. Vince Staples, Schoolboy Q, and Future also feature on the album.—Rolling StoneDoping Bans Dropped for Russian Athletes
The Court of Arbitration for Sport revoked bans on Olympic participation previously imposed on 28 Russian competitors. Another 11 Russian athletes will be allowed to return after the 2018 Winter Olympics.—CNNJustin Timberlake Explains ‘Man of the Woods’ Title
In an Instagram video posted on his birthday, the star said his forthcoming album had been named after his son Silas. “His name means 'of the woods,'" Timberlake said. "Stop telling me I’m making a country album!”—BillboardMaisie Williams Launches App for New Artists
The Game of Thrones actress co-founded an app with film producer Dom Santry to help budding creatives share their work. Williams said she hoped the “Daisie” app would “break down the archaic gap between youth and creative jobs.”—i-DFather John Misty Says ‘Fuck Society’ in Belated Acceptance Speech
The indie-rock star accepted his best recording package Grammy award for Pure Comedy in a speech made during a live show in Sydney, Australia. “I just wanna say fuck society… FlatEarth.com, please go check that out.”—NoiseyNew Purge Trailer Features a MAGA-Like Hat
Universal dropped a teaser clip for The First Purge featuring a red cap that resembles Trump's signature accoutrement. “There’s only one solution to keep our country great: a new tradition,” states the trailer’s narrator.—VICEMake sure to check out the latest episode of VICE's daily podcast. Today we're looking at the satellite communications company undertaking one of the most ambitious space projects in history. Sign up for our newsletter to get the best of VICE delivered to your inbox daily.
US News
Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, claimed “material changes” were made to the memo alleging surveillance abuses at the FBI before it was sent to the White House for possible release. A spokesman for the GOP-led committee said the Democrats were “complaining about minor edits.” The FBI, meanwhile, announced it had “grave concerns about material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo’s accuracy.” The memo was set to be released as early as Thursday.—CBS NewsFormer Trump Spokesman Slated to Speak with Special Counsel
Mark Corallo, a former spokesperson for the president’s legal team, was reportedly set to tell Robert Mueller about the on-flight deliberations on how best to explain Donald Trump Jr.’s 2016 meeting with several Russians at Trump Tower. According to three sources, Corallo will inform investigators that communications director Hope Hicks at one point said Trump Jr.’s emails “will never get out.”—The New York Times
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The city’s district attorney planned to dismiss 3,038 misdemeanor convictions for pot-related offenses going back to 1975 now that recreational weed is legal in California. The DA’s office was also going to look into almost 5,000 felony marijuana convictions and consider if they should be knocked down to misdemeanors.—VICE NewsDHS Says Protected Syrians Can Stay Longer
The Department of Homeland Security was set to extend temporary protected status (TPS) to roughly 6,900 Syrian refugees living in the US for another 18 months. However, more recent escapees from the war-torn nation were not to receive the same privilege. The American Immigration Council said it was “deeply disappointed” more Syrians wouldn't be able to apply.—ABC News
International News
Cellphone video and interviews with dozens of Rohingya refugees revealed five mass grave sites in or near the village of Gu Dar Pyin in Myanmar. Surviving villagers estimated that up to 400 people there could have been killed. Myanmar’s government has conceded the reality of only one mass grave, in the vallage of Inn Din, since attacks (some called them genocidal ones) began on the Muslim minority began in August.—APPolish Lawmakers Back Holocaust Legislation
The country's upper legislative house voted in favor of a bill banning any accusations that the nation was complicit in the Holocaust, while also banning references even to individual collaborators. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the legislation, but Polish president Andrzej Duda indicated he will sign it into law.—BBC News
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A court in Istanbul blocked the release of the chairman of the Turkish branch of Amnesty International. Jailed over terrorism charges, Taner Kilic had been granted a conditional release Wednesday, only to see the decision annulled after prosecutors appealed. Amnesty’s secretary general described the U-turn as “devastating.”—ReutersFire at Japanese Welfare Facility Leaves 11 Dead
Eleven people were killed Wednesday when a blaze consumed a communal home in the city of Sapporo late Wednesday. Five of the 16 residents were rescued by firefighters. The head of the organization in charge of the home confirmed the building had no sprinklers. “I wish we had made the facility more properly equipped,” he said.—AP
Everything Else
The rapper shared full details of the Marvel movie’s 14-song soundtrack, due out February 9. Lamar is involved in five tracks, including a new one with the Weeknd. Vince Staples, Schoolboy Q, and Future also feature on the album.—Rolling StoneDoping Bans Dropped for Russian Athletes
The Court of Arbitration for Sport revoked bans on Olympic participation previously imposed on 28 Russian competitors. Another 11 Russian athletes will be allowed to return after the 2018 Winter Olympics.—CNNJustin Timberlake Explains ‘Man of the Woods’ Title
In an Instagram video posted on his birthday, the star said his forthcoming album had been named after his son Silas. “His name means 'of the woods,'" Timberlake said. "Stop telling me I’m making a country album!”—Billboard
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The Game of Thrones actress co-founded an app with film producer Dom Santry to help budding creatives share their work. Williams said she hoped the “Daisie” app would “break down the archaic gap between youth and creative jobs.”—i-DFather John Misty Says ‘Fuck Society’ in Belated Acceptance Speech
The indie-rock star accepted his best recording package Grammy award for Pure Comedy in a speech made during a live show in Sydney, Australia. “I just wanna say fuck society… FlatEarth.com, please go check that out.”—NoiseyNew Purge Trailer Features a MAGA-Like Hat
Universal dropped a teaser clip for The First Purge featuring a red cap that resembles Trump's signature accoutrement. “There’s only one solution to keep our country great: a new tradition,” states the trailer’s narrator.—VICEMake sure to check out the latest episode of VICE's daily podcast. Today we're looking at the satellite communications company undertaking one of the most ambitious space projects in history. Sign up for our newsletter to get the best of VICE delivered to your inbox daily.