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Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.Republicans Forced to Hastily Rewrite Tax Bill, Inch Toward Passage
GOP senators were busy amending their version of the party’s tax reform plan Thursday night after analysis by the independent Joint Committee on Taxation showed it would not boost the economy as much as predicted and massively raise the deficit. The Senate was expected to vote on the tax bill Friday, possibly as early as the late morning. —VICE/The Washington PostTrump Calls Kate Steinle Verdict ‘Disgraceful’The president condemned Thursday’s acquittal of undocumented immigrant Jose Ines Garcia Zarate in the 2015 killing of Kate Steinle. Trump called it a “disgraceful verdict” on Twitter. “No wonder the people of our Country are so angry with Illegal Immigration,” he wrote. Garcia Zarate was cleared of murder and manslaughter, but was found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm. The defendant argued that he shot Steinle accidently.—ABC NewsTrump Crafts Tillerson Replacement Scheme
The president and his team were mulling over how and whether CIA director Mike Pompeo could seize Rex Tillerson's role as secretary of state, according to unnamed administration officials. Tom Cotton, a Republican US senator from Arkansas, was slated to helm the CIA if Pompeo left it. The Republican governor of Arkansas can appoint a replacement for Cotton until next year’s midterms.—The New York TimesTrump Even Worse Than We Expected, Say Millennials
A new NBC News/GenForward poll shows 45 percent of millennials thought Donald Trump’s presidency was worse than they expected. Another 44 percent said he was doing about as well as they anticipated, while only 8 percent said he had exceeded expectations. A clear majority of African American millennials—57 percent—said it’d been worse than they feared.—NBC NewsZimbabwean President Puts Military Leaders in His Cabinet
Zimbabwe's new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, picked several military chiefs for Cabinet-level positions in his administration. Major General Sibusiso Moyo, the commander seen on state TV when ousted ruler Robert Mugabe was placed under house arrest, has been appointed Zimbabwe’s new foreign minister.—ReutersAt Least 13 Killed in Pakistan Taliban Attack
Police and soldiers were forced into a firefight at an agricultural training college in Peshawar when at least three gunmen dressed in burqas began firing on students.. All the gunmen were killed, according to the army. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the Friday morning attack, which injured dozens more.—VICE NewsJapanese Court Sentences Ex-US Marine to Life
Kenneth Franklin Shinzato, a former Marine who later worked at a US military base in Okinawa, was sentenced Friday after confessing to the rape and (he claimed accidental) murder of a 20-year-old woman on the Japanese island last year. The Naha District Court sentenced the 33-year-old to life in prison.—The New York TimesAustralia Activates Tesla’s Groundbreaking Battery
The largest lithium-ion battery in the world has begun providing power in South Australia, fulfilling a promise made by Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk to build a 100-megawatt battery within 100 days. Jay Weatherill, the state’s premier, said it was “history in the making.”—The Sydney Morning HeraldSixth Woman Accuses Al Franken of Sexual Misconduct
A New England woman accused Franken on Thursday of trying to forcibly kiss her when she was serving as an elected official, making her the sixth to come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Earlier Thursday, Army veteran Stephanie Kemplin said Franken grabbed her breast at a USO tour photo op event.—VICERussell Simmons Steps Down from Def Jam After New Allegation
The Def Jam Recordings co-founder said he would be handing over all his business roles to “a new and diverse generation of extraordinary executives.” Screenwriter Jenny Lumet accused Simmons of coercing her into sex in an open letter published Thursday.—NoiseyRoy Moore Beefs with Jimmy Kimmel on Twitter
The embattled Senate candidate tweeted at the talk show host Thursday, saying: “If you want to mock our Christian values, come down here to Alabama and do it man to man.” Kimmel responded: “Sounds great Roy—let me know when you get some Christian values and I’ll be there!”—USA TodayMeek Mill Faces Lawsuit over Concert Murder
The family of Jaquan Graves, who was fatally shot outside a Meek Mill concert in Connecticut last December, has named both the rapper and promoter Roc Nation in a wrongful death lawsuit. The family of Travis Ward, who was also killed in the shooting, launched a similar lawsuit earlier this year.—XXLSelena Gomez Honors Friend for Saving Her Life
Collecting Billboard’s Woman of the Year award last night, the singer hailed Francia Raisa, a friend of Gomez's who gave her a kidney this summer. “I think Francia should be getting this award," Gomez said. "She saved my life… I feel incredibly lucky.”—PeopleStudio Ghibli Announces New Movie
The Japanese anime studio revealed that Goro Miyazaki, son of legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, will direct the company’s next project. It will be made using computer-generated animation, rather than being hand-drawn.—i-DMake sure to check out the latest episode of VICE's daily podcast. Today we get to the bottom of a vexing question: Is cocaine vegan?
US News
GOP senators were busy amending their version of the party’s tax reform plan Thursday night after analysis by the independent Joint Committee on Taxation showed it would not boost the economy as much as predicted and massively raise the deficit. The Senate was expected to vote on the tax bill Friday, possibly as early as the late morning. —VICE/The Washington PostTrump Calls Kate Steinle Verdict ‘Disgraceful’
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The president and his team were mulling over how and whether CIA director Mike Pompeo could seize Rex Tillerson's role as secretary of state, according to unnamed administration officials. Tom Cotton, a Republican US senator from Arkansas, was slated to helm the CIA if Pompeo left it. The Republican governor of Arkansas can appoint a replacement for Cotton until next year’s midterms.—The New York TimesTrump Even Worse Than We Expected, Say Millennials
A new NBC News/GenForward poll shows 45 percent of millennials thought Donald Trump’s presidency was worse than they expected. Another 44 percent said he was doing about as well as they anticipated, while only 8 percent said he had exceeded expectations. A clear majority of African American millennials—57 percent—said it’d been worse than they feared.—NBC News
International News
Zimbabwe's new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, picked several military chiefs for Cabinet-level positions in his administration. Major General Sibusiso Moyo, the commander seen on state TV when ousted ruler Robert Mugabe was placed under house arrest, has been appointed Zimbabwe’s new foreign minister.—ReutersAt Least 13 Killed in Pakistan Taliban Attack
Police and soldiers were forced into a firefight at an agricultural training college in Peshawar when at least three gunmen dressed in burqas began firing on students.. All the gunmen were killed, according to the army. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the Friday morning attack, which injured dozens more.—VICE News
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Kenneth Franklin Shinzato, a former Marine who later worked at a US military base in Okinawa, was sentenced Friday after confessing to the rape and (he claimed accidental) murder of a 20-year-old woman on the Japanese island last year. The Naha District Court sentenced the 33-year-old to life in prison.—The New York TimesAustralia Activates Tesla’s Groundbreaking Battery
The largest lithium-ion battery in the world has begun providing power in South Australia, fulfilling a promise made by Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk to build a 100-megawatt battery within 100 days. Jay Weatherill, the state’s premier, said it was “history in the making.”—The Sydney Morning Herald
Everything Else
A New England woman accused Franken on Thursday of trying to forcibly kiss her when she was serving as an elected official, making her the sixth to come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Earlier Thursday, Army veteran Stephanie Kemplin said Franken grabbed her breast at a USO tour photo op event.—VICERussell Simmons Steps Down from Def Jam After New Allegation
The Def Jam Recordings co-founder said he would be handing over all his business roles to “a new and diverse generation of extraordinary executives.” Screenwriter Jenny Lumet accused Simmons of coercing her into sex in an open letter published Thursday.—Noisey
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The embattled Senate candidate tweeted at the talk show host Thursday, saying: “If you want to mock our Christian values, come down here to Alabama and do it man to man.” Kimmel responded: “Sounds great Roy—let me know when you get some Christian values and I’ll be there!”—USA TodayMeek Mill Faces Lawsuit over Concert Murder
The family of Jaquan Graves, who was fatally shot outside a Meek Mill concert in Connecticut last December, has named both the rapper and promoter Roc Nation in a wrongful death lawsuit. The family of Travis Ward, who was also killed in the shooting, launched a similar lawsuit earlier this year.—XXLSelena Gomez Honors Friend for Saving Her Life
Collecting Billboard’s Woman of the Year award last night, the singer hailed Francia Raisa, a friend of Gomez's who gave her a kidney this summer. “I think Francia should be getting this award," Gomez said. "She saved my life… I feel incredibly lucky.”—PeopleStudio Ghibli Announces New Movie
The Japanese anime studio revealed that Goro Miyazaki, son of legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, will direct the company’s next project. It will be made using computer-generated animation, rather than being hand-drawn.—i-DMake sure to check out the latest episode of VICE's daily podcast. Today we get to the bottom of a vexing question: Is cocaine vegan?