Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.Government Ethics Office Praises Trump
In a strange series of tweets, the Office of Government Ethics (maybe sarcastically) praised President-elect Donald Trump's stated plan to leave his business affairs "in total" to others. "Brilliant! Divestiture is good for you, very good for America!" read one tweet. In the last of nine messages, the office informed Trump, "We told your counsel we'd sing your praises if you divested, we meant it."—NBC News Military Vets Plan Protective Human Shield at Pipeline Site
Some 2,000 US military vets are said to be planning a human shield to protect those protesting against the Dakota Access pipeline. Supporters from Veterans Stand for Standing Rock have pledged to travel to North Dakota by this weekend to try to prevent demonstrators being evicted.—Reuters Kanye West Heads Home After Hospital Treatment
Kanye West has reportedly been released from UCLA Medical Center after receiving extended treatment for exhaustion. He had been under the care of doctors at the Los Angeles hospital after the cancelation of his Saint Pablo tour, apparently triggered in part by a series of bizarre onstage rants.—CNNAt Least 1 Million Google Accounts Breached by Malware
The security of at least 1 million Google accounts has been compromised by malware, according to an online security firm. Researchers at Check Point Software Technologies said they traced the malware infection to apps on third-party app stores for Android devices. Google said it was taking the breach "very seriously."—CBS NewsColombian Plane Ran Apparently Out of Fuel Before Crashing
The plane that crashed in Colombia and killed 71 people on Monday had run out of fuel and lost electrical power according to a final recording made by the pilot. In audio leaked and played by Colombian media, the pilot can be heard warning a control tower operator of "complete electrical failure, without fuel."—AP Oil Prices Soar as OPEC Agrees to Cut Production
Members of the Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries have agreed to curb global oil production, sending the price of Brent crude, an international benchmark, up to over $53 a barrel. The world's leading oil-producing nations agreed to try to squeeze supply by 1.2 million barrels a day.—Reuters Anti-Detention Protestors Rock Australian Parliament
Australians campaigning against the country's offshore detention camps for asylum seekers have carried out a second day of protests at Parliament House in Canberra. Two abseiled the building and unfurled a banner reading "close the bloody camps now." Others poured red dye, signifying blood, into a pond in front of the building.—BBC News Ethnic Cleansing Happening in South Sudan, Says UN Commission
A UN commission monitoring human rights in South Sudan says "ethnic cleansing" is occurring in the war-torn African country. Commission chairwoman Yasmin Sooka said "starvation, gang rape, and the burning of villages" had been used by rival ethnic factions. "The stage is being set for a repeat of what happened in Rwanda," she said, chiding the international community.—Al JazeeraDrake Tops Spotify's 2016 Most-Played Lists
Drake is responsible for the year's most-streamed track, "One Dance," and the most-streamed album, Views, according to Spotify's annual "Wrapped" list of most popular music. With 4.7 billion streams overall, Drake is the world's most-streamed artist.—TIME Dolly Parton Donating $6,000 to Families Hit by Fire
Dolly Parton's charitable foundation will give $1,000 a month over six months to families whose homes were claimed by Tennessee wildfires. "We wanted to provide a hand up to those families who have lost everything," said the singer.—Knoxville News Sentinel Wife of Hunter S. Thompson Wants to Clone His Weed
Anita Thompson, the widow of Hunter S. Thompson, says she is trying to clone the writer's marijuana stash to sell on the mass market. She believes she has found a way to extract the weed's DNA to make "Gonzo" strains available in legal states.—VICE FDA Approves Clinical Trials for MDMA
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved clinical trials for potential medical use of MDMA, also known as ecstasy. Researchers have found that the drug may be beneficial to those suffering from PTSD.—VICE News U-God Sues Wu-Tang, Claiming Unpaid Royalties
Rapper U-God is reportedly suing the rest of Wu-Tang Clan for unpaid royalties. He claims he is owed "at least" $2.5 million, partly from the profit the group made from the Martin Shkreli's purchase of the Once Upon a Time in Shaolin album.—Noisey US Judges Can Sign Global Hacking Warrants
Changes to search warrant rules that come into effect Thursday will allow magistrate judges to authorize the hacking of computers outside their own district. The feds have argued surveillance expansion is vital to keep pace with anonymization technology.—Motherboard
US NEWS
In a strange series of tweets, the Office of Government Ethics (maybe sarcastically) praised President-elect Donald Trump's stated plan to leave his business affairs "in total" to others. "Brilliant! Divestiture is good for you, very good for America!" read one tweet. In the last of nine messages, the office informed Trump, "We told your counsel we'd sing your praises if you divested, we meant it."—NBC News Military Vets Plan Protective Human Shield at Pipeline Site
Some 2,000 US military vets are said to be planning a human shield to protect those protesting against the Dakota Access pipeline. Supporters from Veterans Stand for Standing Rock have pledged to travel to North Dakota by this weekend to try to prevent demonstrators being evicted.—Reuters Kanye West Heads Home After Hospital Treatment
Kanye West has reportedly been released from UCLA Medical Center after receiving extended treatment for exhaustion. He had been under the care of doctors at the Los Angeles hospital after the cancelation of his Saint Pablo tour, apparently triggered in part by a series of bizarre onstage rants.—CNNAt Least 1 Million Google Accounts Breached by Malware
The security of at least 1 million Google accounts has been compromised by malware, according to an online security firm. Researchers at Check Point Software Technologies said they traced the malware infection to apps on third-party app stores for Android devices. Google said it was taking the breach "very seriously."—CBS News
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
The plane that crashed in Colombia and killed 71 people on Monday had run out of fuel and lost electrical power according to a final recording made by the pilot. In audio leaked and played by Colombian media, the pilot can be heard warning a control tower operator of "complete electrical failure, without fuel."—AP Oil Prices Soar as OPEC Agrees to Cut Production
Members of the Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries have agreed to curb global oil production, sending the price of Brent crude, an international benchmark, up to over $53 a barrel. The world's leading oil-producing nations agreed to try to squeeze supply by 1.2 million barrels a day.—Reuters Anti-Detention Protestors Rock Australian Parliament
Australians campaigning against the country's offshore detention camps for asylum seekers have carried out a second day of protests at Parliament House in Canberra. Two abseiled the building and unfurled a banner reading "close the bloody camps now." Others poured red dye, signifying blood, into a pond in front of the building.—BBC News Ethnic Cleansing Happening in South Sudan, Says UN Commission
A UN commission monitoring human rights in South Sudan says "ethnic cleansing" is occurring in the war-torn African country. Commission chairwoman Yasmin Sooka said "starvation, gang rape, and the burning of villages" had been used by rival ethnic factions. "The stage is being set for a repeat of what happened in Rwanda," she said, chiding the international community.—Al Jazeera
EVERYTHING ELSE
Drake is responsible for the year's most-streamed track, "One Dance," and the most-streamed album, Views, according to Spotify's annual "Wrapped" list of most popular music. With 4.7 billion streams overall, Drake is the world's most-streamed artist.—TIME Dolly Parton Donating $6,000 to Families Hit by Fire
Dolly Parton's charitable foundation will give $1,000 a month over six months to families whose homes were claimed by Tennessee wildfires. "We wanted to provide a hand up to those families who have lost everything," said the singer.—Knoxville News Sentinel Wife of Hunter S. Thompson Wants to Clone His Weed
Anita Thompson, the widow of Hunter S. Thompson, says she is trying to clone the writer's marijuana stash to sell on the mass market. She believes she has found a way to extract the weed's DNA to make "Gonzo" strains available in legal states.—VICE FDA Approves Clinical Trials for MDMA
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved clinical trials for potential medical use of MDMA, also known as ecstasy. Researchers have found that the drug may be beneficial to those suffering from PTSD.—VICE News U-God Sues Wu-Tang, Claiming Unpaid Royalties
Rapper U-God is reportedly suing the rest of Wu-Tang Clan for unpaid royalties. He claims he is owed "at least" $2.5 million, partly from the profit the group made from the Martin Shkreli's purchase of the Once Upon a Time in Shaolin album.—Noisey US Judges Can Sign Global Hacking Warrants
Changes to search warrant rules that come into effect Thursday will allow magistrate judges to authorize the hacking of computers outside their own district. The feds have argued surveillance expansion is vital to keep pace with anonymization technology.—Motherboard