Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.Special Counsel Convenes Grand Jury in DC
Special counsel Robert Mueller has reportedly established a grand jury in Washington, DC, to help gather evidence for his investigation into Russian interference in the US election. According to anonymous sources, Mueller's team has issued grand jury subpoenas regarding the Trump campaign team's 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer. The grand jury, tasked with considering whether any criminal activity has taken place, reportedly began work in the past few weeks.
—The Wall Street Journal/ReutersDemocratic West Virginia Governor Flips to GOP
West Virginia governor Jim Justice, elected last year as a Democrat, has announced that he is switching to the Republican Party. Appearing alongside President Trump at a rally in his state, Justice told the crowd: "I can't help you anymore being a Democrat governor." Justice, a billionaire who won election last year while not endorsing Hillary Clinton, became a Democrat in 2015.—TIME
US News
Special counsel Robert Mueller has reportedly established a grand jury in Washington, DC, to help gather evidence for his investigation into Russian interference in the US election. According to anonymous sources, Mueller's team has issued grand jury subpoenas regarding the Trump campaign team's 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer. The grand jury, tasked with considering whether any criminal activity has taken place, reportedly began work in the past few weeks.
—The Wall Street Journal/ReutersDemocratic West Virginia Governor Flips to GOP
West Virginia governor Jim Justice, elected last year as a Democrat, has announced that he is switching to the Republican Party. Appearing alongside President Trump at a rally in his state, Justice told the crowd: "I can't help you anymore being a Democrat governor." Justice, a billionaire who won election last year while not endorsing Hillary Clinton, became a Democrat in 2015.—TIME
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Secret Service Leaves Trump Tower Over Lease Disagreement
Secret Service agents have left Trump Tower following an apparent disagreement over the costs of leasing space in the building. Agents moved to a trailer outside the building last month, with a Trump Organization spokeswoman explaining the new location as "more cost-effective and logistically practical."—The Washington PostFBI Arrests Researcher Who Stopped WannaCry Attack
The FBI has arrested the 23-year-old online security expert Marcus Hutchins, accusing him of creating banking malware known as Kronos. The British malware expert, who works for US firm Kryptos Logic, is known for his role in stopping the WannaCry ransomware that infected computers around the world back in May.—MotherboardChina Demands India Removes Troops from Himalayan Border
China has told India that it must "immediately" remove troops from a border region between the two countries in the Himalayas. The Chinese foreign ministry said India had been "massing a large number of armed personnel" in a disputed plateau area next to Bhutan. Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said her country would work with China "through diplomatic channels to find a mutually acceptable solution." Tensions are particularly high due to Indian objections to China's decision to build a road near the Indian border.—Al JazeeraMassive Fire Consumes Dubai Skyscraper
A blaze tore through dozens of floors of an 86-story residential tower in Dubai in the early hours of Friday morning before firefighters managed to extinguish it. The Dubai government's media office said no injuries had been reported, with all residents believed to have been safely evacuated from the Torch Tower before the flames spread to more than 40 floors.—AP
Secret Service agents have left Trump Tower following an apparent disagreement over the costs of leasing space in the building. Agents moved to a trailer outside the building last month, with a Trump Organization spokeswoman explaining the new location as "more cost-effective and logistically practical."—The Washington PostFBI Arrests Researcher Who Stopped WannaCry Attack
The FBI has arrested the 23-year-old online security expert Marcus Hutchins, accusing him of creating banking malware known as Kronos. The British malware expert, who works for US firm Kryptos Logic, is known for his role in stopping the WannaCry ransomware that infected computers around the world back in May.—Motherboard
International News
China has told India that it must "immediately" remove troops from a border region between the two countries in the Himalayas. The Chinese foreign ministry said India had been "massing a large number of armed personnel" in a disputed plateau area next to Bhutan. Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said her country would work with China "through diplomatic channels to find a mutually acceptable solution." Tensions are particularly high due to Indian objections to China's decision to build a road near the Indian border.—Al JazeeraMassive Fire Consumes Dubai Skyscraper
A blaze tore through dozens of floors of an 86-story residential tower in Dubai in the early hours of Friday morning before firefighters managed to extinguish it. The Dubai government's media office said no injuries had been reported, with all residents believed to have been safely evacuated from the Torch Tower before the flames spread to more than 40 floors.—AP
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Australian Police Reveal Foiled Bomb Plot Linked to ISIS
Australian police have revealed details of an alleged plot to bomb an Etihad Airways flight leaving from Sydney. Khaled Khayat, 49, and Mahmoud Khayat, 32, have been charged with "preparing for, or planning, a terrorist attack," after an explosive was discovered hidden inside luggage at Sydney Airport on July 15. Police claim one of the accused men had been in touch with a senior member of ISIS.—BBC NewsNetanyahu Under Israeli Police Investigation
Court documents have revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a suspect in a police probe into corruption. This has been a long-simmering scandal in Israel, but the documents represented the first public confirmation Netanyahu is under scrutiny for alleged "fraud, breach of trust, and bribes." The prime minister's office said "there won't be anything because there was nothing."—The GuardianLollapalooza Shows Scrapped Due to Storms
Lorde's headlining Lollapalooza show and a series of other festival performances were canceled Thursday night because of approaching storms. Lorde tweeted that she was "gutted," calling it "the most MELODRAMA shit ever." That's a reference to her latest album, Melodrama.—PitchforkBrooklyn Basketball Courts Named After Biggie
A group of basketball courts in Brooklyn have been renamed in honor of rap legend Notorious B.I.G. The Crispus Attucks Playground in Bedford-Stuyvesant is now known as the Christopher "Biggie" Wallace Courts.—BillboardHarvard's Freshman Class Is Majority Nonwhite for the First Time
A majority of Harvard University's freshmen students—50.8 percent—are from minority groups, making the incoming class majority nonwhite for the first time. The previous year, 47.3 percent of freshmen were nonwhite.—The Boston GlobeEminem's Manager Named New Def Jam CEO
Eminem's manager and Shady Records co-founder Paul Rosenberg is reportedly taking up a "top executive role" at Def Jam Records in January 2018. The current CEO, Steve Bartels, will step down at the end of the year.—NoiseyMichelle 'Suicide-by-Text' Carter Sentenced to Jail
A Massachusetts judge has sentenced 20-year-old Michelle Carter to 30 months in prison for urging her boyfriend to commit suicide via text. Judge Lawrence Moniz said half the sentence would be suspended so long as Carter did not violate parole. —VICECasinos Ask the Treasury if It's Legit to Accept Weed Money
The American Gaming Association has written to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to ask if it's OK for casinos to accept money earned from the marijuana industry. It follows the legalization of pot sales in casino-rich Nevada June 30. What can be done with the proceeds of legal weed sales remains an ongoing issue; most banks refuse to work with marijuana businesses in states where recreational pot is legal.—VICE News
Australian police have revealed details of an alleged plot to bomb an Etihad Airways flight leaving from Sydney. Khaled Khayat, 49, and Mahmoud Khayat, 32, have been charged with "preparing for, or planning, a terrorist attack," after an explosive was discovered hidden inside luggage at Sydney Airport on July 15. Police claim one of the accused men had been in touch with a senior member of ISIS.—BBC NewsNetanyahu Under Israeli Police Investigation
Court documents have revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a suspect in a police probe into corruption. This has been a long-simmering scandal in Israel, but the documents represented the first public confirmation Netanyahu is under scrutiny for alleged "fraud, breach of trust, and bribes." The prime minister's office said "there won't be anything because there was nothing."—The Guardian
Everything Else
Lorde's headlining Lollapalooza show and a series of other festival performances were canceled Thursday night because of approaching storms. Lorde tweeted that she was "gutted," calling it "the most MELODRAMA shit ever." That's a reference to her latest album, Melodrama.—PitchforkBrooklyn Basketball Courts Named After Biggie
A group of basketball courts in Brooklyn have been renamed in honor of rap legend Notorious B.I.G. The Crispus Attucks Playground in Bedford-Stuyvesant is now known as the Christopher "Biggie" Wallace Courts.—BillboardHarvard's Freshman Class Is Majority Nonwhite for the First Time
A majority of Harvard University's freshmen students—50.8 percent—are from minority groups, making the incoming class majority nonwhite for the first time. The previous year, 47.3 percent of freshmen were nonwhite.—The Boston GlobeEminem's Manager Named New Def Jam CEO
Eminem's manager and Shady Records co-founder Paul Rosenberg is reportedly taking up a "top executive role" at Def Jam Records in January 2018. The current CEO, Steve Bartels, will step down at the end of the year.—NoiseyMichelle 'Suicide-by-Text' Carter Sentenced to Jail
A Massachusetts judge has sentenced 20-year-old Michelle Carter to 30 months in prison for urging her boyfriend to commit suicide via text. Judge Lawrence Moniz said half the sentence would be suspended so long as Carter did not violate parole. —VICECasinos Ask the Treasury if It's Legit to Accept Weed Money
The American Gaming Association has written to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to ask if it's OK for casinos to accept money earned from the marijuana industry. It follows the legalization of pot sales in casino-rich Nevada June 30. What can be done with the proceeds of legal weed sales remains an ongoing issue; most banks refuse to work with marijuana businesses in states where recreational pot is legal.—VICE News