Billionaire Spends Millions to Impeach Trump, France Investigates iPhone Slowdown, and More: The VICE Morning Bulletin

Natural Disasters Cost More than $300 Billion in 2017
A new report by the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) said the cost of dealing with last year’s extreme weather and climate events in the US amounted to $306 billion USD—the highest toll on record. The nation was hit with 16 different billion-dollar events last year. The report also noted 2017 was the third-hottest year ever recorded in the US.—VICE News

SpaceX Might Have Lost Its Secret Government Satellite
The Zuma satellite launched Sunday by Elon Musk’s company on behalf of an unknown government agency did not go into orbit and is believed lost. Lawmakers in Congress have reportedly been briefed on the failed mission. Northrup Grumman, the contractor who constructed the satellite, said: “We cannot comment on classified missions.”—The Wall Street Journal / CBS News

Syrian Military Says Israel Attacked Arms Base
Israel launched air missiles and ground-to-ground rockets at a weapons stash near the capital of Damascus. Syrian armed forces claimed their own air defense system blocked some strikes and that at least one Israeli rocket was shot down. Israel had not addressed the claims.—Haaretz

France Launches Investigation into iPhone Slowdown
A leading official consumer watchdog will lead a probe into Apple’s admission that older iPhones perform increasingly slowly over time. A prosecutor was looking to investigate the allegation made by a French consumer rights group that the feature is part of the company’s deliberate “obsolescence” of products. Lawsuits have already been filed in the US.—Reuters

Tunisian Demonstrator Dies After Protest
One 55-year-old man died and five others were hurt after anti-government campaigners clashed with police in Tebourba outside the Tunisian capital of Tunis. The interior ministry said it was likely the victim died after inhaling tear gas. Protests have taken place across the country following tax hikes in the January 1 budget.—Al Jazeera

The Weeknd Cuts Ties with H&M Over Racist Ad
The artist said he was “deeply offended” by the clothing retailer’s ad showing a black boy wearing a hoodie that read “Coolest Monkey in the Jungle." The Weeknd said he will no longer work with the company. H&M apologized for the now-deleted ad, which appeared on its British website, and has also pulled the product.—Noisey

TBS Cancels Louis C.K.’s Animated Comedy
The network has officially ditched The Cops, a C.K.-produced show initially suspended after he admitted the sexual harassment allegations against him were true. The show’s production company FX has also severed its connection to the comedian.—The Hollywood Reporter

‘The Shape of Water’ Leads BAFTA Nominations
Guillermo Del Toro’s movie received 12 nominations for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ 2018 awards. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Darkest Hour are both up for nine awards at February's ceremony in London.—Variety

‘Get Out’ College Course to Become Webinar
The UCLA course on Jordan Peele’s acclaimed movie, entitled “The Sunken Place: Racism, Survival, and Black Horror,” is to be made available as a public webinar. The six, non-credit lectures cost $348 USD to view.—i-D

Billionaire to Spend $40 Million in Bid to Impeach Trump
Former hedge fund manager Tom Steyer said he will spend $30 million USD on boosting youth turnout and another $20 millionUSD on his “Need to Impeach” campaign. Steyer has already spent $20 million USD on TV ads since Otober.—VICE News