Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.US Mulls Military Action Against North Korea
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday that the US would consider taking military action against North Korea if the country refuses to de-escalate its weapons development program. At a press conference in Seoul alongside South Korea's foreign minister, Tillerson said "the policy of strategic patience has ended," and that "all options are on the table."—The Washington PostICE Should Stop 'Stalking' Courthouses, Says California Judge
The chief justice of California's Supreme Court has asked the federal government to stop Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials from "stalking" courthouses in order to arrest suspected undocumented immigrants. In a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye argued the practice would "compromise our core value of fairness" and "undermine the judiciary's ability to provide equal access to justice."—NBC News
US News
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday that the US would consider taking military action against North Korea if the country refuses to de-escalate its weapons development program. At a press conference in Seoul alongside South Korea's foreign minister, Tillerson said "the policy of strategic patience has ended," and that "all options are on the table."—The Washington PostICE Should Stop 'Stalking' Courthouses, Says California Judge
The chief justice of California's Supreme Court has asked the federal government to stop Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials from "stalking" courthouses in order to arrest suspected undocumented immigrants. In a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye argued the practice would "compromise our core value of fairness" and "undermine the judiciary's ability to provide equal access to justice."—NBC News
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Michael Flynn Given Thousands to Attend Gala With Putin
A House committee released documents Thursday showing President Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was paid nearly $34,000 by Russia Today to be a guest at a gala in Moscow alongside Vladimir Putin. US representative Elijah Cummings, the ranking Democrat on the committee investigating Flynn, said he had been "acting as an employee basically of the Russian government."—CBS NewsPetition to Strip Healthcare from Congress Gains 500,000 Signatures
Nearly 500,000 people have signed a Change.org petition demanding lawmakers in Congress have their own healthcare subsidies removed if they insist on cutting coverage for millions of Americans. Daniel Jimenez, who launched the petition, asked: "Are they willing to have the same rules apply to them and their families?"—TIMEIsrael Conducts Airstrikes in Syria
The Israeli military has launched a series of early morning airstrikes in Syria, according to a statement by the Israeli Defense Forces. While Israel has reportedly targeted Syria before, most of those strikes were directed at the country's capital, Damascus. This attack—which reportedly hit a military site near Palmyra—would have damaged an area of tactical import to the Syrian regime.—CNNAt Least 42 Killed in Strike on Syrian Mosque
Dozens of people were killed in an airstrike that hit a mosque in al Jina near the Syrian city of Aleppo, according to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The US military said it had carried out a strike in the area that killed several al Qaeda militants but denied bombing any mosque.—Reuters/NBC News
A House committee released documents Thursday showing President Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was paid nearly $34,000 by Russia Today to be a guest at a gala in Moscow alongside Vladimir Putin. US representative Elijah Cummings, the ranking Democrat on the committee investigating Flynn, said he had been "acting as an employee basically of the Russian government."—CBS NewsPetition to Strip Healthcare from Congress Gains 500,000 Signatures
Nearly 500,000 people have signed a Change.org petition demanding lawmakers in Congress have their own healthcare subsidies removed if they insist on cutting coverage for millions of Americans. Daniel Jimenez, who launched the petition, asked: "Are they willing to have the same rules apply to them and their families?"—TIME
International News
The Israeli military has launched a series of early morning airstrikes in Syria, according to a statement by the Israeli Defense Forces. While Israel has reportedly targeted Syria before, most of those strikes were directed at the country's capital, Damascus. This attack—which reportedly hit a military site near Palmyra—would have damaged an area of tactical import to the Syrian regime.—CNNAt Least 42 Killed in Strike on Syrian Mosque
Dozens of people were killed in an airstrike that hit a mosque in al Jina near the Syrian city of Aleppo, according to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The US military said it had carried out a strike in the area that killed several al Qaeda militants but denied bombing any mosque.—Reuters/NBC News
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Letter Bomb from Greece Explodes at IMF Headquarters in Paris
A literally explosive piece of mail was detonated at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) building in Paris Thursday, leaving one employee with face and arm injuries. The attack came just a day after authorities intercepted a parcel bomb sent to German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.—BBC NewsEight Killed in Attack on Pakistani Border Post
Eight people were killed in an attack on a Pakistani security post at the border with Afghanistan. Two Pakistani soldiers and six of the attackers were killed, according to the Pakistani military. A faction of the Pakistani Taliban, Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, claimed responsibility for the attack in the disputed Khyber tribal region.—Al JazeeraCoachella Sues Urban Outfitters
Music festival Coachella is suing Urban Outfitters for allegedly infringing on its trademark, specifically claiming clothes sold by UO subsidiary Free People are "trading on the goodwill and fame" of Coachella's brand. Items such as the "Coachella Mini Dress" and "Coachella Valley Tunic" are identified in the complaint.—BillboardNetflix Dumps Five Star Ratings
Netflix is abandoning its five-star rating system, replacing it with the option to give a thumbs up or a thumbs down on any given film or TV show. "Five stars feels very yesterday now," said Vice President of Product Todd Yellin in a press briefing Thursday. Netflix plans to introduce the new feature in April.—The VergeLyft Agrees to $27 Million Settlement with Drivers
A San Francisco judge has approved a $27 million settlement in the class action lawsuit Lyft drivers filed against the ride-share company. The agreement means Lyft drivers remain independent contractors and won't receive money for expenses like gas and maintenance.—ReutersMatthew Perry Claims He Once Beat Up Justin Trudeau
Former Friends actor Matthew Perry said he and his friend beat up Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau back in elementary school. "I think he was excelling in sports that we weren't, so it was pure jealousy, you know, we beat him up."—VICEBlink-182 Back Again with New Songs
Punk-pop veterans blink-182 have released a new track called "Parking Lot." It's one of ten new songs the band will feature on a new, expanded edition of last year's album, California, out May 19.—NoiseyDeepMind's Approach to Privacy Condemned as 'Inexcusable'
A new report has criticized Google subsidiary DeepMind for taking an "inexcusable" approach to data privacy in the UK's National Health Service, at least in the recent past. The report's authors suggest it's too easy for patients' health data to fall into the hands of third parties.—Motherboard
A literally explosive piece of mail was detonated at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) building in Paris Thursday, leaving one employee with face and arm injuries. The attack came just a day after authorities intercepted a parcel bomb sent to German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.—BBC NewsEight Killed in Attack on Pakistani Border Post
Eight people were killed in an attack on a Pakistani security post at the border with Afghanistan. Two Pakistani soldiers and six of the attackers were killed, according to the Pakistani military. A faction of the Pakistani Taliban, Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, claimed responsibility for the attack in the disputed Khyber tribal region.—Al Jazeera
Everything Else
Music festival Coachella is suing Urban Outfitters for allegedly infringing on its trademark, specifically claiming clothes sold by UO subsidiary Free People are "trading on the goodwill and fame" of Coachella's brand. Items such as the "Coachella Mini Dress" and "Coachella Valley Tunic" are identified in the complaint.—BillboardNetflix Dumps Five Star Ratings
Netflix is abandoning its five-star rating system, replacing it with the option to give a thumbs up or a thumbs down on any given film or TV show. "Five stars feels very yesterday now," said Vice President of Product Todd Yellin in a press briefing Thursday. Netflix plans to introduce the new feature in April.—The VergeLyft Agrees to $27 Million Settlement with Drivers
A San Francisco judge has approved a $27 million settlement in the class action lawsuit Lyft drivers filed against the ride-share company. The agreement means Lyft drivers remain independent contractors and won't receive money for expenses like gas and maintenance.—ReutersMatthew Perry Claims He Once Beat Up Justin Trudeau
Former Friends actor Matthew Perry said he and his friend beat up Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau back in elementary school. "I think he was excelling in sports that we weren't, so it was pure jealousy, you know, we beat him up."—VICEBlink-182 Back Again with New Songs
Punk-pop veterans blink-182 have released a new track called "Parking Lot." It's one of ten new songs the band will feature on a new, expanded edition of last year's album, California, out May 19.—NoiseyDeepMind's Approach to Privacy Condemned as 'Inexcusable'
A new report has criticized Google subsidiary DeepMind for taking an "inexcusable" approach to data privacy in the UK's National Health Service, at least in the recent past. The report's authors suggest it's too easy for patients' health data to fall into the hands of third parties.—Motherboard