Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.President Trump Advocates Return of Waterboarding
Donald Trump has once again said he believes waterboarding works and also claimed "people at the highest level of intelligence" agree with him. "I asked them the question, 'Does it work? Does torture work?' and the answer was, 'Yes, absolutely.'" Trump said he would consult CIA director Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James Mattis before deciding whether to reinstate the interrogation technique, widely considered torture.âABC NewsSanctuary Cities Vow to Defy President Trump
Mayors across the US have promised to uphold their sanctuary status and protect undocumented immigrants after President Trump's executive order threatening to strip federal funding from cities that harbor them. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said it "won't change how we enforce the law," and Seattle mayor Ed Murray said, "This city will not be bullied by this administration."âUSA Today
US News
Donald Trump has once again said he believes waterboarding works and also claimed "people at the highest level of intelligence" agree with him. "I asked them the question, 'Does it work? Does torture work?' and the answer was, 'Yes, absolutely.'" Trump said he would consult CIA director Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James Mattis before deciding whether to reinstate the interrogation technique, widely considered torture.âABC NewsSanctuary Cities Vow to Defy President Trump
Mayors across the US have promised to uphold their sanctuary status and protect undocumented immigrants after President Trump's executive order threatening to strip federal funding from cities that harbor them. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said it "won't change how we enforce the law," and Seattle mayor Ed Murray said, "This city will not be bullied by this administration."âUSA Today
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EPA Studies Subject to Political Approval, Trump Officials Say
Trump administration officials have informed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that all new studies and data dumps are under a "temporary hold" and must be reviewed by political appointees before being published. This follows Trump officials reportedly telling the EPA's communications team to remove the climate change page from the agency's website.âAP / VICE NewsDemocratic Representative Met Assad on Syria Trip
Tulsi Gabbard, a Hawaii Democratic congresswoman, confirmed she met President Bashar al Assad during a recent four-day trip to Syria. Gabbard said: "We've got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we can achieve peace." Gabbard added that the Syrians she met told her there were no "moderate" rebel groups.âCNNMexico Condemns US Border Wall Plan, Trump Responds
Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto has condemned Donald Trump's plan to build a wall along the US southern border and said his country will not pay for any barrier. Speaking in a televised address, Nieto said, "Mexico doesn't believe in walls. I've said time and again, Mexico won't pay for any wall." Mexico's foreign minister noted Nieto's trip to the White House, set for January 31, "stands for now," though Trump suggested the visit might not make sense without agreement on the funding plan.âBBC NewsYellow Fever Outbreak in Brazil Kills 40
Public health officials in Brazil are urging citizens to get inoculated against an outbreak of yellow fever that has killed 40 people. The country's health ministry said there had been 70 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus, with another 47 deaths and 368 possible cases being investigated. Officials have ordered 11.5 million yellow fever vaccines.âReuters
Trump administration officials have informed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that all new studies and data dumps are under a "temporary hold" and must be reviewed by political appointees before being published. This follows Trump officials reportedly telling the EPA's communications team to remove the climate change page from the agency's website.âAP / VICE NewsDemocratic Representative Met Assad on Syria Trip
Tulsi Gabbard, a Hawaii Democratic congresswoman, confirmed she met President Bashar al Assad during a recent four-day trip to Syria. Gabbard said: "We've got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we can achieve peace." Gabbard added that the Syrians she met told her there were no "moderate" rebel groups.âCNN
International News
Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto has condemned Donald Trump's plan to build a wall along the US southern border and said his country will not pay for any barrier. Speaking in a televised address, Nieto said, "Mexico doesn't believe in walls. I've said time and again, Mexico won't pay for any wall." Mexico's foreign minister noted Nieto's trip to the White House, set for January 31, "stands for now," though Trump suggested the visit might not make sense without agreement on the funding plan.âBBC NewsYellow Fever Outbreak in Brazil Kills 40
Public health officials in Brazil are urging citizens to get inoculated against an outbreak of yellow fever that has killed 40 people. The country's health ministry said there had been 70 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus, with another 47 deaths and 368 possible cases being investigated. Officials have ordered 11.5 million yellow fever vaccines.âReuters
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Protestors Demand Australia Day Date Is Changed
Protest marches are being staged in cities across Australia today as campaigners demand Australian Day, January 26, be changed in solidarity with the country's native peoples. For Aboriginals, the national holiday marks the invasion of colonial settlers in 1788. Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce said those who want the date changed should "crawl under a rock."âThe GuardianCameroon Blocks Internet Access to English-Speaking Areas
English-speaking areas in Cameroon have now been without internet access for at least eight days following a dispute with the government over language bias. Officials in the mainly French-speaking country ordered an internet blackout in English-speaking parts of the northwest and southwest, and have banned two "Anglophone" campaign groups.âAl JazeeraShia LaBeouf Arrested While Filming at Queens Museum
Shia LaBeouf was arrested while filming for his anti-Trump installation "He Will Not Divide Us" outside the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens. The actor faces a misdemeanor assault charge, with police claiming LaBeouf scratched the face of a 25-year-old male when pulling his scarf.âUSA TodayMary Tyler Moore Dies at Age 80
Actress Mary Tyler Moore, star of the legendary The Mary Tyler Moore Show, has died at the age of 80. Her sitcom has been hailed for paving the way for shows like Girls by centering on a single-by-choice woman with professional aspirations. âVICEDesigners Want to Create 'Apocalypse Now' Video Game
A group of video game designers has launched a Kickstarter campaign, backed by director Francis Ford Coppola, to raise $900,000 for a game based on Apocalypse Now. The makers say it will be a "survival horror experience," rather than a shooter.âTIMEUFC Legend Visits Standing Rock Protest Site
Former UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey has delivered supplies to anti-pipeline protestors at the Standing Rock site in North Dakota. She brought "fresh fruit, veggies, bread, tents, and wood-burning stoves."âRolling StoneAlt-Right Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to Sue Twitter
WeSearchr, a crowdfunding platform for the so-called alt-right, is trying to raise $250,000 to sue Twitter for alleged discrimination against conservatives and, even more bizarrely for a right-wing crowd, violations of antitrust regulations. "Twitter hates us, folksâŠIt's time to $#@! them back."âMotherboard
Protest marches are being staged in cities across Australia today as campaigners demand Australian Day, January 26, be changed in solidarity with the country's native peoples. For Aboriginals, the national holiday marks the invasion of colonial settlers in 1788. Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce said those who want the date changed should "crawl under a rock."âThe GuardianCameroon Blocks Internet Access to English-Speaking Areas
English-speaking areas in Cameroon have now been without internet access for at least eight days following a dispute with the government over language bias. Officials in the mainly French-speaking country ordered an internet blackout in English-speaking parts of the northwest and southwest, and have banned two "Anglophone" campaign groups.âAl Jazeera
Everything Else
Shia LaBeouf was arrested while filming for his anti-Trump installation "He Will Not Divide Us" outside the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens. The actor faces a misdemeanor assault charge, with police claiming LaBeouf scratched the face of a 25-year-old male when pulling his scarf.âUSA TodayMary Tyler Moore Dies at Age 80
Actress Mary Tyler Moore, star of the legendary The Mary Tyler Moore Show, has died at the age of 80. Her sitcom has been hailed for paving the way for shows like Girls by centering on a single-by-choice woman with professional aspirations. âVICEDesigners Want to Create 'Apocalypse Now' Video Game
A group of video game designers has launched a Kickstarter campaign, backed by director Francis Ford Coppola, to raise $900,000 for a game based on Apocalypse Now. The makers say it will be a "survival horror experience," rather than a shooter.âTIMEUFC Legend Visits Standing Rock Protest Site
Former UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey has delivered supplies to anti-pipeline protestors at the Standing Rock site in North Dakota. She brought "fresh fruit, veggies, bread, tents, and wood-burning stoves."âRolling StoneAlt-Right Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to Sue Twitter
WeSearchr, a crowdfunding platform for the so-called alt-right, is trying to raise $250,000 to sue Twitter for alleged discrimination against conservatives and, even more bizarrely for a right-wing crowd, violations of antitrust regulations. "Twitter hates us, folksâŠIt's time to $#@! them back."âMotherboard