Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.Trump Expected to Order Mexico Wall, Block Immigrants from Seven Countries
President Trump is expected to sign a series of executive orders on immigration policy today, including moves to temporarily ban new refugees and suspend visas for people from seven countries. According to administration sources, anyone from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen will be denied visas. Refugee status will also apparently be denied, at least temporarily, except for religious minorities fleeing persecution. Trump also teased an announcement on border security, tweeting, "We will build the wall!"—ReutersTrump Orders Revive Oil Pipeline Projects
On Tuesday, President Trump signed executive orders designed to resurrect the Dakota Access and Keystone XL oil pipeline projects. One order stated that the Army Corps of Engineers should review the Dakota Access Pipeline "and approve in an expedited manner, to the extent permitted by law." Another reversed the Obama administration decision to reject Keystone XL. Environmental campaigners protested outside the White House Tuesday night.—The Washington Post / VICE News
US News
President Trump is expected to sign a series of executive orders on immigration policy today, including moves to temporarily ban new refugees and suspend visas for people from seven countries. According to administration sources, anyone from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen will be denied visas. Refugee status will also apparently be denied, at least temporarily, except for religious minorities fleeing persecution. Trump also teased an announcement on border security, tweeting, "We will build the wall!"—ReutersTrump Orders Revive Oil Pipeline Projects
On Tuesday, President Trump signed executive orders designed to resurrect the Dakota Access and Keystone XL oil pipeline projects. One order stated that the Army Corps of Engineers should review the Dakota Access Pipeline "and approve in an expedited manner, to the extent permitted by law." Another reversed the Obama administration decision to reject Keystone XL. Environmental campaigners protested outside the White House Tuesday night.—The Washington Post / VICE News
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State Department Examines $221 Million Sent to Palestinians
The State Department is reviewing a decision by outgoing secretary of state John Kerry to send $221 million to the Palestinian Authority for aid and development projects in the West Bank and Gaza. Republican lawmaker Kay Granger of Texas said the decision "defied congressional oversight." The State Department said it was possible that "adjustments" to the payments might be made.—APOnly Two in the Running for Supreme Court Justice, Report Says
The Trump administration has apparently narrowed its choice to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court to just two names: US Court of Appeals judge Neil Gorsuch and US District Court judge Thomas Hardiman. Both Gorsuch and Hardiman are viewed as firm conservatives, but the White House does not expect Democrats to fight hard to block either pick.—CBS NewsHotel Attack in Mogadishu Leaves at Least 15 Dead
At least 15 people have been killed in an attack on a hotel in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. Attackers detonated a car bomb at the hotel gates early Wednesday morning, before armed men entered the complex and began exchanging fire with security guards. Militants from al Shabab are responsible for the attack, according to a radio station linked to the group.—The GuardianUN Denounces Israeli Settlement Plans
The United Nations has criticized Israel's plans to build more homes in occupied Palestine. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary general, António Guterres, said that "any unilateral decision that can be an obstacle to the two-state goal is of grave concern for the secretary general." On Tuesday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu approved the construction of 2,500 new homes in the West Bank.—Al Jazeera
The State Department is reviewing a decision by outgoing secretary of state John Kerry to send $221 million to the Palestinian Authority for aid and development projects in the West Bank and Gaza. Republican lawmaker Kay Granger of Texas said the decision "defied congressional oversight." The State Department said it was possible that "adjustments" to the payments might be made.—APOnly Two in the Running for Supreme Court Justice, Report Says
The Trump administration has apparently narrowed its choice to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court to just two names: US Court of Appeals judge Neil Gorsuch and US District Court judge Thomas Hardiman. Both Gorsuch and Hardiman are viewed as firm conservatives, but the White House does not expect Democrats to fight hard to block either pick.—CBS News
International News
At least 15 people have been killed in an attack on a hotel in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. Attackers detonated a car bomb at the hotel gates early Wednesday morning, before armed men entered the complex and began exchanging fire with security guards. Militants from al Shabab are responsible for the attack, according to a radio station linked to the group.—The GuardianUN Denounces Israeli Settlement Plans
The United Nations has criticized Israel's plans to build more homes in occupied Palestine. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary general, António Guterres, said that "any unilateral decision that can be an obstacle to the two-state goal is of grave concern for the secretary general." On Tuesday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu approved the construction of 2,500 new homes in the West Bank.—Al Jazeera
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South Korean President's Former Friend Claims Innocence
Choi Soon-sil, the woman accused of illegally influencing impeached South Korean president Park Geun-hye, has claimed she was forced to make a confession. "I am being forced to confess committing crimes jointly with the president," she shouted before leaving the Constitutional Court. The special prosecutor's office insisted the claim was "groundless."—ReutersThree Convicted for $2.6 Million Taiwanese ATM Theft
Three Eastern European men have been found guilty of stealing $2.6 million from cash machines across Taiwan, having used malware to hack First Commercial Bank's ATMs. Latvian Andrejs Peregudovs, Romanian Mihail Colibaba, and Moldovan Niklae Penkov were convicted of causing public damage by breaching computer security in a court in Taipei.—BBC NewsNude Photo Hacker Sentenced to Nine Months in Prison
A Chicago man who used a phishing scheme to access the Apple iCloud and gmail accounts of 30 celebrities, eventually leading to nude photos being shared online, has been sentenced to nine months in prison. Edward Majerczyk, 29, was also ordered to pay $5,700 for counseling services for an unnamed victim.—Chicago TribuneOrwell's 1984 Makes Amazon Bestseller List
George Orwell's novel 1984 has seen a sales spike since Donald Trump became president and Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway introduced the idea of "alternative facts." The dystopian classic entered Amazon's top-ten best-seller list this week.—CNNAcademy President 'Elated' by Oscar Diversity
Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs has reacted to some diversity in the 2017 Oscar nominations, saying she's "elated about the inclusion." Six out of 20 nominated acting nominees are black.—Vanity FairWorldStarHipHop Founder Dies at Age 43
The founder of the WorldStarHipHop website and brand, Lee "Q" O'Denat, has died at the age of 43. The company issued a statement describing O'Denat as "one of the nicest, most generous persons ever to grace this planet."—NoiseyBadlands Park Twitter Shares Climate Change Facts
A former National Park Service employee gained access to the Badlands National Park Twitter account to share a series of facts about the speed of climate change. The service said the tweets were deleted according to current staffers' discretion.—MotherboardWorld Not Ready for Next Epidemic, Says Health Experts
A new study by a team of international public health experts warns that the world learned little from recent Ebola and Zika virus outbreaks. The BHM journal report says we're "grossly underprepared."—VICE
Choi Soon-sil, the woman accused of illegally influencing impeached South Korean president Park Geun-hye, has claimed she was forced to make a confession. "I am being forced to confess committing crimes jointly with the president," she shouted before leaving the Constitutional Court. The special prosecutor's office insisted the claim was "groundless."—ReutersThree Convicted for $2.6 Million Taiwanese ATM Theft
Three Eastern European men have been found guilty of stealing $2.6 million from cash machines across Taiwan, having used malware to hack First Commercial Bank's ATMs. Latvian Andrejs Peregudovs, Romanian Mihail Colibaba, and Moldovan Niklae Penkov were convicted of causing public damage by breaching computer security in a court in Taipei.—BBC News
Everything Else
A Chicago man who used a phishing scheme to access the Apple iCloud and gmail accounts of 30 celebrities, eventually leading to nude photos being shared online, has been sentenced to nine months in prison. Edward Majerczyk, 29, was also ordered to pay $5,700 for counseling services for an unnamed victim.—Chicago TribuneOrwell's 1984 Makes Amazon Bestseller List
George Orwell's novel 1984 has seen a sales spike since Donald Trump became president and Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway introduced the idea of "alternative facts." The dystopian classic entered Amazon's top-ten best-seller list this week.—CNNAcademy President 'Elated' by Oscar Diversity
Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs has reacted to some diversity in the 2017 Oscar nominations, saying she's "elated about the inclusion." Six out of 20 nominated acting nominees are black.—Vanity FairWorldStarHipHop Founder Dies at Age 43
The founder of the WorldStarHipHop website and brand, Lee "Q" O'Denat, has died at the age of 43. The company issued a statement describing O'Denat as "one of the nicest, most generous persons ever to grace this planet."—NoiseyBadlands Park Twitter Shares Climate Change Facts
A former National Park Service employee gained access to the Badlands National Park Twitter account to share a series of facts about the speed of climate change. The service said the tweets were deleted according to current staffers' discretion.—MotherboardWorld Not Ready for Next Epidemic, Says Health Experts
A new study by a team of international public health experts warns that the world learned little from recent Ebola and Zika virus outbreaks. The BHM journal report says we're "grossly underprepared."—VICE