Trump's Problem with Russia, Ethiopian Political Prisoners and Gucci Mane's Biopic: The VICE Morning Bulletin

Trump Miffed with Russia Over North Korea
The president claimed the Kremlin was assisting Kim Jong-un’s regime in getting around sanctions designed to stop its missile and nuclear development programs. “Russia is not helping us at all with North Korea,” Trump said. “What China is helping us with, Russia is denting. In other words, Russia is making up for some of what China is doing.” Trump also said the US was ordering more missile defense systems.—Reuters

North and South Korea to Appear at Olympics Under One Flag
Competitors from the two countries will appear together at next month’s Winter Olympics opening ceremony using the same “unification” flag, following talks between their respective officials. They have also agreed to enter a joint women’s ice hockey team at the games in Pyeongchang.—Al Jazeera

Ethiopia Releases Hundreds of Political Prisoners
Ethiopian authorities have freed opposition figurehead Merera Gudina and 115 others locked up in a prison outside the capital Addis Ababa following last year’s anti-government protests. Another 361 people were let go from jails in the country's southern region. The government recently promised to “widen the democratic space for all.”—AP

Bus Fire in Kazakhstan Kills 52
Only five of 57 people managed to escape the bus alive after it caught fire in Kazakhstan’s Aktobe region Thursday morning, officials said. The bus was reportedly carrying passengers between Uzbekistan to Russia.—BBC News

Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian Suspect
Armed police fatally shot a Palestinian man Thursday during an Israeli raid on a home in the West Bank. The man killed, identified by Palestinian officials as Ahmed Ismail Jarrar, was said to be a suspect or person of interest in the murder of a rabbi in the West Bank last week. Two Israeli officers were injured and at least one other Palestinian was arrested in the raid.—AP

Gucci Mane to Make Biopic of Autobiography
The rapper told fans on Twitter that a movie version of his memoir The Autobiography of Gucci Mane “is coming to a theater near you.” Mane suggested he would direct it, and raised the possibility of a new film company by using the hashtag #1017Films.—Billboard

Brigitte Bardot Calls #MeToo Activists ‘Ridiculous’
The legendary French star claimed many actresses were making up claims of sexual assault and harassment “so we will talk about them.” Bardot told Paris Match magazine: “The vast majority are being hypocritical and ridiculous.”—AFP

Fake News Awards Link Initially Led to 404 Error
The president, who promised to give prizes to his least-favorite news organizations, tweeted out a link to his “Fake News Awards” Wednesday night. But anyone who immediately clicked on the GOP website page found only a 404 error message.—VICE News