Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE. McConnell Wants No Delays in Trump Cabinet Confirmations
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the Senate will not delay confirmation of President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks despite concerns raised by the Office of Government Ethics they have not yet been properly vetted. McConnell said "little procedural complaints" were related to Democrats' frustration at losing the election. "We need to sort of grow up here and get past that."—PoliticoTed Cruz Meets Taiwanese President in Texas
Both Texas senator Ted Cruz and governor Greg Abbott met with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen while she was in Houston on Sunday, despite objections from China. Cruz said China "needs to understand that in America we make decisions about meeting with visitors for ourselves." Beijing has urged the US to uphold the "One China" policy by recognizing Taiwan as part of the greater nation.—The Guardian
US News
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the Senate will not delay confirmation of President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks despite concerns raised by the Office of Government Ethics they have not yet been properly vetted. McConnell said "little procedural complaints" were related to Democrats' frustration at losing the election. "We need to sort of grow up here and get past that."—PoliticoTed Cruz Meets Taiwanese President in Texas
Both Texas senator Ted Cruz and governor Greg Abbott met with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen while she was in Houston on Sunday, despite objections from China. Cruz said China "needs to understand that in America we make decisions about meeting with visitors for ourselves." Beijing has urged the US to uphold the "One China" policy by recognizing Taiwan as part of the greater nation.—The Guardian
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McDonald's Sells Control of Business in China for $2.1 Billion
McDonald's is selling off a decisive stake of its business in China and Hong Kong in a $2.1 billion deal. China's state-owned investment group Citic has agreed to buy a 52 percent stake, while American private equity firm Carlyle Group will buy 28 percent. Around two-thirds of McDonald's restaurants in China and Hong Kong will now be re-franchised to cater to the Asian market.—The Washington PostUS Citizen Arrested After Shooting of Consular Official in Mexico
Mexican police have arrested a US citizen in connection with the shooting of an American consular officer in Guadalajara, an attack described by Secretary of State John Kerry as "heinous." The suspect, who has not yet been named but has been seen in a video released by the US consulate after the Friday shooting, is being returned to the United States. The victim is in stable condition.—NBC NewsIsraeli PM Says Truck Attacker Possible ISIS Supporter
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says "all signs are indicating" that a Palestinian man who killed four people by driving a truck into a crowd of Israeli soldiers was an ISIS supporter. Fadi el-Kunbar, 28, was shot dead after Sunday's attack in east Jerusalem, in which another 17 soldiers were injured.—Al JazeeraNorth Korea Threatens ICBM Test Launch 'Anytime'
Pyongyang says it could test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) "anytime" leader Kim Jong Un wants. US defense secretary Ash Carter, for his part, describes the North Korean ICBM program as a "serious threat" and says the United States is ready to shoot down any missile aimed at the US or any allies.—The New York Times
McDonald's is selling off a decisive stake of its business in China and Hong Kong in a $2.1 billion deal. China's state-owned investment group Citic has agreed to buy a 52 percent stake, while American private equity firm Carlyle Group will buy 28 percent. Around two-thirds of McDonald's restaurants in China and Hong Kong will now be re-franchised to cater to the Asian market.—The Washington PostUS Citizen Arrested After Shooting of Consular Official in Mexico
Mexican police have arrested a US citizen in connection with the shooting of an American consular officer in Guadalajara, an attack described by Secretary of State John Kerry as "heinous." The suspect, who has not yet been named but has been seen in a video released by the US consulate after the Friday shooting, is being returned to the United States. The victim is in stable condition.—NBC News
International News
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says "all signs are indicating" that a Palestinian man who killed four people by driving a truck into a crowd of Israeli soldiers was an ISIS supporter. Fadi el-Kunbar, 28, was shot dead after Sunday's attack in east Jerusalem, in which another 17 soldiers were injured.—Al JazeeraNorth Korea Threatens ICBM Test Launch 'Anytime'
Pyongyang says it could test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) "anytime" leader Kim Jong Un wants. US defense secretary Ash Carter, for his part, describes the North Korean ICBM program as a "serious threat" and says the United States is ready to shoot down any missile aimed at the US or any allies.—The New York Times
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Iran May Have Broken Arms Embargo, Says UN Report
Ban Ki-moon, the former UN secretary-general who stood down at the end of last year, feared Iran could have violated an arms embargo by providing the Lebanese militia Hezbollah with weapons. A report to be discussed by the Security Council on January 18 contains Ban's concerns, along with French suspicions that a shipment of weapons seized in the Indian Ocean last year came from Iran.—ReutersAustralian Minister Investigated for Expenses Claims
Australian health minister Sussan Ley has stepped down, at least temporarily, from her role after admitting she used public cash to pay for three trips to Queensland's Gold Coast to buy an apartment. Ley conceded an "error of judgement," but hopes to be reinstated as minister after an investigation. She says purchasing the $585,200 apartment itself did not break any rules.—BBC NewsStreep Condemns Trump in Globes Speech
Though she did not refer to him by name, Meryl Streep chastised President-elect Donald Trump during her lifetime achievement award speech at the Golden Globes. She said a figure of immense power impersonating a disabled reporter, as Trump did, "kind of broke my heart," and added that "when the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose."—NewsweekShkreli Suspended from Twitter for Alleged Harassment
Martin Shkreli has been suspended from Twitter after tweeting extensively at and about a female reporter. He apparently asked journalist Lauren Duca to be his "plus one" for Donald Trump's inauguration and photoshopped images of them together after she turned him down.—USA TodaySixteen Arrested in Connection with Kardashian West Robbery
French police have arrested 16 people in connection with the armed theft of some $10 million worth of jewels from Kim Kardashian West in Paris in October. DNA left at the scene of the robbery reportedly helped lead them to the suspects.—Sky NewsFormer Iranian President Dies at 82
Former Iranian president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani died at the age of 82 on Sunday. Rafsanjani supported improving ties with the West throughout his political career and backed the recent nuclear deal with the US, leaving local moderates without a key voice—VICE NewsDavid Bowie Video Released to Mark His Birthday
A video for the previously unreleased David Bowie song No Plan was released Sunday to mark his 70th birthday. The track is taken from the Lazarus EP, and the video features references to his character from The Man Who Fell to Earth.—NoiseyWiFi Could Soon Tell If You Are Breathing
According to new research published by Peking University academics, WiFi networks may soon be able to tell exactly where you are and even whether you're breathing. Researchers say it could fuel a revolution in "context-aware computing."—Motherboard
Ban Ki-moon, the former UN secretary-general who stood down at the end of last year, feared Iran could have violated an arms embargo by providing the Lebanese militia Hezbollah with weapons. A report to be discussed by the Security Council on January 18 contains Ban's concerns, along with French suspicions that a shipment of weapons seized in the Indian Ocean last year came from Iran.—ReutersAustralian Minister Investigated for Expenses Claims
Australian health minister Sussan Ley has stepped down, at least temporarily, from her role after admitting she used public cash to pay for three trips to Queensland's Gold Coast to buy an apartment. Ley conceded an "error of judgement," but hopes to be reinstated as minister after an investigation. She says purchasing the $585,200 apartment itself did not break any rules.—BBC News
Everything Else
Though she did not refer to him by name, Meryl Streep chastised President-elect Donald Trump during her lifetime achievement award speech at the Golden Globes. She said a figure of immense power impersonating a disabled reporter, as Trump did, "kind of broke my heart," and added that "when the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose."—NewsweekShkreli Suspended from Twitter for Alleged Harassment
Martin Shkreli has been suspended from Twitter after tweeting extensively at and about a female reporter. He apparently asked journalist Lauren Duca to be his "plus one" for Donald Trump's inauguration and photoshopped images of them together after she turned him down.—USA TodaySixteen Arrested in Connection with Kardashian West Robbery
French police have arrested 16 people in connection with the armed theft of some $10 million worth of jewels from Kim Kardashian West in Paris in October. DNA left at the scene of the robbery reportedly helped lead them to the suspects.—Sky NewsFormer Iranian President Dies at 82
Former Iranian president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani died at the age of 82 on Sunday. Rafsanjani supported improving ties with the West throughout his political career and backed the recent nuclear deal with the US, leaving local moderates without a key voice—VICE NewsDavid Bowie Video Released to Mark His Birthday
A video for the previously unreleased David Bowie song No Plan was released Sunday to mark his 70th birthday. The track is taken from the Lazarus EP, and the video features references to his character from The Man Who Fell to Earth.—NoiseyWiFi Could Soon Tell If You Are Breathing
According to new research published by Peking University academics, WiFi networks may soon be able to tell exactly where you are and even whether you're breathing. Researchers say it could fuel a revolution in "context-aware computing."—Motherboard