Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.House Republicans Revive Trumpcare
The House of Representatives plans to vote Thursday on a revised Republican healthcare bill, with GOP leaders confident they have enough votes to get it passed. "Do we have the votes? Yes. Will we pass it? Yes," said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Wednesday night. The latest version of the American Heath Care Act (AHCA) would allow states to opt out of health insurance regulations governing preexisting conditions. —VICE NewsTexas Passes Bill to Ban Sanctuary Cities
The Texas Legislature passed a bill Wednesday to bring an end to so-called sanctuary cities in the state by threatening police chiefs with prison if they do not comply with federal immigration authorities. The bill allows police officers to ask about the immigration status of anyone they stop and requires local police forces to hold suspects for deportation if asked to do so by a federal agency. —AP
US News
The House of Representatives plans to vote Thursday on a revised Republican healthcare bill, with GOP leaders confident they have enough votes to get it passed. "Do we have the votes? Yes. Will we pass it? Yes," said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Wednesday night. The latest version of the American Heath Care Act (AHCA) would allow states to opt out of health insurance regulations governing preexisting conditions. —VICE NewsTexas Passes Bill to Ban Sanctuary Cities
The Texas Legislature passed a bill Wednesday to bring an end to so-called sanctuary cities in the state by threatening police chiefs with prison if they do not comply with federal immigration authorities. The bill allows police officers to ask about the immigration status of anyone they stop and requires local police forces to hold suspects for deportation if asked to do so by a federal agency. —AP
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FBI Investigates After Bananas Found in Nooses on Campus
The FBI is investigating a disturbing incident at American University in Washington, DC, where bananas were found hanging in nooses. The nooses were found Monday after Taylor Dumpson became the first black woman to be elected student body president, and the bananas bore messages referring to Harambe and Dumpson's sorority. The university's president, Neil Kerwin, condemned the "racist expressions," but some students are upset that the school isn't doing more to push back on what they describe as hate crimes. —The New York TimesNew Alabama Law Allows Adoption Agencies to Deny Gay Couples
A bill signed into law by Alabama governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday gives faith-based adoption agencies in the state (which do not receive government money) the right to refuse to place children with gay couples. The Republican governor said she agreed with "the importance of protecting religious liberty." Representative Patricia Todd, a Democrat, said the law was "based in a stereotype. And it's wrong." —Alabama.comNorth Korea Accuses China of 'Betrayal'
North Korea's state media has denounced China for siding with the US in the standoff over its weapons program. The Korean Central News Agency condemned "ignorant politicians and media persons" in China and criticized its neighbor for "insincerity and betrayal on the part of its partner." China is North Korea's main ally, but in February, it stopped importing coal from North Korea. —Al JazeeraAt Least 35 Dead in Iranian Coal-Mining Accident
At least 35 people were killed by an explosion in a coal mine in Iran's Golestan Province Wednesday, according to Iranian news agencies. At least 25 rescue workers have been hospitalized after inhaling gas while trying to save trapped miners. Reports on the number of miners still trapped vary from dozens to 80. —AP
The FBI is investigating a disturbing incident at American University in Washington, DC, where bananas were found hanging in nooses. The nooses were found Monday after Taylor Dumpson became the first black woman to be elected student body president, and the bananas bore messages referring to Harambe and Dumpson's sorority. The university's president, Neil Kerwin, condemned the "racist expressions," but some students are upset that the school isn't doing more to push back on what they describe as hate crimes. —The New York TimesNew Alabama Law Allows Adoption Agencies to Deny Gay Couples
A bill signed into law by Alabama governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday gives faith-based adoption agencies in the state (which do not receive government money) the right to refuse to place children with gay couples. The Republican governor said she agreed with "the importance of protecting religious liberty." Representative Patricia Todd, a Democrat, said the law was "based in a stereotype. And it's wrong." —Alabama.com
International News
North Korea's state media has denounced China for siding with the US in the standoff over its weapons program. The Korean Central News Agency condemned "ignorant politicians and media persons" in China and criticized its neighbor for "insincerity and betrayal on the part of its partner." China is North Korea's main ally, but in February, it stopped importing coal from North Korea. —Al JazeeraAt Least 35 Dead in Iranian Coal-Mining Accident
At least 35 people were killed by an explosion in a coal mine in Iran's Golestan Province Wednesday, according to Iranian news agencies. At least 25 rescue workers have been hospitalized after inhaling gas while trying to save trapped miners. Reports on the number of miners still trapped vary from dozens to 80. —AP
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Macron Calls Le Pen 'High Priestess of Fear' in French TV Debate
French presidential frontrunner Emmanuel Macron described his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen as "the high priestess of fear" during the final televised debate before Sunday's election. Broadcaster BFMTV found 63 percent of viewers found centrist Macron, who leads the En Marche! party, the "most convincing" candidate. —BBC NewsDeath Toll Rises in Venezuela Amid Protests
A 17-year-old died Wednesday after an object thrown during protests in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas struck him in the neck, according to a district mayor. The state prosecutor's office will investigate the death. The death toll in Venezuela from a month of anti-government discord has now hit 34. —ReutersObama Reveals Presidential Center Plans
Barack Obama has revealed detailed plans for his presidential center in Chicago's Jackson Park, explaining that it would act as "place to train future leaders." The Obamas have pledged $2 million to a job and apprenticeship program. —Chicago TribuneBrad Pitt Says Frank Ocean Eased Divorce Pain
Brad Pitt said listening to Frank Ocean and other R&B artists helped him through his recent divorce. "I find this young man so special," Pitt said of Ocean. "Talk about getting to the raw truth. He's painfully honest." —GQPrince's Estate Asked to Pay $1 Million to Stop EP Release
A Minnesota judge has ordered Prince's estate to pay a $1 million bond if it wishes to extend a restraining order preventing the release of his posthumous EP Deliverance. The artist's estate blocked the sale of the six-track collection last month. —The WrapGoogle Claims to Have Resolved Phishing Campaign
Google says it has resolved a huge phishing issue, in which an email containing a corrupted Google Doc spread across the internet. The company said it had disabled offending accounts and removed fake pages. —MotherboardFacebook to Hire 3,000 Content Monitors
Facebook will add 3,000 employees over the next year to monitor potentially graphic and violent videos posted on the social network. Mark Zuckerberg said the company receives "millions of reports" about content every week. —VICE NewsJapan Is Suffering from a Shortage of Ninjas
Japan is reportedly struggling with a shortage of ninjas despite a major demand from the tourist industry. The manager of the Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hattori Hanzo Ninja Squad said he has only received 22 applications so far this year compared to 230 last year. —VICE
French presidential frontrunner Emmanuel Macron described his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen as "the high priestess of fear" during the final televised debate before Sunday's election. Broadcaster BFMTV found 63 percent of viewers found centrist Macron, who leads the En Marche! party, the "most convincing" candidate. —BBC NewsDeath Toll Rises in Venezuela Amid Protests
A 17-year-old died Wednesday after an object thrown during protests in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas struck him in the neck, according to a district mayor. The state prosecutor's office will investigate the death. The death toll in Venezuela from a month of anti-government discord has now hit 34. —Reuters
Everything Else
Barack Obama has revealed detailed plans for his presidential center in Chicago's Jackson Park, explaining that it would act as "place to train future leaders." The Obamas have pledged $2 million to a job and apprenticeship program. —Chicago TribuneBrad Pitt Says Frank Ocean Eased Divorce Pain
Brad Pitt said listening to Frank Ocean and other R&B artists helped him through his recent divorce. "I find this young man so special," Pitt said of Ocean. "Talk about getting to the raw truth. He's painfully honest." —GQPrince's Estate Asked to Pay $1 Million to Stop EP Release
A Minnesota judge has ordered Prince's estate to pay a $1 million bond if it wishes to extend a restraining order preventing the release of his posthumous EP Deliverance. The artist's estate blocked the sale of the six-track collection last month. —The WrapGoogle Claims to Have Resolved Phishing Campaign
Google says it has resolved a huge phishing issue, in which an email containing a corrupted Google Doc spread across the internet. The company said it had disabled offending accounts and removed fake pages. —MotherboardFacebook to Hire 3,000 Content Monitors
Facebook will add 3,000 employees over the next year to monitor potentially graphic and violent videos posted on the social network. Mark Zuckerberg said the company receives "millions of reports" about content every week. —VICE NewsJapan Is Suffering from a Shortage of Ninjas
Japan is reportedly struggling with a shortage of ninjas despite a major demand from the tourist industry. The manager of the Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hattori Hanzo Ninja Squad said he has only received 22 applications so far this year compared to 230 last year. —VICE