The VICE Morning Bulletin

Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.

US News

Kushner Must Explain Russian Back-Channel Claims, Say Democrats
Leading Democrats want presidential advisor Jared Kushner to appear before Congress following reports he suggested to a Russian diplomat a back-channel means of communication with the Kremlin. Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House committee investigating election interference, recommended a review of Kushner's security clearance. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the idea of establishing a line of communication with the Russians was "a good thing." - The Washington Post

DHS Considers Laptop Ban on all International Flights
The Department of Homeland Security is considering a ban on all laptops on all international flights, according to DHS Secretary John Kelly. Although his department decided not to extend the ban already in place on flights to and from eight Muslim-majority countries, Kelly said he "might" reconsider. He said terrorists were "obsessed with…the idea of knocking down an airplane in flight." - VICE News

$600,000 Raised for Families of Portland Attack Victims
Well-wishers have raised more than $600,000 for the families of three Portland men attacked with a knife when defending a Muslim teenager from racist abuse. Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche and Ricky John Best were killed, while Micah David-Cole Fletcher was injured. Jeremy Joseph Christian has been charged with murder and attempted murder, but the FBI has not decided whether to add a hate crime charge. - BBC News

Texas Passes Voter Identification Law Restricting College IDs
The Texas legislature has passed an amended version of voter ID bill, which is now waiting for the signature of Governor Greg Abbott. Despite changes to the original Republican bill, it still prevents people using college IDs to vote, while gun permits remain an acceptable form of identification. Democrats say Texas still needs federal permission to change any election law. - AP

International News

Japan Vows Action After North Korea Fires Scud Missile
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his country wants to take "concrete action" with the US after North Korea test fired a Scud-class missile around 280 miles off its east coast before it landed in Japanese waters. "We will never tolerate North Korea's continued provocations...we will take concrete action with the United States," said Abe. - Al Jazeera

Europe Cannot Count on Allies, Says Chancellor Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said last week's G7 and NATO meetings showed her Europe could not "fully" rely on allies, without mentioning President Trump by name. "The times in which we can fully count on others are somewhat over, as I have experienced in the past few days…we Europeans must really take our destiny into our own hands," she said at a campaign event in Bavaria. - AP

Sri Lanka Floods Death Toll Rises to at Least 169
At least 169 people have now been killed in monsoon season flooding in Sri Lanka, according to an updated death toll given by the country's disaster management ministry. Floods and landslides have been triggered by heavy rains in recent days, affecting almost 500,000 people. Emergency workers are still looking for 112 missing people. - CNN

Mayor of Paris Calls for Ban on Black Feminist Festival
Paris Mayor Ann Hidalgo has said she wants a festival for black feminists in the French capital to be cancelled. Around 80 percent of the Nyansapo festival is reserved for black women only, but there is a space set aside for black people of any gender, and another space open to all. Hidalgo threatened to prosecute the organizers for "discrimination." - AFP

Everything Else

Latest Pirates Movie Set for $300 Million Global Box Office
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is projected to make $76.6 million at the domestic box office over the four-day holiday weekend. The global total for the fifth move in the franchise is estimated to reach $300 million over the same period. - AP

Tributes to Gregg Allman, Dead at 69
Musicians have paid tribute to the legendary Southern rock star Gregg Allman, who died at home in Savannah, Georgia Saturday at the age of 69. Ringo Starr, Peter Frampton and Melissa Etheridge all shared condolences, while his ex-wife Cher said "words are impossible." - Los Angeles Times

Art Satire The Square Wins Palme d'Or
Ruben Östlund's film The Square, a satire on the art gallery world starring Elisabeth Moss and Dominic West, has won the Palme d'Or at Cannes. Sophia Coppola won the best director prize for The Beguiled, only the second female director to do so. - The Guardian

Muslim Security Guards Lodge Complaints Against Amazon
Muslim security guards at Amazon's Seattle campus have lodged complaints about religious discriminatory practices. According to the SEIU 6 union, more than 21 workers have reported religious unfairness since last year. - Motherboard

Todd Rudgren Premieres Anti-Trump News Song on Fox News
Rocker Todd Rudgren premiered his new anti-Trump, anti-Fox News song Tin Foil Hat on Fox News. Host Jesse Watters interviewed Rudgren about the song and why the singer tells Trump supporters not to show up at his shows. - Noisey

Soccer Legend Totti Retires at 40
Italian soccer legend Francesco Totti has played his final professional game for Roma at the age of 40. He played his 786th match in a 3-2 win against Genoa before a standing ovation and emotional farewell at the Stadio Olimpico. - VICE Sports

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