The VICE Morning Bulletin

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

US News

Homeland Security Denies Plan for 'Mass Deportations'
A senior official at the Department of Homeland Security insists new immigration directives are not intended to lead to "mass deportations." Two memos issued by the DHS on Tuesday include a series of measures likely to escalate deportation, but the anonymous official insisted, "We do not have the personnel, time, or resources to go into communities and round up people and do all kinds of mass throwing folks on buses."—The Washington Post

US Could Commit More Troops to Syria, Says Commander
The commander of US forces in the Middle East says more American troops may be sent to Syria to fight ISIS. General Joseph Votel noted the US might "take on a larger burden ourselves" in supporting local forces trying to retake the pivotal city of Raqqa from ISIS, adding they "don't have as good mobility, they don't have as much firepower."—CBS News

Muslim Activists Raise $60,000 for Jewish Cemetery
Muslim activists have launched a crowdfunding campaign to repair a damaged Jewish cemetery in Missouri, raising more than $60,000 in a matter of hours. Police are still investigating who is responsible for toppling nearly 200 headstones at the University City cemetery. The activists who launched the fundraising drive said Muslim Americans "condemn this horrific act of desecration."—Al Jazeera

Texas Judge Protects Planned Parenthood Funding
A federal judge in Texas has ruled that the state cannot cut Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood on the basis of dubious videos recorded by anti-abortion activists in 2015. US District Judge Sam Sparks said the state's health commission was relying upon "unsubstantiated and indeterminate allegations" in its bid to deny funding.—AP

International News

Malaysia Names North Koreans Wanted for Questioning
Malaysian police have named three North Koreans wanted in connection with the death of Kim Jong-un's half-brother Kim Jong-nam, including a senior embassy official. Police have written to the ambassador of the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur about questioning Hyon Kwang Song, the embassy's second secretary. Another one of the men wanted by police works for North Korea's state airline.—BBC News

Pope Francis Demands Aid Access for South Sudan
Pope Francis wants humanitarian aid for the millions of people facing starvation in South Sudan. The UN has struggled to access areas worst hit by famine because of conflict in the country, so the Pope asked for "a commitment by everyone to not just talk but contribute food aid and allow it to reach suffering populations."—Reuters

Former Hong Kong Leader Handed 20-Month Sentence
Donald Tsang, the former leader of Hong Kong, has been sentenced to 20 months behind bars after being found guilty of misconduct. Chang failed to disclose a plan to rent a luxury apartment from a property developer whose company was seeking a broadcasting license. The judge said: "Never in my judicial career have I seen a man falling from such a height."—The Guardian

Netanyahu Thanks Australia for Support
Welcoming Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to Australia, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told a local newspaper his government would not support "one-sided" UN Security Council resolutions criticizing Israel's settlement building. Netanyahu, in turn, said Australia had been "courageously willing to puncture UN hypocrisy more than once."—ABC News

Everything Else

Future to Release Another New Album on Friday
Having released a new album only last week, Future will drop yet another this Friday, entitled HNDRXX. Tags used by the artist on Instagram suggest Rihanna and The Weeknd will feature on it.—Noisey

Chinese Companies Want Ivanka Branding
At least 65 Chinese companies, including one sanitary towel business, have now applied to use "Ivanka" in product branding. It remains less than clear whether China's trademark regulator will allow the use of the name.—Fortune

Gucci Mane Announces Tour
Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane has announced his first legit tour, scheduling a series of shows in major US cities in April and May. "I'm a hell of a recording artist, but I want to be a better live performer," he said.—Rolling Stone

Tom Hanks to Release Short Story Collection
The actor Tom Hanks will release a collection of 17 short stories, each one related to a different kind of typewriter. The book is to be published by Alfred A. Knopf, and Hanks will also narrate Uncommon Type: Some Stories as an audiobook.—Entertainment Weekly

Researcher Collates Images of ISIS Drone Attacks
A military analyst has collated more than 100 images of drone attacks apparently conducted by ISIS in February. Nick Waters of research group Bellingcat said the images only show successful attacks. "There are many more drone missions we haven't seen."—Motherboard

Gay Marriage Linked to Fewer Suicide Attempts, Study Suggests
A new research study indicates a strong link between legalizing same-sex marriage and a drop in attempted teen suicides, particularly among LGBTQ youth. Reported suicide attempts among LGBTQ high schoolers fell by 14 percent in states that legalized same-sex marriage.—VICE

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