The VICE Morning Bulletin

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

US News

Trump Asked Intelligence Chief to Sway Comey, Report Says
President Donald Trump reportedly asked Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats to persuade former FBI Director James Comey to drop the investigation into Michael Flynn. According to anonymous officials, Coats told aides about the conversation with Trump, but decided not to put any pressure on Comey. Coats testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee Wednesday, with Comey slated for Thursday.—The Washington Post

Sessions Apparently Offered to Resign
Attorney General Jeff Sessions offered to resign from his post recently, according to anonymous officials informed of his communications with the White House. Tensions between Sessions and Trump stem in large part from the attorney general's decision to recuse himself from inquiries related to Russia's role in the presidential elections.—The New York Times

US Suspects Russians Behind Qatari News Hack
US officials suspect Russian hackers may be responsible for the false claims made online by the Qatar News Agency that helped create a diplomatic crisis in the Gulf. FBI investigators visited Doha to assist Qatari officials after the hack occurred two weeks ago.—CNN

Three Dead in Suburban Salt Lake City Shooting
Three people are dead after a shooting in a quiet suburb of Salt Lake City Tuesday afternoon. Police Sergeant Jason Nielsen said a man rammed into another car before getting out to fatally shoot a woman and child inside the vehicle. Two other children were injured. The man also died of gunshot wounds, but it's not yet clear if he killed himself or was shot by someone else.—AP

International News

ISIS Claims Responsibility for Tehran Attacks
ISIS claimed responsibility for attacks by gunmen and suicide bombers on the Iranian parliament and Ayatollah Khomeini's mausoleum in Tehran Wednesday. At least 12 people were killed and 40 more injured in the attacks. One of the attackers blew himself up inside the parliament building, while a suicide bomber also detonated a device next to the shrine, according to Iranian state media.—AP / Al Jazeera

Saudi Foreign Minister Calls on Qatar to Cut Ties with Extremists
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said Qatar should cease all backing of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Hamas in the Gaza Strip in order to restore diplomatic relations with its neighbors.—The Times of Israel

Five Killed at Farmers' Protest in India
Five farmers were killed when shooting broke out at a protest in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The protesters, demonstrating against low crop prices, claim police fired the shots, and the state's home minister Bhupendra Singh said authorities would investigate the deaths.—BBC News

Notre Dame Attacker Shouted 'This Is for Syria'
A man fatally shot by police when he attacked an officer with a hammer outside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris apparently shouted, "This is for Syria" before his death. Interior Minister Gerard Collomb revealed the attacker was an Algerian student, and said the investigation had so far found no evidence he was part of a network.—Reuters

Everything Else

Eric Trump Says Democrats 'Not Even People'
President Trump's son Eric described Democratic lawmakers as "not even people" on Fox News Tuesday night. "I've never seen hatred like this," he said. "To me, they're not even people… Morality's just gone, morals have flown out the window."—The Hill

Michael Moore Launches 'TrumpiLeaks'
Filmmaker and activist Michael Moore has launched a new site for potential Trump administration whistleblowers called "TrumpiLeaks." Moore said the site for those doing their "patriotic duty" would be secure enough to protect anonymity.—The Huffington Post

ABC Hackers Threaten More Hollywood Leaks
TheDarkOverlord hacking collective that released eight episodes of ABC game show Funderdome this week claims to have more TV shows and studio movies to leak. "Make no mistake, Hollywood is under assault," the group claimed.—The Hollywood Reporter

A$AP Mob Drop Video for 'Wrong'
A$AP Mob released the official video for the track "Wrong." A$AP Rocky and A$AP Ferg appear dressed in white inside some kind of tomb.—Noisey

Snowden Calls for Reality Winner's Release
Whistleblower Edward Snowden said Reality Leigh Winner, arrested and charged with leaking classified material, should be released on bail. "To hold a citizen incommunicado and indefinitely while awaiting trial for the alleged crime of serving as a journalistic source should outrage us all," he said.—Motherboard

Trump's Tweets Are 'Official Statements,' Says Sean Spicer
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Donald Trump's tweets should be considered "official statements by the president of the United States." The announcement came after senior national security official Sebastian Gorka suggested Trump tweets were "not policy."—VICE

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