The VICE Morning Bulletin

US News

Hurricane Harvey Toll Climbs to at Least Nine
At least nine people have been killed in the flooding that has rocked the Gulf Coast of Texas since Hurricane Harvey made landfall Friday night. Officials warned that the death toll will likely continue to climb. The US Coast Guard and police have rescued more than 6,000 residents in the immediate Houston area, while some 7,000 people took shelter in the city's George R. Brown Convention Center Monday night. With heavy rains set to hit Louisiana, President Trump approved an "emergency conditions" declaration for the state. Trump will travel to Corpus Christi and Austin Tuesday.—The Washington Post / AP

Joe Arpaio Wants His Conviction Quashed
Despite already being pardoned by President Trump, former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio has launched a legal bid to get his conviction in a racial profiling case formally thrown out. Arpaio was found guilty of contempt of court after he was ordered to halt illegally targeted immigrants, but refused to do so. Arpaio has accused the judge of being "biased" and said he "didn't do anything wrong."—AP

Two Killed, Four Injured in Mass Shooting at New Mexico Library
Two people were killed and four others wounded in a shooting at a public library in Clovis, New Mexico. Police detained the suspected gunman after he gave himself up at the scene. New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez described it as a "horrific attack" and a "despicable act."—TIME

Trump Administration Sued Over Transgender Military Ban
The Trump administration is facing two separate lawsuits over its new transgender military ban. The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland has filed a suit representing six transgender troops currently serving in the US Armed Forces, while Lambda Legal has sued on behalf of two transgender citizens who want to join the military but will not be allowed because of President Trump's new policy, among others.—NPR

International News

North Korea Fires Missile Over Japan
North Korea launched a ballistic missile over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido early Tuesday, sending it crashing into the Pacific Ocean. The missile caused Japanese authorities to issue alarms warning citizens to take cover. A senior government spokesman described it as "an unprecedented, serious, and grave threat to our nation."—VICE News/Reuters

Israel Claims Iran Is Trying to Develop Weapons in Syria
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed Iran is attempting to escalate its weapons program by setting up missile-building facilities inside Syria and Lebanon. Netanyahu, who met the UN secretary general António Guterres Monday, said Iran aimed to manufacture "precision-guided missiles."—The Guardian

Sri Lankan Ambassador in South America Accused of War Crimes
Human rights advocates have launched a lawsuit against Sri Lanka's ambassador to six South American countries, Jagath Jayasuriya. The International Truth and Justice Project's lawsuit accuses Jayasuriya, a former general, of involvement with extrajudicial killings and torture during the 2009 civil war in Sri Lanka.—AP

At Least Five Killed in Afghan Bank Bomb Attack
At least five people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack at a bank in the Afghan capital of Kabul. Another nine people were injured, according to a health ministry official. The entrance to the Kabul Bank building was destroyed in the explosion, and the attack was claimed by the Taliban.—Al Jazeera

Everything Else

Beyoncé Promises to Help Houston Flood Victims
Beyoncé wants to assist Houston will flood relief efforts, saying her BeyGOOD foundation would "help as many as we can." The artist—who was born and raised in the city—said she was "in constant prayer for those affected and for the rescuers who have been so brave."—Houston Chronicle

Taylor Swift Exceeds Adele's Record for Single-Day YouTube Views
Taylor Swift's new single "Look What You Made Me Do" has eclipsed Adele's record for the most single-day views on YouTube. It was watched 28 million times, compared to the 27.7 million times "Hello" was watched when released in 2015.—Pitchfork

White Actor Leaves 'Hellboy' After Realizing His Character Was Asian
British actor Ed Skrein has pulled out of the next Hellboy movie after finding out his character was Asian in the original comics. Skrein said ignoring the issue "would continue a worrying tendency to obscure ethnic minority stories."—The Hollywood Reporter

Computer Network Writes Plot for Next 'Game of Thrones' Book
A software engineer has taught a recurrent neural network (RNN) to come up with the plot of George R.R. Martin's next book The Winds of Winter. Zack Thoutt said algorithms used previous A Song of Ice and Fire books to predict what happens next.—Motherboard

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