The VICE Morning Bulletin

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

US News

Pentagon Plans to Send Armed Drones into Niger
The Pentagon is preparing to weaponize Reaper drones currently conducting surveillance in the African country, according to anonymous officials. The move follows the deaths of four Green Berets in Niger earlier this month, soldiers believed to have been ambushed and killed by Islamist militants. US officials have reportedly asked Niger's government to allow armed drones on military bases.—NBC News

Energy Company Apologizes to Puerto Rican Mayor
Whitefish Energy was forced to walk back comments that "did not represent who we are" following a Twitter spat with the mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulin Cruz. After Cruz raised questions about the company receiving the repair work contract, its Twitter account replied: "We've got 44 linemen rebuilding power lines in your city… Do you want us to send them back or keep working?"—CBS News

Trump Says He's 'Proud' of the 'Fake News Thing'
In an interview with Lou Dobbs on Fox Business, the president claimed he "started this whole fake news thing." Trump said: "If you look at it from the day I started running to now, I'm so proud that I have been able to convince people how fake [news media] is—because it has taken a nosedive."—The Hill

George H.W. Bush Apologizes for Having 'Patted Women's Rears'
The office of the former president issued a statement admitting he "routinely tells the same joke—and on occasion, he has patted women's rears in what he intended to be a good-natured joke." It follows actress Heather Lind accusing Bush of exactly that offense in 2014. Actress Jordana Grolnick accused him of "entirely similar" behavior at an event in 2016.—AP / Deadspin

International News

Kenya's Streets Erupt as Voters Head to the Polls
Police were said to fire tear gas and bullets in the air to scatter opposition demonstrators Thursday as voting began in country's disputed presidential election re-run. Opposition leader Raila Odinga has urged people to stay away from the polls following claims of corruption during the previous vote in August.—BBC News

Dozens Killed at Indonesian Fireworks Factory
An explosion at a manufacturing plant just outside Jakarta killed at least 47 people and left at least another 40 injured. Police suspect an electrical malfunction caused the blast.—ABC Online

Brazilian President Dodges Corruption Charge in Congress
The opposition in Brazil's lower house of Congress failed to cobble together the votes to send President Michel Temer to trial in the Supreme Court. He has been accused of corruption and obstruction of justice, rooted in his alleged relationship with meat processing giant JBS. At least one poll indicated the unpopular leader has only a 3 percent approval rating.—Al Jazeera

Thailand Mourns as King Cremated
The late monarch Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died last October, will be cremated Thursday in an elaborate ceremony in Bangkok. Around 100,000 mourners had arrived at the complex around the Grand Palace by early Thursday morning. Roughly $92 million is being spent on the five-day funeral.—The Guardian

Everything Else

Mark Halperin Accused of Sexual Harassment
The prominent political journalist will "take a step back from day-to-day work" following allegations of sexual misconduct made by at least five women. Three of them said Halperin had pressed himself against them while erect during his time at ABC News, and multiple women accused him of propositioning them for sex.—CNN

Lawyer Wants the Weinstein Company to Start Victims' Fund
Gloria Allred has urged executives at the company co-founded by disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein to "put their money where their mouths are." Allred is representing actress Natassia Malthe, who accused Weinstein of raping her in 2008.—AP

Selena Gomez Drops New Single
The star released a video for her collaboration with Marshmello, "Wolves," on Spotify. Talking to Beats 1 DJ Zane Lowe about her plans for next year, Gomez said: "I feel like I have two albums already completed."—Rolling Stone

Support for Legalizing Weed Hits Record High
A new Gallup poll found 64 percent of US adults favor the idea of making marijuana legal. The survey also found a majority of Republicans—51 percent—back legalization.—VICE

Drug Cartels Appear to Be Using Weaponized Drones
Police in Mexico's Guanajuato state pulled over four men who had attached an explosive device to a drone, and were also in possession of a remote detonator. "This has been expected for some time now," said expert Dr. Robert Bunker.—Motherboard

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