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

US News

South Korea Expressed Interest in Deploying Nukes

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he and his South Korean counterpart have "discussed the option" of deploying tactical nuclear weapons to the country, which has been free of American nukes since 1991. Mattis insisted there were ways for the US to use force against North Korea without jeopardizing its ally in the south but declined to "go into details."—The Washington Post/Reuters

Paul Manafort Reportedly Wiretapped and Threatened With Indictment

After a search warrant was served on his home in July, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was apparently told by prosecutors for special counsel Robert Mueller that he was to be indicted. According to a separate report, the FBI also wiretapped the veteran operative beginning in 2014. Although the feds are said to have stopped probing his work in Ukraine last year, they reportedly wiretapped him again later in 2016 into early 2017—potentially capturing, among other conversations, his exchanges with Donald Trump.—VICE News


Georgia Tech Police Arrest Three Protestors

Campus police arrested three people when a group of about 50 protested the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Georgia Tech student Scout Schultz late Monday. According to a university spokesman, one officer was taken to a hospital with minor wounds in clashes between activists and law enforcement.—CBS News

GOP Candidate in Alabama Drops Racial Epithets

Roy Moore, a strong candidate to win an upcoming GOP Senate primary runoff, used the terms "reds" and "yellows," apparently to refer to Native Americans and Asian Americans. "We have blacks and whites fighting, reds and yellows fighting," Moore said in a speech caught on video. The former chief justice of the State Supreme Court referred to words from the old hymn "Jesus Loves the Little Children" by way of explanation.—The Hill

International News

Dominica Suffers Direct Hit from Hurricane Maria

Maria developed into a Category 5 storm and brought 160 mph winds as it barreled across the Caribbean island of Dominica Monday night, tearing off the roof of the prime minister's house. Authorities in Guadeloupe warned the storm could bring serious floods, and hurricane warnings remain in place for several other islands.—AP

Myanmar Leader Welcomes 'Scrutiny' Over Rohingya Massacres

In a televised speech, Aung San Suu Kyi said the country should not be afraid of "international scrutiny" over the treatment of its Rohingya Muslim minority. Suu Kyi also said her country was willing to "start the verification process" to allow Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh to return to Myanmar, without revealing how that process might work.—VICE News/Al Jazeera


Syrian Troops Head Toward New Showdown with Rebels

President Bashar al Assad's forces are massing across the Euphrates River in a bid to drive ISIS fighters from the province of Deir al-Zor. The rebel group Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by the US, is already fighting ISIS from the eastern part of the same region. One of the SDF's commanders said rebels were "ready" to confront government troops.—Reuters

Everything Else

Taylor Swift Faces New Lawsuit Over 'Shake It Off'

The singer's representative has dismissed another lawsuit claiming her song's lyrics were plagiarized as "nothing more than a money grab." Sean Hall and Nathan Butler allege Swift and her team took words from their 3LW track "Playas Gon' Play."—PEOPE

Toys 'R' Us Going into Bankruptcy

The toy store giant has revealed it is entering the Chapter 11 process to "restructure the $5 billion of long-term debt on our balance sheet." The company said it had agreements in place with creditors for $3 billion in new loans in hopes of working its way out of what has become an ominous trend in the old-school retail biz.—Bloomberg

Pablo Escobar's Brother Says Netflix Should Hire Hitmen

Roberto De Jesus Escobar Gaviria has suggested the streaming service "provide hitmen" as protection for the makers of Narcos following the death of a show location scout in Mexico. Gaviria spent ten years in prison for his work with his brother Pablo.—The Hollywood Reporter

Canadian Punk Band Pressed Onto Beyoncé Vinyl

The A side of select vinyl copies of Lemonade were accidentally pressed with five tracks from the Ottawa group Zex's most recent album Uphill Battle. It was unclear if the singer was aware of the snafu.—Noisey