Here are some of today’s biggest headlines from select sources around the world.
Britain’s imperialist monuments face a bitter reckoning amid Black Lives Matter protests
On Sunday, Black Lives Matter protesters in Bristol, UK, pulled down a statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston and rolled it through the streets before dumping it, unceremoniously, into the River Avon. Some applauded the move, while others decried what they called “mob rule.”
North Korea might be making millions selling sand. Yes, sand.
North Korea is barred from exporting earth and stone under United Nations sanctions passed in December 2017. Trading North Korean sand is a violation of international law.
A world away from Washington, loyal supporters stand by the President in Trump country
Some of President Donald Trump’s loyal supporters are becoming well-practiced in the art of forgiveness, saying they are drawn to his record and willing to overlook his rhetoric.
Pompeo’s ‘deafening’ silence angers diplomats as protests over racial injustice spread globally
As protests against racial injustice engulf America and spread globally, State Department officials have suggested Secretary of State Mike Pompeo address his workforce on the issue that, in many ways, directly impacts their work. So far, he has declined to do so, explained sources familiar with the suggestion.
A woman’s eggs choose lucky sperm during last moments of conception, study finds
The female reproductive system has a way to pick which sperm will win the race to contraception, a new study has found. And here’s the extraordinary finding: A woman’s egg doesn’t always agree with her choice of partner.
Watch out, Tesla. Nikola is the hot new electric truck stock
Elon Musk and Tesla may have some new competition — in the auto market, on Wall Street and on social media.
‘Gone with the Wind’ pulled from HBO Max until it can return with ‘historical context’
HBO Max has pulled “Gone with the Wind” from its library of films.
Who is Cecil Rhodes?
Hundreds of protesters in Oxford took to the streets outside the famed university’s Oriel College on Tuesday, to demand the removal of a statue of Cecil Rhodes.
Powerful photo series of indigenous activists fighting to save the Amazon scoops top award
A powerful series depicting the plight of activists fighting to preserve their communities from mining and agribusiness has led to Uruguayan photographer Pablo Albarenga being named Photographer of the Year at the Sony World Photography Awards 2020.
The stories behind the statues targeted in protests
When anti-racism protesters in England pulled down the statue of a 17th Century slave trader and promptly dumped it in the deep waters of a harbour, the message was clear. Edward Colston’s ships are believed to have transported about 80,000 men, women and children from Africa to the Americas.
Dozens killed in attack in northern Nigeria
At least 59 people have been killed in a suspected jihadist attack in north-eastern Nigeria. Gunmen entered a remote village in the Gubio district of Borno state on Tuesday afternoon, killing dozens. The village was also razed, in what is believed to have been a reprisal attack, according to local reports.
La Liga returns: What you need to know as Spanish football resumes
La Liga returns to action on Thursday and there is plenty at stake with the title race, European places and the battle to avoid relegation all wide open. Games will be played behind closed doors every single day so the pace will be frantic, and with a host of compelling storylines to cover here is your guide to the remainder of the Spanish season.
Electric truck start-up Nikola takes on car giants
An electric truck company that has yet to deliver a single vehicle already has a market value higher than industry stalwart Fiat Chrysler. Since listing on the Nasdaq last week, the US start-up Nikola has seen its share price more than double, sending its market value to $26.3bn (£20.5bn).
IBM abandons ‘biased’ facial recognition tech
Tech giant IBM is to stop offering facial recognition software for “mass surveillance or racial profiling”. The announcement comes as the US faces calls for police reform following the killing of a black man, George Floyd. In a letter to the US Congress, IBM said AI systems used in law enforcement needed testing “for bias”.
Tesla workers reportedly test positive for COVID-19 after Musk forced factory reopening
Last month Tesla CEO Elon Musk bullied his way to reopening his electric car factory in California ahead of local health officials’ recommendations. Now there are reported coronavirus cases that likely stemmed from the rushed reopening. As the Washington Post reported Tuesday, several workers at Tesla facilities in Fremont were reportedly away from work because of coronavirus.
BabyNames.com makes a powerful statement on Black Lives Matter
Amid a sea of bad, performative brand statements, BabyNames.com – of all places – posted a moving statement on the recent protests and the Black Lives Matter movement. The website posted the names of black people who’ve been killed, many by police, and noted simply: “Each one of these names was somebody’s baby.”
This waist-mounted robot arm is as light as a human arm, but powerful enough to smash through walls
The Supernumerary 3DOF Robotic Arm is a waist-mounted limb created by researchers at Université de Sherbrooke in collaboration with Exonetik. The arm can help with a variety of day-to-day tasks and chores and even has the capacity to smash through walls, if needed.
Tesla’s new feature gives car access to another driver – like a robotaxi
A new Tesla feature called “Car Access” is rolling out to users, allowing Tesla car owners to grant another driver the ability to access their car – and it reminds us a lot of something Elon Musk promised last year.
Trump lies about elderly protester injured by police, hits another new Twitter low
Every time you think Donald Trump has hit a new moral low, he manages to outdo himself. On Tuesday morning, Twitter users saw yet another exceptionally distressing and unpresidential display from Trump. The president tweeted outlandish lies about Martin Gugino, the injured protester who was shoved to the ground by Buffalo police officers last week.
‘You should not be speaking about our brother!’: Spike Lee tells Trump not to talk about George Floyd
On May 25, 2020, 46-year-old George Floyd died after Minneapolis police handcuffed him and knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. On July 17, 2014, 43-year-old Eric Garner died after New York police put him in a chokehold. On September 15, 1983, 25-year-old Michael Stewart died after New York police beat and hogtied him.
