Here are links to some of the stories making headlines today.
The woman who watched 300 executions
Texas has executed far more people than any other US state, and one former employee of the state has watched hundreds of executions unfold. She speaks to Ben Dirs about the profound effect that had on her. It is 18 years since Michelle Lyons watched Ricky McGinn die.
Hezbollah ‘victorious’ in Lebanon polls
Hezbollah’s leader says the Iran-backed militant Shia group and its allies have achieved “victory” in Lebanon’s first parliamentary elections since 2009. Although the official results have not been announced, Hassan Nasrallah said their gains guaranteed the protection of the “resistance” against Israel.
Zambia library warns ‘half-naked’ students
One of Zambia’s top universities has urged female students to stop visiting the library “half-naked” because it distracts male counterparts. The University of Zambia – in the capital, Lusaka – has stuck up notices around its library telling them to dress more modestly. The southern African country is culturally conservative.
I sold all I had to go to Europe – now I’m home, and broke
More than 3,000 Nigerian migrants who failed to reach Europe, have been flown home by the International Organization for Migration. Many sold everything to make the trip and aren’t sure how to face their families, writes Colin Freeman. Evans William tells me he sold everything but the kitchen sink to fund his dream of getting to Europe.
Johnson urges Trump to stay with Iran deal
Boris Johnson has urged President Trump not to give up on the Iran nuclear deal, saying “at this delicate juncture it would be a mistake to walk away”. The foreign secretary is in Washington to persuade the US president to remain a part of the international accord.
Jay-Z’s mum talks about coming out to son
Jay-Z’s mum has spoken of how supportive her son was when she told him she was gay. Gloria Carter told an audience at the GLAAD Media Awards that it was the first time she’s spoken to anyone about who she really was.
Nestle pays Starbucks $7.1bn to sell coffee
Nestle has announced that it will pay Starbucks $7.1bn (£5.2bn) to sell the company’s coffee into homes. The Nescafe and Nespresso owner will own the rights to market Starbucks’ coffee, which it says generates $2bn in annual sales. Nestle chief executive Mark Schneider described it as a “significant step”.
Second Indian teenager allegedly raped and set ablaze
It is the latest in a series of brutal crimes against women across India in recent months that have sparked outrage and large protests nationwide. In response to earlier incidents, thousands of people took to the streets across the country in late April to protest against sexual violence, some of the largest demonstrations since the highly publicized rape and murder of a female collage student in Delhi in 2012.
Trump divines his own truth without consequences
While the President has always profited from creating his own reality, the impact of having a commander in chief who so frequently bends fact is only beginning to be understood. “No, I don’t,” she told Tapper. Before Trump, the idea of having a President who habitually fails to tell the truth and survives would have been unthinkable.
The ancient STI plaguing Australia and the world
The rates of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1, or HTLV-1, infection are exceeding 40% among adults in remote regions of central Australia, with indigenous communities being the hardest hit, especially in the town of Alice Springs.
One of Europe’s top airlines is in crisis
Shares in Air France-KLM crashed as much as 14.5% on Monday after the group’s CEO quit over a pay dispute and the French government said it would not intervene to help. France’s finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, told CNN affiliate BFMTV on Sunday that the labor dispute “threatens the survival of Air France.”
Number of children in Japan shrinks to new record low
As of April 1, 2018, there were 15.53 million children under the age of 14 in Japan, down 170,000 from the previous year, continuing a downward slide which started in 1981, according to data released by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.
Jerusalem gets first road sign for new US Embassy
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat posted a picture of himself near the new sign on his Facebook page, writing, “This is not a dream — it’s reality! This morning, I am proud and excited to install the first signs for the US embassy, which will open next week in Jerusalem.”
Watch Luke Cage face off against the also-bulletproof Bushmaster in new season 2 trailer
The second trailer for Luke Cage season 2 has dropped, revealing more details about the villains the bulletproof hero of Harlem will be facing this time around. Alfre Woodard returns, of course, as queenpin Mariah Dillard, along with the assorted “hard rocks,” who, as Bobby Fish (Ron Cephas Jones) puts it in a voice-over, now fear Cage as “the ghetto boogeyman of their nightmares.”
WhatsApp now lets you play Facebook and Instagram videos within the app
WhatsApp added new support for playing Instagram and Facebook videos within the app. Now when contacts send you Facebook and Instagram videos, you can watch them inside WhatsApp without having to exit your conversation thread and go into other apps. The app already allowed users to play YouTube videos within the conversation.
YouTube removed hundreds of videos that promoted a homework cheating site
Hundreds of YouTube channels have had their videos removed from the site following a BBC investigation that found the widespread promotion of an essay-writing service as a way for students to cheat at school. Last week, the BBC published an investigation which found that more than 250 channels had promoted a Ukranian company called EduBirdie, which sells essays to desperate students.
The Mountain from ‘Game of Thrones’ finally wins World’s Strongest Man title
He was already the strongest man in Westeros. Now he’s officially the strongest man on Earth. Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, known to Game of Thrones fans as Gregor Clegane, a.k.a. The Mountain, took first place at the annual World’s Strongest Man competition on Sunday.
Google implementing new election ads rules as midterms approach
As the fallout from the 2016 election continues and we learn more about how foreign agents (*cough*RUSSIA*cough) interfered in that election by exploiting weakness online, Google is the latest tech giant to announce new transparency measures ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.
‘Avengers: Infinity War’ is officially a billion-dollar movie
Avengers: Infinity War hit yet another box office milestone this weekend. On Saturday, the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe adventure crossed the billion-dollar mark at the worldwide box office. It took just 11 days to reach that point, faster than any other film to date.
John McCain doesn’t want Trump at his funeral
Senator John McCain has made it very clear that when he dies, Donald Trump isn’t invited to his funeral. On Saturday, The New York Times published an interview with McCain, explaining that the former Republican vice presidential nominee has already made these wishes known to the White House.
‘Luke Cage’ Season 2 trailer introduces quite the villain
Harlem finally has its hero, but he might not be ready for fame. In the full trailer for Season 2, we find our bulletproof hero (Mike Colter) taking selfies on the street and getting all kinds of press for his actions – until a new villain manages to get in a punch that rattles that thick skin.
Elon Musk’s next business venture? Candy.
Elon Musk, hat salesman and flamethrower peddler, is planning a new business venture. According to the famous entrepreneur’s latest series of tweets, published over the weekend, he’s starting a “candy company.” “He can’t be serious,” you think. But Musk insisted “I am super super serious.” And then things got weird.
