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1. Police reform
Another weekend of protests was punctuated by another police shooting of a black man. Protesters flooded the streets of southeast Atlanta after 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed during a confrontation with police in a Wendy’s parking lot Friday. Within 48 hours of the incident, the Atlanta officer who shot Brooks was terminated, the city’s police chief stepped down and the Wendy’s where the incident took place burned to the ground. Videos from police, the restaurant and witnesses are being used to piece together the last minutes of Brooks’ life. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has said she doesn’t believe the killing was a justified use of force, and Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard says the officer who shot Brooks could face charges. Outside of Atlanta, protests carried on across the nation. In Washington, demonstrators shut down part of Interstate 395, a major highway in the nation’s capital. In Seattle, an area around the city’s downtown precinct is now occupied by protesters, some of whom are calling it the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or CHAZ.
3. Election 2020
Nine members of the Minneapolis City Council say they intend to defund and dismantle the city’s police department. Council President Lisa Bender says they may shift police funding toward community-based strategies instead, and discuss how to eventually replace the current police force – though Bender stressed that is “not in the short term.” The nationwide spread of anti-racist protests have led to calls to defund or outright abolish police departments, and some cities are considering other changes. In New York City, Mayor Bill De Blasio says the city will move some of its funding from the New York Police Department to youth and social services. Last week, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti agreed to slash between $100 million to $150 million from the Los Angeles Police Department’s proposed $1.86 billion budget.
THURSDAY
What’s open? Is it safe to go out? Who’s making these decisions, anyway? Those are the questions echoing around the world as some countries ease coronavirus restrictions while others consider tightening back up in the face of rising cases. The UK will start easing lockdown measures today, allowing non-essential shops to reopen along with some public spaces like zoos and theme parks, but there’s confusion over what some see as uneven levels of guidance. In China, Beijing is reintroducing strict lockdown measures and rolling out mass testing to beat back a fresh cluster of cases. Some states in the US are seeing record numbers of hospitalizations, and thousands more people are being infected every day, prompting concerns that a second shutdown may be necessary. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, it’s a completely different story: Crowds (remember those?) gathered to watch a rugby match after the country counted three weeks with no new coronavirus cases.
5. Nigeria
Another huge stimulus bill could be around the corner. The White House is reportedly targeting a phase four stimulus package to the tune of at least $2 trillion, according to White House trade adviser Peter Navarro. He says President Trump is in favor of such a deal, which falls in between the sums being requested by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on the higher end, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, on the lower end. The package would likely focus on American manufacturing. As far as timing, Navarro said it would have to be wrapped up by before the August recess.
5. Ahmaud Arbery
Tensions between the US and China are simmering again, but this time it’s not because of the pandemic or any kind of trade war. The deployment of three 100,000-ton US Navy aircraft carriers to the Pacific Ocean for the first time in years has drawn a swift reaction from China, with state-sponsored media saying Beijing will defend its interests in the region. Aircraft carriers are essentially giant floating symbols of dominance, so to have three of them around is quite a statement. US warships have also been active in the highly-contested South China Sea this year, an area rife with multi-national conflict. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to meet with Chinese officials in Hawaii early this week to discuss a wide range of issues as the the two countries continue to spar over coronavirus responsibility and Beijing’s recent vote to impose a highly contentious national security law in Hong Kong.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
At least, for now. (He made similar announcements in 2016 and 2019.)
Is it safer to fly or drive during a pandemic? CNN Travel takes a look.
For when staying home just isn’t an option.
A woman hatched ducklings from eggs she bought at the supermarket
Can’t tell whether this is cute … or a little terrifying.
Do our face masks mask our emotions? They don’t have to.
Tyra Banks has been telling us to “smize” (smile with your eyes!) for years, and now is the time to master it.
NASA sends back images of stars from 4.3 billion miles away
So in short, NASA has better vacation pics than you.
TODAY’S NUMBER
43,000
2.6 million
That’s how many black-owned small businesses there are in the United States, according to the Census Bureau. Digital search and download data shows the worldwide protests have led to rising interest in supporting black businesses.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“Some feel face coverings infringe on their freedom of choice – but if more wear them, we’ll have MORE freedom to go out.”
US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, who says face coverings lead to less asymptomatic spread of coronavirus – which means places can open up sooner.
TODAY’S WEATHER
AND FINALLY
Here’s your new favorite sport
It might be a while before most of our favorite sports are back, but this is a pretty solid alternative.
All of this treasure chest talk has us thinking about diamonds. Here’s how they go from dull rock to brilliant showpiece.