*) BLM protesters try to pull down Andrew Jackson statue

Black Lives Matter protesters tried to pull down a statue of former US president Andrew Jackson near the White House.

Clashes erupted after police used pepper spray to disperse demonstrators.

Activists have long criticised Jackson for signing the Indian Removal Act, in which thousands of people were driven from their land by the US government.

*) Employees want Google to stop doing business with police

More than 1,600 Alphabet Inc employees are petitioning its Google unit to stop doing business with US police departments.

The workers expressed disappointment with Google not joining millions who want to reform and defund police departments.

Google has faced internal criticism in the past over sales and partnerships involving the US military, as well as foreign governments.

*) Italy, Germany, US seek Libya ceasefire after Egypt threat

Italy, Germany and the US are pushing for a ceasefire and de-escalation of tensions in Libya.

It comes after Egypt warned the Libyan government it would send its military to help warlord Khalifa Haftar.

The UN said the last thing the country needs is more conflict.

*) South Africa cases surge past 100,000

South Africa says it has over 100,000 coronavirus cases, the highest number of infections reported in Africa.

The total number of virus-related deaths is inching closer to 2,000.

Despite the grim figures, data shows that 52.6 percent of virus patients have made full recoveries.

And finally…

*) Golden Globes postponed

Next year's Golden Globes awards ceremony has been postponed to February 28.

It comes as Hollywood scrambles to adjust to the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this month, the Oscars were postponed by eight weeks to April 25.

*) Global coronavirus infections surpass 9 million

As most countries around the world lift lockdown measures, the number of cases has surged past 9 million.

The biggest increase was from North and South America with over 116,000 new infections in the last 24 hours.

The death toll in Brazil, the world’s second hardest-hit country, rose to over 50,000.

*) Libya: Egypt’s military threat is a declaration of war

Libya's UN-backed government says it considers Egypt's threat of military intervention a declaration of war.

Libya's parliament is calling on the government to be ready to respond to any aggression from Egypt.

On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi said attacks against warlord Khalifa Haftar's militias could trigger direct military intervention by his country.

*) Noose found in stall of Bubba Wallace at Alabama NASCAR race

A noose was found in the garage stall of Black driver Bubba Wallace at a NASCAR race in Alabama.

This comes less than two weeks after he successfully pushed the stock car racing series to ban the Confederate flag at its tracks and facilities.

NASCAR launched an immediate investigation and says it will do everything possible to find out who was responsible and eliminate them from the sport.

*) Reading stabbing suspect was on MI5's radar

Reports say a Libyan man arrested in connection with the deadly stabbing attacks in Reading was on M15’s radar.

Three people were killed and another three injured in Saturday's attack, which was classified as an act of terrorism.

Khairi Saadallah was investigated by British security services over concerns that he was planning to travel abroad to join a militant group.

And finally…

*) Ring of Fire eclipse rewards viewers with perfect solar halo

Skywatchers across parts of Asia and Africa were left breathless by the dazzling Ring of Fire solar eclipse on the longest day of the year.

The moon did not completely cover the sun in this unique annular eclipse.

A ring of sunlight shone around the outer edges, rewarding viewers with a perfect solar halo.

*) China releases 10 Indian soldiers after deadly border clash

Three days after a deadly border clash, China has released 10 Indian soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel and three majors, Indian media said.

The Hindu newspaper said the release came after an agreement following major general-level talks between the two sides.

At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed on Monday in hand-to-hand fighting with Chinese troops along their disputed Himalayan border.

*) Australian PM warns of state-based cyber attack

In Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his country is under a broad cyberattack from a "state-based actor".

He said the attacker is targeting government, public services and businesses, but declined to name the culprit.

Morrison would not name the state, amid speculation that the cyberattacks were part of Australia’s increasingly hostile rift with China.

*) New Zealand shooting kills cop

A New Zealand police officer was killed and another seriously injured after they were shot during a routine traffic stop in Auckland city.

An urgent police hunt has begun for the suspect who fled the scene after the shooting.

Schools and daycare centres near the scene of the shooting were on lockdown. The shooter also injured a civilian when fleeing by car.

*) US top court blocks Trump bid to end DACA programme

The US Supreme Court has rejected President Donald Trump’s effort to end a major programme that protects young immigrants from deportation.

The programme protects 650,000 young immigrants who had made their way into the US without documents as children.

The court rejected the Trump administration’s arguments that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA programme is illegal.

And finally…

*) Warner Records signs Black Lives Matter protest singer

A 12-year-old has been signed by Warner Records after his song on growing up as a black American boy went viral.

Keedron Bryant’s song “I Just Wanna Live” will be released on Friday, the Juneteenth holiday marking the end of slavery in the US.

The song was written by his mother Johnnetta Bryant after she saw the video of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, being killed by US police.

Atlanta police officer charged with Rayshard Brooks murder and Eiffel Tower to reopen after Covid-19 lockdown

*)Atlanta police officer charged with murder for shooting black man

A white police officer has been charged with murder for killing 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, officials announced.

US prosecutors said that the black man posed no threat when he was gunned down.

The killing had sparked new demonstrations against police brutality and came in the wake of similar protests in response to George Floyd’s police killing.

*)Sino-India border tensions

India is holding funerals for some of its 20 soldiers killed in hand-to-hand fighting with Chinese troops along their disputed Himalayan border.

Both sides have agreed to de-escalate the situation but blame each other for the deadliest clash between them since 1967.

The United Nations urged both sides “to exercise maximum restraint”.

*)Trump hits back at Bolton over scathing book

US President Donald Trump has dismissed a book written by his former adviser John Bolton.

In the book, Bolton says the president was driven by political calculations when making national security decisions and that Trump had even told Beijing to proceed ahead with Uighur detentions.

Trump later signed a bill for sanctions against Chinese officials involved in the repression of Uighur Muslims.

*)UN elects veteran Turkish diplomat as General Assembly president

The UN General Assembly elected former Turkish Ambassador Volkan Bozkir to be its president ahead of the 75th General Debate in September.

In a secret ballot vote Bozkir, who was unopposed for the post, received 178 ballots in support as 11 nations abstained.

Greece, the Greek Cypriot Administration and Armenia had asked for a vote rather than electing him by consensus.

And finally…

*)Eiffel Tower to reopen with new measures

The Eiffel Tower is preparing to welcome back visitors on June 25 after the Covid-19 lockdown.

Amid concerns about infection, visitors will not be able to go any higher than the second floor and can only initially go up the monument via staircase.

Managers said they hoped to get operations fully back to normal later in the summer.

India says 20 soldiers killed in border skirmishes with China, and steroid hailed as 'major breakthrough' in Covid-19 treatment

*)India says 20 soldiers killed in violent stand-off with China

The Indian Army says at least 20 of their soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese troops along the two countries’ disputed Himalayan border.

The “violent hand-to-hand scuffles” took place in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, part of India-administered Kashmir.

Both sides accuse each other of starting the deadliest clash between the nuclear-armed neighbours for more than four decades.

*)Turkey launches operation against PKK terror group in Iraq

The Turkish military has launched a ground operation – dubbed Claw-Tiger – against the PKK in northern Iraq.

The operation aims to remove the threat of PKK terrorists re-grouping in the region.

This comes a day after another major operation, Claw-Eagle, eliminated more than 80 PKK positions in northern Iraq.

*) Trump's executive order bans chokeholds with exception

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order introducing police reforms, including a conditional ban on officers using chokeholds.

The order calls for de-escalation training, better recruitment and sharing intel about officers with a history of bad behaviour.

The move comes in response to weeks of nationwide protests following the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in Minneapolis.

*)US imposes new sanctions on Assad regime

A new set of US sanctions against the Syrian regime and its supporters has come into effect, drawing criticism from Russia and China.

During a virtual meeting held by the UN Security Council, the US envoy said the move aims to push the regime towards a United Nations-brokered peace deal.

The nine-year-old Syrian war has killed some 400,000 people and displaced another ten million.

And finally…

*)Steroid hailed as 'major breakthrough' in Covid-19 treatment

The WHO and UK scientists are hailing a readily available drug as a new breakthrough treatment for severely ill Covid-19 patients.

Initial results from trials show steroid Dexamethasone can reduce mortality in patients requiring oxygen or ventilator support.

A WHO statement said it was "looking forward to the full data analysis in the coming days".

Beijing warns new Covid-19 outbreak 'extremely severe' and UEFA to complete Champions League with 'Final Eight' tournament

*)Beijing warns new Covid-19 outbreak is 'extremely severe'

Beijing says the situation in China’s capital is "extremely severe" as a new outbreak of coronavirus cases prompts mass testing and lockdowns.

There are now over 100 confirmed cases, making the outbreak the most serious in China since February.

The outbreak has been traced to the city's largest wholesale food market and officials have since put several neighbourhoods under lockdown.

*)Trump to halve US troops in Germany, a key NATO ally

US President Donald Trump says he wants to halve the number of troops in Germany because Berlin has fallen behind in its contributions to NATO.

Trump says another reason for his decision is how badly Germany treats the US as a trading partner.

There are 52,000 US troops stationed in Germany and Trump wants to redeploy 25,000 of them.

*)North Korean army 'fully ready' for action against Seoul

North Korea says its army is "fully ready" to take action against the South.

The threats come after South Korea was accused of allowing defectors to send anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border.

Top North Korean military officials say they’ve been studying an action plan to re-enter zones currently demilitarised under a 2018 inter-Korean pact.

*)Seattle City Council votes to bar gas, spray

Seattle City Council has voted unanimously to ban police from using tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and several other crowd control devices.

It comes after officers repeatedly used them on mostly peaceful Black Lives Matter protests against racism and police brutality after the death of George Floyd.

The vote follows a federal court ruling which temporarily banned the same devices.

And finally…

*)UEFA to complete Champions League with 'Final Eight' tournament

UEFA is set to complete the Champions League with a 'Final Eight' tournament held over 11 days in Lisbon.

The competition will resume with the second leg of the last 16 games played at the scheduled venues.

The plan allows for quicker completion of the season but does mean the competition will have six fewer games, which will cost UEFA broadcast revenue.

*)Turkey launches new counter-terrorism operation against PKK

Turkey has launched Operation Claw-Eagle in northern Iraq against PKK terrorists.

The counter-terrorism operation allows Turkey to defend its borders and its people by destroying PKK hideouts and supply lines in the mountainous region.

The PKK has been using northern Iraq as its de-facto base after launching its decades-long armed campaign against Turkey.

The group is designated as a terror group by Turkey, US and EU.

*)Autopsy declares Rayshard Brooks killing a homicide

The killing of Rayshard Brooks has been declared as a homicide.

Atlanta's police chief resigned over the shooting and the white cop who killed Brooks was fired.

Brooks' killing has boosted already powerful global #BlackLivesMatter protests against racism and police brutality which reignited with the killing of George Floyd.

*) More lock downs as Beijing scrambles to contain new Covid-19 outbreak

China’s capital Beijing is trying to contain a new outbreak of coronavirus which originated from a food market.

Over 70 new cases were reported as a partial lockdown was reimposed across large parts of the city.

Other cities in the country are also warning their residents not to travel to the capital.

*)Philippine court finds news site chief guilty of libel

Award-winning journalist critical of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, was convicted of libel and sentenced to jail.

The verdict against Rappler CEO Maria Ressa is being called a major blow to press freedom.

The verdict stems from a 2012 article that linked a wealthy businessman to murder, drug dealing, human trafficking and smuggling.

And finally…

*)Old man hit with $1.1M medical bill after beating Covid-19

A 70-year-old US man who beat #Covid19 got a heart-stopping surprise after leaving the hospital... a whopping $1.1 million medical bill!

Michael Flor spent 62 days in the hospital and received a 181-page bill after he was discharged.

Thankfully, he’s covered by a government insurance programme for the elderly, and does not have to pay a cent.

US President Trump announces plans for modest policing changes and Microsoft joins Amazon and IBM in banning face-recognition software sales to police

*)Anti-racism protests force US states to consider reforms

Opposed to major reforms, US President Donald Trump has announced modest plans for an executive order on policing.

The move follows nationwide protests against racism and police brutality, triggered by the police killing of unarmed black man George Floyd.

Trump has said the order will advise police departments to adopt national standards for the use of force.

*)Syria's Assad sacks PM over worsening economy

Syrian regime leader Bashar al Assad has removed Prime Minister Imad Khamis amid an economic crisis and renewed protests in the country.

The pound has plunged to record lows, adding to the hardship Syrians face as war continues to devastate the country.

The economic crisis has triggered a rare outbreak of anti-Assad protests in regime-held areas.

*)Libya government captures Haftar's main supply line

Libya's UN-backed government says it has gained control of a 350-km-long main supply line used by warlord Khalifa Haftar’s militia.

Meanwhile, the UN has expressed horror over the reported discovery of mass graves in Tarhuna city after it was seized from Haftar’s forces.

Libya’s government recaptured Tarhuna last Friday as part of an ongoing operation against the warlord.

*)ICC says US sanctions ‘unprecedented attack’

The International Criminal Court has slammed US sanctions on its staff investigating possible war crimes by American forces in Afghanistan.

An executive order by President Trump authorised the blocking of assets of the ICC employees in the US and their entry into the country.

The ICC said Trump’s move amounted to threats and coercion and were "an unacceptable attempt to interfere with rule of law".

And finally…

*)Microsoft bans face-recognition sales to police

Microsoft joins Amazon and IBM to become the third big tech company this week to ban sales of facial recognition software to police.

The tech giants are stepping back from law-enforcement using their systems that faced criticism for misidentifying people with darker skin.

Ongoing protests following the death of George Floyd have focused attention on racial injustice and how police use technology to track people.

George Floyd's brother urges Congress for police reforms and stolen Banksy work recovered in Italy

*)George Floyd's brother urges Congress to pass police reform

The brother of George Floyd, whose killing by police sparked worldwide protests against racism, made an emotional plea to Congress to "stop the pain" as US lawmakers consider sweeping police reforms.

Philonise Floyd said his brother "didn't deserve to die over $20" in what he called a lynching.

He urged lawmakers to fix law enforcement problems, including systemic racism.

*)Mass graves found in Tarhuna after illegal militia retreat

Libya's UN-backed government has discovered another mass grave from an area retaken from warlord Khalifa Haftar’s militia.

The number of bodies found in Tarhuna, south of Tripoli, hasn't been made public yet, but officials say decomposition could interfere with identifying the remains.

Libya’s government recaptured Tarhuna last Friday as part of an ongoing operation against Haftar.

*)Syrian currency plummets and prices of food items soar

Hundreds of Syrians in the regime-run city of Suwayda took to the streets for a fourth day to protest against a decaying economy.

Food prices have doubled to an all-time high, the country is facing a fuel crisis and the value of its currency has plummeted to a record low.

The economic crisis is hitting the country hard and forcing citizens to take drastic measures to keep their families fed.

*)Egypt's female TikTok influencers in state's crosshairs

Egyptian women with thousands of followers on popular social media app TikTok have become the latest target of state authorities.

They’re accusing influencers of spreading immorality by posting satirical clips and encouraging other women to join and earn by getting more views.

Human rights groups say the situation shows how the conservative society is wrestling with the rapid rise of modern communications technology.

And finally…

*)Stolen Banksy work recovered in Italy

Italian police have retrieved artwork by Banksy, which commemorates victims of the November 2015 Paris terror attacks.

The piece was stolen from France’s Bataclan concert hall and was found in an abandoned Italian farmhouse.

The work is an image of a girl in mourning painted on one of the emergency doors of the Parisian venue.

George Floyd laid to rest and Pakistan battles locusts by turning them into chicken feed

*)George Floyd laid to rest

George Floyd was fondly remembered at his funeral as 'Big Floyd', a father, brother, athlete and neighbourhood mentor.

But he will always be remembered around the world as a catalyst for change after his death sparked a global reckoning over police brutality and racism.

More than 500 mourners packed a Houston church on Tuesday where the service took place before he was entombed next to his mother.

*)EU urges immediate ceasefire in Libya

The European Union is urging all parties involved in Libya's conflict to end violence and engage in peace talks.

The EU also called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces that are supplying mercenaries and military equipment.

The UAE and Russia are supplying weapons to warlord Khalifa Haftar's illegal militia.

*)Australia could be coronavirus-free by July

Australia is on course to be coronavirus-free by July, according to their health department.

The state of New South Wales has already announced the removal of restrictions on community sports.

The country logged an increase of seven cases overnight, bringing total nationwide cases to 7,274.

*)US theatre world accused of exploiting and excluding people of colour

Top celebrities signed their name on an open letter to the US theatre world decrying racism.

Viola Davis, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Cynthia Erivo joined some 300 actors and playwrights by saying theatres had exploited, excluded and diminished people of colour.

The signatories complained of tokenism, prioritising white theatre for white audiences and a failure to make promised changes in programming or leadership.

And finally…

*)Pakistan battles locusts by turning them into chicken feed

Chickens in Pakistan are feasting on captured locusts under an initiative to combat swarms that are threatening food supplies in the country.

The government is expanding a pilot project where villagers earn cash to gather locusts, dry them, shred them and add the powder into poultry feed.

Farmers are struggling as the worst locust plague in 25 years wipes out entire harvests.