Newsletter Archive

Family and friends are honoring George Floyd at a private funeral Tuesday in the U.S. city of Houston, two weeks after his death in police custody inspired renewed protests against police brutality in numerous cities across the country.

U.S. demonstrations over Floyd’s death sparked wonder in the Middle East, where mass protests in Iraq and Lebanon were only recently quieted by pandemic lockdowns. Activists say they see their dreams reflected in the calls of U.S. protesters and express support and warnings.

Several restaurants and cafes were damaged amid the protests that flared up in Washington. But despite repair expenses and having to wait even longer to finally reopen, some business owners are choosing to support the protesters.

Hundreds of activists and ordinary citizens in Hong Kong marked the first anniversary of the city’s anti-government movement by staging protests.  On June 9 last year, about one million Hong Kongers staged a peaceful protest against a proposed extradition, plunging the former British colony into one of the deepest crises in its history. More than 8,900 people have been arrested since the protests began.

U.S. military officials said more than 60 Islamic State (IS) terrorists were captured by U.S.-backed forces in Syria as part of a major campaign to hunt down remnants of the terror group. Since its territorial defeat in March 2019, IS has carried out terror attacks against civilians and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, especially in areas along the border with Iraq.