Trump under fire over “go back” tweet
US president Donald Trump was being criticised on Sunday after he tweeted that Democratic congresswomen whom he labelled ‘Progressive’ should “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came.” Reuters and the BBC said the tweet was likely a reference to the so-called “squad” including American born representatives such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez but also Somali born Ilhan Omar. The Washington Post in an op-ed suggested that Trump was “otherizing brown-skinned members of Congress”. Nancy Pelosi, whose name Trump invoked in the tweets, said the president had shown that his plan to “Make America Great Again” had “always been about making America white again”, The Guardian reports.
Bastille Day riots
More than 150 people were detained after rioters and police clashed near the Champs-Elysées shortly after France's annual Bastille Day parade, the BBC reports. France 24 says a few hundred yellow vest protestors had tried to occupy the iconic avenue after it was reopened following the traditional 14 July celebrations.
Huawei rehab close but US jobs under threat
Reuters has an exclusive story that cites a senior U.S. official who claims that Chinese tech giant Huawei may be allowed to trade with US companies again in as little as two weeks. But CNBC reports that Huawei plans to lay off hundreds of employees in the United States, specifically from its Futurewei development subsidiary, as a result of the blacklisting imposed in May.
European trio warn on Iran deal
The UK, France and Germany on Sunday said that they want to resume talks with Iran to avoid the 2015 nuclear deal falling apart, Deutsche Welle reports. In a joint statement, cited by Euronews, the three countries said they “believe that the time has come to act responsibly and to look for ways to stop the escalation of tension and resume dialogue.” But Reuters reports that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that any talks are contigent on the US lifting sanctions and returning to the 2015 deal.
India’s moon mission delayed
The Chandrayaan-2 moon mission was postponed following a technical problem with the launch vehicle system just 56 minutes and 24 seconds before its launch, according to India Today. The Guardian says there is a 16-minute back up window in which it could launch on Tuesday.
Ebola reaches million population city
The BBC reports that the first case of Ebola has been confirmed in the DR Congo city of Goma, home to more than a million people.
Sports roundup
Cricket: a dramatic day of sport saw England lift the Cricket World Cup in the most extraordinary circumstances with a last-ball, Super Over defeat of New Zealand. The Guardian has a wonderful perspective piece. Tennis: Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in the first Wimbledon men's singles final decided by a final-set tiebreaker. The New Yorker has a nice analysis. Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton won a record sixth British Grand Prix. Football: Senegal beat Tunisia and Algeria won against Nigeria in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. The two winners meet in the final on Friday.
Freckles the Manta ray recovering
A 30-yaer old Manta ray female that was freed from fishing hooks by divers in Coral Bay, western Australia, is doing well, the BBC reports (with video). Jake Wilton and Monty Halls say the ray appeared to ask them for help. They named her after a unique pattern of freckles on her belly.
Today’s breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts