Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.
US News
Trump Campaign Staffer Tried to Set Up Meetings with Putin
One member of the Trump campaign’s foreign policy team reportedly tried to set up several meetings with top Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin. In a series of emails sent by junior staffer George Papadopoulos between March and September last year, he told campaign bosses getting Trump and his closest advisers a meeting with “Russian leadership – Including Putin” could be arranged” even as other staffers worried about potential legal violations.—The Washington Post
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More CEOs Leave Trump Council Over Charlottesville Response
Intel CEO Brian Krzanich has become the third major company leader to step down from President Trump’s business advisory council following the president’s harshly criticized response to the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Krzanich’s resignation followed those of Kevin Plank, CEO of Under Armor, and Kenneth Frazier, CEO of pharmaceutical company Merck.—The Guardian
Protesters in North Carolina Topple Confederate Statue
Protesters in Durham, North Carolina, pulled down a monument honoring the Confederacy Monday outside the old county courthouse. Several people kicked at the statue of a Confederate soldier after it was toppled using rope. The crowd chanted, “No Trump! No KKK! No racist USA!” while marching in downtown Durham.—VICE News
Texas A&M Cancels White Nationalist Event
Texas A&M University has canceled a “White Lives Matter” rally scheduled to take place on campus in September. In a statement about the white nationalist event, university leaders said “the risks of threat to life and safety compel us to cancel,” referring to the weekend’s violence in Charlottesville. Organizer Preston Wiginton said: “I guess my lawyers will now be suing the state of Texas.”—The Texas Tribune
International News
North Korea Pauses on Guam Strike
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has decided to refrain from firing missiles toward the US territory Guam, according to state news reports. Having received military plans to strike the waters around Guam, Kim has apparently chosen to examine how the “foolish Yankees” proceed before taking any action. South Korean president Moon Jae-in vowed his government would “block war by all means.”—CNN
More Than 300 People Killed in Sierra Leone Mudslides
At least 312 people have been killed by mudslides in Sierra Leone, with the Red Cross indicating the death toll could climb more. Homes were swept away Monday in the Regent area, on the edge of the capital Freetown, after a hillside gave way in the torrential rains. More than 2,000 people have lost their homes, according to a disaster official.—BBC News
Iran Threatens to Scrap Nuclear Deal
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has threatened to pull out of the 2015 deal limiting nuclear development if the US continues to impose more economic pain. In a speech in the Iranian parliament, Rouhani said the program could be restarted “in the scale of hours and days” if the US persisted with “threats and sanctions.”—Al Jazeera
Everything Else
Jury Rules in Favor of Taylor Swift in Groping Trial
A jury has ruled unanimously in favor of Taylor Swift in her sexual assault countersuit against DJ David Mueller for groping. Mueller will have to pay $1 in damages, as per Swift’s request. Swift’s lawyer called the symbolic sum “immeasurable to all women in this situation.”—NPR
Scaramucci Claims Bannon Is a Leaker
Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Monday night, former White House staffer Anthony Scaramucci accused senior Trump adviser Steve Bannon of being a leaker. He told Colbert that Bannon would be fired “if it were up to me.”—The Hill
Tyler, the Creator Unveils Camp Flog Gnaw Lineup
Tyler, the Creator has revealed Migos, Lana Del Rey, A$AP Rocky, and Solange will all perform at his Camp Flog Gnaw festival in October. Other artists set to play the event in Los Angeles include Vince Staples, Justice, and 2 Chainz.—Los Angeles Times
Shade of Purple Named After Prince
Pantone’s Color Institute has declared that a particular shade of purple will be named in honor of Prince. In a move coordinated with the late singer’s estate, the shade will be officially listed under the title of Prince’s “Love Symbol.”—Noisey
MalwareTech Pleads Not Guilty to Banking Malware Charges
Marcus Hutchins, the online security researcher better known as MalwareTech, has pleaded not guilty to six charges relating to banking malware Kronos. Hutchins, known for helping to stop the WannaCry ransomware attack, was arrested earlier this month.—Motherboard
Pussy Riot Wants to Recreate Prison Experience in ‘Immersive’ Show
Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova has spoken about her upcoming immersive theater show in London recreating her imprisonment in Russia with band member Maria Alyokhina. She described her experience as “pure horror… nobody deserves to be in those conditions.”—VICE
