No One Killed Breonna: Grand Jury

Her death was simply collateral damage in an act of self-defense. That’s effectively what a grand jury ruled Wednesday, choosing not to bring charges against any Louisville police officers for the death of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor in March. The ruling sparked fresh protests. One officer was charged — for endangering the lives of Taylor’s neighbors. Is this justice? Vote on Twitter.

2. Supreme Stacking

You can’t accuse President Donald Trump of not being direct. On Wednesday, he explicitly said he wanted a Supreme Court replacement for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before Nov. 3 in order to rule if there’s a contested election result. All as the nation was commemorating Ginsburg’s remarkable life.

3. One Shot Wonder?

Johnson & Johnson launched the final stage of clinical trials on a COVID-19 vaccine that — unlike other immunization contenders — could work with a single shot, sparking fresh hopes in the fight against the pandemic even as Europe battles a second wave of cases. China will relax some restrictions on the entry of foreigners starting Monday. Meanwhile Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau proposed a wealth tax to fund expansive COVID-19 recovery plans.

4. Blockchain Beef

Brazil’s JBS, the world’s largest meatpacker, has promised to track its entire cattle supply chain using blockchain technology by 2025 amid mounting criticism over deforestation of the Amazon, often cleared for cattle pasture. And California announced a ban on the sale of gasoline-fueled cars by 2035. Over in Libya meanwhile, oil’s flowing again, after a Moscow-backed deal broke a deadlock between warring factions. Speaking of war, back in the U.S. TikTok and Tesla have both taken the government to court arguing they’re victims of Washington-Beijing tensions.

A farm-bred alpaca needed a game of soccer, so it interrupted a match in England's West Yorkshire. It evaded those trying to get it off the field for 20 minutes. Meanwhile in Brazil, a blue and gold macaw perched itself on the head of a female soccer player in the middle of a game. We get it, bird: We’re craving live sports too.

The 17-year-old is the face of a student-led movement to eliminate racial prejudice from South Africa’s elite private schools that continues to rage across the nation. In 2016, teachers at Pretoria High School for Girls told Patel her Afro hairstyle needed to be tamed. She decided to tame school racism instead. Read more about South Africa’s “Black Students Matter” movement.

2. Djamila Ribeiro

A leader of the Afro-Brazilian women’s rights movement, the 40-year-old is a frequent collaborator with fellow Black philosopher Angela Davis. In A Little Anti-Racist Handbook, her 2019 publication, she outlines how ordinary white people can take action against racism. In June, she reported Twitter to Brazilian prosecutors after she and her daughter received threats on the platform.

3. Tanzeela Qambrani

For Pakistan’s only Black legislator, the battle against racism started in school, where children from her Sheedi community — descendants from East Africa settled across India and Pakistan — face bullying from students and teachers. Today the 41-year-old is the leading voice of a community with an estimated population between 50,000 and 250,000. Read more.

4. Assa Traoré

This 35-year-old mother of three has become an icon of racial justice in France after her protest against the 2016 death of her brother Adama in police custody forced a fresh investigation into the case in July amid the global movement against racism. Now she’s calling for justice for Mahamadou Fofana, Adama’s cousin, who died earlier this month under suspicious circumstances. Read more.

Rhonda Morris, chief human resources officer at Chevron, and Adam Bryant, a former New York Times writer, interview leading Black entrepreneurs — including OZY CEO and co-founder Carlos Watson and Ruth Simmons, president of Prairie View A&M University.

1. “My Dear Lower House”

That’s how Mahatma Gandhi addressed Hermann Kallenbach, a Jewish architect of Lithuanian descent with whom he developed a friendship during his time in South Africa, in semi-erotic, love-filled letters between the two.

2. “I’d Like to Paint You, But There Are No Colors"

Pain, obsession, love … call it what you will but the passionate letters Frida Kahlo wrote to fellow Mexican painter Diego Rivera are among the most powerful you’ll come across.

3. “You Still Fascinate and Inspire Me”

That was Johnny Cash writing to June Carter Cash when she turned 65. “You influence me for the better. You’re the object of my desire, the #1 Earthly reason for my existence,” he wrote.

In the first election where television was a central campaign medium, this hilarious, quaint ad — it helps that the drum-beating elephant is cuter than the donkeys — powered Dwight Eisenhower’s landslide win against Democrat Adlai Stevenson. Watch.

2. Daisy Girl (1964)

Spooky but highly effective, this ad from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s reelection campaign birthed modern political attack ads. A little girl counting daisy petals in a field gives way to a military countdown to a massive explosion. Johnson’s portrayal of Republican opponent Barry Goldwater as a dangerous warmonger worked. Watch.

3. McGovern Defense (1972)

Fear can cut both ways, as President Richard Nixon’s reelection campaign showed, presenting Democratic candidate George McGovern as weak on defense amid the Cold War. Nixon won 49 states. Watch.

4. Yes We Can (2008)

We’re all familiar with Barack Obama’s famous call in 2008. But do you remember this brilliant, hope-filled web ad where will.i.am, John Legend, Scarlett Johansson and other celebrities sing to Obama’s speech after his loss to Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire primary? Watch.

Start with this refreshing punch made from the Surinam cherry, also known as the pitanga, that’s native to Uruguay. They look like tiny red pumpkins, and are also amazing as jams and jellies.

2. Bacon and Cherries Oepsies

Take some bacon and pass the skewer through one end, add a cherry, and bring the bacon around the other side through the skewer to secure the cherry. Repeat the process until you’re out of cherries, bacon … or patience. Then savor it. The effort’s worth it.

3. Boozy Black Forest Cherry Cake

Master baker Claus Schäfer holds the original recipe for Black Forest cakes. His secret ingredients? Spiked cherries that are 56 percent alcohol. Read more.

What’s your favorite cherry-based recipe?