- Covid cases likely to accelerate through summer, new forecasts say
- CDC director warns Americans in ‘another pivotal moment’ in pandemic
2.26pm BST
Tennessee’s building commission has voted 5-2 to remove a bust of a confederate general with a “brutal” reputation from the capital building.
Nathan Bedford Forrest was one of the first grand wizard’s of the KKK. During the Civil War, Bedford had a “reputation for killing Black soldiers after they had surrendered”, local news station WTVF reported.
HAPPENING NOW: Crews are starting the process of removing the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the capitol. @WKRN #GMN pic.twitter.com/8HwOG3zsoY
2.24pm BST
Happy Friday, and welcome to the Guardian’s politics liveblog.
Much of the world is watching the opening of the Tokyo Olympic ceremony (follow live here).