*Minneapolis switches $8m from police budget to violence prevention* and mental health teams.

That is under 5% of the entire thug department budget, but increasing the funding of those other programs may be helpful.

Venezuela held legislative elections. Observers said they were free.

Guaidó's opposition faction boycotted the election, and the turnout was low, but not much lower than the US. It is partly because many Venezuelans have moved to other countries.

The EU's budget has been approved, including conditioning payments on a country's respect for the independence of the judiciary (which is a part of "rule of law").

Right-wing extremists are harassing and threatening officials, even election workers, claiming that their master won the election.

China took two Canadian visitors hostage after Canada arrested Mang Wanzhou, executive of Huawei, at the request of the US.

It is clear now that China's charges against those two Canadians were just excuses. The same might be true of the charges against Mang, or might not; I have no way of knowing.