"7 summers later, weeds engulf Fukushima’s abandoned areas"

"The startling effects of the passage of time come into sharp focus in aerial images taken of Fukushima’s "difficult-to-return zones” in the seventh summer since the March 2011 nuclear disaster."

"Ottawa archbishop surprised by negative reaction to robotic spider on cathedral"

CNS:

“My cathedral staff and I anticipated that some … might object, but thought it would be minimal, as nothing demeaning was intended in the spider being near the church,” said the archbishop in an email interview with Canadian Catholic News.

“I regret that we had not sufficiently understood that others would see this event so differently. I say to those who were shocked that I understand that this would have been upsetting for them and that I regret that a well-intentioned effort to cooperate in a celebration was anything but that for them.”

The spider, named Kumo, is one of two giant robots created by a street theater company of artists, technicians and performers based in Nantes, France. The company, La Machine,

"BBC One today announced that it is launching a new cookery competition as Mary Berry leads the charge to find Britain’s Best Cook "

"Over eight episodes, the ten contestants will need to demonstrate skill under pressure and individual flair, as they’re asked to serve the most perfect version of dishes that define modern British home cooking as well as create their special take on well-loved classics."

"Warning men of Halifax: The Glove Man"

R/Halifax:

Last weekend I was on my way back from downtown walking alone on Spring Garden road scouting for a cab when a well dressed guy in a black SUV pulls up beside me and asks if I'm looking for a cab. I said yes, he asked where I was going and I told him. He said he was headed in the same direction and that he offers rides around town on the weekend. Thinking this was some friendly guy running his own Uber service, I got in hoping for a cheap ride home and handed him $10 out of my pocket. I'm 6'3 and 200lbs so I didn't feel threatened. Stupid of me.

The guy is wearing a leather jacket and leather gloves, and as soon as we're driving, starts talking about the business he has selling leather gloves. He gives me his business card. At this point I think he's just a quirky salesman with a small business which he promotes on the side while driving people.

When we get near my street, he tells me he wants me to try on some gloves. He is very excited about his gloves and despite being a bit weird I thought I'd humor him, give his business a chance and then tell him I wasn't interested and be on my way.

He gives me a pair of leather gloves which are extremely tight to fit on my hands and I start to put one on, despite it obviously not fitting. He then prompts me to pull the glove right on and thread my fingers together to stretch it on properly, and shows me how to stretch the glove by pulling on it and making a fist. At this point I'm getting extremely wierded out by the whole thing, and we turn onto my street, when he pulls over and encourages me to put the other glove on too.

"Inside the frenzied 12 minutes that led to the Dodgers' deal for Yu Darvish"

Yahoo:

A few days earlier, the Rangers insisted a deal for Darvish include one of Los Angeles’ two best prospects, pitcher Walker Buehler or outfielder Alex Verdugo. The Dodgers refused to consider either, a position on which they held firm in all offers. Texas eventually softened its stance and considered a deal around Willie Calhoun, one of the most unique prospects in years.

Calhoun is listed at 5-foot-8 and 187 pounds. He is neither. Shave off an inch or two, add 25 pounds or so, and that is Calhoun. He is listed as a second baseman. He is not that, either. Best-case scenario, Calhoun sticks in left field. And should that not work, he would wind up at designated hitter, which was incompatible with the Dodgers but might be a palatable-enough fallback option for the Rangers, because even they can’t deny one truth about Calhoun: He can hit. And not a for-his-size hit or a may-grow-into-something hit. Calhoun can hit now, he will hit in the major leagues soon and he will keep hitting there for a long time.

Both Dodgers and Rangers analysts agreed: Calhoun’s combination of power and contact is rare and elite for a 22-year-old already at Triple-A. Combine that with his body, and he is a true outlier, one of one, the sort who confounds those who compile prospect lists

"A Texas jury has awarded a wedding photographer more than $1 million after determining a newly married couple unhappy with her work launched a social media campaign to spread falsehoods about her"

"She claims she was forced to close her business after the dispute went viral."

"For the second time in two weeks, [Baltimore's] police department is accused of planting incriminating evidence"

TDB:

The newest footage, announced on Monday, comes from a separate incident involving at least seven other police officers. The footage, which has not been released to the public, is said to show officers conspiring to fudge their body camera records and plant drugs in a car, the public defender’s office said.