A cashier who was one of the last people to speak with George Floyd before his deadly arrest last May testified at Derek Chauvin's murder trial in Minneapolis on Wednesday that Floyd appeared to be high on drugs but was able to make friendly conversation.&nbsp;

Chauvin, who is white, was fired by the city's police department the day after he was captured on video with his knee on the neck of Floyd, a Black man in handcuffs. He has pled not guilty to murder and manslaughter charges, and a central dispute in the case is his lawyers' contention that Floyd's death, which was ruled a homicide, was instead a drug overdose.&nbsp;

The jury watched video on Wednesday that showed a cheerful-looking Floyd in his final minutes inside a grocery store before he ended up below Chauvin on the road outside, a scene that the cashier, Christopher Martin, told the jury he watched in disbelief.&nbsp;

Several other eyewitnesses, one a child of nine, have spent the last two days describing to the jury the shock of watching Floyd's struggle beneath Chauvin as bystanders screamed at police that Floyd was falling unconscious. Video footage of the arrest on May 25, 2020, sparked global protests decrying police brutality against Black people. Christopher Martin, eyewitness and Cup Foods cashier, was the one who accepted the $20 bill that triggered everything that followed.&nbsp;

"I thought that George didn't really know it was a fake bill," Martin, 19, told the jury. He considered letting Cup Foods just dock it from his wages, but ended up telling his manager and a few minutes later, police were arresting Floyd on suspicion of passing a counterfeit.&nbsp;

Silent security-camera video played for the jury shows Floyd dressed in a black tank top approaching Cup Food's counter with a banana in hand, smiling and making cheerful conversation and putting his arm around a woman. Floyd appears to be filled with energy and constantly in motion, at one point almost dancing on the spot, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.&nbsp;

Martin, 19, told the jury that he made conversation with Floyd, asking him if he played baseball. Floyd seemed to take time to find his words but replied that he played football, Martin said.&nbsp;

"He seemed very friendly, approachable, he was talkative, he seemed to be having just an average Memorial Day, just living his life," Martin recalled. "But he did seem high."&nbsp;

Although the county medical examiner ruled Floyd's death a homicide resulting from the police restraint, fentanyl and methamphetamine was found in Floyd's blood at autopsy and Chauvin's lawyers argue the death was really a drug overdose.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A cashier who was one of the last people to speak with George Floyd before his deadly arrest last May testified at Derek Chauvin's murder trial in Minneapolis on Wednesday that Floyd appeared to be high on drugs but was able to make friendly conversation.

A cashier who was one of the last people to speak with George Floyd before his deadly arrest last May testified at Derek Chauvin's murder trial in Minneapolis on Wednesday that Floyd appeared to be high on drugs but was able to make friendly conversation. Chauvin, who is white, was fired by the city's police department the day after he was captured on video with his knee on the neck of Floyd, a Black man in handcuffs. He has pled not guilty to murder and manslaughter charges, and a central dispute in the case is his lawyers' contention that Floyd's death, which was ruled a homicide, was instead a drug overdose. The jury watched video on Wednesday that showed a cheerful-looking Floyd in his final minutes inside a grocery store before he ended up below Chauvin on the road outside, a scene that the cashier, Christopher Martin, told the jury he watched in disbelief. Several other eyewitnesses, one a child of nine, have spent the last two days describing to the jury the shock of watching Floyd's struggle beneath Chauvin as bystanders screamed at police that Floyd was falling unconscious. Video footage of the arrest on May 25, 2020, sparked global protests decrying police brutality against Black people. Christopher Martin, eyewitness and Cup Foods cashier, was the one who accepted the $20 bill that triggered everything that followed. "I thought that George didn't really know it was a fake bill," Martin, 19, told the jury. He considered letting Cup Foods just dock it from his wages, but ended up telling his manager and a few minutes later, police were arresting Floyd on suspicion of passing a counterfeit. Silent security-camera video played for the jury shows Floyd dressed in a black tank top approaching Cup Food's counter with a banana in hand, smiling and making cheerful conversation and putting his arm around a woman. Floyd appears to be filled with energy and constantly in motion, at one point almost dancing on the spot, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Martin, 19, told the jury that he made conversation with Floyd, asking him if he played baseball. Floyd seemed to take time to find his words but replied that he played football, Martin said. "He seemed very friendly, approachable, he was talkative, he seemed to be having just an average Memorial Day, just living his life," Martin recalled. "But he did seem high." Although the county medical examiner ruled Floyd's death a homicide resulting from the police restraint, fentanyl and methamphetamine was found in Floyd's blood at autopsy and Chauvin's lawyers argue the death was really a drug overdose. (With inputs from agencies)

Minneapolis cashier tells jury, Floyd appeared chatty, 'high' before arrest 

Despite promises by Prime Minister Imran Khan to provide equal opportunities for women, Pakistan has been ranked 153rd out of 156 countries on gender inequality, according to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report 2021, released on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Pakistan featured among the bottom 10 countries in two of the four sub-indexes: Economic Participation and Opportunity (152nd) and Health and Survival (153rd).&nbsp;

"Few women participate in the labour force (22.6 per cent) and even fewer are in managerial positions (4.9 per cent). This means that only 26.7 per cent and 5.2 per cent, respectively, of these gaps, have been closed so far, translating into very large income disparities between women and men: on average, a Pakistani woman's income is 16.3 per cent of a man's," the report stated.&nbsp;

The report also pointed out that women in Pakistan do not have equal access to justice, ownership of land and non-financial assets or inheritance rights.&nbsp;

Further, only 46.5 per cent of women are literate, 61.6 per cent attend primary school, 34.2 per cent attend high school and 8.3 per cent are enrolled in tertiary education courses.&nbsp;

Since Imran Khan came to power in 2018, Pakistan's Global Gender Gap Index has worsened over time. In 2017, Pakistan ranked 143rd on the 2017 Global Gender Gap Index. However, in 2018, it slipped to the 148th spot. &nbsp;

The country's ranking dipped further as it secured 151st on the 2020 Global Gender Gap Index. The Global Gender Gap Index was first introduced by the World Economic Forum in 2006 to benchmark progress towards gender parity and compare countries' gender gaps across four dimensions: economic opportunities, education, health and political leadership. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Despite promises by Prime Minister Imran Khan to provide equal opportunities for women, Pakistan has been ranked 153rd out of 156 countries on gender inequality, according to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report 2021, released on Wednesday.

Despite promises by Prime Minister Imran Khan to provide equal opportunities for women, Pakistan has been ranked 153rd out of 156 countries on gender inequality, according to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report 2021, released on Wednesday. Pakistan featured among the bottom 10 countries in two of the four sub-indexes: Economic Participation and Opportunity (152nd) and Health and Survival (153rd). "Few women participate in the labour force (22.6 per cent) and even fewer are in managerial positions (4.9 per cent). This means that only 26.7 per cent and 5.2 per cent, respectively, of these gaps, have been closed so far, translating into very large income disparities between women and men: on average, a Pakistani woman's income is 16.3 per cent of a man's," the report stated. The report also pointed out that women in Pakistan do not have equal access to justice, ownership of land and non-financial assets or inheritance rights. Further, only 46.5 per cent of women are literate, 61.6 per cent attend primary school, 34.2 per cent attend high school and 8.3 per cent are enrolled in tertiary education courses. Since Imran Khan came to power in 2018, Pakistan's Global Gender Gap Index has worsened over time. In 2017, Pakistan ranked 143rd on the 2017 Global Gender Gap Index. However, in 2018, it slipped to the 148th spot. The country's ranking dipped further as it secured 151st on the 2020 Global Gender Gap Index. The Global Gender Gap Index was first introduced by the World Economic Forum in 2006 to benchmark progress towards gender parity and compare countries' gender gaps across four dimensions: economic opportunities, education, health and political leadership. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan ranks 153rd out of 156 countries on gender inequality 

385 days ago, the World Health Organisation declared coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. As of today, 128 million cases have been recorded. Close to three million people have died.&nbsp;

This is one of the deadliest pandemics in human history but even after 385 days, the world doesn't know how it began. &nbsp;

The question of the origin has still not been settled. This should have been a foregone conclusion. The world knows the pandemic began in Wuhan. But the WHO team that spent 27 days in Wuhan, still doesn't have the answers.&nbsp;

Their probe was inconclusive. The much-anticipated report is finally out. It Is 124 page-long report, which is high on details but low on substance. &nbsp;

In fact, the investigation raises more questions than it answers. Let's tell you the five key findings of this report. The team looked into three possibilities. One, the virus jumped from animals to humans. Two, it arrived in Wuhan through food chains. It's a claim that China has aggressively tried to push, but it hasn't found much support. And the third possibility the virus leaked from a lab. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Now, the WHO team says, they found maximum evidence for the first possibility. That is, the virus jumped from animals to humans. So, that's the most likely cause, according to them. They say the virus probably emerged in bats, before spreading to humans through an 'intermediate animal'. What does that mean? What's the intermediate? They have no answers. &nbsp;

In other words, the exact source of the virus is not clear. The WHO team says they do not have enough evidence to pinpoint the exact source yet. What about the role of animal markets? The so-called vet markets of China? No clear answers on that either. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Remember, the initial confirmed cases were linked to the Huanan seafood market. The same market that China subsequently shut down. The WHO team found that many early cases had no clear connection to the Huanan market. So, probably, the virus was already spreading around Wuhan.&nbsp;

But the question is, if the markets were not linked to the outbreak, why did China shut them down? &nbsp;

And finally, the last key finding. And perhaps the most controversial one, the possibility of a lab leak. &nbsp;

The WHO team says a leak is 'highly unlikely' but here comes the twist in the tale. Dr Tedros, Director General of the World Health Organisation made an interesting statement. On Tuesday, he was heard contradicting several of the key findings of the probe team. He said the lab leak might be the 'least likely hypothesis' but it still needs further investigation. Meaning, do not rule it out yet.&nbsp;

"The team also visited several laboratories in Wuhan and considered the possibility that the virus entered the human population as a result of a laboratory incident. However, I do not believe that this assessment was extensive enough," said Tedros.&nbsp;

In other words, this should be probed further. He also said the WHO is ready to deploy more resources for future investigations. He's what we think. we're already in the future. The investigations should have happened by now, the WHO has already botched up enough. &nbsp;

But the fact that Dr Tedros is saying what he is, is welcome change. He also made a revelation, which technically wasn't a revelation. &nbsp;

The WHO chief said, the probe team had difficulty in accessing raw data in Wuhan. Who was holding back that raw data? China. &nbsp;

What is China's response to these statements? The same old denial. With Dr Tedros keeping the lab theory alive, Chinese experts today deflected all questions on the subject.&nbsp;

When asked about the sharing of data, the Chinese scientist who was involved with the WHO team in Wuhan said some data can't leave country because of privacy reasons. &nbsp;

Co-leader of WHO-China joint expert team, Liang Wannian, said, "Of course, according to Chinese law, some data cannot be taken away or photographed, but when we were analyzing it together in Wuhan, everyone could see the database, the materials - it was all done together. for example, some data that involves patient privacy and requires the patient to know and agree, this is a legal requirement. I think this is also a basic international rule." &nbsp;

Imagine China talking about basic international rules. At the same time, Chinese diplomats remain very combative in their defence.&nbsp;

High profile WHO member states have slammed it. On Tuesday, the United States and 13 other governments released a joint statement. The list includes the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and Australia, which also happens to be the first country that demanded an international investigation. These countries have questioned why China is withholding data. The report lacks crucial data, information and access. It represents a partial and incomplete picture. &nbsp;

"There's a second stage in this process that we believe should be led by international, international and independent experts. They should have unfettered access to data. They should be able to ask questions of people who are on the ground at this point in time and that's a step that the who could take," said White House Press Secretary. &nbsp;

The US wants the WHO to bring in independent experts to take this investigation forward. Needless to say Beijing is not warming up to that idea.&nbsp;

385 days ago, the World Health Organisation declared coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. As of today, 128 million cases have been recorded. Close to three million people have died.

385 days ago, the World Health Organisation declared coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. As of today, 128 million cases have been recorded. Close to three million people have died. This is one of the deadliest pandemics in human history but even after 385 days, the world doesn't know how it began. The question of the origin has still not been settled. This should have been a foregone conclusion. The world knows the pandemic began in Wuhan. But the WHO team that spent 27 days in Wuhan, still doesn't have the answers. Their probe was inconclusive. The much-anticipated report is finally out. It Is 124 page-long report, which is high on details but low on substance. In fact, the investigation raises more questions than it answers. Let's tell you the five key findings of this report. The team looked into three possibilities. One, the virus jumped from animals to humans. Two, it arrived in Wuhan through food chains. It's a claim that China has aggressively tried to push, but it hasn't found much support. And the third possibility the virus leaked from a lab. Now, the WHO team says, they found maximum evidence for the first possibility. That is, the virus jumped from animals to humans. So, that's the most likely cause, according to them. They say the virus probably emerged in bats, before spreading to humans through an 'intermediate animal'. What does that mean? What's the intermediate? They have no answers. In other words, the exact source of the virus is not clear. The WHO team says they do not have enough evidence to pinpoint the exact source yet. What about the role of animal markets? The so-called vet markets of China? No clear answers on that either. Remember, the initial confirmed cases were linked to the Huanan seafood market. The same market that China subsequently shut down. The WHO team found that many early cases had no clear connection to the Huanan market. So, probably, the virus was already spreading around Wuhan. But the question is, if the markets were not linked to the outbreak, why did China shut them down? And finally, the last key finding. And perhaps the most controversial one, the possibility of a lab leak. The WHO team says a leak is 'highly unlikely' but here comes the twist in the tale. Dr Tedros, Director General of the World Health Organisation made an interesting statement. On Tuesday, he was heard contradicting several of the key findings of the probe team. He said the lab leak might be the 'least likely hypothesis' but it still needs further investigation. Meaning, do not rule it out yet. "The team also visited several laboratories in Wuhan and considered the possibility that the virus entered the human population as a result of a laboratory incident. However, I do not believe that this assessment was extensive enough," said Tedros. In other words, this should be probed further. He also said the WHO is ready to deploy more resources for future investigations. He's what we think. we're already in the future. The investigations should have happened by now, the WHO has already botched up enough. But the fact that Dr Tedros is saying what he is, is welcome change. He also made a revelation, which technically wasn't a revelation. The WHO chief said, the probe team had difficulty in accessing raw data in Wuhan. Who was holding back that raw data? China. What is China's response to these statements? The same old denial. With Dr Tedros keeping the lab theory alive, Chinese experts today deflected all questions on the subject. When asked about the sharing of data, the Chinese scientist who was involved with the WHO team in Wuhan said some data can't leave country because of privacy reasons. Co-leader of WHO-China joint expert team, Liang Wannian, said, "Of course, according to Chinese law, some data cannot be taken away or photographed, but when we were analyzing it together in Wuhan, everyone could see the database, the materials - it was all done together. for example, some data that involves patient privacy and requires the patient to know and agree, this is a legal requirement. I think this is also a basic international rule." Imagine China talking about basic international rules. At the same time, Chinese diplomats remain very combative in their defence. High profile WHO member states have slammed it. On Tuesday, the United States and 13 other governments released a joint statement. The list includes the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and Australia, which also happens to be the first country that demanded an international investigation. These countries have questioned why China is withholding data. The report lacks crucial data, information and access. It represents a partial and incomplete picture. "There's a second stage in this process that we believe should be led by international, international and independent experts. They should have unfettered access to data. They should be able to ask questions of people who are on the ground at this point in time and that's a step that the who could take," said White House Press Secretary. The US wants the WHO to bring in independent experts to take this investigation forward. Needless to say Beijing is not warming up to that idea.

WHO report on coronavirus origins raises more questions, than it answers

The security camera video was shocking in its brutality. A 65-year-old Filipino immigrant was walking down a street near Times Square when a man, in broad daylight, suddenly kicked her in the stomach.

She crumpled to the sidewalk. He kicked her once in the head. Then again. And again. He yelled an obscenity at her, according to a police official, and then said, “You don’t belong here.”

As the violent scene unfolded in Manhattan, three men watched from the lobby of a nearby luxury apartment building. When the woman struggled to stand up, one of the men, a security guard, closed the front door to the building.

Even as reports of anti-Asian hate crimes have escalated in recent weeks, the video released by police officials Monday evening touched a fresh nerve. The sheer brazenness of the attack — combined with the seeming indifference of the bystanders — caused another wave of fear for many Asian Americans already worn down by a steady drumbeat of assaults.

“This feels like an emergency happening in real time over weeks,” said Chris Kwok, a board member of the Asian American Bar Association of New York. “People are in a state of panic. Everybody is on edge.”

As the video went viral online, the attack provoked a torrent of condemnations from public officials and seemed to underscore the difficulty the government faces in curbing unprovoked assaults against Asian Americans.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called Monday’s attack “absolutely disgusting and outrageous” and urged New Yorkers to intervene when they see assaults. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it was “horrifying and repugnant” and ordered the state police to help investigate. Andrew Yang, who is seeking to become New York City’s first Asian American mayor, said he was heartbroken by the frequency of the attacks and advised Asian Americans to walk outside in pairs.

In Washington, President Joe Biden announced a slate of new initiatives Tuesday to combat anti-Asian prejudice, including publishing more frequent data on hate crime incidents and taking steps to encourage people to report them.

Video footage from other recent anti-Asian attacks has often shown bystanders frozen in place, appearing paralyzed by the violence they were witnessing. Some Asian Americans said the attack this week in Manhattan sent a chilling message: Even if assaulted on a busy street in broad daylight, they may be left to fend for themselves.

“When I look at the video, the inaction is what’s heartbreaking,” said Mon Yuck Yu, a health advocate for immigrants in New York. “If you are being attacked, the community will not be standing for you.”

The victim of Monday’s attack in Manhattan was identified as Vilma Kari, according to a police official. Kari’s daughter said her mother, who had immigrated to the United States from the Philippines decades ago, was overwhelmed and not ready to talk. She declined to comment further.

At Kari’s apartment Tuesday, a man who opened the door said Kari was still in the hospital recovering from a fractured pelvis. The man declined to give his name.

The police released a photo and video of a man wanted in the attack. He had not been arrested as of Tuesday evening.

Reports of anti-Asian hate crimes have risen sharply during the pandemic, often triggered by people falsely blaming Asian Americans for spreading the coronavirus, according to police departments across the country.

In a memo released to Justice Department employees Tuesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the department would make hate crime prosecutions a priority and would provide additional help to local law enforcement agencies in their efforts to investigate bias crimes.

The problem is particularly pressing in New York City, which saw the sharpest increase last year in reported anti-Asian hate crimes of any major city, according to an analysis of police data by a center at the California State University, San Bernardino.

The New York Police Department has received 33 reports of anti-Asian hate crimes this year, already surpassing the 28 reported last year. One reason for the increase was that more victims appear to be reporting attacks than in the past, a senior police official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing investigations.

Anti-Asian hate crimes have long been underreported because of factors that include language barriers and distrust of the police, according to community advocates.

Last week, the New York Police Department announced that it would begin deploying undercover officers to neighborhoods with large Asian populations in response to the rising attacks. All unprovoked attacks on people of Asian descent will now be referred for investigation as possible hate crimes, police officials said.

The Police Department said the victims of these attacks were predominantly middle-aged men and women who were alone on the streets or on public transit. Their assailants tended to be homeless and have a history of prior arrests and behavioral or emotional difficulties, the police said.

Across the country, most of the anti-Asian attacks documented over the past year took place inside stores or on public streets, and bystanders rarely intervened, according to Cynthia Choi, the co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, an organization that tracks incidents of violence and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

In another video that went viral this week, a man was beaten and choked on a subway train in Brooklyn in what appeared initially to be another anti-Asian hate crime. The video, posted on social media, showed fellow riders shouting at the attacker to stop without stepping into the fight.

On Tuesday, however, a law enforcement official said that police now believe the victim was Hispanic and the violence may have started when he called his attacker, who was Black, a racial slur.

Police were also investigating another incident Monday night as a possible hate crime. In that case, an Asian woman was waiting in a subway station in Manhattan and noticed that someone had set her backpack on fire.

At a news conference Tuesday, de Blasio urged people to call police immediately if they witnessed an attack and to “shout out what’s happening” to disrupt the violence. “Even just that act of drawing attention and not just letting it go on is powerful,” he said.

In some instances, bystanders who tried to stop attacks have been injured or worse. Last month, an Asian man was stabbed to death in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, after he tried to stop the attempted robbery of another Asian man, the authorities said.

In another incident last week, a bystander tried to step in when a 26-year-old homeless man threatened an older Asian couple in Gravesend, Brooklyn. The homeless man punched the bystander and spit at him, calling him an anti-Chinese racial slur, according to prosecutors. The assault has been charged as a hate crime.

The attack Monday took place in front of 360 W. 43rd St., a luxury apartment building in Manhattan owned by the Brodsky Organization. The company said in a statement that the building employees who witnessed the attack have been suspended pending an investigation.

In a lengthy email to residents of Brodsky buildings that was obtained by The New York Times, the company wrote: “Like so many, we were disturbed when watching the video and witnessing what appears to be a lack of action and empathy on the part of the lobby staff and delivery person in the video.”

Kyle Bragg, the president of 32BJ SEIU, the union representing staff members, issued a statement saying the door staff immediately called for help, urging the public “to avoid a rush to judgment” until the investigation had concluded.

On Tuesday afternoon, a police van parked outside the building on West 43rd Street played a video of the assault on a loop on screens facing the entryway. A reward poster with photos of the man sought by the police was wrapped around a no-parking sign at the curb.

Residents of the building expressed disappointment that the staff in the lobby did not do more to help the victim of the assault.

“I’m not asking them to fight,” said Devin Setyawan, who works in finance and recently moved into the building. “But when you see someone on the ground who clearly needs help, as a human, your instinct isn’t to close the door.”

The security camera video was shocking in its brutality. A 65-year-old Filipino immigrant was walking down a street near Times Square when a man, in broad daylight, suddenly kicked her in the stomach.

The security camera video was shocking in its brutality. A 65-year-old Filipino immigrant was walking down a street near Times Square when a man, in broad daylight, suddenly kicked her in the stomach. She crumpled to the sidewalk. He kicked her once in the head. Then again. And again. He yelled an obscenity at her, according to a police official, and then said, “You don’t belong here.” As the violent scene unfolded in Manhattan, three men watched from the lobby of a nearby luxury apartment building. When the woman struggled to stand up, one of the men, a security guard, closed the front door to the building. Even as reports of anti-Asian hate crimes have escalated in recent weeks, the video released by police officials Monday evening touched a fresh nerve. The sheer brazenness of the attack — combined with the seeming indifference of the bystanders — caused another wave of fear for many Asian Americans already worn down by a steady drumbeat of assaults. “This feels like an emergency happening in real time over weeks,” said Chris Kwok, a board member of the Asian American Bar Association of New York. “People are in a state of panic. Everybody is on edge.” As the video went viral online, the attack provoked a torrent of condemnations from public officials and seemed to underscore the difficulty the government faces in curbing unprovoked assaults against Asian Americans. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called Monday’s attack “absolutely disgusting and outrageous” and urged New Yorkers to intervene when they see assaults. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it was “horrifying and repugnant” and ordered the state police to help investigate. Andrew Yang, who is seeking to become New York City’s first Asian American mayor, said he was heartbroken by the frequency of the attacks and advised Asian Americans to walk outside in pairs. In Washington, President Joe Biden announced a slate of new initiatives Tuesday to combat anti-Asian prejudice, including publishing more frequent data on hate crime incidents and taking steps to encourage people to report them. Video footage from other recent anti-Asian attacks has often shown bystanders frozen in place, appearing paralyzed by the violence they were witnessing. Some Asian Americans said the attack this week in Manhattan sent a chilling message: Even if assaulted on a busy street in broad daylight, they may be left to fend for themselves. “When I look at the video, the inaction is what’s heartbreaking,” said Mon Yuck Yu, a health advocate for immigrants in New York. “If you are being attacked, the community will not be standing for you.” The victim of Monday’s attack in Manhattan was identified as Vilma Kari, according to a police official. Kari’s daughter said her mother, who had immigrated to the United States from the Philippines decades ago, was overwhelmed and not ready to talk. She declined to comment further. At Kari’s apartment Tuesday, a man who opened the door said Kari was still in the hospital recovering from a fractured pelvis. The man declined to give his name. The police released a photo and video of a man wanted in the attack. He had not been arrested as of Tuesday evening. Reports of anti-Asian hate crimes have risen sharply during the pandemic, often triggered by people falsely blaming Asian Americans for spreading the coronavirus, according to police departments across the country. In a memo released to Justice Department employees Tuesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the department would make hate crime prosecutions a priority and would provide additional help to local law enforcement agencies in their efforts to investigate bias crimes. The problem is particularly pressing in New York City, which saw the sharpest increase last year in reported anti-Asian hate crimes of any major city, according to an analysis of police data by a center at the California State University, San Bernardino. The New York Police Department has received 33 reports of anti-Asian hate crimes this year, already surpassing the 28 reported last year. One reason for the increase was that more victims appear to be reporting attacks than in the past, a senior police official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing investigations. Anti-Asian hate crimes have long been underreported because of factors that include language barriers and distrust of the police, according to community advocates. Last week, the New York Police Department announced that it would begin deploying undercover officers to neighborhoods with large Asian populations in response to the rising attacks. All unprovoked attacks on people of Asian descent will now be referred for investigation as possible hate crimes, police officials said. The Police Department said the victims of these attacks were predominantly middle-aged men and women who were alone on the streets or on public transit. Their assailants tended to be homeless and have a history of prior arrests and behavioral or emotional difficulties, the police said. Across the country, most of the anti-Asian attacks documented over the past year took place inside stores or on public streets, and bystanders rarely intervened, according to Cynthia Choi, the co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, an organization that tracks incidents of violence and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. In another video that went viral this week, a man was beaten and choked on a subway train in Brooklyn in what appeared initially to be another anti-Asian hate crime. The video, posted on social media, showed fellow riders shouting at the attacker to stop without stepping into the fight. On Tuesday, however, a law enforcement official said that police now believe the victim was Hispanic and the violence may have started when he called his attacker, who was Black, a racial slur. Police were also investigating another incident Monday night as a possible hate crime. In that case, an Asian woman was waiting in a subway station in Manhattan and noticed that someone had set her backpack on fire. At a news conference Tuesday, de Blasio urged people to call police immediately if they witnessed an attack and to “shout out what’s happening” to disrupt the violence. “Even just that act of drawing attention and not just letting it go on is powerful,” he said. In some instances, bystanders who tried to stop attacks have been injured or worse. Last month, an Asian man was stabbed to death in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, after he tried to stop the attempted robbery of another Asian man, the authorities said. In another incident last week, a bystander tried to step in when a 26-year-old homeless man threatened an older Asian couple in Gravesend, Brooklyn. The homeless man punched the bystander and spit at him, calling him an anti-Chinese racial slur, according to prosecutors. The assault has been charged as a hate crime. The attack Monday took place in front of 360 W. 43rd St., a luxury apartment building in Manhattan owned by the Brodsky Organization. The company said in a statement that the building employees who witnessed the attack have been suspended pending an investigation. In a lengthy email to residents of Brodsky buildings that was obtained by The New York Times, the company wrote: “Like so many, we were disturbed when watching the video and witnessing what appears to be a lack of action and empathy on the part of the lobby staff and delivery person in the video.” Kyle Bragg, the president of 32BJ SEIU, the union representing staff members, issued a statement saying the door staff immediately called for help, urging the public “to avoid a rush to judgment” until the investigation had concluded. On Tuesday afternoon, a police van parked outside the building on West 43rd Street played a video of the assault on a loop on screens facing the entryway. A reward poster with photos of the man sought by the police was wrapped around a no-parking sign at the curb. Residents of the building expressed disappointment that the staff in the lobby did not do more to help the victim of the assault. “I’m not asking them to fight,” said Devin Setyawan, who works in finance and recently moved into the building. “But when you see someone on the ground who clearly needs help, as a human, your instinct isn’t to close the door.”

Brutal attack on Filipino woman sparks outrage: ‘Everybody is on edge’

The far-reaching voting rights measure that Democrats are pressing to enact, known as the For the People Act, was more a political statement than serious legislation when lawmakers first proposed it in 2019.

The bill, clocking in at 818 pages, includes a laundry list of Democratic priorities like expanded ballot access, tighter controls on political money and support for District of Columbia statehood. It had no chance of becoming law when Republicans controlled the Senate and the White House.

But with Democrats in power, the wish list has become a potentially historic law and the most pervasive overhaul of federal election rules in recent memory. Republicans have assailed it as a Democratic effort to rig the political system in their favor, even as some privately acknowledge that the bill’s broad aims are overwhelmingly popular, even among conservatives.

President Joe Biden and Democrats portray the bill as the civil rights imperative of modern times and call it essential to shoring up a shaky democracy. But many of them privately concede that some of its provisions, like restrictions on political money, have opponents in their own ranks.

Here is a summary of some of the central elements of the measure:

The bill would set a national floor for ballot access.

Should it become law, the legislation would effectively set a national floor on ballot access, requiring all federal elections to start with an identical set of rules. States and other federal jurisdictions could tweak them to provide more access, but not less. Some states like Colorado and Minnesota have rules that are more generous than what the bill mandates; others, like Texas and Tennessee, make it much harder to register and vote than the bill envisions.

Jurisdictions could ignore the rules for state and local elections, but as a practical matter, the new requirements would most likely apply to all voting.

Some Republicans charge that the bill would rig the voting rules in favor of Democrats. But Republican officials have been working for the past decade to restrict ballot access in ways that make it harder to vote for minority groups that traditionally favor Democrats.

Beyond the civic benefits of greater participation in elections, it is clear that expanding voting to more people would benefit both parties. Indeed, as Republicans have increasingly appealed to lower-income and less-educated voters, some experts say the restrictions that they have imposed may actually be cutting into turnout by the party’s loyalists.

Many Republican states have had one or more of the voting provisions for years with no indication that they disproportionately favor one party.

The measure would make it much easier to register to vote.

All voters would be able to register, designate party affiliations, change addresses and deregister online; 40 states and the District of Columbia offer some or all of those options. Voters would also be automatically registered when visiting state or federal agencies unless they explicitly decline, similar to what has been required of most states — but not always carried out — by the federal “motor-voter law” that passed in 1993. Voters could also register when they cast a ballot, either on Election Day or during early voting, as is already the case in 21 states.

Early voting would be expanded nationwide, with all jurisdictions offering it for 15 days, for 10 hours daily, at easily accessible polling places. All but a handful of states allow early voting; the average early-ballot period is 19 days, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The bill would also require jurisdictions to provide at least one secure ballot drop box for every 20,000 voters.

Mail voting would be extended nationwide, and states would have to prepay postage and electronically track ballots so voters would know when their ballots arrived and whether they had mistakes that needed to be fixed.

It would defang many voting restrictions imposed by Republicans.

Republicans have won enactment of voter-ID laws in most states by arguing that they are needed to combat fraud, even though the sort of in-person fraud that such rules discourage is all but nonexistent. The bill would effectively nullify such laws, allowing voters to sign affidavits swearing to their identities rather than showing ID.

The measure would also require that voters be notified at least a week before an election if their polling places have changed and order steps to reduce long lines. Voting rights activists and specialists argue that turnout falls when polling locations are closed or changed.

The legislation also would try to beat back rules adopted by some states, including Texas and New Hampshire, that make it more difficult for college students to vote. It would designate universities as voter-registration agencies and offer nonpartisan assistance to students who cast absentee ballots.

Under the bill, states would be barred from taking voters off the rolls because they had not participated in recent elections, a practice that the Supreme Court upheld in 2018. Critics argue that the practice is aimed at reducing turnout.

It would also restore voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences, cementing into law a practice that states have increasingly adopted but some, such as Florida, have resisted.

Partisan gerrymandering would end.

Among other redistricting changes, the bill would mandate that political maps be drawn by nonpartisan commissions, not by state legislatures. If a legislature refused to approve a map, a three-judge federal panel would take over drafting.

A number of states have established such commissions in recent years, including Ohio and Colorado, but removing politics from political maps has proved difficult. Critics say Arizona’s Republican governor has stacked the selection process for that state’s commission, and the composition of Colorado’s new commission also has come under fire. The legislation lays out detailed instructions for choosing panel members.

Political contributions would be reined in.

The legislation would try to stop the flow of money to campaigns from abroad by requiring political committees to report foreign contacts, outlawing the use of shell companies to launder foreign contributions and barring foreigners from advising PACs on contributions and other political efforts. These moves and other requirements are direct responses to Russian efforts to support Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential campaign.

The most contentious provisions would pull back the veil over so-called dark political money, whose donors are secret, and regulate independent political expenditures — mostly spending that is not expressly coordinated with a candidate — by corporations.

Those provisions would counter the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that independent expenditures are a form of free speech protected by the Constitution. The ruling effectively allowed nonprofit groups to spend unlimited amounts of money — $750 million in 2020, according to the advocacy group OpenSecrets — to support or oppose candidates or causes while keeping donors anonymous.

Public corporations would require approval by boards of directors and shareholders for independent expenditures and some other political spending over $50,000.

The bill would also require nonprofit groups spending money on elections or judicial nominations to disclose the donor of any contribution over $10,000 and ban shifting money between groups to disguise a donor’s identity.

It would also address the growing use of political advertising on the internet, requiring for the first time that ads disclose their sponsors and that online companies keep a public list of political advertising buyers.

Finally, the measure would set up new funds to match small donations to Senate and presidential candidates. The money, raised through fines on corporate lawbreakers and tax cheats, would be available only to candidates who reject political donations of more than $1,000.

The far-reaching voting rights measure that Democrats are pressing to enact, known as the For the People Act, was more a political statement than serious legislation when lawmakers first proposed it in 2019.

The far-reaching voting rights measure that Democrats are pressing to enact, known as the For the People Act, was more a political statement than serious legislation when lawmakers first proposed it in 2019. The bill, clocking in at 818 pages, includes a laundry list of Democratic priorities like expanded ballot access, tighter controls on political money and support for District of Columbia statehood. It had no chance of becoming law when Republicans controlled the Senate and the White House. But with Democrats in power, the wish list has become a potentially historic law and the most pervasive overhaul of federal election rules in recent memory. Republicans have assailed it as a Democratic effort to rig the political system in their favor, even as some privately acknowledge that the bill’s broad aims are overwhelmingly popular, even among conservatives. President Joe Biden and Democrats portray the bill as the civil rights imperative of modern times and call it essential to shoring up a shaky democracy. But many of them privately concede that some of its provisions, like restrictions on political money, have opponents in their own ranks. Here is a summary of some of the central elements of the measure: The bill would set a national floor for ballot access. Should it become law, the legislation would effectively set a national floor on ballot access, requiring all federal elections to start with an identical set of rules. States and other federal jurisdictions could tweak them to provide more access, but not less. Some states like Colorado and Minnesota have rules that are more generous than what the bill mandates; others, like Texas and Tennessee, make it much harder to register and vote than the bill envisions. Jurisdictions could ignore the rules for state and local elections, but as a practical matter, the new requirements would most likely apply to all voting. Some Republicans charge that the bill would rig the voting rules in favor of Democrats. But Republican officials have been working for the past decade to restrict ballot access in ways that make it harder to vote for minority groups that traditionally favor Democrats. Beyond the civic benefits of greater participation in elections, it is clear that expanding voting to more people would benefit both parties. Indeed, as Republicans have increasingly appealed to lower-income and less-educated voters, some experts say the restrictions that they have imposed may actually be cutting into turnout by the party’s loyalists. Many Republican states have had one or more of the voting provisions for years with no indication that they disproportionately favor one party. The measure would make it much easier to register to vote. All voters would be able to register, designate party affiliations, change addresses and deregister online; 40 states and the District of Columbia offer some or all of those options. Voters would also be automatically registered when visiting state or federal agencies unless they explicitly decline, similar to what has been required of most states — but not always carried out — by the federal “motor-voter law” that passed in 1993. Voters could also register when they cast a ballot, either on Election Day or during early voting, as is already the case in 21 states. Early voting would be expanded nationwide, with all jurisdictions offering it for 15 days, for 10 hours daily, at easily accessible polling places. All but a handful of states allow early voting; the average early-ballot period is 19 days, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The bill would also require jurisdictions to provide at least one secure ballot drop box for every 20,000 voters. Mail voting would be extended nationwide, and states would have to prepay postage and electronically track ballots so voters would know when their ballots arrived and whether they had mistakes that needed to be fixed. It would defang many voting restrictions imposed by Republicans. Republicans have won enactment of voter-ID laws in most states by arguing that they are needed to combat fraud, even though the sort of in-person fraud that such rules discourage is all but nonexistent. The bill would effectively nullify such laws, allowing voters to sign affidavits swearing to their identities rather than showing ID. The measure would also require that voters be notified at least a week before an election if their polling places have changed and order steps to reduce long lines. Voting rights activists and specialists argue that turnout falls when polling locations are closed or changed. The legislation also would try to beat back rules adopted by some states, including Texas and New Hampshire, that make it more difficult for college students to vote. It would designate universities as voter-registration agencies and offer nonpartisan assistance to students who cast absentee ballots. Under the bill, states would be barred from taking voters off the rolls because they had not participated in recent elections, a practice that the Supreme Court upheld in 2018. Critics argue that the practice is aimed at reducing turnout. It would also restore voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences, cementing into law a practice that states have increasingly adopted but some, such as Florida, have resisted. Partisan gerrymandering would end. Among other redistricting changes, the bill would mandate that political maps be drawn by nonpartisan commissions, not by state legislatures. If a legislature refused to approve a map, a three-judge federal panel would take over drafting. A number of states have established such commissions in recent years, including Ohio and Colorado, but removing politics from political maps has proved difficult. Critics say Arizona’s Republican governor has stacked the selection process for that state’s commission, and the composition of Colorado’s new commission also has come under fire. The legislation lays out detailed instructions for choosing panel members. Political contributions would be reined in. The legislation would try to stop the flow of money to campaigns from abroad by requiring political committees to report foreign contacts, outlawing the use of shell companies to launder foreign contributions and barring foreigners from advising PACs on contributions and other political efforts. These moves and other requirements are direct responses to Russian efforts to support Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential campaign. The most contentious provisions would pull back the veil over so-called dark political money, whose donors are secret, and regulate independent political expenditures — mostly spending that is not expressly coordinated with a candidate — by corporations. Those provisions would counter the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that independent expenditures are a form of free speech protected by the Constitution. The ruling effectively allowed nonprofit groups to spend unlimited amounts of money — $750 million in 2020, according to the advocacy group OpenSecrets — to support or oppose candidates or causes while keeping donors anonymous. Public corporations would require approval by boards of directors and shareholders for independent expenditures and some other political spending over $50,000. The bill would also require nonprofit groups spending money on elections or judicial nominations to disclose the donor of any contribution over $10,000 and ban shifting money between groups to disguise a donor’s identity. It would also address the growing use of political advertising on the internet, requiring for the first time that ads disclose their sponsors and that online companies keep a public list of political advertising buyers. Finally, the measure would set up new funds to match small donations to Senate and presidential candidates. The money, raised through fines on corporate lawbreakers and tax cheats, would be available only to candidates who reject political donations of more than $1,000.

Here’s how Democrats’ sweeping voting rights law would work

A military unit tried to seize the presidential palace in Niger's capital Niamey overnight in an attempted coup but order has been restored, the government said on Wednesday, days before the country's first democratic handover of power.&nbsp;

The assailants, from a nearby air base, fled after the presidential guard met their attack with heavy shelling and gunfire, three security sources said, requesting anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to media.&nbsp;

Government spokesman Abdourahamane Zakaria said several people had been arrested while others were still being sought, but that the situation was under control.&nbsp;

"The government condemns this cowardly and retrogressive act that aims to endanger democracy and the rule of law to which our country is resolutely committed," he told a news conference.&nbsp;

Assuring people, they could go about their daily lives, he said, "The government congratulates the presidential guard and the other defence and security forces for their prompt reaction, a testament of their loyalty to the republic." He did not take questions.&nbsp;

President Mahamadou Issoufou is stepping down after two five-year terms and president-elect Mohamed Bazoum, the ruling party candidate, is due to be sworn in on Friday after an election victory disputed by his opponent Mahamane Ousmane.&nbsp;

Former US Sahel envoy J Peter Pham earlier tweeted that both the president and president-elect were safe, and the president's office shared photos on Twitter of Issoufou presiding over the swearing-in ceremony for two top judges.&nbsp;

Ousmane's whereabouts were not known.&nbsp;

There have been growing attacks by Islamist militants as well as protests in the country following Bazoum's victory in a February presidential election runoff. Ousmane, a former president who lost that contest, has rejected the results and said there was fraud.&nbsp;

In pockets of the capital on Wednesday, Ousmane supporters took to the streets for a scheduled protest and clashed with police, who fired teargas to disperse them, according to witnesses, who also said roads out of the city had been closed.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A military unit tried to seize the presidential palace in Niger's capital Niamey overnight in an attempted coup but order has been restored, the government said on Wednesday, days before the country's first democratic handover of power.

A military unit tried to seize the presidential palace in Niger's capital Niamey overnight in an attempted coup but order has been restored, the government said on Wednesday, days before the country's first democratic handover of power. The assailants, from a nearby air base, fled after the presidential guard met their attack with heavy shelling and gunfire, three security sources said, requesting anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to media. Government spokesman Abdourahamane Zakaria said several people had been arrested while others were still being sought, but that the situation was under control. "The government condemns this cowardly and retrogressive act that aims to endanger democracy and the rule of law to which our country is resolutely committed," he told a news conference. Assuring people, they could go about their daily lives, he said, "The government congratulates the presidential guard and the other defence and security forces for their prompt reaction, a testament of their loyalty to the republic." He did not take questions. President Mahamadou Issoufou is stepping down after two five-year terms and president-elect Mohamed Bazoum, the ruling party candidate, is due to be sworn in on Friday after an election victory disputed by his opponent Mahamane Ousmane. Former US Sahel envoy J Peter Pham earlier tweeted that both the president and president-elect were safe, and the president's office shared photos on Twitter of Issoufou presiding over the swearing-in ceremony for two top judges. Ousmane's whereabouts were not known. There have been growing attacks by Islamist militants as well as protests in the country following Bazoum's victory in a February presidential election runoff. Ousmane, a former president who lost that contest, has rejected the results and said there was fraud. In pockets of the capital on Wednesday, Ousmane supporters took to the streets for a scheduled protest and clashed with police, who fired teargas to disperse them, according to witnesses, who also said roads out of the city had been closed. (With inputs from agencies)

Niger thwarts coup attempt days before presidential transition

10 months ago, a death in America led to worldwide outrage. 46-year-old George Floyd died in police custody. A police officer knelt on his neck for close to 10 minutes. The death of George Floyd led to the birth of a movement. These pictures went viral. &nbsp; &nbsp;

CCTV cameras and police bodycams captured the events leading up to Floyd's death. The fatal arrest was a clear case of excessive use of police force. It also highlighted a pattern of systemic racism in the US. &nbsp;

Racial profiling, excessive violence, police brutality and the virus of racism, this too is a pandemic and America is in denial. It sees the problem in others. &nbsp;

The US state department is set to release a report on human rights. Washington will sit in judgement of nearly 200 countries and their human rights record but what about America's own human rights record? &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-why-has-us-failed-to-fight-racism-374371">Watch |</a>

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-why-has-us-failed-to-fight-racism-374371/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

10 months after the killing of George Floyd. The virus of racism is alive and thriving in America. It is targeting not just African Americans but even Asian Americans. &nbsp;

The US, the self-appointed champion of human rights, has failed to secure the most basic rights of its own people. &nbsp;&nbsp;

On Monday, the officer accused for the murder of George Floyd went on trial. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin faces three charges, second degree murder, third degree murder and manslaughter.&nbsp;

On the 25th of May last year, he was the cop, who arrested George Floyd. Floyd had allegedly tried passing a counterfeit 20 dollar bill at a grocery store. Chauvin was among a group of four cops responding to the police call. They found Floyd inside a car across the grocery store. &nbsp;

First, the police officers pulled him out. Floyd was handcuffed, forced to face down on the street while Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd's neck.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-will-black-americans-get-justice-374377">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-will-black-americans-get-justice-374377/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

That stomach churning moment was captured by bystanders. On Monday, the jury was shown that video. "I can't breathe". Those words led to a global campaign against racism. &nbsp;

The United States saw violent protests across 50 states. Since then, the country has witnessed a change of guard, a new president, a new government but racism in America has only got worse. &nbsp;

In recent weeks and months, Asian Americans have come under attack. Consider these numbers, hate crimes against Asian Americans surged 149 per cent. An advocacy group received more than 2,800 reports of hate crimes. In all of these incidents, Asian Americans were the target. &nbsp;

This month, three day-spas in Georgia were attacked. Eight people died in the shootings. Six of the victims were women of Asian descent. It's quite evident. This attacker was motivated by race. &nbsp;

After African Americans last year, Asian Americans took to the streets this month. They too are demanding equal rights and amid the raging debate, one lawmaker decided to make a statement. &nbsp;

This is Lee Wong, an elected official in Ohio. At the meeting of the trustees in West Chester township, Wong decided to make a statement against the rising hate. &nbsp;

Lee Wong is a war veteran. He got up, took off his shirt to reveal the scars of war he endured for America. Lee Wong, West Chester Township trustee, said, "For too long, I have put up with a lot of s*** in silence. Excuse me the language. Too afraid to speak out, fearing more abuse and discrimination." &nbsp;

"There are some ignorant people that will come up to me and say that I don't look American - or patriotic enough. Now that really gets my goat." &nbsp;

"People questioning my patriotism? that I don't look American enough? They could not get over this face. I want to show you something. I want to tell you, because I'm not afraid." &nbsp;

"I'm 69-years-old, and I'm going to show you what patriotism - the questions about patriotism - looks like." &nbsp;

"Here is my proof. (lifts up shirt to reveal scar) This is sustained through my service in the US military. now, is this patriot enough? I'm not ashamed to walk around anymore." &nbsp;

Lee Wong moved from China to the United States more than 50 years ago. He spent two decades in the army. He serves his community as a trustee. Even after serving Americans all these years, he has to prove his loyalty to America. The divide became deeper after the insurrection at the US Capitol. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Here is yet another example. Violence broke out near the Oregon state Capitol building. Two groups on opposite ends of the political spectrum came face to face. One was the far-right group called Proud Boys and the second was the far-left, anti-fascists. They clashed. One of them tried to run his car into a protester. The police looked helpless. &nbsp;

African Americans demanding justice for police brutality, Asian Americans being targeted in hate crimes, political opponents engaged in violent clashes. This is the America that human rights reports hardly talk about.&nbsp;

10 months ago, a death in America led to worldwide outrage. 46-year-old George Floyd died in police custody. A police officer knelt on his neck for close to 10 minutes.

10 months ago, a death in America led to worldwide outrage. 46-year-old George Floyd died in police custody. A police officer knelt on his neck for close to 10 minutes. The death of George Floyd led to the birth of a movement. These pictures went viral. CCTV cameras and police bodycams captured the events leading up to Floyd's death. The fatal arrest was a clear case of excessive use of police force. It also highlighted a pattern of systemic racism in the US. Racial profiling, excessive violence, police brutality and the virus of racism, this too is a pandemic and America is in denial. It sees the problem in others. The US state department is set to release a report on human rights. Washington will sit in judgement of nearly 200 countries and their human rights record but what about America's own human rights record? Watch | 10 months after the killing of George Floyd. The virus of racism is alive and thriving in America. It is targeting not just African Americans but even Asian Americans. The US, the self-appointed champion of human rights, has failed to secure the most basic rights of its own people. On Monday, the officer accused for the murder of George Floyd went on trial. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin faces three charges, second degree murder, third degree murder and manslaughter. On the 25th of May last year, he was the cop, who arrested George Floyd. Floyd had allegedly tried passing a counterfeit 20 dollar bill at a grocery store. Chauvin was among a group of four cops responding to the police call. They found Floyd inside a car across the grocery store. First, the police officers pulled him out. Floyd was handcuffed, forced to face down on the street while Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd's neck. Watch | That stomach churning moment was captured by bystanders. On Monday, the jury was shown that video. "I can't breathe". Those words led to a global campaign against racism. The United States saw violent protests across 50 states. Since then, the country has witnessed a change of guard, a new president, a new government but racism in America has only got worse. In recent weeks and months, Asian Americans have come under attack. Consider these numbers, hate crimes against Asian Americans surged 149 per cent. An advocacy group received more than 2,800 reports of hate crimes. In all of these incidents, Asian Americans were the target. This month, three day-spas in Georgia were attacked. Eight people died in the shootings. Six of the victims were women of Asian descent. It's quite evident. This attacker was motivated by race. After African Americans last year, Asian Americans took to the streets this month. They too are demanding equal rights and amid the raging debate, one lawmaker decided to make a statement. This is Lee Wong, an elected official in Ohio. At the meeting of the trustees in West Chester township, Wong decided to make a statement against the rising hate. Lee Wong is a war veteran. He got up, took off his shirt to reveal the scars of war he endured for America. Lee Wong, West Chester Township trustee, said, "For too long, I have put up with a lot of s*** in silence. Excuse me the language. Too afraid to speak out, fearing more abuse and discrimination." "There are some ignorant people that will come up to me and say that I don't look American - or patriotic enough. Now that really gets my goat." "People questioning my patriotism? that I don't look American enough? They could not get over this face. I want to show you something. I want to tell you, because I'm not afraid." "I'm 69-years-old, and I'm going to show you what patriotism - the questions about patriotism - looks like." "Here is my proof. (lifts up shirt to reveal scar) This is sustained through my service in the US military. now, is this patriot enough? I'm not ashamed to walk around anymore." Lee Wong moved from China to the United States more than 50 years ago. He spent two decades in the army. He serves his community as a trustee. Even after serving Americans all these years, he has to prove his loyalty to America. The divide became deeper after the insurrection at the US Capitol. Here is yet another example. Violence broke out near the Oregon state Capitol building. Two groups on opposite ends of the political spectrum came face to face. One was the far-right group called Proud Boys and the second was the far-left, anti-fascists. They clashed. One of them tried to run his car into a protester. The police looked helpless. African Americans demanding justice for police brutality, Asian Americans being targeted in hate crimes, political opponents engaged in violent clashes. This is the America that human rights reports hardly talk about.

Is America's human rights record declining? 

The United States recently slapped sanctions on Chinese officials.&nbsp;Do you know why?&nbsp;For 'serious human rights abuses targeting Uighurs'.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The US also imposed sanctions on Cuba's Interior Minister.&nbsp;What for?&nbsp;'serious human rights violations'.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On the December&nbsp;10,&nbsp;2020, the US announced sanctions against firms and individuals from Haiti,&nbsp;Yemen&nbsp;and Russia.&nbsp;Again, what for?&nbsp;&nbsp;

Serious human rights violations!&nbsp;&nbsp;

Here's the document.&nbsp;Let's rewind.&nbsp;7 months before the release of this&nbsp;document.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the very same United States,&nbsp;a man's most basic right,&nbsp;the right to life,&nbsp;was snatched away from him.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Officers knelt on his neck and chocked him to death.&nbsp;George&nbsp;Floyd&nbsp;was one of the 4 people of&nbsp;colour&nbsp;to be killed by&nbsp;American&nbsp;cops in 2020.&nbsp;Between 2013 and 2019, 42 of every 1 million&nbsp;African-Americans&nbsp;were killed in police shooting.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-will-black-americans-get-justice-374377">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-will-black-americans-get-justice-374377/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Where was the American human rights police then?&nbsp;And what exactly was the treasury department doing?&nbsp;&nbsp;

Perhaps, schooling other countries on human rights.&nbsp;Washington wants to champion this cause&nbsp;but it has failed to protect the rights of its own people.&nbsp;&nbsp;

America dishes out sanctions abroad&nbsp;but&nbsp;at home,&nbsp;it turns a blind eye to human rights&nbsp;violations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2019, 65% of Americans said it was common for people to express racist or racially insensitive views.&nbsp;Why does racism continue to fester in the US?&nbsp;&nbsp;

For starters, America has a&nbsp;history&nbsp;of systemic racism,&nbsp;a legacy of slavery and Jim Crow,&nbsp;one where treating people of&nbsp;colour&nbsp;as inferior&nbsp;or the lesser lot&nbsp;was&nbsp;normalised&nbsp;and totally legal.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Today, slavery has been outlawed.&nbsp;It's been over 150 years since America passed the 13th amendment act&nbsp;but in practice,&nbsp;the legacy of racism continues&nbsp;to&nbsp;shadow&nbsp;the life of every black&nbsp;American.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-why-has-us-failed-to-fight-racism-374371">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-why-has-us-failed-to-fight-racism-374371/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In 2018, 88% of the people stopped by the police in New&nbsp;York&nbsp;City were black or&nbsp;latin&nbsp;American.&nbsp;&nbsp;

70% of them were innocent.&nbsp;This is according to the New&nbsp;York&nbsp;Civil Liberties Union.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Racism in the United States exacerbated post 9/11.&nbsp;Prejudice was now laced with Islamophobia.&nbsp;Muslims were vilified,&nbsp;so were Sikhs,&nbsp;Arabs&nbsp;and people of South Asian&nbsp;descent.&nbsp;They were all called names,&nbsp;Taliban,&nbsp;terrorist,&nbsp;Osama&nbsp;Bin Laden'.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Attorneys offices have investigated 800 incidents involving violence, threats, vandalism and arson against Arab-americans, Muslims, Sikhs, South-Asian Americans and those&nbsp;perceived to be of middle eastern origin,&nbsp;all post 9/11.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2009, Barack Obama entered the White House with a promise to end racism.&nbsp;What happened?&nbsp;For years,&nbsp;American leaders have leveraged racism,&nbsp;peddled the issue of race to garner support from white&nbsp;americans.&nbsp;In the 1960s, Richard Nixon stirred up the fear of black empowerment.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2016, it was Donald Trump fanning the flames of racism once again,&nbsp;fuelling&nbsp;white supremacy.&nbsp;Trump may be gone, but Trumpism stays.&nbsp;In fact, it's become worse.&nbsp;&nbsp;

What happened to&nbsp;Muslims&nbsp;post 9/11,&nbsp;also happened to Asian Americans since the&nbsp;coronavirus outbreak.&nbsp;Hate crimes against them increased nearly 150%.&nbsp;Nearly 3,800 hate crimes were recorded between March 2020 and March 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;

68% of these were against women.&nbsp;The pandemic&nbsp;killed people of&nbsp;colour&nbsp;at higher rates.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Exposed America's health disparity.&nbsp;It was in the middle of the very same pandemic that George Floyd was killed.&nbsp;The murder exposed America's 'us' versus 'them' divide.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

It also triggered the largest mass&nbsp;demonstration&nbsp;in American history.&nbsp;

Drew 9% of the country to the streets&nbsp;but what has changed?&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cut to&nbsp;November, and&nbsp;Donald&nbsp;Trump increased his votes,&nbsp;his supporters targeted Ilhan Omar,&nbsp;the Congresswoman from George Floyd's home state of&nbsp;Minessota,&nbsp;send her back the white supremacist chanted.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The question is sent her back where?&nbsp;From George Floyd to Rayshard Brooks and Daniel Prude.&nbsp;They were or are just as American.&nbsp;Their identity is not&nbsp;dependant&nbsp;on the&nbsp;colour&nbsp;of their skin.&nbsp;How long before Americans&nbsp;realise&nbsp;this?&nbsp;Here's something Kamala&nbsp;Harris&nbsp;recently said,&nbsp;'Racism is real in&nbsp;America, and it has always been. Xenophobia is real in America and always has been'.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It's high time authorities did something about it,&nbsp;instead of preaching others, perhaps look at their own record.&nbsp;The US cannot be hoisting the flag of liberty with its knee on the neck of a black man.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It cannot be celebrating the&nbsp;American&nbsp;dream by choking the dreams of minorities.&nbsp;Slavery was a southern evil.&nbsp;Racism is&nbsp;pan-American.&nbsp;As of 2019, 78% of blacks believe that&nbsp;America&nbsp;has not gone far enough in giving blacks equal rights with the whites.&nbsp;50% believe blacks will never likely have equal&nbsp;rights.&nbsp;&nbsp;

84% believe the legacy of slavery affects the position of black people in&nbsp;American&nbsp;society.&nbsp;71% think race relations in the US are generally bad.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Washington must acknowledge these&nbsp;faultlines&nbsp;first when later tonight it sits in the judgment of 200&nbsp;countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The US is evaluating the status of 200 countries on human rights. It is set to release its report on human rights practices.&nbsp;Look inwards.&nbsp;Charity, as they say, begins at home.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The United States recently slapped sanctions on Chinese officials. Do you know why? For 'serious human rights abuses targeting Uighurs'. The US also imposed sanctions on Cuba's Interior Minister.

The United States recently slapped sanctions on Chinese officials. Do you know why? For 'serious human rights abuses targeting Uighurs'. The US also imposed sanctions on Cuba's Interior Minister. What for? 'serious human rights violations'. On the December 10, 2020, the US announced sanctions against firms and individuals from Haiti, Yemen and Russia. Again, what for? Serious human rights violations! Here's the document. Let's rewind. 7 months before the release of this document. In the very same United States, a man's most basic right, the right to life, was snatched away from him. Officers knelt on his neck and chocked him to death. George Floyd was one of the 4 people of colour to be killed by American cops in 2020. Between 2013 and 2019, 42 of every 1 million African-Americans were killed in police shooting. Watch | Where was the American human rights police then? And what exactly was the treasury department doing? Perhaps, schooling other countries on human rights. Washington wants to champion this cause but it has failed to protect the rights of its own people. America dishes out sanctions abroad but at home, it turns a blind eye to human rights violations. In 2019, 65% of Americans said it was common for people to express racist or racially insensitive views. Why does racism continue to fester in the US? For starters, America has a history of systemic racism, a legacy of slavery and Jim Crow, one where treating people of colour as inferior or the lesser lot was normalised and totally legal. Today, slavery has been outlawed. It's been over 150 years since America passed the 13th amendment act but in practice, the legacy of racism continues to shadow the life of every black American. Watch | In 2018, 88% of the people stopped by the police in New York City were black or latin American. 70% of them were innocent. This is according to the New York Civil Liberties Union. Racism in the United States exacerbated post 9/11. Prejudice was now laced with Islamophobia. Muslims were vilified, so were Sikhs, Arabs and people of South Asian descent. They were all called names, Taliban, terrorist, Osama Bin Laden'. The Attorneys offices have investigated 800 incidents involving violence, threats, vandalism and arson against Arab-americans, Muslims, Sikhs, South-Asian Americans and those perceived to be of middle eastern origin, all post 9/11. In 2009, Barack Obama entered the White House with a promise to end racism. What happened? For years, American leaders have leveraged racism, peddled the issue of race to garner support from white americans. In the 1960s, Richard Nixon stirred up the fear of black empowerment. In 2016, it was Donald Trump fanning the flames of racism once again, fuelling white supremacy. Trump may be gone, but Trumpism stays. In fact, it's become worse. What happened to Muslims post 9/11, also happened to Asian Americans since the coronavirus outbreak. Hate crimes against them increased nearly 150%. Nearly 3,800 hate crimes were recorded between March 2020 and March 2021. 68% of these were against women. The pandemic killed people of colour at higher rates. Exposed America's health disparity. It was in the middle of the very same pandemic that George Floyd was killed. The murder exposed America's 'us' versus 'them' divide. It also triggered the largest mass demonstration in American history. Drew 9% of the country to the streets but what has changed? Cut to November, and Donald Trump increased his votes, his supporters targeted Ilhan Omar, the Congresswoman from George Floyd's home state of Minessota, send her back the white supremacist chanted. The question is sent her back where? From George Floyd to Rayshard Brooks and Daniel Prude. They were or are just as American. Their identity is not dependant on the colour of their skin. How long before Americans realise this? Here's something Kamala Harris recently said, 'Racism is real in America, and it has always been. Xenophobia is real in America and always has been'. It's high time authorities did something about it, instead of preaching others, perhaps look at their own record. The US cannot be hoisting the flag of liberty with its knee on the neck of a black man. It cannot be celebrating the American dream by choking the dreams of minorities. Slavery was a southern evil. Racism is pan-American. As of 2019, 78% of blacks believe that America has not gone far enough in giving blacks equal rights with the whites. 50% believe blacks will never likely have equal rights. 84% believe the legacy of slavery affects the position of black people in American society. 71% think race relations in the US are generally bad. Washington must acknowledge these faultlines first when later tonight it sits in the judgment of 200 countries. The US is evaluating the status of 200 countries on human rights. It is set to release its report on human rights practices. Look inwards. Charity, as they say, begins at home.

Why has US failed to fight racism? 

Rayshard Brooks,&nbsp;Daniel Prude,&nbsp;Breonna&nbsp;Taylor,&nbsp;Atatiana&nbsp;Jefferson,&nbsp;Aura&nbsp;Rosser,&nbsp;Stephon&nbsp;Clark,&nbsp;Botham&nbsp;Jean,&nbsp;Philando&nbsp;Castille,&nbsp;Alton&nbsp;Sterling,&nbsp;Freddie&nbsp;Gray&nbsp;are just a few individuals&nbsp;killed by the&nbsp;American&nbsp;police in the last 7 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There are many more&nbsp;Black Americans,&nbsp;who were either shot,&nbsp;tasered,&nbsp;brutally mauled&nbsp;or asphyxiated.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

What they call,&nbsp;choked to death&nbsp;but none of these killings were enough&nbsp;to shake the collective conscience of the American society&nbsp;or the American judicial system&nbsp;for that matter.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It took a convergence of forces for America to wake up,&nbsp;a pandemic,&nbsp;an election year,&nbsp;the highest rate of unemployment&nbsp;and to top it all,&nbsp;the killing of&nbsp;George&nbsp;Floyd&nbsp;in broad daylight.&nbsp;&nbsp;

With every city under lockdown,&nbsp;Americans couldn't look away.&nbsp;They were forced to pay attention.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-is-mozambique-the-latest-outpost-of-islamic-state-374372">Watch |</a>

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George Floyd's killing became a rallying point for racial justice in the United States&nbsp;as the trial in the case officially begins.&nbsp;America is on the edge once again.&nbsp;Every American, irrespective of their&nbsp;colour&nbsp;or background&nbsp;is watching the developments closely&nbsp;because this is far more than the trial of one police officer in the death of one Black&nbsp;American.&nbsp;This is a test of the American society&nbsp;and of the&nbsp;American&nbsp;judicial system.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If they fail this test,&nbsp;the implications will be national.&nbsp;Perhaps even global.&nbsp;America is on trial.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton said, "Make no mistake about it: Chauvin is in the courtroom but&nbsp;America&nbsp;is on trial."&nbsp;

The judicial system is on test.&nbsp;Martin Luther King III, Martin Luther King Jr's son,&nbsp;"This is, this is a test for America, American justice, I believe, because people are beyond fed up.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Derek Chauvin,&nbsp;the officer accused in the murder of George Floyd has been finally put on trial.&nbsp;The case is significant&nbsp;because it is quite uncommon for US police officers to be&nbsp;penalised&nbsp;for using lethal force.&nbsp;

The court proceedings have begun,&nbsp;the opening remarks have been made.&nbsp;The arguments from both sides- reveal just how divided&nbsp;America&nbsp;has become as a society.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Eric Nelson, Derek Chauvin's Defense Attorney, said,&nbsp;"Derek Chauvin did exactly what he had been trained to do over the course of his 19-year career. The use of force is not attractive, but it is a necessary component of policing."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jerry Blackwell, an attorney for the prosecution, said,&nbsp;"You will learn that he [Derek Chauvin] was well aware that Mr. Floyd was unarmed, that Mr. Floyd had not threatened anyone, that Mr. Floyd was in handcuffs, that he was completely in control of the police, he was defenseless.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Eric Nelson, Derek Chauvin's Defense Attorney, said, "The evidence will show that Mr. Floyd died of a Cardiac Arrhythmia that occurred as a result of hypertension, coronary disease, the ingestion of methamphetamine and fentanyl."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jerry Blackwell, Prosecutor, said, "He did not die from an opioid overdose. Why? Because you'll be able to look at the video footage and you see he looks absolutely nothing like a person,&nbsp;who would die from an opioid overdose."&nbsp;&nbsp;

This is the most high-profile case since the 1991 beating of Rodney King Junior.&nbsp;The trial ended with partial justice being delivered.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

All efforts have been made to ensure that this one does not end in a mistrial.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A total of 12 people&nbsp;are&nbsp;sitting on the jury&nbsp;with three alternates.&nbsp;There are six women&nbsp;and nine men.&nbsp;9 of them are white&nbsp;Americans,&nbsp;4 of them are black&nbsp;Americans&nbsp;and 2 jurors are multi-racial.&nbsp;The diversity of the jury&nbsp;is aimed at instilling a sense of legitimacy in the judicial process.&nbsp;

Amy&nbsp;Forliti, AP Reporter, Minneapolis,&nbsp;said, "Their ages range from their 20s to their 60s, and they include a chemist, an auditor, a social worker, a registered nurse who works with covid-19 patients and a grandmother who does volunteer work. The one thing that they all do have in common, though, is that they all said they could put aside their prior opinions and make a decision based on the evidence in the case that's going to be presented at trial."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Outside the court,&nbsp;sentiments are running high.&nbsp;Americans from all backgrounds&nbsp;have assembled near the&nbsp;Minneapolis&nbsp;Courthouse.&nbsp;They say the verdict will serve as justice for all of America.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Luke Arseneau, paraprofessional at a school,&nbsp;said,&nbsp;"I can tell you right now that opioids did not kill George Floyd. Derek Chauvin did."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Chaz Neal, business owner&nbsp;said, "This is a trial for, for justice for George Floyd, but the results are going to be affected everywhere."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sabrina Mohammed, student from Minneapolis, said, "I’m honestly just trying to take in as much of the case as&nbsp;I&nbsp;can without getting overwhelmed, because my mental health is deteriorating, unfortunately, as a black, as a black woman in the United States. So&nbsp;I’m&nbsp;just trying to protect myself as well."&nbsp;&nbsp;

1100 miles away from the heart of action&nbsp;in Washington DC,&nbsp;all the developments are being monitored.&nbsp;The White House&nbsp;says&nbsp;US president Joe&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;will be following the trial closely.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary&nbsp;said, "Well, he certainly will be watching closely, as&nbsp;Americans&nbsp;across the country will be watching. you know at the time of George Floyd's death, he talked about this as being an event that really opened up a wound in the American public, and it really brought to light for a lot of people in this country just the kind of racial injustice and inequality that many communities are experiencing every single day."&nbsp;

It's a moment of reckoning for the American society.&nbsp;A chance for the American justice system to prove it can actually work.&nbsp;Because for decades,&nbsp;it has failed black&nbsp;Americans,&nbsp;who have suffered due to police brutality.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The trial of Derek Chauvin is an opportunity for this system to redeem itself.&nbsp;The outcome is anything but certain&nbsp;and the stakes for the entire country are enormous.&nbsp;

Rayshard Brooks, Daniel Prude, Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson, Aura Rosser, Stephon Clark, Botham Jean, Philando Castille, Alton Sterling, Freddie Gray are just a few individuals killed by the American police in the last 7 years.

Rayshard Brooks, Daniel Prude, Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson, Aura Rosser, Stephon Clark, Botham Jean, Philando Castille, Alton Sterling, Freddie Gray are just a few individuals killed by the American police in the last 7 years. There are many more Black Americans, who were either shot, tasered, brutally mauled or asphyxiated. What they call, choked to death but none of these killings were enough to shake the collective conscience of the American society or the American judicial system for that matter. It took a convergence of forces for America to wake up, a pandemic, an election year, the highest rate of unemployment and to top it all, the killing of George Floyd in broad daylight. With every city under lockdown, Americans couldn't look away. They were forced to pay attention. Watch | George Floyd's killing became a rallying point for racial justice in the United States as the trial in the case officially begins. America is on the edge once again. Every American, irrespective of their colour or background is watching the developments closely because this is far more than the trial of one police officer in the death of one Black American. This is a test of the American society and of the American judicial system. If they fail this test, the implications will be national. Perhaps even global. America is on trial. Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton said, "Make no mistake about it: Chauvin is in the courtroom but America is on trial." The judicial system is on test. Martin Luther King III, Martin Luther King Jr's son, "This is, this is a test for America, American justice, I believe, because people are beyond fed up. Derek Chauvin, the officer accused in the murder of George Floyd has been finally put on trial. The case is significant because it is quite uncommon for US police officers to be penalised for using lethal force. The court proceedings have begun, the opening remarks have been made. The arguments from both sides- reveal just how divided America has become as a society. Eric Nelson, Derek Chauvin's Defense Attorney, said, "Derek Chauvin did exactly what he had been trained to do over the course of his 19-year career. The use of force is not attractive, but it is a necessary component of policing." Jerry Blackwell, an attorney for the prosecution, said, "You will learn that he [Derek Chauvin] was well aware that Mr. Floyd was unarmed, that Mr. Floyd had not threatened anyone, that Mr. Floyd was in handcuffs, that he was completely in control of the police, he was defenseless. Eric Nelson, Derek Chauvin's Defense Attorney, said, "The evidence will show that Mr. Floyd died of a Cardiac Arrhythmia that occurred as a result of hypertension, coronary disease, the ingestion of methamphetamine and fentanyl." Jerry Blackwell, Prosecutor, said, "He did not die from an opioid overdose. Why? Because you'll be able to look at the video footage and you see he looks absolutely nothing like a person, who would die from an opioid overdose." This is the most high-profile case since the 1991 beating of Rodney King Junior. The trial ended with partial justice being delivered. All efforts have been made to ensure that this one does not end in a mistrial. A total of 12 people are sitting on the jury with three alternates. There are six women and nine men. 9 of them are white Americans, 4 of them are black Americans and 2 jurors are multi-racial. The diversity of the jury is aimed at instilling a sense of legitimacy in the judicial process. Amy Forliti, AP Reporter, Minneapolis, said, "Their ages range from their 20s to their 60s, and they include a chemist, an auditor, a social worker, a registered nurse who works with covid-19 patients and a grandmother who does volunteer work. The one thing that they all do have in common, though, is that they all said they could put aside their prior opinions and make a decision based on the evidence in the case that's going to be presented at trial." Outside the court, sentiments are running high. Americans from all backgrounds have assembled near the Minneapolis Courthouse. They say the verdict will serve as justice for all of America. Luke Arseneau, paraprofessional at a school, said, "I can tell you right now that opioids did not kill George Floyd. Derek Chauvin did." Chaz Neal, business owner said, "This is a trial for, for justice for George Floyd, but the results are going to be affected everywhere." Sabrina Mohammed, student from Minneapolis, said, "I’m honestly just trying to take in as much of the case as I can without getting overwhelmed, because my mental health is deteriorating, unfortunately, as a black, as a black woman in the United States. So I’m just trying to protect myself as well." 1100 miles away from the heart of action in Washington DC, all the developments are being monitored. The White House says US president Joe Biden will be following the trial closely. Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary said, "Well, he certainly will be watching closely, as Americans across the country will be watching. you know at the time of George Floyd's death, he talked about this as being an event that really opened up a wound in the American public, and it really brought to light for a lot of people in this country just the kind of racial injustice and inequality that many communities are experiencing every single day." It's a moment of reckoning for the American society. A chance for the American justice system to prove it can actually work. Because for decades, it has failed black Americans, who have suffered due to police brutality. The trial of Derek Chauvin is an opportunity for this system to redeem itself. The outcome is anything but certain and the stakes for the entire country are enormous.

On the edge again, America watches developments closely 

Taiwan has decided to buy an upgraded version of Lockheed Martin Corp's Patriot surface-to-air missile, the air force said on Wednesday, as the island bolsters its forces to guard against a rising threat from China.&nbsp;

Chinese-claimed Taiwan has complained of repeated incursions by China's air force in recent months into the island's air defence identification zone, as Beijing seeks to pressure Taipei into accepting its sovereignty.&nbsp;

Taiwan's Air Force said it had decided to buy the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles, with deliveries to start in 2025 and deployment the following year.&nbsp;

The Air Force did not disclose how many missiles Taiwan was planning to buy, citing the sensitivity of the matter.&nbsp;

"These purchase plans were made based on the threat from the enemy," an Air Force spokesman said, adding it will continue to 'boost defence capacity'.&nbsp;

The spokesman said the Air Force is 'cautiously optimistic' about the progress of the purchase.&nbsp;

Taiwan's Defence Ministry, in a report to parliament, said the decision to obtain the newer Patriots was made during a 2019 meeting with the United States during the previous administration of US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden's government has not announced any Taiwan arms sales since taking office in January, though it has pledged its 'rock solid' commitment to the democratically-governed island.&nbsp;

US arms sales to Taiwan always anger China, which has demanded they stop.&nbsp;

In July, China said it would put sanctions on Lockheed Martin for involvement in a $620 million upgrade package for existing Patriot missiles Taiwan operates.&nbsp;

China has announced similar sanctions before on US companies for Taiwan arms sales, though it is unclear what form they have taken.&nbsp;

The United States, like most countries, has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but Washington is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself.&nbsp;

Washington has been pushing Taiwan to modernise its military so it can become a 'porcupine', hard for China to attack.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Taiwan has decided to buy an upgraded version of Lockheed Martin Corp's Patriot surface-to-air missile, the air force said on Wednesday, as the island bolsters its forces to guard against a rising threat from China.

Taiwan has decided to buy an upgraded version of Lockheed Martin Corp's Patriot surface-to-air missile, the air force said on Wednesday, as the island bolsters its forces to guard against a rising threat from China. Chinese-claimed Taiwan has complained of repeated incursions by China's air force in recent months into the island's air defence identification zone, as Beijing seeks to pressure Taipei into accepting its sovereignty. Taiwan's Air Force said it had decided to buy the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles, with deliveries to start in 2025 and deployment the following year. The Air Force did not disclose how many missiles Taiwan was planning to buy, citing the sensitivity of the matter. "These purchase plans were made based on the threat from the enemy," an Air Force spokesman said, adding it will continue to 'boost defence capacity'. The spokesman said the Air Force is 'cautiously optimistic' about the progress of the purchase. Taiwan's Defence Ministry, in a report to parliament, said the decision to obtain the newer Patriots was made during a 2019 meeting with the United States during the previous administration of US President Donald Trump. US President Joe Biden's government has not announced any Taiwan arms sales since taking office in January, though it has pledged its 'rock solid' commitment to the democratically-governed island. US arms sales to Taiwan always anger China, which has demanded they stop. In July, China said it would put sanctions on Lockheed Martin for involvement in a $620 million upgrade package for existing Patriot missiles Taiwan operates. China has announced similar sanctions before on US companies for Taiwan arms sales, though it is unclear what form they have taken. The United States, like most countries, has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but Washington is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself. Washington has been pushing Taiwan to modernise its military so it can become a 'porcupine', hard for China to attack. (With inputs from agencies)

Taiwan to buy new US air defence missiles to deter Chinese aggression 

Five Thai activists were indicted on Wednesday on charges of attempted violence against the queen during a pro-democracy demonstration last year, when a royal motorcade encountered dozens of protesters.&nbsp;

Their lawyer Poonsuk Poonsukcharoen said prosecutors indicted the five under a section of the law that carries a minimum sentence of 16 years in prison for violence or attempted violence against the queen, heir-apparent or regent.&nbsp;

"I did not have such intentions, nor was I trying to do so. I've reaffirmed these facts over the past few months," said one of the accused, Bunkueanun 'Francis' Paothong, 21.&nbsp;

More serious breaches of the same law can result in life imprisonment, or a death sentence if an act is likely to endanger their life.&nbsp;

Others include Suranat Panprasert, 35, a coordinator for a youth group, Ekachai Hongkangwan, 45, and two others. All have denied the charges and are seeking bail.&nbsp;

The case centres on an encounter at the height of anti-government demonstrations last year when Queen Suthida's convoy passed through a group of protesters on October 14.&nbsp;

Video from the incident showed police pushing protesters away from the queen's car.&nbsp;

The court granted the five bail without conditions, Poonsuk, said with the next hearing scheduled for April 26.&nbsp;

"I'm very grateful that the court granted us bail, but our fight has not stopped. We will have to fight these accusations," Bunkueanun said.&nbsp;

Anti-government protesters that emerged last year demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and broke longstanding taboos by openly calling for reforms of the powerful monarchy.&nbsp;

The Royal Palace has not commented directly on the protests since they began last year.&nbsp;

There are currently 19 Thai youth activists in jail having been denied bail. They face a litany of charges, including sedition, while 12 of them are also charged with lese majeste, or insulting the monarchy, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Five Thai activists were indicted on Wednesday on charges of attempted violence against the queen during a pro-democracy demonstration last year, when a royal motorcade encountered dozens of protesters.

Five Thai activists were indicted on Wednesday on charges of attempted violence against the queen during a pro-democracy demonstration last year, when a royal motorcade encountered dozens of protesters. Their lawyer Poonsuk Poonsukcharoen said prosecutors indicted the five under a section of the law that carries a minimum sentence of 16 years in prison for violence or attempted violence against the queen, heir-apparent or regent. "I did not have such intentions, nor was I trying to do so. I've reaffirmed these facts over the past few months," said one of the accused, Bunkueanun 'Francis' Paothong, 21. More serious breaches of the same law can result in life imprisonment, or a death sentence if an act is likely to endanger their life. Others include Suranat Panprasert, 35, a coordinator for a youth group, Ekachai Hongkangwan, 45, and two others. All have denied the charges and are seeking bail. The case centres on an encounter at the height of anti-government demonstrations last year when Queen Suthida's convoy passed through a group of protesters on October 14. Video from the incident showed police pushing protesters away from the queen's car. The court granted the five bail without conditions, Poonsuk, said with the next hearing scheduled for April 26. "I'm very grateful that the court granted us bail, but our fight has not stopped. We will have to fight these accusations," Bunkueanun said. Anti-government protesters that emerged last year demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and broke longstanding taboos by openly calling for reforms of the powerful monarchy. The Royal Palace has not commented directly on the protests since they began last year. There are currently 19 Thai youth activists in jail having been denied bail. They face a litany of charges, including sedition, while 12 of them are also charged with lese majeste, or insulting the monarchy, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. (With inputs from agencies)

Thai prosecutors indict five for queen's motorcade blockage  

Russia has registered the world's first vaccine for animals against Covid-19, its agricultural regulator said on Wednesday, after tests showed it generated antibodies against the virus in dogs, cats, foxes and mink.&nbsp;

Mass production of the vaccine, called Carnivac-Cov, can start in April, regulator Rosselkhoznadzor said.&nbsp;

The World Health Organisation has expressed concern over the transmission of the virus between humans and animals. The regulator said the vaccine would be able to protect vulnerable species and thwart viral mutations.&nbsp;

Russia has so far only registered two cases of Covid-19 among animals, both in cats.&nbsp;

Denmark culled all 17 million mink on its farms last year after concluding that a strain of the virus had passed from humans to mink and that mutated strains of the virus had then turned up among people.&nbsp;

Rosselkhoznadzor said Russian fur farms planned to buy the vaccine, along with businesses in Greece, Poland and Austria. Russia's fur farm industry accounts for around 3% of the global market, down from 30% in the Soviet era, according to the main trade body.&nbsp;

Alexander Gintsburg, head of the institute that developed Russia's Sputnik V human vaccine, was quoted in Izvestia newspaper on Monday as saying Covid-19 was likely to hit animals next.&nbsp;

“The next stage of the epidemic is the infection with the coronavirus of farm and domestic animals," Gintsburg said.&nbsp;

Some scientists say that cats and dogs do not play a major role in transmitting the coronavirus to humans and that their own symptoms are often mild if they contract Covid-19.&nbsp;

Clinical trials of the Russian animal vaccine began in October last year and involved dogs, cats, Arctic foxes, mink, foxes and other animals.&nbsp;

"The results of the trials allow us to conclude that the vaccine is safe and highly immunogenic as all the vaccinated animals developed antibodies to the coronavirus," Konstantin Savenkov, Rosselkhoznadzor's deputy head, said in the statement.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Russia has registered the world's first vaccine for animals against Covid-19, its agricultural regulator said on Wednesday, after tests showed it generated antibodies against the virus in dogs, cats, foxes and mink.

Russia has registered the world's first vaccine for animals against Covid-19, its agricultural regulator said on Wednesday, after tests showed it generated antibodies against the virus in dogs, cats, foxes and mink. Mass production of the vaccine, called Carnivac-Cov, can start in April, regulator Rosselkhoznadzor said. The World Health Organisation has expressed concern over the transmission of the virus between humans and animals. The regulator said the vaccine would be able to protect vulnerable species and thwart viral mutations. Russia has so far only registered two cases of Covid-19 among animals, both in cats. Denmark culled all 17 million mink on its farms last year after concluding that a strain of the virus had passed from humans to mink and that mutated strains of the virus had then turned up among people. Rosselkhoznadzor said Russian fur farms planned to buy the vaccine, along with businesses in Greece, Poland and Austria. Russia's fur farm industry accounts for around 3% of the global market, down from 30% in the Soviet era, according to the main trade body. Alexander Gintsburg, head of the institute that developed Russia's Sputnik V human vaccine, was quoted in Izvestia newspaper on Monday as saying Covid-19 was likely to hit animals next. “The next stage of the epidemic is the infection with the coronavirus of farm and domestic animals," Gintsburg said. Some scientists say that cats and dogs do not play a major role in transmitting the coronavirus to humans and that their own symptoms are often mild if they contract Covid-19. Clinical trials of the Russian animal vaccine began in October last year and involved dogs, cats, Arctic foxes, mink, foxes and other animals. "The results of the trials allow us to conclude that the vaccine is safe and highly immunogenic as all the vaccinated animals developed antibodies to the coronavirus," Konstantin Savenkov, Rosselkhoznadzor's deputy head, said in the statement. (With inputs from agencies)

In a first, Russia registers Covid-19 vaccine for animals 

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