Officers Who Watched Floyd Die Charged

Minneapolis authorities yesterday charged three former police officers who stood by as Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes. Chauvin's charge was increased to second-degree murder, and his colleagues stand accused of aiding and abetting the killing. Mostly peaceful protests continued throughout the nation Wednesday, amid calls from conservatives to respond aggressively against demonstrators President Donald Trump described as "killers," "thugs" and "hoodlums." Meanwhile, sympathetic protests continued around the world. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, asked about Trump's use of force, went viral with a 21-second pause before expressing "horror and consternation."

OZY

George Floyd death: Thousands join Birmingham protest

Thousands of demonstrators have gathered in Birmingham to protest about the death in the US of George Floyd.

Mr Floyd, an African-American, died on 25 May when a white policeman continued to kneel on his neck after he pleaded he could not breathe.

Thousands of people marched in London on Wednesday after the death sparked global protests against racism.

The demonstration in Birmingham started in Centenary Square, outside the library, at 16:00 BST.

BBC News correspondent Phil Mackie is at the scene, where he said several thousand people had gathered.

George Floyd: Steve McQueen dedicates Cannes films to his memory

Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen has dedicated his two films selected for Cannes Film Festival to the memory of George Floyd.

Mangrove and Lovers Rock would have featured at the festival before it was cancelled due to coronavirus.

McQueen said: "I dedicate these films to George Floyd and all the other black people that have been murdered, seen or unseen, because of who they are, in the US, UK and elsewhere."

Mr Floyd died in US police custody.

He died on 25 May in Minneapolis after a police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, while three other officers face charges of aiding and abetting murder.

The death has caused protests and sporadic rioting in America, along with global mass demonstrations.

Quoting the legendary Jamaican protest singer and reggae star Bob Marley, McQueen added: "'If you are the big tree, we are the small axe.' Black Lives Matter."

Both of his listed films are part of his BBC Small Axe anthology, consisting of five feature-length stories, which are all now in honour of Mr Floyd.

Stars back John Boyega after Black Lives Matter protest

Stars including JK Rowling and Jordan Peele have praised John Boyega for his emotional speech at a Black Lives Matter protest in London on Wednesday.

"Black lives have always mattered," said the Star Wars actor. "We have always been important. We have always succeeded regardless."

He paid tribute to African-American George Floyd, who died in police custody on 25 May - but said his comments could damage his career.

Instead, Hollywood offered its support.

"We got you, John," said Peele, the Oscar-winning director of Get Out.

Happy to work with you any time, John," said Harry Potter author JK Rowling, whose third Fantastic Beasts film is currently in pre-production. She tweeted applause emojis in response to his speech.

Boyega, who was born in London to parents of Nigerian descent, observed: "I don't know if I'm going to have a career after this."

Film maker Matthew A Cherry, who won an Oscar this year for animated short film Hair Love - about an African-American father styling his daughter's hair for the first time, added his support.

BBCnews

The man whose death sparked US unrest

A memorial service will be held at 1300 local time in Minneapolis today for the man whose death has set off more than a week of unrest in the US.

But who was the man?

Before the image of George Floyd lying under the knee of a policeman set off shock, anger and protests across the US, the arch of his life crossed crests and troughs.

There were highs, as when he, as a teenager in Houston, played American football for the 1992 Texas state champion runners-up Yates High School Lions.

There were lows, as when he was arrested for robbery in 2007 and served five years in prison.

But mostly, it would seem that Floyd, who was 46 when he died in Minneapolis on 25 May, 2020, was simply trying to live life as any other American, in search of betterment in the face of both personal and societal challenges.

BBC

Duchess of Sussex: 'George Floyd's life mattered'

The Duchess of Sussex has issued a personal message about the impact of George Floyd's death in the United States, saying his life "mattered".

Addressing students graduating from her former school in Los Angeles, California, Meghan called on young people and students at the school to come together to rebuild society.

Taraba youths stop soldier from committing suicide

For over an hour, residents of Jalingo, Taraba State, have been struggling to save a military man from committing suicide.

The soldier, whose name is given as Ali, has climbed the Welcome to Taraba Roadblock Tower -over 24fts high, and is threatening to jump down.

He is speaking in Hausa and pidgin, saying: “I want to die. Allow me to jump down and die.” But the youth who have gathered there are begging him: “Please do not jump. We don’t want you to die.”Ali is seen on the high altitude Tower, attempting severally to jump down, but the people are trying to make sure they save him if he jumps. But they say they prefer he changes his mind and does not jump.

Witnesses said the soldier’s behaviour attracted their attention when they spotted him on top of the tower pulling and throwing down the items of clothing on him.

“We noticed someone climbing the place and pulling off his clothes. We got there to discover he is someone we know. He was left with under pant and an inner vest and poised to jump. We went close and began to beg him,” an eyewitness said.

A close look reveals he has an injury on his left kneecap, which he bandaged.

The Nation