Races

People gather during a demonstration in honor of George Floyd on March 7, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jury selection in the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, who is accused of killing Floyd, starts on Monday, March 8. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Stephen Maturen / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) MINNEAPOLIS — The trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd was due to begin on Monday with the screening of jurors to weigh murder and manslaughter charges in a case seen as a referendum on police violence against Black Americans. The judge has set aside three weeks for jury selection alone, mindful of the difficulties finding impartial Minneapolitans in a case that has convulsed a nation and in which an image of the victim — a selfie of Floyd faintly smiling — has fast become an international icon of racial justice. The court mailed prospective jurors an unusually detailed 16-page ... » Learn More about Minneapolis trial in George Floyd death starts with weeks of painstaking jury selection

Hi all, In today's bulletin: Two people were killed and several others injured when Myanmar police fired on protesters in northern Myitkyina town; American and Chinese spacecraft reach Mars in quick succession last month, sparking talk of a space race between the two major powers; Indonesia eases rules to attract foreign investment; and more. Reading this on the web or know someone who might enjoy receiving Asian Insider? Our sign-up page is here . More killed in Myanmar protests as unions call for economic shutdown Two people were killed  and several others injured when Myanmar police fired on protesters in the northern town of Myitkyina on Monday (March 8), witnesses said. This was as shops, factories and banks were closed in Myanmar’s biggest city Yangon on Monday (March 8), after major trade unions called for a shutdown of the economy as part of the uprising against the country’s military rulers who had ousted the civilian government in a Feb 1 coup. ... » Learn More about Asian Insider, March 8: More deaths in Myanmar protests; US-China rivalry extending to space

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan: A total of 85,248 indigent patients from Pangasinan, Tarlac and La Union provinces has been served by the Malasakit Center based at the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) here since its opening on Feb. 26, 2019. This was announced on Wednesday by R1MC chief Dr. Joseph Roland Mejia during the first anniversary celebration of the center in the presence of Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. The Malasakit Center, according to Mejia, has already disbursed more than P120 million to pay the hospital bills of the indigent patients of R1MC and other hospitals in the Ilocos Region. “This is a very important initiative of President Rodrigo Duterte and [Sen. Bong Go] that has assisted many poor folks in the three provinces,” he said. Mejia cited incumbent Fourth District Rep. Christopher de Venecia, son of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and former representative Gina de Venecia, for his continuing support in improving and constructing buildings at R1MC ... » Learn More about 85K served by Malasakit Center in Ilocos Region

It is true that Manchester United might had an under-par season to date. Yet, despite an expectancy for them to be busy in the January transfer window it took them until now to land their first signing in the shape of Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who signed for an initial £47m . How the deal unfolded Manchester United have been long term admirers of Fernandes with strong rumours linking them with a move for him back in the summer window, but nothing materialized at that time. Fast forward a few months into the season though and it became clear that United were in desperate need of three things – leadership, experience and quality – and Fernandes fits the profile perfectly hence the murmurings of a substantial bid gaining traction again. It was widely believed that a deal would be concluded early in the month, but Sporting rebuffed the initial bids from United as they were considered to be stacked in the English club’s favour with respect of add ons that were ... » Learn More about Manchester United Finally Sign Bruno Fernandes

While the summertime can prove a rather dry period for sports fans, this year the return of the oldest and most beloved sporting event in the world will mark a season of excitement instead. The Japan 2020 Olympics, held in its capital Tokyo, will run from July 24th to August 9th, with over 11,000 athletes ready to compete. The games are expected to bring a surge in betting across the country, with the various sports offering an alternative way to get involved with the games. It will surely be an exciting time for both punters and online bookmakers , who will look to capitalize on this massive event and its betting opportunities that the Japanese public isn’t accustomed to. Japan and betting In Japan, the only sports that its people are officially allowed to bet on are horse, bicycle, motorcycle and motorboat racing – with motorboat racing standing as the most popular one. On the streets, Pachinko remains a hot favourite for the Japanese people, with the game ... » Learn More about Betting Boom Expected for the Japan 2020 Olympics

TORUN, POLAND (AFP) - Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis and Jakob Ingebrigtsen, two of the rising stars of track and field, showcased all their incredible promise with imperious displays to win the pole vault and 3,000 metres at the European Indoor Athletics championships in Torun on Sunday (March 7). Coming up to four years since Usain Bolt retired, the athletics world has been long looking for a replacement worthy of the plaudits lauded on the multi-medalled Jamaican sprint legend. And in US-born Swede Duplantis and Norwegian track prodigy Ingebrigtsen, they might well have found two suitable substitutes in a sport in need of identifiable pin-ups. Ingebrigtsen, 20, defended his 3,000m title to claim a Euro indoor double after his controversy-ridden victory in the 1,500m on Friday, recording a personal best of 7min 48.20sec. It was almost a case of the Norwegian heading home with nothing after a dramatic 1,500m that saw him disqualified for stepping infield, only to be reinstated in ... » Learn More about Athletics: Rising stars Duplantis, Ingebrigtsen imperious at European indoor meet

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Hundreds of survivors of sexual abuse by former USA Gymnastics team coach Larry Nassar received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2018 ESPYs on Wednesday (July18). More than 140 of the women joined hands on stage in a moving finale to the awards show that honors top athletes and sporting performances of the previous year. Actress Jennifer Garner presented the award, saying that while the story of the "sister survivors" was difficult, it was one that the world "has to hear". Sarah Klein, who identified herself as the first to be abused by Nassar, said that she and others on the stage "represent hundreds more who are not here tonight. "Make no mistake," she said. "We are here on this stage ... a portrait of survival." The courage award is given annually to someone who embodies the spirit of tennis great and human rights activist Arthur Ashe. Nassar was accused of sexual assault under the guise of treatment by more than 265 women, many of them ... » Learn More about Gymnastics: Larry Nassar abuse survivors accept Arthur Ashe courage award at ESPYs

When work stress hits, can guilty pleasures be far behind? Sometimes we write off our costly designer coffee as a ‘harmless’ reward for our hard work . . . or load up our online shopping cart for a fleeting moment of joy. But is this — and other indulgences — the way to a stable future? While we could all use an occasional pick-me-upper, the past year’s crises have underscored the role of wise spending in achieving financial security. There is now a notable increase in the number of Filipinos — young adults particularly — who have ceased to be excessive spenders and are cleverly eyeing more meaningful purchases and investments. Successful property platform Ohmyhome is well aware of this and aims to aid these individuals in pursuing their goal through its webinar series called OhTalks, which will air its third episode on February 27, at 3 p.m., via Facebook live. The webinar will dwell on such timely subjects as financial literacy, real estate, entrepreneurship, and technology, ... » Learn More about Ohmyhome shares tips on finances and savings

The first hydro-power dam on the lower Mekong River began commercial operations in Laos on Tuesday. The opening sparked protests from Thai villagers who say the Xayaburi Dam will destroy their livelihoods. The 1,285-megawatt Xayaburi Dam’s debut coincides with parts of the Mekong drying to a trickle even at the end of the rainy season. However its builders and operators say it is not responsible for the reduced river flow. Xayaburi, which will sell 95% of its power to Thailand at an average rate of 2 baht per unit. The hydro-power dam is the first of at least nine more hydro-power projects. Which are either under construction or planned on the lower Mekong in Laos. The new spate of dam-building is poised to turbo-charge already-fraught water and food security disputes after years of worry about the 11 existing Beijing-built dams on the upper Mekong in China. Which environmentalists say are choking the river on which millions depend for their livelihoods in Laos, Thailand, ... » Learn More about Xayaburi Dam Opens in Laos Sparking Protests in Thailand