Several US states activate National Guard troops as protests over police killings of unarmed Black people grow.

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  • Another round of protests is gripping major cities across the United States against police brutality and violence, especially against unarmed Black people.
  • Several states have called in National Guard troops to help quell the protests, with some turning violent with fires and looting. Cities nationwide have also implemented curfews, but protesters appear undeterred.
  • Protesters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have pledged to stay in the streets until all four officers involved in the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, are charged. Floyd died on Monday after a white officer pinned his neck to the ground. The officer – Derek Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. The other officers have not been charged.
  • Trump orders Pentagon to put military police on alert, saying they may be deployed to Minnesota.

Latest updates:

Sunday, May 31

02:00 GMT – What Al Jazeera correspondents and reporters are seeing in major US cities

Gabriel Elizondo in New York City: “It’s pretty chaotic out here right now … Groups of protesters are really playing a cat and mouse game [with police]  … Right now the bottom line is: New York City is really a city in the middle of fog right now because it’s really hard to make out exactly what’s happening

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Natasha Ghoneim in Chicago, Illinois: “This moment is eerily reminiscent of another moment that the city of Chicago had and it won’t fade from it’s memory. That was in 2014 when the police shot and killed 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.” (Read more about that police killing here.)

Lucien Formichella in Minneapolis, Minnesota: “There was a tense moment here in Minneapolis earlier when what was believed to be a drunk man attempted to drive his car through the protest area. The situation was de-escalated by protesters, and the man was sent back. Protesters then erected a makeshift barricades to stop cars from driving down the street.”

US protest
A banner with an image of George Floyd is seen as protesters continue to rally against the death in Minneapolis police custody of Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota [Leah Millis/Reuters]

Rob Reynolds in Los Angeles: “As night falls the stand off between protesters and police continue.”

Mike Hanna in Washington, DC: “The demonstrations here have been largely peaceful through the course of the day and indeed in the course of the evening. There had been some scuffles. At one stage demonstrators were being pushed back across the park in front of the White House, but generally the demonstrations have been relatively peaceful.”

01:45 GMT – More cities impose curfews

Eugene, Oregon, was the latest US city to impose a nightly curfew as protests over the death of George Floyd intensifies.

Eugene city officials enacted a 9pm Saturday curfew

Seattle and Portland, Oregon, also issued Saturday night curfews due to unrest.

Eugene is home to the University of Oregon.

01:30 GMT – Protests erupt in US West Coast

Protests on the West Coast of the US are rocking several cities

Washington Governor Jay Inslee activated up to 200 members of the National Guard to respond to protests, some violent, in downtown Seattle that forced the closure of Interstate 5 and the imposition of a citywide curfew.

Inslee said the guard personnel will be unarmed and be directed by Seattle officials, who requested the help to protect property and manage crowds who had gathered in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

LA protests
A woman gestures in front of police officers during a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Los Angeles, California [Patrick T Fallon/Reuters]

The mayor of Seattle, Washington, meanwhile announced a 5pm curfew for Saturday following protests that spilled onto Interstate 5, forcing the freeway’s closure through the central part of the Northwest’s largest city.

The mayor of Portland, Oregon declared an 8pm curfew for Saturday after that city saw fiery protests Friday night.

00:40 GMT – Protesters in Minneapolis run after man believed to have a knife

Calls of “he’s got a knife” rang out as a large group of protesters, roughly 100, followed a man out of the protest.

Many in the group were yelling “let him go”. Before getting out of the parking lot where he was walking, another man ran up and sprayed him with what appeared to be mace.

“I saw somebody run that way after him, [onto Lake Street] but I don’t know if he got caught,” said one witness.

Lucien Formichella@lucien_form

Calls of “he’s got a knife” rang out as a large group of protesters, roughly 100, followed a man out of the

Many in the group were yelling “let him go.” Before getting out of the parking lot, another man ran up and sprayed him with what appeared to be mace.

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00:15 GMT – Protesters defy curfew in Minneapolis, other cities

Hundreds of protesters continued to rally in Minneapolis, even as a city-wide curfew took effect. Similar reports were coming from other cities across the US.

Protesters have told Al Jazeera that will stay in the streets and continue to rally at least until all four officers involved in the death of Floyd are arrested. They are also calling for police reforms.

Us Protests - Minneapolis
Hundreds of people continued to rally in Minneapolis on Saturday after a curfew began [ Lucien Formichella/Al Jazeera]

00:05 GMT – Protests intensify in Texas

As anger over the death of Floyd intensified in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott said he was sending more than 1,500 state troopers to cities where demonstrations were taking place.

Abbott said in a news release Saturday that troopers are being sent to Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo says on Twitter that nearly 200 people were arrested Friday and most will be charged with obstructing a roadway as several protesters blocked an interstate and a highway.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Austin on Saturday outside police headquarters and then marched along Interstate 35.

00:00 GMT – Protesters confront police in Chicago

Protesters were confronting police in Chicago, Illinois, for a second night as anger about police violence and the death of Floyd grew.

More than 100 arrests were made on Friday night in relation to the protests, police said.

Saturday, May 30

23:50 GMT – Protests grip New York City for third night

Protesters rallied in New York City for a third night on Saturday, marching and blocking traffic on the highway.

Several thousand peacefully protested in Union Square and outside Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. Later in the day, as protesters confronted police, video posted online showed officers pushing some protesters to the ground.

Jake Offenhartz@jangelooff

Big turnout outside Prospect Park for another protest in Brooklyn, one of several happening across the city today. “Are we tired? No!/ Are we gonna stop? No!”

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The mayor said he was upset by videos in which “protesters were handled very violently” by police and by reports that a state senator and member of the state Assembly were among the people sprayed with irritating chemicals by officers.

Dozens have been arrested over the three days of protest, according to authorities.

23:20 GMT – Protesters rally in Atlanta

Hundreds of people rallied outside the mansion of the governor of Georgia.

Video and photos shared on social media showed protesters blocking the road in front of the Atlanta building, chanted “hands up, don’t shoot!”

According to The Associated Post news agency, the governor, Brian Kemp, was not home on Saturday evening.

Beau Evans

@beauvans

Protest outside Gov’s Mansion in Atlanta got a little testy a few minutes ago; crowd moved from the sidewalk to the street & blocked traffic. Now people are raising their hands

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Atlanta’s mayor has announced a 9pm (01:00 GMT) curfew in the city that will last until sunrise Sunday morning.

Protests turned violent as outrage over Floyd’s death intensified outside the headquarters of CNN on Friday night.

22:30 GMT – Minneapolis city leaders call for state’s attorney general to be named special prosecutor

Community leaders and organisers have told Al Jazeera they want Keith Ellison to handle the case as they do not trust Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to do so.

Local media also reported that six of the city council’s 13 members have supported that call.

Ellison, who is Black and was also the first Muslim US congressman before being elected Minnesota attorney general, has good ties with the community, organisers have told Al Jazeera.

22:15 GMT – Protests erupt outside White House for second night

Protester have gathered outside the White House for a second night, demanding an end to police violence and to protest against US President Donald Trump, who has been accused of inciting and glorifying violence.

Trump said on Saturday that he is a “friend and ally to every American”.

“I stand before you in firm opposition to anyone exploiting this tragedy to loot, rob, attack and menace. Healing, not hatred, justice, not chaos are the missions at hand,” Trump said in Florida, where he was watching the launching of the SpaceX rocket.

Without evidence, the president has blamed “radical left” protesters for the violence.

The White House was placed on lockdown on Friday evening as protesters tore down barricades outside the White House. Those barricades were several feet in front the fence that surrounds the president’s residence.

22:25 GMT – Ohio calls in National Guard

The governor of Ohio has called in the National Guard to support local authorities as protests continue to rage in Columbus and Cleveland.

The mayors of both cities announced 10pm (02:00 GMT) curfews.

Governor Mike DeWine said Saturday that the vast majority of protesters want “simply to be heard” and focus attention on the death of Floyd.

But the governor adds that sadly the calls for justice and change are “being drowned out by a smaller group of violent individuals.” He says that “acts of violence cannot, and will not, be tolerated.”

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther says he believes racism “is a public health and safety crisis” and he wants to see a more equitable city, but “we are now at a point that we can no longer tell who is protesting for change and an end to racism and who has only chaos and destruction in mind.”

22: 20 GMT – Denver imposes curfew

The mayor of Denver, Colorado, has ordered a nighttime a curfew as demonstrations protesting the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis entered a third day.

Mayor Michael Hancock said Saturday that the Colorado National Guard would help enforce the 8pm to 5am (02:00 – 11:00 GMT) curfew.

Downtown Denver has seen protests for two nights, with tense moments between demonstrators and police. Authorities have fired tear gas, flash grenades and pepper pellets. Some protesters have broken windows of businesses.

22:00 GMT – George Floyd protests: Minnesota fully mobilises National Guard

The governor of Minnesota, where protests have erupted over police brutality and the death of George Floyd during the last week, has fully mobilised the National Guard to Minneapolis for the first time in state history.

Governor Tim Walz said the deployment comes as part of an effort to help quell the protests, which have often started off peaceful before descending into chaos, with fires and looting – violence he largely blamed on outsiders.

Read more here.

Minneapolis
A man reacts as he confronts National Guard members guarding an area of Minneapolis, Minnesota [Carlos Barria/Reuters]

Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the protests in the United States over the deadly arrest of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath in Louisville, Kentucky, and Lucien Formichella in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Here are a few things to get caught up:

  • George Floyd, unarmed 46-year-old Black man, died on Monday after a white officer used his knee to pin Floyd’s neck to the ground for several minutes. Floyd can be heard on a bystander video repeatedly pleading with officers, saying “I can’t breathe.” He eventually goes motionless with the officer’s knee still on his neck. (You can read about the deadly incident here.)
  • The four officers involved in the incident were fired. Derek Chauvin, the white officer, who pinned Floyd down has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Protesters demand the three other protesters be charged as well.
  • Protests – some violent – have since erupted nationwide as demonstrators rally for justice for Floyd and all unarmed Black people killed by police.

See the updates from Friday night’s protests here.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

Latin America coronavirus deaths top 50,000: Live updates

South America cases near one million with Brazil registering half of infections as other countries prepare to reopen.

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  • Latin America’s deaths topped 50,000 and cases neared 1 million, with countries such as Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru struggling to stem the tide, according to a Reuters tally.

  • Brazil has registered a record 33,274 new cases of the coronavirus, its health ministry said, raising the total to 498,440 in a country with one of the world’s worst outbreaks. The country’s death toll has increased to 28,834, with 956 new deaths in the last 24 hours, the ministry added.
  • Italy added 111 new victims to the country’s official death toll from the new coronavirus and 416 new infections as it prepares to relax travel restrictions next week. The increases bring the official death toll to 33,340.

  • A third member of a scientific advisory body to the British government has warned that it is too soon to lift the COVID-19 lockdown because the test and trace system is not yet fully operational.

  • More than 6.04 million cases of coronavirus have been confirmed around the world, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Some 368,000 people have died, including more than 103,000 in the US, while at least 2.4 million have recovered.

Here are the latest updates:

Sunday, May 31

02:34 GMT – China reports two new coronavirus cases for May 30

China recorded two new confirmed cases of coronavirus on May 30, down from four the day before, Reuters news agency reported on Sunday quoting data from the country’s health authority.

Both cases were imported in the Chinese province of Shandong, the National Health Commission (NHC) said in a statement on its website. The NHC also confirmed three new asymptomatic cases, compared to four the day before.

With no new deaths reported, the death toll remained at 4,634. The total number of confirmed cases in the mainland as of May 30 stood at 83,001, data form NHC showed.

02:15 GMT – South Korea reports 27 new coronavirus cases

South Korea reported 27 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, the lowest since a cluster infection linked to a logistics centre near Seoul broke out last week, Yonhap news agency reported quoting health officials.

The new cases raised South Korea’s total coronavirus caseload to 11,468.

The country reported one additional death, bringing the total death toll at 270. The fatality rate was 2.35 percent. The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,405, up 7 from the previous day, with 793 people currently under treatment.

01:48 GMT – Mexico counts 9,779 coronavirus deaths, 87,512 cases

Mexico has reported 2,885 new cases of coronavirus and 364 more deaths, bringing the total numbers to 87,512 cases and 9,779 fatalities, according to data from health authorities.

Mexico - coronavirus
A small group of protesters rally on Saturday against Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his handling of the new coronavirus pandemic [Rebecca Blackwell/AP]

01:18 GMT – Colombia to shut down Bogota neighbourhood

The mayor of Colombia’s capital is planning to shut down one of the city’s largest neighbourhoods as cases there continue to rise.

Mayor Claudia Lopez said that starting June 1st the working-class Kennedy area – home to nearly 1.5 million people – will be under a strict quarantine.

Police and military will enforce the lockdown and no one will be allowed out, except to seek food or medical care or in case of an emergency.

Businesses like manufacturing that had been allowed to operate will be ordered closed. Lopez said that testing for the virus will be doubled. The area today has more nearly 2,500 cases and hospitals there are reaching maximum capacity.

00:10 GMT – Greece reopens doors to travellers subject to testing, possible quarantine

Greek officials said Saturday said that the country would not limit incoming tourists to those from a list of 29 nations, but travellers from countries not on the list will be subject to mandatory testing on arrival and a period of quarantine depending on test results.

The policy will only be applied during the final two weeks of June, although Greek authorities left open the prospect of additional restrictions after that date.

Arrivals from 29 countries listed will be tested randomly. The list was drawn up based on a document from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

00:01 GMT – Turkey prepares to reopen, resume domestic flights

Disinfection teams swept Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, and the resumption of domestic flights was announced as Turkey prepared to lift many remaining coronavirus restrictions.

Teams scrubbed the floors of the 15th-century bazaar, which has been closed since March 23, before Monday’s return to business. The transport minister said the first air routes between Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya and Trabzon would restart Monday, with others following gradually.

On Saturday evening, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced 983 new cases of coronavirus during the previous 24 hours, taking Turkey’s total number of cases to 163,103. In a tweet, he said there had been 26 deaths from the virus over the same period, bringing the overall death toll to 4,515.

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Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. I’m Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

You can find all the updates from yesterday, May 30, here.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

Trump postpones G7 summit, seeks to expand invitation list

US president says he wants to expand the list of countries invited to include Australia, Russia, South Korea and India.

Trump talks to the members of the press at the G7 Summit in France in 2019 [File: Andrew Harnik/AP]
Trump talks to the members of the press at the G7 Summit in France in 2019 [File: Andrew Harnik/AP]

US President Donald Trump has announced that he would postpone the Group of Seven summit that he wanted to hold in late June and expand the list of countries invited to include Australia, Russia, South Korea and India.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One during his return to Washington from Cape Canaveral in Florida, Trump said the G7 in its current format is a “very outdated group of countries”.

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“I’m postponing it because I don’t feel that as a G7 it properly represents what’s going on in the world,” Trump said.

The decision is a dramatic pivot for Trump, who had sought to host the group of major industrialised countries in Washington as a demonstration that the United States was returning to normal after the coronavirus epidemic, which has killed more than 103,000 Americans to date.

The G7 is made up of the US, Italy, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, the UK, as well as the European Union.

Earlier, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that she has declined Trump’s invitation to attend the G7 summit in person, while the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread around the world.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who hosted the 2018 summit, had also said that any in-person gathering would have to prioritise safety, while a French presidential official said President Emmanuel Macron, last year’s host, was “willing to go to Camp David if the health conditions allow”.

European Council head Charles Michel, meanwhile, said through a spokesman that he would attend “if health conditions allow”.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES

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