as he hears that it's really army has arrived in the village with the bulldozer grabs it and say soldiers give them one minute to do. it took the found me months to build their brick house and less than an hour to see you get demolished. the in. the. jury selection begins in the trial of the former policeman facing charges for his role in the death of george floyd. hello i'm barbara starr you're watching al-jazeera live from london also coming up the legal technicality that's paved the way for brazil's lula the stage of political comeback stripped of immunity from prosecution catalonians former president and 2 other ministers now facing possible extradition to spain and when

the chips are down the world faces a major shortage of semiconductors and 2 countries hold a virtual monopoly. a day later than planned a course in the u.s. has begun the process of choosing a jury in the trial of the former police officer charged with killing george floyd but the process has already run into difficulties george floyd died in may last year after a white police officer derrick chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly 9 minutes his death prompted mass public protests and calls for racial justice the court has set aside 3 weeks to choose the jurors but people have already shown too much knowledge of the case well a higher court could cause more delays john hendren joins us live now from

minneapolis john i guess the real challenge is going to be trying to find people that haven't heard about this case so the jury selection has begun the cases and they too so what's happening at this early stage. well right now as you say they aren't talking to the jurors they're on a lunch break right now but they've talked to 3 jurors so far and interesting interesting lee the 1st one a hispanic woman was struck the 3rd one a hispanic man was struck the 2nd one a caucasian man in his twenty's or thirty's we don't know because we don't get to see them the court is shielding their identities was accepted and so the prosecution challenged that 3rd juror dismissal saying this appears to be done just on the basis of race the judge said no it seemed that that juror actually already had decided against the police officer in this case so the big question really is

did officer derrick show ven kill george floyd when he knelt for 9 minutes on floyd's neck and did he know what he was doing in other words did he have intent and they've got a couple of ways of arriving at that there is a 2nd degree murder that means there was intent but not premeditation and they've got a manslaughter charge which is a much lower bar and right now an appeals court is deciding whether they can and the charge of 2nd degree murder that's something the prosecution wants to wants to get because they want to have every opportunity they can to convict eric show when they know exactly what the stakes are here and they are enormous so this trial is now in the 2nd day of what we expect to be up to 3 weeks of jury selection going to select 12 jurors and 4 alternates and as you say they're trying to make sure those jurors haven't pre-decided this case and they've heard from some jurors that

they know a fair amount of it because of course this is like the rodney king trial in los angeles that was a police beating trial 30 years ago when pretty much everybody knew about the case this of course set off riots across. the u.s. in protests around the world and so they're trying to find people who even if they know about the case are not going to prejudge it and that's where they are now and they think after jury selection this could take up to a month to decide this trial but of course we don't really know what will be in the hands of those 12 jurors and i mean of course as you sort of hinted at both the prosecution and the defense can reject various jurors because the death of george floyd set of protests around the world riots of course across the u.s. as you mentioned there really is so much at stake in this trial isn't there. the stakes are enormous and if you just look here at the city of minneapolis that's a courthouse behind me you can see the high temporary prisons style gates they put

up on the other side there are national guard troops in cammo gear with military weapons standing in front of this courthouse there are no protesters here because it's at such an early stage in the case but around the buildings are being boarded up and the concern is that what happened with the may death of george floyd when crowds came out were very angry having seen the video of the officer kneeling on his neck and there were buildings that were burned confrontations with police and much of it was peaceful protesting but there was also some some significant violence that occurred here in chicago and l.a. and other cities across the u.s. so this case has really galvanized the black lives matter movement which had been in existence for years before that but this was really probably the biggest case to motivate protests in the street since that rodney king case 30 years ago and the

concern is that if their children is not convicted of anything whatever the merits of that case people will be out in the streets and they could have a recurrence of the kind of events we had over the summer in which there was violence and arson in the streets in many cities so the jurors and the judges all know that bats the case and those are the stakes are pretty high. john hendren with the latest in minneapolis john for the moment thank you. if we called it some best suited to the u.k. after he broke ranks with the military leaders and urged them to free. in the country itself a 2nd official with her party has died after being arrested over night by security forces the spike that another night of violence has again turned out across the

country here scott hietala. the campaign of intimidation reaches new levels in yangon hundreds of young protesters were trapped after they were surrounded by police and myanmar's military in the city's ascend chowed district threatening door to door searches they fired guns and use stun grenades as they patrolled warning that anyone hiding protesters would also be punished but. it lasted all night the protesters were finally able to leave in the early morning hours after the security forces pulled out in a rare and risky nighttime gathering protesters in yangon broke curfew went to the streets calling for the release of the others there were reports at least 2 dozen were arrested overnight unfazed by the heavy hand of the security forces across the country protesters came out and faced the continued crackdown just a few hours after the trapped protesters in yangon were finally able to leave since

the february 1st coup and advocacy group estimates 800 people have been detained several lawyers have stationed themselves in front of insane prison helping relatives of those arrested find out if they are inside and if they need a lawyer they say they're dedicated to serving those who have been detained free of charge but also getting information to the families. we are not afraid of people threatening us because we are doing this in accordance with the law and if they do threaten us is illegal we are prepared to carry out until the end. in nearby malaysia a court has given rights groups amnesty international and asylum access the right to challenge the deportation of myanmar nationals a big step in the country because its laws often make it difficult to challenge immigration decisions in court. 1086 citizens were sent back to myanmar on february 23rd it's unlikely they will return to malaysia but it will prevent more

than 100 others from being deported the next hearing is in 2 weeks. while it's clear myanmar security forces plan to continue their crackdown the protesters are also not backing down on the streets. coming out to continue putting pressure on the john to. al-jazeera. after more than 3 years as a political outcast the man once hailed as the most popular politician a nurse is poised for a comeback now brazil's former president's electoral hopes could receive a 2nd shelf in the arm well the country's supreme court is voting on whether to throw out evidence against and let the scene valid a day after overturning his corruption conviction his legal legal team says the original judge was not impartial that verdict blocked him from running for a 3rd term the past that's now open to him unless the result retrial he would likely become the kneading rival against the current president also nytol in next

year's. let's go live now to monica in a key every joins us from rio de janeiro i want to go what do we know about how that vote in the supreme court is progressing. really going on and there are 5 did you have already we know that they they they will vote in favor. of them will likely vote against him that means they won't consider him to have been partial to have a political agenda and then there's the 5th vote which which we're waiting to see which way it will turn but. the bottom line is what's being now question in brazil is the dish. every system says you mortal was the man of the year the man who had unveiled a whole corruption scheme. that resulted was named to the carwash scandal.

it involved politicians and. businesses companies the oil company presidents and former presidents not only from brazil but also from other countries like peru and this investigation that started out in the southern city of wood each year but it just grew and grew and grew and snowballed until there was been pietschmann to former president. from the workers' party also the same party as lula and little of was in prison but money does this do you think that if the voting monica forgive me if the voting goes the way that lula the civil would want to think his political comeback is a short while nothing is certain in brazil right now we're at the worst point of the pandemic yes at least he can be he

could run for president and he is a very popular pushy still get their act to reintegrate rejection for him because of all the corruption scandals so he would be the exact opposite of the model who is having trouble with the pandemic he hasn't handled it well at all and he's been very criticised but he's also popular with many people that don't want people who like combat. polarized once more and in the middle of it for a moment in time that make it so we're here to see. the latest live don't want to thank you. catalonia is former president and 2 of his former ministers have been stripped of in unity from prosecution cutlass praised them on fled spain after the clearing the region independent back in 2007 told the group again protection as members of the european parliament they could

now face extradition and jail time at home but as nadine baba reports it's not straightforward it's a move that's rekindled in the debate over the future of spain's catalonia region and its independence movements the results of the voting session of monday th of march european parliament has removed the immunity of colors which demands for a catalogue president to associates all of whom have seats in the assembly they fled abroad in 2017 following an independence referendum and subsequent declaration of independence which the spanish government to legal it is a sad day for european parliament. we have lost our immunity but the rupee and parliament has lost more than that. and it's a regime which european democracy to. this is a clear case of political persecution the decision could help madrid's bid to

extradite the trio colors courage to mount tony come in and color ponce said he had been charged with sedition in spain which demand to kamin are also accused of misusing public funds but ponce 30 who's based in scotland told our jazeera they're confident of winning an appeal we were good test these nothing really didn't do them justice. means that these are both the go persecution and as such. should not have believed that. they sometimes. don't go home and hopes that we were on the heel the 2017 independence referendum stoked major tensions between the spanish government and the leaders of catalonia an autonomous region of 7 and a half 1000000 people the bitterness of the debate has diminished since socialist prime minister pedal sanchez came to power in madrid in 28 team. but in last month's regional elections separatist parties gained for additional seats in the

catalan parliament then dependent the if parties who compromised our right to attend the collect so there are all kinds of political opinions in the independent the inst party if they want this majority in parliament so this proves that we still have that balance fun in the whole meanwhile a belgian court recently rejected spain's request to extradite another former catalan cabinet member and it's far from clear how authorities here and in scotland will cooperate with madrid now the team barbara al-jazeera. still to come on down the government in the ivory coast wins a parliamentary majority of the opposition parties claiming 40 and the largest global study of its kind finds that one in 3 women has experienced physical or sexual violence.

how is looking rather stormy across central parts of the mediterranean a little area clad him moving across italy into the balkans see some lively storms on this front more of that to come over the next couple days as some wet and windy weather coming through here with some large hail and this some rather wild weather all post pushing up across the northwestern corner pushing across the british isles as we go on through the next 24 hours where to stay that's like a really wet day across much of the british isles a cloud of rain will sweep through gale force winds potential for damaging winds and some heavy rain at times what's the weather will make its way in scandinavia really tiny snows it hits the cold air also over the top temperature one degree celsius not as cold as moscow mind you temperatures hit a high than minus 10 in the heat of the day cold even for moscow this time if you will some wintry weather then just around the balkans pushing across. into remain

yes still a few showers live the showers there rumbling away across greece but clear skies come back in behind this we go on into worth fighting trifles western side of the med stormy alive which was the eastern side of the med and further northeast looking very unsettled as well while snow coming into scandinavia into the baltic states and then heavy rains through much of germany france and northern spain. once city to alice. now posted to remote villages in. algiers follows the personal journeys of women teaches their daily struggles with isolation and battles with physical hardship. sacrificing their lives for the education of future generations. women in the wind on al-jazeera.

the room with a. reminder now of the top stories on al-jazeera a jury is being chosen for the trial of derek show ven the former american police officer accused of killing an unarmed black man george school but jury selection has already run into difficulties with people who are aware of the case the future political hopes of brazil's former president lula da silva could get another boost as the supreme court votes on whether to throw out evidence against the court overturned this corruption conviction on monday. and 3 catalan separatists

politicians fail at face extradition to spain after being stripped of their immunity former regional leader can this push them along to and 2 others were charged with sedition for declaring independence. the us house of representatives vote on the $1.00 trillion dollars coated relief bill has been delayed until wednesday the democratic controlled chamber already plas passed one form of it before senators approved it with amendments that sent it back to the lower chamber which could lead the president sign it into law later this week the plan from the biden white house includes a $1400.00 check for most americans and $14000000000.00 for vaccine distribution u.s. climate envoy john kerry has warned that the european union and united states must revive their joint efforts to curb emissions he's in brussels to discuss preparations for the un climate summit later this year. i come here to read you

conversations with our friends in europe over our cooperation on climate which was extraordinary as we lead up to paris it will have to even be stronger now we face extraordinary crisis because the science is screaming out of the evidence grows by the year last year again hottest year history go back a trace of all many other indicators official results show the government won parliamentary elections in ivory coast but the opposition is maintaining allegations allegations of fraud the party of president alison with tara won more than half of the $254.00 seats up for grabs the opposition groups took more than $100.00 including several contentious seats where protests were expected the president won another term in an equally contested poll last year which sold

violence and the deaths of more than $85.00 people back when he addresses in abidjan and says the election ended as expected. the last pretty contentious. seats have been declared just a few minutes ago on that stage by the by an election official and that's the seats for you pull gone mccoury. and. so from indications now the governing party of president of us will want to as swept more than half the seats in parliament in 5 k. projections that he the party has won $138.00 seats in parliament leaving the rest to the other political parties now this is the official statement so far all the official stand so far and we expect a formal statement from the election commission to tell us how they went about this so it's almost settled now. has been won and lost by the respective political

parties the person is quite was projected to do well now because last year when the opposition to the presidential election was a lot of observers it could be negatively impact on its performance in subsequent elections and this is what is p.c. now right across i because. in a european 1st $10000000.00 doses of the russian sputnik v vaccine will be produced in italy production is set to start in july with the order completed before the end of the year russia wants to expand production across more nations with deals made in spain france and germany it's further evidence of unhappiness with the slow progress of the joint european union vaccine purchase scheme fewer than one in 10 in 10 italians has been given the jab but the sputnik fact seems not even been approved by european regulators. meanwhile in the occupied west bank health workers

are facing intense pressure in their fight against the coronavirus hospitals are so overwhelmed that they're that they're turning cuban 1000 patients away need to abraham reports now from ramallah. we're standing here in one of the main governments of the hospitals with 900 patients and the hospital officials have been telling us that they're turning away tens of patients every day who need medical attention we're here in front of the emergency room and we're seeing patients waiting for their turn to get a room inside this hospital. staff told us that she is a priority when there's a vacancy they would move her immediately i know that they're doing their best given the circumstances. the doctor told us she has to sleep in the hospital but we can't keep waiting in the corridor my mother in law is tired she's 92 years old people's concerns were confirmed by the palestinian prime minister the fact that

the hospitals are very full occupancy even though the government has doubled the i.c.u. since the start of the pandemic he says that this is left the government with one off because those are and more social distancing and wearing masks but people have been this up a spied with the government they say that not only did this government not compensate people for the consecutive closures over the past year but also some of the few 1000 arrive in the occupied west bank have been given to missiles and their families which is raising a lot of concerns among people about the integrity of any future vaccine for a lot of progress. the world health organization says violence against women remains devastatingly pervasive and starts alarmingly young this is the dire assessment of the biggest ever reporting to the issue based on data between 2002018 it says that one in 3 women worldwide is subjected to physical or sexual violence

in their lifetime that's 736000000 women and girls a number that hasn't changed over the past decade intimate partner violence is by far the most prevalent globally a quarter of young women who have been in a relationship will suffer violence at the hands of a partner by their mid twenty's the highest rates of violence are in the poorest countries where almost 40 percent of women are affected and while data was completed before the pandemic the w.h.o. says that covert 19 is increased women's exposure to violence due to lock downs and disruptions to support services while the world health organization says many women are still too scared to speak out the prevalence of violence intimate partner violence is unacceptably high well we have seen more women disclosing

things to movements like me to stop the blame in others the issue remains highly stigmatized and many still hear the blame and the repercussions if they speak out. the british royal family says it's saddened by issues raised by prince harry and his wife meghan markle in their high profile u.s. t.v. interview the couple spoke of their mental health struggles and said some members of the family voiced concerns over their son archie's skin color a statement released on behalf of queen elizabeth says the whole family is saddened to learn to to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for harry and megan the issues raised particularly that of race are concerning while some recollections may vary they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately harry megan and archie will always be much loved

family members. a global shortage of computer chips is hurting high tech industries from the makers of game console console's to cars the demand for something the whole world's come to depend on is highlighted the dominance of just 2 countries rob mcbride reports from seoul. between them south korea and taiwan have a near monopoly on the world's production of processing and memory chips it's a dominance in a strategic commodity that's been developing over years but now making itself felt as the world becomes increasingly technology driven but from here on out it's going to broader considerately to egypt with everything modern fighter. it's not. your electric vehicle in your cars it's going to have a retreat it's getting old like other car makers this general motors plant outside seoul has been experiencing delays because of a global shortage of chips it's been

a wakeup call for many world leaders but the investment of time and money needed to become a chip maker means south korea and taiwan will maintain their lead for years to come it's a global shortage that's been made worse by the pandemic when car factories ramped up production again late last year it coincided with a surge in demand for consumer goods also needing chips and a move towards online activities requiring greater data processing that needs yes ever more chips frank wang is the founder of one of taiwan's chip manufacturers whose business has grown as the island has come to dominate the sector this is a burning portal with one continual so why a bell in the porch opinion i me state and other you know we're country that one is so buying toys in the. process if we have a problem in the war or have

a problem it's this indispensable that works well right now taiwan's chips are also indispensable to mainland china providing it with the so-called silicon shield against beijing's expansion in the region but also raising the stakes in the increasing comp. tition between china and the u.s. semiconductor is strong i want is strong but it's becoming so strong and so we need to be careful so is the better to keep it neutral because if semiconductor or silicon shield you know distress is being used as a weapon taiwan will get involved it will that was the conflict between us and china and that is a dangerous. if you try to get it increased action targets great little. extra dreary washington types trying hard conflict in competition south korea's and taiwan's production mastery of

a tiny component that makes any potential conflict in east asia a matter of global concern rob mcbride al jazeera seoul remember you can keep up to date with all of our stories on the web site there it is one of our top stories there as well the continuing violence in there and we will have more on that in the coming alice. now a reminder of the top stories on our jersey or our a jury is being chosen for the trial of a former american police officer accused of killing an unarmed black man whose death caused widespread protests there it shows in the faces murder and manslaughter charge.