Twenty-two and a half years in prison for Derek Chauvin. That's the sentence the ex-cop who choked George Floyd with his knee on May 25th, 2020, received last night in Minneapolis. Ten years longer than Minnesota state guidelines for second-degree murder convictions with no prior criminal history, as Chauvin's case is. Judge Peter Cahill argued that aggravating factors in the case, such as the abuse of power and "special cruelty" he said Chauvin showed, justified the decision. Floyd's agony, videotaped by a passerby, sparked the largest protests against institutional racism in decades.

If Joe Biden's main objective at home is to "heal the soul of the nation" after four years of exacerbating differences, the international soul does not seem to be far behind. The American president landed this Wednesday in the United Kingdom in what is his first trip abroad, with the central objective of healing the wounds and mistrust that was sowed during the four years of trumpism amongst America's traditional allies.

An outpouring of joy, hugs, tears, relief and grief filled downtown Minneapolis last night after the jury found Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd. The African-American, who was 46, died of asphyxiation under the weight of the ex-cop's knee on May 25, 2020. Chauvin, who will receive his sentence in six weeks, was found guilty on charges of second- and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The first is punishable by a maximum of 40 years in prison, the second by 25 and the third by 10. The nine minutes and twenty-nine seconds he stood over Floyd's neck will mark the rest of his life. With his face partially covered by a mask, Chauvin remained expressionless as he listened to the judge.