5 stories to know for March 19: Biden and Harris in Atlanta, U.S.-China clash, Biden vs Putin, coronavirus and the Derek Chauvin trial. 1. Biden and Harris will visit Atlanta following the spa shootings that have bolstered concerns of a rise in anti-Asian hate crime in the United States. Flags will fly at half-mast today in honor of the eight victims killed in the Atlanta shootings. Six of the women were Asian. The suspect, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, appeared to have frequented the spas targeted in the shootings. Officials indicated he had issues with sexual addiction and the shootings may have not been motivated by racial hatred. A Stop Asian Hate movement is gaining steam in the U.S. While in Atlanta, Biden and Vice President Harris will visit the CDC. Biden’s administration has now administered 100 million vaccines. The administration hit the milestone on Biden’s 58th day in office. 2. A U.S. and China meeting in Alaska kicked off with tense exchanges. These are the first U.S.-China talks of the Biden presidency. The Alaska meeting got off to a rocky start with leaders criticizing each other over human rights, Hong Kong, trade and alliances. Russia and China are expected to meet next week. 3. The White House doubled down on Joe Biden’s ‘killer’ Putin comment. Asked at a press conference if Biden regrets the statement, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said ‘no.’ In an ABC News interview broadcast on Wednesday that prompted Russia to recall its Washington ambassador for consultations, Biden said "I do" when asked if he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin was a killer. In return, Putin wished Biden good health. Also, Putin challenged Biden to commit to live online talks in the coming days. Ties between the two nations are sinking to a new post-Cold War low. 4. The U.S. sent AstraZeneca doses to Mexico and Canada. Biden has been under pressure to share vaccines abroad. The AstraZeneca vaccine is manufactured in the U.S., but has not yet been approved for use. Meanwhile, in Paris a new lockdown is in effect. A new wave of coronavirus cases cases in France led Prime Minister Jean Castex announced that Paris residents could only leave home for essential trips or exercise, and non-essential travel to other parts of the country was banned. 5. A Minneapolis judge will decide whether to relocate Derek Chauvin’s trial. The ex-police officer’s lawyer said the jury pool has been tainted following publicity of a $27 million settlement to George Floyd’s family. Watch the Derek Chauvin trial live https://youtu.be/t8E1X75-bQI #Derek Chauvin #GeorgeFloyd #Minneapolis #AtlantaShootings #JoeBiden #KamalaHarris #COVID19 #Vaccine #AstraZeneca #France #Paris #CDC #lockdown #EU #Canada #Mexico #Putin #Russia #Biden #StopAsianHate #News #Reuters Subscribe: http://smarturl.it/reuterssubscribe Reuters brings you the latest business, finance and breaking news video from around the globe. Our reputation for accuracy and impartiality is unparalleled. Get the latest news on: http://reuters.com/ Follow Reuters on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reuters Follow Reuters on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Reuters Follow Reuters on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reuters/?hl=en