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U.S. holds drills in South China Sea amid tensions with China
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are conducting exercises in the South China Sea amid tensions with Beijing over the alleged downing of a Chinese spy balloon. The Japan-based Seventh Fleet said the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Force have been conducting “integrated expeditionary strike force operations” in the South China Sea. It said the drill was held on Saturday, but did not elaborate on when it started or if it would end. China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea and strongly opposes military activity by other countries in the disputed waterway, through which an estimated $5 trillion in goods travel each year.
12 injured in mass shooting in Louisiana
Police in the Louisiana state capital arrested two people in connection with a mass shooting at a nightclub in January that left 12 others injured. Two 19-year-olds were arrested Friday, the Baton Rouge Police Department said. Nikeal Franklin was charged with 12 counts of first-degree attempted murder. Jy’Shaun Jackson was charged with 12 counts of first-degree attempted murder. The shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 22 at the Dior Bar & Lounge in Baton Rouge. A dozen people were injured, most not life-threatening. Police said the shooting may have been aimed at a person inside the nightclub.
Russia continues shelling of Ukraine amid eastern grind
Russian forces continued to shell Ukrainian cities over the weekend in an effort to seize more land in the country’s east. One person was killed and another was injured Sunday morning in the southeastern city of Nikopol in the Dnepropetrovsk region, Governor Serhii Lysak reported. In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, three Russian S-300 missiles hit infrastructure overnight, wounding one person, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said. The attack comes as Russian forces struggle to seize more land in the eastern industrial heartland of the Donbass, which includes the partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Ukrainian officials say Moscow is having difficulty launching a broad offensive in the region.
Neutral Austria under pressure to get tougher on Russia
Neutral Austria has come under heavy criticism for issuing visas that would allow sanctioned Russian lawmakers to attend the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Vienna conference. The issue underscores the delicate balancing act the European country is taking while trying to maintain its longstanding stance of military neutrality during the Ukraine war. The Austrian government has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while stressing the need to maintain diplomatic relations with Moscow. In a letter to the Austrian chancellor and other officials, 81 delegates from 20 countries called on the Austrian government to bar sanctioned Russian individuals from upcoming OSCE meetings.
Pope fears Nicaraguan bishop sentenced to 26 years in prison
Pope Francis expressed sadness and concern on Sunday when Roman Catholic bishop Rolando Alvarez, an outspoken critic of the Nicaraguan government, was sentenced to 26 years in prison in the latest move against opponents of the Catholic church and government . Alvarez was sentenced after refusing to fly to the US with 222 other prisoners, all opponents of President Daniel Ortega. In addition to serving his sentence, Alvarez was stripped of his Nicaraguan citizenship. The pope told the faithful he was “very sad” to hear the news, expressing his love and concern for Alvarez. He called on the faithful to “open their hearts” and pray for responsible politicians.
Kentucky’s first baby surrendered anonymously in ‘baby box’
Kentucky has seen its first baby dropped off anonymously at one of its “baby box” safe drop sites. At a news conference on Friday, Safe Haven Baby Boxes founder and chief executive Monica Kelsey said the child had been transported to the Bowling Green fire station site within the past seven days. To protect her anonymity, she declined to give further details. She said fire department crews were able to attend to the child in less than 90 seconds. The child is the 24th to be handed over from one of more than 130 baby boxes and drawers the organization has set up in nine states.
Republican electoral tactics come as no surprise to black Wisconsin voters
The recently revealed Republican electoral tactics targeting minority communities in Wisconsin’s largest city came as no surprise to many black voters. For years, voting rights advocates have accused Wisconsin Republicans of pursuing policies that suppress voters of color and low-income voters. Many of these policies center on the Democratic stronghold in Milwaukee. The city is home to nearly 70 percent of Wisconsin’s black population. Last month, a Republican state elections commissioner bragged about low turnout in the black and Latino community in the November election. Recently, a recording surfaced showing then-President Donald Trump’s Wisconsin campaign laughing behind closed doors about efforts to reach black voters in 2020.
via wired source
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