NEWS OF THE DAY
1 Disputed island: The Philippines has started transporting troops and supplies to a disputed island in the South China Sea in preparation for construction work that includes reinforcing and lengthening an airstrip and building a dock, an official said Thursday. China protested the visit last month by the Philippine defense and military chiefs to Pag-asa Island, home to Filipino soldiers and fishermen for decades, but which is also claimed by Beijing.
2 Franco’s remains: Spanish lawmakers on Thursday voted in favor of moving the remains of dictator Gen. Francisco Franco from the Valley of the Fallen mausoleum in central Spain, a measure that has long been rejected by the conservative governing Popular Party. The 198-1 vote reopened debate relating to one of Spain’s most painful episodes, the 1936-39 Civil War and its aftermath. The mausoleum, some 30 miles west of Madrid, is seen by many as a relic of Spain’s dictatorial past. The lawmakers also called for funds to remove remaining dictatorship symbols around Spain and to set up a commission to investigate the estimated 115,000 people still missing since the conflict.
3 Hunger strikers: The Palestinian Health Ministry said six protesters were wounded by Israeli fire at a West Bank demonstration in support of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike. It’s the latest rally in support of hundreds of prisoners held by Israel who are on an open-ended strike, now in its 25th day. The ministry says the protesters sustained light leg injuries from low-caliber bullets at Thursday’s rally, during which some Palestinians threw rocks at Israeli soldiers. Palestinians say the strike seeks to improve their prison conditions. Israel says strike leader Marwan Barghouti, widely seen as a potential successor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, is using it to raise his profile.
4 Military exercises: Troops from the U.S., Japan, France and Britain are gathering on remote U.S. islands in the Pacific for drills they say will show support for the free passage of vessels in international waters amid fears China could restrict movement in the South China Sea. The drills around Guam and Tinian may also send a message to North Korea about the U.S. commitment to the region and the breadth of its allies. Tensions between the U.S. and North Korea spiked last month after Pyongyang launched a ballistic missile and the U.S. sent an aircraft carrier strike group to the region.
5 Everest garbage: Workers and volunteers have collected 4 tons of garbage from the Chinese north side of Mount Everest in the first five days of a cleanup operation, state media reported Thursday. Hoping to find a more permanent solution, the local government in the Tibet region is setting up stations to sort, recycle and break down the garbage, which includes cans, plastic bags, stove equipment, tents, oxygen tanks and other climbing paraphernalia, Xinhua News Agency said. The nine-day cleanup targets climbing trails and campsites between 17,000 and 21,300 feet. 6 Jailed blogger: A Russian blogger was convicted on Thursday of inciting religious hatred for playing “Pokemon Go” in a church and given a suspended sentence. Ruslan Sokolovsky posted a video on his blog last year showing him playing the smartphone game in a church built on the supposed spot where the last Russian czar and his family were killed in the city of Yekaterinburg. He has been in detention since October.