Three things for February 25
1. Cleveland man documented in Capitol riot
Joseph Lino “Jose” Padilla, from Cleveland, Tenn., was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer and throwing a pole during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6.
Padilla’s initial appearance in federal court was in Chattanooga Tuesday afternoon. His attorney, Lee Davis, noted Tuesday’s proceeding was only an initial appearance following the arrest, reports the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The remainder of his proceedings will take place in Washington, D.C.
Padilla, 40, is a former member of the Tennessee National Guard, spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Stackpole confirmed Wednesday. He was honorably discharged in 2012.
Federal investigators confirmed Padilla’s presence at the Capitol by piecing together his movements shown in two online videos and body camera footage from a Metropolitan Police Department officer.
Padilla is facing six charges:
Obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder.
Assault on law enforcement with a dangerous weapon.
Entering or remaining in any restricted area without lawful authority with a dangerous weapon.
Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted area with a dangerous weapon.
Engaging in physical violence in a restricted area with a dangerous weapon.
Violent entry and disorderly conduct on capitol grounds.
Padilla is currently being held at the Bradley County Jail.
2. Pro-military marchers attack protesters in Myanmar
Anti-coup protesters display images of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon, Myanmar, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021. (AP Photo)
Supporters of Myanmar’s military coup attacked anti-coup protesters with slingshots, iron rods and knives. The pro-military marchers injured several of the demonstrators.
“Tensions escalated on the streets between anti-coup protesters and supporters of the military. Photos and videos posted on social media showed groups attacking people in downtown Yangon as police stood by without intervening,” reports AP News.
The number of people injured and their conditions were not immediately clear.
According to accounts and photos posted on social media, hundreds of people marched in support of the coup. They carried banners in English with the phrases “We Stand With Our Defense Services” and “We Stand With State Administration Council,” which is the official name of the new military administration.
For more information on the initial coup, anti-coup protests and pro-military marchers, read this article from AP News.
3. China approves two more domestic COVID-19 vaccines
China’s National Medical Products Administration approved two more COVID-19 vaccines for public use, increasing the number of domestic vaccines approved in China to four.
The two newly approved vaccines are made by CanSino Biologics Inc and the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products. They join a vaccine from Sinovac Biotech approved earlier this month and another from Sinopharm’s Beijing unit approved last year, according to Reuters.
So far, China has not approved COVID-19 vaccines developed by Western drugmakers.
