Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kurova Coleman.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is in the West Bank this hour meeting Palestinian

Authority President Mark Moodabas.

Blinken's arrival in the Middle East comes as violence between Israelis and Palestinians

sores.

He has already met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Blinken has reiterated the

U.S. stance that a two-state solution for Palestinians and Israelis is a pathway to peace.

The Memphis Police Department says it has suspended two more officers from their jobs in

connection with the beating death of Tyre Nichols.

NPR's Giles Snyder reports a total of seven current and former officers have been disciplined.

The Memphis Police Department released a statement about these two additional officers saying

they were relieved of duty the day after Tyre Nichols was beaten alongside the five officers

who were ultimately fired and charged in the Nichols case.

One of the two additional officers has been identified as President Himpil.

Himpil was not present when Nichols was beaten, but his body cam footage shows the initial

traffic stop and his use of a taser as Nichols gets up to flee.

The seventh officer has not been identified.

The beating of Nichols has also reached into the Memphis Fire Department, which says two

emergency medical workers and a lieutenant have been fired in connection with the Nichols

case.

Giles Snyder, NPR News.

President Biden plans to end the COVID-19 public health emergency this spring.

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