Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear.

China and Russia, along with al-Ibeloruz, have issued a joint statement calling for peace

in Ukraine.

The announcement comes amid a state visit to China by Belarus and strongman Alexander

Lukashenko, as in Paris Charles Mainz reports.

Belorussian strongman Alexander Lukashenko came to Beijing, looking to expand business and

trade.

He leaves endorsing the 12-point Chinese plan that calls for a comprehensive cease-fire

in Ukraine.

Yet Beloruz has allowed Russian forces to use its territory as a staging ground to attack

Ukraine, and the Chinese plan has been criticized by the West as grandstanding, a stated cease-fire

goal, intentionally lacking solutions.

Lukashenko's China visit also took place as the U.S. expressed concerns Beijing could

provide Moscow with direct military aid, and back in the Russian capital.

President Vladimir Putin said he expected to soon host Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a

state visit.

Charles Mainz in Pair News, Moscow.

More states are considering expanding voting rights to people who are already incarcerated

or were previously behind bars.

It's part of a year's long trend of state's widening access to the ballot for this population,

Morph Mempras Ashley Lopez.

Minnesota is the first state this year to pass such a law.

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