News of the World

[kyonides]

Our First Look At Chinese Spy Balloon Debris Being Recovered

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is involved in the recovery operation and is working closely with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents, according to Gen. VanHerck.

It's unclear how long the recovery effort will ultimately take. VanHerck said that, at least as of yesterday, the full extent of the debris field had not yet been determined. He said the main area of interest was expected to be "about 1,500 meters by 1,500 meters," (2,250,000 square meters, or just under around one square mile) or "you know, more than 15 football fields by 15 football fields."

The NORAD/NORTHCOM boss had also offered some details about the sheer size of the balloon itself.

"So the balloon assessment was up to 200 feet tall for the actual balloon. The payload itself, I would categorize that as a jet airliner type of size, maybe a regional jet such as a [Embraer] ERJ or something like that," VanHerck explained. "Probably weighed in excess of a couple thousand pounds."

Japan probing links between Chinese balloon, past flying object

Japan is examining whether there are links between a suspected Chinese spy balloon that the U.S. military shot down and reports of a flying object spotted in the northeastern area of the nation a few years ago, a government spokesman said Monday.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihiko Isozaki said at a press conference that the government has confirmed the flying object was observed in 2020 and 2021 over Miyagi and Aomori prefectures, respectively, adding it will continue to seek to establish the facts around the incident.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a press conference Monday that she was unaware of the flying object spotted in Japan.

Isozaki said that a balloon or any other aerial object being flown by a foreign country in Japan's territory without permission would usually be recognized as a violation of the country's national airspace, prompting the Air Self-Defense Force to take necessary steps, including the scrambling of fighter jets.
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When a white, balloon-like object was spotted by residents of Miyagi and neighboring Fukushima prefectures in June 2020, local authorities sent a helicopter to investigate but were ultimately unable to identify it or determine its origin.

Biden Attempt at Bipartisan Unity Evaporates
as State of the Union Speech Irks Republicans

But Biden ran afoul of the GOP several times during his 75-minute speech, especially when he accused Republicans of wanting to “sunset” Medicare and Social Security. As Republicans booed and accused him of lying about that, Biden said, “I’m not saying it’s the majority.”
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Applause and cheers followed. But Biden followed up with a threat: If anyone tries to cut those programs, “I’ll veto it,” he said.
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Biden attempted to urge the Republican-controlled House and the Democrat-controlled Senate to “come together” on immigration. “Make it a bipartisan issue once again,” he said.
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“We now have a record number of personnel working to secure the border,” Biden said. “American border problems won’t be fixed until Congress acts.”

He urged them to “at least pass my plan to provide the equipment and officers to secure the border.”
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Some Republicans shouted their disapproval of Biden; many have publicly criticized him for failing to stop the tide of fentanyl from coming from Mexico into the United States.
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But then Biden turned around and used the Nichols incident to decry how “black and brown” people must talk to their children about being cautious around police–even though the officers accused in Nichols’s death are also black.
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He also made no direct mention of China’s spy balloon, which drifted across U.S. airspace for days before it was shot down. Many criticized the administration’s failure to act sooner.

Biden did make a passing reference to the incident by stating, “As we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did.” He said little else about China.

Like when exactly?  A year after China finally declares war against the US?

Border Agency Aware of Asylum Seekers Reportedly Receiving
Free Bus Tickets from NY to Canadian Border

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says it is aware of asylum seekers from the United States reportedly being given free bus tickets to take them to a part of New York state from which they can easily travel into Canada.
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“Out of respect for the law and for their own personal safety, we encourage all those coming to Canada to enter at an official port of entry.”

The New York Post reported that some migrants in New York City are being given free tickets to Plattsburgh, N.Y., which is about 35 kilometres south of the Quebec border.

From Plattsburgh, migrants reportedly can travel about 30 minutes by shuttle or taxi to cross into Quebec at Roxham Road, an unofficial border crossing frequently used by asylum-seekers trying to dodge the Safe Third Country agreement that prevents Canada from accepting refugee claims of those who had first entered the United States.
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New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently said his administration helps in the “re-ticketing process” for migrants arriving in the city who want to go elsewhere, but added that they are not forced or pressured to leave.

Adams said some individuals express a desire to leave the city for other places—including Canada.

His office also said it treats requests for bus tickets to Plattsburgh the same as it would for bus-ticket requests to go to other American cities.

More than 750,000 protest against pension reform across France

People took to the streets for a third day of strikes Tuesday against government plans to reform the pension system, of which a proposal to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 is among the most controversial. Public transport was disrupted and refinery deliveries were halted across France as workers walked out on the job, with unions urging the public to take to the streets in large numbers. A first day of strikes on January 19 brought more than a million people out onto the streets.

French President Emmanuel Macron insists the proposed changes are needed to reform a moribund system – but some of the government’s own experts have said the pension system is in relatively good shape and would likely eventually return to a balanced budget even without reforms.
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More than 750,000 people turned out for protests across France, according to the interior ministry, 57,000 of whom were in Paris. Union organisers estimated participation nationwide at close to 2 million, according to the hardline CGT.

Germany approves over 100 tanks to Kyiv

In a joint statement Tuesday, the German economy and defense ministries announced the approval of up to 178 German-made Leopard 1 battle tanks to Ukraine.

"How many Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks will actually be delivered to Ukraine depends on the required maintenance work," the statement added.

It comes as part of a joint pledge with Denmark and the Netherlands. The defense ministers of the three countries said the tanks were part of an effort "to support Ukraine in their endeavour to withstand Russian aggression."

In a joint statement, the three nations said the "required logistic support and training" would be provided. That includes a "spare parts and ammunition-package."

The Dutch defense ministry said it would be purchasing the tanks "directly from German industry."

Kasja Ollongen, the Dutch defense minister, told national broadcaster NOS the slightly older model tanks are "definitely still useable" for the battlefields of Luhansk and Donetsk.

Turkey Hit by Another 5+ Magnitude Earthquake
as Country Reels From Massive Twin Quakes

Turkey has been hit by another 5+ magnitude earthquake as massive twin quakes over 7.6 in magnitude the day prior collapsed entire buildings and led to over 5,000 deaths in Turkey and Syria.

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake was recorded at around 1:18 p.m. local time in eastern Turkey, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.

The epicenter of the quake was around 18 miles southeast of Malatya, with a population of 441,000, where yesterday’s earthquake toppled buildings and left people trapped under rubble in freezing cold.
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Local media report that earthquake victims in Malatya are waiting for help trapped under rubble as recovery efforts are hampered by bad weather and transport conditions.
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Turkey has experienced over 285 aftershocks since two earthquakes hit the southeastern part of country near Syria’s border on Monday—one with a magnitude of 7.8 followed several hours later with 7.6 level quake.

The number of dead and injured from both Turkey and Syria has increased rapidly throughout Monday, with the death toll estimated to be around 5,021.
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In Turkey, at least 3,419 people are confirmed dead.

In Syria, state news agency SANA reported at least 1,602 deaths.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the death toll could rise to around 20,000 in the coming days.

It's gonna be a horrible week for Turkey and Syria indeed.
Take in consideration that Syria cannot receive most of the humanitarian aid that would be available for other countries because of the US sanctions against Syria that are still in place.  Well, it's still is a Russian puppet state and ISIS tries to reconquer lost territories...