promoearn: Could China's spy balloon hear secrets?

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Could China's spy balloon hear secrets?

Thursday, February 9

The State Department offers new clues about the Chinese spy balloon's mission. And NBA superstar Kevin Durant is headed to a new team.

👋 Hey there! Laura Davis here with Thursday's news.

But first: She was described as a female Charles Manson and sentenced to 110 years in prison. Now the prosecutor doesn't believe she's guilty.

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State Dept.: Chinese spy balloon sought secret US communications signals

The Chinese balloon shot down Saturday had carried devices to intercept sensitive communications, the State Department said Thursday, offering the first proof that the balloon was on an espionage mission. The Pentagon flew high-altitude U-2 spy planes to examine the gear dangling from the 200-foot balloon and found that it had the ability to conduct "signals intelligence collection operations," a State Department spokesperson said in a statement. Keep reading.

Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Feb. 5, 2023. EODGRU 2 is a critical part of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Force that clears explosive hazards to provide access to denied areas; secures the undersea domain for freedom of movement; builds and fosters relationships with trusted partners, and protects the homeland. At the direction of the President of the United States and with the full support of the Government of Canada, U.S. fighter aircraft under U.S. Northern Command authority engaged and brought down a high altitude surveillance balloon within sovereign U.S. airspace and over U.S. territorial waters Feb. 4, 2023. Active duty, Reserve, National Guard, and civilian personnel planned and executed the operation, and partners from the U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Aviation Administration, and Federal Bureau of Investigation ensured public safety throughout the operation and recovery efforts.

Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Sunday.

Petty Officer 1st Class Tyler Thompson, High Altitude Balloon 2023

Searching for life among the rubble

As the death toll continues to rise from the earthquake in Syria and Turkey that has so far claimed some 20,000 lives as of Thursday, aid workers are racing against the clock – and the bitter cold – to pull bodies from the rubble. International organizations and local aid groups are working to bring supplies and manpower to the disaster-stricken regions, but localities still need help. Enter the White Helmets, a humanitarian collective and civil aid organization that has deployed thousands of volunteers to search for life amid the destruction. This is their story.

👉 Earthquake coverage: Death toll over 20,000; sanitary conditions worsen amid slow recovery. Thursday's live updates.

•	Turkey, before and after: Drastic images show damage from earthquakes.
•	How to help: Relief efforts ongoing after deadly earthquake.

A member of the White Helmets, works on a collapsed building the evening of February 7, 2023, in the town of Jandairis.

A member of the White Helmets works on a collapsed building on Tuesday in the town of Jandairis, Syria.

RAMI AL SAYED, AFP via Getty Images

What everyone's talking about

•	Legendary composer Burt Bacharach dies at 94.
•	Eat less chicken? Chick-fil-A unveils new Cauliflower Sandwich.
•	Armie Hammer is sharing his side of the story. Should we be listening?
•	Not making $100,000? Forget about buying a house in 40% of markets.
•	Why a major abortion pill could soon be illegal everywhere in the U.S.

The Short List is free, but several stories we link to are subscriber-only. Consider supporting our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

Blockbuster NBA trade sends Kevin Durant to Phoenix

It might be Super Bowl week, but the NBA has refused to stay out of the spotlight. Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns shook up the sports world shortly after midnight Thursday, making the biggest splash before the NBA trade deadline. Durant, one of the league's best players, will join the Suns after four seasons with the Brooklyn Nets in a move that could shift the balance of power in the Western Conference. More NBA trade deadline updates.

•	Trading Durant to the Suns punctuates big disaster by Nets. \| Opinion
•	More moves: Lakers trading Russell Westbrook in massive three-team deal with Jazz and Timberwolves.

Kevin Durant spent the last three seasons with the Nets.

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant is headed to the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster trade-deadline deal.

Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Stunning photos show critters captured on camera around the globe

A remarkable image of an elusive species known as "ghost of the mountains" won a German photographer The Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award. Out of 25 finalists, Sascha Fonseca's image of a snow leopard posed against the Indian Himalayas was chosen by thousands of voters. Photos in the contest highlighted scenes of snuggling monkeys, a statuesque lion and a stunned spider out of 38,575 entries from 93 countries. See the photos here.

This camera trap image by Sascha Fonseca of a snow leopard in the mountains of Ladakh in northern India was named the winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award.

SASCHA FONSECA, WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

A break from the news

•	🌊 How do you photograph the world's most dangerous waves? You get thrashed.
•	🛍 Black-owned businesses: 70+ brands and retailers you can support right now.
•	🍕 What's on your Super Bowl pizza? A look at the most popular in each state.

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