A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked southeastern Turkey and northern Syria early Monday, toppling hundreds of buildings and killing more than 1,300 people. Also in the news: The story behind the suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down over U.S. waters and Beyoncé makes history at the Grammys. |
Now, here we go with Monday's news. |
Quake smashes regions packed with people displaced by Syria's civil war |
Hundreds were still believed to be trapped under rubble after a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southern Turkey and northern Syria early Monday, killing hundreds of people. On both sides of the border, residents jolted out of sleep by the pre-dawn quake rushed outside on a cold, rainy and snowy winter night, as buildings were flattened and strong aftershocks continued. The quake, felt as far away as Cairo, struck a region that has been shaped by more than a decade of civil war in Syria. The swath of Syria affected by the quake is divided between government-held territory and the country's last opposition-held enclave, which is surrounded by Russian-backed government forces. Read more | Syrian rescuers (and civilians search for victims and survivors amid the rubble of a collapsed building following an earthquake, in the rebel-held northern countryside of Syria's Idlib province on the border with Turkey, early on February 6, 2023.
AAREF WATAD, AFP via Getty Images |
US shoots down suspected Chinese spy balloon |
A U.S. warplane shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the South Carolina coast Saturday afternoon, sending its surveillance gear into relatively shallow water where recovery efforts began immediately, Pentagon officials announced. The balloon was downed after it passed into U.S. territorial waters, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. |
What it means: The balloon, which carried a large payload of spy gear according to U.S. officials, had soared over several strategic sites, including nuclear missile silos, and became the latest flashpoint in tensions between Washington and Beijing. |
| • | The U.S. tracked the balloon for five days before shooting it down. Defense officials said late Thursday that they had "very high confidence" the large white balloon belonged to China and that its purpose was surveillance. One of the sites was Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana, where the Air Force maintains 150 intercontinental ballistic missile silos. | | • | How the U.S. shot down the balloon: An F-22, the most sophisticated warplane in the U.S. arsenal, flying at 58,000 feet, fired a single AIM 9X sidewinder air-to-air missile and struck the balloon, officials said. The balloon had been flying at about 65,000 feet when the shootdown occurred off the South Carolina coast in U.S. territorial waters, according to one of the officials. | | • | China's Foreign Ministry said Friday that the balloon is a civilian weather balloon that was blown off course by westerly winds and entered the U.S. by accident. | | In this photo provided by Brian Branch, a large balloon drifts above the Kingstown, N.C. area, with an airplane and its contrail seen below it.
Brian Branch, AP |
Democrats approve 2024 primary calendar that boosts South Carolina |
Democrats on Saturday approved a plan to reorder their 2024 presidential primary calendar in an effort to amplify diverse voices earlier in the presidential selection process. Overruling objections from two states that have traditionally held the first contests, Iowa and New Hampshire, the national party green-lit a schedule that moves South Carolina to the front of the line. The revamped calendar elevates Nevada to the second position alongside New Hampshire and welcomes Georgia and Michigan to the early primary window for the first time. Read more | President Joe Biden speaks at the Democratic National Committee Winter Meeting, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia.
Patrick Semansky, AP |
After brief respite, Texas is in the path of another storm |
Texans have had a few days to warm up following last week's brutal ice storm that froze roads and led to hundreds of wrecks. The break will be short-lived, as a cold front from the Pacific is expected to reach parts of the state in the coming days, though its impact won't be as dramatic as last week's system. Central and southern Texas cities such as Austin, Waco, San Antonio and Houston may be impacted by severe weather, including lightning, thunderstorms and wind gusts of 50-60 mph, Accuweather said. The storm is expected to move northeast Wednesday toward Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee. Read more | People walk in freezing cold temperatures on February 4, 2023 in New York City.
ANGELA WEISS, AFP via Getty Images |
Grammys 2023: Harry Styles wins album of the year, Beyoncé breaks all-time record |
Harry Styles won album of the year, the biggest prize at Sunday's 65th Grammy Awards, though it was Beyoncé who made history, taking four honors and becoming the most-winning Grammy artist of all time. Music's biggest night also gave fans some nice surprises, including Bonnie Raitt taking home song of the year, Lizzo winning record of the year and jazz singer Samara Joy being named best new artist. Check out all the winners and highlights from the Grammys. |
📷 Photo of the day: Must-see photos from music's biggest night 📷 |
The primetime ceremony with 13 major awards was hosted by Trevor Noah, while an afternoon Premiere Ceremony featured dozens of winners in other categories. Click here to see highlights from the night, from Beyoncé accepting her record-smashing Grammy to all the musical performances. | Beyoncé accepts the award for best dance/electronic music album for "Renaissance" becoming the all-time winner for the most Grammy Awards.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY | Feb. 3: A scrum breaks out between Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic in the second half. Five players were ejected.
Abbie Parr, AP |
Associated Press contributed reporting. | | | |
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