A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeast Turkey and Syria on Monday morning, killing at least 17 people and injuring hundreds more. The quake caused buildings to collapse and sent panicked residents into the streets, with rescue workers and residents searching through piles of rubble in the aftermath. The USGS reported the quake was centered east of Nurdagi, Gaziantep province at a depth of 24.1 kilometers, and Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the government was providing assistance to those affected.
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The mystery of the massive white orb that was shot down by the U.S. Air Force over the Atlantic on live television Saturday has been solved - it was a Chinese civilian unmanned airship used mainly for meteorological research. China has expressed its disapproval of the U.S. action, describing it as an “overreaction” and “serious violation of international practice”, raising questions about the safety of civilian airships and the potential for similar incidents in the future.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, has issued a decree offering amnesty or reduced sentences to "tens of thousands" of people detained during the recent anti-government protests. This is the first acknowledgement of the scale of the crackdown, and it is unclear how many of the detainees will be eligible for amnesty. The protests began in November and have been met with a harsh response from security forces, leading to reports of deaths and thousands of arrests. The amnesty order is seen as a possible attempt to reduce public anger, but its impact on the protests remains to be seen.
Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has died at the age of 79. His rule was marked by tensions with India, an atomic proliferation scandal, and an Islamic extremist insurgency, as well as aiding the U.S. war in Afghanistan against the Taliban. His death marks the end of a tumultuous era in Pakistan's history, and his legacy will be remembered as a complex one of successes and failures.
A 16-year-old girl was killed in a suspected shark attack while swimming in the Swan River in Perth, Western Australia. Acting Inspector Paul Robinson from Western Australia Police said it was not clear what type of shark had attacked the girl, but the incident has sparked fear among locals. The Western Australia Police have urged people to take extra caution when swimming in the Swan River and to check the latest shark sightings and beach closures before entering the water.
Chile is in the midst of a devastating wildfire crisis, with the government declaring a state of catastrophe in two regions. 554 people have been injured and at least 22 have died, with 10 more missing. Thousands of firefighters and military personnel have been deployed to help contain the fires, and citizens have been urged to take precautions and limit the use of electricity.
A suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down off the coast of South Carolina by a U.S. fighter jet. The balloon had been floating in and out of American airspace for three days, and was carrying surveillance equipment the size of two to three school buses. The Biden administration has yet to comment on the incident, which has raised questions about the U.S. government's response to foreign surveillance activities.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has expressed strong dissatisfaction and protest against the US for shooting down a Chinese balloon, claiming that Washington was overreacting and seriously violating international practice. The Chinese side has stated that the airship was for civilian use and had entered the US due to force majeure, and asked the US to handle the situation in a calm, professional and restrained manner. The incident has caused tension between the two countries and has raised concerns about the safety of civilian aircraft in the region.