At a briefing on Monday, Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck revealed that Chinese balloon threats have gone undetected by the United States in the past, highlighting an “awareness gap” that needs to be resolved. The discovery of the balloon has raised questions about the security of the U.S. and Gen. VanHerck said that the U.S. needs to figure out how to better detect these threats in the future. The Biden administration has not yet commented on the issue.
Posts tagged as “the United States”
The Pentagon has revealed that three Chinese spy balloons were able to transit the continental United States undetected under the Trump administration. General Glen VanHerck has revealed that the payload weighed in excess of a couple thousand pounds and was estimated to be around 20 stories tall. This incident has raised concerns about the security of the United States, and the Pentagon is now taking steps to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.
AMC Entertainment, the largest movie theater chain in the United States, is introducing a new ticket pricing system based on seat location. Customers will be able to pay less or more for a movie ticket based on their seat selection, with the lowest price point being the front row of the theater and the highest-end tier being in the middle of the theater. Other theater chains are likely to follow suit in the near future.
On Monday morning, residents of the Buffalo area were shaken awake by a 3.8-magnitude earthquake, the strongest recorded in the area in 40 years. Seismologist Yaareb Altaweel said the quake lasted a few seconds and sent residents into a panic. The U.S. Geological Survey is continuing to monitor the area for any further seismic activity and residents are urged to take precautions in case of any aftershocks.
AFP, a powerful network of political groups funded by the Koch brothers, has announced it is "turning the page" on former President Donald Trump and seeking another Republican to back in the 2024 presidential election. The memo does not name Trump, but its preference for someone "new" is clear, and its decision could have a significant impact on the election. It remains to be seen who the network will support, but they are looking for a candidate who can represent a new chapter for the country.
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.
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.