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Republicans criticize Biden over Chinese balloon
STORY: A day after a U.S. fighter jet shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon, recriminations were floating about what took so long.Republican lawmakers criticized U.S. Democratic President Joe Biden for not taking down the alleged spy balloon sooner.Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas told Fox News on Sunday, "we should have shot this balloon down over the . We should never have allowed it to transit the entire continental United States."The suspicious flying object was spotted just over a week ago, entering U.S. airspace near Alaska. It floated over Canada and then back over American territory in Montana, then continuing to the Atlantic coast where it was brought down by an F-22 stealth fighter off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday.Biden said on Saturday he issued an order on Wednesday to down the balloon after it crossed into Montana -- but the Pentagon recommended waiting until it could be done over open water to protect civilians from debris crashing to Earth from nearly twice the altitude of commercial air traffic.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday the U.S. military was able to collect "valuable" intelligence by studying the balloon. And he said that three other Chinese surveillance balloons had transited the United States during Republican President Donald Trump's administration.That claim prompted a furious denial from the former president.Trump wrote on social media, "China had too much respect for 'TRUMP' for this to have happened, and it NEVER did."Speaking on Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures" show, Trump's former director of national intelligence John Ratcliffe also denied prior balloon incidents.China claims the balloon was an airship used for meteorological and scientific purposes, which strayed into U.S. airspace accidentally.On Sunday Beijing condemned as an overreaction the American operation to blow it out of the sky.
- NewsStoryful
Huge Dust Devil Spins Skyward in Lanzarote
A huge dust devil spun skyward on the volcanic island of Lanzarote, in Spain’s Canary Islands, on Saturday, February 4, amid weather warnings for the regionFootage by Charlie Fayers shows the dust vortex spinning furiously towards the sky. “A storm blew over with intense thunder, lightning and large hail stones. During the storm a number of tornados broke out across the island,” Fayers said.Spain’s meteorological agency said yellow weather warnings were in place for Lanzarote on Saturday, with local media reporting a tornado, a hail storm and heavy rain across the island. Credit: Charlie Fayers via Storyful
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Mum frustrated by car parked over footpath
A Queensland Mum has taken to social media to share her frustration at cars partially blocking the footpaths and blocking her way with her pram.
- NewsStoryful
Elderly Residents Evacuated After Russian Rocket Attacks in Kharkiv
Five people were injured after Russian missiles hit the center of Kharkiv on the morning of Sunday, February 5, Oleg Sinegubov, the head of the Kharkiv regional administration, said.Two Russian missiles hit the Kyiv district, in the center of the city, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported. One of them hit the Kharkiv National University of Urban Economy, damaging multiple buildings, while another rocket hit a four-story residential building.Sinegubov said that a 54-year-old woman and three men aged 51, 55, and 58 were injured in the strikes. A university security guard suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.Footage by RFE/RL shows residents being evacuated and emergency crews working at the site of the strike on the university. Two interviewees said their elderly relatives were sleeping when the missile struck but were unharmed. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty via Storyful
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Pakistan's ex-president Musharraf dies after years in exile
STORY: Pervez Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan for nearly a decade during the critical early years of the American war against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, died in a hospital in Dubai on Sunday.Musharraf, a former general who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, appeared alongside American President George W. Bush less than a month after Al Qaeda terrorists used jetliners to attack New York City and Washington, --- and pledged himself as part of a coalition to defeat the militant Islamists and the Afghan Taliban sheltering them."Let me right away say that Pakistan has taken a considered decision to be a part of the coalition, to be with the United States, to fight terrorism in all its forms wherever it exists."He was credited with attracting foreign investment to Pakistan, which saw the strongest economic growth in nearly 30 years during his rule, and he enjoyed the support of the military and Pakistanis who backed his crackdown against militant groups.Some Karachi residents spoke fondly of the former leader."During his tenure, Pakistan was economically quite strong. There was employment in Pakistan. The poor people were employed, and essential items were cheap and affordable. Overall, Pakistan was quite stable economically and otherwise."But his decade-long rule was also marred by a heavy-handed approach to dissent, and imposing an almost six-week-long state of emergency in which he suspended the constitution and censored the media.His political party lost a vote in 2008. Facing impeachment by parliament, he resigned and fled to London."After consultations with legal advisors and close political supporters, on their advice and in the interests of the nation and the country, I have taken the decision to resign from my office. My resignation will reach the Speaker of the National Assembly today."He returned to Pakistan in 2013 to run for a seat in parliament but was immediately disqualified. He was allowed to leave for Dubai in 2016.His family said Musharraf was suffering from a rare organ disease called amyloidosis and was admitted to the hospital last year after he became critically ill.One of Musharraf's former political aides told Geo News that he would either be buried in Karachi, his family's hometown, or in Rawalpindi, home to the army's headquarters.
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Deadly brown snake interrupts 'smoko' break
Deadly brown snake interrupts 'smoko' break. Source: Facebook/Harrison's Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher
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Temperatures Rise in New York Following Arctic Blast
Temperatures rose sharply in New York on Sunday, February 5, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported, after an arctic blast brought frigid temperatures to the northeastern United States on Friday and Saturday.The NWS said temperatures in many locations were running 40 to 50 degrees warmer than where they were 30 hours earlier, though freezing conditions remained.Footage from the village of Spectacular shows icy conditions at Lake Pleasant on Sunday. Credit: Glenn Ericksen via Storyful
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Russian rockets hit Kharkiv, Kyiv says 'ready' for attack
STORY: Russian missiles struck the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Sunday, one of them shattering a residential building.That's according to local officials. One resident, Lyudmyla Krylova, said she'd been living in the apartment block for only four months after being evacuated from another city.She told Reuters she was at home, there was a strong blast, and furniture fell on her and her friend, who was injured by glass.Another missile struck the city's university. One of the school's directors told Reuters three floors of the building were destroyed.The strikes come as Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov on Sunday said the country was ready for a possible Russian offensive this month.Ukraine has been readying for a new Russian assault, possibly timed to the one-year anniversary of what Moscow calls a "special military operation," when it sent its forces streaming over Ukraine's borders.Ukrainian fighters managed to force Russia to retreat first from the capitol, Kyiv, and later from swaths of occupied territory in the east. But Moscow conscripted hundreds of thousands of civilians into what is expected to be a new campaign.Western allies have pledged weapons to help Kyiv resist the expected attack. Reznikov said some of the hardware isn't going to arrive on time, but stated Ukraine was ready, and would be able to hold back the attack.But this German-made howitzer in the Donbas is already in the fight. It's staffed by two Ukrainian brothers who trained in Germany, and told Reuters that Russian infantry were creeping forward.Reconnaissance relayed coordinates, and the brothers fired at the targets.Between lobbing shells at invaders, they shoot texts to their worried parents, reassuring them both sons are alive and well.
- ScienceStoryful
'Snow Moon' Spotted Over Bristol, England
A full moon was spotted over the Sea Mills neighborhood of Bristol, England, on Sunday, February 5.According to NASA, February’s full moon is also known by several other names, such as Snow Moon or Storm Moon.“The Maine Farmers’ Almanac began publishing “Indian” names for full Moons in the 1930s and these names are now widely known and used," NASA said. “According to this almanac, as the full Moon in February the tribes of the northeastern United States called this the Snow Moon or the Storm Moon because of the heavy snows in this season.”Video filmed by Twitter user @BrisVADAR shows the moon low in the sky in Sea Mills on Sunday. Credit: @BrisVADAR via Storyful
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Iran's Khamenei pardons prisoners linked to protests
STORY: Iran's Supreme Leader has pardoned "tens of thousands" of prisoners, including some arrested in recent anti-government protests, state news agency IRNA reported on Sunday (February 5).But the pardon, approved by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in honor of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, comes with conditions.State media reports said the amnesty would not apply to any of the numerous dual nationals held in Iran.IRNA also said those accused of "corruption on earth" would not be pardoned.That's a capital charge brought against some protesters - four of whom have been executed.The pardon will also not apply to those charged with "spying for foreign agencies" or those "affiliated with groups hostile to the Islamic Republic".Iran was swept by protests following the death of a young Iranian Kurdish woman in the custody of the country's morality police last September. The demonstrations marked one of the boldest challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution.Rights groups say over 500 have been killed in the crackdown, including 70 minors.
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Russian missiles hit Kharkiv: local authorities
STORY: The governor of Kharkiv wrote on Telegram that one missile had hit a residential building.An emergency services spokesperson said three people were injured.The other missile destroyed several floors of a university, its director said.
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Giant rat stars in Venice carnival boat parade
STORY: A large rat-shaped structure installed on a boat opened the 2023 parade, followed by dozen of amused Venetians dressed like unicorns, prisoners and clowns who rowed along the city canals and under the iconic Rialto bridge.The traditional carnival first began in the 11th century as a period of excess before the rigours of lent, the 40 days of fasting that traditionally precede Easter.During the two weeks of carnival, the canal city fills with thousands of tourists from across Italy and the world.
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U.S. downing of spy balloon an 'overreaction' - China
STORY: An "obvious overreaction". That's what the Chinese defense ministry called the U.S. shooting down of an unmanned Chinese airship in the United States.China reserves the right to use the necessary means to deal with similar situations, said Tan Kefei, a ministry spokesman, in a statement on Sunday (February 5). He did not elaborate.A U.S. military fighter jet shot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday (February 4), a week after it first entered U.S. airspace.President Joe Biden told reporters he had issued an order on Wednesday (February 1) to take down the balloon.An F-22 fighter jet from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia took the shot, using a single AIM-9X supersonic, heat-seeking, air-to-air missile, a senior U.S. military official said.The whole saga has put further strain Sino-U.S. relations.China strongly condemned the military strike, saying the was used for meteorological and other scientific purposes, and had strayed into U.S. airspace "completely accidentally".The suspected spy balloon prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to postpone a visit to China this week.A blow to those who saw it as an overdue opportunity to stabilize an increasingly fractious relationship between the two countries.
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Crumbling Lebanon fairground gets UNESCO listing
STORY: Designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer in 1962, the collection of structures on the 173-acre plot is considered one of the key works of 20th century modernism in the Middle East.But the fair park has slowly decayed due to repeated rounds of fighting over the last 60 years, poor maintenance and most recently Lebanon's crippling, three-year-old financial crisis.Tour guide Mira Minkara said it is time to wake the fair "from its long sleep" and return it to its former glory.She hopes that UNESCO's recognition could bring new festivals, exhibitions and economic benefits to Tripoli – already one of the poorest cities on the Mediterranean before Lebanon's financial meltdown began.
- NewsStoryful
Russian Rocket Attacks Leave Five Injured in Kharkiv, Ukrainian Official Says
Five people were injured after Russian missiles hit a university building and a residential block in the center of Kharkiv on the morning of Sunday, February 5, according to a Ukrainian official.Oleg Sinegubov, the head of the Kharkiv regional administration, said that a 54-year-old woman and three men aged 51, 55, and 58 were injured during the strikes. A university security guard suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.Russian missiles hit the central building of the Kharkiv National University of Urban Economy, Suspilne News reported. Another rocket hit the foundations of a four-story residential building.Footage by Suspilne shows residents being evacuated and emergency crews working at the site of the strike on the university.Rescue operations are still ongoing, Sinegubov said. Credit: Suspilne Kharkiv via Storyful
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Pope Francis urges end of 'blind fury' in S. Sudan
STORY: Pope Francis urged the people of South Sudan to 'never lose hope' as he wrapped up his peace mission on Sunday (February 5).Speaking at Mass, the pontiff also urged them to seize every opportunity to build a peace that has eluded the country for years.South Sudan won independence in 2011 but civil war broke out two years later.400,000 people were killed. Despite a peace deal in 2018, sporadic bouts of fighting continue to kill and displace civilians.On the grounds of the mausoleum of liberation hero John Garang, the Pope thanked a crowd of 70,000 who he described as the "salt of the earth"."Salt is a tiny ingredient and, once placed on food, it disappears, it dissolves; yet precisely in that way it seasons the whole dish. In the same way, even though we are tiny and frail, even when our strength seems paltry before the magnitude of our problems and the blind fury of violence, we Christians are able to make a decisive contribution to changing history."Residents in Juba had queued from early in the morning to take part in the Mass.Some, like Jovana Buyom, had spent the night."I was reflecting over the life that all South Sudanese have gone through and I hope that the visit of Pope has brought to us an everlasting peace."Extreme poverty and hunger are rife in South Sudan and two third of the 11.6 million population need humanitarian assistance.That's as a result of conflict as well as three years of catastrophic floods.4.5 million are internally displaced or have fled the country as refugees, according to the United Nations.At the end of his trip Pope Francis also appealed for an end to the tribalism, financial wrongdoing and political cronyism at the root of many of the country's problems.South Sudan has some of the largest crude oil reserves in sub-Saharan Africa. But that has not translated into widespread prosperity.A U.N. report in 2021 said the country's leaders had diverted "staggering amounts of money and wealth" from public coffers and resources.The government dismissed the report and has denied accusations of widespread corruption.
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Sea Smoke Forms on Boston Harbor Waters Amid 'Record Breaking' Cold Weather
Stunning visuals recorded in Boston Harbor show sea smoke forming on the waters on February 4, as Massachusetts braced itself while a record breaking cold wave swept the country.This video was recorded by Jackson Myers, who told Storyful that the air temperature was around -25C when he captured the chilling view.In the footage, the smoke can be seen floating past the Boston skyline.Sea smoke, also known as arctic sea smoke or sea fog, is a weather phenomenon occurring when the air mass becomes extremely cold, causing the water to steam.The National Weather Service reported that the area was now past the peak of the cold, and that temperatures would gradually rise. Credit: Jackson Myers via Storyful
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Large Crowd Greets Pope Francis in South Sudan Ahead of Mass
Pope Francis concluded his peace mission in South Sudan on Sunday, February 5, urging an end to the nation’s ethnic conflicts, as he celebrated mass in the country’s capital, Juba.In his last public engagement on the African continent, the Pope presided at an open-air mass in front of a large crowd at the John Garang Mausoleum.The Pope called on the country’s leaders to focus on ending conflict by overcoming hatred that he said risked “pitting tribes and ethnic groups against one another.”Since becoming independent in 2011, South Sudan has been plagued by civil war driven by ethnic tensions.Footage by Elise Ann Allen shows the pontiff and his motorcade driving past the gathered crowd.Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of Juba told SSBC, that Pope Francis had left a message of hope and a call for the people of South Sudan to remain together and strive toward peace, Vatican News reported.The Pope had a similar message of peace and reconciliation when he visited the Democratic Republic of Congo just days before. Credit: Elise Ann Allen, Crux Media via Storyful
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Blowing Snow Causes Road Closures in Northern Maine
The Maine State Police warned drivers to stay at home on Saturday, February 4, as wind and blowing snow created hazardous conditions in Caribou, prompting road closures.The National Weather Service warned of blizzard conditions across areas of Aroostook county through Saturday. The service forecasted “bitter cold wind and fiercely low wind chills” with gusts up to 45 mph.Footage captured by Matthew Strauser shows blowing snow conditions in Caribou. Credit: Matthew Strauser via Storyful
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First Leopard 2 Tank From Canada On Its Way to Ukraine, Defense Minister Says
Canada’s Defense Minister said the country has sent its first Leopard 2 tank to Ukraine, in footage posted on February 4.Anita Anand said a Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft departed Halifax carrying the first Leopard 2 main battle tank that Canada is sending to the conflict, alongside NATO allies that include the US, Germany, and Poland.“Canada stands with the people of Ukraine. We’ll continue to provide Ukraine’s Armed Forces with the equipment that they need to win,” the minister said.Canada has pledged to supply Ukraine with four Leopard 2 main battle tanks. Credit: Anita Anand via Storyful
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Aerial view of shelling in Russian-controlled Donetsk
STORY: Several homes were severely damaged and at least one body, of a local resident, was found under debris, according to emergency officials.Russian-installed authorities blamed Ukrainian artillery for the attack, but there was no immediate response from Ukraine authorities.
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Chile seeks int'l help to fight sweeping forest fires
STORY: Interior Minister Carolina Toha said the government is asking for support such as firefighting equipment from countries including Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, after at least 22 deaths were reported from the devastating fires that have also destroyed some 40,000 hectares (99,000 acres) of land.The government extended an emergency order on Friday, as a scorching summer heatwave complicates efforts to control fires.In the central city of Purén, resident Carolina Torres told local media she escaped the fire from her home with nothing but the clothes she was now wearing. "There was no time to set up a firebreak, nothing. I think everyone here went through the same situation. The wind speed changed very fast, and everything suddenly started to burn. It was all very fast," Torres said.National forestry agency CONAF reported on Saturday that 80 of 231 total wildfires are being actively battled, while 151 of them are under control.
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Australia teen dies in 'unusual' river shark attack
STORY: Police said they were called to the scene of the attack about 3:45 p.m. local time (0745 GMT) near a traffic bridge in the Swan River, in the Fremantle port area of Perth, where the girl died at the scene after being pulled to shore. The victim had jumped off a jet ski, possibly to swim with a pod of dolphins in the river, when the shark attack occurred, Acting Police Inspector Paul Robinson told reporters at a media briefing.He said authorities were not sure what kind of shark attacked the girl, adding that according to experts, it was unusual for a shark to be that far down the river.
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Anti-government protesters clash with police in Peru
STORY: Clashes flared when a group of protesters stormed through a street, and a wall of riot police officers fired teargas canisters to disperse the crowd.Protesters are demanding the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, early new elections, the shutdown of the Congress, and a new constitution to replace a market-friendly one dating back to Alberto Fujimori in the 1990s.The protests began in December when the then-President, Pedro Castillo, was ousted. More than 50 people have been killed as a result of the unrest.Peruvian Congress has refused to speed up the timeline for a presidential election amid the unrest. Lawmakers had given an initial green light to move elections from 2026 to 2024, but this week voted down proposals to hold the election this year.Meanwhile, Boluarte has maintained she will stay on as president until elections are held.
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Residents Evacuated as Deadly Wildfires Spread Across Central Chile
Police evacuated residents from a town in the region of Araucanía, Chile, as crews worked to contain dozens of deadly forest fires in the region on February 4, the country’s National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED) said.Local reports citing Chile’s Deputy Interior Minister Manuel Monsalve said 23 people had been killed in the fires as of Saturday.Footage released by the National Police of the Araucania Region shows evacuations in Carirrine, near the Araucanía town of Cholchol. SENAPRED issued an evacuation notice for Carirrine on Saturday.Multiple evacuation notices were in place across the Maule, Bio Bio, Nuble, and Araucania regions on Saturday, according to reportsMore than 200 active forest fires were recorded nationwide on Saturday, of which 21 fires were under Red Alert, meaning they may affect housing, SENAPRED said. Credit: National Police of the Araucania Region via Storyful
