Key posts
- Downed objects believed to be more balloons: US Senate majority leader
- Death toll from Turkish and Syrian earthquake surpasses 33,000
- This morning’s headlines at a glance
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Downed objects believed to be more balloons: US Senate majority leader
In the United States, the unidentified objects recently shot down by American fighter jets over Canada and Alaska were balloons – though smaller than the Chinese balloon downed over the Atlantic Ocean last weekend – according to Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer.
Schumer told American weekend current affairs program This Week that he was briefed on Saturday night, US time, by President Joe Biden’s national security adviser.
Asked whether the two objects were balloons, Schumer said: “They believe they were, yes, but much smaller than the first one.”
On Friday, an object roughly the size of a small car was downed over remote Alaska, according to the White House.
The government has said the first balloon, shot down over the Atlantic around a week ago, was about the size of three school buses.
More on this issue here.
with AP
Death toll from Turkish and Syrian earthquake surpasses 33,000
Turkish authorities are targeting contractors allegedly linked to buildings that collapsed in last week’s powerful earthquakes.
The death toll from the magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 quakes that struck nine hours apart in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria rose to 33,185 on Sunday. That figure is expected to rise as search teams locate more bodies.
It comes as Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag says 131 people are under investigation for their alleged responsibility in the construction of buildings that failed to withstand the quakes.
Our world desk has further details here.
with AP
This morning’s headlines at a glance
Good morning and thanks for your company.
It’s Monday, February 13. I’m Broede Carmody and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half of the day.
Here’s what you need to know before you get started.
- The Albanese government will formally announce the abolishment of temporary protection visas later today. As James Massola writes, it means thousands of asylum seekers will soon become eligible to become permanent residents.
- Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe will be grilled by government and opposition MPs on Wednesday.
- The debate over the proposed Indigenous Voice to parliament continues. Today also marks 15 years since Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generations. Later this morning, the government’s special envoy for reconciliation – Pat Dodson – will appear on Radio National.
- In international news, the death toll from last week’s earthquake in Turkey and Syria has surpassed 33,000.
- And Chinese firms have restarted coal supply talks with Australian miners. Nick Toscano has the full story.
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