Monday, February 6 top stories
It is Monday, February 6. Here are today’s top stories.
Earthquakes kills over 2,500 in Turkey and Syria
Turkey and Syria were hit by at least two huge earthquakes and several aftershocks that caused many buildings to collapse, killing over 2,500 people. The first earthquake struck about 4 a.m. local time, while many people were sleeping. News videos show first responders working around rubble to find survivors.
Several videos on social media showed the horrific moments that entire residential buildings collapsed. There was recent snowfall, so things are even more difficult for survivors. The damage also caused natural gas pipelines to rupture, causing huge fires.
Many countries, including the U.S., have pledged to offer support.
Chinese spy balloon shot down on Saturday
On Saturday, a U.S. military jet launched a missile to shoot down a Chinese spy balloon off the South Carolina coast. The balloon was first spotted above Montana and the Biden administration decided to wait until it was over the ocean before shooting it down due to safety concerns. The debris landed in the ocean in a radius of about seven miles. The military is working to recover the pieces and plans to take them to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia for further analysis.
The Chinese government complained about the popping of the balloon, saying it was an attack on a Chinese civilian airship. The U.S. said the balloon is not civilian but was intended to collect military intelligence.
Republicans have criticized the Biden administration for not shooting it down earlier.
AP reported that during the Trump administration, there were at least three incidents of Chinese balloons hovering above American soil, but they weren’t shot down.
The balloon incident has soured relations between the U.S. and China.
Beyoncé is now most decorated Grammy artist
Musician Beyoncé became the most-awarded Grammy artist of all time after she won four Grammys on Sunday night to have 32 in total.
She is also tied with her husband, musician and producer Jay-Z, for the most Grammy nominations ever with 88 each.
Beyoncé will go on a “Renaissance” world tour starting in May in Europe and in the U.S. in July.
In separate but related news, Viola Davis achieved “EGOT status” when she won a Grammy Award for her audiobook. An EGOT is short for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards. Davis is the 18th person to achieve EGOT status.
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Family found dead after suicide pact
NBC News reported that police in York County, Pennsylvania said a family was found shot dead in their backyard in an apparent suicide pact. They were parents James and Deborah Daub and their 25-year-old daughter Morgan Daub.
Those who knew the Daubs said they were shocked and heartbroken. The mother and daughter were avid bowlers and people said the family were conservative Christians who became increasingly withdrawn after the coronavirus pandemic.
There is a YouTube video of Morgan talking about the Antichrist, Trump and the 2020 election, and the Third World War.
Police said they found notes left inside the home that explained the family made a joint decision to end their lives. Police said the mother first shot her husband, then the daughter shot the mother, and the daughter shot herself. A neighbor said they are in disbelief that something like this could happen so close to home.
9-year-old boy graduates high school
A nine-year-old boy from Pennsylvania, David Balogun, recently graduated from high school. The Guardian explained that he took classes remotely from his family home and received a diploma. He is one of the youngest children to graduate from high school.
Balogun loves science and computer programming. His goal is to become an astrophysicist and study black holes and supernovas.
His mother said his brain has the capacity to understand a lot of concepts beyond his years and sometimes beyond her understanding.
Balogun has already started taking some college classes.
The Guinness World Record for the youngest high school graduate is held by a person who was six years old when he graduated.
Judge: unconstitutional to ban marijuana users from owning guns
Fox News reported that a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled that it is unconstitutional to bar marijuana users from owning firearms. The case concerns a man who was charged with possession of a firearm by an unlawful user or addict of controlled substances. The man’s attorneys said the law conflicts with how the U.S. regulates firearms, while federal prosecutors argued that the law was necessary to prevent risky persons from having firearms.
The judge said just because the man uses marijuana does not mean he should lose his right to possess a firearm because using marijuana is not a violent or threatening act.
That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
https://www.axios.com/2023/02/06/grammy-awards-2023-beyonc-makes-history-most-wins
https://www.axios.com/2023/02/06/viola-davis-egot-grammy-awards-win
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/earthquake-turkey-syria-death-toll-rescues/
https://www.foxnews.com/us/marijuana-users-constitutional-right-own-firearms-judge-rules