What does the Chinese spy bubble tell us?
A Chinese surveillance balloon last week became the subject of public attention as it flew over the United States, followed by a cinematic ending when a Sidewinder rocket brought it down outside. off the coast of South Carolina. This ship will be coveted by military and intelligence officials, who are keen to reverse engineer whatever remains of the United States can recover.
David Sanger, a White House and national security correspondent for The Times, said: write in an analysis. In the days before the giant balloon ended, the Pentagon noted the long history of Chinese hot air balloons flying over the US and said one was currently flying over South American airspace.
The former admission, experts say, raises questions about whether the US failed to set red lines on hot air balloon monitoring years ago, essentially encouraging China to become increasingly bold. than. Separately, the hot air balloon incident comes at a time of domestic politics in the United States when Democrats and Republicans are competing to prove who can be stronger over China.
Analysis: “We don’t know what intelligence the Chinese have obtained,” said Evan Medeiros, a professor and security expert at Georgetown. “But there is no doubt that it is a blatant violation of sovereignty,” a theme China raised as the United States flew over and sailed past islands China has built out of sandbars. in the East Sea.
Ukraine reorganizes military leadership
The ruling Servant of the People Party of President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine will replace the country’s defense minister, Oleksii Reznikov, amid a growing scandal of financial misconduct within the ministry and an accompanying investigation into corruption. Major General Kyrylo Budanov, the current head of military intelligence, will take over as defense minister, officials said.
The news comes amid what Ukrainian officials say is the start of a new Russian offensive. Fighting was still particularly fierce in the east around the city of Bakhmut as Moscow attempted its first major battlefield victory in months. American officials believe that hundreds of soldiers on each side are being killed or wounded every day.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the private military company Wagner, whose forces helped lead Russia’s brutal campaign in Bakhmut, said the Ukrainian army was “fighting to the end”, denying the report. social media that Kiev’s forces are withdrawing from the key city of Bakhmut. eastern region of Donetsk.
Reinforcement: Western allies are rushing to bring battle tanks, armored vehicles and other advanced weapons to help Ukraine, although many are not expected to arrive for months. Ukrainian soldiers today are expected to begin training outside the country on German-made Leopard tanks, dozens of which were pledged by the allies last month.
Ukrainian Official Letter: Ukrainians have flock to ski resorts nestled in the Carpathian Mountains for a respite, our correspondent reports. “They come here to forget,” said one ski shop owner.
China starts spending again
Two months after China abruptly abandoned its “no Covid” policy and let the virus sweep its people, the country’s economy has begun to recover and Consumers are spending again. Factories and ports are also running smoothly, as the end of the blockade has resolved three years of disruption to the global supply chain.
To overcome lingering weaknesses, the Chinese government has promised continued economic stimulus, including major infrastructure projects and tax breaks for small businesses. A hope of “revenge spending” after the pandemic has yet to materialize, even as spending on tourism and some domestic travel surged year-over-year.
Investors have bet heavily on the recovery. Many economists expect China’s growth rate to exceed last year’s 3% pace, and the International Monetary Fund has predicted that the Chinese economy will grow 5.2% this year. But realistically no one is expecting a rebound like the country’s 8.1 percent growth in 2021.
Risk: China’s exports to the US and EU fell last year as the purchasing power of businesses and individuals was squeezed by high inflation. Real estate remains one of the biggest concerns in China. The construction sector – which includes steel, cement and equipping new homes – accounts for a quarter to a third of the country’s economic output.
Covid: After the virus began to spread unchecked through China, the government announced that 80,000 people had died. But that could be a large number. Times reporter scavenging the obituaries of the nation’s leading scholars to find clues about the real damage of the outbreak.
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“Our public libraries can be compelling storytelling spaces,” says Angela Wachuka, a Kenyan publisher. “We are also here to reclaim history.”
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Summary of the Grammy Awards
After a two-year Covid-related hiatus, the annual Grammy Awards returned last night to the frenzy at its home turf in Los Angeles. As the host, Trevor Noah, put it: “We made it! We are back! Catch up with the best of the red carpet.
Beyoncé made history by winning four awards, including best R&B song for “Cuff It”, which brought her a record 32 Grammy awards in her career. Bonnie Raitt took home song of the year and Lizzo was clearly shocked to win the record of the year for “About Dam Time”.
Other live awards include Harry Styles’ Best Pop Vocal Album for “Harry’s House” and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy”. Accepting the award, Petras, a transgender woman, said: “I just want to thank all the amazing transgender legends before me who have opened these doors for me to be here tonight. .”
Actress Viola Davis won best recording, narration and storytelling for her memoir “Finding Me,” making her the latest EGOT – the coveted acronym for the Emmy Award winner, the award. Grammys, Oscars and Tony Awards. See the full list of winners.
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