Three Things for February 6

1. Inside Biden’s decision to ‘take care of’ the Chinese spy balloon that triggered a diplomatic crisis

At 1:30 p.m. on Saturday Feb. 4, the Federal Aviation Administration instituted one of the largest areas of restricted air space in US history, nearly the size of the state of Massachusetts.

The restriction was put in place because of the odd appearance of a white balloon in the sky over Alaska on January 28. The North American Aerospace Defense Command detected and tracked the balloon’s path and deemed it not to be an intelligence risk or physical threat.

After the balloon’s week-long journey, President Joe Biden was given the choice to shoot down the balloon, as it began traveling over various military bases.

“We’re gonna take care of it,” Biden said on the tarmac in Syracuse, New York. Shortly after, fighter jets took off from the Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and shot down the balloon over the Atlantic Ocean.

For more information about the balloon, click here.

2. Chile Detains 10 Accused of Starting Deadly Wildfires

On Sunday Feb. 5, officers detained 10 people accused of causing wildfires that have spread across central Chile.

Chile’s punishment for arson ranges from five to 20 years in prison and authorities are looking to pursue the highest penalty for those accused.

Authorities are still putting out at least 51 of the 260 fires that have destroyed at 800 homes and put at least 26 people in the hospital. On Saturday, Chile President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe and requested for assistance from neighboring countries.

For more information about the fires in Chile, click here.

3. ‘Stay away’ from Ohio town where train derailed, officials warn

A train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio last Friday, and authorities have been patiently waiting for the flames to die down before they approach the area.

Mayor Trent Conaway has ordered everyone to avoid the area out to a one mile radius and evacuated the 1,500 residents of the area on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.

“A state of emergency will remain in the town near the Pennsylvania border until at least Monday evening,” Conaway said.

For more information about the train disaster, click here.