this is bbc news with the headlines. we follow one rescuer and his team, among the tangled ruins of apartment blocks, looking for signs of life. armageddon... armageddon. we report from the quake zone inside syria, with one of the first internationaljournalists to get into aleppo. former newcastle united footballer christian atsu is still missing in the turkish quake. his partner speaks to the bbc.

ijust i just feel for everybody who is like me and my children, in the unknown, whether their family is or not. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk, on pbs in the us or around the world. we have some breaking news for you. the white house has set in the last few minutes that the us military has shot down an object off northeast alaska that was around 40,000 feet high and could have posed a reasonable threat to civilian aircraft. we are going to bring you more on that news live from washington in a moment. back to that earthquake in turkey. and syria. fears are growing for the hundreds of thousands of people in turkey and syria in need after monday's devastating earthquakes,

living in makeshift shelters and cars in freezing conditions. there are warnings that aid is not reaching areas fast enough. more than 23,000 people are now known to have died. living in makeshift shelters and cars in freezing conditions. syrian state media says the government has approved international aid delivery to rebel—held areas in cooperation with the help of the un, syrian red crescent and international red cross. 0ur chief international correspondent lyse doucet has been giving us the latest from gaziantep in turkey. yes, you join us here in the city of gaziantep. it's only an hour and a half from the epicentre of this deadly earthquake and it's now become a relief hub, with aircraft flying in from around the world to help with this urgent rescue effort. and here along this road, you can see behind me, the diggers, the rescue teams are still at work, some of them working night and day, sleepless nights and day, hoping against hope to find people still buried alive under this rubble. this whole road is fraught

with emotion — cries of loved ones, cries erupting in this dark and freezing night, anger and grief boiling over as rescue teams try to reassure them they're doing everything they can, with so many people saying they believe their loved ones are still alive. this is just one snapshot and it's being repeated in towns and cities across southern turkey, and indeed across the border in northern syria as well, where many areas were also hard—hit by this seismic shock. it's been incredibly difficult for any journalist to reach northern syria, but one of our colleagues from the bbc arabic service will give us an eyewitness account injust a moment. but first, quentin sommerville has been following one of the rescue teams in one of the worst affected areas of southern turkey, in antakya.

in the darkest hours, a single light shines brightest. in antakya's hour of need, this man... he speaks in turkish ..erdal, has emerged as a saviour. he'll climb where others won't dare, deep inside the ruins of this shattered city. anything to save a life. it's been hours since anyone was found here, but still they work late into the night. i have to be very quiet because they're listening to see if there's anybody still alive in the building. they're taking huge risks, going into very dangerous spaces. because we're moving into day five here, and they realise, there's almost no time left. an amateur mountaineer and professional writer, erdal has taken command here. someone or something is moving inside the building, but they can't reach them. they've tried looking

in from the front, no success. they put a camera probe in. now they're going round the back of the building to see if they can find any sign of life. the floors are sandwiched tight. it's a treacherous space, but erdal�*s crew try to find a way inside. others have rallied to his courage. his team is now 100—strong. they've already saved dozens of people. so much risk, so much risk. but so much people wait us. we hear them. but we are not stop here. how do you feel about what's happened to your country? armageddon... armageddon. the bitter light of morning lays bare the earthquake�*s ruin. anta kya is destroyed.

and down in amongst it, erdal and his men are still working. in the past five days, he's managed only a few hours�* sleep. erdal thought that there was someone still alive here. a relative said that they could hear something. there's no—one. but there is the overpowering smell of dead bodies. 0n the second and third day after the earthquake, they were finding a lot of people. they're hardly finding anyone now, almost no—one. this is moving from a rescue phase to a recovery phase. it's very unlikely that they're going to find more survivors in this location. erdal, we left you 5—6 hours ago. did you find anyone else last night? no, no.

translation: we couldn't find anyone, only a dog. i its owner was dead. so, what happens now? translation: i don't know. since families are sensitive, they insist people are still alive under the rubble, so we keep trying to work in places where we don't find any corpses. erdalfound two of narula's children. and even though it's been many days, narula can't believe his wife and other child aren't still alive. the building isjust across the street, but his wife and child can't be reached, even by erdal�*s team. translation: erdaltore himself apart for my two children, - went to places no—one would go. he saved my two children. tonight, the search goes

on and still shining a light into the darkness is erdal. quentin sommerville, bbc news, antakya. but across the border, in northern syria, it's in the northwest of syria, the last rebel—held enclave, that aid officials tell us was the worst hit in this earthquake. but areas in the north under syrian government control have also been hit. that includes the major syrian city of aleppo. the correspondent for the bbc�*s arabic service, assaf aboud, was able to obtain government permission to visit aleppo and we've translated his report for you. translation: we are now in the shahar neighbourhood, one of the areas damaged by the earthquake. aleppo is the closest city to the epicentre of the earthquake. until now, around 400 people have died in the city of aleppo. hundreds of injured

remain in the rubble. in this area, rescue efforts are being supported by government forces in the search for the injured. they are also working on demolishing damaged buildings out of fear they might collapse at a later stage. around 60 buildings have collapsed, but there are around 400 others that are so damaged and at risk of collapse at any moment. the reports say some 55,000 people have lost their homes and they are now spread across different shelters in the city. the death toll has surpassed 4,000 people in both government and rebel held areas and over 7,000 people are injured or unaccounted for. food, of course, one of many things, many supplies needed by so many.

today, there was news from damascus, according to the syrian state media, the sana news agency, that the syrian government has now agreed that food aid and other supplies needed in earthquake—stricken areas can cross the lines of this 12—year—old conflict, but aid officials have told the bbc that the success of this, what seems to be a concession by the syrian government, will depend both on the syrian government forces on the ground as well as the forces of the opposition across northern syria. so, in the words of a senior un official, it's a small step forward, an important step, but many more will be needed urgently. we'll continue our special coverage from gaziantep and many other places across southern turkey and inside syria, but for now, it's goodbye from us here in gaziantep. yeah, be more

—— there'll be more for lyse and team shortly. dr ubeyd sakin is the country director for turkey for aid organisation human appeal. hejoins us from hatay, one of the worst affected places in turkey. dr ubeyd sakin, can you just tell us what help is urgently needed at the moment? fist what help is urgently needed at the moment? �* , ., , , moment? at this moment, the shift is chanauin moment? at this moment, the shift is changing from — moment? at this moment, the shift is changing from meals _ moment? at this moment, the shift is changing from meals and _ moment? at this moment, the shift is changing from meals and blankets - moment? at this moment, the shift is changing from meals and blankets to i changing from meals and blankets to shelter, because this morning i have seen more food items being distributed, lots of rescue workers and people in the streets, a new hub, but now as the rescue operations are closing, i have witnessed that many people are

having very cold, freezing nights stop tonight, there will be lots of buildings destroyed, so they will be shelters, tents, bedroom materials... shelters, tents, bedroom materials. . .— shelters, tents, bedroom materials. . . shelters, tents, bedroom materials... ., ., materials... how many of those essentials _ materials... how many of those essentials are _ materials... how many of those essentials are getting _ materials... how many of those essentials are getting in - materials... how many of those essentials are getting in and - materials... how many of those i essentials are getting in and what is blocking those efforts that are not working at the moment? i have already witnessed... _ not working at the moment? i have already witnessed... tents, - not working at the moment? i have already witnessed... tents, small i already witnessed... tents, small tents, which would not be sufficient at the moment, but morris coming in as i can observe. many are looking to humanitarian appeal to get this sort of material. it may take a couple more days or raw materials produced in turkey for now. you have “ust produced in turkey for now. you have just returned —

produced in turkey for now. you have just returned from _ produced in turkey for now. you have just returned from syria, _ produced in turkey for now. you have just returned from syria, across - produced in turkey for now. you have just returned from syria, across the l just returned from syria, across the border. what are the differences in what is needed there? the difference is more or less _ what is needed there? the difference is more or less the _ what is needed there? the difference is more or less the same, _ what is needed there? the difference is more or less the same, but in - is more or less the same, but in syria, particularly as you go further to the city centre of it live —— of idlib, in the centre... what we are seeing is it might be because of the already worn out or, let's say, the management of a smaller region in syria, it's somewhat, to this day, what we have seen, could be more possible than what we have seen in turkey, because it has been almost completely destroyed. a lot of narrow streets, high—rise buildings, they are on top

of one another, so, yeah, that is what i could see.— of one another, so, yeah, that is what i could see. and is the news cominu what i could see. and is the news coming from _ what i could see. and is the news coming from the _ what i could see. and is the news coming from the syrian _ what i could see. and is the news i coming from the syrian government that they are allowing access to all areas of syria is something you welcome or are you sceptical of that at the moment? have you heard it is making a difference yet? i at the moment? have you heard it is making a difference yet?— making a difference yet? i have not heard it, but _ making a difference yet? i have not heard it, but this _ making a difference yet? i have not heard it, but this is _ making a difference yet? i have not heard it, but this is coming - making a difference yet? i have not heard it, but this is coming from i heard it, but this is coming from the un. the un tried this a a few times, to cross between the sides, north of idlib. this could be used for the humanitarian approach. so far, it cannot supplement the cross—border operations, it is not possible, but definitely there has to be cross—border aid from turkey to be cross—border aid from turkey to syria, to cover the damage. it is a massive earthquake. mil

to syria, to cover the damage. it is a massive earthquake.— to syria, to cover the damage. it is a massive earthquake. all right, dr ube d a massive earthquake. all right, dr ubeyd sakin _ a massive earthquake. all right, dr ubeyd sakin from _ a massive earthquake. all right, dr ubeyd sakin from hatay, _ a massive earthquake. all right, dr ubeyd sakin from hatay, thank - a massive earthquake. all right, dr ubeyd sakin from hatay, thank you forjoining us on bbc news. former chelsea and newcastle midfielder christian atsu, who plays for turkish club hatayspor, is still missing in the aftermath of the quake. his partner claire rupio has spoken of her worry as she waits for news about him. she spoke to the bbc earlier. all i know is that, currently, his agent is in turkey, and he's trying to get to the place where it happened. we know that his building has been... well, they know where the building is and they're trying their best to rescue everybody. and they know that there are people still under the rubble, but the problem is that they don't have the equipment necessary to get them out. so, yeah, he's still missing and they don't know where he is.

so, it was quite shocking, as you can imagine, if the club is confirming, saying he has been found and alive and taken to hospital, and 11 hours later, my children had to hear it from the radio, saying that they still don't know where he is. so, i know that his agent is there and they are trying their best to find him, so i trust that he will bring me obviously the news that i can trust, that if he sees him orspeakto him...yeah. but it's quite confusing, everything, yeah. there's mr mandela, mr nelson mandela, a free man taking his first steps into a new south africa.

iran's spiritual leader, ayatollah khomeini, has said he has passed a death sentence on salman rushdie, the british author of a book which many muslims say is blasphemous. the people of haiti have flocked to church to give thanks for the ousting of their former president baby doc duvalier. because of his considerable value as a stallion, - shergar was kept in a special secure box in the stud - farm's central block. shergar was driven away. in a horse box the thieves had brought with them. there stepped down from the plane a figure in mourning, elizabeth ii, queen of this realm and of all her other realms and territories, head of the commonwealth, defender of the faith.

this is bbc news. more now on that breaking news — that president biden has ordered an object to be shot down by fighterjets over alaska at recommendation of the pentagon. a "high—altitude object" was shot down in the past hour. the white house said the object was "the size of a small car" and was over a sparsely populated area at the time. it comes after the us shot down a chinese balloon over its territorial waters last saturday. white house spokesman john kirby gave these details in the last few minutes. we're calling this an object because that's the best description we have right now. we do not know who owns it, whether it's state—owned, or corporate—owned or privately owned. we just don't know. we don't know, as i said, state—owned, we don't know if it's state owned. and we don't understand the full purpose. we don't have any... we don't have any information that would confirm a stated purpose for this object.

we do expect to be able to recover the debris, since it fell not only within our territorial space but on what we believe is frozen water. so a recovery effort will be made, and we're hopeful that it will be successful, and then we can learn a little bit more about it. was its appearance like the chinese aircraft? no, it was much, much smaller than the spy balloon that we took down last saturday. the way it was described to me was roughly the size of a small car, as opposed to a payload that was like two or three buses size, right? so, much, much smaller. and not of the same.... no significant payload, if you will. let's get more now from our correspondent nomia iqbal.

nomia, not a nomia, nota huge nomia, not a huge amount of detail, but how would you assess the level of concern in the white house? it is reall of concern in the white house? it 3 really interesting. i was inside that presser, so the white house gives daily briefings that we as the press attend, and today, top of the agenda, they respected to go about the ongoing war in ukraine, also the assistance that the us is giving the turkey in the visit of brazil's president lula. he is meeting president lula. he is meeting president biden for the first time since they both took office, so we were inside and john kirby, who we heard from there, revealed in the last hour or so so about 1:30pm eastern time, that this object was shot down, so of course, the pressure was entirely dominated by this specific story. just a recap of some of the things mr kirby said, it was 40,000 feet high, it was a

high—altitude object, and they said it posed a threat to civilian aircraft. that is why president biden ordered fruit to be shot down, and he emphasised that president biden order that happen. just right now there is another press conference taking place by the pentagon and they are giving more information. they are saying that there is been significant debris they recovered so far, but they have to analyse it, as we heard there from that clip in mr kirby, they are emphasising it is not a balloon for stub they are not saying it is not, but they are clear enough to sizing it is an object. but they are clear enough to sizing it is an object-— but they are clear enough to sizing it is an object. president biden was accused of being _ it is an object. president biden was accused of being weak— it is an object. president biden was accused of being weak or _ it is an object. president biden was accused of being weak or slow - it is an object. president biden was accused of being weak or slow in i it is an object. president biden was. accused of being weak or slow in the shooting on of the chinese biplane, a balloon, according to the americans, so there are ramifications, both politically and in terms of relations with other countries. in terms of relations with other countries-— countries. yeah, there is huge olitical countries. yeah, there is huge political pressure _ countries. yeah, there is huge political pressure on _ countries. yeah, there is huge political pressure on president biden over that ledge spy balloon.

yesterday, the house of representatives passed a non—binding resolution condemning china and accusing the chinese communist party of essentially deceiving america about their claims. they maintained it was a civilian vessel for weather research. whilstjust a moment ago the white house said that president biden ordered for this object, this recent object, to be shot down out of the abundance of caution, you can't help but think, maybe there is this political pressure on him to take action much more quickly. i also want to add, john kirby was asked about the nature of us—china relations at the moment, and all he said if he does not know if there has been any outreach tween the us and china, between beijing and washington, since the balloon was shot down over a week ago, so that is may be a signal that relations certainly not very good between the two rival superpowers.— certainly not very good between the two rival superpowers. nomia, we are

auoin to no two rival superpowers. nomia, we are going to go live _ two rival superpowers. nomia, we are going to go live to _ two rival superpowers. nomia, we are going to go live to the _ two rival superpowers. nomia, we are going to go live to the department - going to go live to the department of defence. figs going to go live to the department of defence. �* , ., ., of defence. as i mentioned in our -revious of defence. as i mentioned in our previous briefing _ of defence. as i mentioned in our previous briefing we _ of defence. as i mentioned in our previous briefing we have - of defence. as i mentioned in our previous briefing we have learned of defence. as i mentioned in our i previous briefing we have learned a lot. previous briefing we have learned a lot about — previous briefing we have learned a lot. about the chinese surveillance high—altitude balloon programme. we have gathered a lot of information over the _ have gathered a lot of information over the last couple of years and so we were _ over the last couple of years and so we were able to based on that information detect at a very early stage. _ information detect at a very early stage. as — information detect at a very early stage. as it— information detect at a very early stage, as it approached us airspace, we had _ stage, as it approached us airspace, we had a _ stage, as it approached us airspace, we had a good understanding of what it was _ we had a good understanding of what it was as _ we had a good understanding of what it was as i _ we had a good understanding of what it was. as i mentioned, we were able to monitor_ it was. as i mentioned, we were able to monitor that closely, tracked it while _ to monitor that closely, tracked it while he — to monitor that closely, tracked it while he went over the continental united _ while he went over the continental united states, learned a lot about it and _ united states, learned a lot about it and lake — united states, learned a lot about it and take it down.— united states, learned a lot about it and take it down. would you urge us to ut it and take it down. would you urge us to put this _ it and take it down. would you urge us to put this in _ it and take it down. would you urge us to put this in a _ it and take it down. would you urge us to put this in a different - it and take it down. would you urge us to put this in a different bucket l us to put this in a different bucket than that or— us to put this in a different bucket than that or should _ us to put this in a different bucket than that or should we _ us to put this in a different bucket than that or should we aouar - us to put this in a different bucketl than that or should we aouar yeah, us to put this in a different bucket. than that or should we aouar yeah, i think— than that or should we aouar yeah, i think i_ -- i think -- ithinkl —— i think i was pretty clear for stub— —— i think i was pretty clear for stub this — —— i think i was pretty clear for stub this posed a considerable threat — stub this posed a considerable threat to— stub this posed a considerable threat to civilian air traffic so the decision was made to take it down, _ the decision was made to take it down, yeah. the decision was made to take it down. yeah-—

down, yeah. when the pilot approached _ down, yeah. when the pilot approached it, _ down, yeah. when the pilot approached it, and - down, yeah. when the pilot approached it, and they - down, yeah. when the pilot - approached it, and they determined, i approached it, and they determined, lunderstand. — approached it, and they determined, i understand, that _ approached it, and they determined, i understand, that it— approached it, and they determined, i understand, that it was— approached it, and they determined, i understand, that it was not- i understand, that it was not manned. _ i understand, that it was not manned. how— i understand, that it was not manned, how did _ i understand, that it was not manned, how did they- i understand, that it was not- manned, how did they determine i understand, that it was not— manned, how did they determine that? and at— manned, how did they determine that? and at that _ manned, how did they determine that? and at that point, — manned, how did they determine that? and at that point, wouldn't _ manned, how did they determine that? and at that point, wouldn't it— manned, how did they determine that? and at that point, wouldn't it be - and at that point, wouldn't it be possible — and at that point, wouldn't it be possible to _ and at that point, wouldn't it be possible to these _ and at that point, wouldn't it be possible to these to _ and at that point, wouldn't it be possible to these to describe . and at that point, wouldn't it be . possible to these to describe what they were — possible to these to describe what they were looking _ possible to these to describe what they were looking at? _ possible to these to describe what they were looking at? did - possible to these to describe what. they were looking at? did resemble possible to these to describe what i they were looking at? did resemble a balloon _ they were looking at? did resemble a balloon or— they were looking at? did resemble a balloon or an — they were looking at? did resemble a balloon or an aeroplane _ they were looking at? did resemble a balloon or an aeroplane or— they were looking at? did resemble a balloon or an aeroplane or white? - balloon or an aeroplane or white? again, _ balloon or an aeroplane or white? again, we — balloon or an aeroplane or white? again, we will— balloon or an aeroplane or white? again, we will have _ balloon or an aeroplane or white? again, we will have more - balloon or an aeroplane or white? - again, we will have more information once we _ again, we will have more information once we recover this. we will give credit— once we recover this. we will give credit to _ once we recover this. we will give credit to our — once we recover this. we will give credit to our pilots that they are very capable, in terms of looking at an object, _ very capable, in terms of looking at an object, assessing whether or not this had _ an object, assessing whether or not this had the — an object, assessing whether or not this had the potential to be manned at that— this had the potential to be manned at that altitude, something that small— at that altitude, something that small very, very unlikely it was manned. — small very, very unlikely it was manned, and so again, no indication that it _ manned, and so again, no indication that it was _ manned, and so again, no indication that it was manned, presented a potential— that it was manned, presented a potential reasonable threat to civilian — potential reasonable threat to civilian air traffic and we took it down — civilian air traffic and we took it down. ~ . , , civilian air traffic and we took it down. ~ . ,, .,, ., civilian air traffic and we took it down. . . ,, .,, ., ., down. what speed was a travelling out, b down. what speed was a travelling out. by the — down. what speed was a travelling out. by the way? _ down. what speed was a travelling out, by the way? i _ down. what speed was a travelling out, by the way? i don't _ down. what speed was a travelling out, by the way? i don't have - down. what speed was a travelling out, by the way? i don't have that| out, by the way? i don't have that information. _ out, by the way? i don't have that information. the _ out, by the way? i don't have that information. the chinese - out, by the way? i don't have that information. the chinese balloon, out, by the way? i don't have that l information. the chinese balloon, if we could go — information. the chinese balloon, if we could go back, _ information. the chinese balloon, if we could go back, is _ information. the chinese balloon, if we could go back, is it _ information. the chinese balloon, if we could go back, is it in _ information. the chinese balloon, if we could go back, is it in the - we could go back, is it in the pentagon's— we could go back, is it in the pentagon's vou _ we could go back, is it in the pentagon's you plausible - we could go back, is it in the pentagon's you plausible ori we could go back, is it in the - pentagon's you plausible or maybe even likely— pentagon's you plausible or maybe even likely that _ pentagon's you plausible or maybe even likely that it _ pentagon's you plausible or maybe even likely that it was _ pentagon's you plausible or maybe even likely that it was not - even likely that it was not

necessarily— even likely that it was not necessarily intentional. even likely that it was not. necessarily intentional when even likely that it was not - necessarily intentional when that balloon _ necessarily intentional when that balloon turned _ necessarily intentional when that balloon turned eastward, - necessarily intentional when that balloon turned eastward, that. necessarily intentional when that balloon turned eastward, that iti balloon turned eastward, that it seems — balloon turned eastward, that it seems to— balloon turned eastward, that it seems to have _ balloon turned eastward, that it seems to have not _ balloon turned eastward, that it seems to have not lost - balloon turned eastward, that it seems to have not lost some, l balloon turned eastward, that it . seems to have not lost some, had some _ seems to have not lost some, had some technical— seems to have not lost some, had some technical problem _ seems to have not lost some, had some technical problem was - seems to have not lost some, had some technical problem was blue i seems to have not lost some, had - some technical problem was blue dan, what i _ some technical problem was blue dan, what i would _ some technical problem was blue dan, what i would tell— some technical problem was blue dan, what i would tell you _ some technical problem was blue dan, what i would tell you is _ some technical problem was blue dan, what i would tell you is based - some technical problem was blue dan, what i would tell you is based on - what i would tell you is based on the information— what i would tell you is based on the information we _ what i would tell you is based on the information we have, - what i would tell you is based on the information we have,- the information we have, it was bein: the information we have, it was being maneuvered _ the information we have, it was being maneuvered and - the information we have,— being maneuvered and purposefully driven— being maneuvered and purposefully driven along its track. recognising that winds — driven along its track. recognising that winds to play a role, because of the _ that winds to play a role, because of the maneuverability of a balloon, it is our— of the maneuverability of a balloon, it is our assessment this was a purposeful mission. in terms of the chinese _ purposeful mission. in terms of the chinese motivations, again, iwould have to _ chinese motivations, again, iwould have to refer you back to china to talk about — have to refer you back to china to talk about that.— have to refer you back to china to talk about that. thank you. sorry... we e-mailed _ talk about that. thank you. sorry... we e-mailed you _ talk about that. thank you. sorry... we e-mailed you police _ talk about that. thank you. sorry... we e-mailed you police body - talk about that. thank you. sorry... | we e-mailed you police body camera we e—mailed you police body camera footage _ we e—mailed you police body camera footage actually— we e—mailed you police body camera footage actually national— we e—mailed you police body camera footage actually national guard - footage actually national guard general— footage actually national guard general in — footage actually national guard general in ohio _ footage actually national guard general in ohio pushing - footage actually national guard general in ohio pushing my- footage actually national guard - general in ohio pushing my colleague and having _ general in ohio pushing my colleague and having to — general in ohio pushing my colleague and having to be _ general in ohio pushing my colleague and having to be escorted _ general in ohio pushing my colleague and having to be escorted away- general in ohio pushing my colleague and having to be escorted away froml and having to be escorted away from him this— and having to be escorted away from him this week — and having to be escorted away from

him this week. we _ and having to be escorted away from him this week. we ask— and having to be escorted away from him this week. we ask the _ and having to be escorted away from him this week. we ask the ohio - him this week. we ask the ohio national guard _ him this week. we ask the ohio national guard for— him this week. we ask the 0hio| national guard for comments... listening — national guard for comments... listening to _ national guard for comments... listening to brigadier— national guard for comments... listening to brigadier general. listening to brigadier general patrick writer, the pentagon press secretary. at this point, we are going to say goodbye to our viewers on pbs in american around the world. for uk viewers, we will stay listening to this pentagon press briefing. a free and independent press. again, i a free and independent press. again, i would _ a free and independent press. again, i would refer to the ohio national guard _ i would refer to the ohio national guard about that particular incident, but i can assure you that that is— incident, but i can assure you that that is not— incident, but i can assure you that that is not acceptable behaviour. any kind — that is not acceptable behaviour. any kind of conduct unbecoming charge _ any kind of conduct unbecoming charge under— any kind of conduct unbecoming charge underthe... _ any kind of conduct unbecoming charge underthe... [— any kind of conduct unbecoming charge under the. . .— any kind of conduct unbecoming charge under the. .. charge under the... i would have to refer ou charge under the... i would have to refer you to — charge under the... i would have to refer you to them. _ charge under the... i would have to refer you to them. i'm _ charge under the... i would have to refer you to them. i'm not - charge under the... i would have to refer you to them. i'm not going i charge under the... i would have to refer you to them. i'm not going to| refer you to them. i'm not going to make _ refer you to them. i'm not going to make those — refer you to them. i'm not going to make those kind of policy comments here from _ make those kind of policy comments here from the podium, in terms of what _ here from the podium, in terms of what they— here from the podium, in terms of what they may or may not doing to address— what they may or may not doing to address it — what they may or may not doing to address it. it would be inappropriate for me to comment on that _ inappropriate for me to comment on that. ., ., �* ., , ., that. nomia, brigadier general macklin there, _ that. nomia, brigadier general macklin there, a _ that. nomia, brigadier general macklin there, a couple - that. nomia, brigadier general macklin there, a couple of i macklin there, a couple of interesting lines, this would be a

threat to civilian air traffic. could not confirm if this was manned, this object was manned or not. interesting for them to come forward with so many details unknown. forward with so many details unknown-— forward with so many details unknown. , . , ., , unknown. they have been really open about it, but — unknown. they have been really open about it, but they _ unknown. they have been really open about it, but they have _ unknown. they have been really open about it, but they have been - unknown. they have been really open about it, but they have been also i about it, but they have been also very vague about it as well, so one thing that they are very much emphasising is that this was not a balloon at all. we don't know that for sure, balloon at all. we don't know that forsure, but balloon at all. we don't know that for sure, but they are saying it was not a balloon, it was an object, but of course people want to know more of course people want to know more of the details, exactly what had they found so far, because they have said that they have had significant debris because it fell on water, but at the moment they are being vague about it, not giving too many details, but we expect them to give more. i should add, we are waiting to hear more details yet about the actual balloon from last week, which

the americans are very clear what that was. they maintained i was a spy balloon from china, but on this particular object, no concrete details on what it is.- particular object, no concrete details on what it is. nomia, “ust to no details on what it is. nomia, “ust to go back— details on what it is. nomia, “ust to go backto fl details on what it is. nomia, “ust to go back to that i details on what it is. nomia, “ust to go back to that incident i details on what it is. nomia, just to go back to that incident with l to go back to that incident with china, there was a long planned trip, wasn't there, from the us secretary of state antony blinken to go to china, and there is much to discuss at the moment? do you think this is being seen by the white house as an issue of national security? i house as an issue of national security?— house as an issue of national securi ? ~ , , ., security? i think partly, but also this is about _ security? i think partly, but also this is about them _ security? i think partly, but also this is about them standing i security? i think partly, but also this is about them standing up l security? i think partly, but also | this is about them standing up to china. if we look at what president biden said in his state of the union address earlier this week, antony blinken cancelling his trip was actually good sized by a lot of republicans who felt that not only should bidens administration have acted quickly and shut the balloon down but that should've still gone to that meeting with beijing and confronted them about it. we don't know if and when blinken will resume

that triple survey mentioned earlier, we don't know for sure if china have spoken with the us instead balloon was shot down. we understand there was an attempt by the defence secretary, the us defence secretary, to have a phone conversation with china about that spy conversation with china about that spy balloon, but china rebuffed any attempt at that and has called the us irresponsible for what it did and accused america of not creating a proper atmosphere to have a constructive dialogue. molar nomia, thank you. reminding viewers whojustjoined us, a high—altitude object has been shot down in alaska in the last hour. according to the white house, an object of the size of a small car, apparently a threat to civilian air traffic, but the panic on not able to confirm whether the actual object was manned or not. this is coming a few days

after the shooting down of a chinese spy after the shooting down of a chinese spy balloon. you are watching bbc news. this is bbc news. the headlines... a "high—altitude object" is shot down by us fighterjets over alaska— white house spokesmanjohn kirby wouldn't confirm if it was a ballon but says it posed "a threat to the safety of civilian aircraft" hope and despair in turkey and syria, as the painstaking search for survivors continues — more than 23,000 people are known to have died after monday's earthquakes syria's government gives permission for international aid for victims of the devastating earthquakes to be sent to rebel—held areas. this follows days of

appeals by aid agencies. thousands of tents, blankets and hygiene kits are among the resources being collected for victims. former newcastle united footballer christian atsu is still