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Strong earthquake rocks Thai capital of Bangkok
A high-rise building under construction in Bangkok collapsed after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Thailand and neighbouring Myanmar midday on Friday, police said, and possible casualties are not yet known. A dramatic video circulated on social media showed the multi-story building with a crane on top collapsing into a cloud of dust, while onlookers screamed and ran. Police told The Associated Press they were responding to the scene near Bangkok's popular Chatuchak Market, and had no immediate information on how many workers were on the site at the time of the collapse. The midday temblor was followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock, and people in Bangkok evacuated from their buildings were cautioned to stay outside in case there were more. All of a sudden the whole building began to move, immediately there was screaming and a lot of panic, said Fraser Morton, a tourist from Scotland, who was in one of Bangkok's many malls shopping for camera equipment. I just started walking calmly at first but then the building started really moving, yeah, a lot of screaming, a lot of panic, people running the wrong way down the escalators, lots of banging and crashing inside the mall. Like thousands of others in downtown Bangkok, Morton sought refuge in Benjasiri Park away from the tall buildings all around. I got outside and then looked up at the building and the whole building was moving, dust and debris, it was pretty intense, he said. Lots of chaos. The US Geological Survey and Germany's GFZ center for geosciences said the earthquake was a shallow 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), with an epicenter in Myanmar, according to preliminary reports. In Mandalay, the country's second-largest city and close to the epicenter, the earthquake damaged part of the former royal palace and buildings, according to videos and photos released on Facebook social media. While the area is prone to earthquakes, it is generally sparsely populated, and most houses are low-rise structures. In the Sagaing region just southwest of Mandalay, a 90-year-old bridge collapsed, and some sections of the highway connecting Mandalay and Myanmar's largest city, Yangon, were also damaged. Residents in Yangon rushed out of their homes when the quake struck. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. In the capital Naypyitaw, the quake damaged religious shrines, sending parts toppling to the ground, and some homes. In Bangkok, alarms went off in buildings as the earthquake hit around 1:30 p.m., and startled residents were evacuated down staircases of high-rise condominiums and hotels. The greater Bangkok area is home to more than 17 million people, many of whom live in high-rise apartments. Water from high-rise rooftop pools sloshed over the side as they shook, and debris fell from many buildings as the long-lasting earthquake rattled the city. I have experienced earthquakes twice before in Myanmar, but that was only one second, one big bang, but here it went on for at least, I'd say, a minute, said Zsuzsanna Vari-Kovacs, a Hungarian resident of Bangkok, who had just finished eating at a restaurant when the quake hit. My husband was in a high-rise, I think that's even worse. Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention said the quake was felt in almost all regions of the country.Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra called an emergency meeting to assess the impact of the quake.
28 March,2025 02:41 PM IST | Bangkok | AP
Suspected US strikes pummel Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen
Suspected US airstrikes pummelled sites across Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebels early Friday, including neighbourhoods in the capital, Sanaa. The extent of the damage and possible casualties wasn't immediately clear, though the number of strikes appeared particularly intense compared to other days in the campaign that began March 15. An Associated Press review has found the new American operation under President Donald Trump appears more more extensive than those under former president Joe Biden, as the US moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel as well as dropping bombs in cities. Initial reports from the Houthis described at least seven people being hurt in the attacks in Sanaa, Yemen's capital that the rebels have held since 2014. Other strikes hit around the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, the rebel's stronghold of Saada and in Yemen's al-Jawf, Amran and Marib governorates. The Houthis did not immediately acknowledge what at those sites had been targeted, other than Sanaa International Airport, which is used for both civilian and military traffic. Neighbourhoods in the capital also are home to military and intelligence service sites -- as well as crowded with civilians. An Associated Press video showed one bomb dropping into Sanaa, with a huge plume of smoke rising into the night sky as many people were awake in the final days of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. Other areas hit included mountainous terrain north of Sanaa in Amran, where military camps and other installations are believed to be. The Houthis' al-Masirah satellite news network described communication networks going down after the attacks, which included at least 19 strikes there alone. The US military's Central Command, which now has authority from the White House to strike offensively in Yemen without pre-approval, did not immediately acknowledge conducting any strikes. The command, which under Biden offered details on individual strikes, has not provided that information in this campaign. The new campaign of airstrikes, which the Houthis say have killed at least 57 people, started after the rebels threatened to begin targeting 'Israeli' ships again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip. The rebels in the past have had a loose definition of what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning other vessels could be targeted as well. The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors during their campaign targeting ships from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships, though none have been hit so far. The attacks greatly raised the Houthis' profile as they faced economic problems and launched a crackdown targeting any dissent and aid workers at home amid Yemen's decade-long stalemated war that has torn apart the Arab world's poorest nation. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 March,2025 11:46 AM IST | Dubai | AP
Trump signs executive order to end collective bargaining with agencies
US President Donald Trump on Thursday moved to end collective bargaining with federal labour unions in agencies with national security missions across the federal government, citing authority granted to him under a 1978 law. The order, signed without public fanfare and announced late on Thursday, appears to touch most of the federal government. The affected agencies include the departments of state, defence, Vterans affairs, energy, health and human services, treasury, justice and commerce and the part of homeland security responsible for border security. Police and firefighters will continue to collectively bargain. Trump said the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 gives him the authority to end collective bargaining with federal unions in these agencies because of their role in safeguarding national security. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 March,2025 11:45 AM IST | Washington | AP
25 per cent tariff on imported cars, components in US
In a significant policy announcement from the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump has declared a 25 per cent tariff on all imported vehicles entering the US, a move he described as “very exciting” for domestic manufacturing. The tariffs, set to take effect on April 2, will impact nearly half of all vehicles sold in the US, including American brands assembled overseas. The wide-ranging measure aims to incentivise car manufacturers to establish more production facilities within US borders. Honda’s passenger vehicles are loaded onto the cargo ship for export at the Chiba port in Narashino city, Japan. Pic/AFP The White House claims the tariffs, which it expects to raise $100 billion in revenue annually, would foster domestic manufacturing but could also put a financial squeeze on automakers that depend on global supply chains. “This will continue to spur growth. We’ll effectively be charging a 25 per cent tariff,” Trump told reporters, asserting, “This is permanent!” ‘Direct attack on Canada’ Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday said that the auto tariffs are a “direct attack” on his country and that the trade war is hurting Americans, noting that American consumer confidence is at a multi-year low. “This is a very direct attack. We will defend our workers. We will defend our companies. We will defend our country,” Carney said, adding that would see details of Trump’s executive order before taking retaliatory measures. ‘Consider potential harm’ Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva swiped on Thursday at President Trump’s decision saying Trump should consider the potential harm to the American and global economies. Lula made the comments while wrapping up a 4-day visit to Japan, where Trump’s decision on Wednesday to order 25 per cent tariffs on all car imports came as a severe blow given the country’s status as a major auto exporter and American ally. The US is the biggest destination for Japanese car exports. MQ-9 drones for Qatar The US has given an initial approval for the energy-rich Mideast nation of Qatar to buy eight armed MQ-9B Predator drones for its military, an estimated purchase worth nearly $2 billion. The State Department approval announced early on Thursday for Qatar comes after Doha had been trying to purchase the drones during the Biden administration, but hadn’t gotten the approval. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 March,2025 07:51 AM IST | Washington | Agencies
South Korea struggles to contain wildfires
Helicopters dumped water over a burning forest in South Korea on Thursday as fire crews struggled to contain the country’s worst-ever wildfires, which have killed 26 people, forced at least 37,000 others to flee their homes and destroyed more than 300 structures. Multiple wildfires fuelled by strong winds and dry weather have been raging across South Korea’s southeastern regions since last Friday. The government has mobilised thousands of personnel, dozens of helicopters and other equipment to extinguish the blazes, but gusty winds are hampering their efforts. Rain was expected later Thursday. But Korea Forest Service chief Lim Sang-seop said the amount—less than 5 mm (0.2 inches) is forecast—likely won’t help much. Authorities suspect human error caused the fires, including people starting fires to clear grass from family tombs or with sparks during welding work. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 March,2025 07:49 AM IST | Cheongsong | Agencies
‘North Korea sent 3000 more troops to Russia’
North Korea sent around 3000 additional troops to Russia in January and February in continued support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine, South Korea’s military said on Thursday. The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea has also been sending more missiles, artillery equipment and ammunition to help Russia and that North Korea could increase its weapons supplies further. The military equipment North Korea has sent to Russia includes a “considerable amount” of short-range ballistic missiles, 170 mm self-propelled howitzers and around 220 units of 240 mm multiple rocket launchers. North Korea has also sent approximately 11,000 military personnel to fight, of which around 4000 have been killed or injured. Kim observes new attack drone tests A new suicide attack drone being tested. Pic/AFP North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones this week and called for their increased production, state media said on Thursday. The report said the new exploding drones are designed for various attack missions and feature unspecified artificial intelligence capabilities. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 March,2025 07:49 AM IST | Seoul | Agencies
Gaza: Palestinians protest against Hamas for 2nd day
Thousands of Palestinians marched between the wreckage of a heavily destroyed town in northern Gaza on Wednesday, the second day of anti-war protests, with many chanting against Hamas in a rare display of public anger against the militant group. The protests, which centred mainly on Gaza’s north, appeared to be aimed generally against the 17-month-long war. But the protesters also levelled unusually direct and public criticism of Hamas, which has quashed dissent violently in the past in Gaza. In the town of Beit Lahiya, where a similar protest took place on Tuesday, about 3000 people demonstrated, with many chanting ‘The people want the fall of Hamas”. In the hard-hit Shijaiyah neighbourhood of Gaza City, dozens of men chanted ‘Out, out out! Hamas get out!’ Israelis protest outside parliament Tens of thousands of Israelis flocked to Jerusalem on Wednesday to protest a bill that would change the way judges are selected. It’s the latest in a series of anti-government demonstrations that have rocked the country in recent weeks. The proposed bill is up for a final vote overnight and is expected to pass. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 March,2025 07:49 AM IST | Cairo | Agencies
Shooting in south Florida kills woman and 3 children; 2 others taken to hospital
A woman and three children were fatally shot Wednesday night in south Florida and two others were taken to a hospital, according to law enforcement. The shooting in Pembroke Park took place at about 8 p.m., Michael Kane, the Broward Sheriff's Office fire rescue battalion chief, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. An adult male and a girl were transported to a hospital. The conditions of the two people taken to a hospital weren't immediately clear. Evan Ross, a spokesperson for Pembroke Park Police, described the shooting as domestic, according to the news report. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 March,2025 12:55 PM IST | Pembroke Park | AP | PTI
Entire Signal chat with detailed plans released
The Atlantic released the entire Signal chat among Trump senior national security officials on Wednesday, showing that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth provided the exact timing of warplane launches and when bombs would drop “before the men and women flying those attacks against Yemen’s Houthis this month on behalf of the US were airborne”. The disclosure follows two intense days during which Trump’s senior most Cabinet members of his intelligence and defence agencies have struggled to explain how details that current and former US officials have said would have been classified wound up on an unclassified Signal chat that included Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg. Goldberg has said he asked the White House if it opposed publication and that the White House responded that it would prefer he did not publish. Meanwhile, Pesident Donald Trump’s top intelligence officials will brief House lawmakers on global threats facing the US, though they’ll likely be questioned again over their use of a group text to discuss the Yemen strikes. At a similar hearing on Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard briefed lawmakers on her office’s threat assessment. Questions about Signal chat Tuesday’s hearing was dominated by questions about CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Gabbard’s participation in a group chat on Signal. Gabbard and Ratcliffe said no classified information was included in the messages, but Democrats decried the use of the messaging app, saying that any release of sensitive information that could put US servicemembers at risk. Timeline of Hegseth’s Signal group posts… 1215 ET: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package)1345: Trigger Based’ F-18 1st strike window starts (target terrorist is @ his known location, also, MQ-9s strike drones launch)1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package)1415: Strike drones on target (first bombs definitely drop)1536: F-18 2nd strike starts, also, first sea-based tomahawks launch... Bid to overhaul US poll process Trump signs an order. Pic/AFP US President Donald Trump cited India and Brazil in his executive order to overhaul the US election system, saying the two countries are linking voter identification to a biometric database. “The US largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship,” according to the order. The President also called for “free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion”. Jay Bhattacharya becomes NIH chief Jay Bhattacharya Indian-American scientist Jay Bhattacharya has been confirmed by the US Senate as the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the country’s top health research and funding institutions. Bhattacharya, a professor of Health Policy at Stanford University, was confirmed by a 53-47 vote on Tuesday. Trump, then the President-elect, nominated him as 18th NIH Director in November last year. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 March,2025 09:18 AM IST | Washington | Agencies
S Korean wildfires toll at 24; 27K evacuated
Wind-driven wildfires that were among South Korea’s worst ever were ravaging the country’s southern regions, killing 24 people, destroying more than 200 structures and forcing 27,000 people to evacuate, officials said Wednesday. The death toll included a pilot who died after a helicopter crashed during efforts to contain wildfires in the southeastern town of Uiseong, one of the areas hardest-hit. The aircraft had no other crew members. The National Fire Agency said at least 26 other people sustained varying degrees of injuries. An ancient Buddhist temple, houses, factories and vehicles were among the structures destroyed in the wildfires that have burned 43,330 acres, the government’s emergency response centre said. In a televised address, South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo said the wildfires that began last Friday were causing worse damage than many other past wildfires. 200No. of structures damaged This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 March,2025 09:17 AM IST | Seoul | Agencies
Green energy flow jumps
Installation of renewable energy worldwide hit a record high last year, with 92.5 per cent of all new electricity brought online coming from the sun, wind or other clean sources, an international agency reports. Nearly 64 per cent of the new renewable electricity generated in 2024 was in China, as per Wednesday’s report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The world added 585 billion watts of new renewable electrical energy, a 15.1 per cent jump from 2023, with 46 per cent of the world’s electricity coming from solar, wind and other green non-nuclear energy sources. But even that big jump does not put the globe on track to reach the international goal of tripling renewable energy from 2023 to 2030, with the world on pace to be 28 per cent short, IRENA said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 March,2025 09:17 AM IST | Washington | Agencies