April 23, 2024

Taiwan has been rattled by a cluster of dozens of earthquakes that caused buildings to sway and that the government said were aftershocks from the huge quake that hit the island more than two weeks ago. The strongest of the latest tremors, which the United States Geological Survey measured at a magnitude of 6.1, hit at about 2.30am (18:30 GMT) followed minutes later by a 6.0 tremor. Taipei’s Central Weather Administration put them at 6.0 and 6.3, respectively. The seismic activity, which was centred around Hualien on the east coast, caused buildings across large parts of northern, eastern and western Taiwan to shake throughout the night. There were no reports of casualties. Office worker Kevin Lin, who lives in the capital Taipei, told the AFP news agency that the quake woke him. “I was too scared to move and stayed in bed,” the 53-year-old said. At about 8am (00:00 GMT), a 5.8-magnitude tremor shook the capital as commuters made their way to work. The mountainous county of Hualien, about 150km (93 miles) from Taipei, was the epicentre of a magnitude-7.2 quake that struck the island on April 3, severely damaging buildings in Hualien City and triggering landslides in the surrounding countryside. At least 14 people were killed, and there have been more than 1,100 aftershocks. Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said the latest cluster of earthquakes were also aftershocks. Seismological Centre Director Wu Chien-fu told reporters that the quakes were a “concentrated release of energy” and that more could be expected, although perhaps not as strong. In Hualien, the government announced that schools and offices would remain closed on Tuesday due to the continuous aftershocks. Buildings that partially collapsed in the April 3 quake, including the Full Hotel and the nearby Tong Shuai Building, were further damaged. Both were empty and have already been marked for demolition. The April 3 quake was the most serious in Taiwan in 25 years, but the toll was relatively contained thanks to widespread public awareness campaigns and stricter building standards. The island of 23 million people lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is no stranger to powerful earthquakes. Source : https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/23/sleepless-night-in-taiwan-as-island-rattled-by-cluster-of-aftershocks

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir said there was a need for “improved coordination” between Pakistan and Iran against terrorists. He made these comments in a meeting with Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, who is currently in Pakistan on a three-day official visit. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), COAS Munir emphasised the need for improved coordination along the border to prevent terrorists from jeopardising the longstanding brotherly relations between the two neighbouring countries. The statement read that the discussion between the two dignitaries primarily focused on matters of mutual interest, notably regional peace, stability and border security. “Both sides concurred on the necessity to bolster bilateral cooperation while jointly striving for regional stability and economic prosperity,” said the ISPR statement. President Raisi, during the meeting, emphasised that by fostering cooperation between the two armed forces, Islamabad and Tehran can attain peace and stability for both nations and the region. President Raisi’s visit to Pakistan The Iranian head of state arrived in Pakistan on Monday on a three-day official visit, the first by any foreign leader to Pakistan after the February 8 polls. He is being accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation, comprising the foreign minister and other members of the cabinet, senior officials and a large business delegation. Following his arrival at the Prime Minister’s House to meet with PM Shehbaz Sharif on April 22, the Iranian president received a guard of honour from the smartly turned-out contingents of the armed forces. The premier welcomed the high-profile guest as he arrived at the venue of the formal welcome ceremony after which the national anthems of both countries were played. In the second leg of his high-profile visit to Pakistan, Raisi will travel to Lahore. Later, the Iranian leader will travel to Karachi where his meetings are scheduled with Governor Kamran Tessori and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. Raisi will also visit Quaid’s mausoleum in Karachi and pay his respects to the founder of Pakistan. The foreign leader would stay in Karachi and return to Tehran on Wednesday. The provincial authorities are on high alert due to the high-profile visit and a public holiday has been declared in Karachi and Lahore today.  Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1181415-army-chief-meets-president-raisi-seeks-improved-coordination-with-iran-against-terrorists

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/4/23/israels-war-on-gaza-live-palestinians-urge-donors-to-resume-unrwa-funding