Over 1,600 Dead, 3,400 Injured: Myanmar-Thailand Quakes Flatten Buildings

 

                                                            Rescue Effort in Mayanmar

A powerful earthquake hit Myanmar and regions of adjacent Thailand, resulting in widespread devastation and an increasing number of fatalities. As of Saturday evening, the death toll in both Myanmar and Thailand surpassed 1,600, with Myanmar alone accounting for 1,644 fatalities.

Here are ten key details regarding this significant event:

The earthquake, registering a magnitude of 7.7, struck northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar, at 12:50 pm (0650 GMT) on Friday, occurring at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. Shortly after, a 6.7-magnitude aftershock and several smaller quakes followed.

The tremors were felt throughout the surrounding area, impacting buildings from India in the west to China in the east, along with Cambodia and Laos. This morning, Myanmar's military junta announced that the number of deceased in the country had exceeded 1,000.

Ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar, which was ignited by the military's takeover, has significantly hampered emergency response efforts, leaving them unprepared for such a large-scale disaster.

In Thailand, the earthquake resulted in the death of 10 individuals, mainly due to the collapse of a high-rise building under construction near the Chatuchak market in Bangkok. There are concerns that up to 100 workers might be trapped in the debris.

In Mandalay, Myanmar, numerous buildings crumbled into heaps of rubble and twisted metal as residents and emergency responders rushed to rescue individuals trapped beneath the wreckage. The Ava Bridge, an almost 100-year-old structure that spanned the Irrawaddy River from Sagaing, fell into the water.

The destruction in Myanmar led to an unusual plea for international assistance from the isolated military government. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing sought support from "any country, any organization."

India was among the first nations to offer help, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concern and willingness to provide support. "Worried about the situation following the earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. Wishing for the safety and health of all. India is prepared to extend any possible aid. In this context, I instructed our personnel to be ready. I also requested the MEA to stay in contact with the governments of Myanmar and Thailand," PM Modi stated on Friday.

The Indian Air Force sent 15 tonnes of relief materials, comprising tents, blankets, water purifiers, and vital medications, from its Hindon air base to support Myanmar. Under 'Operation Brahma', India is also dispatching a team of 80 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) members to help with relief and rescue operations in Myanmar.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Thailand convened an emergency meeting to evaluate the effects of the earthquake. The Indian embassy in Thailand reported no injuries among Indian citizens but urged caution.

The European Union and the United States also committed to providing assistance. US President Donald Trump confirmed that Washington had been in communication with the authorities in Myanmar. "It's really serious, and we will be providing help," he told the press.

North Korea has emerged as the fourth nation to equip the Il-76 aircraft with an aerial surveillance system.

North Korea has emerged as the fourth nation to equip the Il-76 aircraft with an aerial surveillance system.

 

After Russia, China, and India, North Korea has emerged as the fourth nation to equip the Il-76 aircraft with an aerial surveillance system.

North Korea is rapidly advancing its military capabilities. Recent footage has verified that the nation possesses at least one airborne surveillance system and is also developing drones with AI technology designed for kamikaze missions.

Kim Jong Un, the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), has showcased the country’s airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft along with its nascent AI-driven suicide drones.

The AEW&C capability allows North Korea to extend its radar reach, enabling the detection of enemy aircraft or missile threats well in advance. This advancement could hold strategic importance should tensions escalate with the United States or South Korea.

Recent announcements from North Korea’s state media indicate that Kim Jong Un has been observing the operational setup of the nation’s airborne radar system, which serves as a key enhancement for a contemporary air force.

The state media depicted the DPRK leader examining the aircraft that has not yet been officially named. In the footage, Kim Jong Un is seen exploring the internal features of the aircraft. With this development, North Korea becomes the fourth nation to operate radar systems based on the Il-76 model. Russia, the designer of the Il-76-based AWACS, manages the A-50 Mainstay, with an upgraded version known as the A-50U.

China utilizes the KJ-2000, while India has its Il-76-based ‘Netra’ AWACS system. The North Korean aerial surveillance platform bears resemblances to both the Russian A-50 Mainstay and China’s KJ-2000 Mainring.

The visuals reveal a radome situated atop the back of the fuselage. It is likely equipped with three fixed phased array radars intended to offer comprehensive 360-degree surveillance capabilities. This North Korean version appears to sport a stable triangular structure, in contrast to the rotating radomes found on other airborne radar systems.

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March 28, 2025 at 03:19PM

North Korea has emerged as the fourth nation to equip the Il-76 aircraft with an aerial surveillance system.

 

After Russia, China, and India, North Korea has emerged as the fourth nation to equip the Il-76 aircraft with an aerial surveillance system.

North Korea is rapidly advancing its military capabilities. Recent footage has verified that the nation possesses at least one airborne surveillance system and is also developing drones with AI technology designed for kamikaze missions.

Kim Jong Un, the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), has showcased the country’s airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft along with its nascent AI-driven suicide drones.

The AEW&C capability allows North Korea to extend its radar reach, enabling the detection of enemy aircraft or missile threats well in advance. This advancement could hold strategic importance should tensions escalate with the United States or South Korea.

Recent announcements from North Korea’s state media indicate that Kim Jong Un has been observing the operational setup of the nation’s airborne radar system, which serves as a key enhancement for a contemporary air force.

The state media depicted the DPRK leader examining the aircraft that has not yet been officially named. In the footage, Kim Jong Un is seen exploring the internal features of the aircraft. With this development, North Korea becomes the fourth nation to operate radar systems based on the Il-76 model. Russia, the designer of the Il-76-based AWACS, manages the A-50 Mainstay, with an upgraded version known as the A-50U.

China utilizes the KJ-2000, while India has its Il-76-based ‘Netra’ AWACS system. The North Korean aerial surveillance platform bears resemblances to both the Russian A-50 Mainstay and China’s KJ-2000 Mainring.

The visuals reveal a radome situated atop the back of the fuselage. It is likely equipped with three fixed phased array radars intended to offer comprehensive 360-degree surveillance capabilities. This North Korean version appears to sport a stable triangular structure, in contrast to the rotating radomes found on other airborne radar systems.

7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Myanmar, Strong Tremors In Bangkok, 20 Dead

 

Rescuers work at the site of a high-rise building under construction that collapsed after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Bangkok, on March 28, 2025. | Photo Credit: AP

A powerful earthquake registering 7.7 on the Richter scale struck central Myanmar at precisely 12:50 PM local time on Friday, followed by an aftershock measuring 6.8. According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was located 16 kilometers to the northwest of Sagaing city, occurring at a depth of 10 kilometers. Local media has reported 20 fatalities in Myanmar as a result of the disaster.

Additionally, casualties have emerged from a mosque in Mandalay city that collapsed while worshippers were praying inside. Ongoing rescue operations are underway, and it is likely that the death toll will rise.

The military government of Myanmar has proclaimed a state of 'emergency' and is seeking international assistance.

Tremors were felt as far away as northern Thailand, prompting the suspension of some metro and rail services in Bangkok. In response to the situation, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra convened an "urgent meeting" to discuss the crisis and announced a state of 'emergency' in the capital.

Strong tremors were also detected in China's Yunnan province, where the China Earthquake Networks Center recorded a magnitude of 7.9. Additionally, light tremors were noted in Kolkata, Bengal, parts of Manipur, as well as in Dhaka and Chattogram, Bangladesh, as reported by the news agency PTI. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicated that India is prepared to provide any required support. He expressed, “Praying for the safety and health of everyone,” in a post on X. “... I have instructed our officials to remain ready.”

Disturbing footage on X revealed buildings swaying in Bangkok and other cities, with individuals fleeing into the streets in fear. A resident from the well-known tourist destination Chiang Mai, Duangjai, shared with AFP, “I experienced it... I was resting in my home and then dashed out in my pajamas as far as I could go.”

One especially shocking video captured the sight of water spilling over the edge of an infinity pool.

Who is Rumeysa Ozturk, the Tufts University PhD candidate detained by US immigration officials?

 

Who is Rumeysa Ozturk, the Tufts University PhD candidate detained by US immigration officials?

Rumeysa Ozturk, a PhD student from Turkey attending Tufts University, was taken into custody by immigration agents in plain clothes in Somerville, Massachusetts, on March 26. The Department of Homeland Security in the United States claims that she participated in actions that support Hamas, resulting in the cancellation of her visa, although no formal charges have been made against her. Ozturk, a Turkish citizen and doctoral candidate at Tufts, was "caught off guard" by federal immigration officials near her residence off campus in Somerville, Massachusetts, on Tuesday.

This event has prompted worries among legal professionals, university administrators, and advocates for civil rights regarding the nature of her detention and the legal grounds for her arrest.

Ozturk, who practices Islam, was supposedly en route to an Iftar event to break her fast during Ramzan when she encountered agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in plain clothes. Her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, stated that she had a valid student visa at the moment of her arrest. Nonetheless, she was forcibly restrained, handcuffed, and taken into custody without any immediate clarification.

Arrest footage raises questions

Neighborhood security cameras recorded the events just before Ozturk's arrest. The footage shows a man in casual attire signaling to her before stepping into her path to impede her departure.

Three Policemen lost lives, three militants were eliminated in the Kathua region of Jammu and Kashmir.

Three Policemen lost lives, three militants were eliminated in the Kathua region of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

Three law enforcement officers lost their lives, while three militants were eliminated during a confrontation in the Kathua region of Jammu and Kashmir. 

The clash commenced at approximately 8 o'clock in the morning on Thursday, amid heightened efforts by the Jammu and Kashmir Police to combat a recently infiltrated group of militants. 

As reported by the PTI news agency, officials indicated that a prolonged gun battle lasting the entire day in a secluded wooded area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district resulted in the deaths of three terrorists and three police members. 

Seven additional police personnel, including a deputy superintendent, sustained injuries during the conflict led by the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), with support from the Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), according to officials' statements. 

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have not confirmed or denied the fatalities of the officers, stating that a clearer understanding will be available once teams reach the area on Friday morning. 

The confrontation began around 8 am on Thursday amid increased operations by the Jammu and Kashmir Police targeting a terrorist group that had recently crossed the border, reportedly affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), as per PTI sources. 

This incident, taking place near the Jakhole village in the Ghati Juthana region of Rajbagh, involved about five terrorists. An initial round of gunfire led to injuries for six police officers, including the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), who was managing a search operation, according to the aforementioned officials.

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March 28, 2025 at 08:33AM

Three Policemen lost lives, three militants were eliminated in the Kathua region of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

Three law enforcement officers lost their lives, while three militants were eliminated during a confrontation in the Kathua region of Jammu and Kashmir. 

The clash commenced at approximately 8 o'clock in the morning on Thursday, amid heightened efforts by the Jammu and Kashmir Police to combat a recently infiltrated group of militants. 

As reported by the PTI news agency, officials indicated that a prolonged gun battle lasting the entire day in a secluded wooded area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district resulted in the deaths of three terrorists and three police members. 

Seven additional police personnel, including a deputy superintendent, sustained injuries during the conflict led by the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), with support from the Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), according to officials' statements. 

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have not confirmed or denied the fatalities of the officers, stating that a clearer understanding will be available once teams reach the area on Friday morning. 

The confrontation began around 8 am on Thursday amid increased operations by the Jammu and Kashmir Police targeting a terrorist group that had recently crossed the border, reportedly affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), as per PTI sources. 

This incident, taking place near the Jakhole village in the Ghati Juthana region of Rajbagh, involved about five terrorists. An initial round of gunfire led to injuries for six police officers, including the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), who was managing a search operation, according to the aforementioned officials.