A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake has devastated Myanmar, leaving at least 1,700 dead and thousands injured. The tremor also impacted neighbouring Thailand, where 17 fatalities were reported. Rescue operations are underway, but limited resources and ongoing military conflicts hinder efforts. Myanmar’s military government faces criticism for prioritising airstrikes over relief efforts. Ethnic armed groups and international organisations have called for a humanitarian ceasefire and no-fly zone to facilitate aid. The United States has pledged $2 million in assistance. As survivors endure harsh conditions, urgent global support is needed to prevent further loss of life.
TRUMP WARNS IRAN: MAKE DEAL
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, threatening unprecedented military action if a new nuclear deal is not reached. In a phone interview, Trump stated, “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing like never before.” His remarks follow Iran’s formal written response to a U.S. proposal for nuclear negotiations. Meanwhile, the U.S. has deployed B-2 stealth bombers to the Diego Garcia military base, signalling heightened tensions. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian insists the U.S. must rebuild trust before talks can proceed. The standoff raises fears of escalating conflict in the region.
CHATGPT OUTAGE AFTER VIRAL FEATURE
ChatGPT experienced a temporary outage as users rushed to test its new Studio Ghibli-style image generation feature. The surge in demand overwhelmed OpenAI’s servers, leading to widespread access issues. Reports of the outage spiked on Sunday, with users facing error messages and delays. OpenAI acknowledged the issue and worked on a fix, later confirming that all impacted services had been fully restored. CEO Sam Altman humorously urged users to slow down on generating images, citing strain on resources. The outage highlights the growing popularity of AI-generated art and the challenges of scaling AI-driven platforms.
TSUNAMI WARNING LIFTED AFTER EARTHQUAKE
A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Tonga, prompting an initial tsunami warning that was later lifted. The US Geological Survey reported the quake occurred 100 km northeast of the main island early Monday. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii initially warned of possible hazardous waves but later confirmed no tsunami threat. Sirens were activated, urging residents to move inland, but no significant damage was reported. Residents in Tonga’s Ha’apai island group calmly evacuated to higher ground as a precaution. The event underscores the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity, given its location in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
GAZA EID AMID WAR, HUNGER
Palestinians in Gaza marked Eid-ul-Fitr amid war and extreme hardship, with food supplies dwindling and no end to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Many prayed outside demolished mosques, mourning lost loved ones instead of celebrating. The holiday, meant to bring joy and family gatherings, was overshadowed by displacement, hunger, and ongoing Israeli strikes. The war reignited after a ceasefire collapsed, and has left thousands dead and 90% of Gaza’s population displaced. With humanitarian aid blocked for weeks, residents struggle to survive. For many, this Eid was a painful reminder of the devastation and uncertainty gripping the besieged enclave.
