Month: May 2025

[ad_1] Bangkok earthquake (File Photo: AP) BANGKOK: Thai authorities on Tuesday officially ended the search operation at the building under construction in the capital, Bangkok, that collapsed following an earthquake that killed dozens over a month ago.The 7.7 magnitude quake on March 28 centred in Myanmar, more than 800 miles (1,200 kilometres) away, killed at least 96 people in Bangkok, mostly at the collapsed site. More than 3,000 were killed in Myanmar.Eighty-nine bodies have been retrieved from the rubble while seven people remain unaccounted for at the site, officials said. They said they would continue to test hundreds of pieces of human remains to identify those still missing. The collapse sparked questions about the enforcement of construction safety and corruption. The high-rise building, meant to be the new office of the State Audit Office, was the only building that suffered […]

[ad_1] UK PM Keir Starmer (File photo) A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life following a fire at a property linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, local media reported. The fire occurred early on Monday at Starmer’s former family home in Kentish Town, north London, which he still owns. Starmer moved into the official Prime Minister’s residence in Downing Street after Labour’s election victory last year.The Metropolitan Police were alerted by the London Fire Brigade at 1:35 am. The fire, which caused damage to the property’s entrance, was quickly contained by firefighters and no injuries were reported. Police have cordoned off the area while investigations continue.Starmer’s spokesperson expressed gratitude to the emergency services for their response, adding that the incident is still under investigation and no further comments would be made.PollDo […]

[ad_1] TOKYO: Global free trade is in crisis, the head of the World Trade Organization chief said Tuesday while meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shigaru Ishiba on Tuesday. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization, told Ishiba that she has high expectations for Japan as a champion of open markets as US President Donald Trump disrupts world commerce with his fast-changing tariffs and other policies. "Trade is facing very challenging times right now and it is quite difficult," she said. "We should try to use this crisis as an opportunity to solve the challenges we have and take advantage of new trends in trade."PollDo you think Japan can successfully champion global free trade amid current challenges? Japan, as "a champion of the multilateral trading system" must help maintain, strengthen and reform the WTO, the Japanese Foreign Ministry cited her as […]