International News
Strong Quake Hits Central Japan, Prompts Tsunami Alerts
Monday saw a forceful 7.5 magnitude earthquake hitting central Japan, according to the USGS.
The tremor triggered tsunami warnings, compelling local authorities to encourage residents in the vicinity to seek safer, elevated areas.
“All residents must evacuate immediately to higher ground,” national broadcaster NHK said after the quake hit the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm (0710 GMT).
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cautioned that dangerous tsunami waves could occur within 300 kilometres (190 miles) from the earthquake’s epicentre along the Japanese coast.
A confirmed tsunami measuring 1.2 metres was reported to have reached Wajima city in Ishikawa prefecture.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) anticipated a considerably higher tsunami of five meters to hit Noto in the same region.
The JMA reported a rapid sequence of earthquakes in the Noto region, situated on the Sea of Japan side of Japan’s main island of Honshu, starting with a 5.7 magnitude tremor at 4:06 pm local time.
Subsequent to this, a 7.6-magnitude quake occurred at 4:10 pm, followed by a 6.1 magnitude quake at 4:18 pm, a 4.5 magnitude quake at 4:23 pm, a 4.6 magnitude quake at 4:29 pm, and a 4.8 magnitude quake at 4:32 pm.
Shortly after, the US Geological Survey reported another quake with a magnitude of 6.2.
Broadcasters swiftly switched to special programming following the largest of the quakes, issuing urgent calls for affected residents to immediately move to higher ground.
A presenter on broadcaster NHk told viewers “We realise your home, your belongings are all precious to you, but your lives are important above everything else. Run to the highest ground possible.”
Japan has maintained a stringent construction regulations aimed at ensuring buildings are capable of withstanding powerful earthquakes and regularly conducts emergency drills to prepare for significant seismic events.
However, the country is haunted by the recollection of a colossal 9.0-magnitude undersea quake off northeastern Japan in March 2011.
This seismic event triggered a devastating tsunami, resulting in approximately 18,500 people reported dead or missing.
The 2011 tsunami additionally caused three reactors at the Fukushima nuclear plant to undergo meltdowns, resulting in Japan’s worst post-war disaster and the most severe nuclear incident since Chernobyl.
In March 2022, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Fukushima shook extensive regions of eastern Japan, resulting in the loss of three lives.
Tokyo suffered significant devastation from a massive earthquake a century ago in 1923.
International News
“He Failed Badly” — Trump Says Starmer Will Step Down as UK PM
U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will step down from office, accusing the Labour leader of failing on two critical issues — immigration and energy policy.
Trump made the remarks on Sunday in a post on his Truth Social platform, where he claimed Starmer’s leadership had fallen short in addressing challenges facing the United Kingdom.
SEE MORE:New US Strike on Iran Sends Oil Prices Soaring as Middle East Tensions Escalate
“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom,” Trump wrote. “He failed badly on two very important subjects — IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!”
The U.S. president did not provide any evidence to support his claim, nor did he reveal the basis for his prediction that Starmer would leave office.
Starmer, who leads the Labour Party, became Prime Minister after securing victory in the UK’s general election.
Since taking office, his government has faced criticism over a range of issues, including migration policies, energy security, and the cost-of-living challenges confronting many Britons.
Trump’s comments come as debates over immigration and energy continue to dominate political discussions in the UK.
However, there has been no official statement from Starmer, his office, or the British government suggesting that he plans to resign.
As of the time of filing this report, Starmer remains in office and continues to lead the government despite the claims made by the American president.
International News
Putin Faces New Blow as UK Unleashes 70 Sanctions, Targets Russia’s Shadow Fleet
The United Kingdom has announced 70 new sanctions against Russia, escalating efforts to pressure Moscow into ending its prolonged war against Ukraine.
The measures were unveiled on Tuesday by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a special session of the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, where leaders of the world’s leading economies gathered to discuss support for Ukraine and ways to increase pressure on the Kremlin.
The latest sanctions target Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, military procurement networks, and financial channels allegedly used to bypass existing international restrictions.
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Announcing the move, Starmer reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to working with its allies to weaken Russia’s war capabilities.
“Working with our G7 allies, we will continue to increase the pressure on Putin and his circle of collaborators until Russia’s war machine is brought to a halt and peace returns to our continent,” Starmer said.
According to a joint statement issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Prime Minister’s Office, the sanctions are aimed at Russia’s “decrepit shadow fleet, military procurement supply chains and illicit finance networks used to circumvent sanctions.”
The statement added that the measures “will choke Russia’s war effort across multiple fronts” by targeting key sectors supporting Moscow’s military operations.
Among those affected are more than 20 oil tankers linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, a network of vessels reportedly used to transport energy products and other assets under different national flags in an attempt to evade sanctions.
The UK government also revealed that Britain has become the first G7 member nation to sanction several Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vessels recently acquired by Russia to support its already-sanctioned Arctic LNG project.
The announcement comes shortly after fresh Russian missile and drone attacks struck several locations across Ukraine on Monday, killing at least 11 people and triggering a fire at one of Kyiv’s most significant Orthodox monasteries.
Starmer is expected to urge fellow G7 leaders to take stronger collective action in support of Ukraine.
According to his office, the British leader will tell the summit that “the G7 should collectively go further to ensure Ukraine secures the just and lasting peace it deserves.”
In addition to the sanctions package, the UK government announced a new agreement to provide enriched uranium for Ukraine’s nuclear power stations.
The deal, backed by £210 million ($282 million) in export finance, will allow UK-based nuclear fuel supplier Urenco to deliver enriched uranium to Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy company, Energoatom.
British officials said the arrangement is expected to help power Ukraine’s nuclear facilities for the next two years as the country continues to grapple with the impact of the ongoing conflict.
International News
Deadly Fire Engulfs Kenyan Girls’ School Dorm, 16 Confirmed Dead
A devastating fire has swept through a girls’ boarding school in central Kenya, leaving at least 16 students dead and dozens more injured in one of the country’s worst school tragedies in recent years.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday at Utumishi Girls Academy, located in Nakuru County, roughly 120 kilometres north of Nairobi. Authorities said the fire broke out around 1:00 a.m. while about 220 students were asleep inside the dormitory.
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Emergency responders, including the Kenyan Red Cross and local security agencies, rushed to the scene and evacuated survivors.
At least 73 students have been hospitalised with varying degrees of burns and smoke inhalation, while rescue operations and search efforts continued into the morning.
Police sources said the cause of the fire remains unknown, and investigations have been launched to determine what triggered the deadly blaze.
The affected dormitory has since been cordoned off as forensic teams examine the scene.
Parents gathered anxiously outside the school as authorities worked to account for all students. Officials have urged calm, assuring that full details will be released once investigations are completed.
The tragedy adds to a troubling history of school dormitory fires in Kenya, where boarding schools remain common.
In previous years, similar incidents have raised serious concerns about safety standards and emergency preparedness in educational institutions.
Government officials are expected to revisit school safety regulations following the latest disaster.





