With heavy hearts, we extend our prayers and loving-kindness to all those affected by the powerful earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday, 24 June near the coastal region close to Caracas. The quakes has claimed over 900 lives, injured thousands, and rendered many more homeless as building and infrastructure were damaged. Rescue teams continue to work tirelessly amidst challenging conditions to reach those missing and in need.
Read moreA magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao Island in southern Philippines in the morning of Monday, 8 June. As search and rescue is underway, the death toll is rising from the currently 46 whilst over 32,000 are estimated to be displaced. Continued aftershocks have left communities in fear and uncertainty.
Read moreOver the past two days, intense rainfall has inundated the valley around Kathmandu, Nepal. Flash floods, landslides and collapsed buildings have caused over 120 deaths and thousands of people to be displaced. Floods are reported to have broken waterpipes, and affected telephone and power lines.
Read morePowerful floods and the collapse of two dams in eastern Libya have devastated the city of Derna of around 100,000 people. More than 5,000 casualties have been confirmed with fears that up to 20,000 people have lost their lives due to the number of neighbourhoods and communities destroyed.
Read moreOn Friday 8 September , a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Morocco at around 11pm local time, killing more than 2,000 people and injuring tens of thousands. An aftershock of 4.9 struck 19 minutes later. The earthquake’s epicentre was in the High Atlas Mountains, 71km (44 miles) south-west of Marrakesh, and caused severe damage for hundreds of miles. The damage is particularly severe in parts of the Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Read moreOn Monday 6 February, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southeast Türkiye near the city of Gaziantep, at 4.17am local time. Just 12 hours later, a second 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck 130 kilometers to the north, in the Elbistan district. The deadly earthquakes left a trail of destruction in seven Turkish provinces and northern Syria.
Read moreIt has been exactly 8 years since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. None of the 298 people on board survived. The trial of four men accused of downing MH17 started in March 2020, and is still ongoing; the verdict may only be given in the last quarter of this year.
Read moreJust two weeks after the 8th anniversary of MH370’s disappearance, another tragic air-crash has taken place in Wuzhou, China. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAA) has confirmed that Flight MU5735 of China Eastern Airlines crashed in a mountainous region in Wuzhou of Guangxi province. The plane was carrying 132 people on board including 123 passengers and 9 crew members.
Read moreToday marks the 8th anniversary of Malaysia Airlines MH370′s mysterious disappearance over the Indian Ocean. Even after eight years of intensive and extensive search, the main wreckage of the B777 aircraft is still not found. Family and friends of those lost are still in anguish over not knowing the actual fate of their loved ones.
Read moreAfter an unprecedented year of delay due to the pandemic, the XXXII Olympiad commences today in Tokyo, Japan. Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (2020 东京奥运) will be held largely behind closed doors with no public spectators permitted out of precautionary measures.
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