7 seconds ago

mm flag th flag Strong Earthquakes Rock Thailand, Myanmar

A powerful earthquake rocked central Myanmar on Friday, buckling roads in capital Naypyidaw, damaging buildings and forcing people to flee into the streets in neighbouring Thailand. The 7.7-magnitude tremor hit northwest of the city of Sagaing on Friday afternoon at a shallow depth, the United States Geological Survey said. A 6.4-magnitude aftershock hit the same area minutes later. A 30-storey skyscraper under construction for government offices collapsed in Bangkok on Friday, trapping 43 workers, police and medics said, after the city was rocked by a strong earthquake. The building in the north of the Thai capital was reduced to a tangle of rubble and twisted metal in seconds after the quake. State of emergency declared A state of emergency has been declared in Bangkok. “I heard it and I was sleeping in the house, I ran as far as I could in my pyjamas out of the building,” Duangjai, a resident of the popular northern Thailand tourist city Chiang Mai, told AFP. Chunks of ceilings fell from buildings and roads buckled in Myanmar capital Naypyidaw, a sprawling, purpose-built city with highways up to 20 lanes wide, according to AFP journalists. A team of AFP journalists were at the National Museum […]

4 hours ago

sa flag Eid Al Fitr 2025: Saudi Arabia Urges Muslims to Sight Shawwal Crescent Moon on Saturday

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has called on Muslims across the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Shawwal on the evening of Saturday, Ramadan 29, 1446 Hijri, corresponding to March 29, 2025. The sighting of the Shawwal crescent will mark the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid Al Fitr. In its announcement, the Supreme Court urged anyone who sights the crescent moon—whether with the naked eye or through binoculars—to report their observation to the nearest court and register their testimony. The Court encouraged individuals capable of sighting the crescent to join regional committees formed for this purpose and contribute to the effort, which serves the broader Muslim community. People may also contact their nearest center to facilitate their report to the court. This year, Ramadan began on March 1 in Saudi Arabia and most Arab countries. If the crescent moon is not sighted on Saturday, Ramadan will extend to 30 days, and Eid Al Fitr will commence on Monday, March 31. If the Shawwal crescent is sighted on Saturday, then Sunday, March 30, will be the first day of Eid Al Fitr. Eid Al Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the […]

4 hours ago

kp flag Kim Jong Un Unveils Large AI-Equipped Combat Drones

North Korea has unveiled a new batch of new AI-equipped suicide and reconnaissance drones which the country is showcasing as part of military modernization plans. State-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Thursday that leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the testing of “various kinds of reconnaissance and suicide drones” which have long been in development by North Korea’s Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex. One particular unmanned vehicle featured in an official photo set appeared huge in size… KCNA noted that Kim has authorized expanding production of the drone line, and there are reports the program had the assistance of Russia. Kim further at the event unveiled what’s considered to be North Korea’s first airborne early-warning aircraft. “The field of unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence should be top-prioritized and developed in modernizing the armed forces,” Kim announced. The new airborne early warning and control aircraft is believed the result of North Korea modifying Russian-supplied aircraft into airborne radar platforms. The plane will complement North Korea’s existing ground-based radar systems, allowing better radar detection unhindered by the Korean peninsula’s mountainous terrain. As for the recent increasing military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, Western media reports on Wednesday say that North Korea sent at least 3,000 more soldiers […]

4 hours ago

il flag ru flag us flag ye flag Houthis Launch More Ballistic Missiles At Tel Aviv Despite Ongoing US Strikes

At a moment Western media has been consumed with ‘Signalgate’ – involving top Trump officials planning and discussing the initial March 15 bombing raid on Yemen and its aftermath via unsecure channels and with a journalist in the group – the Houthis have continued launching missiles directly at Israel, as well as against targets in the Black Sea. Clearly the Pentagon’s repeat bombing raids on the capital as well as the key port city of Hodeida have done nothing to actually deter the Houthi (Ansarallah) attacks. On Thursday the group announced another ballistic missile attack. “The missile force targeted Ben Gurion Airport in the occupied Jaffa (Tel Aviv) area with a Zulfiqar ballistic missile, and a military target south of occupied Jaffa with a Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile. The operation successfully achieved its goal,” said a military statement. The Israeli army confirmed there was an inbound missile, and sirens sounded across central Israel, sending tens of thousands into emergency shelters. The IDF military said, “following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, two missiles launched from Yemen were intercepted prior to crossing into Israeli territory,” adding that “sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol.” Israeli […]

5 hours ago

“This Is Existential”: Billionaire Cancer Researcher Says Covid & Vaccine Likely Causing Surge In Aggressive Cancers

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong – a transplant surgeon-turned-biotech billionaire renowned for inventing the cancer drug Abraxane – has issued a startling warning in a new in-depth interview with Tucker Carlson.Soon-Shiong, founder of ImmunityBio ($IBRX) and owner of the Los Angeles Times, claims that the COVID-19 pandemic, and the very vaccines developed to fight it, may be contributing to a global surge in “terrifyingly aggressive” cancers. In the nearly two-hour conversation, the Los Angeles Times owner leveraged his decades of clinical and scientific experience to outline why he suspects an unprecedented cancer epidemic is unfolding. This report examines Dr. Soon-Shiong’s background and assertions, the scientific responses for and against his claims, new data on post-COVID health trends, and the far-reaching implications if his alarming hypothesis proves true. Dr. Soon-Shiong’s Claims Soon-Shiong is a veteran surgeon and immunologist who has spent a career studying the human immune system’s fight against cancer. He pioneered novel immunotherapies and even worked on a T-cell based COVID vaccine booster during the pandemic. In the interview, he draws on this background to voice deep concern over rising cancer cases, especially among younger people – something he describes as a “non-infectious pandemic” of cancer. He tells Carlson that in 50 years of medical practice, it […]

14 hours ago

kw flag Senior Kuwaiti Official Quits Over Raffle Draw Scam

A Kuwaiti commerce official has resigned after a high-profile raffle draw fraud has been unmasked in the country, triggering public outcry and massive investigations. Undersecretary of Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry Ziad Al Najem submitted his resignation to Minister Khalifa Al Ajeel, citing “moral responsibility”, reported Kuwaiti newspaper Al Qabas. “We took the necessary legal measures against the violators in the draws case without delay. Still, this heinous incident has gone beyond the limits of the ministry and has reflected a negative image among citizens,” Al Najem was quoted as saying in his resignation letter. “Out of a sense of moral responsibility as a leader and in defence of the efforts of all loyal employees of the ministry, I submit my resignation from my position,” he added. As the scam unfolded and key suspects were made, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced forming a fact-finding committee and began reviewing all previous draws. Suspicions are rife that raffle draws linked to a famous annual shopping festival were manipulated with an Egyptian expat woman accused of winning multiple prizes under suspicious circumstances. She and her husband were detained before they could leave Kuwait. A Ministry of Commerce employee was […]

14 hours ago

kw flag Kuwait: Legal Action Against Expat Over Counterfeiting KD19,000

An Asian expatriate, working for the Central Bank of Kuwait, has been caught trying to replace KD19,000 ($61,594) in counterfeit banknotes, and has been referred to the public prosecution, according to a media report. The counterfeits were in denominations of 20 and 10 Kuwaiti dinars known as the fifth issue, reported Al Anba newspaper. Investigations with the suspect showed he thought that his work at the central bank would enable him to easily replace those notes with new bills from the sixth issue of the Kuwaiti currency. The Central Bank of Kuwait has set April 18 as the deadline for exchanging the fifth-issue banknotes for the sixth-issue ones, pointing out that holders of the old notes are not entitled to exchange them after this date. The central bank administration notified the Criminal Security Service that it had caught an expatriate in possession of KD19,000 banknotes, all of which were counterfeit, the report said, citing a security source. During questioning, the accused admitted that he had taken advantage of the announced replacing of the old currency by counterfeiting the amount seized in his possession and then proceeded to exchange the fake currency, thinking that the matter could be passed due to […]

14 hours ago

ae flag Eid Al Fitr 2025: UAE Urges Residents To Sight Shawwal Crescent On Saturday Evening

The UAE Fatwa Council has invited Muslims across the country to participate in sighting the Shawwal crescent moon on the evening of Saturday, Ramadan 29, 1446 AH, corresponding to March 29, 2025. The council urged anyone who spots the crescent—whether with the naked eye or through binoculars—to promptly report their sighting to the UAE Moon-Sighting Committee to register their testimony. This step is essential in confirming the conclusion of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid Al Fitr, the festival that marks the end of a month of fasting, devotion, and spiritual reflection. The Moon-Sighting Committee, responsible for verifying the crescent sighting, will convene after Maghrib (sunset) prayers on Saturday evening to deliberate and announce the official start date of Eid Al Fitr based on the moon sighting. Muslims in the UAE and beyond eagerly await this announcement, which holds deep religious significance, as it determines the commencement of one of Islam’s most joyous celebrations.

15 hours ago

bh flag BIC, Beyon Money Announce Return Of F1 Fan Village Ahead Of 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) and Beyon Money, part of the Beyon group, announced today the return of the hugely popular fan village in the lead-up to the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025. Motorsport fans looking to get in on the excitement ahead of this year’s race spectacle will be able to enjoy plenty on offer at the Beyon Money BIC Fan Village at Block 338 in Adliya. Set to open on Monday, March 31, the village will be open to the public free of charge all the way until April 9 , right before the F1 race weekend, which takes place from April 11-13. Now in its fourth year, the experience is being put together by BIC and title partner Beyon Money, and together with Bapco Energies as a support partner. Over the years, the fan village has established itself as a major attraction, bringing music, activations and family activities to the heart of Manama and this year it will be a perfect venue to treat family and friends during the upcoming Eid Al Fitr holidays, all the way through to the race weekend. The Beyon Money BIC Fan Village is a celebration of motorsport, and it […]

15 hours ago

bh flag Bahrain: SCE Announces Seasonal Fishing Ban On Safi, Shaari, Andag

The Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) announced a fishing ban on spangled Emperor (Shaari), rabbitfish (Safi) and seabream (Andag), from April 1 to May 31, according to Edict (2) of 2024 The measure forms part of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s efforts to conserve marine resources, restore ecological balance, rehabilitate marine ecosystems, and increase both the quantity and diversity of fish available in local markets. The council explained that the edict prohibits the fishing of these species in Bahrain’s territorial waters during April and May each year. Fishermen who inadvertently catch these species during the ban period must release them immediately back into the sea, ensuring their safety and wellbeing.

15 hours ago

New Research Shows Why More Sets Won’t Always Make You Stronger Or Bigger

When it comes to training, you may be under the impression that more reps and sets equals more gains. And to an extent, you would be correct. However, the law of diminishing gains applies to our ability to get bigger, stronger and recover well. So, what really happens when we compare an increase in different training volumes? Researchers set out to find out exactly that. The Study Published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, the study aimed to investigate how changes in weekly resistance training volume impacts muscle size, maximal strength, and muscular endurance in trained lifters. The researchers sought to determine whether increasing training volume by 30% or 60% would lead to greater muscular adaptations compared to maintaining previous training levels. The Methods The study involved: The Results Muscle Growth Strength Muscular Endurance The Conclusion What Does This Mean for Us?

15 hours ago

ru flag ua flag us flag Russia Winning In Ukraine, Continually Gaining Leverage: US Intel Community

The US government in its 2025 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community – which was just released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in conjunction with top officials’ testimony at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday – has admitted that Ukraine’s battlefield prospects are fading amid the onslaught of superior Russian forces. Currently, Moscow has “seized the upper hand” in the war over the past year, the fresh assessment warns, and “is on a path to accrue greater leverage” as peace talks with Washington are underway. “Even though Russian President [Vladimir] Putin will be unable to achieve the total victory he envisioned when initiating the large-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia retains momentum as a grinding war of attrition plays to Russia’s military advantages,” the report states. “This grinding war of attrition will lead to a gradual but steady erosion of Kyiv’s position on the battlefield, regardless of any U.S. or allied attempts to impose new and greater costs on Moscow,” it continues. This should come as no surprise to any objective observer; however, what is surprising is the huge amount of Russian losses estimated by US intelligence. While there’s no way of verifying such information, the report claims that there […]

15 hours ago

ir flag us flag US Intelligence Says Iran Is ‘Not Building A Nuclear Weapon’

US intelligence agencies have reaffirmed that there’s no evidence Iran is developing nuclear weapons or that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reversed his 2003 fatwah that banned the production of weapons of mass destruction. “The IC continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003,” Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. Gabbard’s comments were based on the annual threat assessment, which is released by the ODNI with input from all US intelligence agencies. The report did note that there have been more calls inside Iran to reverse the ban on nuclear weapons, which have grown in response to Israeli aggression in the region. “In the past year, there has been an erosion of a decades-long taboo on discussing nuclear weapons in public that has emboldened nuclear weapons advocates within Iran’s decision-making apparatus,” the report reads. “Khamenei remains the final decision maker over Iran’s nuclear program, to include any decision to develop nuclear weapons,” it notes. The threat assessment comes amid increasing US sanctions and threats of military action over Iran’s nuclear program. Iranian officials have rejected the idea of talks with […]

16 hours ago

so flag us flag “The Country’s Largest COVID Fraud”: Somali Immigrants Allegedly Stole $250 Million From Child Nutrition Program

Nearly all of the 70 people charged in a massive $250 million fraud case targeting federal child nutrition programs in Minnesota are Somali immigrants, according to the Washington Free Beacon. Between March 2020 and January 2022, they allegedly stole funds meant for feeding children, funneled through a nonprofit called Feeding Our Future. So far, 37 have pleaded guilty, and 7 have been convicted; the rest await trial. The scam involved fake meal counts, rosters, and invoices submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education. “Feeding Our Future” acted as a sponsor for daycares and other sites, making it easy to file false claims during the COVID-era program expansion. Minnesota, home to about 100,000 Somali immigrants—mostly in the Twin Cities—has long attracted refugees with “some of America’s most generous welfare and charity programs,” according to journalist Kelly Riddell. She also quoted professor Ahamed Samatar, who said, “Minnesota is exceptional in so many ways but it’s the closest thing in the United States to a true social democratic state.” The FBI’s Minneapolis office has also dealt with terror-related concerns in the community, which has seen recruitment by ISIS and al-Shabab. Between 2020 and 2022, Aimee Bock and a group of mostly Somali immigrants stole $250 […]

16 hours ago

sy flag us flag US Intel Report Blasts Jolani’s Forces For ‘Violence, Instability’ In Syria

The US Department of National Intelligence acknowledged in its Annual Threat Assessment of 2025 that Syrian government forces were responsible for the massacres committed against minorities on Syria’s coast earlier this month.  “The fall of president Bashar al-Assad’s regime at the hands of opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – a group formerly associated with Al-Qaeda – has created conditions for extended instability in Syria and could contribute to a resurgence of ISIS and other Islamist terror groups,” the report noted, adding that “HTS-led interim government forces, along with elements of Hurras al-Din and other jihadist groups, engaged in violence and extrajudicial killings in northwestern Syria in early March 2025 primarily targeting religious minorities that resulted in the death of more than 1,000 people, including Alawite and Christian civilians.” The report went on to say that “some remaining jihadist groups refuse to merge into the HTS Ministry of Defense, and ISIS has already signaled opposition to HTS’s call for democracy and is plotting attacks to undermine its governance.” It also highlights that Syrian transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa, who headed HTS and its precursor group the Nusra Front, “claims to be willing to work with Syria’s array of ethno-sectarian groups to develop an inclusive […]

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