The impact was particularly severe in the southern city of Hualien, where a five-storey building succumbed to the force of the quake, its first floor collapsing and the rest tilting precariously at a 45-degree angle. Across the capital city of Taipei, tiles were dislodged from older structures, while newer office complexes also bore the brunt of the seismic activity.

Train services across the island, home to 23 million people, were immediately suspended, alongside subway operations in Taipei. However, the resilience of the Taiwanese was evident as life swiftly resumed its usual rhythm in the capital, with children attending school and commuters returning to their daily routines.

The earthquake’s reach extended beyond Taiwan’s borders, with Japan experiencing the impact in the form of a tsunami. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported a 30-centimeter wave hitting the coast of Yonaguni island approximately 15 minutes after the initial tremor. Authorities in Japan’s Okinawa region mobilized aircraft to assess the tsunami’s effects and prepared shelters for potential evacuees.

Multiple aftershocks rattled Taipei in the aftermath, with one registering a magnitude of 6.5, according to the USGS. Fortunately, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center ruled out any threat to Hawaii or the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.

This earthquake is believed to be the most significant to strike Taiwan since the devastating tremor of 1999, which caused widespread damage. Taiwan, situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is no stranger to seismic activity, being part of a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

As the affected areas assess the extent of the damage and commence recovery efforts, the resilience and preparedness of both Taiwan and its neighboring countries are once again put to the test in the face of natural disasters.

The missile, launched two months after the successful testing of solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile engines, signifies North Korea’s efforts to enhance its weapons arsenal, specifically targeting U.S. military bases in Guam and Japan. The Korean Central News Agency described the test as successful, emphasizing the verification of the missile’s solid-fuel engines and the maneuverability of the hypersonic warhead.

The missile reportedly covered about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) before landing between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Solid-fuel missiles offer advantages in terms of faster launch readiness and increased mobility, making them harder to detect.

North Korea has been concurrently developing hypersonic weapons, which, if perfected, pose challenges to regional missile defense systems due to their high speed and maneuverability. The latest test indicates North Korea’s dual focus on advancing hypersonic capabilities and utilizing solid-fuel missiles as potential delivery systems.

Despite tensions rising on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea intensifying weapons demonstrations, the international community remains vigilant. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff stated they are analyzing the test, while the Defense Ministry called on North Korea to cease ballistic testing activities violating U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The situation is further complicated by concerns about alleged arms cooperation between North Korea and Russia, as a North Korean delegation led by Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui arrived in Moscow for discussions. The U.S. and South Korea have raised evidence of North Korea supplying arms, including missiles, to Russia, claiming they were used in the conflict in Ukraine.

As tensions escalate and North Korea showcases technological advancements, the international community faces heightened challenges in maintaining regional stability and addressing potential arms exchanges between North Korea and Russia.

Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito confirmed that all 379 passengers on Japan Airlines flight JAL-516 managed to evacuate safely before the aircraft was engulfed in flames. However, the pilot of the coast guard plane escaped, while the five crew members lost their lives in the collision and subsequent fire.

This marks the first severe damage to an Airbus A350, one of the industry’s newest large passenger planes, which entered commercial service in 2015. The Airbus company has pledged to collaborate with Japanese and French authorities to investigate the incident, stating that the aircraft was delivered to Japan Airlines in late 2021.

The ill-fated A350 had flown from Shin Chitose airport near Sapporo, according to the transport minister.

The coast guard’s Bombardier Dash-8 plane, based at Haneda, was en route to Niigata to deliver relief goods following a deadly earthquake in the region on Monday. The coast guard pilot reported an explosion after the collision with the commercial plane, as confirmed by Vice Commander Yoshio Seguchi.

Shigenori Hiraoka, head of the Transport Ministry Civil Aviation Bureau, stated that the collision occurred when the JAL plane landed on one of Haneda’s runways, where the coast guard aircraft was preparing for takeoff. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collision, with a focus on communication between aviation control officials and the two planes.

Passengers aboard the Japan Airlines plane described scenes of panic as smoke filled the cabin. Emergency procedures were followed, with passengers evacuating the plane as swiftly as possible. Transport Minister Saito commended JAL for executing “appropriate procedures” to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew.

Despite the tragedy, officials are working to prevent delays in delivering relief goods to the disaster-hit region. The airport’s three other runways have been reopened.

Haneda, one of Tokyo’s major airports, caters to international and transcontinental flights, making it a hub for business travelers. The International Air Transport Association expressed condolences on social media, acknowledging the challenging times Japan is facing.

The 76-year-old Lai is accused of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, which involves advocating for sanctions against Hong Kong and Chinese officials, under a national security law imposed by China. Additionally, Lai, the founder of the now-closed pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, faces a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious publications under a colonial-era sedition law.

The trial has garnered significant international attention, with Western democracies, including the United States, Britain, and the European Union closely monitoring the proceedings. The trial serves as a diplomatic flashpoint and a crucial test for Hong Kong’s judicial independence and freedoms, particularly under the broad national security law implemented by China in 2020.

Both the U.S. and Britain have called for Lai’s immediate release, asserting that the trial is politically motivated. However, Hong Kong authorities argue that Lai will receive a fair trial, emphasizing that the national security law has brought stability to the city following the mass protests in 2019.

Lee, who leads the main opposition Democratic Party, was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. While police and emergency officials indicated that he was conscious and not in critical condition, his precise status remained uncertain.

The attack unfolded as Lee was traversing through a crowd of journalists and onlookers after concluding a tour of the site for a new airport in Busan. The assailant, disguised as a supporter, approached Lee under the pretext of seeking an autograph and then proceeded to stab him in the neck with a knife, as reported by Busan police.

Lee collapsed, and a bystander applied a handkerchief to his neck to stem the bleeding. Eyewitness Jin Jeong-hwa, speaking to YTN television, described the scene, noting that Lee bled significantly.

Videos circulating on social media captured the suspect, wearing a paper crown that read “I’m Lee Jae-myung,” being pursued and subdued by several individuals.

Police promptly arrested the man at the scene. During questioning, he reportedly refused to disclose the motive behind the attack, according to Yonhap news agency.

The Democratic Party labeled the incident as “a terrorist attack on Lee and a serious threat to democracy,” urging law enforcement to conduct a thorough and swift investigation.

Expressing deep concern about Lee’s health, President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered authorities to investigate the attack, emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach to such violence, according to Yoon’s office.

Lee, who narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon, is recognized for his outspoken style. Supporters regard him as an anti-elitist figure capable of reforming establishment politics, combating corruption, and addressing economic inequality. Critics, however, see him as a divisive populist who fosters discord and demonizes conservative opponents.

Aftershocks continued to rattle Ishikawa prefecture and surrounding regions, following a magnitude 7.6 earthquake that rocked the area on Monday afternoon.

Wajima city, where eight fatalities were confirmed, faced severe damage to homes, making an immediate assessment challenging. Kyodo news agency reported at least 13 confirmed deaths.

“Saving lives is our priority, and we are fighting a battle against time,” stated Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday. “It is critical that people trapped in homes get rescued immediately.”

Even as Kishida spoke, a quake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 shook the area. Japan’s military mobilized 1,000 soldiers to join rescue efforts in the disaster zones, acknowledging the scale of the damage.

Firefighters battled a raging fire in Wajima city, painting the sky with embers and smoke. The extent of damage to homes and structures is still under investigation.

Despite the catastrophe, nuclear regulators reported that several nuclear plants in the region were operating normally. This incident raised concerns as a major quake and tsunami in March 2011 led to the meltdown of three reactors at a nuclear plant in northeastern Japan.

Images from news videos depicted rows of collapsed houses, flattened wooden structures, overturned cars, and half-sunken ships in bays affected by tsunami waves. On Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa, downgrading it later, along with lifting all tsunami warnings by early Tuesday. Some areas experienced waves measuring over one meter.

Evacuated residents sought shelter in auditoriums, schools, and community centers. Bullet trains were halted, highways were closed, water pipes burst, and cellphone service was disrupted in certain areas. While service restoration efforts were underway, the Meteorological Agency warned of the potential for more major quakes in the coming days.

U.S. President Joe Biden expressed readiness to provide necessary assistance for the Japanese people, emphasizing the nation’s vulnerability to earthquakes due to its location along the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.

Authorities are grappling with the challenge of addressing the economic fallout, and discussions are underway regarding the optimal utilization of a relief fund, established just days before the earthquake, to expedite the recovery of the agricultural sector. The goal is to enable affected communities to resume production as swiftly as possible.

The magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck a mountainous region between Gansu and Qinghai provinces, approximately 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) southwest of Beijing, on Monday night. Gansu bore the brunt of the disaster, with 117 reported deaths, while neighboring Qinghai reported 31 fatalities. Tragically, three individuals remain missing, and nearly 1,000 people sustained injuries. The destruction was widespread, with over 14,000 homes reduced to rubble.

As relief efforts intensify, the Chinese state broadcaster’s international arm, CGTN, reported that the first batch of 500 temporary housing units had been constructed for residents in Meipo, a village in Gansu. This initiative aims to provide immediate shelter for those who spent the night in makeshift accommodations as temperatures plummeted well below freezing.

Funerals have been held in the affected areas, with some following the Muslim traditions observed by much of the local population. The impact of the earthquake is felt deeply, not only in the loss of lives but also in the disruption of communities and economic activities.

China is no stranger to seismic activity, with earthquakes primarily striking in the western part of the country, encompassing provinces such as Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan, as well as the Xinjiang region and Tibet. This recent earthquake stands out as the deadliest in China in the past nine years, underscoring the urgency of relief efforts and the challenges faced in rebuilding affected communities.

The day began with a 31-gun salute in the early hours, followed by President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paying respects at the National Mausoleum in Savar, located on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka.

A meticulously dressed contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces presented a state salute, accompanied by the somber tones of a bugle playing a dirge. The national flag was raised on all government and private buildings, while significant structures were illuminated in honor of the occasion.

Cities, including the capital, witnessed the adornment of important roads and road islands with national flags and vibrant festoons, contributing to a festive atmosphere.

Special prayers were conducted in mosques, temples, pagodas, and other places of worship, seeking blessings for the departed souls and the nation’s peace, progress, and prosperity.

To mark the significance of the day, newspapers published special supplements, and television and radio stations broadcasted dedicated programs, reflecting on the historical events that led to Bangladesh’s independence.

The AUKUS pact, established in 2021, aims to facilitate the transfer of military technology, particularly with the US assisting Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. While officials from the three countries stress that AUKUS is not a formal military alliance and focuses solely on technology-sharing, China has strongly criticized the initiative, expressing concerns about an arms race in Asia and the global spread of nuclear weapons.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin previously denounced AUKUS, attributing it to a “Cold War mentality” that could harm international nuclear nonproliferation efforts and regional stability. Li, in earlier remarks to the UN nuclear watchdog, contended that the IAEA’s current safeguards system lacks effectiveness in monitoring technology-sharing within the AUKUS partners, asserting that the deal undermines the authority of the Agency and its safeguards system.

Tensions between the US and China have heightened in recent years, with President Joe Biden characterizing China as America’s top “competitor” and deploying warships near the country regularly. Despite recent “productive” talks between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Biden later referred to Xi as a “dictator,” prompting a sharp response from Beijing.

Initial hopes were dashed when a drilling machine encountered metal rods, causing a delay. However, the obstruction has been cleared, and with stretchers equipped with wheels ready, rescuers plan to navigate the final 14 meters inside the tunnel. Bhaskar Khulbe, overseeing the operation, anticipates reaching the workers by the evening, emphasizing the workers’ positive mindset.

While the timeline is subject to potential technical glitches and the challenging Himalayan terrain, preparations are in place with ambulances on standby and a field hospital ready. The families of the trapped workers anxiously await, and rescue teams stop to pray at a Hindu shrine near the tunnel entrance.

National Disaster Response Force chief Atul Karwal outlines the plan for a swift and safe extraction once the steel pipe breaks through. Delays caused by falling debris, cave-in fears, and machine breakdowns have hampered the rescue. Engineers, including experts from the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, have faced challenges such as cutting through buried construction vehicles.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasizes the urgency, describing the efforts as being on “war footing.” Senior rescue official Syed Ata Hasnain compares the operation to a battle, citing Himalayan geology as a formidable challenge. Experts caution about the impact of extensive construction in Uttarakhand, prone to landslides, raising concerns about the region’s vulnerability.