World
Turkey-Syria earthquake: Family of six rescued after four days under rubble
Four days after deadly earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria, rescue workers have recorded successes in pulling several people alive from the rubble.
The death toll from the double earthquakes has now exceeded 21,500. At least 18,342 people have been killed in Turkey while over 3,377 people are known to have died in Syria.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) predicted that up to 20,000 deaths may be recorded.
Biting freezing weather conditions and damaged road networks including airport runways, and cholera outbreaks have slowed down rescue efforts.
Experts had also expressed concern over the survival window for those trapped under the debris, saying chances to obtain basic necessities such as water and air were closing rapidly.
More than 90 percent of earthquake survivors are rescued within the first three days during a disaster like this and it is now well over 96 hours since the first earthquake struck.
However, on Friday, rescue workers in Hatay province, Turkey, found nine survivors trapped under a building.
Six, all relatives, were saved and work was ongoing to reach the others.
The six were helped to survive by huddling together in a small pocket left within the collapsed structure, said Murat Baygul, a rescue worker.
Also in Hatay province, a newborn baby and his mother were rescued from a ruined structure.
The rescue comes a day after a baby who was born under the rubble of a collapsed building in north-west Syria was found.
When she was rescued, baby Aya – meaning miracle in Arabic – was still connected to her mother by her umbilical cord.
Her mother, father, and all four of her siblings died after the quake hit the town of Jindayris, in Syria.
So far, thousands of people across the world have offered to adopt the baby.
Meanwhile, before dawn in Gaziantep, near the epicenter of the quake in Turkey, rescuers pulled Adnan Korkut from the basement where he had been trapped.
World
Nigerian lady Clara Chizoba Kronborg certified as world record holder for longest interviewing marathon
The Guinness World Records (GWR) has certified Clara Chizoba Kronborg, the Nigerian social media entrepreneur, as the holder of the longest interviewing marathon.
Kronborg broke the world record for the longest interviewing marathon with a time of 55 hours 24 seconds.
The Nigerian lady, who grew up in Onitsha, held the marathon between March 8 to 10 wherein she interviewed 90 people of various nationalities and occupations.
The conversations were centred on how each guest achieved success in their respective field.
Kronborg was permitted a five-minute break for each hour which she could use to take a nap, bath, or change her clothes.
Speaking about her motivations, Clara said she attempted the record because of her passion for success and to “amplify the voices of hardworking women using their stories to inspire others”.
“This record attempt was about bringing together diverse individuals, sharing their inspiring narratives, and forging meaningful connections on a global scale,” she said.
“I am committed to amplifying voices, particularly those of hardworking women, and using their stories to inspire others facing similar challenges.”
Clara revealed that one of her toughest challenges during the exercise was the pain she battled from her monthly flow.
“Even worse, my period started the same day, and I was already having intense menstrual cramps,” she added.
“At some point, I was literally dripping pee and period stain, but I persevered and kept my eyes on the goal. To anyone who ever reads this, once you find your purpose, go after it with everything you’ve got.
“Recalling everything I went through physically, mentally, financially, emotionally – it feels so unreal.
“I am extremely proud of this accomplishment because I know lives have been touched and changed.
“This achievement is dedicated to all those who dare to dream and persist, regardless of the challenges they face.”
In an official statement on Wednesday, the GWR certified Clara as the current world record holder.
The previous record was 37 hours 44 minutes by Rob Oliver (USA) in 2022.
In December, Amuda Mariam completed a 100-hour marathon to set a new record for the longest television talk show.
World
10 killed as two military helicopters collide in Malaysia
Two Malaysian military helicopters collided and crashed during a training session on Tuesday, killing all 10 crew onboard, the country’s rescue agency said.
Footage shared online showed several helicopters flying low in formation over the Lumut naval base, located about 160 kilometres (100 miles) from the capital Kuala Lumpur.
The helicopters were participating in a flypast rehearsal ahead of Naval Day celebrations in May.
One chopper was seen clipping the rear rotor of another, causing both to go into a tailspin and crash.
“The two helicopters collided during flight training,” said Suhaimy Mohamad Suhail, senior operations commander from the fire and rescue department, adding that all 10 crew members on board were confirmed dead by medical officers.
The two aircraft involved were a Eurocopter AS555SN Fennec and an AgustaWestland AW139, the rescue agency said.
Photos showed the Eurocopter model heavily mangled in the wreckage on the naval base stadium track with rescue personnel surrounding it as well as various debris.
The AgustaWestland helicopter crashed at the naval base’s swimming pool area.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sent his condolences to the families of the victims, saying “the nation mourns the heart-wrenching and soul-wrenching tragedy”.
“I was informed that an immediate investigation will be carried out by the Ministry of Defense, especially TLDM (Royal Malaysian Navy), to find the cause of the crash,” he said.
Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar also shared condolences.
Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar also shared condolences.
“Queen Zarith and I feel very sad over the loss of national heroes in this tragedy,” he said in a social media post.
World
Israel launches counterattack on Iran
Oil prices have surged by nearly 4 percent as Israel launched a missile attack on a target in Iran, according to international media reports.
Explosions were reported in Isfahan province in central Iran, where the country’s nuclear plant is located.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) later announced that there was no damage to the plant.
Israel had promised a response to missile and drone attacks by Iran last weekend.
Iran had launched the attacks in response to the April 1 strike that killed its senior security officials at its embassy in Syria apparently carried out by Israel.
A US official told ABC News that Israel carried out a strike inside Iran, confirming reports of the explosion by the Asian country’s media.
There were also reports of blasts in Iraq and southern Syria.
Commercial flights we re-routed as parts of the Iranian airspace were closed.
Iran says it activated its air defence systems.
Israel is not planning further attacks and Iran is not going to retaliate either, according various officials quoted by the media.
Brent crude price is now over $90 per barrel, up from $87 before the strike.
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