Sharief Karkala is the new president of Jam’iyyatul Falah - Dammam

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake, and an aftershock of 6.8, hit central Myanmar at 12.50pm (local time) Friday. The epicentre was 16km northwest of the city of Sagaing, and at a depth of 10km, the United States Geological Survey said. 20 deaths have been reported - in Myanmar so far - by local media.

Deaths have also been reported from a mosque in Mandalay city, which collapsed while people were inside, praying and a university building in which a fire broke out. And a 1,000-bed hospital in Myanmar capital Naypyidaw has become a "mass casualty area", news agency AFP said.

The Myanmar junta has declared an 'emergency' and has appealed for international aid.

Tremors were felt as far away as northern Thailand, where some metro and rail services were suspended in Bangkok. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is holding an "urgent meeting" to review the crisis and she too has declared a state of 'emergency' in the capital city.

China's Yunnan province also reported strong tremors; the China Earthquake Networks Center said the magnitude was 7.9. And mild tremors were also reported from Kolkata in Bengal and parts of Manipur, where tremors of 4.4 magnitude were recorded as well as Dhaka and Chattogram in Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India is ready to offer any assistance needed. "Praying for the safety and wellbeing of everyone," he posted on X. "... have asked our authorities to be on standby."

Terrifying videos on X showed buildings shaking in Bangkok and other cities, with people running onto the streets in panic. "I heard it... I was sleeping in the house and then I ran as far as I could in my pyjamas out of the building," Duangjai, a resident of popular tourist city Chiang Mai, told AFP.

One particularly horrifying video showed water from an infinity pool falling over the edge.

And another showed an under-construction skyscraper in Bangkok's Chatuchak neighbourhood collapsing. According to reports, 43 workers have been trapped amid the debris.

"When I arrived to inspect the site, I heard people calling for help, saying help me," Worapat Sukthai, deputy police chief of Bang Sue district, told AFP. "We estimate that hundreds of people are injured but we are still determining the number of casualties."

In Myanmar, an old bridge over the Irrawaddy River and some residential buildings having collapsed, with images from Mandalay (around 24km from Sagaing) suggesting more people may be trapped.

Other videos showed extensive damage to the airport in Mandalay and to a monastery near the city of Taunggyi, in Myanmar's Shan State that is on the border to Thailand.

Earthquakes are relatively common in Myanmar, where six strong quakes of 7.0 magnitude or more struck between 1930 and 1956 near the Sagaing Fault, which runs north to south through the country.

A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake, in the ancient capital Bagan in central Myanmar, killed three people in 2016, also toppling spires and crumbling temple walls at the tourist destination.

The impoverished nation has a strained medical system, especially in its rural states.

Jubail: The Gulbarga Welfare Society (GWS) Jubail chapter successfully organized a grand iftar event at Cookzone Restaurant, bringing together over 150 distinguished guests, primarily from the Gulbarga community.

This gathering reflected GWS’s commitment to fostering unity and support within the community. It is one of many social initiatives regularly organized by GWS to strengthen community bonds and promote charitable efforts.

The chief guest of the event, Mr. Bathruddin Abdulmajeed, delivered an inspiring address, highlighting the spiritual significance of the holy month of Ramzan and commending GWS’s valuable contributions in supporting the Gulbarga community.

Mohammed Abul Khasim, President of the GWS Jubail chapter, extended heartfelt gratitude to all participants and contributors. He emphasized the organization’s commitment to uplifting the underprivileged by providing education, healthcare, and social support. He also stressed the importance of unity among Gulbargavis and encouraged attendees to actively engage in community welfare by becoming GWS members.

GWS advisor Syed Nasir Khursheed, who joined the event virtually from Riyadh, praised the president and executive committee of the Jubail chapter for their dedicated efforts in supporting the underprivileged in both Gulbarga and Saudi Arabia. He urged attendees to connect with the GWS team and contribute generously to help those in need.

The program commenced with a warm welcome by Dr. Abdul Shukur, followed by a beautiful recitation of Quranic verses by Miss Aleena Iffat. Shafiuddin Ustad, Vice President of the GWS Jubail chapter, presented the vision and ongoing initiatives of GWS, highlighting the vital role of charity in uplifting the less fortunate.

In a special segment, Mohammed Abul Khasim introduced the chief guest and presented him with a memento as a token of appreciation for his visionary leadership and unwavering support for community welfare.

Adding to the event’s significance, Mohammed Imdad Ali, past president of the GWS Riyadh chapter and core committee member, addressed the audience, encouraging them to join hands with GWS in its noble cause.

The event’s logistics were managed by Mohsin Sanghar, who handled the registration desk and delivered the vote of thanks. The success of the event was made possible by the dedicated efforts of the Jubail executive committee, including Hidayathulha Khan, Mohammed Altaf Shaikh, Syed Ahmed Hussaini, Dr. Abdul Shukur, Ghaziuddin Patel, and Sarfaraz Basha, who worked tirelessly to ensure a seamless experience for all attendees.

This iftar gathering was a remarkable initiative that not only celebrated the spirit of Ramzan but also reinforced GWS’s dedication to humanitarian service and community development.

Millions of people across Iran and the world took to the streets on International Quds Day, expressing solidarity with Palestinians and condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif, spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and head of the Intifada Committee in Tehran, stated that rallies began at 10:00 a.m. local time (0630 GMT) in over 900 cities across Iran.

Demonstrators from various walks of life carried Iranian and Palestinian flags, as well as banners reading “Free Palestine” and “Al-Quds Must Be Liberated.” Flags of regional resistance groups, including Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (Hashd al-Sha'abi), Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and Yemen’s Ansarullah, were also displayed.

Mass rallies were held across West Asia, including in Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon, as well as in other parts of the world.

Iranian Leaders Condemn Western Stance

Senior Iranian officials participated in the rally in Tehran, where Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf addressed the gathering.

“Iranians have taken to the streets in a massive show of support for Palestine and the Islamic Ummah,” Qalibaf said. “The Palestinian struggle is not just an issue for the Islamic world but a lesson for all of humanity.”

He criticized the West’s response to Israeli actions in Gaza, calling it a stain on Western civilization. “These crimes will be remembered as a lasting ignominy, exposing the West’s duplicity in human rights advocacy,” he added.

Qalibaf also defended the October 7, 2023, Palestinian attack on Israeli-occupied territories, describing Operation al-Aqsa Flood as a “rightful and legitimate response to 77 years of oppression by Israel, the U.S., and Britain.” He further described Israel as a “spare regime” dependent on U.S. support.

Quds Day: A Global Symbol of Resistance

Al-Quds Day, observed annually on the last Friday of Ramadan, was established in 1979 by the late Imam Khomeini to demonstrate solidarity with Palestinians and oppose Israeli occupation. The event has since become a symbol of resistance, with large rallies held worldwide, particularly amid Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.