While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, March 31, 2025
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Rescuers work at the site of a damaged building, in the aftermath of a strong earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WHO says Myanmar quake a top-level emergency, seeks urgent funding
The World Health Organisation said on March 30 the Myanmar earthquake was a top-level emergency as it urgently sought US$8 million (S$10.7 million) to save lives and prevent disease outbreaks over the next 30 days.
The WHO said the high numbers of casualties and trauma injuries were at high risk of infection due to limited surgical capacity in the country, while the underlying conditions in Myanmar meant the quake was likely to intensify the risk of disease.
“WHO has classified this crisis as a Grade 3 emergency – the highest level of activation under its Emergency Response Framework,” the United Nations health agency said in its flash appeal for funds.
The initial 7.7-magnitude quake struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay on March 28, followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. The quake has killed more than 1,700 people in Myanmar and at least 18 in neighbouring Thailand.
Trump says he’s ‘very angry’ with Putin over Ukraine
US President Donald Trump said on March 30 he was “pissed off” at Russian President Vladimir Putin and will impose secondary tariffs of 25 per cent to 50 per cent on buyers of Russian oil if he feels Moscow is blocking his efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Mr Trump told NBC News he was very angry after Mr Putin last week criticised the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s leadership, the television network reported, citing a telephone interview early on March 30.
Since taking office in January, Mr Trump has adopted a more conciliatory stance towards Russia that has left Western allies wary as he tries to broker an end to Moscow’s three-year-old war in Ukraine.
‘America First does not mean America Alone’: US reassures Asian security allies of its commitment
The United States is not going anywhere and stands shoulder to shoulder with its Indo-Pacific allies in facing down regional threats, especially from China.
That was the key message that US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth sought to convey to Japan and the Philippines on his maiden tour of the region ended on March 30 that, however, skipped South Korea.
Anxieties have been stoked by US President Donald Trump’s track record of walking back on pacts on issues such as free trade and climate, raising existential questions over whether he would do the same with security treaties.
Trump says he is ‘not joking’ about seeking third term as US president
Republican President Donald Trump said on March 30 he was not joking about seeking a third presidential term, which is barred by the US Constitution, but that it was too early to think about doing so.
Mr Trump, who took office on Jan 20 for his second, non-consecutive White House term, has made allusions to seeking a third one but addressed it directly in a telephone interview with NBC News.
“No, I’m not joking. I’m not joking,” Mr Trump said, but “it is far too early to think about it.”
Gaza rescuers recover bodies of 15 health workers after Israel fire on ambulances
The Palestinian Red Crescent said on March 30 it had recovered the bodies of 15 rescuers killed a week ago when Israeli forces targeted ambulances in the Gaza Strip.
Bodies of eight medics from the Red Crescent, six members of Gaza’s civil defence agency and one employee of a UN agency were retrieved, the Red Crescent said in a statement.
It said one medic from the Red Crescent remained missing.
