Israeli lawmaker smashes Palestinian memorial

BOGOTA: A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake has killed at least 111 people and injured 87 others in western Colombia, leaving communities grappling with widespread destruction and fears that more victims remain trapped beneath collapsed buildings. The earthquake struck on Monday, with its epicentre near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region. The powerful tremor was felt across a wide area and caused buildings to collapse in several locations. Emergency crews have been working through piles of concrete, bricks and debris as they search for survivors. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams reach areas where communication and access remain difficult. The disaster has caused severe damage in cities including Pereira, Cali and Manizales, while infrastructure and public services have also been affected. Rescue workers have been using heavy machinery alongside manual searches to reach people believed to be trapped under the rubble. Colombian authorities have mobilised emergency resources and launched a large-scale response operation. The government has also declared a national disaster as officials assess the full extent of the destruction. The earthquake has left families anxiously waiting for news of relatives who remain missing, while hospitals and emergency services continue treating the injured. As rescue operations continue, authorities are urging residents to remain alert for possible aftershocks and avoid entering damaged structures. With 111 lives already lost, the focus remains firmly on finding survivors and bringing urgent assistance to communities devastated by the powerful quake.

US President Donald Trump says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has responded to his recent efforts to reopen direct communication with Pyongyang. Trump made the statement after announcing plans to reduce the scale of joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea. A reporter asked Trump why Kim had not responded to his attempts to establish contact. Trump replied that the North Korean leader had responded, but he did not disclose what Kim had said or provide details about the communication. The White House did not immediately provide further information. North Korea’s mission to the United Nations also did not issue an immediate response. Trump has recently adopted a softer tone toward North Korea. He described the country as “unthreatening and respectful” and said Kim had always treated him with respect. The US president said he understood Kim and believed the North Korean leader understood him as well. Trump’s latest comments have revived speculation about a possible meeting between the two leaders. The pair held historic summits in 2018 and 2019 during Trump’s first presidency. Those talks eventually collapsed over disagreements about North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme and the sanctions imposed on Pyongyang. North Korea has since expanded its military capabilities. It has also strengthened its ties with Russia while maintaining close relations with China. The country has faced international sanctions over its nuclear programme and ballistic missile development. North Korea has also provided military support to Russia during the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of using North Korean-made missiles in attacks on Ukrainian targets. Trump’s administration has criticised Pyongyang’s military cooperation with Moscow. Despite this, Trump has continued to speak positively about his personal relationship with Kim. The US president’s decision to reduce military exercises with South Korea has also attracted attention. Trump said the exercises were expensive and argued that they sent an inappropriate and hostile message to North Korea. Pyongyang has long condemned US-South Korean military drills. North Korea considers the exercises preparation for a possible attack. The proposed reduction could therefore create additional space for diplomatic engagement. However, analysts caution that a new summit may not happen immediately. Victor Cha of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said North Korea could take its time before responding more openly to Trump’s approach. He also suggested that Trump may see renewed engagement with North Korea as a way to shift attention from other foreign policy challenges, while still genuinely wanting to meet Kim again. Other analysts believe Kim could benefit from another meeting with the US president. Andrew Yeo of the Brookings Institution said Kim had little to lose from holding talks with Trump. He argued that North Korea’s strengthened relationships with Russia and China could give Kim greater confidence in negotiations. Yeo said another meeting could also enhance Kim’s international status and reputation. Former US National Intelligence Officer Sydney Seiler noted that Trump had taken a similar approach during his first term. In 2018, the US president suspended major military exercises with South Korea as part of efforts to encourage dialogue with Pyongyang. Meanwhile, North Korea has continued to strengthen its relationship with Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently reaffirmed Moscow’s close ties with Pyongyang. North Korean state media said Russia and North Korea were working together toward what they described as a new world order. For now, Trump has provided no details about Kim’s reported response. The nature of the communication and whether it could lead to renewed high-level negotiations remain unclea