News in Brief (2023-06-20)

FE Team | Published: June 19, 2023 23:19:45

Quake jolts Myanmar coast, Thailand
BANGKOK, June 19: An earthquake was recorded off the southern coast of Myanmar on Monday with tremors also felt in Thailand, but there were no immediate reports of major damage. The 5.1 magnitude quake was recorded about 152 kilometers (95 miles) south of Yangon, Myanmar's biggest city, at 10 kilometers (6 miles) below the surface at 8:10 a.m., according to Myanmar's meteorology department. Thailand's meteorological department reported the earthquake as 6.0 magnitude at 8:40 a.m. and said tremors were felt in the capital Bangkok and nearby Nonthaburi province, about 450 kilometers (280 miles) from the epicenter.The United States Geological Survey measured the earthquake at 5.6 magnitude. — AP
Indonesia's Widodo hosts Japanese Emperor
BOGOR, June 19: Japanese Emperor Naruhito met Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday during his first state trip since ascending the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019. Naruhito and Empress Masako's June 17-23 visit to Southeast Asia's biggest economy came after Widodo invited the emperor during a trip to Tokyo last year. The royal couple arrived at a presidential palace south of the capital Jakarta, flanked by dozens of well-wishers shouting "Welcome to Indonesia!" and a marching band that played the Japanese national anthem. — AFP
UN rights chief seeks to establish presence in China, India
GENEVA, June 19: The UN Human Rights chief on Monday called for greater political support for his office as he seeks to expand its work by establishing a first-time presence in China and India. Volker Turk, who took over as High Commissioner late last year, used his opening speech to the Human Rights Council in Geneva to call for greater cooperation and singled out many countries such as Syria, Iran and Eritrea which were not. "We would now like to scale up engagement...," he told the council. "I also believe that it is important for us to establish a presence for the first time in China and India." — Reuters