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Hello, I'm Moira Alderson with the BBC News.
The United Nations says a severe lack of medical supplies is hindering earthquake relief efforts in Myanmar. U.N. humanitarian agency OCHA says the shortage of everything, from trauma kits to tents for health workers, is hindering the response. Damage to hospitals, roads and telecommunications is compounding problems. OCHA says international aid is continuing to arrive, with a convoy of 17 trucks from China expected on Sunday. More than 1,600 people are confirmed killed in Myanmar as rescue efforts continued for a second night. With more, here's Nick Beake. More than 24 hours after the quake, rescuers are freeing some survivors, young and old. But these minor miracles are few and far between, and have punctuated an otherwise grim day of recovering bodies. Myanmar state TV has been showing damage to the presidential palace in the capital, Naypyidaw. Russia and China, countries that have propped up the regime, have been sending specialist support. In a highly unusual move for the insular Burmese military, it says it will accept aid from everyone. But there are fears it will only direct help to areas under its control. Myanmar's pro-democracy government in exile says it's ordered its armed wing to halt offensive operations in the disaster zone for two weeks. Resistance fighters have been instructed to assist relief efforts and protect aid organizations. Rescue efforts in the Thai capital are continuing for a second night as workers battle against time to save dozens of people trapped under a building that collapsed in Friday's earthquake. Officials say they've identified signs of life. Relatives of potentially trapped people are at the scene. Here's the BBC's Karin Giannone. All through the night, people standing, waiting for news, for progress in that search for survivors. And that's why it is such a painstaking operation with huge, heavy equipment having to be used so carefully because of the fragile people that might be underneath. A giant pile following the collapse of that partially built skyscraper in the minutes after the earthquake struck. Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has announced the formation of a new government. A Christian woman, Hind Kabawat, will become minister of Social Affairs, while the current foreign and defense ministers will retain their positions. It's been nearly four months since the former president Bashar al-Assad was ousted. Announcing the appointments in Damascus, Mr. al-Sharaa said the new government would put the needs of the Syrian people first. "Dear honorable citizens, this is the moment we announce the formation of the first government. It is a testament to our shared will to build a new state, a strong and stable state that places the interests of the country and its citizens at the forefront of its priorities." BBC News. The office of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says it's received a proposal for a resumption of the cease-fire in Gaza from mediators and submitted its own counter-proposal. The proposal is said to involve a 50-day truce and the release of five more hostages. Hamas is said to have agreed to the plan. Ukraine says Russian drones have struck a military hospital and other buildings in the eastern city of Kharkiv. The military said one person was killed and some troops undergoing treatment at the hospital were wounded. It condemned the attack as a war crime. The mayor of Kharkiv said a nearby office building had been set on fire. Washington's former envoy to Afghanistan says an American citizen has been released by the Taliban after being held for two months. Zalmay Khalilzad said Faye Hall was still in Kabul but in the care of Qatari officials and would soon return to the United States. Azadeh Moshiri has this report. Faye Hall was detained in February alongside a British couple in their 70s, Barbie and Peter Reynolds. Taliban officials have not made the reason for their arrest public. In his announcement, Mr. Khalilzad thanked Qatar, which acts as a mediator between the U.S. and Afghanistan. Earlier this month, the Taliban government freed another American, George Glezmann. At the time, the government said the airline mechanic was released on humanitarian grounds and that the decision was a goodwill gesture. Those decisions also come after U.S. officials were hosted in the Afghan capital, Kabul. The chairwoman of the charity in southern Africa that Prince Harry set up 20 years ago and quit earlier this week has accused King Charles' younger son of harassment and bullying. Interviewed by Sky News, Sophie Chandauka said Prince Harry announced his departure from Sentebale apparently without informing her. Harry and Lesotho's Prince Seeiso, who co-founded Sentebale, said they were resigning after a dispute with her. BBC News. |