标签： Asia

A substantial seismic event measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck Myanmar on Tuesday, according to data released by the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ). The earthquake originated at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (approximately 6.21 miles) beneath the Earth’s surface, potentially amplifying its impact across the region.

The tremors extended beyond Myanmar’s borders, with multiple Indian media outlets reporting strongly perceptible shaking throughout eastern India. The metropolitan area of Kolkata experienced particularly noticeable tremors, though initial reports indicate no immediate structural damage or casualties within Indian territory.

This seismic activity occurs within the broader context of the seismically active Southeast Asian region, which frequently experiences tectonic movements due to the complex interaction of the Indian and Eurasian plates. The relatively shallow depth of this earthquake contributed to its widespread perceptibility across national boundaries.

Seismologists continue to monitor aftershock potential while emergency response teams in both Myanmar and India remain on alert. The event follows recent seismic activity in neighboring Indonesia, where a 6.3 magnitude earthquake was recorded, highlighting the region’s ongoing geological volatility.

Turkish judicial authorities have launched a comprehensive examination of millions of newly released documents concerning convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, focusing specifically on potential connections to child trafficking operations within Turkey. The Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated this formal investigation in December following parliamentary inquiries from opposition lawmakers.

The probe gained significant momentum after the U.S. Department of Justice released approximately three million documents last Friday, providing Turkish prosecutors with substantial new evidence to review. This development comes amid growing political pressure for an extensive parliamentary investigation into whether Turkish children were among Epstein’s victims.

Bugra Kavuncu, spokesperson for the opposition Iyi Party, emphasized the urgency of establishing a special parliamentary commission. “We propose the urgent establishment of a parliamentary commission to investigate whether there are any Turkish children who were victims in the Epstein case,” Kavuncu stated, adding that such matters transcend political considerations and represent fundamental humanitarian concerns.

The investigation has drawn attention to alarming domestic statistics cited by Dogan Bekin, a parliamentarian from the right-wing Yeniden Refah party. Official data from the Turkish Statistical Institute indicates that between 2008 and 2016, some 104,531 children were reported missing nationwide, with young girls constituting the majority of these cases.

Bekin has submitted formal inquiries to multiple government ministries, demanding clarification on whether any children were victimized by Epstein’s criminal network and what inspection measures have been implemented in schools and orphanages to identify potential victims. The lawmaker also questioned whether Epstein had established contacts with Turkish politicians, administrators, or high-ranking officials.

The document release has revealed several connections between Epstein and Turkish political figures, though no evidence suggests involvement in wrongdoing. Emails from American businessman Tom Pritzker indicate he facilitated communication between Epstein and then-Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in 2010. However, representatives from Davutoglu’s Future Party have denied any substantive relationship, characterizing the interaction as a brief encounter related to diplomatic affairs.

Additional correspondence shows Epstein mentioning potential contact with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2011, though other emails reveal the financier’s critical views of the Turkish leader, leaving the seriousness of this reference uncertain.

The unfolding investigation represents Turkey’s response to the global repercussions of the Epstein document release, which has triggered political turmoil and resignations internationally as numerous public figures face scrutiny over their associations with the convicted sex offender.

A limited reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza facilitated emotional, long-awaited reunions for a small number of Palestinians on Monday, February 3rd, 2026. The crossing, which serves as Gaza’s sole access point to the outside world not controlled by Israel, had been effectively sealed since Israeli military forces assumed control in May 2024 during the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

Jubilant yet tearful scenes unfolded at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis as returnees arrived late Monday. AFP footage captured crowds gathering around a bus, with individuals filming the poignant moments on their phones. The emotional weight was palpable as women wept upon embracing family members and a man held a young child up to a window to greet arrivals.

However, the return was marred by hardship and stringent Israeli inspections. Rotana Al-Riqib, a Palestinian woman in her thirties returning from Egypt, described the experience as a ‘humiliating journey,’ detailing interrogations and the confiscation of all belongings, including her children’s possessions, leaving them with only some clothes.

The reopening fell drastically short of initial expectations. While Egyptian officials had anticipated around 200 people to transit, sources on both sides reported only approximately two dozen movements in total. Gaza’s Hamas-operated Interior Ministry confirmed merely 12 individuals—nine women and three children—were permitted to return from Egypt, with only eight departing. An Egyptian source cited 12 admissions from Gaza, comprising five injured patients and seven companions.

Ali Shaath, head of a Palestinian technocratic committee for Gaza’s governance, termed the reopening a ‘window of hope’ for a territory shattered by two years of war. For many, particularly the estimated 20,000 patients in urgent need of medical care, the crossing represents a critical lifeline. The reopening is a component of a U.S.-backed truce plan, long demanded by the UN and aid agencies. Yet, Israeli coordination bodies have not indicated any plans to facilitate the long-awaited surge of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory, leaving dire conditions largely unaddressed.