A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Pakistan on Friday, sending tremors across several parts of the country. However, authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant property damage.

According to seismic monitoring agencies, the earthquake was recorded at a considerable depth, which may have reduced the impact on the surface. Residents in several cities reported feeling the tremors, prompting many to move outdoors as a precaution.

Emergency and disaster management authorities began assessing the situation soon after the quake. Initial assessments indicated that no major damage to infrastructure or loss of life had been reported. Officials continue to monitor the situation for possible aftershocks.

Pakistan lies in a seismically active region due to the interaction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making earthquakes a frequent occurrence in several parts of the country.

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within just 39 seconds, causing widespread panic, damaging buildings and disrupting key infrastructure in and around the capital, Caracas.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake measured magnitude 7.2 and struck on Wednesday evening near the coastal town of Moron. Just 39 seconds later, a stronger 7.5-magnitude tremor hit roughly 45 kilometres away, creating what seismologists described as a “doublet” earthquake sequence.

The back-to-back quakes sent residents rushing into the streets as buildings shook violently across Caracas. Several structures suffered severe damage, with reports of building collapses in parts of the capital. Rescue workers were deployed to search through rubble while emergency teams assessed the extent of the destruction.

Visuals shared on social media showed scenes of chaos at Simon Bolivar International Airport, where parts of the terminal roof reportedly collapsed, filling sections of the facility with dust and smoke. Passengers were seen evacuating the airport as power flickered during the tremors. Authorities later announced the closure of the airport because of significant damage.

More than 20 aftershocks were recorded following the twin earthquakes, raising concerns about additional structural damage. The USGS warned that the disaster could result in significant casualties and economic losses, while landslides were also reported in affected areas.

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency following the earthquakes and urged citizens to remain cautious as emergency response efforts continued. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado also expressed solidarity with those affected by the disaster.

The earthquakes are being described as among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century. Authorities continue to assess the full scale of the damage and search for possible victims trapped beneath collapsed structures.

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi has been ordered by a London court to pay Bank of India more than $11.5 million, including accrued interest, in connection with a personal guarantee linked to a loan extended to one of his Dubai-based firms.

In a significant ruling delivered by the London Circuit Commercial Court, Justice Simon Tinkler held that Modi remained liable under the personal guarantee issued for a loan granted to Firestar Diamond FZE, a Dubai-incorporated company associated with him. The court rejected Modi’s challenge to the enforceability of the guarantee.

The court examined whether Modi had been properly served with a demand notice, whether the demand related to a liability owed to the bank, and whether the personal guarantee was legally enforceable. Justice Tinkler ruled in favour of Bank of India on all three issues.

According to the judgment, Modi is liable for the principal outstanding amount of $4.1 million. After adding accumulated interest, the total payable amount has risen to an estimated $11.5 million as of March 2026, with additional interest continuing to accrue.

The public sector lender has been pursuing recovery proceedings against Modi since 2018, following the emergence of allegations involving companies linked to the businessman. Modi, who has largely represented himself in the proceedings, is currently lodged in a UK prison while contesting his extradition to India in a separate Punjab National Bank fraud and money laundering case.

Law firm Fladgate LLP, representing Bank of India, clarified after the verdict that the proceedings were strictly related to a commercial banking recovery claim and did not deal with the wider allegations connected to the Punjab National Bank fraud case.