Twin earthquakes damage residential buildings in Venezuela

The two powerful earthquakes that hit Venezuela in rapid succession on Wednesday have damaged many residential buildings in the country.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude 7.1 quake, followed just one minute later by an even stronger 7.5-magnitude tremor, with both hitting near the coastal town of Moron, about 160 km west of Caracas.

The earthquakes forced residents to leave their homes and rush onto the streets, thus causing traffic congestion.

The walls of many residential buildings cracked in the quakes, while the windows were shattered.

The twin quakes have resulted in at least 32 deaths and 700 injuries, the country's acting President Delcy Rodriguez said Thursday.

Rodriguez said that international rescue teams are expected to arrive in the coming hours.

Tokyo stocks ended higher on Thursday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index jumping more than 4 percent and closing at a fresh record high on gains in artificial intelligence- and semiconductor-related shares.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 3,191.37 points, or 4.61 percent, from Wednesday at 72,366.34.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 52.71 points, or 1.33 percent, higher at 4,016.47.

On the top-tier Prime Market, electric appliances, information and communication, and glass and ceramics product issues were notable gainers.

The Nikkei stock index surged back above 72,000, reversing a two-day losing streak, as investors chased further gains following U.S. tech giant Micron Technology's strong earnings driven by robust demand for memory chips tied to AI applications, analysts said.

The index held firm throughout the session as investors continued buying heavyweight technology shares, with Advantest and Tokyo Electron among the standout gainers.

Analysts said buybacks and fear of missing out were fueling the rally. The overnight decline in benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures provided additional momentum.