The earthquake occurred at 7:42 p.m. local time (1142 GMT) at a depth of 65.7 km (41 miles), with its epicenter located about 21 km southwest of the town of Sarangani on Mindanao island, according to the USGS.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage following the quake. Authorities also issued no tsunami warning, indicating that the earthquake was not expected to generate hazardous sea waves.

Data shared by earthquake monitoring platform GlobalQuake indicated that approximately 6.4 million people experienced the tremor, with an estimated 168,100 people located in areas where shaking was strongest. The figures were preliminary and had not been independently verified by Philippine authorities.

The latest earthquake struck in one of the world’s most seismically active regions. The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a vast arc of seismic faults and volcanoes where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur frequently due to the movement of tectonic plates.

The tremor comes less than three weeks after a major earthquake struck the same part of the southern Philippines, leaving more than 80 people dead and highlighting the region’s continued vulnerability to seismic hazards.

The Magdeburg court ruled that the crime was of “particular severity,” a legal designation that significantly reduces the possibility of early release under German law.

Al-Abdulmohsen, a 51-year-old psychiatrist, admitted during the trial that he drove the rented BMW X3 into the market but denied intentionally targeting pedestrians. Prosecutors rejected that account, arguing the evidence clearly demonstrated deliberate intent.

According to the indictment, Al-Abdulmohsen drove the vehicle at speeds of up to 48 kph (30 mph) through the crowded market on Dec. 20, 2024, killing a nine-year-old boy and five women aged between 45 and 75. He was convicted on six counts of murder and 338 counts of attempted murder.

A court-appointed psychiatric expert diagnosed Al-Abdulmohsen with narcissistic personality disorder but concluded that he was fully criminally responsible for his actions and continued to pose a danger.

The months-long trial required the construction of a temporary courtroom to accommodate hundreds of victims, relatives and legal representatives. More than 100 witnesses testified, while about 40 lawyers represented around 200 civil parties.

Prosecutor Matthias Boettcher described the attack as an act that “defies human comprehension,” saying it had inflicted immeasurable suffering on victims and their families. He also told the court that the defendant had shown no remorse or introspection throughout the proceedings.

Investigators said Al-Abdulmohsen, who moved to Germany in 2006, held anti-Islam views and expressed sympathy for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Prosecutors said his motive stemmed from resentment following an unsuccessful civil lawsuit against a refugee organization and failed criminal complaints, which they argued fueled a desire for revenge and public attention.

The attack intensified Germany’s debate over immigration and public security ahead of the country’s national elections, prompting authorities to introduce significantly tighter security measures at Christmas markets across the country.

The Seoul Central District Court found Park guilty of involvement in an insurrection stemming from the short-lived martial law order issued by Yoon in December 2024, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Park’s sentence exceeded the 20-year prison term sought by prosecutors, who argued that he had abused his authority to facilitate the implementation of martial law and undermined the rule of law.

According to prosecutors, Park convened a meeting of senior Justice Ministry officials during the early hours of the martial law declaration and reviewed prison capacity in anticipation of potential arrests of political opponents and government critics.

The court ruled that, as justice minister, Park had instructed officials to cooperate with the martial law command structure on the assumption that its decrees would take effect, Yonhap reported.

The verdict marks the latest conviction arising from Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law, which lasted approximately six hours before lawmakers entered the National Assembly and voted to overturn the measure during an emergency session.

The move triggered a political and institutional crisis that shook South Korea’s democratic system, sparked nationwide protests and rattled financial markets while drawing concern from key allies, including the United States.

Yoon has since been convicted of leading an insurrection and is appealing a life sentence. Earlier this month, he was also sentenced to 30 years in prison in a separate case after being found guilty of sending drones into North Korea in an alleged attempt to manufacture a security crisis that could justify emergency rule.

Several senior members of Yoon’s administration have also received prison terms.

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is serving a 15-year sentence, while former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min was sentenced to nine years in prison. A former defense minister was jailed last week for three years after being convicted of disclosing classified military information connected to the martial law operation.

Separately, former first lady Kim Keon Hee is serving a four-year prison sentence for stock manipulation and bribery offenses unrelated to the martial law case.

The convictions represent one of the most extensive legal reckonings involving a former South Korean administration since the country’s transition to democratic rule, with prosecutors continuing to pursue accountability for officials involved in the failed attempt to impose emergency military authority.

The military identified the soldier as Master Sergeant Alexander Filin, 29, and said he “fell in combat” during operations in southern Lebanon.

According to a military statement released on Thursday, the incident also left an officer, a reserve officer and a reserve soldier moderately wounded. A combat non-commissioned officer, two reserve soldiers and a female reserve soldier sustained light injuries.

The military did not immediately provide further details regarding the circumstances of the clash or the location where the casualties occurred.

The casualties were reported a day after the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding intended to lay the groundwork for ending the broader Middle East conflict. The agreement calls for a halt in fighting across multiple fronts, including Lebanon, where hostilities have persisted for months.

Lebanon became directly involved in the regional conflict after the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement launched rocket attacks against Israel on March 2 in support of Tehran following the outbreak of hostilities involving Iran and its allies.

Israel subsequently expanded military operations in southern Lebanon, carrying out extensive airstrikes and ground offensives that it said were aimed at degrading Hezbollah’s military capabilities and preventing cross-border attacks.

Lebanese authorities say Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 3,800 people since fighting escalated earlier this year. The figures have not been independently verified.

On the Israeli side, military data indicate that 31 soldiers and one civilian contractor have been killed in connection with operations linked to the conflict since March 2, including the latest fatality.

The death of Filin comes as diplomatic negotiations continue over the future of Israeli troop deployments in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have said they are engaged in discussions with the United States regarding the possible continuation of military deployments in areas seized during the conflict, while Washington has pushed for broader efforts to stabilize the region under the emerging U.S.-Iran framework.

Despite signs of reduced hostilities in recent days, the latest casualties highlight the continuing risks faced by forces operating in southern Lebanon and the challenges confronting negotiators seeking a durable ceasefire.

In a five-page letter posted on X, López Obrador, who left office in 2024 but remains one of Mexico’s most influential political figures, said relations with Washington had deteriorated under Trump’s current administration and argued that the U.S. president had changed significantly since their earlier interactions.

“Speaking from what I personally experienced and can prove, the Trump of today is different from the one I dealt with,” López Obrador wrote, describing Trump during his first term as cooperative, pragmatic and open to dialogue.

He attributed what he called Trump’s transformation to “false friends and advisers, both internal and external,” whom he accused of leading the U.S. leader into policies detrimental to bilateral relations.

The comments represent one of López Obrador’s most direct interventions in public affairs since leaving office and amount to a strong endorsement of President Claudia Sheinbaum, his longtime political ally and successor. In the letter, he praised Sheinbaum as the “best president Mexico has had in our time.”

The remarks come amid growing strains between Mexico City and Washington after more than a year of often difficult but largely cooperative engagement. Sheinbaum has recently adopted a firmer tone toward the United States, emphasizing the need to defend Mexican sovereignty.

A major source of friction has been the U.S. Justice Department’s April indictment of 10 Mexican officials over alleged links to drug trafficking organizations. Mexican authorities have viewed the move as a sensitive issue in bilateral relations.

López Obrador accused U.S. officials of attempting to weaken Morena, the governing party he founded, under the banner of combating migration and narcotics-related crime.

Neither U.S. nor Mexican government officials immediately responded to requests for comment regarding López Obrador’s statements.

Mexico and the United States maintain one of the world’s largest economic relationships, with close cooperation on trade, migration and security issues, although political disputes have periodically strained ties between the two countries.

López Obrador ended his message with an appeal for improved relations, writing: “For the good of all, may the other Trump return.”

The reported agreement comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following recent exchanges of air strikes and renewed concerns over regional stability and shipping security in the Gulf. According to the Axios report, the proposed understanding would temporarily preserve the ceasefire framework while opening a diplomatic channel focused on Iran’s nuclear activities.

Neither the White House nor Iranian authorities immediately issued public confirmation of the reported arrangement. The U.S. State Department also did not publicly comment on the Axios report.
The development follows remarks by Trump earlier this week indicating dissatisfaction with the pace and scope of negotiations involving Iran.

It also comes after reports of intensified military exchanges between the two countries, underscoring the fragile security environment surrounding any prospective diplomatic process.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was photographed alongside Trump during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, as the administration continued deliberations over Middle East policy and Iran strategy.

Any agreement to reopen structured nuclear negotiations would mark the most significant diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran in years. Previous talks aimed at reviving limits on Iran’s nuclear program had stalled amid disputes over sanctions relief, uranium enrichment levels and regional security guarantees.

Financial markets and regional governments have closely monitored developments involving Iran because of their potential implications for global oil supply routes, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor for energy exports.

The Axios report said Trump’s final decision remained pending as administration officials reviewed the terms of the proposed understanding.

The three-week trial in federal court in Oakland focused on allegations by Musk that OpenAI abandoned its founding nonprofit mission in pursuit of commercial expansion and investor profits after launching the chatbot ChatGPT in 2022.

Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI who left the organization in 2018, argued that Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman improperly redirected a company originally established to develop artificial intelligence for the public good into a private enterprise valued at an estimated $850 billion.

The lawsuit centers on approximately $38 million in donations Musk said he contributed to sustain OpenAI as a nonprofit research laboratory. His legal team argued during closing statements that the company violated commitments made during its formation by pursuing a for-profit structure and deep commercial partnerships.

“A non-profit devoted to the safe development of artificial intelligence, open sourced as practical, for the benefit of humanity,” Musk attorney Steven Molo told jurors in closing arguments, questioning the credibility of OpenAI leadership.

OpenAI attorney Sarah Eddy rejected those claims and challenged Musk’s account of events, arguing that witness testimony and internal communications contradicted key elements of his case.

Jurors are first expected to determine whether Musk filed the lawsuit within the applicable legal time limit after his final contribution to OpenAI in 2020. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said the jury’s finding on that issue would be advisory but indicated she was likely to follow its recommendation.

If the case proceeds beyond the statute-of-limitations question, jurors and the court will consider whether OpenAI executives misused Musk’s contributions and breached promises tied to the organization’s nonprofit status.

Musk is seeking an order requiring OpenAI to return to a nonprofit structure, a move that could disrupt the company’s planned public offering and complicate relationships with major investors including microsoft, amazon and softbank, which have collectively committed billions of dollars to the company.

The jury will also examine whether Microsoft, OpenAI’s largest outside backer with roughly $13 billion committed, knowingly supported the company’s transition away from its original nonprofit framework.
The proceedings also revisited Altman’s brief ouster from OpenAI in November 2023, when board members removed him over concerns related to transparency and management practices before reinstating him days later following pressure from employees and investors.

Musk has since expanded his own artificial intelligence ambitions through x.ai⁠ while continuing AI development efforts linked to spacex.

Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, faces allegations including misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth accumulation and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the first lady and a former House speaker. She has denied all wrongdoing.

The impeachment proceedings unfold amid intensifying political divisions between the Duterte and Marcos camps, whose alliance secured victory in the 2022 national election before deteriorating into a bitter power struggle.

The Senate trial could determine whether Duterte remains eligible for public office and preserves her status as a leading presidential contender. A conviction would require support from two-thirds of the 24-member Senate and would bar her from holding office.

The political climate surrounding the case has become increasingly volatile following the dramatic return of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a close Duterte ally who had reportedly been in hiding for months while facing scrutiny linked to the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the former president’s anti-drug campaign.

Dela Rosa resurfaced ahead of a crucial Senate vote that installed Duterte ally Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president, positioning him to preside over the impeachment proceedings.

Analysts said the leadership shift may strengthen Duterte’s standing within the chamber, where several senators are viewed as aligned with the Duterte political bloc.

“Given that we now have a new majority, thanks to the efforts of Senator Bato, it would make prosecuting Vice President Sara in the impeachment court a little more difficult,” Ederson Tapia, a public administration professor at the University of Makati, said.

The impeachment process comes as Rodrigo Duterte awaits proceedings before the International Criminal Court over allegations tied to his deadly anti-narcotics campaign during his presidency.

The renewed focus on dela Rosa has added to tensions in Manila after reports of unrest and gunfire linked to attempts to arrest the senator. Philippine authorities confirmed on Friday they would pursue legal action to detain him, while dela Rosa has sought relief from the Supreme Court, arguing there is no legal basis for enforcing a warrant issued by an international tribunal.

President Marcos has publicly distanced himself from the impeachment effort, describing it as a matter for the legislature.

The Senate has not announced a formal start date for the trial proceedings.

The resolution, scheduled for debate on Wednesday, was spearheaded by the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, which led a successful 2024 campaign urging the ICJ to clarify states’ duties under international law regarding climate action.

Last year, the Hague-based court concluded that governments are legally obligated to take measures against climate change and warned that failure to meet those obligations could expose states to claims for reparations from countries most vulnerable to climate impacts.

The latest draft resolution describes the ICJ opinion as “an authoritative contribution to the clarification of existing international law” and calls on countries to comply with obligations aimed at protecting the global climate system.

The text also reiterates support for limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and references the international commitment adopted at the 2023 climate summit in Dubai to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.

Negotiations over the resolution, however, resulted in significant revisions after opposition from several major greenhouse gas emitters and industrial economies, according to diplomatic sources.

An earlier proposal to establish an “International Register of Damage” documenting climate-related losses and injuries was removed from the current version after objections from countries including the United States, China, Japan, members of the European Union and oil-producing states.

Those governments argued the mechanism extended beyond the scope of the ICJ opinion and raised concerns about potential pathways toward compensation claims or reparations linked to historical emissions.

Vanuatu Climate Minister Ralph Regenvanu defended the revised text, saying the resolution does not create new legal obligations or assign liability to individual states.

“For Vanuatu and for many climate-vulnerable states, this is ultimately about survival,” Regenvanu said, adding that the measure was intended to strengthen multilateral cooperation on climate governance.

Despite the dilution of several provisions, climate advocates said the resolution remains politically significant because it reinforces the growing role of international law in shaping climate accountability.

Joie Chowdhury, senior attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law, described the current draft as “still a strong text” despite intense diplomatic pressure during negotiations.

Diplomatic sources said the resolution may not secure the broad consensus achieved during the General Assembly’s original request for the ICJ opinion in 2024, with at least one member state expected to call for a formal vote.

The draft also requests that United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres prepare a report outlining options to advance compliance with obligations identified in the ICJ ruling.

The cases involve Dawn Michelle Hunt, a 54-year-old former flight attendant and artist from the Chicago area, and Nelson Wells Jr., a 52-year-old Louisiana native and father of three, whose families say were unknowingly used as “blind mules” to transport narcotics hidden in luggage provided by other individuals.

The appeal places the cases at the intersection of humanitarian diplomacy and increasingly strained U.S.-China relations, as Washington and Beijing remain divided over trade, Taiwan and Iran-related tensions. For Trump, who has frequently highlighted efforts to secure the return of detained Americans abroad, the release of the two prisoners could offer a rare diplomatic breakthrough during a summit expected to yield limited concrete agreements.

Family members said they are attempting to deliver letters directly to Trump ahead of the meeting. Tim Hunt, Dawn Michelle Hunt’s brother, described his sister as highly intelligent and said she had been lured to China through what he characterized as a fraudulent “prize” trip.

According to her family, she was later given purses and a suitcase containing concealed narcotics that she unknowingly agreed to carry on an outbound flight.Wells’ family said he was detained after agreeing to transport another traveler’s suitcase while returning from a trip to China.

The individual allegedly disappeared after airport authorities discovered drugs hidden inside the bag.“I enjoyed serving my country,” Nelson Wells Sr., a U.S. Army veteran, said in remarks released through the family. “Now I just want my country to serve me.”A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department⁠ said Washington is providing consular assistance to both Americans and advocating for their health and welfare, while declining to comment further because of privacy considerations.

China’s foreign ministry said the two Americans were serving sentences for serious drug offenses and that Chinese authorities were handling the cases in accordance with the law while protecting their legitimate rights and health conditions.Advocates involved in the cases said U.S. officials have formally requested humanitarian releases from Chinese authorities, citing worsening medical conditions.

According to family members and advisers, Hunt requires blood transfusions and has declined surgery because of concerns over prison medical care, while Wells suffers from seizures, diabetes and high blood pressure.Beijing-based lawyer James Zimmerman, who is advising the families, said Chinese officials had privately indicated a willingness to consider humanitarian parole if the matter received higher-level political attention from Washington.

The cases follow a prisoner exchange in 2024 in which China and the United States each released three citizens that both governments said had been wrongfully detained after years of diplomatic negotiations.Peter Humphrey, a former prisoner in China who now advises families of foreign detainees, said U.S. embassy officials had increased engagement with Chinese authorities regarding the cases in recent months.

John Kamm, whose San Francisco-based Dui Hua Foundation researches political prisoners in China, said both Americans should be granted humanitarian parole because of their medical conditions. The foundation estimates that around 200 Americans are currently held in detention facilities across China.

The families said public attention to the cases intensified after testimony delivered at a September 2024 hearing of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, where lawmakers examined the treatment of Americans imprisoned in China.Relatives are also backing legislation introduced by Representative Chris Smith that would expand support mechanisms for families of Americans detained overseas under disputed circumstances.

Tim Hunt said his father died in January before seeing his daughter released, while Wells’ family said his youngest daughter, now 12 and living in Japan, was only six months old when he was arrested.