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A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck off the southern coast of the Philippines on Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake, which occurred at a depth of 30 kilometers (18.6 miles), was centered approximately 43 kilometers southwest of Maitum, a town situated in a mountainous and sparsely populated region. Local authorities reported no immediate damage or casualties, with Gilbert Rolifor from the Maitum fire department stating, "It was strong but didn't last long." The Philippines frequently experiences seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an area known for its intense volcanic and earthquake activity. While minor quakes are common, significant tremors can occur unpredictably, with no current technology available to forecast their occurrence. 
Published: Apr 16 2025, 5 ameznews.inU.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's adviser, Dan Caldwell, was removed from the Pentagon on Tuesday amid an ongoing investigation into unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information, a U.S. official confirmed to Reuters. Caldwell, who has been placed on administrative leave, is under scrutiny for an unspecified leak, with no details provided regarding whether it involved a journalist. Hegseth's administration has intensified efforts to curb leaks, highlighted by a memo from his chief of staff requesting investigations into national security breaches. Caldwell, a Marine Corps veteran known for his controversial views on U.S. military involvement, has previously expressed skepticism about military aid to Ukraine and criticized the Iraq War. His removal comes amid a broader trend of firings at the Pentagon since Hegseth's appointment, which has seen significant changes in the military leadership. The investigation into Caldwell's actions is ongoing.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 10 ameznews.inMark Zuckerberg continued his testimony in a pivotal US antitrust trial on Tuesday, defending Meta against allegations of stifling competition through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The trial, which began in December 2020, has seen the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) present evidence, including emails from 2012 where Zuckerberg acknowledged the potential threat posed by Instagram, describing its rise as "really scary." Despite this, Zuckerberg emphasized the positive impact of integrating Instagram into Meta, claiming it added significant value and user growth. He also suggested that if Snapchat had accepted Facebook's buyout offer in 2013, it would have seen substantial user expansion. The case could force Meta to divest from its popular platforms, as the FTC argues that the company opted for acquisitions over competition. Meta counters that its acquisitions were lawful, aimed at enhancing the services of the acquired firms, and argues that it faces stiff competition from platforms like TikTok and YouTube.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 10 ameznews.inPresident Donald Trump has intensified his campaign against elite US universities, threatening to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status unless it complies with extensive government oversight. Harvard, known for its independence and academic freedom, has resisted Trump’s demands, with President Alan Garber asserting that the institution will not negotiate its constitutional rights. This confrontation follows the freezing of $2.2 billion in federal funding, impacting research programs, including a faculty member's tuberculosis study. Trump's administration justifies its actions by citing concerns over anti-Semitism on campus, particularly in light of protests against Israel's actions in Gaza. While other universities have yielded to pressure, Harvard's defiance has drawn support from figures like former President Barack Obama, who praised the institution for standing against what he termed an authoritarian takeover. The clash signals a potential long-term struggle over academic freedom and federal influence in higher education.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 10 ameznews.inAn Israeli Air Force fighter jet accidentally dropped a bomb near the southern Gaza border community of Nir Yitzhak, approximately two miles from the border, due to a "technical malfunction," according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The munition landed in an open area, and thankfully, no injuries were reported. This incident occurred on the same day that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Gaza, where he reaffirmed the military's commitment to its ongoing air and ground offensive against Hamas. Since resuming operations on March 18 after a two-month ceasefire, Israeli forces have made significant territorial gains, prompting mass evacuations among the local population. Netanyahu emphasized that military pressure is essential for securing the release of hostages held by Hamas, stating, "They are striking the enemy and Hamas will continue to suffer blow after blow."
Published: Apr 16 2025, 10 ameznews.inA senior Chinese economic official has warned that US tariffs are exerting significant "pressure" on China's economy and trade, despite the country reporting stronger-than-expected growth in the first quarter. Sheng Laiyun, deputy commissioner of the National Bureau of Statistics, addressed the media on Wednesday, highlighting the challenges posed by the imposition of high tariffs by the United States. He noted that these tariffs are impacting China's foreign trade and overall economic performance. The remarks come as Beijing seeks to manage its economic trajectory amid ongoing tensions with Washington, underscoring the complex dynamics of international trade relations.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 8 ameznews.inUS President Donald Trump has initiated an investigation that could lead to tariffs on critical minerals and rare-earth metals, including cobalt, lithium, and nickel, as he intensifies his trade conflict with global partners. The inquiry, which may also affect products such as smartphones and electric vehicles, is based on concerns that reliance on foreign sources for these materials poses risks to national security and economic stability. The order highlights the dominance of China in global supply chains for rare metals and underscores the essential role these minerals play in US military and energy infrastructure. The Department of Commerce has 180 days to report back to Trump, with potential tariff recommendations. This latest move follows similar investigations into pharmaceutical imports and semiconductor manufacturing, all leveraging a seldom-used 1962 law, Section 232, which Trump has employed to impose tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles since his return to the presidency.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 9 ameznews.inChina's economy grew by 5.4 percent in the first quarter of 2023, surpassing analysts' expectations of 5.1 percent, as exporters rushed to ship goods ahead of impending US tariffs. The surge in growth comes amid escalating trade tensions between Beijing and Washington, with US tariffs on Chinese imports reaching as high as 145 percent, while China has retaliated with a 125 percent levy on US goods. Official data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) also revealed a 6.5 percent increase in industrial output and a 4.6 percent rise in retail sales year-on-year. Despite these positive figures, the NBS cautioned that the global economic landscape is increasingly "complex and severe," emphasizing the need for more robust macroeconomic policies to support sustainable growth and consumption in the face of ongoing challenges, including low domestic demand and a property market debt crisis.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 9 ameznews.inIn his first major address since leaving office, former President Joe Biden criticized his successor Donald Trump's rapid government reforms, asserting they jeopardize Americans' retirement benefits. Speaking to disability advocates in Chicago, Biden claimed that in less than 100 days, the Trump administration has inflicted "so much damage" on the Social Security Administration by laying off 7,000 employees, which he argued threatens the vital benefits relied upon by over 65 million Americans. He emphasized the program's importance, stating that many beneficiaries depend solely on Social Security for their livelihoods. Biden also took aim at Trump's commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, for dismissing concerns about missing checks, highlighting the struggles of vulnerable seniors. Despite displaying some signs of aging during his speech, Biden's focus on Social Security aims to intensify scrutiny on Trump's controversial policies, which he described as a "hatchet" approach to governance.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 9 ameznews.inA magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan early Wednesday, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). The tremor hit at 04:43 a.m. IST, with an epicentre at latitude 35.83 degrees North and longitude 70.60 degrees East, at a depth of 75 kilometres. While there are currently no reports of casualties or damage, authorities and humanitarian agencies are monitoring the situation closely. The Hindu Kush is part of a seismically active zone due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs highlighted Afghanistan's vulnerability to natural disasters, particularly in regions like the Hindu Kush and Herat, which sit on significant fault lines. A series of earthquakes in October 2023 had previously devastated western Afghanistan, killing over 1,000 people and displacing thousands, emphasizing the urgent need for improved disaster response systems.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 9 ameznews.inAn Indian-origin Malaysian man, Mahentharan Ganesan, 43, was sentenced to eight weeks in jail and fined SGD2,500 for smuggling a puppy into Singapore concealed in a laundry bag. Ganesan pleaded guilty to three charges, including importing an animal without a license and failing to care for it properly. The incident occurred on October 20, 2023, when Immigration & Checkpoints Authority officers at the Tuas checkpoint discovered the live puppy hidden in the spare tyre compartment of his vehicle. Ganesan, who owned a transportation company, had initially refused to smuggle animals due to the illegality but succumbed to financial pressure from an unknown lender who offered him a job to repay his debt. He was paid SGD60 per trip to deliver the animals, often in laundry bags or boxes. The identities of those involved in the smuggling operation remain unknown.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 8 am
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