A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck early Saturday morning off the coast of Papua New Guinea’s New Britain Island, triggering tsunami warnings for nearby regions. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at 6:04 am local time (2004 GMT) and was located approximately 194 kilometres southeast of Kimbe, the nearest major town.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an advisory shortly after the tremor, forecasting tsunami waves between one to three metres for parts of Papua New Guinea. Smaller waves, less than 0.3 metres, were also expected in some regions of the nearby Solomon Islands.

The quake was classified as shallow, occurring at a depth of just 10 kilometres (six miles) — a factor that often increases the potential for surface-level damage and tsunamis.

Roughly 30 minutes after the initial tremor, a smaller earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3 was reported in nearly the same location, according to the USGS. No immediate reports of casualties or damage were available at the time of reporting.

Earthquake-prone region on the ‘Ring of Fire’

Papua New Guinea is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped zone known for frequent and intense seismic and volcanic activity. While earthquakes are common in the region, they often strike remote or sparsely populated areas, minimizing the human toll — although landslides and secondary hazards remain a risk.

Authorities have not yet issued any evacuation orders, but residents in coastal regions have been advised to stay alert and follow updates from local disaster management agencies.

Former US President Donald Trump is once again making headlines—this time not for his speeches, indictments, or golf swing, but for posting graphic military footage on his Truth Social account with a signature Trumpian flair: “Oops.”

Trump shared a black-and-white video allegedly showing a deadly US airstrike on Houthi fighters in Yemen, with the caption:

“Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis. They will never sink our ships again!”

The video resembles imagery from military drone or surveillance aircraft, showing a group of individuals standing in an oval formation—supposedly Houthi rebels preparing for an assault. Seconds later, the screen flashes with an explosion, smoke plumes billow, and the feed cuts to a wide shot of the aftermath. A crater is visible. Bodies? Not so much. But the message? Loud and politically loaded.

While there has been no official confirmation from the Pentagon regarding the clip, Trump’s post comes amid ongoing US raids in Yemen, following multiple attacks by the Houthis on Red Sea commercial and military vessels.

Only Donald Trump can take a potentially classified drone strike and serve it with a side of sarcasm and sound effects. The “Oops” post has divided opinions—some called it “classic Trump,” others saw it as tone-deaf during an ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Still, in Trump fashion, the goal appeared clear: flex military strength and take a jab at US adversaries with just two syllables and a GIF-worthy explosion.

Houthi attacks continue amid Gaza conflict fallout

The Houthi group, backed by Iran, has ramped up its attacks on ships in the Red Sea, claiming it as retaliation for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. US officials blame the rebels for escalating threats to international shipping lanes, and recent US-led strikes have been aimed at dismantling their capabilities.

According to Houthi-linked media, dozens of fighters were killed in American raids this week alone, though the exact number remains unverified.

In response to growing regional tensions, Washington announced that the USS Carl Vinson would join the USS Harry S. Truman in the Middle East to “promote stability, deter aggression, and ensure the free flow of commerce.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a scathing rebuke following a devastating Russian ballistic missile strike on his hometown of Kryvyi Rih, which killed at least 18 people, including nine children. Zelensky said that “diplomacy means nothing” to Russia, accusing the country of deliberately targeting civilians and rejecting peace efforts.

The strike, which occurred in a residential area near a children’s playground, left a trail of destruction, with unverified videos circulating online showing bodies on the street and plumes of smoke rising into the evening sky. Cars were seen engulfed in flames, and the cries of shocked residents echoed in the background.

Dnipropetrovsk Regional Governor Sergiy Lysak confirmed on Saturday, April 5, that the death toll stood at 18, with 61 others injured, including 12 children. “This is the kind of pain you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy,” Lysak stated on Telegram, reflecting the profound grief in the city.

According to Oleksandr Vilkul, head of Kryvyi Rih’s military administration, the missile hit its target with precision, striking a densely populated area on Friday evening. Emergency operations continued overnight, but the scale of the tragedy was evident as rescue teams worked to clear rubble and aid the wounded.

Zelensky, who grew up in Kryvyi Rih, described the attack as no accident. “These strikes cannot be accidental – the Russians know exactly what they’re hitting,” he said in a post on X.

He pointed to additional attacks on the same day, including a drone strike in Kharkiv that killed five people and injured 34, and a targeted strike on an energy facility in Kherson, the Kherson thermal power plant, using a Russian FPV drone.

“Every Russian promise ends with missiles or drones, bombs or artillery,” Zelensky added, lamenting that Moscow has refused a ceasefire since March 11, despite ongoing international efforts.

The Ukrainian leader stressed that Russia’s actions demonstrate a clear rejection of peace. “A ceasefire could have already been reached – it is Putin who rejects it, it is Moscow that wants this war,” he said. He called for “sufficient pressure on Russia” to make them face the consequences of their actions daily, urging global partners, particularly the United States and Europe, to strengthen support for Ukraine.

“We count on their ability to put pressure on the sole cause of this war: Russia’s desire to destroy and kill,” Zelensky stated, expressing gratitude to those worldwide working toward a just peace.

Russia’s defense ministry, however, offered a conflicting narrative, claiming on Saturday that its forces had conducted a “precision strike with a high-explosive missile” on a restaurant in Kryvyi Rih, targeting a meeting of Ukrainian military commanders and Western instructors.

The ministry alleged up to 85 people were killed, including foreign officers, but provided no evidence to support this claim. It also reported that Russian air defenses had intercepted and destroyed 49 Ukrainian drones overnight, signaling continued escalation.

The attack on Kryvyi Rih, a city of around 600,000 people located about 70 kilometers from the front line, is part of a pattern of intensified Russian assaults on civilian areas, despite ceasefire talks. Earlier this week, another strike in the city killed four people, and the region has faced near-weekly attacks on residential targets.

The use of an Iskander-M ballistic missile with a cluster warhead, as reported in posts on social media, suggests a deliberate intent to maximize casualties, drawing widespread condemnation.

Zelensky’s plea for international action comes as global leaders, including those from the UK and France, have accused Russia of stalling peace negotiations. The tragedy has reignited calls for stronger air defenses and military support for Ukraine, with Zelensky emphasizing that only decisive action can force Russia to end the conflict. “The whole world sees it,” he said. “Each missile, every attack drone proves that Russia seeks only war.”