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Two survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, Martin Hibbert and his daughter Eve, have been awarded £45,000 in damages after successfully suing former TV producer Richard Hall, who falsely claimed they were "crisis actors" in a hoax. The High Court ruled in their favour, with Judge Karen Steyn condemning Hall's actions as a "negligent, indeed reckless, abuse of media freedom." Hibbert, who suffered a spinal cord injury, and Eve, who sustained severe brain damage, were vindicated against Hall's allegations made in videos and a book. In addition to the damages, Hall must cover 90% of their legal costs, estimated at £260,000. Hibbert expressed hope that the ruling would protect others from similar harassment and send a clear message to conspiracy theorists. The bombing, perpetrated by Salman Abedi, claimed 22 lives and injured over 1,000 attendees at the concert. 
Published: Nov 09 2024, 4 ameznews.inThe foreign ministers of the QUAD countries—Australia, India, Japan, and the US—are set to convene on January 21, marking a significant early foreign policy engagement for President Donald Trump’s second term, which begins with his inauguration on January 20. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will attend the inauguration. The QUAD meeting aims to reaffirm the US commitment to the Indo-Pacific region under the new administration, as reported by Politico. Marco Rubio is anticipated to be confirmed as the new US Secretary of State before the meeting, making this his first foreign policy engagement. Analysts view the meeting as a sign of continuity in US foreign policy, reflecting an awareness of a more competitive global landscape compared to previous decades, according to Dhruva Jaishankar, executive director of ORF America.
Published: Jan 18 2025, 4 ameznews.inOpenAI has announced the imminent launch of its new reasoning AI model, o3 mini, within the next few weeks, according to CEO Sam Altman. The Microsoft-backed company has taken user feedback into account and plans to release both the application programming interface (API) and ChatGPT simultaneously. OpenAI is in competition with rivals like Alphabet's Google to develop advanced models capable of solving complex problems. Following the introduction of its o1 AI models in September 2024, which excelled at processing intricate queries in science, coding, and math, the upcoming o3 models are expected to be even more powerful. Additionally, OpenAI recently unveiled a beta feature called Tasks for ChatGPT, marking its entry into the virtual assistant market, where it will compete with established players like Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa. The popularity of ChatGPT has significantly boosted investment in AI, helping OpenAI secure $6.6 billion in funding last month.
Published: Jan 18 2025, 4 ameznews.inDonald Trump is set to be sworn in for his second term as president of the United States on Monday, marking a remarkable political comeback. The inauguration ceremony will take place at 12 p.m. EST inside the congressional complex due to extreme cold, with Chief Justice John Roberts administering the oath. Trump aims to deliver a unifying inaugural address, contrasting with his 2017 speech. Outgoing President Joe Biden will attend, a courtesy Trump previously declined. Trump has invited several foreign leaders, including Argentina's President Javier Milei, while notable figures like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are also on the guest list. The inauguration festivities will include a rally and multiple galas, with Trump expected to sign over 100 executive orders on his first day, focusing on immigration and energy production. The event is funded by Trump's inauguration committee, which has raised over $170 million.
Published: Jan 18 2025, 1 ameznews.inA CIA employee, Asif William Rahman, pleaded guilty to charges of willfully retaining and transmitting national defense information, as confirmed by the U.S. Department of Justice. Rahman, who had been with the agency since 2016, admitted to illegally downloading, printing, and distributing classified documents on multiple occasions, particularly in 2024. Court records reveal that he printed five secret and top-secret documents in spring 2024, altered them, and shared them with unauthorized individuals. To conceal his actions, he deleted evidence from his devices and had the records shredded at work. In autumn 2024, he printed another ten top-secret documents and, on October 17, printed two more related to Israel's plans to strike Iran, which later surfaced online via a pro-Iranian Telegram account. Rahman, 34, from Vienna, Virginia, was arrested in Cambodia and faces sentencing on May 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Published: Jan 18 2025, 1 ameznews.inUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken faced intense scrutiny during his final days in office, particularly at his last press conference where he was confronted by journalists over the Biden administration's actions during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Independent journalist Sam Husseini challenged Blinken, citing accusations of genocide against Israel from organizations like Amnesty International, leading to Husseini's forceful removal by security as he shouted accusations at Blinken. Another journalist, Max Blumenthal, accused Blinken of complicity in violence against Palestinians, questioning his ties to pro-Israel lobbying. This turmoil followed a farewell address where Blinken was heckled by a protester branding him "Bloody Blinken" for his perceived role in the conflict. The backdrop of these confrontations was a ceasefire agreement that concluded a devastating 15-month war, which resulted in significant civilian casualties and destruction in Gaza, raising global concerns about Israel's military response.
Published: Jan 17 2025, 11 pmeznews.inTech billionaire Elon Musk expressed optimism about India-US relations during a visit from leading Indian entrepreneurs at his SpaceX Starbase in Texas. The delegation, part of the India Global Forum's expansion into the US, toured SpaceX's facilities and observed the successful launch of Starship Flight 7. Musk advocated for reducing trade barriers to foster commerce between the two nations, highlighting the potential for collaboration in technology and space exploration. He praised India's rich cultural heritage and emphasized its growing role in global innovation. The meeting occurred just before Donald Trump's inauguration for a second term, with Musk reportedly considered for a position in his administration. Manoj Ladwa, founder of the India Global Forum, underscored the significance of dialogue between global leaders amid the transition, noting that India's rise offers vast opportunities for powerful partnerships in addressing contemporary challenges.
Published: Jan 17 2025, 11 pmeznews.inA fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has been overshadowed by violence, with reports indicating at least 115 fatalities in Gaza, including 28 children and 31 women, alongside over 265 injuries, according to Mahmoud Basal of Gaza's Civil Defense agency. The hours following the ceasefire announcement were described as the "bloodiest day in the past week," as Israeli airstrikes continued, prompting widespread international condemnation. The United Nations Human Rights Council expressed dismay at the ongoing attacks, urging all parties to adhere to the ceasefire to alleviate 15 months of suffering in Gaza. The Israeli government is set to vote on the ceasefire deal, which includes a six-week initial phase and plans for the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of hostages. Meanwhile, the conflict has claimed over 46,500 lives, with deep historical roots complicating the path to lasting peace.
Published: Jan 18 2025, 12 ameznews.inA touching behind-the-scenes video of President Joe Biden's last days in office has been released by the White House, capturing his warm interactions with staff. The 1-minute, 20-second clip features lighthearted moments, such as Biden ordering chocolate milkshakes at the Navy Mess and expressing affection for a photo of himself with his grandson Beau. "I'm going to miss you," Biden tells a staffer, who responds with a simple "thank you," prompting mixed reactions online. The video, which has garnered over 600,000 views on X, highlights the human side of the outgoing president and his approachable personality. As Biden prepares for his final full day in office in South Carolina, he reflects on the connections made during his presidency, leaving many supporters nostalgic for his leadership.
Published: Jan 17 2025, 9 pmeznews.inTrain passengers in Britain who travel without a ticket may soon benefit from a proposed "yellow card" system, allowing them to avoid fines or prosecution for innocent mistakes. This recommendation from rail watchdog Transport Focus aims to create a fairer approach to ticketing, especially in light of cases like that of 22-year-old Sam Williamson, who faced legal threats over a minor ticketing error. Williamson's experience with Northern Rail, where he mistakenly purchased an invalid ticket, sparked public outcry and led the company to retract ongoing prosecutions. Transport Focus highlighted the complexities of rail fares and the need for a more lenient policy towards unintentional infractions. The Department for Transport has initiated a review of fare prosecution practices, emphasizing the importance of clear and fair ticketing policies. Some rail operators, including Cross Country and Southeastern, have already adopted similar systems, with Merseyside Rail planning to follow suit.
Published: Jan 17 2025, 10 pmeznews.inIncoming US President Donald Trump acknowledged the Supreme Court's recent ruling to uphold a congressional ban on TikTok, stating that the decision should be respected. However, he emphasized the need for time to assess the implications of the ruling before making a final decision on enforcement. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump remarked that while the decision was anticipated, he would take a careful approach to review the situation surrounding TikTok. He urged followers to "stay tuned" for updates on his forthcoming decision, indicating that an announcement would come in the near future.
Published: Jan 17 2025, 10 pm
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