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The death toll from the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar nearly a week ago has risen to 3,085, with search and rescue teams uncovering more bodies, according to the military-led government. An additional 4,715 individuals have been reported injured, while 341 remain missing. The earthquake's epicenter was near Mandalay, causing widespread destruction, including the collapse of thousands of buildings and infrastructure. Local media reports suggest the actual casualty figures may be significantly higher, exacerbated by disrupted telecommunications and challenging access to affected areas. The disaster has intensified an existing humanitarian crisis, with over 3 million people already displaced and nearly 20 million in need of assistance. In response, the military declared a temporary ceasefire through April 22 to facilitate aid efforts, despite ongoing civil conflict. Meanwhile, in Bangkok, the search for survivors continues after an unfinished skyscraper collapsed, resulting in 22 fatalities. 
Published: Apr 03 2025, 11 ameznews.inThe head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, has warned that new tariffs imposed by the United States represent a "significant risk to the global outlook." This statement follows President Donald Trump's announcement of a minimum 10% tariff on imports from all countries, escalating an ongoing trade war that many fear could lead to a global recession and increased inflation. Georgieva emphasized the importance of collaboration between the US and its trading partners to mitigate the risks associated with these tariffs, particularly as global growth is projected to be sluggish at 3.3% this year, below the 3.7% average of the previous two decades. The IMF is set to release its updated global economic outlook later this month, with the ramifications of the US tariffs expected to dominate discussions during the Spring Meetings in Washington.
Published: Apr 04 2025, 6 ameznews.inThe High Court in London has ordered former US President Donald Trump to pay £625,000 ($741,000) in legal costs after his unsuccessful lawsuit against former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, the author of the controversial Steele dossier. This dossier, released just before Trump's inauguration in January 2017, contained unverified allegations that Trump had been compromised by Russian agents, including claims of sexual misconduct and ties to the Russian security service, FSB. Trump filed a data protection claim in 2022 against Steele's company, Orbis Business Intelligence, but High Court judge Karen Steyn dismissed the case, stating it was "bound to fail" and lacked compelling reasons to proceed to trial. The dossier, which was commissioned by Democratic consultants prior to the 2016 election, sparked significant political controversy, contributing to the investigations led by US special prosecutor Robert Mueller, who found no evidence of collusion with Trump's campaign.
Published: Apr 04 2025, 6 ameznews.inOpenAI's latest model, GPT-4.5, has reportedly surpassed the Turing Test, achieving a 73% success rate in convincing participants it was human when adopting a persona, as detailed in a preprint study pending peer review. Lead researcher Cameron Jones from UC San Diego's Language and Cognition Lab noted that participants struggled to distinguish between humans and the AI, with their ability to do so no better than chance. This breakthrough raises concerns about potential job automation and societal disruption, according to Jones. The study involved nearly 300 participants who engaged with both a human and a chatbot under different prompts, revealing that GPT-4.5 excelled when instructed to embody a specific character. Reactions on social media ranged from amusement to apprehension, with users questioning the implications of AI achieving near-perfect human mimicry in conversations.
Published: Apr 04 2025, 6 ameznews.inPresident Donald Trump announced that his administration is "very close" to finalizing a deal for the sale of TikTok, which is under threat of a U.S. ban unless its Chinese parent company divests by the weekend. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump indicated that the potential deal involves "multiple" investors but refrained from providing additional specifics. The urgency stems from ongoing concerns regarding national security and data privacy associated with the app, which has faced scrutiny from U.S. authorities. As the deadline approaches, the administration is under pressure to secure a resolution that satisfies both regulatory requirements and the interests of potential buyers. The situation remains fluid as negotiations continue.
Published: Apr 04 2025, 5 ameznews.inPresident Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a deal regarding TikTok is imminent, with several investors engaged in negotiations. The popular short video app is facing a critical deadline of April 5 to secure a sale to a non-Chinese buyer, or it risks being banned in the United States. Trump indicated that he would contemplate a deal that could involve China approving the sale in exchange for relief from U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods. The ongoing discussions highlight the complex interplay between national security concerns and economic relations, as the administration seeks to navigate the app's controversial status amidst broader U.S.-China trade tensions.
Published: Apr 04 2025, 3 ameznews.inThe Acting Inspector General of the US Department of Defence, Steven Stebbins, is set to investigate Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth's use of the messaging app Signal for discussions regarding military operations against the Houthis in Yemen. This inquiry follows a request from the Senate Armed Services Committee amid concerns over Hegseth's use of an "unclassified commercial messaging application" for official communications. A leaked Signal chat revealed that Hegseth, along with other senior officials, discussed sensitive details about a planned military strike, including timing and logistics, which inadvertently reached The Atlantic’s editor. While officials, including President Trump, downplayed the incident, asserting that no classified information was shared, the chat’s contents have raised significant operational security concerns. The evaluation will assess compliance with Department of Defence policies regarding the use of commercial messaging for official purposes and adherence to classification and records retention requirements.
Published: Apr 04 2025, 3 ameznews.inUS stocks experienced a significant downturn on Thursday, following former President Donald Trump's recent tariff announcement, which sent shockwaves through the market. The S&P 500 index plummeted 4.8 per cent, closing at 5,396.52, marking its steepest single-day drop since June 2020. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell even more sharply, declining 6.0 per cent to finish at 16,550.6. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average also suffered, closing down 4 per cent at 40,545.93. Traders expressed growing concerns over the potential economic impact of the tariffs, prompting widespread sell-offs across major indices. This dramatic market reaction underscores the fragility of investor sentiment amid ongoing trade tensions and uncertainty.
Published: Apr 04 2025, 2 ameznews.inIn a significant market downturn, Wall Street stocks plunged on Thursday, with the S&P 500 dropping over four percent following President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff announcement, dubbed "Liberation Day." The new levies, impacting all US trading partners, particularly affected key sectors such as banking, technology, and apparel, with only consumer staples showing resilience. By 1510 GMT, the S&P 500 was at 5,420.15, down 4.4 percent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 3.7 percent and the Nasdaq Composite Index plummeted 5.7 percent. Analysts expressed concerns over the tariffs' potential to reduce corporate earnings and reignite inflation, with some predicting a looming recession and bear market. Notably, major companies like Nike, Macy's, and Apple experienced significant losses, underscoring the uncertainty in the market. Experts suggest that the administration may reconsider the tariffs as negotiations evolve, highlighting the precarious economic landscape ahead.
Published: Apr 04 2025, 12 ameznews.inPresident Donald Trump's recent decision to dismiss several senior officials from the National Security Council (NSC) has drawn attention, particularly following a meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer, who advocated for the firings based on her research. Loomer, known for her controversial views, including 9/11 conspiracy theories, has been active in Trump's 2024 campaign and has publicly questioned the loyalty of certain NSC members. The Oval Office meeting included key figures such as Vice President JD Vance and national security adviser Mike Waltz. Despite the significance of the discussions, NSC spokesman Brian Hughes refrained from commenting on personnel changes. The firings coincide with scrutiny over Waltz's use of the encrypted Signal app for sensitive military planning, which raises concerns about communication security after journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to the conversation. This incident underscores ongoing issues regarding national security protocols within the White House.
Published: Apr 04 2025, 12 ameznews.inThe Pentagon's inspector general is set to investigate Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the commercial messaging app Signal for discussions about air strikes in Yemen, according to a memo released on Thursday. This inquiry follows a scandal involving an accidental leak of a group chat among senior security officials, which included details about military actions targeting Yemen's Huthi rebels aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The investigation will assess compliance with Department of Defence policies regarding the use of commercial messaging for official business, as well as adherence to classification and records retention requirements. The probe was initiated following a request from the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee, comprising both a Republican and a Democrat. The leak was highlighted by The Atlantic, revealing that a prominent journalist was unintentionally included in the chat.
Published: Apr 04 2025, 12 am
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