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The US Senate confirmed John Ratcliffe as the new director of the CIA on Thursday, securing bipartisan support with a vote of 74-25. Ratcliffe, who previously served as the director of national intelligence from 2020 to 2021 under President Donald Trump, emphasized his commitment to delivering objective intelligence analysis free from political bias during his confirmation hearing. He highlighted the need for the CIA to intensify its focus on the threats posed by China and its Communist Party, as well as the critical importance of understanding technological advancements among adversaries. A former federal prosecutor and Texas representative from 2015 to 2020, Ratcliffe played a key role in defending Trump during his first impeachment. His appointment fills a vital position in the national security team, aiming to enhance the agency's analytical capabilities amid evolving global threats. 
Published: Jan 24 2025, 6 ameznews.inWall Street experienced a significant downturn on Thursday, leading a global market sell-off as countries reacted to President Donald Trump's escalating trade war. The S&P 500 fell by 4.8%, marking its largest drop since 2020, while the Nasdaq and Dow Jones declined by 6.0% and 4.0%, respectively. Trump's imposition of 10% tariffs on imports from all nations, alongside higher rates on specific countries, including China and the EU, has sparked international outcry and threats of counter-tariffs from foreign leaders. The tariffs, which also include a 25% levy on foreign-made cars, prompted Canada to retaliate. Despite the turmoil, Trump remained optimistic, asserting that the U.S. economy would thrive post-"operation." However, concerns about global economic repercussions were voiced by the IMF and WTO, with calls for constructive dialogue to ease tensions. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell criticized the tariffs as detrimental, diverging from Trump's hardline stance.
Published: Apr 04 2025, 7 ameznews.inDanish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has vehemently rejected US attempts to annex Greenland, accusing Washington of exerting "pressure and threats" on Denmark and its autonomous territory. Speaking at a press conference in Nuuk, Frederiksen emphasized that international law prohibits the annexation of countries, stating, "National borders, sovereignty, territorial integrity - these are rooted in international law." Her remarks come amid ongoing interest from US President Donald Trump in acquiring Greenland. Outgoing Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede supported Frederiksen's stance, highlighting the importance of cooperation between Denmark and Greenland in the face of global challenges. Despite the strong criticism of the US, Frederiksen expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with the Trump administration. This press conference occurred shortly after US Vice President JD Vance's visit to Greenland, where he criticized Denmark's security efforts in the Arctic. Greenland, which gained home rule in 1979, recently formed a new autonomous government.
Published: Apr 04 2025, 7 ameznews.inNursing influencer Hailey Okula, known online as Nurse Hailey, has tragically passed away due to complications following the birth of her first child, Crew. Her husband, Matthew Okula, shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram, expressing his profound loss and honoring her as a devoted wife and partner. Ms Okula, an ER nurse, had amassed a significant following by candidly discussing her struggles with infertility and her journey to pregnancy through In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). Just weeks before her passing, she celebrated her pregnancy, describing the experience as "indescribable." Local reports indicate that she suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after giving birth. In the wake of her death, thousands of followers have expressed their condolences, sharing how her kindness and dedication profoundly impacted their lives. One follower reflected, "Hailey's legacy goes beyond the work she did," highlighting her lasting influence on those she touched.
Published: Apr 04 2025, 7 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 am
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