While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, April 4, 2025
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Traders working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, at the opening bell in New York City, on April 3.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
Trump defiant as tariffs send world markets into panic
Wall Street led a global markets bloodbath on April 3 as countries around the world reeled from President Donald Trump’s trade war, while the White House insisted the US economy will emerge victorious.
The S&P 500 dropped 4.8 per cent in its biggest loss since 2020.The tech-rich Nasdaq plummeted 6 per cent and the Dow Jones 4 per cent.
Shock waves also tore through markets in Asia and Europe in the wake of Mr Trump’s April 3 announcement, while foreign leaders signalled readiness to negotiate but also threatened counter-tariffs.
Mr Trump slapped 10 per cent import duties on all nations and far higher levies on imports from dozens of specific countries – including top trade partners China and the European Union.
Pentagon watchdog opens probe into use of Signal
AFP
The Pentagon’s inspector-general’s office announced on April 3 it was opening a probe into Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of an unclassified commercial texting application to coordinate on the highly sensitive March 15 launch of US strikes on Yemen’s Houthis.
In a memorandum addressed to Mr Hegseth, the inspector-general’s office said it would examine whether Mr Hegseth’s use of Signal met Defence Department guidelines and appeared set to look at whether the information provided was or should have been classified.
Mr Hegseth has repeatedly said no classified information was revealed in the chat, even though it included precise times for the launch of US airstrikes and some targeting details that are regarded as closely guarded secrets ahead of a surprise military operation like the one in Yemen.
Syria accuses Israel of deadly destabilisation campaign
AFP
Syria accused Israel on April 3 of mounting a deadly destabilisation campaign after a wave of strikes on military targets, including an airport, and a ground incursion killed 13 people.
Israel said it responded to fire from gunmen during an operation in southern Syria and warned interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa that he would face severe consequences if its security was threatened.
Israel has carried out an extensive bombing campaign against Syrian military assets since Islamist-led rebels toppled long-time strongman Bashar al-Assad in December. It has also carried out ground incursions into southern Syria in a bid to keep the forces of the new government back from the border.
Creche worker jailed for killing baby with drain cleaner
AFP
A French ex-daycare worker on April 3 was sentenced to 25 years in prison over a baby’s death in her care, after she gave the infant drain cleaner to silence her crying.
Myriam Jaouen, 30, was charged with murder but the court in the southeastern city of Lyon found her guilty of “torture and act of barbarism resulting in death” but with no intention to kill.
There is an “unfathomable” element to the 2022 killing of baby Lisa, said prosecutor Baptiste Godreau, as he outlined sentencing demands, adding that Jaouen had been “perfectly conscious” of what she was doing.
US fencer disqualified for not facing transgender rival
A fencer was disqualified from a US women’s foil event for refusing to compete against a transgender opponent in an incident that has gone viral online.
The situation unfolded in the Cherry Blossom tournament at the University of Maryland on March 30 at College Park, Maryland, in suburban Washington.
Stephanie Turner, who competes for the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia, took a knee rather than compete against Redmond Sullivan of Iconic Fencing Club in a pool play match.
