Tuesday,  March 14^th 2023 

OpenAI launches GPT-4, the next generation large language model for artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT. The new model can respond to images, and has the ability to process up to 25,000 words. (BBC News) 

Russian Su-27 fighter jets “intercepted and hit” a United States Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea, with the collision damaging the drone’s propeller and causing the United States to crash the drone into international waters. (The Washington Post) (Reuters) 

Argentina’s annual inflation rate increases to 102.5%, the highest recorded rate since 1991, according to the country’s statistics index. (Reuters) 

Meta Platforms announces plans to cut 10,000 more jobs across its workforce, citing “higher interest rates in the United States, global geopolitical instability and increased regulation” as the reason for the layoffs. (BBC News) 

Protests occur in Pakistan over the possible arrest of PTI chairman and former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan. (livemint) 

Lithuania’s Seimas votes to recognize Russian paramilitary force Wagner Group as a terrorist organization, citing the group’s “numerous crimes” in Ukraine, including the killing and torturing of civilians. (RFE/RL) 

Ecuadorian lawmakers unanimously vote to declassify documents in continuing efforts to impeach president Guillermo Lasso for corruption. (Reuters) 

President of Honduras Xiomara Castro announces that Honduras will stop recognizing Taiwan and will start recognizing the People’s Republic of China as the sole Chinese state. (AP) 

Ecuador withdraws its ambassador from Argentina in protest of the latter sheltering Ecuatorian politician María de los Angeles Duarte since 2020, refusing to give information of her whereabouts. Hours later, Argentina also withdraws its ambassador from Ecuador, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations. (Infobae) 

Monday,  March 13th, 2023 

New York-based commercial bank Signature Bank is closed down after a bank run on its deposits, and is taken into receivership by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. (Reuters) 

Cyclone Freddy kills at least 99 people in Malawi, including 85 people in Blantyre. It is the longest-lived tropical cyclone on record, according to the WMO, having formed on February 4. (The Guardian) 

One person is killed and three others are injured by an apparent gas explosion in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. (BBC News) 

Two people are killed and nine others are injured when a truck strikes a group of pedestrians in Amqui, Quebec, Canada. (CBS News) 

Kerisiano Kalolo becomes the new Head of Government of Tokelau. (RNZ) 

The End

Sunday, March 12th, 2023 

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh becomes the first Asian to win the Best Actress award for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once. (AFP via ABS-CBN News) 

At this year’s Oscars, Everything Everywhere All at Once wins seven awards, including Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture. (Variety) 

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman formally announces the establishment of Riyadh Air, a new flag carrier airline of Saudi Arabia. (Reuters) 

Israeli airstrikes at a weapons depot in Masyaf, Hama Governorate, Syria, kill a Syrian soldier and two pro-Iranian militants. (Arab News) 

Saturday, March 11th, 2023 

Li Qiang is elected as Premier of the People’s Republic of China, succeeding Li Keqiang. (BBC News) 

A security guard is killed and eight other people are injured by an explosion in Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province, Afghanistan. (Reuters) 

Sixteen people are killed by Fula gunmen at a police checkpoint in Zangon Kataf, Kaduna State, Nigeria. (AP) 

Mikaela Shiffrin becomes the world’s most successful alpine skier with her 87th World Cup victory. (Reuters) 

The End