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The US government plans to go all-in on using AI. But it lacks a plan, says a government watchdog

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:33:48 GMT

Washington (CNN) — The US government plans to vastly expand its reliance on artificial intelligence, but it is years behind on policies to responsibly acquire and use the technology from the private sector, according to a new federal oversight report.The lack of a government-wide standard on AI purchases could undercut American security, wrote the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in a long-awaited review of nearly two-dozen agencies’ current and planned uses for AI. The GAO is the government’s top accountability watchdog.The 96-page report released Tuesday marks the US government’s most comprehensive effort yet to catalog the more than 200 ways in which non-military agencies already use artificial intelligence or machine learning, and the more than 500 planned applications for AI in the works.It comes as AI developers have released ever more sophisticated AI models, and as policymakers scramble to develop regulations for the AI industry in the most sensitive use cases. Governm...

Man accused of shooting own brother has been arrested, faces multiple charges

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:33:48 GMT

Miramar Police arrested 28-year-old Jaleel Thomas in Hollywood on Monday, accusing him of shooting his own brother on December 6th.Thomas appeared in court on Tuesday and is facing an attempted second degree murder charge as well as violating his probation from prior arrests.According to police, the victim was in a vehicle in front of a residence at 2648 SW 66th Terrace when Thomas drove up and shot him. The victim then crashed his vehicle in front of a nearby McDonald’s.The victim was rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital as he suffered a gunshot wound. Thomas fled the scene, according to police, prompting an investigation that led to his arrest. Thomas is being held without bond

USCG repatriates 20 migrants to Dominican Republic after interdiction in Mona Passage

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:33:48 GMT

A United States Coast Guard (USCG) crew repatriated 20 migrants to San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, on Friday. According to a news release from the USCG, the repatriation followed the interdiction of an overloaded makeshift vessel in the waters of the Mona Passage off the western coast of Puerto Rico.The interdiction unfolded during a routine patrol on Thursday afternoon when the aircrew of a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine multirole enforcement aircraft detected a suspect vessel in Mona Passage waters northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan redirected to intercept the overloaded vessel. On arriving at the scene, the cutter’s crew launched a small boat, embarking 17 men and three women who claimed to be Dominican Republic residents.According to the USCG, migrants intercepted at sea or apprehended ashore will not be allowed to stay in the United States or a U.S. territory. They may be declared ineligible for legal ...

Ukraine to EU: Don’t wait on US to make decisions

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:33:48 GMT

BRUSSELS — As EU leaders prepare to make historic decisions on Ukraine, Kyiv’s foreign minister urged the bloc not to wait until a decision on military and humanitarian aid comes from the United States, where support for Ukraine is wobbling.“Europe provides a lot of support and has the capacity to continue providing it,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told POLITICO during an interview in Brussels on Tuesday. “But this psychological kind of dependence on the position of the United States is also an element of the game.”While support from the U.S. is a vital lifeline for Ukraine, Kuleba urged Europe not to underestimate itself, referencing the Continent’s tendency to “watch closely” what happens in the U.S. when making decisions.In a last-minute effort to secure the support of lawmakers, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Washington this week as $60 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine are stuck in Congress, where Repu...

Biden to meet with hostage families at White House Wednesday

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:33:48 GMT

Washington (CNN) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday will meet with families of American hostages abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel, a White House official told CNN.The meeting will take place at the White House. A number of families of hostages are in Washington, DC this week to make a personal case for the Biden administration and Israeli government to work harder and more creatively for their loved ones’ release.There are still seven American men and one woman missing since the war began, according to the White House. Four Americans – a 4-year-old girl and three women – have been released so far. Biden previously met over Zoom with several relatives.Several family members had asked to attend a Hanukkah reception held at the White House on Monday, but did not receive an invite. But Biden referenced the hostages while speaking at the reception, vowing his administration was “not going to stop ‘till we get every ...

Comfort Inn’s owner doubles down on its hostile takeover bid for the company that owns Days Inn

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:33:48 GMT

New York (CNN) — Choice Hotels, which owns a number of budget lodging brands, including Comfort Inn, is getting more aggressive in its attempt to acquire its rival Wyndham Hotels.On Tuesday, Choice said it will expand its several monthslong hostile takeover bid of the Days Inn owner by taking its offer directly to shareholders. In October, Choice offered to buy Wyndham’s stock for around $8 billion.To further pressure Wyndham into accepting the bid, Choice said it plans to nominate a slate of directors to Wyndham’s board.Choice said in a press release that a merger with Wyndham is “pro-competitive and would generate value for both Wyndham and Choice shareholders as well as deliver significant benefits to franchisees, guests and associates of both companies.”But Wyndham has refused to engage with Choice thus far.“While we would have preferred to come to a negotiated agreement, the Wyndham board’s refusal to explore a transaction has left us with no choice but to take our proposa...

A National League Central youth infusion means a 2024 division title won’t come easily for the Chicago Cubs

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:33:48 GMT

The Chicago Cubs’ window of contention has been built around a core that can remain intact for the next three years.If properly supplemented by their top prospects coming through the system, in addition to whichever impact talent the front office brings in this offseason through free agency or trades, the Cubs have an opportunity to reestablish dominance in the National League Central Division.The Cubs need to add more power in the middle of their lineup and continue to bolster their pitching staff. A path exists on both fronts, and the market should start to see more movement following Friday’s news of Shohei Ohtani’s record deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers that reportedly defers $680 million of the $700 million contract to be paid out from 2034-43.However, the timing of the Cubs’ expected rise coincides with the division as a whole getting stronger. While the Milwaukee Brewers were the only team to make the postseason in 2023 behind a 92-win division title...

US announces new sanctions on Russia’s weapons suppliers as Zelenskyy visits Washington

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:33:48 GMT

By FATIMA HUSSEIN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration hit hundreds of people and firms, from Russia to China to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, with economic and diplomatic sanctions Tuesday as the U.S. targets third-country contributors that are equipping Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The latest round of sanctions landed as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is visiting Washington to make an appeal for more financial support as his nation fights off the Russian invasion that will enter its third year in February.The financial penalties have made Russia the most sanctioned country in the world but have yet to deliver a knockout punch to Russia’s economy.Tuesday’s sanctions package targets a multinational weapons procurement network led by Chinese national Hu Xiaoxun, his China-based private defense company Jarvis HK Co., and a network of associates that coordinate the sale of Chinese-manufactured weapons and components to Russia.A representative fro...

Minister mum on confidence in CBC head, says work to find successor begins next year

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:33:48 GMT

OTTAWA — Heritage Minister Pascale St. Onge says the government will convene a committee early in the new year to begin searching for a new head of CBC/Radio-Canada.The mandate of the public broadcaster’s current president and CEO Catherine Tait, who was first appointed in 2018 and saw her contract renewed in June, is set to expire in January 2025. St. Onge wouldn’t directly answer reporters’ questions today about whether she still has confidence in Tait, saying the government’s focus is finding the “right person” to lead once she is no longer in the role. Tait’s tenure has fallen under heightened scrutiny after she announced plans last week to cut 600 jobs and not fill 200 vacancies over the next year to manage a $125-million shortfall.Tait received heavy criticism for telling host Adrienne Arsenault on CBC’s The National, the same day as that announcement, that it was “too early” to say whether executives would receive bo...

S&P/TSX composite down as price of oil falls, U.S. stock markets higher

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:33:48 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was down more than 100 points in late-morning trading, led lower by losses in the energy stocks as the price of oil fell. The S&P/TSX composite index was down 122.18 points at 20,196.18.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 105.74 points at 36,510.67. The S&P 500 index was up 6.35 points at 4,628.79, while the Nasdaq composite was up 43.63 points at 14,476.12.The Canadian dollar traded for 73.48 cents US compared with 73.69 cents US on Monday.The January crude oil contract was down US$2.38 at US$68.94 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was down six cents at US$2.37 per mmBTU.The February gold contract was up US$4.60 at US$1,998.30 an ounce and the March copper contract was up two cents at US$3.80 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSDThe Canadian Press