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After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey , U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify and ultimately stop the airborne pests. The New York Democrat is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy special technology that identifies and tracks drones back to their landing spots, according to briefings from his office. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.CITRA gets the greenlight for three major data centers with GoogleSaints QB situation remains cloudy as matchup with Washington nearsWipro , India's fourth largest IT services major, is bulking up its internal talent muscle as the software services major prepares for growth revival in 2025 with green shoots in the market, chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil told ET in an exclusive conversation. After a series of leadership exits under previous CEO's tenure, the nearly $11 billion-revenue (annual) IT services giant Wipro is trying to build stability in the company, he said. "Srini is trying to make sure that the leaders he is choosing are there for the long-term. Second, it is a good mix of people who have grown from within and from outside. He has not changed structures or strategy big time. He wants minimal change," Govil said. Srinivas Pallia took charge as Wipro's chief executive officer and managing director (CEO and MD) in April this year following the departure of former head Thierry Delaporte. Over the last 12-plus months, Wipro has seen around a dozen senior executives exit. Pallia has also been promoting old hands at senior leadership positions at the Bengaluru-headquartered outsourcing major backed by billionaire businessman Azim Premji. Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Web Development Advanced C++ Mastery: OOPs and Template Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Crafting a Powerful Startup Value Proposition By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development 12-Factor App Methodology: Principles and Guidelines By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Java 21 Essentials for Beginners: Build Strong Programming Foundations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By - Study At Home, Quality Education Anytime, Anywhere View Program Design Microsoft Designer Guide: The Ultimate AI Design Tool By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrow's Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Entrepreneurship From Idea to Product: A Startup Development Guide By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Finance Crypto & NFT Mastery: From Basics to Advanced By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Entrepreneurship Startup Fundraising: Essential Tactics for Securing Capital By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Collaborative AI Foundations: Working Smarter with Machines By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Data Analysis Animated Visualizations with Flourish Studio: Beginner to Pro By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Web Development Maximizing Developer Productivity: The Pomodoro Technique in Practice By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Over the past two quarters, top tier IT players including Wipro are witnessing early signs of a business rebound and client deal pipeline from core growth region in North America and key sectors of financial services sector. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories "Our focus is, how do we make, as we see green shoots in the macro environment, how can we make sure that there are no supply side constraints on managing the demand which is going to come," Govil said during the interaction. Govil also hinted at some "growth pains" going ahead alluding to increased attrition and higher wage bill - things that can hit the margins negatively. Margins have been a key focus for IT investors during the slowdown in growth. Yet, after a lull of nearly two years when hiring in the $254 billion software services sector had virtually come to a standstill, Wipro has resumed fresh hiring talent from campuses as well as experienced professionals. Wipro will have hired around 7,000-7,500 people by December end for the ongoing fiscal year starting April this year, including closing all backlogs. IT companies had recruited freshers from the campuses but didn't onboard them due to the weak demand. The company has also changed its focus on engineering college campuses. Earlier, it used to be "hire and then train". "Now we have changed it to train and then hire. We are working with a lot of our partners like Microsoft, Google, AWS (Amazon Web Services). We choose people, we train them, we assess them, and then we onboard them so they're deployable much faster," Govil said.
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ST JAMES, Jamaica — Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett says the Caribbean region must not be left behind in taking advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) to propel the tourism sector forward. He said that as the global tourism landscape becomes increasingly competitive, more countries are recognising the potential of AI, and Jamaica and the wider Caribbean must utilise the technology to maintain the region’s competitive edge. Minister Bartlett, who was addressing a forum at the Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios, St Ann on Friday, noted that AI can become a pivotal tool in enhancing operational processes and creating more personalised experiences for travellers. “We are now seeing where many countries are not just using AI to streamline operations but also to enhance customer service. They have also been using the tool to analyse vast amounts of data to identify trends, preferences, and behaviours, enabling businesses to tailor their offerings to meet the specific needs of travellers. We can’t afford to be left behind,” he said. “We are at an exciting time in tourism history where, if leveraged correctly, we will be able to improve our processes and ultimately make more targeted and strategic decisions,” he added. Bartlett said the potential applications of AI in tourism are vast, ranging from automated customer service systems to advanced data analytics that inform marketing strategies. He said AI-powered chatbots can provide 24/7 assistance to travellers, answering queries and offering personalised recommendations. In addition, he noted that predictive analytics can help businesses anticipate traveller demand, allowing them to adjust pricing and availability accordingly. “The key lies in understanding the needs of the new landscape, which is increasingly driven by technology,” the minister pointed out. “From smart hotel rooms equipped with voice-activated controls to mobile apps that facilitate seamless check-ins, technology is fundamentally changing the way travellers interact with their destinations. In this context, Jamaica and the Caribbean must not only keep pace but also lead in the adoption of innovative solutions,” he said. The minister underscored the importance of training tourism workers to adapt to this new technological frontier. “This proactive approach to workforce training is crucial, as it empowers employees to utilise AI tools effectively, fostering an environment of innovation and adaptability,” he said. Noting that the integration of AI in tourism is not without its challenges, Bartlett said that concerns about job displacement and the digital divide must be addressed to ensure that the benefits of technology are equitably distributed. “While there is the relative fear of the unknown as it relates to technology, the world has been a better place, and mankind has benefited as a result of the advancement of technology,” he added. — JIS
( MENAFN - Jordan Times) AMMAN - The 16th Arab conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic energy kicked off in Amman on Sunday, with Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh attending the event on behalf of Prime Minister Jafar Hassan. The conference, organised by the Arab Atomic Energy Agency in cooperation with the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC), attracted scientists, researchers and experts from across the Arab world to discuss advances in nuclear technology and its peaceful applications, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. In his keynote address, JAEC Chairman Khaled Toukan stressed the importance of the conference as a platform for collaboration where Arab experts can share achievements, explore challenges and promote innovation. Toukan highlighted Jordan's progress in nuclear energy, particularly through the Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR), which has become a "cornerstone" of the Kingdom's nuclear programme. The reactor has a vital role in the production of radiopharmaceutical isotopes, including iodine-131, which is used to diagnose and treat thyroid cancer. It now supplies all national nuclear medicine centres with isotopes that meet international standards, he said. Toukan also provided an update on uranium mining in central Jordan, where an estimated 41,000 tonnes of uranium ore is undergoing detailed economic and technical evaluation. Highlighting Jordan's role in scientific research, Toukan discussed the SESAME (Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East) facility, which now operates five beamlines. He added that SESAME researchers have completed 367 laboratory projects, resulting in 127 publications in leading scientific journals, noting that a sixth beamline, focusing on soft X-ray technology, is expected to be operational by mid-2025. Speaking at the event, Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit highlighted the region's growing energy needs, predicting a 70 per cent increase in electricity capacity by 2050. The conference has attracted more than 150 Arab scientists and researchers, as well as international experts from renowned institutions, to share findings on topics such as water resources, food security, health, environmental sustainability, nuclear safety, advanced reactor technologies and materials science. During the five-day event, participants will explore cutting-edge innovations, including advanced reactor designs, nuclear applications in health and environmental management, and the role of nuclear technology in meeting the growing demand for clean energy. MENAFN15122024000028011005ID1108995663 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
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METAIRIE, La. (AP) — If Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi has any definite ideas about who'll play quarterback for New Orleans against Washington on Sunday, he's not ready to share that information. Rizzi maintained on Wednesday that there's still a chance that Derek Carr could clear the concussion protocol and function well enough with his injured, non-throwing left hand to return against the Commanders. Meanwhile, reserve QBs Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler split first-team snaps during Wednesday's practice, which Carr missed, Rizzi said. “We're not going to name a starter right now,” said Rizzi, who also made a point of noting that Carr would not be placed on the club's injured reserve list and would not need surgery. “We're going to see how that progression plays out, first with Derek and then obviously with Jake and Spencer.” Carr, whose latest injury occurred when he tried to dive for a first down during Sunday's 14-11 victory over the New York Giants , has already missed three starts this season because of a separate, oblique injury. New Orleans lost all three of those games, with Rattler, a rookie, starting and Haener, a second-year pro, serving as the backup. In his three starts, Rattler completed 59 of 99 passes (59.6%) for 571 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Haener has gotten sporadic work this season in relief of both Carr and Rattler, completing 14 of 29 passes (48.3%) for 177 yards and one TD without an interception. Rizzi said he finds the 6-foot-1 Haener and 6-foot Rattler “very similar in a lot of ways," adding that whichever of those two might play “doesn't change a whole bunch" in terms of game-planning. “They're both similar-size guys. Their athletic ability is very similar,” Rizzi said. “They're similar-style quarterbacks. We're not dealing with opposites on the spectrum.” The Saints also signed another QB this week — Ben DiNucci — to help take scout team snaps at practice, now that Rattler and Haener are not as available to do that while competing to possibly start if Carr is indeed unable to play. The Saints (5-8) have won three of four games since Rizzi took over following the firing of coach Dennis Allen. That allowed New Orleans to remain alive in the NFC South Division, currently led by Tampa Bay (7-6). Rizzi said Carr has not had any setbacks this week in terms of progressing through the NFL's concussion protocol. “By the end of the week, if's he's not able to get any reps in any form or fashion, then obviously we'll go with one of the other guys,” Rizzi said. NOTES: RB Alvin Kamara did not practice on Wednesday because of an illness. ... WR Chris Olave, who is out indefinitely because of concussions this season, has returned to meetings at Saints headquarters. He as not, however, made plans to return to practice yet because he still plans to meet first with neurological specialists to try to assess the risks of returning to action during what's left of this season. Rizzi said the possibility of Olave playing again this season remains “on the table” for now. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLU.S. agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer says
Renuka Rayasam | (TNS) KFF Health News In April, just 12 weeks into her pregnancy, Kathleen Clark was standing at the receptionist window of her OB-GYN’s office when she was asked to pay $960, the total the office estimated she would owe after she delivered. Clark, 39, was shocked that she was asked to pay that amount during this second prenatal visit. Normally, patients receive the bill after insurance has paid its part, and for pregnant women that’s usually only when the pregnancy ends. It would be months before the office filed the claim with her health insurer. Clark said she felt stuck. The Cleveland, Tennessee, obstetrics practice was affiliated with a birthing center where she wanted to deliver. Plus, she and her husband had been wanting to have a baby for a long time. And Clark was emotional, because just weeks earlier her mother had died. “You’re standing there at the window, and there’s people all around, and you’re trying to be really nice,” recalled Clark, through tears. “So, I paid it.” On online baby message boards and other social media forums , pregnant women say they are being asked by their providers to pay out-of-pocket fees earlier than expected. The practice is legal, but patient advocacy groups call it unethical. Medical providers argue that asking for payment up front ensures they get compensated for their services. How frequently this happens is hard to track because it is considered a private transaction between the provider and the patient. Therefore, the payments are not recorded in insurance claims data and are not studied by researchers. Patients, medical billing experts, and patient advocates say the billing practice causes unexpected anxiety at a time of already heightened stress and financial pressure. Estimates can sometimes be higher than what a patient might ultimately owe and force people to fight for refunds if they miscarry or the amount paid was higher than the final bill. Up-front payments also create hurdles for women who may want to switch providers if they are unhappy with their care. In some cases, they may cause women to forgo prenatal care altogether, especially in places where few other maternity care options exist. It’s “holding their treatment hostage,” said Caitlin Donovan, a senior director at the Patient Advocate Foundation . Medical billing and women’s health experts believe OB-GYN offices adopted the practice to manage the high cost of maternity care and the way it is billed for in the U.S. When a pregnancy ends, OB-GYNs typically file a single insurance claim for routine prenatal care, labor, delivery, and, often, postpartum care. That practice of bundling all maternity care into one billing code began three decades ago, said Lisa Satterfield, senior director of health and payment policy at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists . But such bundled billing has become outdated, she said. Previously, pregnant patients had been subject to copayments for each prenatal visit, which might lead them to skip crucial appointments to save money. But the Affordable Care Act now requires all commercial insurers to fully cover certain prenatal services. Plus, it’s become more common for pregnant women to switch providers, or have different providers handle prenatal care, labor, and delivery — especially in rural areas where patient transfers are common. Some providers say prepayments allow them to spread out one-time payments over the course of the pregnancy to ensure that they are compensated for the care they do provide, even if they don’t ultimately deliver the baby. “You have people who, unfortunately, are not getting paid for the work that they do,” said Pamela Boatner, who works as a midwife in a Georgia hospital. While she believes women should receive pregnancy care regardless of their ability to pay, she also understands that some providers want to make sure their bill isn’t ignored after the baby is delivered. New parents might be overloaded with hospital bills and the costs of caring for a new child, and they may lack income if a parent isn’t working, Boatner said. In the U.S., having a baby can be expensive. People who obtain health insurance through large employers pay an average of nearly $3,000 out-of-pocket for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker . In addition, many people are opting for high-deductible health insurance plans, leaving them to shoulder a larger share of the costs. Of the 100 million U.S. people with health care debt, 12% attribute at least some of it to maternity care, according to a 2022 KFF poll . Families need time to save money for the high costs of pregnancy, childbirth, and child care, especially if they lack paid maternity leave, said Joy Burkhard , CEO of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, a Los Angeles-based policy think tank. Asking them to prepay “is another gut punch,” she said. “What if you don’t have the money? Do you put it on credit cards and hope your credit card goes through?” Calculating the final costs of childbirth depends on multiple factors, such as the timing of the pregnancy , plan benefits, and health complications, said Erin Duffy , a health policy researcher at the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. The final bill for the patient is unclear until a health plan decides how much of the claim it will cover, she said. But sometimes the option to wait for the insurer is taken away. During Jamie Daw’s first pregnancy in 2020, her OB-GYN accepted her refusal to pay in advance because Daw wanted to see the final bill. But in 2023, during her second pregnancy, a private midwifery practice in New York told her that since she had a high-deductible plan, it was mandatory to pay $2,000 spread out with monthly payments. Daw, a health policy researcher at Columbia University, delivered in September 2023 and got a refund check that November for $640 to cover the difference between the estimate and the final bill. “I study health insurance,” she said. “But, as most of us know, it’s so complicated when you’re really living it.” While the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover some prenatal services, it doesn’t prohibit providers from sending their final bill to patients early. It would be a challenge politically and practically for state and federal governments to attempt to regulate the timing of the payment request, said Sabrina Corlette , a co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. Medical lobbying groups are powerful and contracts between insurers and medical providers are proprietary. Because of the legal gray area, Lacy Marshall , an insurance broker at Rapha Health and Life in Texas, advises clients to ask their insurer if they can refuse to prepay their deductible. Some insurance plans prohibit providers in their network from requiring payment up front. If the insurer says they can refuse to pay up front, Marshall said, she tells clients to get established with a practice before declining to pay, so that the provider can’t refuse treatment. Related Articles Health | Which health insurance plan may be right for you? Health | California case is the first confirmed bird flu infection in a US child Health | Your cool black kitchenware could be slowly poisoning you, study says. Here’s what to do Health | Does fluoride cause cancer, IQ loss, and more? Fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims Health | US towns plunge into debates about fluoride in water Clark said she met her insurance deductible after paying for genetic testing, extra ultrasounds, and other services out of her health care flexible spending account. Then she called her OB-GYN’s office and asked for a refund. “I got my spine back,” said Clark, who had previously worked at a health insurer and a medical office. She got an initial check for about half the $960 she originally paid. In August, Clark was sent to the hospital after her blood pressure spiked. A high-risk pregnancy specialist — not her original OB-GYN practice — delivered her son, Peter, prematurely via emergency cesarean section at 30 weeks. It was only after she resolved most of the bills from the delivery that she received the rest of her refund from the other OB-GYN practice. This final check came in October, just days after Clark brought Peter home from the hospital, and after multiple calls to the office. She said it all added stress to an already stressful period. “Why am I having to pay the price as a patient?” she said. “I’m just trying to have a baby.” ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.On online baby message boards and other social media forums, pregnant women say they are being asked by their providers to pay out-of-pocket fees earlier than expected.
Saints QB situation remains cloudy as matchup with Washington nears
After their most productive day in a non-overtime game this season, the Denver Nuggets are out to earn consecutive victories for the first time in a month when they play host to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. Following a run of seven losses in 11 games -- including one of their two setbacks against the Clippers this season -- the Nuggets turned their offense loose in a 141-111 road victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday as Nikola Jokic scored 48 points with 14 rebounds and eight assists. With three MVP awards in the past four seasons, Jokic is pointed toward another as he leads the NBA in rebounds at 13.6 per game and is second in points (32.3) and assists (10.2). He has 104 points over the past two games but his 56-point outing Saturday ended up in a defeat to the lowly Washington Wizards. Jokic's push for offense coincides with a hamstring injury to Jamal Murray, who missed the past two games and is expected to be listed as questionable for Friday's game. Dario Saric is expected back after he was inactive the past two games with an ankle injury. In his first season with the Nuggets, former Clippers guard Russell Westbrook has averaged 6.4 assists per game. With Murray down, he has averaged 11.5 assists the past two games. "When Russ is out there with Nikola, he's just always looking for him," Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said. "He's always trying to find him. And that makes complete sense to me. You're playing with the best player in the world. You might want to give him the ball." The Clippers' Norman Powell has averaged 32.5 points in the two victories over the Nuggets and leads Los Angeles with 23.6 points per game this season. While Powell has returned from a recent hamstring injury, James Harden (groin) was absent from Sunday's 117-106 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks, as was Terance Mann (finger). Kawhi Leonard (knee) has not played this season but has finally returned to practice as he nears his season debut. The hope for Los Angeles head coach Tyronn Lue was to hold things together as best as possible until Leonard returned, and a 14-11 record through the first two months appears to have to accomplished that goal. Leonard won't travel with the team for Friday's game, but his return to practice has made an impact. "It raised our energy just for our guys to see him on the floor," Lue said. "It brought a juice to our team, so we needed that jolt, especially going through the schedule we've been through. It was really good to see him out there." Instead of playing it passive until Leonard returns, the Clippers have ramped up their defense, which has allowed 107.4 points per game. It is the fifth-best mark in the NBA. The 35-year-old Harden has raised his game for the Clippers by averaging 21.6 points, his most since the 2021-22 season. He has also averaged 8.5 assists with 6.8 rebounds while playing in 24 of 25 games. This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.Canada's most populous province may bar American-made alcohol in addition to restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York, and Minnesota if President-elect Trump imposes sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products, a senior official said Thursday. The official in Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government said that it's contemplating restricting Ontario's liquor control board from buying American-made alcohol, the reports. Ontario is also considering restricting exports of critical minerals required for electric vehicle batteries and preventing US-based companies from the government's procurement process, the official said, speaking to the AP on condition on anonymity. Ford confirmed on Wednesday evening that Ontario is contemplating restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York, and Minnesota. He reiterated that on Thursday and said it would make electricity unaffordable for Americans. "It's a last resort," Ford said. "I don't think President-elect Trump wants that to happen. We're sending a message to the US If you come and attack Ontario, you attack livelihoods of people in Ontario and Canadians, we are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend Ontarians and Canadians. Let's hope it never comes to that." Ontario powered 1.5 million homes in the US in 2023 and is a major exporter of electricity to the three states. "That's OK if he that does that. That's fine," Trump told CNBC when asked about Ford's remarks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. "The United States is subsidizing Canada and we shouldn't have to do that," Trump said. "And we have a great relationship. I have so many friends in Canada, but we shouldn't have to subsidize a country." Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tax on all products entering the US from Canada and Mexico unless they stem the flow of migrants and drugs The premier of the oil-rich Canadian province of Alberta, meanwhile, ruled out cutting off oil exports. "Under no circumstances will Alberta agree to cut off oil and gas exports," Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said. "Instead, we're taking a diplomatic approach and we're meeting with our allies in the US." Alberta's government is creating a new sheriff patrol unit to shore up security at the province's border with Montana. It will be supported by about 50 sheriffs, 10 cold weather surveillance drones, and four drug detection dogs. Smith said the province starting looking at improving border security in July of last year and stepped up its plans after Trump's tariff threat, reports . (More stories.)
Shaky Lebanon ceasefire rests on Netanyahu's restraint and Hezbollah's firepowerBy Jody Godoy (Reuters) - Andrew Ferguson, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to chair the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, has expressed the desire to go after Big Tech companies while taking a hands-off approach to regulating artificial intelligence. Ferguson's views on social media, data privacy, AI and the need to boost American competitiveness are likely to affect the regulator's approach to companies including Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Alphabet's Google. Here are some of the views Ferguson has expressed in statements during his term as an FTC commissioner which began in April and ends in 2030. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The "pro-regulation side of the AI debate" is "the wrong one," Ferguson said. "A knee-jerk regulatory response will only squelch innovation, further entrench Big Tech incumbents, and ensure that AI innovators move to jurisdictions friendlier to them — but perhaps hostile to the United States," he said in a September statement on the FTC's report on social media. The report called for comprehensive legislation to protect users' data and prevent AI from perpetuating discrimination. ONLINE PRIVACY Ferguson has described the vast collection, aggregation and indefinite storage of data on social media and internet users in the U.S. as an "online privacy crisis" that regulators should focus on. However, he has warned against regulating how such information is used to target advertising. "If regulators and lawmakers attempt to ban or seriously curtail targeted advertising, they will be undoing the balance of the online economy," he said. CONTENT MODERATION POLICIES Ferguson has criticized social media platforms for instituting "Orwellian policies banning nebulous categories of content like 'misinformation,' 'disinformation,' and 'hate speech.'" The FTC could take action against social media platforms if their terms of service misled users about content moderation policies. With more transparent policies, users could decide if they want to stay on the platforms, Ferguson said in December. "But the choice would be real only if there are suitable free-speech-respecting substitutes to the censorious platforms," Ferguson said, praising Elon Musk's "unusually firm commitment to free and open debate" after the billionaire took over social media platform X. PLATFORM COLLABORATION ON CONTENT Ferguson has expressed concern that social media platforms may have coordinated in banning Trump in 2021, taking down posts they deemed harmful during the COVID-19 pandemic, and restricting dissemination of stories about Hunter Biden's laptop computer. "If the platforms colluded amongst each other to set shared censorship policies, such an agreement would be tantamount to an agreement not to compete on contract terms or product quality," which would violate antitrust laws, Ferguson said. ADVERTISER COORDINATION Coordination between advertisers to pull money from platforms such as X over content concerns could violate antitrust laws, Ferguson said. The World Federation of Advertisers' Global Alliance for Responsible Media, which was formed to help advertisers avoid their ads being placed next to harmful content on social media, shut down after X sued, accusing it of facilitating group boycotts. Ferguson has said the FTC could investigate similar efforts. KIDS AND TEENS ONLINE Congress should pass a law that would require online service providers to give parents more control over children's online privacy, Ferguson said. "Congress should empower parents to impose whatever level of supervision and control over internet messaging they feel is right for their family and their children," he said. (Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer saysThe Saskatchewan Party's election promises of action on affordability and continued carbon tax exemptions have been fulfilled as the short sitting of the legislature carries on. Both The Saskatchewan Affordability Act and The SaskEnergy (Carbon Tax Fairness For Families) Amendment Act, 2024 passed in the house Thursday in unanimous votes. The affordability act will implement 13 commitments the Sask. Party outlined during its campaign – promising “the largest personal income tax reduction in the province since 2008.” The amendment act will continue to exempt residents from paying federal carbon levies for home heating. The act is estimated to save the average Saskatchewan family $480 next year. Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier Jim Reiter said earlier in the week that he would be reaching out to his federal counterparts to help ensure the tax measures are quickly instituted come Jan. 1, 2025. On Thursday, Premier Scott Moe said he was unaware if Reiter has received an answer to the request. “We would ask them to fast track to change the formulary for employers so that Saskatchewan residents can start receiving, on a monthly basis, the financial advantages that are in [the act],” Moe explained. Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck said her party supported the legislation because Saskatchewan residents desperately need cost-of-living relief. Beck and her MLAs have consistently said the government’s measures stop too short – and have called for the suspension of the provincial gas tax and the removal of the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) on ready-to-eat grocery items. The Sask. Party has moved quickly in introducing its priority bills and amendments during the short sitting. Other pieces of legislation introduced during this week included: NDP calls for investigation fail The Saskatchewan NDP’s repeated attempts to begin an investigation into high food prices in northern Saskatchewan and to compel former Sask. Party MLA Gary Grewal to appear before a legislative committee were again unsuccessful. The opposition attempted to bring both issues forward during proceedings Thursday, utilizing emergency motions. However, both motions, divided among party lines, failed. On Wednesday, the NDP attempted to bring the matters up at two separate committees. The opposition alleges that the government blocked their attempts to introduce the matters. Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck speaks at the APAS AGM on Dec. 3 2024. (Donovan Maess/CTV News) Cumberland MLA Jordan McPhail shared his frustrations on Wednesday with the government’s alleged refusal to hear the issues out. “We let them know that we were bringing a motion forward to committee,” he explained. “Through that process, in the committees this morning, they blocked us bringing that forward.” The government maintained that the NDP was not blocked in making any motion during the committee sittings earlier in the week. “I understand that the NDP are leveling accusations. If you watch the transcript of the meeting, nobody was blocked. There was nothing on the agenda, and quite frankly, the member from the NDP this afternoon was called out for that,” Minister of Justice and Attorney General Tim McLeod told reporters following Question Period on Wednesday. “If they're going to level accusations, they need to be based in fact and if you review the transcript of the meeting, the committee meeting that he's alleging, nothing like that transpired.” The issue of grocery prices in northern Saskatchewan came to the forefront after more than two dozen cases of scurvy were discovered by a doctor in La Ronge, Sask. “People are not able to afford groceries. They're getting diagnosed with scurvy. This is not a hypothetical. This is what's actually happening and it's really frustrating to hear a minister that does not take this seriously, that is trying to silence northern voices and my constituents’ voice here today at the legislature,” McPhail added, referring to McLeod’s comments. “As a father myself of two growing girls, I know the challenges it takes to put as much healthy food into that grocery carts, and I know that it's going to take a government that takes those food security issues seriously to make sure that all families in northern Saskatchewan have that same access to affordable groceries." The opposition has long called for more attention to the case of Gary Grewal, the former Sask. Party backbencher whose hotel received over $700,000 from the ministry of social services by providing rooms to those on social assistance. The province’s Conflict of Interest Commissioner found that Grewal violated rules for elected officials and tasked the assembly with determining a proper penalty. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Moe pointed to the fact that Grewal is no longer an MLA and therefore is now outside the purview of the assembly. “I would say that in this case, this individual didn't run for our party ... he's a private citizen now, and I don't know the last time, under any government, that a private citizen has been summoned to appear before, whether it be a committee or the legislature itself,” he said. Speaking to reporters following Moe, Beck disagreed with the premier’s sentiments and suggested it sets a bad example. “The message we heard from the government today was that an MLA can break the law, and as long as they don't run again, there is no penalty,” she said. "What message does that send to the people of this province? ... just because there, there is no precedent, perhaps, doesn't mean that something shouldn't be done in this case, and I think that's what we'll continue to press for."