Latest news with #TaskForceon
Arab Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Trump signs executive order to expand AI education across US
WASHINGTON, April 24: On April 23, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to boost artificial intelligence (AI) education in the U.S., aiming to prepare students for careers in this rapidly growing field. This follows a January order reversing Biden-era restrictions on U.S. AI leadership. The new initiative establishes a White House Task Force on AI Education, chaired by Michael Kratsios, to oversee efforts in expanding AI learning opportunities. The order directs the Departments of Education and Labor to offer AI courses and certification programs for high school students and to collaborate with states on broader AI education initiatives. It also emphasizes training educators to integrate AI into classrooms and directs the National Science Foundation to research AI's role in education. Additionally, the Labor Department will expand AI apprenticeships. A key part of the plan is the Presidential AI Challenge, which will highlight AI achievements by students and educators and foster collaboration between government, industry, and academia. Despite bipartisan support for AI in education, questions remain about its implementation, especially after significant cuts to the Education Department. Trump also signed six other education-related orders on April 23, targeting issues like "woke ideology" in university accreditation and supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He emphasized the importance of AI, noting massive investments in the field. While both Democrats and Republicans agree on the need for AI education, they differ on the federal government's role. Additionally, a lawsuit is pending over the mass layoffs at the Education Department, with a court hearing set for April 25.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UCLA students had visas revoked by US government, chancellor says
The Brief UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk announced that the U.S. government revoked the visas of six current and six former students. The revocations follow an executive order by President Trump targeting students involved in pro-Palestinian protests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed 300 visa revocations impacting several California schools. LOS ANGELES - UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk announced that the U.S. government has revoked the visas of six current and six former students participating in a training program, raising concerns within the UCLA community as calls for action and support for affected students grow. What we know The visa revocations occurred following a routine audit of SEVIS records, with terminations attributed to violations of visa program terms, Frenk said in a letter sent to the UCLA community on Sunday. "The termination notices indicate that all terminations were due to violations of the terms of the individuals' visa programs. At this time, UCLA is not aware of any federal law enforcement activity on campus related to these terminations," he wrote. The Backstory The revocations follow an executive order by President Donald Trump threatening visa revocations for students involved in pro-Palestinian protests amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. SUGGESTED: Hamas: Israeli airstrikes put hostages at risk as ceasefire breaks down Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the revocation of 300 international student visas, affecting several California schools, including UCLA. What they're saying The Task Force on Anti-Palestinian, Anti-Arab, and Anti-Muslim Racism, co-chaired by Gaye Theresa Johnson and Sherene Razack, expressed alarm over UCLA's response to the visa revocations. They urged the administration to take protective measures for affected students and challenge the Department of Homeland Security's actions. SUGGESTED: Two pro-Palestinian student groups suspended at UCLA "We write as the Task Force on Anti-Palestinian, Anti-Arab, and Anti- Muslim Racism to express our growing alarm regarding UCLA's response to the recent revocation of visas held by nine UCLA international students. These revocations follow similar and more extreme actions nation-wide, such as termination of legal status for international students and scholars on visas, and detention and deportation of international students without warning. Students who have spoken in support of Palestinian human rights have been specifically targeted, as have students from countries that the Federal government has deemed to be adversaries of the United States," the letter states. "... With no comment or instruction from the UCLA administration thus far, there is growing concern that students are unprotected." What's next Frenk advised UCLA students to visit online resources such as: UCLA's Undocumented Student Program UC Immigrant Services Legal Center UCLA's Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars The chancellor said he would continue to meet with UC President Michael Drake and other UC chancellors to prepare for and respond to any federal policy changes. He said he is also in constant contact with senior campus leaders. SUGGESTED: Federal antisemitism task force to visit UCLA, USC campuses months after protests Frenk assured the community that the administration is "committed to supporting our students as we abide by the law. The Source Information for this story is from a letter published by UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk on April 6, 2025.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Operation Not Forgotten' will add resources in missing, murdered Indigenous people crisis
The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the next phase of a multi-year initiative to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Operation Not Forgotten, which assigns FBI personnel to key offices serving Native communities, was started in 2023 as part of the government's Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives, also known as Operation Lady Justice. The task force was established by an executive order in 2019 during President Donald Trump's first term. This year's deployment will be the FBI's longest and most intensive to date to address the MMIP epidemic, according to the agency. The FBI will rotate 60 people to field offices in 10 cities, including Phoenix and Albuquerque, for 90-day temporary duty assignments over six months. FBI staff will provide extra hands to address major crimes in Indian Country. The agency will also partner with the Missing and Murdered Unit of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, as well as tribal law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions. 'This deployment will help push things along to help us be better and more effective, and help close cases better and sooner,' said Jose A. Perez, special agent in charge of the FBI's Phoenix field office. The agency will also collect and analyze more data to help identify trouble spots where more resources can be directed. The task force will bring 11 agents over a six-month period to Arizona, supplying additional staffing resources, the latest forensic evidence processing technology and analytical expertise, he said. The U.S. Attorney's Offices are also part of the task force and will aggressively prosecute Indian Country cases. Searching: FBI releases names of 170 missing Indigenous people in New Mexico and on the Navajo Nation One recent MMIP case that the FBI helped solve involved a 32-year-old Navajo woman named Jamie Yazzie, who had been reported missing from her Navajo Nation home in 2019. Two years later, her remains were found on neighboring Hopi Tribe lands. Yazzie's family pursued justice for another three years before an arrest was made. In 2023, Tre C. James was convicted of her murder. But while MMIP activists celebrated that conviction, more cases are awaiting justice. And some want to remind the federal government to respect tribal sovereignty. Valaura Imus-Nahsonhoya, a victim advocate and MMIP coordinator for Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, said while she is excited for the new devotion of resources, it is important for the federal government to continue to respect the authority of tribal jurisdictions. 'I hope that with the increase of these agents coming into Arizona, we will have the manpower and the capacity to be able to help these families,' she said. 'But we also need to ensure that they are working cooperatively with tribes, with our county, our city municipalities.' Imus-Nahsonhoya said communication between Indian Country and federal authorities is 'not perfect' and the FBI could improve the dialogue by keeping families up to date on investigations. 'Our families want some kind of a response,' she said 'Even if it's just 'we are continuing to investigate. We currently don't have any updates, but as soon as we know, we will notify you.' Sometimes that's all they're asking for.' With a renewed focus on responding to cold cases, Imus-Nahsonhoya said it's important not to lose sight of the need for preventative measures — promoting education and awareness, providing people with jobs and housing — so these tragedies are less likely to occur in the first place. 'We've made some small moves to where some agencies have made some amendments or modifications to the language of criteria funding criteria to include prevention,' she said. 'However, it's still not where we would want it to be.' Raising voices: Death of Apache teen Emily Pike creating resurgence in missing Indigenous people movement Perez said the FBI is part of the Safe Trails Task Forces, which includes federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners investigating crimes in roughly 200 tribal communities nationwide. Operation Not Forgotten will also include a victim-centered approach to cases using victim service programs. 'We will be providing resources to families and victims,' Perez said. This and other such task forces and interagency partnerships are sorely needed. The BIA's Office of Justice Services estimated that some 4,200 missing and murdered cases are currently unsolved. The FBI said that, as of October 2025, its Indian Country program was dealing with about 4,300 open investigations including more than 900 death cases, 1,000 incidents of child abuse and more than 500 domestic violence and adult sexual abuse investigations. That number is likely to rise as task force personnel fan out to tribal communities to gather data on stagnant cases. 'Many tribes don't have the capacity to report cases,' Perez said. Also, Perez said the task force hopes that adding agents and analysts to FBI offices even temporarily will help free up capacity to work on the agency's heavy caseload and bring more cases to closure − and perpetrators to justice. 'We're putting our money where our mouth is.' Debra Krol reports on Indigenous communities at the confluence of climate, culture and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. Reach Krol at Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @debkrol. Coverage of Indigenous issues at the intersection of climate, culture and commerce is supported by the Catena Foundation. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Justice Department expands help for missing and murdered Indigenous People
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Singapore firms need better climate reporting as new rules loom
(Bloomberg) – Singapore's listed companies need to improve climate disclosures as regulators are set to impose new standards starting this year, a new study has found. Fewer than a third of issuers provided all 11 disclosures recommended by the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, according to the study from Singapore Exchange Regulation and the National University of Singapore released Tuesday. It reviewed the latest sustainability reports published through July from 529 companies. One of the biggest holes was around disclosing greenhouse gas releases from clients or suppliers, with only 29% of the firms reporting these so-called Scope 3 emissions, according to the study. 'It's a critical weak link,' Lawrence Loh, director at the university's Centre for Governance and Sustainability said in a briefing, adding that Singapore-listed suppliers will also need the data to adhere to European Union regulations. To better align with global standards, Singapore Exchange's regulatory arm in September asked companies to begin reporting under rules developed by the International Sustainability Standards Board from the 2025 fiscal year. The new rules mean boards must disclose additional climate risks and will require more granular emissions reporting. Given that a majority of Singapore's listed companies are small and medium enterprises with fewer resources, the regulator hasn't yet imposed an overarching timeline for reporting Scope 3 emissions. It plans to ask larger issuers to start disclosing the data from the 2026 fiscal year. Singapore's move to stick with stronger disclosure requirements stands in contrast to the EU, which recently proposed weakening reporting rules amid a corporate backlash. In the US, some states are advancing disclosure proposals while President Donald Trump's administration retreats from federal requirements. More stories like this are available on ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Bloomberg
10-03-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Singapore Firms Need Better Climate Reporting as New Rules Loom
Singapore's listed companies need to improve climate disclosures as regulators are set to impose new standards starting this year, a new study has found. Fewer than a third of issuers provided all 11 disclosures recommended by the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, according to the study from Singapore Exchange Regulation and the National University of Singapore released Tuesday. It reviewed the latest sustainability reports published through July from 529 companies.
