Minneapolis Shooting Prompts Administrative Leave for Border Agents
Two border agents involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, in Minneapolis have been placed on administrative leave, according to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The incident, which occurred on Saturday, has sparked protests in Minnesota and public outcry across the US, with lawmakers from both parties calling for the removal of the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to BBC World.
A preliminary DHS report sent to Congress indicated that two officers fired their weapons at Pretti during a scuffle. Initial official accounts had alleged that Pretti brandished his gun, according to BBC World. The exact timeline of when the agents were placed on leave remains unclear.
Europe Urged to Strengthen Defense Amid Shifting US Focus
Amidst growing global uncertainties, the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has called for Europe to urgently improve its defense capabilities and make Nato "more European to maintain its strength," according to BBC World. Kallas warned that the US is "no longer Washington's primary centre of gravity" and that Europe must step up to ensure its own security. She emphasized that no great power had ever "outsourced its survival and survived," according to BBC World. Kallas's remarks followed a backlash prompted by Nato leader Mark Rutte, according to BBC World.
Meta to Significantly Increase AI Spending
Facebook-owner Meta plans to nearly double its spending on artificial intelligence (AI) projects this year, according to BBC Technology. The company expects to spend up to $135 billion, primarily on AI-related infrastructure. This is a substantial increase from the $72 billion Meta spent last year on AI projects and infrastructure. Over the past three years, the technology giant has invested roughly $140 billion in an effort to lead the AI boom. Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg said he expects "2026 to be the year that AI dramatically changes the way" the company operates, according to BBC Technology.
Government Launches Free AI Training for UK Workers
The UK government has launched a series of free AI training courses aimed at helping adults learn how to use the technology in the workplace, according to BBC Technology. The online lessons will provide advice on prompting chatbots and using them for administrative tasks. The government aims to reach 10 million workers by 2030, calling it the most ambitious training scheme since the launch of the Open University in 1971. However, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has cautioned that workers will need more than just basic chatbot skills to adapt to the growth of AI, according to BBC Technology. "Skills for the age of AI can't be just how to prompt a chatbot," the IPPR warned, according to BBC Technology.
Plane Crash in Colombia Claims 15 Lives
A passenger plane crashed in northern Colombia, killing all 15 people on board, according to the country's state-run airline Satena, according to BBC World. The airline confirmed that its Beechcraft 1900 aircraft "suffered a fatal accident" but provided no further details. The wreckage has been located in a mountainous area. The official passenger list included lawmaker Diógenes Quintero Amaya and Carlos Salcedo, a candidate in upcoming congressional elections. Satena reported that contact with Flight NSE 8849 was lost 11 minutes before its scheduled landing in Ocaña, near the Venezuelan border, at 12:05 local time (17:05 GMT) on Wednesday, according to BBC World. The flight took off from the city of C, according to BBC World.
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