PM Modi to chair Council of Ministers meet today ahead of LS polls
As the Election Commission evaluates the preparedness of various states for the Lok Sabha elections, the timing of the meeting becomes more crucial.
Aviation Ministry introduces India’s first helicopter emergency medical service, check details
The initiative is set to redefine medical outreach, ensuring rapid emergency medical care within the crucial golden hour following life-threatening incidents.
Jim Jordan, House Republicans demand Google explain if Biden administration influenced ‘woke’ Gemini AI
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan wrote a letter to Alphabet, Google’s parent company, on Saturday, demanding the company explain what influence the Biden administration may have had on its controversial Gemini AI program. The Judiciary Committee asked for documents on the creation and deployment of the artificial intelligence chatbot. “The Committee is investigating how and to what extent the Executive Branch has coerced or colluded with Big Tech and other intermediaries to censor Americans’ speech,” the House Judiciary Committee said in a Saturday news release. Gemini has faced backlash after it reportedly showed historical figures like George Washington appearing wrongfully as Black and a search for a “pope” prompting a Black woman in Vatican garb. White Supremacist Nazis also were not White. GOOGLE GEMINI MAY BE ‘LAUGHABLE’ NOW, BUT THE THREAT TO FUTURE GENERATIONS IS REAL, MARC THIESSEN WARNS The chatbot also wasn’t sure whether Adolf Hitler or Elon Musk was a worse influence on society. A week ago, Google admitted to Fox News Digital that a failure by its AI chatbot to outright condemn pedophilia is both “appalling and inappropriate” and a spokesperson vowed changes. “Recent reporting alleges that the Executive Branch, most notably the Biden White House, may have influenced the development of Alphabet’s Gemini AI model,” Jordan’s letter to Alphabet said. “On October 30, 2023, President Biden issued an Executive Order on the ‘Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence,’ which claimed to serve as an overarching guide to how the Biden Administration will approach issues like AI development and deployment.” Jordan added that a report from Google’s Gemini Team said the tool was evaluated by external groups, “which were selected based on their alignment with the Biden White House Executive Order and ’White House Commitments’” and the company “claimed that it worked with these external groups ‘to help identify areas for improvement,’ including ‘societal risk,’ such as alleged ‘representational harms.’” Jordan’s letter said the “improvements” to Gemini showed its “clear bias.” He added that reporting has suggested that Jack Krawczyk, who leads the Gemini program, and Jen Gennai, the Director of Google’s Responsible Innovation team, “expressed significant racial and political bias.” He continued, “Given that Alphabet has censored First Amendment-protected speech as a result of government agencies’ requests and demands in the past, the Committee is concerned about potential First Amendment violations that have occurred with respect to Alphabet’s Gemini model.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News Digital has reached out to Google and Jordan for comment.
Trump dominates Idaho Republican caucuses as Super Tuesday nears
Former President Donald Trump has cruised to victory in Idaho’s Republican caucuses, winning yet another victory over his rival for the GOP nomination, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. The Associated Press projected Trump’s win as he barrels towards what’s expected to be a big Super Tuesday performance on March 5, when voters in 15 states will head to the polls to make their pick for their party’s nominee. Haley has vowed to remain in the race at least through Super Tuesday, even though she has not yet won a single contest against her former boss. DEMS MOCK RNC FOR ‘DESPERATE’ FUNDRAISING DRIVE THAT INCLUDES STARK ADMISSION ON DNC’S MONEY ADVANTAGE A total of 32 delegates are up for grabs in Idaho, all of which will go to any candidate winning more than 50% of the vote statewide. If no candidate receives a majority, the delegates are allocated proportionally to the vote results. However, a candidate must receive at least 15% of the vote to receive any delegates. Democrats will hold their caucuses in Idaho on May 23. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Jill Biden heckled more than once at Arizona campaign stop
First lady Jill Biden was interrupted by a group of pro-Palestinian hecklers while campaigning for her husband on Saturday. While speaking in Tucson, Arizona, the first lady was emphasizing the importance of the 2024 presidential election before she was interrupted by a rowdy crowd. “To do what we did in 2020 and 2022, we’re going to talk to our friends about why this election is so important,” Biden said at the podium. “Tell them what’s at stake.” “Sign up for phone banks and canvasing shifts. We’re going to meet this moment…” POLL SHOWS BIDEN’S LEAD OVER TRUMP SHRINKING IN 2024 MATCHUP AS CONCERNS OVER PHYSICAL FITNESS GROW The group of protesters then began yelling and accused the Bidens, who have been vocally supportive of Israel, of supporting “genocide” amid the Israel-Hamas war. “It’s genocide!” one male demonstrator yelled. “You and your husband support the genocide of the Palestinian people!” In a counter-protest, audience members began shouting, “Four more years,” to quiet the disruptive group. After several seconds, the protesters where silence. The first lady thanked the supporters and continued with her speech. EX-DEM LAWMAKER SAYS HIS PARTY APPROACHES LATINO VOTERS ‘IN A VERY IGNORANT FASHION’: ‘THAT DRIVES ME NUTS’ “We are going to meet this moment as if our rights are at risk, because they are,” she added. Around a minute later, the pro-Palestinian demonstrators started yelling and interrupted her again. President Biden has been hit with low disapproval ratings in recent months, as the presidential race between him and former president Donald Trump, who is the presumptive Republican nominee, heats up. According to a New York Times/Sienna College poll released Saturday, 43% of respondents said they would vote for the sitting president if the election were held today. 47% of respondents “strongly disapprove” of Biden’s performance, and only 17% said they “strongly approve” of him. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment. Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Conservative gun rights groups come out swinging against John Cornyn’s bid to replace Mitch McConnell
Gun Owners Of America came out swinging against Senator John Cornyn, R-TX, after he entered the race to succeed Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Aidan Johnston, Gun Owners Of America’s (GOA) Federal Affairs Director, said tCornyn has failed to stand firm on conservative values and has instead, compromised with Democrats on gun control bills. “Every time gun control gains steam in Congress, Senator John Cornyn is right there working with Democrats on a ‘compromise.’ That isn’t conservative leadership, it’s capitulation!,” Johnston said. CROWDED FIELD OF POTENTIAL MCCONNELL SUCCESSORS EMERGES IN SENATE The GOA said that Sen. Cornyn’s record on gun rights makes him “wholly unfit” to become the Senate minority leader. “In the eyes of gun owners and all those who treasure our liberties, the traitor from Texas’ record makes him wholly unfit to lead Republicans in the Senate,” Johnston said. The conservative gun rights group said Cornyn has helped pass a series of bills that are “gross infringements” on the Second Amendment. The GOA pointed to Cornyn over the Safer Communities Act, which he cosponsored with Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy in 2022. The bill incentivizes states to pass extreme risk protection laws, also called “red flag” laws, that allow members of the public and law enforcement to petition the courts for a civil order to temporarily suspend a person’s access to firearms for fear that person might do violence. MITCH MCCONNELL STEPPING DOWN AS REPUBLICAN LEADER After gun rights advocates raised Second Amendment concerns, Congress included requirements that states applying for federal grants to implement red flag laws include certain due process protections. “Sen. Cornyn is responsible for helping pass the so-called Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that, among other things, bribes states to enact ‘red-flag’ gun confiscation laws, creates a national de facto wait period for young adults to buy a gun, and creates a backdoor ATF rule to eliminate the private sale of firearms,” Johnston said. “These are gross infringements on the Second Amendment.” “The best thing Senator Cornyn could do for gun rights is join Mitch McConnell in retirement,” he said. Another conservative group, the National Association for Gun Rights, also came out against Cornyn’s bid to replace McConnell. “Cornyn is the most anti-gun Republican in Congress,” said Dudley Brown, President of the National Association for Gun Rights. “His sponsorship of ‘Fix NICS’ and proud role in passing the largest gun control bill in decades (Biden’s so-called Bipartisan Safer Communities Act) is repulsive to law-abiding gun owners.” “When the most anti-gun President in history calls an anti-gun Republican ‘rational’ that should set off alarm bells in every law-abiding gun owners’ head,” Brown added. The gun groups’ statements on Sen. Cornyn came after McConnell, 82, announced Wednesday that he plans to step away from leadership after becoming the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. “I am asking my Republican colleagues to give me the opportunity to succeed Leader McConnell,” said Cornyn, 72, in a statement released Thursday. In the developing pool of potential successors, Cornyn is frequently mentioned as one of the “three Johns” likely to next lead the conference. The other two are Sens. John Thune, R-S.D. and John Barrasso, R-Wyo. Sen. Cornyn’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News’ Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
Border Patrol union mocks Biden over Texas visit: ‘Call a lid, hit beach, take nap’
The Border Patrol union mocked President Biden on Saturday for his trip to the Texas border this week. “Board AF1, take nap. Wake up in place called Brownsville,” the union wrote on X, formerly Twitter, in a joke itinerary of his day, along with a photo of Biden resting in a beach lounge chair. “Read large teleprompter message, ‘It’s all Trump’s fault.’ Board AF1, ask who people in green uniforms were, told they ‘strap’ illegal aliens, express horror, take nap. Wake up, call a lid, hit beach, take nap.” While in Brownsville on Thursday, Biden lamented that the bipartisan immigration bill failed to pass in the Senate, blaming Trump for using it as a political issue. Many Republicans have expressed their opposition to the bill, which they say doesn’t do enough. “The majority of Democrats and Republicans in both houses support this legislation,” Biden said in Brownsville, “until someone came along and said don’t do that that’ll benefit the incumbent. That’s a hell of a way to do business in America for such a serious problem.” WATCH: BORDER PATROL UNION CHIEF EXPLODES ON BIDEN IN FIERY PRESS CONFERENCE, SAYS AGENTS ‘P—-D’ AT POLICIES The president faces increasing scrutiny over his handling of the border as the Border Patrol continues to report a record number of migrant encounters. In December alone, there were more than 300,000 encounters – an all-time record. The issue also threatens to hurt Biden politically ahead of November’s presidential election. Trump was also at the border in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Thursday which he said is “being overrun by the Biden migrant crime,” invoking the murder of Georgia student Laken Riley allegedly by a Venezuelan migrant last week. BIDEN, TRUMP MAKE US-MEXICO BORDER STOPS THURSDAY AS MIGRANT CRISIS ROILS ELECTION “The parents are devastated and they’re incredible people,” Trump said. “This is a Joe Biden invasion. A Biden invasion. I call him crooked Joe… the most incompetent president we’ve ever had.” Biden and his administration have sought to shift the blame for the crisis onto the shoulders of Republicans. The administration says that it is working with a broken system that needs significantly more funding and comprehensive immigration reform. It introduced a bill on Biden’s first day in office that included a mass amnesty for millions of migrants already in the U.S., which was immediately rejected by Republicans. Republicans in the House introduced and passed legislation of their own that would fund more Border Patrol agents, resume wall construction, restart the Remain-in-Mexico policy and severely limit the ability of migrants to claim asylum. The Border Patrol union frequently mocks the president over illegal immigration. The organization wrote in part on X on Friday, “Wasn’t it Biden who encouraged people from all over the world to ‘surge the border’? Didn’t Biden immediately void all the successful Trump EO’s that were keeping our border under control? Didn’t he publicly and viciously accuse BP agents of criminal assault, then told the world ‘those people will pay’, and the entire thing was made up BS? Has he apologized or taken responsibility for any of it, or asked forgiveness from the victims of some of the millions of illegal aliens he imported into this country?” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP And before Biden went to the border, the group posted, “Attention President Biden: Keep our name out of your mouth today.” Fox News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
US says Israel ‘more or less’ accepts framework deal for Gaza ceasefire
There is an agreement in place for a potential six-week truce in Gaza, a US official says, and Hamas must now decide. The United States says Israel has essentially endorsed a framework for a proposed Gaza ceasefire and captive release deal, and it is now up to the Palestinian group Hamas to agree to it. “There’s a framework deal. The Israelis have more or less accepted it,” a senior US official in the Biden administration told reporters on a conference call on Saturday. “Right now, the ball is in the camp of Hamas,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The announcement comes a day before talks to reach a truce agreement are expected to resume in Egypt. International mediators have been working for weeks to broker a deal to pause the fighting before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins around March 10. The framework proposal includes a six-week ceasefire, as well as the release by Hamas of captives considered vulnerable, which includes the sick, the wounded, the elderly and women, the US official said. A deal would also likely allow aid to reach hundreds of thousands of desperate Palestinians in northern Gaza, which humanitarian officials say are under threat of famine. Israel has severely restricted the entry of food, water, medicine and other supplies into the Gaza Strip since its war began on October 7. Palestinians run along a street as humanitarian aid is airdropped in Gaza City [AFP] ‘Impasses’ News of the framework deal “sounds like a significant development from the Americans because they want it to sound like a significant development,” said Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith, reporting from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Saturday. “But it clearly looks like an attempt to pile on the pressure on Hamas before the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan begins in just over a week from now,” he added, saying that the proposal is presenting them with a six-week pause in fighting and the promise of more aid deliveries at a desperate time. Earlier this week, senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Al Jazeera that “the gap is still wide” in reaching an agreement with Israel, as the Palestinian group is calling for a total ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Naim’s comments followed remarks from Joe Biden on Monday that a truce was a week away – comments the US president later walked back on. Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Tel Aviv, said there had not been any Israeli response to the Biden administration official’s comments about the ceasefire framework. “Over the last week, the only thing we’ve been hearing about are impasses when it comes to this deal, and conflicting reports about where delegations are or are not being sent,” she said. In recent days, several Israeli media outlets have reported that there will not be an Israeli delegation going to the next round of truce talks. A senior Egyptian official said mediators Egypt and Qatar are expected to receive a response from Hamas during the Cairo talks reportedly scheduled to start on Sunday. The official also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not publicly authorised to discuss the sensitive talks. Hamas has not backed away from its position that a temporary truce must be the start of a process towards ending the war altogether, Egyptian sources and a Hamas official told the Reuters news agency. However, the Egyptian sources also said assurances had been offered to Hamas that the terms of a permanent ceasefire would be worked out in the second and third phases of the deal. During a Qatari-mediated weeklong truce in November, 105 captives were released in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons. Adblock test (Why?)
Trump defeats Haley again in Michigan, wins state’s remaining delegates at GOP convention
Former President Trump will win more delegates from Saturday’s Michigan Republican caucuses, after decisively winning the state’s primary earlier in the week. Republicans gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Saturday to hold a convention that eventually allocated the remaining 39 of the state’s 55 presidential delegates to Trump. Trump was victorious in the Michigan primary earlier this week, beating Haley by 41 points and earning 12 delegates compared to Haley’s 4. Michigan Republicans were forced to split their primary into two parts after Democrats who control the state government moved Michigan into the early primary states, violating the national Republican Party’s rules. WHEN COULD TRUMP BECOME THE GOP NOMINEE? HERE’S WHAT THE NUMBERS TELL US Saturday’s convention comes just days after a Kent County judge affirmed that former Michigan GOP Chair Kristina Karamo was properly removed by party members in January. The decision officially hands the state party over to former Rep. Pete Hoekstra, whom the Republican National Committee recognized last month. Republicans in Idaho and Missouri held caucuses on Saturday night that Trump is expected to easily win. WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL BOARD SAYS BIDEN SHOULD IGNORE LIBERAL ‘WISH LISTS,’ SECURE BORDER TO BEAT TRUMP Trump has scored convincing victories in each of the primary battles thus far and his team has suggested that he will secure the GOP nomination by the end of the month. But Haley has pledged that she is staying in the race until at least March 5, when 16 states hold Super Tuesday primaries, and over 800 delegates will be at stake. The Associated Press contributed to this report
Florida house passes bill to lower minimum age to buy a firearm
The Republican-controlled Florida House of Representatives passed a bill Friday that would lower the minimum age to buy a firearm from 21 to 18. HB 1223, titled “Minimum Age for Firearm Purchase or Transfer,” was passed in a 76-35 vote. The legislation, which was initially sponsored by Republican Representatives Bobby Payne and Tyler Sirois, will now move to the state Senate for further consideration. “An act relating to minimum age for firearm purchase or transfer; amending s. 790.065, F.S.; reducing the minimum age at which a person may purchase a firearm and the age of purchasers to which specified licensees are prohibited from selling or transferring a firearm; 6 repealing an exception; providing an effective date,” the bill text reads. ANTI-GUN ACTIVISTS USE AI TO RECREATE VOICES OF MASS SHOOTING VICTIMS, TAUNT LAWMAKERS WITH ROBOCALLS If the legislation is passed, it would go into effect on July 1. The bill would also overturn part of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, passed in 2018 following the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 dead and another 17 injured. Former student Nikolas Cruz stalked three floors of the classroom building with an assault rifle in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Cruz pleaded guilty in 2021 and was sentenced to life in prison. Another bill filed in the House earlier this year seeks to institute harsher penalties on minors caught carrying guns. House Bill 1181, or the Juvenile Justice Bill, would make a minor’s first illegal possession of a gun a first-degree felony instead of a first-degree misdemeanor, and would increase the time a child would spend in a juvenile detention facility. SUPREME COURT DIVIDED OVER FEDERAL BAN ON BUMP STOCK GUN ACCESSORY HB 1181 is currently in the state Senate. The firearm debate was also brought all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court this past week, with the Justices divided over whether the federal government can ban so-called bump stocks, a device that increases the firepower of automatic weapons. The case, Garland v. Cargill, presents whether a “bump stock” device is a “machine gun” as defined by federal law because it is designed and intended for use in converting a rifle into a weapon that fires “automatically more than one shot … by a single function of the trigger.” GEORGIA HOUSE ADVANCES GUN SAFETY TRAINING TAX CREDIT, BAN ON GUN STORE MERCHANT CATEGORY CODE After a 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas that left 60 people dead and 500 more wounded, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued an interpretive rule concluding that “bump stocks” are machine guns. Fox News’ Brianna Herlihy, Shannon Bream, and Landon Mion contributed to this report.