By MICHELLE L. PRICE WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer’s comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump’s world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift. His presidential transition team did not respond to questions about positions on visas for highly skilled workers or the debate between his supporters online. Instead, his team instead sent a link to a post on X by longtime adviser and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller that was a transcript of a speech Trump gave in 2020 at Mount Rushmore in which he praised figures and moments from American history. Musk, the world’s richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump’s movement but his stance on the tech industry’s hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent,” he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump’s own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. Related Articles National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump’s businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country” and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country,” he told the “All-In” podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump’s budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.
BANGKOK (XINHUA) – Thailand’s exports expanded for a fifth successive month in November, driven by growth in technology-related goods and demand for agricultural and food products, official data showed yesterday. Exports, a key driver of the Southeast Asian country’s economic growth, rose 8.2 per cent last month from a year earlier to USD25.6 billion, easing sharply from a 14.6 per cent increase in October, according to the Ministry of Commerce. The upturn was attributed to a robust shipment of manufacturing goods, bolstered by proactive adjustments from various countries to navigate new trade dynamics and geopolitical challenges, the ministry said in a statement. Exports of agricultural products expanded 4.1 per cent, despite a significant decline in rice shipments, while agro-industrial goods grew 7.7 per cent. Industrial product shipments increased 9.5 per cent, marking its eighth straight month of expansion, owing to major increases in computer, air conditioning and rubber products. The data also showed that imports inched up 0.9 per cent year on year to USD25.83 billion in November, resulting in a trade deficit of USD224.4 million. For the first 11 months of 2024, exports climbed 5.1 per cent to USD275.76 billion, while imports picked up 5.7 per cent to USD282.03 billion, yielding a trade deficit of USD6.26 billion. Thailand’s exports are expected to reach a new record high this year, exceeding USD300 billion, despite a slow global economic recovery and ongoing geopolitical conflicts, said director general of the ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office Poonpong Naiyanapakorn. Looking ahead, the kingdom’s exports are projected to grow two per cent to three per cent in 2025 amid several challenges, including trade protection measures, potential global trade slowdowns, unresolved international conflicts, high interest rates and exchange rate volatility, Poonpong said.
The confirmation comes amid reports that Congress expressed dissatisfaction with the government's decision to designate Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi as the venue for Dr. Singh’s last rites, scheduled for Saturday at 11:45 a.m. The government has announced plans to allocate space for a memorial dedicated to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, following a request from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Union Home Minister Amit Shah communicated the decision to Kharge and Dr. Singh’s family, stating that the government is committed to preserving Dr. Singh’s legacy, news agency PTI reported. “The cremation and formalities can proceed in the meanwhile, as the trust formation and space allocation for the memorial are finalized,” the MHA stated. The confirmation comes amid reports that Congress expressed dissatisfaction with the government's decision to designate Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi as the venue for Dr. Singh’s last rites, scheduled for Saturday at 11:45 a.m. Congress' Push For A Dedicated Memorial Earlier, Kharge had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging that a portion of a national memorial site like Veer Bhumi or Shakti Sthal be allocated for Dr. Singh’s last rites, allowing it to double as a dedicated memorial for the late leader. During a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, MP Priyanka Gandhi proposed this idea, emphasizing the need for a site befitting Dr. Singh’s stature. While the Congress leadership continues to advocate for a memorial honoring Dr. Singh’s contributions to India’s progress, the government’s decision to proceed with Nigambodh Ghat as the funeral site has not met the party’s expectations. Dr. Manmohan Singh, who passed away on December 26 at AIIMS Hospital in New Delhi, will be accorded a State funeral with full military honors. The Ministry of Defence has been tasked with organizing the ceremonial aspects of the event. The cremation is set to take place at Nigambodh Ghat on Saturday afternoon. Dr. Singh, who served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, was widely regarded as a transformative leader and the architect of India’s economic liberalization. His passing has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the political spectrum, with leaders and citizens emphasizing the need to honor his legacy through a lasting memorial. As the Congress continues to push for a prominent site to commemorate Dr. Singh’s contributions, the government’s decision to allocate space for a memorial represents a step forward. Stay informed on all the latest news , real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in india news and world News on Zee News.
HARTFORD – Two Black Lives Matter protesters arrested in 2020 have won a $41,000 settlement that ends their civil lawsuits against the city of Waterbury and two of its former police officers. The city’s mayor and police chief both said the settlement reached Wednesday at U.S. District Court in Hartford before Judge Janet Hall is a means of ending the case without enduring a protracted trial or admission of wrongdoing. Jury selection was scheduled to begin in March 2025. Rudonna Legree and Juicy Reid-Stith will share the money with their attorney, Alexander T. Taubes, who said he will charge a “reduced” rate for his services to enable his clients to split a larger amount. The pair sued the city and officer David Terni and Capt. Steve Gilmore, claiming their 1st and 14th Amendment rights were violated during a social justice protest in front of the police station on East Main Street on May 31, 2020. They claim the arrests were illegal, and that their rights to speech and assembly were violated. It happened just days after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer got national attention. The two were among 17 protesters arrested during the event. Previously, the city lost its legal bid to end the case on the basis that the officers had qualified immunity based on “arguable probable cause” to make the arrests. A federal court judge disagreed and allowed the case to go forward. Taubes said the consequences of the arrest were particularly severe for Legree, who spent five months in prison when the arrest complicated conditions of a previous criminal record that includes several convictions for larceny and one for interfering with police in 2023. Charges associated with the 2020 arrest were dropped. “It’s important for police to understand the people’s right to speak out, even when the people being criticized are the police,” Taube said. According to the complaint, Legree said she listened to speakers, kneeled, marched through downtown and made her way with Reid-Stith and others to the Waterbury Police Department. Reid-Stith and Legree claim they never heard a police order to disperse from the street. Reid-Stith said “all hell broke loose” when the order to arrest protesters was said to have been made by Gilmore and Terni. Both officers have retired within the past 18 months. Legree claims she was dragged by police into the street and forcibly arrested. Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. said he stands firmly behind the city’s police officers. “From everything I have seen, I believe the officers acted prudently and I continue to support the police department,” he said. “There was no admission of liability.” The decision to settle was made because of the risk trials carry. “This outcome was in the best interest of the city,” Pernerewski said. “And it was a number that made sense and wasn’t all that difficult to reach.” No additional police training is planned to avoid similar conflicts in the future, he noted. “This happened before we had body cameras, which would have been helpful,” the mayor said. “I am comfortable that the officers acted appropriately.” Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said he wasn’t part of settlement discussions involving Taube, two attorneys from the city Corporation Counsel’s Office and U.S. District Court magistrate Robert Richardson. “There was no finding of false arrest or misconduct,” Spagnolo said. “We still stand by the actions police took, which were prudent.” Contact Brigitte Ruthman at bruthman @ rep-am.com.FBI Director Christopher Wray announced he will resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term, paving the way for President-elect Donald Trump's nominee, Kash Patel, to potentially take over . "This is the best way to avoid dragging the Bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important in how we do our work," Wray said during a town hall on Wednesday . Trump responded on social media, calling Wray's resignation a "great day for America." Trump appointed Wray during his first term but criticized him and the FBI's search for classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home. Although Wray still had years left in his term, Trump nominated Kash Patel to lead the agency. Trump's cabinet picks continue their fight to secure confirmation on Capitol Hill. "It's about earning support in this process in ongoing conversations," said Pete Hegseth, Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary . Controversial Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth met with Senator Susan Collins for more than an hour on Wednesday. Collins said she pressed him on various claims of misconduct, which he denies, but fell short of saying she would support him. "We had a good discussion, I'm not going to go into every question I asked," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. Momentum appears to be shifting in Hegseth's favor. "I had a good exchange, and we'll see what the process bears," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. "He's much better off this week than he was last week," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina. Analysts say Hegseth is not the only one under pressure. "There have been some challenges to some senators. There's been some real arm twisting in terms of the threat of mounting primary challenges against them," said Todd Belt of George Washington University. Also on the Hill, Secretary of Homeland Security nominee and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem pushed back on allegations that she neglected her state during major flooding this year.
The first days in Austin as a freshman representative, the drive to Austin is approximately three hours from Huntsville for Trey Wharton. Elected in November 2024 as the Texas State Representative for District 12, Wharton has been going to Austin a day or two about every other week for the past several months. “The reason for that is to meet with other officials, incumbent legislators, and incoming freshman in Austin,” Wharton said. “It will be very helpful to have relationships with several others already established when the 89th Session starts in January.” Wharton is a businessman, community leader, and a longtime trustee on the Huntsville ISD School Board. He is a graduate of Huntsville High School, and attended Texas Christian University where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration-Finance degree. He has been married to his wife, JoLynne, for over 33 years and has two adult children. House District 12 includes all of Grimes, Madison, Robertson, Walker, and Washington County, and part of Brazos County. “Currently, I am in my actual work office about a day and half a week and then again on Saturdays to ‘catch-up’ on things that my team has been working on all week, while I have been either in Austin or traveling around the district,” Wharton said. “I would not be able to do this without their support and they have been doing a phenomenal job over the past 12 months, while I was out on the campaign trail.” While Wharton is out in the district, he usually has two to three scheduled meetings and an event to attend those same evenings. “It is rewarding to get to meet people and learn more about their community and what challenges they may be dealing with,” Wharton said. “There are many different issues across the district and state. I am spending a lot of my time educating myself and learning from others with their experience about those issues, so that I can be as effective as possible in this role.” The procedure of determining seniority for each incoming class is “probably the most interesting and funny method that I had no idea happens,” Wharton said. To determine where each representative’s office, house floor desks and parking spaces will be, is done by the least technological advanced manner. “We literally draw ping pong balls to determine the ranking,” Wharton said, laughing. The list of freshman legislators is broken down into several categories ranging from alphabetical last name, alphabetical first name, and district number. “Someone draws to determine the order the ping pong balls will be drawn and then each representative draws their own ping pong ball in that order,” Wharton said. His group drew the method of “last name alphabetically” and that meant he was going to be the last one out of 30 to draw. “I did prevail and got number 6 after everyone else had picked,” said Wharton, noting that the end of the line has its value. “You then spend half a day looking at all the available offices, parking spaces and desks on the house floor to determine what works best for you and what other legislators you will be neighboring with in the same hallway and on the floor,” Wharton said. “Fortunately, I have an experienced Chief of Staff who was able to guide me in picking the most advantageous office and desk on the Chamber Floor.” In the next issue of The Item, we will be discussing some of Wharton’s top goals while in office. Contact Brenda Poe at editor@itemonline.comJakub Dobes has been on fire for the Canadiens in the AHL, and now, the team are waiving Cayden Primeau to make room for the talented young 23-year old. The Montreal Canadiens 2024/25 season has been very up-and-down through three months of action, despite the season starting with speculation that this team could push for a Stanley Cup Playoffs spot . With the youth pushing their success however, this is a team that's building a very entertaining young core, and now, we are reportedly set to see another piece of that core at the NHL level. According to Head Coach Martin St. Louis, the team are making two huge moves ahead of the NHL's return following the holiday break, with Cayden Primeau set to be placed on waivers so 23-year old Jakub Dobes can make his NHL debut on Saturday against the Florida Panthers. Dobes has played in 14 games with the Laval Rocket this season, posting a 2.44 GAA and a .910 save percentage in that time, and after investing a fifth-round pick in him, it's clear that Montreal want to see what they have for the future of the franchise. As for Primeau, he simply couldn't find his game at the NHL level over the years in Montreal, with the 2024/25 campaign being an especially troubling one, as he tallied an .836 save percentage to go along with a 4.70 GAA, numbers that simply won't cut it at the NHL level. However, the once highly touted prospect is still just 25-years of age, and with 55 NHL appearances under his belt, the talent is clearly there, so don't be shocked to see a team take a chance on him when he is officially placed on waivers on Saturday. This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.
Second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie at the Allianz Stadium left Guardiola’s side languishing in 22nd place. Pep Guardiola admits he is questioning himself after Manchester City’s latest defeat left them in danger of missing out on the Champions League knockout stages. City slumped to their seventh defeat in 10 games in all competitions as they were beaten 2-0 at Juventus in their latest European outing on Wednesday. Second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie at the Allianz Stadium left Guardiola’s side languishing in 22nd place in the standings. With just two games of the league phase remaining, a place in the top eight and automatic last-16 qualification looks beyond them and they face a battle just to stay in the top 24 and claim a play-off spot. City manager Guardiola said: “Of course I question myself but I’m stable in good moments and bad moments. “I try to find a way to do it. I’m incredibly honest. If we play good (I say) we played good and today I thought we played good. “Our game will save us. We can do it. We conceded few chances compared to the Nottingham Forest game that we won. We’re making the right tempo. “We missed the last pass, did not arrive in the six-yard box (at the right time) or have the composure at the right moment. “But I love my team. This is life, it happens. Sometimes you have a bad period but I’m going to insist until we’re there.” City now face a crunch trip to Paris St Germain, who are also at risk of failing to qualify, next month. Guardiola accepts the top 24 is now the only aim. He said: “It’s the target. We need one point or three points. We go to Paris to try to do it and the last game at home.” Veteran midfielder Ilkay Gundogan said after the game he felt City were suffering from a loss of confidence but Guardiola dismissed his player’s comments. “I am not agreeing with Ilkay,” he said. “Of course it is tough but, except one or two games in this period, we’ve played good.” City now face a further test of their resolve as they host rivals Manchester United in a derby on Sunday. Gundogan told TNT Sports: “It (confidence) is a big part of it. That’s a mental issue as well. “You can see that sometimes we miss the ball or lose a duel and you see that we drop immediately and lose the rhythm. They (the opponents) don’t even need to do much but it has such a big effect on us right now. “Even more you have to do the simple things as good as possible and create and fluidity, then it’s work hard again. This is how you get confidence back – do the small and simple things, (but) in crucial moments at the moment we are always doing the wrong things.” Juventus coach Thiago Motta was pleased with the hosts’ performance, which boosted their hopes of making the top eight. “It was a deserved victory,” he said. “We had to defend as a team and be ready to attack with quality. “We have shown we can compete at this level and now we have to do it consistently.”CSP Inc. Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.03 (NASDAQ:CSPI)BlackRock Announces Board Approval of Closed-End Fund Reorganization
Photo: Kylie Kelce Instagram Pregnancy is often portrayed as a magical journey, but Kylie Kelce , wife of Philadelphia Eagles legend Jason Kelce , isn’t holding back about the challenges of carrying a child.The couple recently announced they’re expecting their fourth daughter, and Kylie has opened up about the realities of pregnancy in her debut podcast episode of " Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce ." Also read - Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce to Celebrate Christmas Together – Here’s What We Know! Staying True to Pregnancy While thanking God for the chance to conceive, Kylie candidly admitted, "I always say I am so incredibly grateful to be able to get pregnant. Unbelievably grateful. I have realized in my adult life that it is not as easy to get pregnant as we originally let on to believe in high school. You can't just look at someone and whoop there you go. It's not that easy." For her, the destination is more important than the journey. Kylie shared ongoing battles with morning sickness and nausea and how society expects to see pregnancy as a beautiful time. Her honesty feels like a breath of fresh air in a world where such topics are often sugar-coated. "I'm nauseous for most of my pregnancy," she said, adding that even past the first trimester, the sickness lingers. And don't get her started on the well-meaning compliments. "When someone says, 'Isn't this the most beautiful thing ever?' I want to punch them in the face, " Kylie joked. Kylie on Pregnancy Reaction, Parenting with Jason & Raising Boys vs Girls with Kaitlin Olson | Ep. 1 This is a new chapter in her life as she shares the motherhood journey in her own words. She is looking forward to normalizing the complexities of pregnancy and giving room for honest discussions on parenthood. Fans have appreciated her refreshing approach, since rarely would someone in the limelight share such raw experiences. A Playful Pregnancy Announcement The Kelce family announced their growing brood on Instagram in November with an adorable photo of their three daughters donning "Big Sister" sweaters. Each of the girls—Wyatt, Elliotte, and Bennett—displayed hilariously different reactions, perfectly capturing the excitement, fear, and joy of welcoming a new sibling. Jason Kelce even chimed in on the excitement during his "New Heights" podcast, sharing how thrilled he is to welcome another baby girl. Celebrating Parenthood Kylie and Jason's journey throws out all the highs and lows of creating a family. Their house is about to get much more lively because of this new baby that's on the way. Whether through her podcast or their playful social media updates, Kylie continues to redefine what it means to be a modern mom, one honest conversation at a time. Also read - What Taylor Swift’s Spotify Wrapped Win Means for the NFL and Travis Kelce
Zuby Ejiofor delivered an early Christmas present to St. John's in the form of a buzzer-beating shot to keep the Red Storm's winning streak alive. St. John's (10-2) beat Providence at the horn back on Dec. 20 to win its fifth straight game and move to 2-0 in the Big East. Back on its campus in New York, St. John's will face Delaware on Saturday for one last tune-up before returning to conference action. In the Red Storm's first true road game of the season, Providence led most of the way before Ejiofor and RJ Luis Jr. steered the comeback. Ejiofor made a jumper in the lane in the final second to secure a 72-70 win. Coach Rick Pitino saw evidence that his team had grown from the start of the season. The Red Storm's two losses came on a double-overtime buzzer-beater against Baylor and by three points versus Georgia. "I think they're mentally maturing," Pitino told the New York Post. "Three weeks ago, with missing all those free throws, all those shots, we lose by 12 to 16 points. But they're maturing mentally and getting tougher because (that night) we didn't have it offensively, and they still found a way to win on the road in a tough environment." Ejiofor had 19 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. On a team stacked with talent, he and Luis have been the main catalysts. Luis averages 17.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and Ejiofor provides 14.6 points and a team-best 7.8 rebounds per contest. Ejiofor's game-winner came on an offensive board and second-chance look. "My philosophy is, and Coach says, every shot is essentially my rebound," Ejiofor said. "I have pride in getting my team a second chance, and that's exactly what I did." Delaware (7-5) has had a quiet month, with two of its three wins coming against non-Division I teams. But its other win in that time was a 93-80 romp against rival Delaware State on Dec. 3. That night, the Blue Hens shot a red-hot 17-of-31 from 3-point range. The 17 makes were one shy of tying the program record. Cavan Reilly (five 3-pointers) led them that night with 20 points, but three other starters also buried three triples. "That's what I envisioned out of this group," coach Martin Ingelsby told the Delaware News Journal, "to have multiple weapons." Delaware would love to rediscover that shooting touch. It made just 6 of 21 shots from deep in a 72-64 loss to Saint Peter's on Dec. 20. John Camden paces Delaware with 14.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Four other players average double-figure scoring: Niels Lane (13.7), Reilly (12.9), Erik Timko (12.4) and Izaiah Pasha (10.7). --Field Level Media
None