A look back at 2024 in photosWEST 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, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. 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. 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. Michelle L. Price, The Associated PressIn recent years, the Chinese Super League has been attracting top foreign talents from around the world, with big-name players such as Oscar, Hulk, and Alexandre Pato signing lucrative deals to play in China. While the influx of foreign players has undoubtedly raised the level of competition in the league, it has also raised questions about the development of young Chinese players. To address this issue, China should encourage its young talents to move to Europe to further their careers, as the adaptation process is crucial for their growth and success.
In the latest Steam weekly sales chart, the highly anticipated action RPG "Path of Exile 2" has claimed the number one position, showcasing its popularity among gamers worldwide. This marks a significant achievement for the game's developers, Grinding Gear Games, as they continue to expand their player base and solidify their presence in the gaming industry.J&K gets Rs 117.58 cr landmark agriculture projects: Javed Dar
Ashworth, who had been a loyal and dedicated member of the Manchester United team for over a decade, was unceremoniously let go by The Telegraph in a move that has been described as heartless and unjust. His colleagues, who had always relied on his support and guidance, are now left feeling vulnerable and anxious about what the future holds for them at the club.Asus ProArt Display 5K review: An excellent budget-friendly Apple Studio Display alternative [Video]
Karl-Anthony Towns was the standout player of the night for the Knicks, as he showcased his versatile skill set on both ends of the court. The All-Star center dominated in the paint, finishing with a double-double of points and rebounds, while also making key defensive stops to disrupt the Raptors' offense. Towns' ability to control the game in the clutch moments proved to be the difference-maker for the Knicks.The investigation into the advertising agreement between Google and Meta highlights the broader issue of responsible advertising practices in the digital age. As companies increasingly rely on targeted advertising to reach consumers, it is essential that they prioritize the well-being and privacy of their users, especially when it comes to vulnerable groups such as teenagers. Regulatory agencies play a crucial role in holding tech companies accountable and ensuring that they adhere to ethical standards and legal requirements in their advertising practices.
NoneStingy Devils open home-and-home with HurricanesIn a shocking turn of events, Manchester United have reportedly decided to offload their star player in order to make way for a high-profile striker signing. The club's management has been rumored to be willing to go to great lengths to secure the services of a top striker, even if it means parting ways with their current key player.
As the player's behavior became increasingly erratic and reports of his misconduct grew more frequent, it was only a matter of time before the truth came to light. A damning investigation revealed a pattern of serious misconduct, including breaches of the club's code of conduct, disrespectful behavior towards teammates and staff, and even incidents of illegal substance abuse.