90jili 123
'Govt only to consider PTI's written demands'
Driver hit with $7,000 fine in single traffic stop as cops launch new crackdown that will last weeksPresident Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condoled with the government and people of India on the passing away of former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. Singh, India’s Prime Minister between 2004 and 2014, died Thursday at the age of 92. Prime Minister Singh’s official visit to Nigeria in 2007 was historic. He earned the distinct honour of addressing a joint session of the National Assembly, a privilege accorded to only a few global leaders. President Tinubu paid tribute to Dr. Singh’s dedication to strengthening the Nigeria-India relationship, noting that his diplomatic efforts remain a reference point in the history of the bilateral relations between the two nations. The president recounted the establishment of the Strategic Partnership between Nigeria and India under Singh’s tenure, which has continued to flourish, driving political and economic prosperity for both countries. President Tinubu further lauded Prime Minister Singh’s efforts to forge improved cooperation in defence trade, culture, education, health, science and technology, and ICT. Expressing gratitude to the people of India for celebrating the life and accomplishments of this selfless leader and distinguished economist, the Nigerian leader saluted Singh’s role in steering India’s economic reforms during globally challenging times. He prayed that the departed Prime Minister’s dedication to service would inspire the people of India.
Police seek suspected prowler spotted peering into west Windsor homeSpending fight shows limits of Trump power to change fiscal pathSome tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to from other nations. The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman warns against Elon Musk’s ‘conflict of interest’ in setting AI policiesTrump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next
Chennai: University of Madras will lease 85 cents of land on Ramanujan Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics ( RIASM ) campus at Chepauk to social welfare and women empowerment department for 33 years for construction of a hostel for working women . In return, the cash-strapped university will get 350 rooms to accommodate women students. "The university's syndicate gave its approval to lease the space. It will benefit them as more than 700 postgraduate students can be accommodated in the new hostel," a source from the university said. The women's hostel on the RIASM campus is currently not being used as its buildings are in a dilapidated state. State govt had earlier announced the construction of a girl's hostel with modern facilities on the Chepauk campus which spans 3.38 acres. It was estimated to cost 53 crore. But, University of Madras, which is facing a financial crisis, said it would not be able build it. "Govt asked the university to explore the possibility of using the social welfare department's funds to construct the hostel, with 150 rooms provided for working women," a source in the university said. The working women's unit will be run by Tamil Nadu Working Women's Hostel Corporation Limited, and the students' unit will be run by the university. The cost of constructing the hostel will be met through the Nirbhaya funds, state govt funds, and a loan from the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Fund Management Corporation. The Madras University Teachers' Association has welcomed the decision. "It's a good deal. Students will get a brand new hostel, and the land will be returned to the university after the lease period," said C Murugan, general secretary of the Madras University Teachers' Association. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .
NoneSingh was pitchforked into leading the world's largest democracy in 2004 by the shock decision of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to turn down the role after leading the party to an upset win over the ruling Hindu nationalists. He oversaw an economic boom in Asia's fourth-largest economy in his first term, although slowing growth in later years marred his second stint. Known as "Mr Clean", Singh nonetheless saw his image tarnished during his decade-long tenure when a series of corruption cases became public. As finance minister in the early 1990s, he was hailed at home and abroad for initiating big-bang reforms that opened India's inward-looking economy to the world. Known as a loyalist to the Gandhi political dynasty, Singh studied economics to find a way to eradicate poverty in the vast nation and never held elected office before becoming PM. But he deftly managed the rough and tumble of Indian politics -- even though many said Sonia Gandhi, the Italian-born widow of the assassinated Rajiv Gandhi, was the power behind the throne. Born in 1932 in the mud-house village of Gah in what is now Pakistan, Singh moved to the holy Sikh city of Amritsar as a teenager around the time the subcontinent was split at the end of British rule into mainly Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan. His father was a dry-fruit seller in Amritsar, and he had nine brothers and sisters. He was so determined to get an education he would study at night under streetlights because it was too noisy at home, his brother Surjit Singh told AFP in 2004. "Our father always used to say Manmohan will be the prime minister of India since he stuck out among the 10 children," said Singh. "He always had his nose in a book." Singh won scholarships to attend both Cambridge, where he obtained a first in economics, and Oxford, where he completed his PhD. He worked in a string of senior civil posts, served as a central bank governor and also held various jobs with global agencies such as the United Nations. Singh was tapped in 1991 by then Congress prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao to reel India back from the worst financial crisis in its modern history -- currency reserves had sunk so low the country was on the brink of defaulting on foreign loans. Singh unleashed sweeping change that broke sharply with India's Soviet-style state-directed economy. In his first term he steered the economy through a period of nine-percent growth, lending the country the international clout it had long sought. He also sealed a landmark nuclear deal with the US that he said would help India meet its growing energy needs. But by 2008 there was growing disquiet among the ruling alliance's left-leaning parties about the pact, while high inflation -- notably food and fuel prices -- hit India's poor hard. Still, voters remained drawn to his calm, pragmatic persona, and in 2009 Congress steered its alliance to a second term. Singh vowed to step up financial reforms to drive economic growth, but he came under increasing fire from critics who said he had done nothing to stop a string of corruption scandals on his watch. Several months before the 2014 elections, Singh said he would retire after the polls, with Sonia Gandhi's son Rahul earmarked to take his place if Congress won. But Congress crashed to its worst-ever result at that time as the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Narendra Modi, won a landslide. More recently, an unflattering book by a former aide titled "The Accidental Prime Minister" portrayed him as timid and controlled by Sonia Gandhi. Singh -- who said historians would be kinder to him than contemporary detractors -- became a vocal critic of Modi's economic policies, and more recently warned about the risks that rising communal tensions posed to India's democracy. pmc-grk/abh/fox/leg/sms
Attorneys want the US Supreme Court to say Mississippi’s felony voting ban is cruel and unusualMichigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday after three seasons with the Wolverines. The 6-foot-3, 339-pound junior was a third-team All-American and a second-team All-Big Ten selection this season. He had three sacks among his 32 total tackles over 12 games in 2024. As a sophomore, Grant helped the Wolverines claim the national championship with 29 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks in 15 games. "I am very appreciative to Coach (Jim) Harbaugh and coach (Sherrone) Moore and the rest of the University of Michigan staff that I have crossed paths with," Grant posted on social media. "It has been an honor to be developed into a Michigan Man." Other Michigan players who intend to leave the program for the draft include defensive lineman Mason Graham, cornerback Will Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland. --Field Level MediaThe State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has reprimanded the State government over the delay in distributing social welfare pensions. Responding to a complaint filed by social worker V. Devadas at a sitting in Kozhikode on Friday (December 27), SHRC judicial member K. Baijunath directed the Chief Secretary to pay the due arrears to the deserving individuals. The Commission noted that social welfare pensions were being delayed inordinately due to financial constraints faced by the State government. However, the majority of those relying on pensions are differently abled individuals or those from marginalised sections, and for them, the delay was causing much hardships. The case pertains to a recent incident in which one Joseph Valayam, a differently abled resident of Chakkittapara grama panchayat in Kozhikode district, allegedly ended his life after his pension, as well as that of his differently abled daughter, was delayed for several months. The Commission had sought a report from the panchayat secretary on the issue. The report stated that Joseph and his daughter did not receive their pensions for five consecutive months. The secretary claimed the panchayat had informed the Joint Director of Local Self-Government department and the Kozhikode District Collector, and that Joseph was regularly updated on pension distributions. It also mentioned that the panchayat had no role in distributing pensions, as they were funded by the State. The commission concluded that there was no lapse on the part of the panchayat. Published - December 28, 2024 12:23 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Kozhikode / Kerala / pension and welfare
DALLAS – If you attended a high school dance at any point in the 1980s, you no doubt heard “Chicago” lead singer Peter Cetera croon these words: “Everybody needs a little time away, I heard her say, from each other...” ADVERTISEMENT The members of the Minnesota Wild seem to genuinely enjoy each other’s company, and their willingness to work together for the good of the order shows in their 21 wins thus far, and their flirtation with the top spot in the Western Conference standings. But following their 4-3 win over Chicago (the Blackhawks, not the band) on Monday, the NHL mandates that every team take a three-day break for Christmas. At risk of the hefty fine from the league, teams cannot get together for practice, nor may they travel to road games until the morning of Friday, Dec. 27. That means the Wild were gameday arrivals in North Texas for their Friday evening meeting with the Stars. And as much hassle as that may be, most Wild players and coaches were eager for the time off by the time the final horn sounded on Monday. “The way I see it is I think this is a break at a key time for us, and I give the players a lot of credit. We’ve been going at max capacity and really dialed in from training camp till now and there’s been way more success than there has been failure,” coach John Hynes said, after his team snapped a four-game skid with the win over the Blackhawks. “But I also think that guys have really pushed, and I think guys have produced at certain times. I think it’s important for our group now to be able to get away from it for a few days, come off a win in a game that we played well, and then now it’s come back and we just reset and get moving forward.” As has been the case for much of this injury-riddled season to date, the biggest question about moving forward is which players it will involve. For example, top-line center Joel Eriksson Ek, whose big body and noteworthy skill have been missed since a lower-body injury in early December, looked to be inching closer to a return during the team’s last pre-Christmas practice. Getting some rest before facing a tough team like Dallas on the road is one positive factor, the Wild hope. Another pick-me-up was getting the victory by whatever means necessary versus Chicago, to end a season-worst losing streak. “It’s nice to go into the break with a win, but the games before, we’re not happy with,” Wild captain Jared Spurgeon admitted. “It’s tough throughout the year to be at 100 (percent) mentally and physically, so to have three days at this point, it’s big for us to sort of just relax, get away from it, hang with family friends and do something a little different.” ADVERTISEMENT And once they get back on the ice in Dallas, they plan to get back to more of the theme of the early season – namely getting contributions from throughout the lineup and competing for the lead in the Central Division. “I’m pretty convinced that after the break we come back then we get set for another while,” Hynes said, noting their next extended time off comes after Minnesota hosts the New York Islanders on Feb. 8. “You got Christmas basically until the 4 Nations break and that’s when we can re-plug in and get guys dialed in, get the team dialed in.” ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .
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AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:02 p.m. ESTSHRC pulls up Kerala govt. over delay in disbursal of welfare pensions
HARRY MAGUIRE fears club are "targeting" Manchester United at set-pieces after a dreadful 2-0 defeat to Wolves. United left the Molineux with ten men and three points dropped after goals from Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan. Advertisement 2 Harry Maguire fears club are 'targeting' Manchester United at set-pieces Cunha's 58 minute opener came direct from a corner and United defender Maguire reckons it is becoming a weakness for his side. He said: "To concede again, especially the first goal of the game set-plays are so important in football matches. "They decide games, a lot of the games when they're tight and they're 50/50. "The first goal has been a set-play far too many times against us and it's disappointing." Advertisement READ MORE ON MAN UTD BEN THERE, DONE THAT Ex-Man Utd first team coach Benni McCarthy set for national team job United conceded two goals from set-pieces against Arsenal and Tottenham's Son Heung-min even scored direct from a corner. United have conceded ten goals from set-pieces this season - excluding penalties. Asked how they fix their set-piece problems, Maguire said: "Work, work, work more on the training pitch. "I think teams now are maybe targeting our areas of set-plays. The strange thing is, I don't feel like we're conceding many chances from them. Advertisement Most read in Football Highlights ST MIRREN 2 RANGERS 1 Boyd-Munce stuns Gers with winner deep into added time in Paisley Breaking XMAS TRAGEDY Real Madrid star's 'brother-in-law' is shot dead in Christmas Day horror REFFIN' HELL Motherwell boss Kettlewell fumes at referee's DEMEANOUR in Celtic defeat STAR SWEAT Rodgers delivers major injury update on Johnston ahead of Rangers clash CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "They've had a few set-plays tonight and we've dealt with them really well and they've gone and scored from one. "I think it's hard work, keep the belief, things will change. I know that. We have players who can defend the box well. Manchester United Player Ratings vs Wolves "They will change, we've just got to stick together." Advertisement United now host Newcastle next but do so without Bruno Fernandes following his sending off at Wolves. And manager Ruben Amorim said: "Of course, when you lose, when we don't win, it's a step back. "It was really hard with the sending off. The goal was similar against Tottenham. Then, we tried. "Even with one less guy we tried to and I think we were near something but then Wolves scored the second one. Advertisement "Then, in the end, we tried everything and the transition was 2-0. For us, let's continue. " 2 Bruno Fernandes got sent off at Wolves Credit: ReutersThe Las Vegas Strip has a knack for signing big name headliners for residencies that tend to draw sell-out crowds. Many of the top residency performers lately are popular artists who can still sell out stadiums and arenas on national concert tours. 💸 💰 Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter 💰 💸 Sphere Entertainment's ( SPHR ) Sphere Las Vegas opened with giant rock band U2, which has had global stadium and arena sell-out power for over 30 years. Related: Las Vegas Strip casino signs superstar band for popular residency U2's 40-show U2/UV Achtung Baby Live at the Sphere residency debuted in Sept. 29 2023 and ended March 2, 2024 with every show in the 18,600-seat venue sold out. The Sphere continued to book superstar entertainers for residencies, with jam band Phish completing a short engagement consisting of four sold-out shows in April, followed by Grateful Dead spinoff band Dead & Company, which performed 30 sold-out shows at the Las Vegas Sphere from May 16 through Aug. 10, 2024. Legendary rock band The Eagles, which played stadium and arena sellouts throughout their touring career, claimed to have retired from touring on its "Long Goodbye" tour in the Netherlands on June 15, 2024. TheStreet The Eagles opened their sold-out residency at The Sphere on Sept. 20, 2024, and have stretched the residency out to 28 shows without designating a final show in the residency yet. Other huge sold-out residencies that have rolled through The Strip in the past couple of years have included Lady Gaga, Shania Twain, and Adele. Popular superstar R&B group New Edition is still packing fans into theaters on the Las Vegas Strip as it sold out 15 shows on its residency at Wynn Resorts' ( WYNN ) Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas, which just closed on Nov. 2. Fans might think New Edition had finally closed their residency at the Encore Theater, but the group signed on for six more shows in February 2025. New Edition added new shows on its residency at the Encore Theater on Feb. 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, and 22, with all shows set for 8 p.m. Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images The Killers add shows to Las Vegas Strip residency Finally, popular Las Vegas-based rock band The Killers had always wanted to perform a residency at Caesars Entertainment's ( CZR ) Colosseum at Caesars Palace in their hometown and mentioned in fall 2023 that they were ready to sign up for one as soon as there was an opening. Related: Popular singer signs for Christmas residency off Las Vegas Strip The Killers in January 2024 signed up for 10 shows in their first-ever residency on the Strip at the 4,300-seat Colosseum which began Aug. 14 and ended Sept. 1 More Las Vegas : The residency featured the band performing their debut album "Hot Fuss," which includes The Killers' hits "Mr. Brightside" and "Somebody Told Me," from start to finish to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of the album. The band also has had great success with their hits "When We Were Young," released in 2006, and "Human," released in 2008. The Killers were so popular at Caesars Palace that they will return for their Live In Las Vegas residency Encore Shows, which will be presented at The Colosseum Jan. 22, 24, and 25, 2025, Live Nation ( LYV ) revealed on Nov. 19. Tickets go on sale to the general public Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. Related: Veteran fund manager sees world of pain coming for stocks
Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020
Lawmaker wants ban on 'ultra-processed foods' in Arizona schoolsBansuri Swaraj, the BJP MP from New Delhi, on Tuesday accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of “collecting personal data of women and senior citizens” in the Capital on the pretext of providing them benefits under various welfare schemes. She urged citizens not to share personal data with anyone and “stay cautious and not fall for such tricks”. Ms. Bansuri made the comments at a press conference a day after the former CM started registrations for the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana to provide women aged 18 and above a monthly aid of ₹1,000. The AAP chief has promised to hike the assistance to ₹2,100 if AAP retains power in the Assembly election due in February next year. Through the Sanjeevani Yojana, the government will provide free treatment for citizens aged 60 and above at all government and private hospitals in Delhi. While announcing the scheme on December 18, Mr. Kejriwal said there will be no upper limit on the treatment. Meanwhile, several AAP leaders, led by Delhi Cabinet Ministers, hit the streets on Tuesday to register citizens for the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana. Published - December 25, 2024 01:31 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Delhi / politics