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Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in GazaAn online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalitionSHANGHAI, Nov 23 (Reuters) - China's Huawei, blacklisted by the U.S., said on Saturday it is targeting 100,000 applications for its Harmony operating system in coming months as it seeks widespread help to achieve self-reliance. The tech giant has more than 15,000 applications based on Harmony that can meet consumers' basic needs, but the ecosystem requires more personalised and boutique apps, Huawei Chairman Xu Zhijun told a conference on Saturday. "Based on our analysis, for the Harmony ecosystem to be mature in meeting consumer needs, 100,000 apps is the milestone, and that is the key objective over the next six to 12 months," Xu said in a speech posted on the WeChat messaging app. The ambitious app target highlights the urgency in developing home-grown technologies as China faces elevated tensions with the U.S. in areas ranging from trade to technology as President-elect Donald Trump threatens to be tougher on China. Huawei launched its operating system five years ago after U.S. sanctions cut off support for Google's (GOOGL.O) , opens new tab Android. The Shenzhen-based company, which sells products ranging from smartphones to laptops, later developed an open-source version of the Harmony system. Due to the U.S. sanctions, "Huawei has been forced to accelerate developing its own operating system," Xu said. Although much progress has been made, "for any operation system, no matter how advanced it is, it would be of no value if no one uses it." Xu expressed hope that developers could work hard to enrich app offerings and called on government agencies, state companies and social organisations to use Harmony as their operating system at work. He asked consumers to be tolerant of the system's immaturity, saying, "The more people use it, the more quickly it will become mature." Huawei unveiled Harmony in August 2019, three months after Washington placed it under trade restrictions over alleged security concerns. Huawei denies its equipment poses a risk. "No way back leads to victory," Xu said. "Huawei will unwaveringly invest in developing the Harmony ecosystem, and strive to make the impossible possible." Sign up here. Reporting by Samuel Shen and Brenda Goh in Shanghai; Editing by William Mallard Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
Caribbean Princess Arrives in Port Canaveral for First-Ever Season of Cruises
MONACO — Canadians Alex Tessier, Sophie de Goede and Laetitia Royer have been named to World Rugby’s Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year. Canada sevens captain Olivia Apps, meanwhile, was selected to World Rugby’s Women’s Sevens Dream Team. The women’s 15s world all-star squad also featured six players from top-ranked England and three from No. 2 New Zealand. The other three came from the U.S., Ireland and France. Tessier was also a finalist for the World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year award won by England fullback Ellie Kildunne. France’s Pauline Bourdon Sansus and England’s Alex Matthews were the other finalists. Tessier won her 50th cap in 2024 and, playing at inside centre alongside fly half Claire Gallagher, led the Canada women to a historic first-ever victory over New Zealand to win the 2024 Pacific Four Series in May. The 22-19 comeback victory lifted Canada into second place in the women’s world rankings, its highest position since November 2016. Tessier’s strong kicking game was also key for Canada. The 31-year-old from Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., scored 27 points in starting all six matches for Canada in 2024 to up her career total to 48 points (including five tries) in 54 appearances. Tessier plays professionally in England for the Exeter Chiefs. De Goede made the all-star team despite tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in training in June. A finalist for the Women’s Player of the Year award in 2022, the Victoria back-rower plays in England for Saracens. Royer, from Loretteville, Que., is a second-row forward who plays in France for ASM Romagnat. Top-ranked South Africa dominated the men’s 15s all-star squad with seven players represented. Ireland had four players with New Zealand three and Argentina one. — World Rugby’s 15s Dream Teams of the Year Women 1. Hope Rogers (U.S.); 2. Georgia Ponsonby (New Zealand); 3. Maud Muir (England); 4. Zoe Aldcroft (England); 5. Laetitia Royer (Canada) ; 6. Aoife Wafer (Ireland)’ 7. Sophie de Goede (Canada) ; 8. Alex Matthews (England); 9. Pauline Bourdon Sansus (France); 10. Holly Aitchison (England); 11. Katelyn Vahaakolo (New Zealand); 12. Alex Tessier (Canada) ; 13. Sylvia Brunt (New Zealand); 14. Abby Dow (England); 15. Ellie Kildunne (England). Men 1. Ox Nche (South Africa); 2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa); 3. Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand); 4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa); 5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland); 6. Pablo Matera (Argentina); 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa); 8. Caelan Doris (Ireland); 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); 10. Damian McKenzie (New Zealand); 11. James Lowe (Ireland); 12. Damian de Allende (South Africa); 13. Jesse Kriel (South Africa); 14. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa); 15. Will Jordan (New Zealand). World Rugby Sevens Dreams Team of the Year Women Olivia Apps (Canada) , Michaela Blyde (New Zealand), Kristi Kirshe (U.S.), Maddison Levi (Australia), Ilona Maher (U.S.), Jorja Miller (New Zealand), Séraphine Okemba (France). Men Selvyn Davids (South Africa), Antoine Dupont (France), Aaron Grandidier Nkanang (France), Terry Kennedy (Ireland), Nathan Lawson (Australia), Ponipate Loganimasi (Fiji), Matías Osadczuk (Argentina). This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. The Canadian PressKobe Sanders tied a season high with 27 points as Nevada claimed fifth place in the Charleston Classic with a 90-78 victory over Oklahoma State Sunday afternoon in South Carolina. Sanders helped the Wolfpack (6-1) earn a second win following one-possession games against Vanderbilt and VCU. After hitting the decisive 3-pointer with five seconds left in Friday's 64-61 win over VCU, Sanders made 7 of 10 shots, hit three 3s and sank 10 of 13 free throws Sunday. Nick Davidson added 223 points as Nevada led by as many as 19 and shot 58.9 percent. Brandon Love contributed 11 on 5-of-5 shooting as the Wolfpack scored 46 points in the paint and scored at least 85 for the fourth time this season. Marchelus Avery led the Cowboys (4-2) with 15 points and Arturo Dean added 13. Robert Jennings and Abou Ousmane added 11 apiece but leading scorer Bryce Thompson was held to seven points on 1-of-9 shooting as Oklahoma State shot 42 percent and 73.2 percent (30-of-41) at the line. After Avery's 3 forged a 12-12 tie with 13:41 remaining, Nevada gradually gained separation. The Wolfpack took a 24-15 lead on Chuck Bailey's jumper in the paint with 8:28 left but the Cowboys inched back, getting within 33-31 on a dunk by Avery with 4:11 left. Another Bailey jumper staked Nevada to a 40-33 lead by halftime. Nevada began pulling away early in the second half as it scored eight in a row for a 52-40 lead on a basket by Love with 16:44 left. A 3 by Sanders opened a 62-43 lead with 14:06 remaining before Oklahoma State charged back. After Nevada made eight straight shots, the Cowboys countered with 11 straight points and trailed 62-54 with 11:19 left on a 3-pointer by Avery. Thompson made his first basket by sinking a jumper with 10:37 left to get Oklahoma State within 64-56 left, and Keller's triple cut the margin to 70-64 nearly three minutes later. The Cowboys were within 78-72 on a basket by Avery with 3:56 remaining, but he fouled out about a minute later and the Wolfpack outscored Oklahoma State 12-6 the rest of the way as Sanders sank five free throws. --Field Level Media
Oregon already secured its spot in the Big Ten championship game, but the top-ranked Ducks have plenty to play for in their regular-season finale. Revenge may be on Oregon's mind when the Ducks host longtime rival Washington on Saturday in Eugene, Ore. Oregon (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) would perhaps be closing in on its second straight College Football Playoff appearance had the Huskies (6-5, 4-4) not dealt the Ducks their only two losses last season. Washington edged Oregon 36-33 in Seattle last October, then slipped past the Ducks 34-31 in the Pac-12 title game to secure a playoff spot for the second time in school history. Both teams joined the Big Ten in August. Third-year Oregon head coach Dan Lanning is 33-5 leading the Ducks. But he remains winless against the Huskies (0-3). Oregon plots to sprint out of its late-season bye after using time to heal injuries, but Lanning doesn't believe the break should stall the flow of an undefeated season. "It's always about what we're able to do on the field. Motivation is overrated," Lanning said. "Our guys have to want to go out there and execute at a really high level. Since the beginning of the season we've talked about playing our best football at the end of November. We're there. This is our opportunity to go play our best football against a good team." The Ducks could have star wide receiver Tez Johnson back from a shoulder injury this week. Johnson has missed the past two games. That would be good news for quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who would regain the team's leader in receptions (64), receiving yards (649) and receiving touchdowns (eight). Washington, under first-year head coach Jedd Fisch, is 63-48-5 all-time against Oregon but is just 1-12-1 when facing the No. 1-ranked team in the country. The Huskies are led on offense by running back Jonah Coleman, who has racked up 1,008 yards and nine scores on the ground this season. Coleman averages 5.8 yards per carry and has 36 runs of at least 10 yards. In the passing game, wide receiver Denzel Boston is tied for the Big Ten lead with nine in touchdown catches and ranks sixth in the conference with 764 receiving yards. Whom Boston will be catching passes from is not yet known, however. Washington has not revealed whether Will Rogers or Demond Williams Jr. will start at quarterback. Rogers has started every game for the Huskies but was benched in favor of Williams two weeks ago after throwing a pair of interceptions in a 31-19 win over UCLA. Fisch said he has a "good idea" of how he will use his quarterbacks on Saturday, and while he wouldn't go as far as to name a starter, he did say Rogers responded well in practices last week. "On the same token, Demond's energy and Demond's confidence showed up. His ability to jump right in and feel really good about leading the group whenever it was his turn... he did a really nice job there as well," Fisch told Seattle Sports. "I think both guys responded well to the week of practice, and now, really, it's important for us that the guy we believe will start the game gets a significant amount of reps in practice week. But as you know, we're not afraid to play two quarterbacks." --Field Level Media
Elias Cato scores 23 as Central Arkansas tops UNC Asheville 92-83 in double OT
Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies at age 78HENDERSON — Early Tuesday morning, friends and family of Public Works Assistant Director William Bailey received two notes. One was a list of last wishes; the other, a list of issues Bailey had with Mayor Melissa Elliott and the city government. Bailey survived a suicide attempt later that day and is in the hospital at the time of writing. Bailey made a bevy of accusations against the mayor — that she and/or members of the city council, Geraldine Champion in particular, were harassing, intimidating and pressuring employees in some fashion, driving by their homes, “pushing them into political areas” and treating white employees differently than Black employees. Some employees, Bailey wrote, had “cowered” in somebody’s presence, likely the mayor’s, given the context. Bailey didn’t include any specific instances of that treatment. The city employee wrote, however, that the city paid for half of the mayor’s recent trip to Rwanda and urged readers to investigate $60,000 wire transfers to and/or from the mayor’s “bankrupt nonprofit.” “I will die before I bend to crooked politics,” Bailey wrote. The city government put out a short press release on Friday morning responding to those accusations, beginning by expressing appreciation for the public’s engagement in the matter. “We... want to clarify that, in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes 160A-168, all matters concerning employee confidentiality are strictly private. Consequently, we are unable to share specifics related to this situation,” the press release began. “It's important to note that this incident occurred outside Henderson's jurisdiction. The Warren County Sheriff's Office is overseeing the matter, and we stand committed to transparency while upholding our legal and ethical responsibilities.” But according to a source close to the case, a Henderson police officer was the first to arrive on scene at Bailey's house in response to the 911 call. The release went on to read that Elliott “passionately emphasizes” the city’s “strong dedication” to the “well-being” of its staff and that she assures “residents that Henderson is on a path of growth and positive community service.” “We are also committed to respecting our staff's privacy in their personal lives,” Elliott said in the release. “Thank you for your understanding as we navigate this sensitive situation with thoughtfulness and respect,” the release read. “Together, we will continue to uphold the values that make our community strong.” Mayor Pro Tem Garry Daeke, on his way to visit Bailey, spoke nothing but positivity of the Public Works staffer, describing him as energetic, upbeat, happy and purposeful at work, always on top of the scene for Public Works matters. Many citizens can attest to his swift response to their requests for service. Few, if any, could speak negatively of the man, indeed. “He’s a beam of light for Henderson,” said Daeke. “We need more folks like him.” In addition to the increased pressure he described in the notes, Bailey was under a lot of weight from personal matters. He and his wife Misty are open about her ongoing health issues, and he had concerns over the direction in which the city was going, based off what he saw at council meetings, Daeke said. Misty declined to comment on the situation, but did ask that folks keep him in their prayers while William recovers from the flu and pneumonia. One Laura Perkinson posted the note and all of its accusations to Facebook, where she also called for Elliott's immediate resignation, along with all of those contributing to corruption in the county, she said. This is a developing story, and further details will be reported as the Dispatch receives them.
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The year 2024 has been one of uncertainty. The world has endured several surprise wars, a jittery economy, and an indecisive Federal Reserve. Headlines wavered between impending doom and potential boon. Our two presidential candidates espoused divergent visions of our country’s future. Even fundamental economic principles, such as the relationship between growth and inflation, were called into question. The year also brought some good news — at least for investors. As of Dec. 10, the S&P 500 was up over 28 percent in 2024. Meanwhile, the tech-heavy NASDAQ grew 33 percent and the Dow Jones gained 17 percent for the year. While investor rationale is up for debate, the bottom line is simple. Investors who remained disciplined were rewarded handsomely. Those who avoided markets missed out. Investors should apply similar discipline this tax season. My recent election article explains that it is difficult to predict future legislative changes. Fortunately, there are various tried-and-true tax planning tips available in any environment. Some are even tailored specifically for today’s political climate. The following six tax planning strategies are worth discussing with a financial advisor, accountant, and/or attorney. Note that certain strategies are complex and require personalized guidance. Tax-loss harvesting Tax-loss harvesting is an age-old tax management strategy for investors. The practice involves selling losing investments in taxable accounts, booking the losses, and purchasing replacement securities.[1] The losses can offset capital gains and/or up to $3,000 in ordinary income each year. Losses are hard to come by in stock portfolios this year. However, investors may still have unrealized losses in their bond portfolios following the Fed’s rapid interest rate campaign. Investors should review their taxable accounts for any unrealized losses before year-end. Optimize asset location The first step in portfolio design is asset allocation. This is where the investor selects a desired balance between stocks, bonds, cash and other investments. The final mix determines the risk and return profile for a given portfolio. The next step is asset location. This involves positioning assets where they receive the most favorable tax treatment. Different investments trigger different tax events: bonds generate regular interest, stocks pay periodic dividends, REITs distribute recurring income, and mutual funds make annual capital gains distributions. Each event’s tax treatment depends on the type of account holding the asset. Investors should coordinate their holdings with the appropriate account type. It is generally prudent to hold high-tax assets, such as REITs and certain bonds, in IRAs and 401(k)s. Investors can then concentrate tax-efficient assets, like municipal bonds and certain growth stocks, in their taxable accounts. Tax-advantaged accounts One of the easiest tax-planning strategies is to optimize tax-advantaged accounts. These include 401(k)s, IRAs, HSAs, and others. Readers should first confirm whether they are utilizing their company benefit plans. This can be accomplished with a simple trip to their HR departments. Benefits packages change every year, and many forgo important tax savings opportunities without realizing it. Readers should also maximize their contributions to these accounts wherever possible. See BaldwinClarke’s 2024 Tax Overview for the current contribution limits and income thresholds. Evaluate Roth conversions Roth conversions are a common long-term tax planning strategy. The process involves transferring funds from a tax-deferred retirement account, such as a Traditional IRA or 401(k) Plan, to a Roth IRA. Individuals owe income taxes on any amounts converted. However, future withdrawals from the Roth IRA are tax-free if certain conditions are met.[2] The chief advantage is flexibility. Someone with major one-time spending goals, such as a vacation home or a new car, can access large sums of money tax-free from a Roth IRA in retirement. Withdrawals from a Traditional IRA or 401(k) Plan are otherwise fully taxable. Roth conversions can also result in real tax savings. Our progressive tax system means that high earners pay higher tax rates than low earners. Using the previous example, an individual funding large expenses from a Traditional IRA or 401(k) plan risks temporarily spiking his or her tax bracket. This problem can be mitigated or avoided entirely with Roth conversions. A growing national deficit makes Roth conversions even more compelling. Many speculate that tax rates will rise in the future to cover our nation’s growing deficit. Those that pay their taxes now may benefit from today’s historically low tax rates. Charitable contributions Charitable contributions can be deducted against your taxable income for the current year. These deductions are particularly beneficial for high earners. Charitable deduction limits depend upon the charity classification, gift type, and income level for the taxpayer. Public charities, such as churches and schools, allow a taxpayer to deduct up to 50 percent of their adjusted gross income (AGI) for the current year. The limit rises to 60 percent of AGI if the taxpayer donates liquid cash to the charity. The limits are lower for private charities, such as foundations and fraternal orders. Unused deductions can generally be carried forward for up to five years. An experienced advisor can optimize charitable gifting strategies by evaluating both the type of charity and the timing of the contribution. As mentioned, certain charity types provide enhanced tax benefits. Similarly, certain life stages offer greater savings opportunities, such as years when a taxpayer’s income is unusually high. Estate tax mitigation Federal laws currently allow individuals to transfer up to $13.61 million to heirs without estate taxes. This exemption doubles to $27.22 million for married couples.[3] Moreover, individuals can give up to $18,000 per beneficiary annually without gift taxes. These laws create a very favorable estate planning environment for proactive people. The current estate tax exemption is both historically high and subject to change. Heirs can thank the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 for enacting these limits. However, this bill’s provisions are set to expire on Dec. 31, 2025. Before this date, Congress will decide whether to extend the exemption, make it permanent, or impose new limits entirely. The exemption will fall to the previous limit of $5.6 million per individual if no action is taken. Fortunately, the annual gift tax exclusion is not expected to change anytime soon. A simple strategy involves making outright lifetime gifts of cash, property, and other assets to heirs. This option is attractive for anybody with disposable assets, dependent family members, and/or long-term bequest goals. It is also likely to survive potential tax reform. Complex strategies leverage the estate tax exemption using irrevocable trusts. The full scope of these techniques falls beyond the purpose of this article. Readers are encouraged to contact their advisor or attorney for individualized guidance. Philanthropic individuals might also consider certain charitable transfer strategies to further shelter assets from estate taxes. Proactive, not reactive Concerns over potential tax changes are nothing new. In fact, it was only three years ago that the newly elected Biden administration announced plans to raise capital gains taxes for high earners. The proposal stalled in Washington and ultimately failed. Taxpayers who sold assets preemptively faced regret. Readers should act on knowns rather than unknowns. Potential tax changes rely on a host of factors beyond any taxpayer’s control. It is critical to remain discerning and pragmatic in today’s inflammatory political environment. Bryce Schuler is a certified financial planner at BaldwinClarke in Bedford. He and his team specialize in serving successful families, business owners, and organizations throughout New England. [1] Investors may replace the losing investments with similar, but not identical, investments to maintain the desired portfolio allocation. This step is crucial to avoid violating the IRS’s “wash-sale” rule. [2] Roth withdrawals must meet certain conditions to be fully tax-free. The Roth account typically must be open and funded for at least five years. In addition, the account holder must be age 59.5 or older at the time of the distribution or meet certain exceptions (e.g., death, disability, first-time home purchase). [3] The estate and gift tax exemptions referenced in this article reflect 2024 rules.Superior Shine Softwash Provides Various Pressure Washing and Exterior Cleaning Services in Coventry, RI 12-27-2024 10:38 PM CET | Politics, Law & Society Press release from: ABNewswire Coventry, RI - Superior Shine Softwash, [ https://www.superiorshinesoftwash.com/ ] a locally owned and operated pressure washing [ https://www.superiorshinesoftwash.com/pressure-washing-company-in-coventry-ri/ ] business in Coventry, RI, proudly provides a wide variety of exterior cleaning services to meet the needs of the community at large. The company believes that cleaner properties lead to better-looking neighborhoods-and that better-looking neighborhoods lead to happier homeowners and business owners. 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The company will increase the property's visual appeal, helping it draw in more potential buyers/renters. Brightening Concrete With Concrete Cleaning Services Concrete is a versatile material that is used to create many different structures. A few examples of these include sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, garage floors, patios, and pool decks. All of these surfaces are prone to building up layers of debris, including organic debris like moss and algae. Because of this, Superior Shine Softwashing offers full-service concrete cleaning to the Coventry, RI community. The concrete cleaning process goes like this. First, the team at Superior Shine Softwashing uses sodium hypochlorite, a powerful treatment chemical, to weaken the debris on the concrete. Then, with high-pressure water, all the filth is washed away, leaving in the best possible condition. Yearly concrete cleaning is recommended to reduce the chance of debris-related erosion and to maintain the visual appeal of concrete. Commercial Pressure Washing Services For Business Success Superior Shine Softwashing is also delighted to help other local businesses. The company achieves this through its professional commercial pressure washing services. Pressure washing is an effective way to restore curb appeal to many different businesses. It can remove tire tracks and gas spills from gas station pavement. It can transform dirty parking lots into clean and eye-catching ones. It can even be used to beautify the outside walls, sidewalks, and driveways of an office complex. Cleaner spaces are proven to boost worker productivity, making the benefits of commercial pressure washing twofold. About Superior Shine Softwash Superior Shine Softwash was founded with the mission of making life easier for residential and commercial clients in Coventry, RI. [ https://maps.app.goo.gl/1LB2buVCCsqWpZwe7 ] The company is able to take on jobs of all shapes and sizes for its customers, and it does them for reasonable prices, too. This allows property owners to keep themselves occupied with other tasks and avoid the frustration of do-it-yourself pressure washing and soft washing. For more information about Superior Shine Softwash, visit their website [ https://www.superiorshinesoftwash.com/ ] or call (401) 423-4239. Media Contact Company Name: Superior Shine Softwash Contact Person: Rory Wohllebe Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=superior-shine-softwash-provides-various-pressure-washing-and-exterior-cleaning-services-in-coventry-ri ] Phone: (401) 423-4239 City: Coventry State: Rhode Island Country: United States Website: https://www.superiorshinesoftwash.com/ This release was published on openPR.
NoneBy 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.Alamo Bowl notes: CU Buffs excited to have stars on board for postseasonSouth Korea impeaches second president in two weeks
With what feels like an endless loop of information coming from all angles at all times, it can be hard to discern what beauty advice you should actually take seriously. One of the industries most affected by this is skin care. At any given moment you can find someone spewing misinformation about sunscreens , an aesthetician revealing a new treatment that you have to try, and a board-certified dermatologist explaining why you shouldn't be using a product that one second ago you swore by. All this is to say: it can be confusing to know who to go to for what when it comes to preserving your skin health — especially in the era of TikTok fame and social media virality. So if you too have often wondered what the difference is between skin-care professionals (especially as it pertains to dermatologists and aestheticians), we asked them for you. As it turns out, the main difference is that dermatologists can perform a host of invasive to non-invasive procedures, while aestheticians are more limited to surface-level enhancements. "Aestheticians can cosmetically enhance the appearance of the epidermis, or outermost layer of the skin, within the scope of practice outlined by their state," aesthetician Ashley White says. "Dermatologists are medical professionals that can legally diagnose abnormalities and prescribe medication to treat specific conditions." To better understand the difference between a dermatologist versus an aesthetician, including which instances you should see one over the other, keep reading. Ashley White is an aesthetician based in Chicago. Tracy Evans MD, MPH , is a board-certified dermatologist, skin cancer specialist, fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon, and the founder of Pacific Skin in San Francisco. Dermatologists vs. Aestheticians The main difference between dermatologists vs. aestheticians is the amount of training required for each field. Allow us to explain more: What Is a Dermatologist? "A dermatologist is a medical doctor who has completed four years of undergraduate school at university or college, four years of medical school, a medical internship, and three years of dermatology residency," dermatologist Tracy Evans MD, MPH, says. "They also take a national board-certified exam." What Is an Aesthetician? Aestheticians on the other hand fall under the umbrella of cosmetology. "Aestheticians complete a cosmetology degree, which is usually one year following high school or college," Dr. Evans says. "They are regulated by the states that they practice in. Some aestheticians can do procedures, such as facials, microblading, microplaning, eyelash extensions, and hair. Some states allow them to do lasers and even injectables, but most do not." When to See a Dermatologist vs. an Aesthetician Though some of the procedures that both specialties have some overlap, there are instances where you should see a dermatologist as opposed to an aesthetician. "For all true skin conditions, you need to be seeing a dermatologist," Dr. Evans says. "This includes everything from eczema, acne, rosacea, psoriasis, skin cancers , mole checks." Additionally, any cosmetic procedures that involve cutting or injecting the skin such as fillers, Botox injections , and lasers should be done by a dermatologist. White agrees, adding: "You should be seeing a dermatologist one to two times a year for skin checks, rashes, nodules, and screenings for early signs of skin cancer." She recommends seeing aestheticians for general topical maintenance, like regular facials, LED or chemical treatments, and extractions. This means you'll likely see an esthetician more often than you do a dermatologist. "Aestheticians can provide certain treatments in-clinic to enhance and/or accelerate results like a more even skin tone and little to no breakouts," White says. "Aestheticians typically provide longer time blocks with their clients so they receive extra attention and support during their skin optimization process." Which Is Better: Dermatologist vs. Aesthetician? While it may seem like you have to choose between the two, you don't. "It's actually beneficial to combine skin care and medicine," White says. "Having multiple providers allows you to maintain healthy skin instead of simply just fixing skin that has already been damaged." Simply put, aestheticians provide services that address the appearance of your skin, while a dermatologist help to address its fitness, a process that may require a bit more of an in-depth dive into your medical history, as well as those more cosmetic treatments like filler or lasers. No social media algorithm or product recommendation will ever accurately address the full picture when it comes to your specific concerns, so whether you can only choose one or are creating team of experts, do always make sure to go to a professional when trying to achieve the skin of your dreams. Ariel Baker is a former assistant editor for PS Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.Villa held to 0-0 draw by depleted Juventus
The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . CONWAY, Ark. (AP) — Elias Cato scored 23 points as Central Arkansas beat UNC Asheville 92-83 in double overtime on Sunday. Jordan Morris made two free throws with one second left for UNC Asheville (2-3) to force overtime tied at 71. Fletcher Abee’s 3-pointer with 33 seconds left in the first overtime tied the game at 79 and led to the second extra period. Michael Evbagharu’s layup gave Central Arkansas (2-4) the lead in the second OT and Cato followed with a 3-pointer as the Bears outscored the Bulldogs 21-12 to pull out the victory. Cato added nine rebounds for the Bears. Layne Taylor totaled 19 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals. Brayden Fagbemi pitched in with 19 points, seven assists and five steals. The Bulldogs (2-3) were led by Fletcher Abee, who recorded 27 points. UNC Asheville also got 17 points from Josh Banks. Toyaz Solomon finished with 15 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Kobe Sanders, Nevada beat Oklahoma St. for fifth place in Charleston