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WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla TSLA.O and SpaceX, vowed to go to "war" to defend the H-1B visa program for foreign tech workers late on Friday amid a dispute between President-elect Donald Trump's longtime supporters and his most recently acquired backers from the tech industry. In a post on social media platform X, Musk said "The reason I'm in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B." "I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend," he added. Musk, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in South Africa, has held an H-1B visa, and his electric-car company Tesla obtained 724 of the visas this year. H-1B visas are typically for three-year periods, though holders can extend them or apply for green cards. More: Musk vs. MAGA: Trump supporters battle over role of immigrant labor and American workers Musk's tweet was directed at Trump's supporters and immigration hardliners, who have increasingly pushed for the H-1B visa program to be scrapped amid a heated debate over immigration and the place of skilled immigrants and foreign workers brought into the country on work visas. Trump has so far remained silent on the issue. The Trump transition did not respond to a request for comment on Musk's tweets and the H-1B visa debate. In the past, Trump has expressed a willingness to provide more work visas to skilled workers. He has also promised to deport all immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally , deploy tariffs to help create more jobs for American citizens and severely restrict immigration. The issue highlights how tech leaders like Musk -- who has taken an important role in the presidential transition, advising on key personnel and policy areas -- are now drawing scrutiny from his base. The U.S. tech industry relies on the government's H-1B visa program to hire foreign skilled workers to help run its companies, a labor force that critics say undercuts wages for American citizens. The altercation was set off earlier this week by far-right activists who criticized Trump's selection of Sriram Krishnan, an Indian American venture capitalist, to be an adviser on artificial intelligence, saying he would have influence on the Trump administration's immigration policies. On Friday, Steve Bannon, a longtime Trump confidante, critiqued "big tech oligarchs" for supporting the H-1B program and cast immigration as a threat to Western civilization. In response, Musk and many other tech billionaires drew a line between what they view as legal immigration and illegal immigration. Musk has spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars helping Trump get elected president in November. He has posted regularly this week about the lack of homegrown talent to fill all the needed positions within American tech companies. (Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington)Academy Award-winning music composer AR Rahman has been replaced in Suriya’s upcoming big-budget film, tentatively titled Suriya 45. Initially, the film was launched with AR Rahman on board as the music director. However, now with the newly released poster, it is listed Sai Abhyankkar as the new composer. A Possible Career break? The abrupt change in the music department has raised questions among fans, especially because there are ongoing rumors about Rahman taking a career break, amid issues in Personal life. His daughter, Khatija Rahman, had previously dismissed these speculations, but the sudden replacement has reignited concerns. However, nothing related to ‘career break’ has been confirmed yet. AR Rahman’s Personal Issues This news coincides with a turbulent time in AR Rahman’s personal life. Last month, the musician and his wife, Saira Banu, announced their separation after nearly 30 years of marriage. In a joint statement, the couple expressed their mutual decision to part ways, citing irreconcilable differences. Rahman addressed the separation on social media, sharing an emotional message: “We had hoped to reach the grand thirty, but all things, it seems, carry an unseen end. Even the throne of God might tremble at the weight of broken hearts. Yet, in this shattering, we seek meaning, though the pieces may not find their place again. To our friends, thank you for your kindness and for respecting our privacy as we walk through this fragile chapter.” Who is Sai Abhyankkar? Sai Abhyankkar, the son of popular singers Tippu and Harini, is a young and promising talent in the Tamil music industry. He gained widespread recognition with hit tracks like Katchi Sera and Aasa Kooda . His recent accomplishments include his song being named the most-streamed Tamil track of 2024 on Spotify Wrapped. Abhyankkar’s addition to the film has sparked excitement, with many eager to see how he will contribute to Suriya’s highly anticipated project. The poster for Suriya 45 also confirmed the involvement of cinematographer GK Vishnu, known for his collaborations with Atlee on blockbuster films. Vishnu’s inclusion adds to the film’s high expectations. ALSO READ: Is Dhanush Collaborating With Sydney Sweeney On A New Hollywood Film?
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