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Another factor to consider is the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding social commerce and influencer marketing. As social commerce continues to grow in popularity, regulators are paying closer attention to issues such as consumer privacy, data security, and transparency in advertising. TikTok, like other social media platforms, must navigate these regulatory challenges to build trust with users and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Failure to address these issues could undermine TikTok's credibility and impact its long-term sustainability as a social commerce platform.
Arsenal and Bayern Munich secured victories in the UEFA Champions League but Manchester City squandered a three-goal lead to settle for a draw. Arsenal got back to winning ways in the competition with a commanding 5-1 victory over Sporting at Estadio Jose Alvalade. Goals by Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhães, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard made a light walk of Gonçalo Inácio’s effort for the hosts. The result means Arsenal move up to seventh in the Champions League table while Sporting are a place behind them, with both sides on 10 points. In Germany, Bayern Munich boosted their hopes of a top-eight finish in the league phase of the competition with a 1-0 victory over Paris St-Germain. Defender Kim Min-jae scored the only goal seven minutes before the interval to condemn the French side to yet another defeat as they remain winless in the Champions League since September. Read Also: UCL: Raphinha nets hat-trick as Barca thrash Bayern; Man City, Liverpool win Elsewhere, Manchester City blew away 3-0 to draw 3-3 against Feyenoord as their wretched form continued at a stunned Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s side looked to be cruising after two goals from Erling Haaland and another from Ilkay Gundogan put the hosts into a commanding lead. But the Dutch visitors staged a stunning comeback to take a point back, with goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Giménez, and David Hancko. Having failed to win their past six matches in all competitions, City have a huge game coming on Sunday against rivals Liverpool. City are 15th in the Champions League table after dropping seven points from five matches. In the other Champions League ties of Tuesday, Barcelona thrashed Brest 5-0, Atalanta thrashed Young Boys 6-1, Inter Milan pipped RB Leipzig 1-0. Bayer Leverkusen also thrashed RB Salzburg 5-0, Atletico Madrid hammered Sparta Prague 6-0, while AC Milan won 3-2 over hosts Slovan. Opinions Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs. As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake. If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause. Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development. Donate NowBillionaire philanthropist’s wife Julia Rausing left huge £58million in will following her death aged 63 from illness
Removing Gaps in the Gaming Industry to Ensure Inclusion for the DeafFor the members of Village FC, that day would forever be etched in their memories as the day they made history and proved that anything was possible with hard work, dedication, and belief. As they held the oversized check representing their unexpected windfall, they knew that their journey was far from over. They had shown the world what they were capable of, and now, the sky was the limit for their dreams and aspirations.
In the second half, Shanxi managed to gain a slight edge, thanks to their execution on both ends of the court. They capitalized on turnovers and converted them into fast break opportunities, while also making key stops on defense to stifle Beijing's momentum. The home crowd rallied behind their team, providing a raucous atmosphere that energized the players on the court.With rapid expansion in the gaming world, the notion of inclusivity is at the forefront of every design. As expansion occurs in all industries, more awareness is established regarding an incredible spectrum of players' needs, including those with hearing impairments. According to the research conducted by the World Health Organization, over 5% of the world’s population – about 430 million people, including 34 million children – experience disabling hearing loss that requires rehabilitation. For any deaf gamer, inadequate features of access will turn their enjoyable play from pleasurable into nagging. In this article, we will explore the challenges that hearing-impaired players face and offer solutions that can be endorsed to make the gaming experience more inclusive for all. Recognizing the Challenges The gaming experiences of people who are deaf or hard of hearing are far more different than those of someone with adequate hearing. Audio cues support gameplay in many ways, such as with the movement of enemies, changes in the environment, or the plot of a game. Without those cues, deaf players can miss essential moments that might leave an impression on the gaming experience and immersion. The missing audio cue may then have profound, sometimes devastating consequences: failure to detect an incoming attack, losing track of significant storyline development, and so on. Overall, it would then make gameplay more challenging and, of course, less enjoyable. Communication plays a more critical role in multiplayer games. Some games are team-based, depending on real-time coordination, which most commonly uses voice chat. Though most video games usually have a text chat facility, voice communication is limited to fewer games. It is thus a significant challenge for hearing-impaired players to keep track of the rapid flow of gameplay. Isolated or marginalized players who cannot participate in voice chat may feel competitively disadvantaged against their hearing counterparts. Technological Advancements and Solutions Despite all these challenges, the gaming industry has gone a long way to serve inclusively. Presently, developers are ever so aware of the need for accessibility features and are actively working on creating solutions that make gaming more enjoyable for the hearing-impaired. Some of the most effective solutions in this regard are as follows: Subtitles and Closed Captions Captions have been a synonym for accessibility since the old days of video games for hearing-impaired players. They transcribe spoken dialogue so players may continue understanding what is happening in the game. The closed captions extend the reach further by encompassing the descriptions of the non-verbal sounds, such as footsteps and environmental noises, and the sound effects in the context of explosion sounds and creaking doors. The disabled players, unable to fully hear everything in the game, can stay engaged in the action without missing the important audio-based clues. Having subtitles become extremely common in many games is very beneficial not only to deaf players but also to offer a better experience for those who find it easier to play games without sound. Visual Indicators A hearing-impaired gamer can be similarly notified of important events in a game by using visual cues to replace or supplement audio cues. For example, Fortnite and other games have used visual indicators that alert players to nearby sounds, such as footsteps or gunfire, through on-screen visual cues. The indicators may appear color-coded, flashing, or displayed at certain locations on the screen for quick notice. They could use visual signals for a threat or objective, such as flashing an icon when an enemy is close by or pulsing an area indicating in-game activity that needs attention. This will level the playing field so the hearing-impaired player will be able to react to threats at the same rate as their hearing peers. Haptic Feedback One of the emerging solutions is haptic feedback, or vibration, providing tactile responses to in-game events. This way, the player can "feel" the game as an alternate way of experiencing the audio cues. For example, a rumble in the controller could signal the incoming attack or an explosion near you to tell you what's essential in the game through touch. For instance, in Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, they used haptic feedback to create a sensory-rich environment where specific vibrations are carefully adjusted with the specific emotional and environmental moments. This is a great way to communicate the intensity of something happening or bring a player's attention to some danger close by for deaf players. Customizable Audio Settings This factor significantly increases the accessibility of a game for hearing-impaired players by offering customizable audio settings. That is because the user can control the audio experience, finding it as perfect as possible for their needs. This could be in the form of amplifying specific sounds, say dialogue or environmental noise, while diluting background music or sound effects that might be harder to listen to. Others may allow users to alter the frequency range of particular sounds to be more perceivable for gamers with partial hearing loss. By tailoring the audio experience, hearing-impaired players can be confident of getting the most out of the game by not missing critical audio cues. The Role of Game Developers Game developers are clearly at the top when it comes to developing accessible gaming experiences . By incorporating accessibility features at the onset of game design, developers can ensure games are fun for hearing-impaired gamers and all types of players. Committing to this will help developers reach a wider audience, better player satisfaction, and improvement in the gaming community at large. According to Private Internet Access (PIA), inclusivity in game design should be central, not something to be tacked on at the end. Accessibility features in the case of a study show that hear-impaired players benefit not only the targeted individual but also the layman, who might experience partial hearing loss or who merely prefers this accommodation. With this increased awareness of accessibility issues, more game studios have begun incorporating features that support diverse gamers in a more comprehensive, inclusive community. Conclusion Inclusion gaming isn't about adding features; it is more about creating a world where everyone is appreciated and included, regardless of their abilities. The deaf gaming community will always benefit from the proper accessibility options put together thoughtfully in their game: subtitles, visual cues, haptic feedback, and customizable audio settings. As technology evolves, the door will open even more for the tearing down of barriers between the industry and inclusive experiences, allowing every player, irrespective of their ability to hear, to enjoy the world of his favorite games without limit. It is a matter of all the developers, the community, and gamers themselves to make this dream a reality when everybody can be given joy.
Under Flick's guidance, Bayern Munich has been a dominant force in European football, showcasing a formidable mix of attacking prowess, tactical astuteness, and sheer determination. Their recent performances have been nothing short of spectacular, with clinical finishing, solid defense, and exceptional teamwork defining their style of play. Led by star players such as Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller, and Joshua Kimmich, Bayern Munich has proven time and time again that they are a force to be reckoned with.Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season
PEKINK , 22. listopadu 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zpráva z deníku China Daily Na Světové konferenci o rozvoji odborného a technického vzdělávání 2024 (World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference 2024) v severočínském Tchien-ťinu se tento týden od středy do pátku sešlo přibližně 1000 delegátů. Diskutovali například o propojení průmyslu a vzdělávání, udržitelném rozvoji, vzdělávání učitelů a celoživotním vzdělávání. Cílem konference, kterou pořádají čínské Ministerstvo školství, Národní komise Čínské lidové republiky pro UNESCO a vedení města v Tchien-ťin, je podpořit odborné vzdělávání, aby se stalo hnací sílou inovací a udržitelného rozvoje na celém světě. V rámci konference bylo představeno šest klíčových iniciativ, které by měly ovlivnit podobu odborného vzdělávání na celém světě: zaprvé uspořádání konference, na níž budou předneseny hlavní cíle této iniciativy, budou zde probíhat kulaté stoly se zástupci z ministerstva a bilaterální rozhovory. Zadruhé je to založení celosvětové aliance, která bude sdružovat odborné instituce, aktéry ze sféry průmyslu a vzdělávací organizace. Zatřetí předávání světové ceny za úspěchy v oblasti odborného vzdělávání. Začtvrté organizace mezinárodní soutěže v dovednostech se 42 okruhy. Zapáté příprava výstavy o úspěších na poli odborného vzdělávání, nehmotného kulturního dědictví a mezinárodní spolupráce. Zapáté publikování časopisu World Vocational and Technical Education , který vydává tchien-ťinská University of Technology and Education. Stefania Gianniniová, zástupkyně generálního ředitele UNESCO pro vzdělávání, ve svém videopříspěvku označila odborné vzdělávání za katalyzátor transformace. Odkázala se na UNESCEM nedávno vydaný dokument Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development (Doporučení o vzdělávání pro mír, lidská práva a udržitelný rozvoj), který zdůrazňuje, že odborné vzdělávání je hnací sílou společenských změn. Gianniniová ve svém projevu podpořila myšlenku, že do odborného vzdělávání by se mělo investovat více peněz a implementovat větší množství inovací, aby bylo možné čelit výzvám dnešního světa. Dodala, že dovednosti jsou pro orientaci v dnešním složitém světě klíčové. Čínský ministr školství Chuaj Ťin-pcheng uvedl, že odborné vzdělávání by se mělo přizpůsobit trendům doby, udržet si svou podstatu a zachovat si své jedinečné charakteristiky. Také řekl, že by cíle odborného vzdělávání měly být vnímány jako výzvy a příležitosti k rozvoji. Mělo by se usilovat o inovace a pokroky v této oblasti. Chuaj Ťin-pcheng nastínil vizi odborného vzdělávání: mělo by být inkluzivní, orientované na průmysl, inovativní, inteligentní a mezinárodní. Mělo by sloužit všem, mělo by být propojené s průmyslem, podporovat inovace, využívat inteligentní technologie a podporovat spolupráci v rámci celého světa. Hladký průběh konference zajišťovalo 1448 dobrovolníků z řad vysokoškolských studentů, které Liga mládeže města Tchien-ťin rekrutovala mezi studenty devíti univerzit včetně Nankai University. Studenti se starali o registraci hostů, koordinaci konference, překlady, přítomné novináře a lékařskou pomoc. Foto - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2565169/China_Daily.jpgDespite his impressive financial standing, Rashford's true worth extends beyond just numbers. As a role model for young athletes and a vocal advocate for social issues, Rashford's impact off the pitch is immeasurable. His charitable work, including campaigns to fight child hunger and provide support for disadvantaged communities, has endeared him to fans and earned him widespread praise.
Swedish gigafactory maker Northvolt filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US on Thursday after months of urgently hunting for a cash lifeline. As it looks to restructure, there’s a lot of money on the line: Northvolt has raised $13bn in debt and equity and owes creditors $5.8bn. The company, which was founded in 2016, had struggled to meet production targets, culminating in car maker BMW canceling a billion dollar battery cell order from the company in June. Northvolt then underwent a strategic review of its operations, laying off staff and cutting overheads by focusing on its flagship factory in northern Sweden. Having struggled in its hunt for further capital, Northvolt filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US. Chapter 11 will allow Northvolt to restructure its debt and operations, as well as seek new funding to keep the company going long term. Northvolt’s CEO Peter Carlsson resigned on Friday, leaving CFO Pia Aaltonen-Forsell, COO Matthias Arleth and restructuring officer Scott Millar to lead the process. If a current shareholder, or new financier, stumps up the new funding, they’d likely take ownership of the business. Companies emerge from Chapter 11 with fundamentally different ownership — so which existing shareholders stand to lose the most? The existing cap table Northvolt has raised over $13bn in debt and equity over its lifetime. Its largest shareholder is German car manufacturer Volkswagen. Volkswagen invested about €900m into Northvolt in June 2019 to acquire a 20% stake and take a board seat. It doubled down in November that year with another €500m cash injection, retaining its 20% stake. Northvolt’s next largest shareholder is asset manager Goldman Sachs — though it's unclear how much it has put into the company in total. It entered the cap table in 2019 at the same time as VW. In 2021, Goldman backed the company again as part of a mammoth $2.8bn equity raise alongside investment manager Baillie Gifford, truck maker Scania, Canadian pension fund OMERS and a host of other investors. Goldman currently has a 19% stake in Northvolt. Northvolt’s next largest shareholder is Vargas, the company builder headed by Swedish financier Harald Mix, which seeded Northvolt with its first cash. Vargas is likely to have given Northvolt a much smaller amount than the rest of its largest shareholders, having entered the cap table so early on. Other shareholders include Danish pension fund Arbejdsmarkedets Tillægspension, car maker BMW and the IMAS Foundation, which invests the wealth of the IKEA foundation. Northvolt's creditors When Northvolt filed for its Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the company had $5.8bn in debts — and a long list of creditors. According to the filing, Volta Vision, a German company that tests and develops battery and automotive systems, is owed the most ($3.8bn) by Northvolt AB — Northvolt’s parent company. German public bank KfW, which loaned Northvolt funding for the development of its flagship factory Northvolt Ett, is owed $695m. Volkswagen, its largest shareholder, is also owed $355m for a convertible loan. Other companies owed money by Northvolt include contractors and vendors who work on the sites. SFA Engineering Corp, which provides turnkey factory equipment, is owed $30m, for example. Chinese creditors Notable on the list of creditors are Chinese companies Wuxi Lead and Easpring Technology. Wuxi Lead supplies manufacturing equipment to gigafactories, while Easpring sells cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. Northvolt had billed itself as central to ending European reliance on Chinese production for batteries, but its list of creditors underscores that the Swedish company has ended up relying on equipment and materials from the Asian country. China dominates the battery market, supplying the majority of the world’s batteries and components. Not exposed: the EU and the German state Notable omissions from Northvolt’s list of creditors are many of the governments and public institutions which pledged funding to the company. Governments and public institutions have pledged the company more than €2.7bn over its lifetime. Those include the European Investment Bank (EIB), which promised €943m. Earlier Sifted reporting showed the EIB’s stake was yet to be handed over because it was ring-fenced for the expansion of a factory which is yet to happen. Northvolt was also promised €902m from the German state, a combination of €700m as a grant and €202m as loan guarantees. Sifted understands none of the €700m has been sent to Northvolt yet, and that the loan guarantee would only be triggered if the company defaults on payments — it’s not clear if it is yet to do so. Canada is more exposed. Its Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) and Invest Québec, the Québec government’s investment arm, invested €134m and €181m respectively, as convertible notes. Several Canadian pension funds are also invested in Northvolt’s parent company. The Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO), Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and CDPQ have collectively invested around $1.1bn into the battery maker, according to Reuters. Canadian public pension fund OMERS has also been a long-term backer of Northvolt. Sweden, where Northvolt is headquartered, has invested far less into the company than countries like Germany and Canada. In total, through a variety of grants, Northvolt has received SEK 625m (€55m) in government money from Sweden. The other Swedish public money invested in Northvolt comes from pension funds, several of which are on the battery maker’s cap table. AP-fonden, the Swedish public pension system's leader, has invested SEK 5.8bn (€513m) in equity and convertible notes in Northvolt via four subfunds (AP1-AP4), which collectively hold a 3.7% stake in the company. The pension fund with the biggest share in Northvolt is the Danish pension fund ATP, which has invested DKK 2.3bn (€308m) and owns around 5.3% of the company.
With the Boss Challenge update, "Black Myth: Wu Kong" continues to raise the bar for action-adventure games, offering players a thrilling and rewarding gaming experience that will keep them coming back for more. Whether you're a seasoned gamer looking for a new challenge or a newcomer eager to embark on an epic adventure, this game has something for everyone.In conclusion, the story of the 39 search and rescue dogs in Yunnan serves as a powerful reminder of the bond between humans and animals, and the potential for second chances and new beginnings. With nearly 700 applicants eager to provide a loving home for these dogs, the future looks bright for these dedicated canines. Let us continue to support and celebrate the remarkable animals who enrich our lives in ways both big and small.The case came to light during a nationwide anti-corruption campaign, highlighting the pervasive issue of corruption within the country's educational institutions. The primary school principal, whose name has been withheld, was found to have accepted bribes from parents seeking to secure enrollment for their children or influence school decisions.Middle East latest: ICC issues warrant for Israel's Netanyahu as Gaza death toll soars past 44,000
Water woes boil over in New Jersey’s capital, with revelation of monitoring lapseThe reform and restructuring of village banks are part of a broader agenda to modernize the financial system and promote greater inclusivity and access to financial services. By strengthening the banking sector and improving the quality of services, authorities hope to foster greater trust and confidence among consumers and investors. This, in turn, is expected to contribute to the overall stability and resilience of the financial system.Arsenal and Bayern Munich secured victories in the UEFA Champions League but Manchester City squandered a three-goal lead to settle for a draw. Arsenal got back to winning ways in the competition with a commanding 5-1 victory over Sporting at Estadio Jose Alvalade. Goals by Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhães, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard made a light walk of Gonçalo Inácio’s effort for the hosts. The result means Arsenal move up to seventh in the Champions League table while Sporting are a place behind them, with both sides on 10 points. In Germany, Bayern Munich boosted their hopes of a top-eight finish in the league phase of the competition with a 1-0 victory over Paris St-Germain. Defender Kim Min-jae scored the only goal seven minutes before the interval to condemn the French side to yet another defeat as they remain winless in the Champions League since September. Read Also: UCL: Raphinha nets hat-trick as Barca thrash Bayern; Man City, Liverpool win Elsewhere, Manchester City blew away 3-0 to draw 3-3 against Feyenoord as their wretched form continued at a stunned Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s side looked to be cruising after two goals from Erling Haaland and another from Ilkay Gundogan put the hosts into a commanding lead. But the Dutch visitors staged a stunning comeback to take a point back, with goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Giménez, and David Hancko. Having failed to win their past six matches in all competitions, City have a huge game coming on Sunday against rivals Liverpool. City are 15th in the Champions League table after dropping seven points from five matches. In the other Champions League ties of Tuesday, Barcelona thrashed Brest 5-0, Atalanta thrashed Young Boys 6-1, Inter Milan pipped RB Leipzig 1-0. Bayer Leverkusen also thrashed RB Salzburg 5-0, Atletico Madrid hammered Sparta Prague 6-0, while AC Milan won 3-2 over hosts Slovan. Opinions Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs. As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake. If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause. Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development. Donate NowWithout Jalen Hurts at QB, Eagles bid to wrap up NFC East vs. Cowboys
Putin’s Ukraine obsession began 20 years ago with the Orange RevolutionExciting news for tech enthusiasts and app aficionados! The highly anticipated Pureblood Hongmeng WeChat App is set to release its official version next year, with the beta testing section already online for early access and feedback.
November 26 - The Cleveland Cavaliers open a home-and-home series against the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday trying to extend their perfect start in Ohio. The Cavaliers, who visit the Hawks on Friday, rebounded from their lone loss of the season last week with decisive victories over the New Orleans Pelicans and Toronto Raptors. Cleveland improved to a sterling 17-1 overall and 10-0 at home following its 122-108 victory over the Raptors on Sunday. "I'm surprised by the (record), but I'm not surprised by the play style," Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen said, per The Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I've expected us to come out and play like we do, play at a high level. Still, 17-1 is incredible." Ty Jerome followed up his 29-point performance in the Cavaliers' 128-100 victory over the Pelicans on Wednesday with 26 points off the bench against Toronto. He is 19-for-33 from the field and 11-for-20 from 3-point range in the last two games. "He's just in a state of grace right now. It's beautiful to watch," Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. Jerome has scored at least 24 points in three of his last four games. "I just keep doing my job, and that's just reading the game," he said. "And if I have space I'm going to shoot it. I think just think the more guys you have on court that are aggressive, it gives Donovan (Mitchell) space, it gives Darius (Garland) space, it gives Evan (Mobley) space. We're putting four or five guys out there that are all aggressive, and it's like, what's the defense going to do?" Mitchell, who averages a team-best 24.4 points per game, pumped in 26 points versus the Raptors. He averaged 26.7 points, 8.7 assists and 7.3 rebounds in three games against Atlanta last season. Jarrett Allen added 23 points and 13 rebounds to record his sixth straight double-double. While the Cavaliers have raced to the top of the standings, the Hawks have fallen a few notches down the ladder after dropping their third straight game on Monday. Jalen Johnson collected 28 points and 11 rebounds and Trae Young added 18 points and 16 assists in a 129-119 setback to the Dallas Mavericks. Young has recorded a double-digit assist total in four straight games and in seven of his last nine. That said, Young admitted to being flustered by a basic defense employed by Dallas. "It's tough," Young said, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We're taking a lot of twos; we're taking a lot of mid-range shots. I hate that they played a lot of a high-school defense -- zone -- and it worked. That should never work: going into the zone and being able to stop us." Bogdan Bogdanovic followed up a 16-point performance in a 136-122 setback to the Chicago Bulls on Friday by scoring a season-high 18 points versus the Mavericks. He made 14 of 26 shots from the floor in those two games after going 4-for-21 in his previous two contests. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabAs for the woman who fell victim to the unscrupulous practices of an unaccredited clinic, her journey towards recovery is ongoing. She serves as a cautionary tale to others, highlighting the high stakes involved in seeking medical procedures from unverified sources. Her story serves as a reminder of the critical need for vigilance and accountability in the realm of healthcare, ensuring that patients receive the quality and safe treatment they deserve.Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. 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 | 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 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: @phillip020It was a memorable moment for head coach Kevin O’Connell last weekend in the locker room at Lumen Field in Seattle. After the Vikings earned a 27-24 win over the Seahawks, O’Connell went through his usual routine of handing out game balls to his players. ADVERTISEMENT He recognized kicker Will Reichard and punter Ryan Wright for their prowess on special teams. He recognized safety Theo Jackson, edge rusher Dallas Turner and edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel for the impact they made on defense. He recognized receiver Justin Jefferson and quarterback Sam Darnold for making everything go on offense. Just before the Vikings started packing up, right tackle Brian O’Neill took the floor, flipping a game ball to O’Connell to recognize him for becoming the only head coach in franchise history to win at least 13 games more than once. The locker room erupted and appropriately mobbed their leader in celebration. As he reflected Friday on that particular exchange, O’Connell couldn’t help but smile. “Nobody I respect more than Brian O’Neill,” O’Connell said. “To get that from him in that moment was really special.” It’s clear how much respect O’Connell has earned since taking over the Vikings. Ask any of his players about him and they will go out of their way to make a pitch for him winning NFL Coach of the Year. As the current betting favorite in Las Vegas, O’Connell could very well be on his way to winning that annual accolade. Not that any of his players are surprised. They also aren’t surprised that O’Connell has already made franchise history. It’s a testament to the culture he has worked so hard to build over the past few seasons. ADVERTISEMENT “That’s a credit to who he is as a person,” tight end T.J. Hockenson said. “We’re very fortunate to be able to play under him.” As for O’Connell getting the game ball, Darnold joked that it was long overdue. “It was awesome,” Darnold said. “Just the way that KO approaches every single week, the way that he gets us ready, the way that he keeps everything very relaxed on game day, it helps us go out there and play loose and free.” Briefly There’s a chance linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (hamstring) could make his return when the Vikings host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon. He is being listed as questionable as he works through the final stages of the recovery process. He would need to be activated off injured reserve in order to play, which means the Vikings would have to make a corresponding roster move. ______________________________________________________ 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 .