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Congress Working Committee on Friday paid glowing tributes to former prime minister Manmohan Singh , hailing him as "a true statesman, whose life and work have profoundly shaped the destiny of India." ET Year-end Special Reads Two sectors that rose on India's business horizon in 2024 2025 outlook: Is it time for cautious optimism or rekindling animal spirits? 2024: Govt moves ahead with simultaneous polls plan; India holds largest democratic exercise Singh's body will be brought to Congress headquarters at 24, Akbar Road at 8 am on Saturday, AICC announced. This honour was controversially denied to former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao when he died in Delhi during the UPA era in 2004 and whose funeral was conducted in Hyderabad. Singh was a "towering figure in India's political and economic landscape, whose contributions transformed the country and earned him respect worldwide", CWC resolution said. "As the finance minister in the early 1990s, Singh was the architect of India's economic liberalisation . With unmatched foresight, he initiated a series of reforms that not only saved the nation from a balance-of-payments crisis but also opened the doors to global markets. Through his policies of deregulation, privatisation and the encouragement of foreign investment, he laid the foundation for India's rapid economic growth . Under his stewardship, India emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing economies, a testament to his brilliance and vision," said the resolution passed by the top-most Congress body. It further said as the prime minister, Singh led the country with a sense of calm determination and exceptional wisdom. "His tenure was marked by sustained economic growth, global recognition, and social progress. He steered the nation through the challenges of the global financial crisis in 2008 with strategic measures that shielded India from its worst effects. His leadership saw remarkable initiatives like MGNREGA, Right to Education, the historic Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal , National Food Security Act, Land Acquisition Act... He also championed the Right to Information (RTI) Act to enhance transparency, the Forest Rights Act to empower tribal communities, and contributed to achieving the highest GDP growth rate during his tenure. Singh's dedication to inclusive growth , international diplomacy, and economic modernisation strengthened India's position in the global arena," it said. The resolution also listed Singh's achievements as an academician, economist and in various offices such the UN and RBI, and recollected his personal qualities. "Despite holding the highest offices in the land, he always remained grounded, treating everyone with respect and kindness. His demeanour was calm, composed, and always guided by a deep sense of integrity. He was not only admired for his intellect and accomplishments but also for his unassuming nature," it said. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program The CWC pledged to honour Singh's memory and carry forward his enduring legacy. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Manchester United are monitoring young Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens after seeing both of their senior shot-stoppers make high-profile errors in recent weeks. United's season continues to go through a turbulent spell under new boss Ruben Amorim and while the entire team have been guilty of under-par performances, goalkeepers Andrea Onana and Altay Bayindir have both made mistakes. The duo each allowed Tottenham and Wolves to score directly from a corner in the last few games while Onana also came under fire earlier this month for making gaffes against Nottingham Forest and Viktoria Plzen. Now United are hoping to remedy the situation by adding more competition in between the sticks, according to the Telegraph , with a move for highly-rated Lammens. The Royal Antwerp star has already caught attention from Bundesliga clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, the report claims, and United have sent scouts to watch the 22-year-old to ensure they get ahead of the curb. It says that while a move in January is not a priority, there could be "movement" in the summer - especially if Bayindir chooses to go elsewhere in search of first team opportunities. Onana joined United for £47m from Inter last summer but has been highly scrutinised for a string of errors. The former Ajax keeper has made a total of 76 appearance for the Red Devils. The report goes on to say that United will be limited with signings in January transfer window as they look to comply with financial fair play regulations. There could be a number of outgoings, however, with Juventus reportedly eyeing up a move for Joshua Zirzkee amid his difficult start to life at Old Trafford since his big money switch from Bologna in the summer. Another United player who is being strongly linked with an exit is Marcus Rashford , who gave a bombshell interview revealing he wants to leave the club following a difficult season - and has been left out of the last four matchday squads. However, despite interest from Juventus in Zirkzee, it's also reported that they are not interested in pursuing a move for Rashford - who could be forced to play outside of Europe amid rumours he is being chased by Saudi clubs. Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Amazon's Prime Video is broadcasting the Premier League Boxing Day round of fixtures on December 26-27. Each match can be streamed free with an Amazon Prime subscription or by signing up for an Amazon Prime 30-day free trial .
NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Future Vision II Acquisition Corp., FVNNU a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (the "Future Vision"), and Viwo Technology Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company operating its business via wholly owned entities in China ("Viwo"), today announced that, on December 10, 2024, they have entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Merger Agreement. Amendment No. 1 to the Merger Agreement requires pre-Business Combination Viwo shareholders to enter into a lock up agreement with respect to Future Vision shares they receive from the consummation of the Business Combination. The lock up is designed to align the interests of these shareholders with the long-term growth of the post-Business Combination company, Viwo Inc. Under the terms of the lock-up agreement, shareholders will be required to enter into a lock-up agreement, which includes a Viwo Inc. performance based release mechanism. This mechanism provides that shares are released based on the achievement of specific financial performance milestones and time-based criteria. Key Highlights of the Lock-Up Agreement: Company Shareholders' shares received in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination will be locked up for two (2) or three (3) years from the Effective Time of the Business Combination if the following performance-based milestone is met by Viwo Inc. Condition of the Two-Year Lock-Up Period Shares will be eligible for release if Viwo Inc. achieves an audited gross revenue growth of 20% by the end of the first fiscal year and 30% by the end of the second fiscal year, or a compounded growth rate of 24.96% year over year for the two-year period. If Viwo Inc. does not achieve the required gross revenue growth, than the shares will be locked up for a third year. Condition of the Three-Year Lock-Up Period: Shares will be eligible for release if Viwo Inc. achieves an audited gross revenue growth of 126.2% by the end of the third fiscal year, representing a compounded growth rate of 28.46% year over year, or 45% revenue growth from the second year assuming Viwo Inc. achieves a compounded growth rate of 24.96% year over year for the first and second years. Forfeiture of Shares to Release Lock Up: Alternatively, shareholders may effect the forfeiture of 10% of their Consideration Shares after the end of the third fiscal year to release the lock up. "We believe that this lock-up agreement, with its staggered release mechanism, will foster a stronger alignment between shareholders and the company's long-term goals," said Fidel Wang of Viwo Technology Inc. "By tying the release of shares to specific financial performance milestones, we are reinforcing our commitment to sustainable growth and value creation." About Viwo Technology Inc. Viwo is an innovation-driven technology company specializing in AI and "Martech" (marketing + technology) services, as well as AI and software development services. Viwo's mission is to drive business growth and enhance corporate value for its customers. Viwo assists customers across various industries in achieving digital upgrades and transformations, thereby creating future value. Viwo is committed to continuous technological innovation with the aim of industrializing intelligent digital technology. About Future Vision II Acquisition Corp. Future Vision II Acquisition Corp is a newly incorporated blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. While we will not be limited to a particular industry in our identification and acquisition of a target company, we intend to focus our search on businesses within the technology, media, and telecommunications sector. Additional Information about the Business Combination and Where to Find It To facilitate the Business Combination, Future Vision will file a registration statement on Form S-4 (as may be amended from time to time, the "Registration Statement") that will include a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus of Future Vision, and after the Registration Statement is declared effective, Future Vision will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Business Combination to its shareholders. The Registration Statement, including the proxy statement/prospectus contained therein, when declared effective by the SEC, will contain important information about the Business Combination and the other matters to be voted upon at a meeting of Future Vision's shareholders to be held to approve the Business Combination and related matters. This communication does not contain all of the information that should be considered concerning the Business Combination and other matters and is not intended to provide the basis for any investment decision or any other decision in respect to such matters. Future Vision and Viwo may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the Business Combination. Future Vision shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and the amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the Business Combination, when available, as these materials will contain important information about Future Vision, Viwo, and the Business Combination. When available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials for the Business Combination will be mailed to Future Vision shareholders as of a record date to be established for voting on the Business Combination. Shareholders will also be able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein, without charge, once available, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Participants in the Solicitation / No Offer or Solicitation Future Vision, Viwo, and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Future Vision shareholders in connection with the proposed Business Combination. A list of the names of the directors and executive officers of Future Vision and information regarding their interests in the business combination will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus when available. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such other jurisdiction. Forward-Looking Statements Neither Future Vision, Viwo, nor any of their respective affiliates make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K. This Current Report on Form 8-K is not intended to be all-inclusive or to contain all the information that a person may desire in considering the proposed Business Combination discussed herein. It is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the proposed Business Combination. This Current Report on Form 8-K and the exhibits filed or furnished herewith include "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the proposed transactions by and among Future Vision, Merger Sub, and Viwo, including statements regarding the benefits of the transaction, the anticipated timing of the Business Combination, the business of the Company and the markets in which they operate. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words or phrases such as "aspire," "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," "could," "should," "believe(s)," "predicts," "potential," "continue," "future," "opportunity," "seek," "intend," "strategy," or the negative version of those words or phrases or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Future Vision's and Viwo's expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of the proposed Business Combination. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside Future Vision's and Viwo's control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic markets; risks related to the business of Viwo and the timing of expected business milestones; changes in the assumptions underlying the expectations of the Viwo regarding its future business; the effects of competition on the Viwo's future business; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Future Vision, Viwo, and/or the combined company or others following the announcement of the proposed Business Combination and any definitive agreements with respect thereto; the inability to complete the proposed Business Combination, including, without limitation, the inability to obtain approval of the shareholders of Future Vision or to satisfy other conditions to closing; the ability to meet stock exchange listing standards in connection with and following the consummation of the proposed Business Combination; the risk that the proposed Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations of Future Vision and Viwo as a result of the announcement and consummation of the proposed Business Combination; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; costs related to the proposed Business Combination; changes in applicable laws or regulations and delays in obtaining, adverse conditions contained in, or the inability to obtain regulatory approvals required to complete the proposed Business Combination; the Parties' estimates of expenses and profitability and underlying assumptions with respect to shareholder redemptions and purchase price and other adjustments; the possibility that the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the filings made by Future Vision with the SEC, including the proxy statement/prospectus that will be filed relating to the proposed Business Combination. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Future Vision and Viwo caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Future Vision and Viwo caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Neither Future Vision or Viwo undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: Ms. Caihong Chen, CFO of Future Vision Email: caih_chen@outlook.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Wild return to the ice rested and, they hope, a little healthierMaga v Musk: Trump camp divided in bitter fight over immigration policySenegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said Friday that his government would submit legislation to repeal a law by former president Macky Sall granting amnesty for deadly political violence. The controversial amnesty was granted just before March 2024 elections as Sall sought to calm protests sparked by his last-minute postponement of presidential elections in the traditionally stable West African country. Critics say the move was to shield perpetrators of serious crimes, including homicides, committed during three years of political tensions between February 2021 and February 2024. But it also allowed Sonko, a popular opposition figure, to stand in the elections after court convictions had made him ineligible, as well as Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who eventually won the presidency. “In addition to putting compensation for victims into the budget, a draft law will be submitted to your august Assembly to repeal the March 6, 2024 amnesty so that light may be shed and responsibilities determined on whatever side they may lie,” Sonko said in a policy speech before lawmakers. Sonko’s government had pledged earlier this month to investigate dozens of deaths resulting from political violence between 2021 and 2024. “It’s not a witch hunt and even less vengeance... It’s justice, the foundation without which social peace cannot be built,” Sonko told lawmakers.
Tottenham were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Boxing Day Tottenham Hotspur suffered their ninth defeat of the Premier League season as they were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest at City Ground on Boxing Day. Anthony Elanga opened the scoring in the 28th minute, which turned out to be the winner in the end. The Swedish international capped off a swift counter-attacking move from Nottingham Forest, toe-poking Morgan Gibbs-White’s inch-perfect through ball with his left foot past the onrushing Fraser Forster. Spurs had spells of possession and tried unlocking the door, with Brennan Johnson testing Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels in either half. However, the chances were few and far in between as Ange Postecoglou’s men barely carried a threat in the final third and failed to score. Facing the media after the defeat at City Ground, Ange Postecoglou touched on many topics. When asked why Tottenham failed to score, he explained (h/t Football London): “It’s a bit of, like I said, game state. I kind of knew that if they can get a goal up, it was going to get even tighter for us to find space behind them. It was never going to be a game with a lot of opportunities. “Having said that, I still thought we created some good ones and we just weren’t able to capitalise on them. The keeper has pulled off a couple of good saves to keep them in the game. “We just needed a goal to break them open and we didn’t seem to get it.” Tottenham have a lot of problems including defensive frailties but scoring goals isn’t one of them. Postecoglou’s high-octane, pressing and aggressive system have yielded 39 goals in 18 league games—making Spurs the top scorers in the Premier League. This was only the fourth time Big Ange’s side have failed to score in the Premier League this season. Including today’s game, the Lilywhites failed to score against Arsenal, Crystal and Bournemouth and all of those ended up being 1-0 defeats. This shows whenever the North Londoners have failed to find a way past their opponents, they have lost. Spurs are blessed with so much attacking quality and talent, capable of blitzing any team as we have witnessed in fixtures against Manchester United, Manchester City, Aston Villa, West Ham, Southampton and Everton. However, today was one of those days where Big Ange’s team didn’t really look like scoring. Nine defeats in 18 games in the Premier League this season is simply not good enough, and the latest result leaves our gaffer under more pressure. This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.
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 | Federal hostility could delay offshore wind projects, derailing state climate goals 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 . 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Just a few weeks ago , The Golden Bachelorette fans watched Joan Vassos pick Chock Chapple. Now, their focus is on the eventual second season of The Golden Bachelor . Famed comedian Kathy Griffin is looking even further into the future than that; the comedian is interested in leading The Golden Bachelorette season 2. Griffin has some X-rated suggestions for the series, though. Kathy Griffin proposes a risque version of ‘The Golden Bachelorette’ Kathy Griffin is known for her outlandish jokes and often controversial actions . While Griffin has been through a lot, she’s just as spunky and wild as ever. The 64-year-old comedian recently appeared on Politickin ‘ and expressed her interest in appearing on The Golden Bachelorette . Griffin wants to lead a much more X-rated version of the wildly successful dating competition, though. Griffin joked that she had the perfect pitch for The Golden Bachelorette season 2 during her podcast appearance. She suggested she, as the lead, could sleep with each possible contestant before deciding who gets a rose and who gets sent home on the first night. She joked that it would be “ratings gold.” Griffin is twice married. She married her first husband, Matt Moline, in 2001. She accused Moline of stealing money from her before their split. The couple called it quits in 2006. In 2020, she married Randy Bick. The couple, who were together since 2012, separated in December 2023. The divorce is not yet final. ABC isn’t against the idea of casting a celebrity, claims an insider While Griffin’s X-rated pitch won’t be making it to air, an insider claims ABC isn’t against casting a celebrity in the role. In fact, Griffin might have some actual pull with the network if it comes down to it. She has appeared in a reality TV competition on ABC before. Entertainment Weekly spoke to an insider who alleges the network is “open” to sitting down with Griffin to discuss the franchise. Despite rumors that ABC is willing to entertain the idea, it seems unlikely that the network will actually opt to go in the direction of a celebrity looking for love on TV. While the premise seems interesting, viewers have criticized the idea on social media each time rumors of a celebrity lead have swirled. The sentiment alone should be enough to keep The Golden Bachelor and The Golden Bachelorette stars ordinary people. We’ll just have to wait and see. The Golden Bachelorette season 2 is likely more than a year and a half away if it ever happens. Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor appears to be still casting contestants for a summer filming schedule. Fans can likely expect the competition to premiere in September 2025.Article content One question emerging from the U.S. presidential election exit polls is the disconnect between Black men and women and Hispanic men and women. Recommended Videos Donald Trump received support from 21% of Black men and 7% of Black women, a disparity of 14 points. He got support from 54% of Hispanic men and 39% of Hispanic women, a disparity of 15 points. There was also a disparity in Trump’s support among white men and women, but much smaller — seven points. So why is Trump having far greater success among Black and Hispanic men than Black and Hispanic women? It’s clear the major issue that drove the vote in this election was the economy. A Gallup poll done in October showed the economy as the number one concern of voters. Per exit polling, 68% said the economy is “not good” or “poor” and 31% said it is “excellent” or “good.” Of the 68% saying the economy is not good/poor, 70% voted for Trump. Per a Gallup poll published last March, 27% of Black women under 60 said they are planning to start their own business in the next 12 months, compared to 14% of Hispanic women and 5% of white women. In the same survey, Gallup asked, “Would you be interested in starting a business if you had the resources?” Among Black women, 57% said yes; among Hispanic women, 55% said yes; among white women, 38% said yes; 51% of all U.S. men and 44% of all U.S. women said yes. The entrepreneurial aspirations of Black and Hispanic women are among the highest in the country. Per Gallup, “while just 13% of men under 60 say they lack the financial and/or nonfinancial resources to start a business, a third of women in this age group (33%) say the same.” Gallup continues that improving access of women to capital is important “when women-owned businesses still make up only 22% of employer businesses in the United States.” I think that these entrepreneurial-driven Black and Hispanic women should care a lot about a healthy and growing national economy. Nothing is more important for business success and raising capital. I would urge these women to listen to a recent interview with one of the country’s greatest entrepreneurs, Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, done at the New York Times DealBook Summit. Bezos has never been known as a conservative or among the backers of president-elect Donald Trump. He owns The Washington Post , which is a left-of-centre news outlet. However, in this interview, Bezos speaks positively about the election of Trump and specifically talks about the importance of deregulation in improving the economy. “He (Trump) seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. ... If I can help him do that, I’m going to help him.” He also observes that the U.S. “has the best risk capital system in the world ... You can raise $50 million of seed capital to do something that only has a 10% chance of working.” Bezos discusses his own experience — starting from nothing and building a business in a world of new technology and becoming one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. He describes raising his first million dollars for Amazon by meeting with 60 venture capitalists, of whom 22 agreed to put up $50,000 each. Bezos emphasizes that the way out of our economic problems is economic growth. And here he stresses the importance of deregulation and gives a vote of confidence to Trump. So why, when there is such disproportionate entrepreneurial spirit among Black women, did only 7% support the candidate who one of the nation’s most successful and legendary entrepreneurs says will deliver the economy the country needs? Certainly, Black and Hispanic men are getting the message. It’s time for Black and Hispanic women to get it and focus less on identity politics and more on what experience tells us will work. — Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education.A transgender activist confronted Rep. Nancy Mace over anti-trans rhetoric