Donald Trump vows Republican push to scrap daylight saving time
Alifa Chowdhury’s successful campaign to lead the University of Michigan’s student government promised just one thing: to block financing for campus groups until the university agreed to divest from companies that Chowdhury said profited from the Israel-Hamas war. Nine turbulent months later, Chowdhury is out, impeached and removed from office by the student assembly just before midnight Monday. Impeachment and Removal Chowdhury’s ouster follows a lopsided impeachment vote in mid-November, which also led to the removal of Elias Atkinson, the body’s vice president and a fellow activist. In a student judicial hearing that spanned seven days and lasted more than 20 hours, they were found guilty on a single charge of dereliction of duty — the consequence of effectively fulfilling the shutdown their campaign promised. Related Story: Campus Polarization and Controversy Like the protest encampments at universities across the country, the takeover of Michigan’s student government by pro-Palestinian activists last spring polarized the campus. The activists’ tactics drew objections from students who said their obstructionism went too far and did little to help the Palestinian cause. The activists saw their movement as a way to shake university officials and students out of what they saw as complacency, and face the plight of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. Limited Impact and Opposition But like many student protests, the takeover made little headway — and maybe even stirred up opposition. The university, which had long said that it would not divest, adopted a policy of institutional neutrality in October, meaning that it would avoid taking stances on political or social issues that were not directly connected to the school. Margaret Peterman, a sophomore member of the student assembly who started the impeachment motion, said the president and vice president’s conduct in office and their unwillingness to aid the student body were “inexcusable.” Related Story: Campaign Promises and Aftermath The impeached president and vice president, both of whom declined to comment, ran for their positions last spring as part of the Shut It Down Party, with the promise that they would withhold the roughly $1.3 million of annual funding until the university’s regents agreed to total divestment from companies that they said profited from Israel’s war in Gaza. They won their elections handily with a low voter turnout. With the assembly’s leadership ousted, the speaker of the student assembly, Mario Thaqi, will finish out the presidential term. — This article originally appeared in The New York Times. By Halina Bennet/Nic Antaya c.2024 The New York Times Company
Fantasy Baseball Offseason Tracker: Gleyber Torres gets a lineup downgrade after signing with TigersIndia's former PM Manmohan Singh dies aged 92By 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.
A top-secret family recipe, that VERY amorous kiss under the mistletoe - and a dead guest. So who's...NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) — Devin Haid had 24 points in Cent. Conn. St.'s 84-80 win against Quinnipiac on Saturday. Haid added six rebounds and four steals for the Blue Devils (8-4). Max Frazier scored 17 points and added nine rebounds. Davonte Sweatman had 14 points and shot 5 for 9 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. The Bobcats (5-7) were led by Amarri Tice, who posted 21 points, 10 rebounds and four steals. Paul Otieno added 13 points and six rebounds for Quinnipiac. Ryan Mabrey also recorded 12 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi grieved the loss of "a mentor and guide" late Thursday after confirmation of the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh , 92. In an emotional message on X, Mr Gandhi, in Karnataka's Belagavi to attend a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, said, "Manmohan Singhji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation." "I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride," Mr Gandhi said, "My heartfelt condolences to Mrs Kaur and the family." Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation. My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Kaur and the family. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the... pic.twitter.com/bYT5o1ZN2R — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 26, 2024 Manmohan Singh, a two-time former Prime Minister and Union Finance Minister credited with leading the Indian economy through the globalisation and liberalisation process, was rushed to AIIMS after "a sudden loss of consciousness at home". He was declared dead at 9.51 pm. Mr Gandhi's sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, also posted a heartfelt message. READ | "Few Inspired Respect...": PGV Leads Tributes To Manmohan Singh "Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect Sardar Manmohan Singhji did. His honesty will always be an inspiration for us, and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country... as someone who remained steadfast in his commitment despite being subjected to unfair and deeply personal attacks by his opponents," the Wayanad MP said. Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh ji did. His honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country as someone who remained steadfast in his commitment to serve the nation... pic.twitter.com/BXA6zHG2Fq — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 26, 2024 Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes from the government and senior members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Mr Modi said, "India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr Manmohan Singhji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years." Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the worldLast week the Minnesota Vikings took on the Seattle Seahawks without one of the key leaders from their defense . Harrison Smith’s lack of presence on the field was noticeable from an organization standpoint. Kevin O’Connell is hoping to have his captain back this week against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings have also operated without Ivan Pace Jr. for a matter of weeks . Although Blake Cashman has been a great addition this season, the linebacking corps is at its best with the tandem is locked in together. Pace Jr. was missed during the Green Bay game earlier this year. Minnesota Vikings looking healthier on defense The Vikings opened up the practice window of Ivan Pace Jr. earlier this week. He can be returned to the active roster and retake his place in the starting lineup. Thursday was his second straight full practice and he was joined by a couple notable teammates. Thursday's #Vikings injury report. @harrismith22 was a full participant in today's practice. pic.twitter.com/RZh76zLBio After not practicing in what was just a walkthrough on Wednesday, Harrison Smith was back in action. The veteran safety didn’t miss a game last season but played in just 14 the year before . He has 79 tackles this season and could flirt with besting 2023’s 93 total tackles with two big games in the final weeks. Harrison Smith knows how to lay a clean hit pic.twitter.com/EjnYiut3WE Pace Jr. has started nine games for Minnesota in 2024 . He has three sacks, already beating last year’s 2.5. His 59 total tackles won’t touch the 102 he had as a rookie, but the six tackles for loss have been significant. Ridiculous play by Ivan Pace Jr, as he outruns the TE to his block, and then runs right through the split-blocking TE to make the run stop. Tillery also beat the LT to his spot and got into the backfield, forcing the cutback into pace. pic.twitter.com/LH7rNziRA7 Although the Vikings did sign veteran defensive lineman Jonathan Harris to their practice squad , rookie Jalen Redmond should be back. He has played in 11 games this season and owns 15 tackles with a single sack. Redmond missed the tilt against Seattle due to a concussion. Minnesota’s only non-participant was cornerback Fabian Moreau. He started in place of Stephon Gilmor but missed the game last week against Seattle as well. Minnesota must win on Sunday in order to keep their hopes of grabbing the top seed in the NFC alive. A gigantic matchup against Detroit then looms for Week 18. This article first appeared on Minnesota Sports Fan and was syndicated with permission."Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
Bunions are a very common medical condition that affects approximately 67 million Americans. A bunion, medically known as a hallux abductovalgus deformity, is visually seen as an abnormal bump on the inside of the great toe. A bunion is more than just a bump, however. The big toe typically leans towards the second toe, and the bones are thrown out of alignment. This deformity typically worsens over time. Bunions can become very painful, limiting the types of shoes patients are able to wear, and can inhibit them from participating in normal, daily activities. Many people may unnecessarily suffer the pain of bunions for years before seeking treatment. A common misconception is that bunions are caused by wearing narrow-toed shoes. While wearing tight shoes does not actually cause bunions, they can make the condition worse. Bunions actually have a hereditary component and are caused by a faulty mechanical structure of the foot, and they are often passed down through generations. Bunions can become very painful over time and can cause inflammation, redness, burning, and even joint stiffness and arthritis as the deformity progresses. Tight shoes, especially high heels, can aggravate the symptoms, and therefore, women are more likely to have symptoms than men. Bunions are typically seen rather noticeably at the base of the big toe. To fully evaluate the deformity, you should see a foot and ankle surgeon for a full examination including x-rays. This will allow a full assessment of the severity of the deformity and help select the best treatment plan. There are basically two types of treatments: non-surgical and surgical. Non-surgical treatments include changes in shoe wear, padding, orthotic devices, activity modifications, oral and topical medications, and possible injection therapy. The goal of non-surgical treatment is to reduce pain, delay the progression of the deformity, and reduce the chance of damage to the big toe joint. It is important to know that these treatments do not get rid of the bunion or correct the deformity. The only way to get rid of the bump and straighten the toe is with a surgical correction. As a foot and ankle surgeon with MUSC Health Podiatry – Kingstree, I have been doing bunion surgery for over 25 years. I’m very excited to be able to use a new technology for bunion surgery only recently made available. These new advancements and procedures have helped me give my patients the best surgical results and help ensure the bunions stay away and do not come back. Bunions are actually a three-dimensional deformity; therefore, you have to address all angles of deformity in order to get full correction. These state-of-the-art procedures include 3D deformity correction which permanently fuses a joint in the arch where the bunion actually begins. This allows me to not only slide the bone into its correct position but also rotate it and hold it in place with plates and screws to prevent the recurrence of the painful bunion. I am very excited to offer this advanced technology to my patients. With this 3D surgery my patients have had fewer complications and better outcomes. If you think you are having bunion pain, call Dr. Michelle Butterworth’s office at 843-210-5170 for an appointment or go to MUSCHealth.org Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.Turkish Airlines to Begin Operations at The New Terminal One at JFK and Unveil World-Class Lounge
Greg Gumbel, the renowned CBS Sports anchor and commentator, has died at the age of 78. His family confirmed the news in a statement on Friday, saying: It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel. He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer. Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace, and positivity. He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten. Greg's memory will forever be treasured by his family, dearest friends, colleagues and all who loved him. — Marcy & Michelle Gumbel Gumbel served as a play-by-play announcer and studio host for CBS Sports , and previously spent years on air for NBC Sports. He won legions of fans with his work hosting coverage ranging from The NFL Today to several Super Bowls and Olympic Games. Gumbel worked for CBS Sports from October 1989 through May 1994, then went to NBC Sports as a host and play-by-play announcer before returning to CBS Sports in 1998 as host and play-by-play announcer for college basketball and The NFL on CBS. In 2022, he celebrated his 50th year of broadcasting. "The CBS Sports family is devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel. There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television. He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague," said David Berson, the president & CEO of CBS Sports. "A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time. He was a familiar and welcoming voice for fans across many sports, including the NFL and March Madness, highlighted by the Super Bowl and Final Four," Berson said. "Greg broke barriers and set the standard for others to follow. It is an extremely sad day for all of us at CBS Sports and the entire sports community. We will miss Greg dearly, and send our deepest condolences to his wife Marcy, daughter Michelle, and his entire family." Gumbel was born in New Orleans on May 3, 1946, and grew up in Chicago. He graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1967. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Philadelphia star quarterback Jalen Hurts remains in concussion protocol and has been ruled for Sunday's game against the visiting Dallas Cowboys, with the Eagles expected to start Kenny Pickett. Hurts missed practice all week, and head coach Nick Sirianni confirmed before Friday's session that Hurts remains in the concussion protocol, adding, "It's going to be tough for him to make it this week." Hurts and Pickett (ribs) were both injured during last weekend's 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders, but Pickett was a full participant in Thursday's practice and was limited on Friday. The Eagles also have Tanner McKee as the emergency third quarterback and signed Ian Book to the practice squad this week. Pickett, who grew up as an Eagles fan in Ocean Township, N.J., will have a chance to help Philadelphia (12-3) clinch the NFC East title in his first start for the franchise. "I'm very excited. It's a big opportunity," he told reporters Thursday. "I've been working hard to stay ready and I felt like I was in a good position last game with my preparation and now having a week to practice, I'll feel even better going into the stadium. So, I'm excited. I just want to get the win." Pickett relieved Hurts in the first quarter against Washington and completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Prior to that, he had appeared in three games in mop-up duty. "He's done a great job," Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown said on Friday. "He did a great job last week. I know he had a few hiccups, but overall he's doing a great job. It's not his first rodeo. We have a lot of confidence in him, I do, and I'm excited. "(He's) poised, confident. He comes in, he's commanding the huddle and that's what you want to see." Pickett, 26, compiled a 14-10 record as the starter for the Steelers from 2022-23 after being drafted by Pittsburgh in the first round (20th overall) in 2022. After the Steelers acquired Russell Wilson in March, Pickett was traded along with a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick and two 2025 seventh-rounders. Pickett has completed 62.3 percent of his pass attempts for 4,622 yards with 14 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 29 career games. He has rushed for 303 yards and four scores. Hurts, 26, has completed 68.7 percent of his passes this season for 2,903 yards with 18 TDs and five picks in 15 starts. He has rushed for 630 yards and is tied for the NFL lead with 14 rushing touchdowns. --Field Level Media
India's Sports Community Mourns Dr Manmohan Singh's Demise
Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology has diedWhile the global population continues to soar, some countries saw immense population declines this year. According to data from the United Nations, Pacific island nations dominated the countries with the largest losses in 2024, followed by locations in Eastern Europe. High emigration, low immigration, and low birth rates were common contributing factors. Click through to see which nations shrunk the most in 2024. Estonia in Eastern Europe is the tenth fastest shrinking nation in the world in 2024, with a 0.98 per cent population decrease . It's one of many in the region facing population decline, mostly due to political instability, low quality of life, and low immigration and birth rates. According to UN predictions, 9 of the top 10 nations expected to shrink the most by 2050 are in Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria in first place (22.5 per cent decrease). The Czech Republic - most famous for its charming capital, Prague - is a surprising addition this list, with a 1.04 per cent population decline this year. This small decrease follows a population spike between 2021 and 2023, as well as a gradually increasing population since 2001, however the UN predicts this trend will continue next year due to low immigration and fertility. Moldova is the European nation with the fastest declining population, shrinking by 1.22 per cent this year. Since 1990, its population has declined by a third - from 4.5 million to just over 3 million - due to political instability, low quality of life, high mortality rates, and high emigration levels. Landlocked between Romania and Ukraine, it is the second poorest country in Europe based on GDP after Ukraine. American Samoa's population shrunk by 1.61 per cent in 2024, bringing it in seventh. The U.S. territory has an estimated population of around 46,400 at the end of 2024, roughly 1000 less than last year's count. One of a slew of Pacific nations on this list, many are leaving the country to escape poverty and seek opportunities abroad. The Pacific island nation of Tuvalu saw a 1.69 per cent population decrease in 2024, making it sixth on this list. A member of the British commonwealth, Tuvalu comprises 9, sparsely-populated islands that are some of the fastest sinking due to climate change. With this existential threat, its little wonder people are emigrating from the island. The Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the North Pacific, is the fifth fastest shrinking nation in 2024, with a 1.76 per cent population decline. It's estimated just under 44,000 people live in the Islands, a number that's been in sharp decline since the year 2000. Like other Pacific Island nations on this list, low immigration and high emigration levels, as well as persistently low fertility, are to blame. Despite being a tourist hotspot that many dream of living in, Greece experienced the fourth largest population decline ( 1.77 per cent ) in 2024. Current projections suggest its population could fall to around 8 million by 2050 from just over 10 million in 2024. Among other factors, the Greek economic crisis of the 2010s is largely to blame, leading to a dramatic reduction in fertility rates and heightened emigration that has driven down the population. The Marshall Islands - a chain of land masses and atolls in the middle of the Pacific - are yet another island nation near the top of this list, with a 3.38 per cent population decrease in 2024. The population fell from around 27,500 at the end of 2023 to 26,100 at the end of 2024. Emigration is largely responsible for this shrinkage, with many leaving for greater opportunities in urban areas, and due to climate change threats. The Cook Islands come in second for the nation with the fastest declining population in 2024, recording a 3.46 per cent population decrease. A cluster of factors including low immigration and high emigration and low fertility are likely responsible for this Pacific nation's shrinkage. The population has been falling since the late 2010s, with further decline expected in the next twenty-five years. It's estimated population at the end of 2024 is over 13,500, according to United Nations estimates. The Caribbean island of Saint Martin had the fastest shrinking population in 2024, with a decline of almost 5 per cent. With a net increase of 1 person every 360 minutes according to estimates, it's hard to believe this tropical paradise was the least desired place to live on earth this year. Its population has been declining since 2015, and will likely continue to fall as people move to urban areas abroad.
By 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, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. 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.” Related Articles National Politics | Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? 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 threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes Trump’s own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. 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.
Futuristic central processor unit. Powerful Quantum CPU on PCB motherboard with data transfers. For a while now, there’s been a lot of talk about export controls in the semiconductor industry – but now it seems like the single largest U.S. tech company by market cap, Nvidia, is likely to end up on the Biden administration’s naughty list, just in time for Christmas. This month, the industry is seeing a flurry of reports about enhanced regulatory controls of U.S. chipmakers selling products to China – with Nvidia mentioned by name. Specifically, the Biden administration has asked Nvidia to look into how its chips ended up in China, despite specific laws preventing such sales. In reaction to the U.S. Department of Commerce communications, Nvidia reportedly reaffirmed its commitment to export controls, and criticized a “gray market” (some would call it black) where third-party resellers can get around those rules. The company is also allegedly increasing its lobbying presence in Washington, and hiring people from the federal government, in what some say as an effort to anticipate a new regulatory environment. Forget Chrome—Google Starts Tracking All Your Devices In 8 Weeks Bitcoin Suddenly Surges Back To $100,000 On Huge $20 Trillion Price Prediction FBI Warns Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail Users—Check 3 Things To Stop Attacks Cracking Down on International Chip Sales For a while, it was no secret that companies like Nvidia and AMD had numerous ways to make end runs around these regulations from the U.S. government. “Joe Biden's final move to stop China from racing ahead of the US in AI may be too little too late,” wrote Ashley Belanger at Ars Tecnica Dec. 2 , presumably in reference to the prior inability of the government to rein in thse kinds of sales. One example is where the companies will manufacture slightly different technology so that the chips comply with export controls. Making a lower capacity chip can allow the company to get a greenlight to ship that technology to China. Or they can simply sell to third parties and places like Singapore and Malaysia, who will then resale to the Chinese. A brand-new Biden administration change is attempting to close that particular loophole, according to Wall Street Journal reports – an executive order that is allegedly pending in the White House would limit sales of chips anywhere in the world, to stem efforts to smuggle or resell to China on the gray market. Insiders contend that U.S. chip makers are doing all they can to prevent this executive order from coming out, as explained by articles like this one from the NYT. Other Concerns In addition, the U.S. government is also wondering why American ship technology is ending up in Russian military equipment involved in the war in Ukraine. But back to Nvidia: a new antitrust investigation has chipped away at the company’s stock value, although that ticker rests at a healthy $131 and change as of press time. Meanwhile, the Chinese are announcing banning certain raw material exports to the U.S. of rare earth metals gallium and germanium. In terms of trying to enforce U.S. chip export controls, that sort of activity might be described as the biggest most intense game of Whack-a-Mole ever. Certain types of black markets are almost impossible to control, and it’s unlikely that one country, especially the U.S. where cash is king, is going to be able to gatekeep all of its private sector sales effectively. Take a look at this excerpt from a piece by Barath Harithas and Andreas Schumacher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies , where the entire essay goes over the thorny and Byzantine history of U.S. export controls over the last three years or so: “While a piece of semiconductor manufacturing equipment cannot be exported to China from U.S. factories, the same equipment produced in an overseas facility can legally be sold to an advanced logic fab in China, provided no U.S. persons are involved in its manufacturing, sale, installation, or servicing, even if the customer is on the U.S. entity list. This effectively created a backdoor in the control regime. To address this, the United States introduced a Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR) for semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME). The FDPR subjects products made abroad to U.S. export restrictions if produced using U.S.-origin technology, software, or equipment. This move aims to prevent companies from circumventing restrictions by relocating production or relying on foreign facilities to supply restricted technologies to entity-listed Chinese firms.” But one thing is for sure – people with skin in the game are paying attention. They want to understand how trade control activity between the U.S. and China is going to affect the next generation of data centers and LLM applications that are having a huge impact on our businesses and our lives. In short, the technology race is heating up – and semiconductor technology is in the limelight. Keep an eye out here as I continue to look at the trends shaping the market, the geopolitical forces behind those trends, and what all of the players are doing as we get to the end of a banner year for technology.Beacon Hill Roll Call: Dec. 16 to Dec. 20, 2024Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died