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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? Economists 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. Executives 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: @phillip020
Before being elected as the first transgender woman to the US Congress, 34-year-old Sarah McBride said she expected hostility. A harsh national spotlight has fallen swiftly upon her. "They may try to misgender me, they may try to say the wrong name, they will do what we can predictably assume they might do," she told the TransLash podcast last month ahead of her resounding election victory on November 5. "They are going to do that to get a rise out of me and my job will be to not give them the response they want," the Democrat from Delaware explained. Ahead of her arrival in the House of Representatives on January 3, McBride was targeted by a resolution this week from a right-wing Republican colleague that would ban transgender women from women's toilets in the Capitol. "Just because a Congressman wants to wear a mini skirt doesn’t mean he can come into a women’s bathroom," South Carolina firebrand Nancy Mace wrote on social media as she led a highly personal campaign against McBride. House Speaker Mike Johnson, after initially seeking to buy time to debate the issue, came out in support of a ban, saying that all single-sex facilities would be "reserved for individuals of that biological sex." McBride -- who wears knee-length dresses, not miniskirts -- issued a statement saying that she said would respect the rules "even if I disagree with them." "I'm not here to fight about bathrooms," said the politician and activist, who transitioned as a 21-year-old and told her parents on Christmas Day 2011. Donald Trump repeatedly raised transgender issues in the closing stages of his presidential campaign, with aides noting how questions around trans identity struck a nerve with swing voters. Two of the biggest issues -- at the heart of ongoing "culture wars" between conservatives and progressives -- are whether transgender women should be allowed in women's toilets and be admitted in women's sport. Mocking transgender athletes and "woke ideology," Trump promised to get "transgender insanity the hell out of our schools, and we will keep men out of women’s sports." McBride has long been an advocate for trans rights and she helped campaign for a law banning gender discrimination in her home state of Delaware, during which she was publicly called a "freak" and the "devil incarnate". "Listening to that was demeaning and dehumanizing for my child," her mother Sally told The Washington Post in a 2018 profile. "I still have a hard time coping with that." Undeterred, McBride rode the blows and was elected as the first US transgender state senator in 2020. She has been open about her mental health struggles growing up as a boy named Tim and the personal tragedy that has marked her life since, writing a memoir called "Tomorrow Will Be Different" in 2018. "I remember as a child praying in my bed at night that I would wake up the next day and be a girl," she told a TED talk in 2016. She first gathered major public attention with an open letter while a student leader at American University in Washington that announced her transition. She went on to encounter President Joe Biden and his family, also Delaware natives, when she became active in grassroots politics there. After interning at the White House under President Barack Obama, she secured an invitation to speak at the 2016 Democratic Party convention. The White House was also the scene of her first encounter with her late husband, Andrew Cray, a transgender man and LGTBQ+ activist. They married two years later shortly before Cray died from cancer. Knowing the attention she is destined for in the US Congress, she says her aim is to be an effective congresswoman focused on everyday voter priorities such as housing and inflation. But she knows she will be constantly pushed to be a spokeswoman -- and defender -- of the trans community. "I can't do right by the trans community if I'm not being the best member of Congress that I can be for Delaware," she told TransLash. "It's the only way that people will see that trans people can be good doctors, can be good lawyers, good educators, good members of Congress. I can't be there to put out a press release and tweet every time someone says something." adp/bgsPATNA: RJD MLA Bhai Birendra, considered close to party chief Lalu Prasad, said Thursday they "would welcome" Bihar CM Nitish Kumar back if he parted ways with BJP . "There is no permanent friend or foe in politics. If Nitish reaches us after snapping the alliance with the communal forces, we will welcome him," Birendra said. His comments came amid an apparent tug-of-war over whether Nitish will be the NDA face in next year's assembly polls. Birendra set the grapevine buzzing by telling reporters to "watch out" for more of the "political games" that Bihar has seen in the past. "Khela hota raha hai aur aage bhi hoga. Dekhte rahiye (state has witnessed political games in the past and they will happen again. Keep watching)." Nitish's JD(U) dismissed the remarks as "nonsense". "RJD has been constantly trying to create confusion among people. There is restlessness within the party after its disastrous performance in the Lok Sabha and assembly bypolls (last month)," said JD(U)'s Neeraj Kumar. BJP s Dilip Jaiswal accused RJD of desperation. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .
OU JAC receives threats after attack on Allu Arjun’s home in HyderabadNo. 22 Syracuse looking for 10 wins in 1st year under Fran Brown against depleted Washington StateRUSSELL Wilson has treated his teammates to a special gift for the Christmas season. It is becoming a tradition for NFL quarterbacks to provide gifts for their offensive lineman, and Russell Wilson didn't skip out. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback opened the checkbook for a lavish package of gifts. Starting out, each of the Steelers linemen got a $10,000 gift card to Airbnb . They can use this to travel wherever they want in the world for free. Next, the linemen got a Steelers-themed Louis Vuittton bag. Read more on the NFL They also got a bottle of Wilson's wife, Ciara's, TenToOne Rum. Lastly, the linemen got a custom pair of Steelers Good Man Brand shoes. NFL fans loved the special package from Wilson and shared their thoughts on social media. "Good guy Russ," one fan said. Most read in American Football "Great job Russ!" another fan said. "One of the best gifts ive seen lol thats sick," a third fan said. "Russ is a man of the people," a fourth fan said. "Russell knows how to spoil his team!" a fifth fan said. Wilson isn't the only quarterback giving out lavish gifts to his linemen. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy splurged on new Toyota Trucks for his teammates. Each of his starting lineman got a new truck for Christmas. August 1 - Hall of Fame Game - Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears August 8 - Pre-season begins August 27 - Deadline for 53-man rosters September 1 - Final day of pre-season September 5 - Season opener - Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs November 5 - Trade deadline January 5 - Week 18 of regular-season January 11 - Playoffs begin February 9 - Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana "Boys, I just want to say Merry Christmas. I got some gifts for you guys — sorry for the wait, but if you want to follow me outside," Purdy said in a video. Meanwhile, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow got each of his linemen a historic katana. "Joe does a great job at buying gifts that are extremely meaningful," offensive lineman Orlando Brown said. Read More on The US Sun "The fact that he bought me a sword, it's the most ancient form of respect." Plenty of other gifts have been shared across other teams during Christmas as well.
Tailang Swami Jayanti 2025 will be marked on January 10. This annual commemoration is a celebration of the birth anniversary of the noted Hindu yogi who is revered by many. Tailang Swami Jayanti is celebrated on the Shukla Pathksha Ekadashi in the month of Pausha and is sure to be celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm by many. As we prepare to celebrate Tailang Swami Jayanti 2025, here is everything you need to know about this day, how to celebrate Tailang Swami Jayanti 2025 and more. Hindu Festivals Calendar 2025: Know Dates of Holi, Chaitra Navratri, Durga Puja, Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali and Other Major Festivals in India. When Is Tailang Swami Jayanti 2025? Ekadashi Tithi and Shubh Muhurat Tailang Swami Jayanti 2025 will be marked on January 10. The celebration of Tailang Swami Jayanti takes place on the Shukla Paksha Ekadashi tithi in the month of Pausha, according to the HIndu lunisolar calendar. Ekadashi Tithi for Tailang Swami Jayanti begins at 12:22 on Jan 09, 2025 and will go on till 10:19 on Jan 10, 2025. Tailang Swami Jayanti Puja Vidhi and Significance The celebration of Tailang Swami Jayanti is an important observance that allows people to remember the noted yogi and celebrate his life and teachings. Many people believe that Tailang Swami was an incarnation of Lord Shiva and he is often referred to as The Walking Shiva of Varanasi. He is believed to have lived a long and healthy life of over 280 years, and many believed that he had divine powers. Purnima 2025 Calendar: Know Full Moon Dates, Poornima Significance and Fasting Rituals for the Auspicious Observance. Every year, on Tailang Swami Jayanti, people often remember the great saint and all that he contributed to society. Tailang Swami was born in Holia at Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh. His parents, the devotees of Lord Shiva, named him Shivarama. It is believed that he went on pilgrimage and did spiritual practice for over 20 years after his parents passed. We hope that Tailang Swami Jayanti 2025 brings with it the love, light and positivity you deserve. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 30, 2024 10:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).
Aren’t the holidays great? Food, family, and fun in extreme excess. Think about it. The joys of being up close and personal with people you love but maybe only see once a year. And now they’ve arrived from out of town, and you are forced to spend a lot of time with them, maybe even days. It can take the joy right out of the holiday. Imagine this: the presents have been unwrapped, the holiday meal is over, and you are now fighting about watching the football game or the Hallmark Christmas movie. And then somebody, who has maybe just chugged one too many eggs nogs, goes and mentions politics. Nancy Sorrells At this point, you have two choices: 1. Quickly grab a couch pillow, press it to your face, and silently scream into it, or 2. Suggest that everyone go outside for a hike. Of the two choices, I recommend the latter. There could not be a better place to explore the great outdoors at any time of year than the Rockingham County area, with about 150,000 acres of public land, including a national forest, a national park, two state forests, and many other local parks and public spaces. Here are three options for everyone in the family, from the youngest to the oldest and from the most mobile to the least mobile. Give one or all of them a try this season, and you might genuinely enjoy peace on earth, or at least peace within the family, while also working off the feasting excesses that accompany the season. The Crist Farms Trail in Bridgewater offers several places to sit and enjoy the view, such as this one looking west. Crist Farm Walking Trails (Bridgewater) Although years in the making, the Crist Farm Walking Trail, owned and developed by the Bridgewater Retirement Community, just opened in 2024. The 20-acre preserve offers winding walking trails, all repurposed from a farm purchased by the retirement community. The area is open to the public every day from dawn to dusk. Visitors will discover a main, paved, ADA-accessible 1.2-mile walking trail that loops through the entire preserve. Part of the path skirts a lovely stretch of forest, while most of the trail loops around a large open meadow. Benches are conveniently located along the way and offer several nice viewpoints for sitting and taking in the view. There is a small pond and even a labyrinth that should keep the kids busy for a dizzying few minutes. Gravel paths interconnect with the main paved path to add more walking areas. Depending on your energy, you could spend hours here and walk several miles or sit and enjoy gazing at the Valley’s hills and mountains. (The trails are open to all from dawn to dusk and are at 101 Bradford Way, Bridgewater. For information, directions, and a site map, visit https://brcliving.org/crist-farm-walking-trails/ Kaylor’s Knob Trail at Massanutten. Kaylor’s Knob Perhaps you are up for something a bit more challenging than a walking trail and with a little more “wow” factor. For you, I might suggest Kaylor’s Knob, a not quite four-mile out-and-back trek in the Massanutten Resort. As many of you know, Massanutten Mountain is the 50-mile-long chunk of erosion-resident sandstone that splits the Shenandoah Valley and the Shenandoah River into two pieces. The Shenandoah River, a north-flowing river, arises in Augusta and Rockingham counties. The South Fork begins in Augusta. The South, Middle, and North Rivers that finally merge together at Port Republic and becomes the South Fork of the Shenandoah that flows NORTH on the EAST side of Massanutten Mountain. The North Fork of the Shenandoah flows NORTH on the WEST side of Massanutten. The two forks join at the north end of Massanutten Mountain at Front Royal to become the Shenandoah River proper, then flows northward to Harpers Ferry, which joins with the Potomac and flows into Washington, D.C. But I digress. To reach this trail from Harrisonburg, simply take U.S. Highway 33 east, turn into Massanutten Ski Resort, and drive several miles up the mountain to the Massanutten overlook. Park, walk across the road, to the west, and take the blue-blazed Kaylor’s Knob trail. I should add that either before you hike or at the end, make sure to take in the easterly view from the parking lot, which is a cool look across at the resort’s ski slopes. This trail provides a nice hike to a small summit with some pretty views, especially in the winter. The trek is not quite two miles to Kaylor’s Knob Summit and follows the ridgeline, presenting occasional views both west and east. There is nothing too strenuous about this trail. While there are a few ups and downs — the total elevation change is only about 500 feet — overall, the trail is slightly uphill to the summit and slightly downhill back to the parking lot (for the most part). The trail is very rocky in places, however, which means that the going can be a little slow to prevent turning an ankle among the sharp, pointy rocks. You will know that you have reached the summit when you spot a trio of trees with a sign hanging on the middle one stating: Kaylor’s Knob 2980 ft. At that point, stop and take a quick break, then turn around and head back down the ridge to the car. Directions to trailhead: From Harrisonburg, go east on U.S. Highway 33 for about 10 miles. Turn left at the Exxon on SR 644, Resort Drive. Follow this road and turn left on Massanutten Drive. You will reach a guard house. If the building is staffed, let the guard know that you are hiking, and you will get a free guest pass. After about 3 miles, take a right on Del Webb Drive. Follow Del Webb Drive for about two miles until you begin driving up to the ridge, where parking is on the left. Trailhead is across the road. The High Knob Fire Tower, in western Rockingham County on the West Virginia line, is the only stone fire tower in Virginia. The 360-degree view from the top of the tower is spectacular. High Knob Fire Tower If you are up for a little more adventure, then might I suggest that you take on the challenge of the spectacular High Knob Fire Tower. At about 3 miles roundtrip, this hike is actually shorter than the Kaylor’s Knob hike but is slightly more strenuous. The steady climb, however, brings the reward of an out-of-this-world view. For this adventure, U.S. Highway 33 is still the key to getting there, but instead of heading east as you did for Kaylor’s Knob, you have to take the road west and actually cross over into West Virginia. The trail starts on the top of Shenandoah Mountain in West Virginia. Look for a wide, flat parking area on your left. The trailhead is a little tricky to locate but is on the east side of the parking lot and immediately heads straight down, then levels out and rolls through some pretty evergreen shrubs, mostly Mountain Laurel and Fetterbush. In about .8 miles, the trail intersects with the High Knob trail coming from the Brandywine Campground below. At the trail intersection, turn left and start climbing. This is a steep climb for about a .1 mile, then levels out and turns right to become part of a fire road for another .1 mile before heading up and left again for the final ascent to the top. After another .1 mile of climbing, the trail merges with the fire road again, and then it is another .3 miles to the top. (Note that through here, you must make sure to respect and avoid the posted private property.) The beautiful stone fire tower comes into view once you are within a few hundred yards of the summit. Climb the steps to the tower and take in the 360-degree panorama. Try and figure out the landmarks in the valleys below that you can see from the tower. According to the excellent historical write-up about the tower on the Friends of Shenandoah Mountain website, planning began in 1939. It was built by crews from the Civilian Conservation Corps and World War I veterans. They used native stone that they found on the mountaintop. It is the only stone fire tower in the region. It was complete and used for fire watching by Forest Service firewatcher Gerald Fawley in the 1940 fire season. By the 1970s, the whole National Forest Service fire-watching system had changed, and most of the fire towers were decommissioned, and many were torn down. Luckily, High Knob was saved from demolition, restored, and made a national landmark. It is Virginia’s only stone fire tower and the only one intact on National Forest lands east of the Mississippi. The restoration, a joint project between the state preservation offices of Virginia and West Virginia, the James Madison University fraternities and sororities, and the WV Department of Transportation, was completed in 2003 at the cost of just under $40,000. The elevation at the fire tower is about 4,200 feet and the total elevation climb for the hike is about 600 feet. On a clear day, the views from the tower extend east to Shenandoah National Park and west to Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia. For information and directions to the parking area, visit visitharrisonburgva.com .As Amazon use of warehouse robots expands, what will it mean for workers?
To put it politely, it’s been a very difficult year for the Tories both at a UK-wide level and here in Scotland with leadership changes, internal fallouts and general election losses. The ever-evolving threat of Reform is also becoming an uncomfortable and all-consuming reality for the party. At the start of the year though, the Scottish Conservatives were enjoying a spell of leading the charge against the SNP. Thanks to the SNP finance scandal, the resignation of Michael Matheson and the collapse of the Bute House Agreement, the Scottish Conservatives were benefitting from the chaos within the party at the head of government. Former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross took great pleasure in calling for motions of no confidence in Humza Yousaf. After making these demands, a victory for Mr Ross and his party shortly followed when the former first minister resigned saying he “paid the price” for the way he ended the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens. Yet, ‘Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself ’, struck badly for a Macbethian Mr Ross soon after. Perhaps dizzy with his own success in causing the SNP discomfort, Mr Ross went on to make what is arguably his biggest mistake by replacing a sick colleague and running for a seat at the general election. This summer, following anger in his own ranks at his decision to run for Westminster while dropping David Duguid from the race, Mr Ross announced his resignation during one of the worst general election campaigns for his party. It is often understandable to see a resignation after poor results, it is quite something to see it before even crossing the finishing line. This certainly did not create a good look for the party and signalled instability in their ranks. At the hands of their former leader, the blows for the Scottish Conservatives didn’t stop there. In July, Mr Ross then went on to be the only candidate to notionally lose (there was a boundary change) a member of parliament seat for the Conservatives in Scotland. What’s more, this loss was at the hands of the SNP who joined the UK Conservative party as the biggest losers at this election. The overall impact of the general election on not just their former leader but the party across the UK was huge. Read more from the Unspun newsletter: Scottish Politics Christmas Wish: Let's treat women better Should Scotland be worried about its relationship with China? Is Starmer hurting Sarwar's chances of becoming FM? Right from the word go, the general election was a disaster for the Tories. The firing gun was shot by a drenched PM Rishi Sunak outside Downing Street. After big slip ups at a UK level such as Mr Sunak leaving D-Day commemorations early and questionable TikToks about national service for young people, the Conservatives were not doing well at all on the campaign trail. This translated into a historic defeat for the UK party on results day with Labour winning big. Although they technically only lost one seat as the ‘blue line’ in the South of Scotland remained, the general election showed the severe threat of Reform UK to the Conservative Party. Across Scotland, Reform won 7% of the votes at the general election and overtook the Conservatives in 25 seats - mainly in the central belt. The Conservatives also lost 16 deposits at this election - worse than Reform who only lost ten. As you read this, keep that thought of the ever present threat of Reform in your mind as we will come back to them. Much like in this article, they aren’t going away any time soon. The difficulties for the Scottish Conservatives did not stop at the general election as after Ross announced his bowing out of leadership, an ill-tempered ‘blue on blue’ race to fill his boots ensued. After a feud involving leadership candidate Meghan Gallacher and MP John Lamont as well as revelations Mr Ross had tried to make Mr Findlay his successor last year, the contest divided Conservatives into different camps. Now the new leader Russell Findlay who won the contest in August this year has the incredibly tricky task of trying to bring the party back together. After winning the race, Mr Findlay said under his leadership the Scottish Conservatives are going to change. The former crime reporter also said he was “acutely conscious” of the danger posed by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and he told The Herald at the end of November the current support for Reform is "too high" for his liking. His comments came after three Glasgow council by-elections where Reform won 18% of the vote in the northeast of the city and nearly 13% in Maryhill, and Drumchapel and Anniesland. And Mr Findlay should be worried for his party. Tens of thousands of Tory voters defected to Reform UK during the general election and polls show the problem the right-wing party poses is only going to get worse for the 2026 Holyrood elections. After Christmas, Reform declared a surge in membership they claim has made them the UK's seond-largest party. Although sources in the party say they have not yet overtaken the Scottish Tories in membership numbers, they say they are very much in touching distance. Nigel Farage has told journalists that Scots are ready to vote for Reform at the Scottish elections because there is no enthusiasm for Labour and the Conservatives have “deserted the pitch”. Polls suggest Reform is currently on nearly 11% of the vote in Scotland and pollsters such as Sir John Curtice have suggested this could translate into two seats in most regions and at least one in the others. Around 14 MSPs. A real threat to the Tories whose seats they are likely to take. “For those thinking that we'll replace the Tories, raise your ambition,” Reform UK’s deputy chairman David Kirkwood told a busy room of supporters at a conference in Perth. What's more, with Donald Trump showing his support to Nigel Farage after his presidency win in November, there are concerns amongst the Scottish Conservatives and beyond that Reform will have a lot more power behind them for Holyrood election campaigning than they did during the general election this year. If Trump pays a visit to Scotland, can we expect him endorsing Reform and their Scottish candidates? It’s not completely out of the question and with polling suggesting a quarter of Scots back Mr Trump’s presidency, this could influence voters who may choose Reform over the Tories. Moving into the new year, the Scottish Conservatives will be keen to turn the tide on poor election results and bitter fallouts within their party. Now they are no longer in power south of the border, this could potentially mean the Conservatives are able to pick up voters at the Scottish Parliament elections who are frustrated with the UK Labour-led government and a further year and a half of SNP power in Scotland. In Scotland and beyond, however, frustration with parties in power will not be enough. The Tories are going to have to prove to voters who may be leaning towards Reform in an age of political apathy that they are a new Conservative party. A changed one which has shed past internal acrimony for unity and solutions.
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram on Sunday lambasted the political aides of President Asif Ali Zardari and Sharif family, alleging that they are merely targeting PTI founder Imran Khan to garner public attention and media coverage. Reacting to Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s recent outbursts, Akram fired back, saying that even these “political entertainers privately acknowledged” that the PTI founder sacrificed his comfort for Pakistan’s greater good. “They have been admitting the bitter truth that only Khan is the political reality of the country,” he added. He claimed that former prime minister Imran Khan was a leader of international stature, while his critics were “mere pawns unleashed by their masters to unnecessarily criticize the PTI founder because the political demise of the outdated and corrupt political dynasties of Sharifs and Zardaris was imminent.” Earlier in the day, Khawaja Asif in a public statement slammed Khan for begging for US help to ensure his release from jail. He also questioned the motive of PTI’s desire for talks with the political players, saying that for over two years they had been pressing only for engaging with the establishment. Multiple cars pileup in Dera Ismail Khan leaves 20 injured The information secretary said this power greedy clique not entered into a marriage of convenience to serve the nation’s interests, but to deliberately push Khan out of the political landscape. “Their sinister plan ultimately backfired, as they failed miserably in their attempts to sideline him,” he added. He called Bilawal an angry political child and advised him to focus on debating with politicians at his own level, rather than targeting Khan. He said Khan had an unwavering commitment to Pakistan’s sovereignty and national pride, recalling how he consistently stood firm against foreign conspiracies. He recalled that during PTI’s tenure, no drone attacks occurred within its borders, and no country dared to breach its territorial sovereignty. Khan never relied on foreign intervention to secure deals, unlike Zardari and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who negotiated exits to avoid jail time and then left the country in shambles, he said. Mashhood unveils plan to empower ‘marginalised communities’BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 26, 2024-- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. announced today that it has arranged a $245 million loan from TYKO Capital to facilitate the construction of The Greyson , a 28-story, 622-unit Class-A mixed-use tower that will be located in Jersey City, New Jersey. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241226945372/en/ The Greyson (Photo: Business Wire) The Walker & Dunlop New York Capital Markets team, led by Keith Kurland , Aaron Appel , Jonathan Schwartz , Adam Schwartz , Jordan Casella , and William Herring, acted as exclusive advisors to the client, Nasser Freres, and identified TYKO Capital, which is backed by Elliott Investment Management, as the lender. With the building already nearing top-off, the loan proceeds will fund the balance of costs to complete. The property will rise on a 0.7-acre site in Journal Square, one of Jersey City’s most dynamic neighborhoods. The development will feature 389,720 rentable square feet of residential space, offering a diverse mix of studios, 1-bedroom, 1-bedroom + den, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom apartments. Additionally, the project includes 44,551 rentable square feet of office space and 2,965 rentable square feet of retail along the newly extended Homestead Avenue. “ The Greyson will redefine luxury living in Jersey City, appealing to renters seeking exceptional amenities and prime connectivity as a high-value alternative to Manhattan,” said Michael Sokoloff, a partner at Nasser Freres. “We are thrilled to partner with Walker & Dunlop and TYKO Capital on a project that will not only enhance the skyline but also contribute to the vitality of the Journal Square community.” The Greyson will boast an array of cutting-edge amenities, including a rooftop pool with Manhattan skyline views, state-of-the-art fitness center, immersive virtual reality and sports rooms, and thoughtfully designed communal spaces. Its strategic location offers residents seamless access to the Journal Square Transportation Center, ensuring connectivity across New Jersey and to downtown and midtown Manhattan. The property will also enhance the neighborhood with a new public pathway linking Newark Avenue and Pavonia Avenue, creating a vibrant and accessible urban experience. Jersey City continues to attract significant institutional and public investment, including the opening of the Centre Pompidou and the reopening of the historic Loew’s Jersey Theater. These cultural advancements, coupled with the city’s competitive rental market and burgeoning economy, have cemented its status as a top destination for young, high-income renters. "Jersey City has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade, becoming a magnet for residents seeking competitively priced, spacious rental options compared to NYC," said Keith Kurland, senior managing director and co-head of New York Capital Markers at Walker Dunlop. "We are proud to work alongside Nasser Freres to bring The Greyson to life and further elevate the neighborhood." In 2023, Walker & Dunlop’s New York Capital Markets group sourced capital for transactions totaling nearly $12 billion from non-Agency capital providers. This vast experience has made them a top adviser on all asset classes for many of the industry’s top developers, owners, and operators. To learn more about Walker & Dunlop’s broad financing options, visit our website . About Walker & Dunlop Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD) is one of the largest commercial real estate finance and advisory services firms in the United States. Our ideas and capital create communities where people live, work, shop, and play. The diversity of our people, breadth of our brand and technological capabilities make us one of the most insightful and client-focused firms in the commercial real estate industry. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241226945372/en/ CONTACT: Investors: Kelsey Duffey Investor Relations Phone301.202.3207 investorrelations@walkeranddunlop.comMedia : Nina H. von Waldegg VP, Public Relations Phone301.564.3291 info@walkeranddunlop.comPhone301.215.5500 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1300 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 KEYWORD: MARYLAND NEW JERSEY UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS RESIDENTIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE FINANCE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY PUBLIC RELATIONS/INVESTOR RELATIONS SOURCE: Walker & Dunlop, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/26/2024 06:00 PM/DISC: 12/26/2024 05:59 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241226945372/en
Thiruvananathapuram: Malayalam film and television actor Dileep Shankar has been found dead in the room of a hotel here, the police said on Sunday. A source in the Kerala Police told IANS that Dileep Shankar had checked into the hotel two days ago. However, the hotel staff became suspicious after noticing no activity in his room and detecting a foul smell emanating from it. When the staff broke open the door, they found the actor dead. The police were immediately informed and a team of police personnel arrived at the spot to initiate further inquiries. Police sources stated that investigations are ongoing and that forensic tests will be conducted to determine the cause of death. It has been reported that Dileep Shankar had been dealing with certain health issues which may have contributed to this tragic incident. Dileep Shankar was well-known for his performances in several Malayalam serials, including Amma Ariyathe, Sundari, and Panchagni. Cantonment police SHO Peajeesh Sasi told mediapersons that the death is estimated to have happened at least two days ago. He said that the AC in the hotel room was functioning and that the body had not decomposed as much as it would have in normal conditions. The police officer said that the actor was known to have had some health issues, but the exact cause of death can be ascertained only after the post-mortem. Some reports suggested that Dileep Shankar was in the capital city of Kerala for the shooting of television series ‘Panchagni’. The director of the show reportedly told the police that the actor had been suffering from a serious illness. The nature of the illness, however, could not be immediately known. Dileep Shankar was undergoing treatment for the ailment. Meanwhile, sources said that the police have launched an investigation into the incident, adding that a forensic team will examine the hotel room in which Dileep Shankar stayed. Initial examination of the hotel room did not hint at any foul play, a police source said. Dileep Shankar, a native of Ernakulam in Kerala, has been part of several popular Malayalam shows. He is known for playing roles in serials like ‘Amma Iriathe’, ‘Panchagni’ and ‘Sundari’.Markets Decline In Early Trade Amid Unabated Foreign Fund Outflows, Weak Global Trends
Players Era Festival organizers betting big NIL is future of college tourneysIs Outlook down? Thousands of Microsoft 365 users report outage issuesIn a significant foreign policy move, U.S. President Joe Biden has announced efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, citing collaboration with countries such as Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar. This initiative forms part of a broader U.S. strategy aiming to stabilize the region. President Biden underscored the urgency of removing Hamas from power and releasing hostages as prerequisites for lasting peace. Additionally, he expressed optimism about normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, two longstanding regional adversaries. Biden's vision includes concluding a historic deal with Saudi Arabia, which involves a security agreement and economic commitments. A central component of this potential agreement is establishing a credible pathway to create a Palestinian state, emphasizing the U.S.'s continued diplomatic engagement in the Middle East. (With inputs from agencies.)
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Published 9:52 pm Tuesday, November 26, 2024 by Steve Flowers Our 45th President, Donald J. Trump, was elected as our 47th President on November 5. He not only won, he won overwhelmingly. Under the Electoral College system, our President is elected not by popular vote, but by a system where each state casts the same number of votes as they have Representatives and Senators in Congress. We, in Alabama, have seven Congressmen and two Senators. Therefore, we have nine electoral votes. National voters and the media knew in this 2024 Presidential election, there were seven pivotal battleground states that would determine the outcome of the Presidential race. They were Georgia and North Carolina in the south, both with 16 electoral votes – pretty good prizes, Arizona and Nevada in the West, and the ultimate battleground Rust Belt states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania in the Midwest. There were all kinds of formulas and scenarios as to how these states would fall and which ones Trump or his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, would win. Polls revealed all seven states were showing dead even contests leading up to the election. According to all polls, no winner could be projected. Not even the Las Vegas oddsmakers could predict a clear winner. Trump claimed a tremendous triumph on election night. He won all seven of the battleground states, including the Blue Wall big three of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. It was like a giant red wave that swept those three pivotal states, as well as every red state, which was the vast majority of the rest of the country. Email newsletter signup Trump’s triumph was so prolific that he had coattails which enabled the Republicans to garner a majority in the U.S. Senate. They were expected to pick up seats in West Virginia and Montana, but Trump’s triumphant journey gave them two more seats in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Going into November 5th, Democrats had a majority in the Senate of 51 to 49. In January when Trump is inaugurated and the Senate organizes, there will be a Republican majority of 53 to 47. This is a mandate for Trump, which will allow him to enact his legislative agenda –but more importantly, appointments, and advise and consent of federal judges and the U.S. Supreme Court. Speaking of courts, the federal courts gave the Democrats one of Alabama’s Congressional Seats. Currently, we have six Republicans and one Democrat. Last year, federal judges handed the Democrats a seat and re-drew Alabama’s congressional lines from the bench. They made the new 2nd Congressional District in south Alabama a seat that should vote 60% for a Democrat. The race for this seat was the only good, contested race on the Alabama ballot this year. It featured Democrat Shomari Figures and an impressive new Republican first time candidate, Caroleene Dobson. She made it a close race. Figures, the Democrat, won with 55% of the vote. You may not have heard the last of this race or the last of Caroleene Dobson on the Alabama political scene. Our five incumbent Republican Congressmen, Robert Aderholt, Mike Rogers, Gary Palmer, Dale Strong, and Barry Moore were overwhelmingly reelected with no or token opposition, as was Democrat Terri Sewell. Figures will join Sewell when they organize. We will have two Democrats and five Republicans on the Potomac. Alabama did its part in electing Donald Trump. He carried 65% of the vote in the Heart of Dixie. His best yet. He got 63% four years ago. This was Trump’s third triumph in Alabama. The Republican candidate for President has carried our state in the last 12 Presidential races going back 48 years. Trump’s triumph is good for Alabama. With us being a Republican state and having both our U.S. Senators as Republicans and five of our seven Congressmen in the GOP with Trump, we should be in the “catbird” seat. Both of our Senators, Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, are in very good graces with Trump. Tuberville is especially close to Trump. In fact, Tuberville is probably Trump’s closest friend and ally in the Senate. They golf regularly together at Mar-a-Lago. It was expected that if Harris had won and Republicans remained in the minority in the Senate, that Tuberville was eyeing running for Governor in 2026, rather than reelection to his Senate seat, which is up in the same year. However, with Trump in the White House and Republicans in the majority, Tuberville would probably like to remain in the Senate. Steve Flowers served 16 years in the state legislature. He may be reached at steve@steveflowers.us. (Column) Big mules ain’t all bad (Column) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Will he make America healthy again? (Dave says) Your income is the key (Column) Alabama vs. Auburn, a house divided
Kaligis can certainly use all the support he can get, especially an embrace and some encouraging words from the opposing coach. No. 22 Syracuse (9-3, No. 21 CFP), led by national passing leader Kyle McCord, is a 17-point favorite according to BetMGM in Friday night's Holiday Bowl against the depleted Cougars (8-4), whose season has nosedived since mid-November. After beating future Pac-12 opponent San Diego State 29-26 on Oct. 26 at Snapdragon Stadium, coach Jake Dickert, quarterback John Mateer and the rest of the Cougars were 7-1 and about to jump into The Associated Press Top 25. Now the Cougars are barely recognizable as they return to Snapdragon. Dickert was hired away by Wake Forest, Mateer transferred to Oklahoma and running back Wayshawn Parker left for Utah. Numerous coaches, including the offensive and defensive coordinators, are gone, and more than 20 players have entered the transfer portal. The Cougars, who lost their last three games, are a prime example of how college football's rapidly changing landscape can dramatically affect a program. “Going into the ins-and-outs of the game tomorrow doesn’t matter,” Kaligis said. “We are who we are, we have what we have. I know that’s for both of us.” Kaligis said players who entered the portal after Dickert left can suit up Friday night. “I know we came here with 98 guys. That's who we’re going to show up on the field with.” The state of the game Kaligis said relationships between players and coaches are more important than ever, even if there's less time to develop trust “and coach them the right way.” “When a staff (member) leaves and guys get in the portal, it’s because of the relationships they have garnered with their position coaches. When that position coach isn’t guaranteed he’s going to be there, that’s who that young man trusts,” Kaligis said. “I’ve been doing this for a long time," he added. "What’s been hard for me, I spent 13 years at Wyoming, I saw three graduating classes. I remember I was the longest-tenured coach there. To see them all the way through. When I came to Wazzu, I was their fourth D-line coach." Wazzu's slump The Cougs improved to 8-1 by beating Utah State 49-28 on Nov. 9 but then lost three straight, including to Oregon State in the de facto championship game between the two teams left in the Pac-12. They also lost to New Mexico and Wyoming, two of the Mountain West teams that weren't invited to join the reconstituted Pac-12 starting in 2026. Airing it out McCord, who transferred from Ohio State, rewrote the Orange's record book this season with 4,326 yards passing, 29 touchdowns and 367 completions. He's well within range of breaking Deshaun Watson's ACC single-season record of 4,593, which he set in 15 games in 2016. Orange goals A win will give Syracuse 10 wins for the first time since 2018 and just the third time since 2000. Brown can become the second Syracuse coach since World War II to record 10 wins in his first season, joining Paul Pasqualoni, who did it in 1991. In their final regular-season game, the Orange rallied from a 21-0 deficit for a 42-38 win against then-No. 6 Miami that knocked the Hurricanes out of ACC title contention and ended their College Football Playoff hopes. McCord threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns. “We want to go out and have a good game,” Brown said. “We have an opportunity of winning 10 games, which means you’re starting to become a successful program, right? Our players haven’t had a chance of winning a bowl game. So there’s a lot of things that are on the line for us to really be able to build our program and being able to move forward.” Series history This will be the teams' second meeting. Syracuse beat Washington State 52-25 in 1979.Jayden Daniels and the offense stalling have the Commanders on a three-game losing streak