Country's issues will be solved only when Imran Khan, army chief sit together: Shahid Khaqanmnl168 games 。

Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip0203 top S&P 500 growth shares to consider buying for a Stocks and Shares ISA in 2025Russia prepared to launch cyber attacks on UK, minister to warn

As wildfires continue to ravage the US on either coast , an expert says that using an "electronic nose" sensor with built-in artificial intelligence can nip the problem in the bud. According to the US Forest Service Research Data Archive, nearly 85% of the wildland fires in the US are caused by humans who leave campfires unattended, negligently discarded cigarettes, or burn debris among other things. Research has also indicated that climate change leads to warmer, drier conditions making wildlands more susceptible to wildfires. Oregon and California, in particular, have noticed historic levels of wildfire spread and damage. More recently, the Northeast has been grappling with deadly blazes affecting New Jersey, New York , Connecticut, and Massachusetts among historic drought conditions . The Jennings Creek wildfire in Orange County, New York , in particular, has burned more than 5,3000 acres, killing one of the firefighters. New Yorkers wake up to city smelling of smoke - and get worrying warning Details of trapped families emerge as officials 'unprepared' for Hawaii fires Carsten Brinkschulte, the founder of Dryad, is coming up with innovative solutions to mitigating wildfires. With three tech startups under his belt, he first felt inspired to dip his toes in the wildfire issue when he saw children protesting against climate change in Europe at the Fridays for Future Movement. "If you've got a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail," he said. "So I had no other choice but to use tech to try to address this... to mitigate wildfires." With Dryad, they came up with a "novel" idea that "nobody has done before." "This device, it's an electronic nose," Brinkschulte said, pointing to the Silvanet Wildfire Sensor, a small, solar-powered device that is used for ultra-early detection of wildfires within minutes of inception to minimize impact and damage. He drew parallels between the device and a fire detector in one's home. "This device is a fire detector but for the forest. You hang it on a tree. It's solar powered so it doesn't need batteries changed. And it's out there smelling for something funny," he said. The sensor is sensitive to hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other gases and can smell fires as early as the smoldering phase. They send out the exact geocoordinate to the place where the sensor picked up the smell to help firefighters get there on time and extinguish it before it can spread. DON'T MISS: US embassy in Kyiv to close with 'specific information' of Russian air attack [REPORT] Putin ready to discuss Ukraine ceasefire with Trump in U-turn on demands [SHOCKING] US supports Ukraine using British missiles on Russia [LATEST] The sensors also monitor microclimate conditions by measuring humidity, temperature, and air pressure. ​It uses highly sensitive gas detection with built-in artificial intelligence to minimize false alarms and accurately detect fires. They can be hung from trees and have been designed to be waterproof, energy-efficient, and long-lasting for at least ten years. It uses supercapacitors instead of batteries, eliminating the need for lithium and other toxic materials. Given their size, thousands of sensors should be employed across the forest to minimize the risk of harm.​ "The vision is to make wildfires a non-newsworthy item," he said, adding: "Our mission is to prevent human-induced fires.... that means accidents, technical faults, arson, reckless behavior. That's where 85% of the wildfires are starting." This is a "low cost, high volume device," Brinkschulte said, with each sensor costing about $100. They deploy these sensors along roads, hiking paths, power lines, and railroads as these are some high-risk areas where wildfires typically start. Dryad has invested about $20 million into the development of this technology over four years and has sold over 20,000 sensors across Greece, Spain, Portugal, Lebanon, etc. They have started their first deployments in the US and Canada and have also sensed an increased interest from Asian countries. In California , Dryad has one deployment with the California Department of Forestry and with the Pacific Gas and Electric and Fire Protection. In Canada, they run a deployment with a railroad operator to protect their wooden bridges, Carsten said. "We are seeing interest in North America, in particular, places like California and Oregon," he said. The sensors have managed to detect more than 150 fires already, Brinkschulte stated. Most notably, last December, a Silvanet sensor was successful in detecting and alerting authorities about an unauthorized fire involving a farmer burning dry grapevines in Lebanon. This activity is considered illegal as it poses a wildfire threat that could potentially spread to nearby forested areas, he shared. The system detected a change in air composition through its gas sensor as the built-in AI detected the pattern and predicted a 70% probability of smoking thus triggering an alert to the authorities. One of the bigger challenges they faced initially included unreliable signals inside the forest. So, they developed solar-powered Silvanet Mesh Gateways that cover a radius of two to ten kilometers and use LoRa radio to help active communication without depending on direct 4G/LTE connections. The built-in solar panels and satellite connectivity in North America and Europe help with off-grid operations in very remote locations. "We're basically like the AT&T of the forest," Brinkschulte said. While artificial intelligence is being used in cameras or satellites to detect fires, this is the "fastest, market-leading solution," Brinkschulte said. The European Union has provided $3.8 million in funding to Dryad for their next ambitious project called Florea, "a visionary idea" to build an autonomous drone system that will instantly respond to the wildfires they detect and put them out. It is currently under development and will take about two years to be rolled out.Ankita Sharma, a native of Durg, Chhattisgarh, completed her graduation before pursuing a management program in her hometown. She then moved to Delhi to prepare for the UPSC but later returned to Durg and chose to prepare independently. Published: November 27, 2024 1:10 AM IST By Edited by Ankita Sharma, a native of Durg, Chhattisgarh, completed her graduation before pursuing a management program in her hometown. She then moved to Delhi to prepare for the UPSC but later returned to Durg and chose to prepare independently. For breaking news and live news updates, like us on or follow us on and . Read more on Latest on . Topics

Every Palantir Investor Should Keep an Eye on This NumberHail Flutie: BC celebrates 40th anniversary of Miracle in Miami

A stroke changed a teacher’s life. How a new electrical device is helping her moveBoth Oklahoma and Providence are hoping they'll have key pieces back in place when the two undefeated teams square off in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday in Paradise Island, Bahamas. The Friars (5-0) are expected to have Bryce Hopkins available, according to a report from Field of 68. Hopkins was averaging 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds last season before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament Jan. 3. He returned to full-go practices last week, and Tuesday, Providence coach Kim English said Hopkins would be a "game-time decision" against the Sooners. "It's been a process," English said. "We're not rushing it." But English praised Hopkins' progress since the Friars' last game, Nov. 19, when Hopkins went through pregame warmups. "I thought he looked better than I remembered," English said. "He's been in our system for the past year. His patience, his understanding, his versatility on offense and defense ... it's been great to see him in practice." The Sooners (4-0) are hopeful that they'll get Brycen Goodine back. Goodine played for the Friars for two seasons from 2020-22 before transferring to Fairfield for two seasons and then to Oklahoma this offseason. Goodine suffered an ankle injury in the Sooners' opener Nov. 4 and has not played since. "He's a really tough kid and trying to push through it," Oklahoma coach Porter Moser said. "It will truly be one of those game-time decisions. He hasn't gone a full practice yet, just been pieces of practices." Playing with Goodine and Jadon Jones, expected to be two of the Sooners' top outside shooters, Moser said he's learned plenty about his team's offense. "When you're down those shooters, it's really a great weapon to know that a lot of other guys can knock down the open shot," Moser said. "It's been a huge takeaway." The Sooners have been led by Jalon Moore, who is averaging 18.8 points per game, and freshman Jeremiah Fears, who is averaging 15.5. Providence has been led by senior guard Bensley Joseph, who is averaging 11.8 points and 4.0 assists per game. Oklahoma has not played a game closer than 16 points yet this season, with an average margin of victory of 24 points. Providence has won its five games by an average of nearly 17 points per game. The teams will square off against either Davidson or No. 24 Arizona in the second round Thursday, with the winners playing each other in one semifinal while the losers play in a consolation semifinal. --Field Level Media

Hopes for a Santa Claus rally on Wall Street fell Friday as tech stocks slid lower, while a weaker yen lifted Japanese equities. US indices slid lower at the opening bell, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite losing two percent during morning trading. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.

He is not yet in power but President-elect Donald Trump rattled much of the world with an off-hours warning of stiff tariffs on close allies and China -- a loud hint that Trump-style government by social media post is coming back. With word of these levies against goods imported from Mexico, Canada and China, Trump sent auto industry stocks plummeting, raised fears for global supply chains and unnerved the world's major economies. For Washington-watchers with memories of the Republican's first term, the impromptu policy volley on Monday evening foreshadowed a second term of startling announcements of all manner, fired off at all hours of the day from his smartphone. "Donald Trump is never going to change much of anything," said Larry Sabato, a leading US political scientist and director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. "You can expect in the second term pretty much what he showed us about himself and his methods in the first term. Social media announcements of policy, hirings and firings will continue." The first of Trump's tariff announcements -- a 25 percent levy on everything coming in from Mexico and Canada -- came amid an angry rebuke of lax border security at 6:45 pm on Truth Social, Trump's own platform. The United States is bound by agreements on the movement of goods and services brokered by Trump in a free trade treaty with both nations during his first term. But Trump warned that the new levy would "remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country" -- sowing panic from Ottawa to Mexico City. Seconds later, another message from the incoming commander-in-chief turned the focus on Chinese imports, which he said would be hit with "an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs." The consequences were immediate. Almost every major US automaker operates plants in Mexico, and shares in General Motors and Stellantis -- which produce pickup trucks in America's southern neighbor -- plummeted. Canada, China and Mexico protested, while Germany called on its European partners to prepare for Trump to impose hefty tariffs on their exports and stick together to combat such measures. The tumult recalls Trump's first term, when journalists, business leaders and politicians at home and abroad would scan their phones for the latest pronouncements, often long after they had left the office or over breakfast. During his first four years in the Oval Office, the tweet -- in those days his newsy posts were almost exclusively limited to Twitter, now known as X -- became the quasi-official gazette for administration policy. The public learned of the president-elect's 2020 Covid-19 diagnosis via an early-hours post, and when Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani was assassinated on Trump's order, the Republican confirmed the kill by tweeting a US flag. The public and media learned of numerous other decisions big and small by the same source, from the introduction of customs duties to the dismissal of cabinet secretaries. It is not a communication method that has been favored by any previous US administration and runs counter to the policies and practices of most governments around the world. Throughout his third White House campaign, and with every twist and turn in his various entanglements with the justice system, Trump has poured his heart out on Truth Social, an app he turned to during his 20-month ban from Twitter. In recent days, the mercurial Republican has even named his attorney general secretaries of justice and health via announcements on the network. "He sees social media as a tool to shape and direct the national conversation and will do so again," said political scientist Julian Zelizer, a Princeton University professor. cjc/ft/dw/bjtMIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he was caught off guard by reports early Tuesday that linebacker Shaq Barrett wants to unretire. The two-time Super Bowl winner signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in March, then abruptly announced his retirement on social media in July, just days before the start of Miami's training camp. “Just to be candid, obviously there's a reason why you target and sign somebody," McDaniel said Tuesday afternoon. “I was fully caught off guard, or caught by surprise this morning as I found out.” McDaniel indicated the Dolphins have not had any conversations with Barrett recently. Miami holds the 32-year-old’s contractual rights. ESPN first reported the news. “It was kind of news as you guys got it,” McDaniel said. He also said he hasn't had a chance to think about Barrett potentially rejoining the team, and that his immediate focus is on Miami's Thursday night game at Green Bay. “The team is counting on me to think about the Packers,” he said. "I'll get with (GM) Chris (Grier), and we'll work through that. There's a ton of implications that go along with it in terms of team and roster stuff, so we'll work through that as we just got the news today.” Barrett has 400 tackles, 59 sacks, 22 forced fumbles and three interceptions in nine seasons — four with Denver and five with Tampa Bay. He was a second-team All-Pro with the Buccaneers in 2019, with a league-high 19 1/2 sacks. The Dolphins waived veteran safety Marcus Maye on Tuesday and activated rookie safety Patrick McMorris from injured reserve. Maye, who signed with the Dolphins in June, played in 11 games with three starts for Miami this season. He had 30 tackles and a tackle for loss. He could re-sign to the team's practice squad if he clears waivers. Maye previously played for New Orleans, but was cut in a money-saving move in March after two seasons with the Saints. Maye's release made room on the roster for McMorris, who was drafted in the sixth round by Miami in April. He began the season on injured reserve because of a calf injury. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflTop war-crimes court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and others in Israel-Hamas fighting

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

Blake's career receiving day helps Charlotte beat FAU 39-27

Both Oklahoma and Providence are hoping they'll have key pieces back in place when the two undefeated teams square off in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday in Paradise Island, Bahamas. The Friars (5-0) are expected to have Bryce Hopkins available, according to a report from Field of 68. Hopkins was averaging 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds last season before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament Jan. 3. He returned to full-go practices last week, and Tuesday, Providence coach Kim English said Hopkins would be a "game-time decision" against the Sooners. "It's been a process," English said. "We're not rushing it." But English praised Hopkins' progress since the Friars' last game, Nov. 19, when Hopkins went through pregame warmups. "I thought he looked better than I remembered," English said. "He's been in our system for the past year. His patience, his understanding, his versatility on offense and defense ... it's been great to see him in practice." The Sooners (4-0) are hopeful that they'll get Brycen Goodine back. Goodine played for the Friars for two seasons from 2020-22 before transferring to Fairfield for two seasons and then to Oklahoma this offseason. Goodine suffered an ankle injury in the Sooners' opener Nov. 4 and has not played since. "He's a really tough kid and trying to push through it," Oklahoma coach Porter Moser said. "It will truly be one of those game-time decisions. He hasn't gone a full practice yet, just been pieces of practices." Playing with Goodine and Jadon Jones, expected to be two of the Sooners' top outside shooters, Moser said he's learned plenty about his team's offense. "When you're down those shooters, it's really a great weapon to know that a lot of other guys can knock down the open shot," Moser said. "It's been a huge takeaway." The Sooners have been led by Jalon Moore, who is averaging 18.8 points per game, and freshman Jeremiah Fears, who is averaging 15.5. Providence has been led by senior guard Bensley Joseph, who is averaging 11.8 points and 4.0 assists per game. Oklahoma has not played a game closer than 16 points yet this season, with an average margin of victory of 24 points. Providence has won its five games by an average of nearly 17 points per game. The teams will square off against either Davidson or No. 24 Arizona in the second round Thursday, with the winners playing each other in one semifinal while the losers play in a consolation semifinal. --Field Level MediaBy Augusta Saraiva | Bloomberg US household wealth rose to a fresh record in the third quarter, fueled by a stock-market rally ahead of the presidential election. Household net worth increased nearly $4.8 trillion, or 2.9% from the prior quarter, to $168.8 trillion, a Federal Reserve report showed Thursday. The value of Americans’ equity holdings rose $3.8 trillion. The value of real estate eased by almost $200 billion after sizable advances in the first half of the year. In the third quarter, investors benefited from a stock-market rally in anticipation of interest-rate cuts from the Fed and that Donald Trump would return to the White House next year. Since his victory in the Nov. 5 election, the S&P 500 has climbed to new highs amid expectations that the president-elect will enact pro-business policies. Households have been the main driver behind robust economic growth in recent years, as healthy balance sheets and strong wage growth have supported resilient consumer spending. That said, economists generally expect a moderation in demand against a backdrop of still-elevated borrowing costs and a higher cost of living. The Fed’s report showed that consumers increased their borrowing at a faster pace last quarter, while business borrowing cooled. Business debt outstanding increased at a 3% annualized rate, while consumer non-mortgage credit rose at a 2.5% pace. Mortgage debt climbed 3.1% for a second quarter. In the public sector, state and local government debt grew at a slower rate. Household liquidity picked up to a record. Deposits held by households and nonprofit organizations, which includes savings and checking accounts and money market funds, rose by $379.5 billion to $18.9 trillion.

After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key rolesBlack Friday is inching closer, but shoppers may want to lower their expectations for the biggest shopping day of the year. Personal finance website WalletHub said that 41% of products offer no greater savings on Black Friday compared to prices in the days and weeks before. That isn't to say you won't find great deals on Black Friday, but it can vary depending on where you look. WalletHub said jewelry had the best savings at 37% off, followed by apparel and accessories at 31%. Discounts on toys are generally about 23%. Consumer electronics generally have discounts of less than 20%. “WalletHub found that around 41% of Black Friday items offer no real savings for consumers compared to their usual prices, but the items that are on sale are an average of 24% off, with the highest markdown at 89%," Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst said in the report. RELATED STORY | Forget about Black Friday; plumbers are getting ready for Brown Friday Last year, a record 200.4 million consumers shopped over the five-day holiday weekend from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, according to the National Retail Federation. On Black Friday itself, over 76 million Americans shopped in person while more than 90 million people shopped online. Of those who shopped during Thanksgiving weekend last year, 49% purchased clothing and accessories. The National Retail Federation expects Black Friday to be quite busy again this year with 131.7 million people to shop online, in-person or both the day after Thanksgiving. RELATED STORY | Thanksgiving meals expected to be cheaper in 2024 as turkey prices drop Retailers say it's not just deals that attracts customers. There is a social aspect involved with shopping on days like Black Friday. “Younger shoppers are most likely to take advantage of Thanksgiving weekend deals this year, with 89% of young adults between 18-24 planning to shop over the weekend,” Prosper Insights & Analytics Executive Vice President of Strategy Phil Rist said. “The social aspect of holiday shopping is also enticing to this age group, and they are most likely to shop because it’s a group activity that can be enjoyed with friends and family (20%).”

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BREAKING NEWS White House reveals whether Russians shot down doomed Azerbaijan Airlines flight Azerbaijan officials claimed that a Russian missile struck the plane By KELLY LACO, EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF POLITICS and JAMES REYNOLDS Published: 18:08, 27 December 2024 | Updated: 18:26, 27 December 2024 e-mail 29 View comments The White House said there are 'indications' that Russians shot down the Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day, killing 38. White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Friday that Russia was likely behind the deadly crash. The U.S. has seen 'early indications that would certainly point to the possibility that this jet was brought down by Russian air defense systems,' he said. Kirby didn't get into specifics due to the ongoing investigation. President Joe Biden is away on holiday in St. Croix and has no events on his public schedule Friday. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris jetted off to Los Angeles to ring in the New Year. Earlier Friday, Azerbaijan government officials claimed that a Russian surface-to-air missile struck the plane, causing the crash. Sources told Euronews that the missile was fired at Flight 8432 amid drone air activity above Grozny, the Chechen capital, citing a preliminary investigation. They said the pilot was blocked from landing at any Russian airports despite making emergency pleas, and was instead ordered to carry on into Kazakhstan . This is the horrific moment a passenger plane hit the ground in a fireball in a Christmas Day crash landing President Joe Biden is away on holiday in St. Croix and has no events on his public schedule Friday Government sources said previously the plane was hit by a missile fired from a Pantsir-S air defence system from the Naursky district of Chechnya . Local media cited government sources in suggesting jammers then 'paralyzed' the plane's communication systems. Thirty-eight passengers were killed in the crash on Christmas Day as the plane attempted to make an emergency landing before erupting in a fireball. Russia has tried to play down speculation the flight had been shot down by a Russian missile, urging patience while the investigation is carried out. The two countries enjoy bilateral ties, with Azerbaijan becoming an essential partner for trade and acting as a corridor to Iran amid the war in Ukraine. Kazakhstan has said it would be carrying out an investigation into the crash, suggesting it would cooperate with Azerbaijan but not Russia. Azerbaijan is understood to be conducting its own investigation. A source familiar with the Azerbaijani investigation told Reuters that while 'no one claims that it was done on purpose', Baku 'expects the Russian side to confess to the shooting down of the Azerbaijani aircraft'. White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Friday that Russia was likely behind the deadly crash. Biden is on vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands Emergency services are pictured above at the scene of the plane crash There were 105 passengers and five crew members on board the fight from Azerbaijan capital Baku to Russian city Grozny. Earlier reports had suggested 67 on board A Russian Pantsir-S1 self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery system With 67 passengers on board, the plane had been looking to land as scheduled in Grozny in Chechnya yesterday when it crashed. Chechnya is a region of Russia headed by close Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov. It has been under regular attacks from Ukraine in recent weeks. Speculation in the aftermath of the crash attributed blame to Kadyrov's forces, although the crew initially believed they had collided with a flock of birds. Video from the fuselage appeared to show how the plane had been buffeted by shrapnel, perhaps caused by an explosion. The explosion of an oxygen tank to supply the cockpit in the event of depressurisation was cited in earlier reports. Russian sources reported that the plane was flying over Chechnya as Russian air defences tried to shoot down Ukrainian UAV drones. According to Azeri officials, the plane was ordered to continue flying across the Caspian Sea towards Aktau in Kazakhstan after suffering a blow. Struggling to control the plane with 67 people on board, the pilots asked for help from several different airports in Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The plane was barred from landing in Grozny, with the official reason given as 'fog'. It ultimately came down just a few miles from Aktau, and data shows its radars were jammed as it crossed over the sea. Most of the passengers on board were Azerbaijani. Sixteen were from Russia, and several from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. At the time the plane had been seeking to land as scheduled in Grozny in Chechnya, of which it is capital, a Russian region headed by close Vladimir Putin warlord Ramzan Kadyrov (pictured) The Pantsir-S1 (SA-22), self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile system seen displayed under the Russian national flag during the annual Army defense technology exhibition in Kubinka, 2016 Damage to the fuselage of the plane after the horror Christmas Day crash Sources with knowledge of the preliminary findings of Azerbaijan's investigation into the disaster told Reuters today that Russian air defences had downed the plane, corroborating the account given to Euronews. One of the Azerbaijani sources familiar with the Azerbaijani investigation into the crash told Reuters that preliminary results showed the plane was struck by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system, and its communications were paralysed by electronic warfare systems on the approach into Grozny. Read More Videos inside downed plane show passengers' 'final calls' - before survivors pulled from wreckage The source said: 'No one claims that it was done on purpose. However, taking into account the established facts, Baku expects the Russian side to confess to the shooting down of the Azerbaijani aircraft.' Three other sources confirmed that the Azeri investigation had come to the same preliminary conclusion. Russia's Defence Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Kazakhstan's transport prosecutor for the region where the plane came down said its investigation had not yet come to any conclusions about the crash. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Qanat Bozymbaev said he could neither confirm nor deny the thesis that Russian air defences downed the plane. Azerbaijan Airlines suspended a host of flights to Russian cities on Friday and said it considered the crash was caused by what it termed 'physical and technical external interference'. It did not detail what that interference was. At 8:12, the crew reported 'both GPS lost' on the Embraer E190AR, and sought help with 'vectoring' to head back to the take-off airport Baku, evidently after the sudden closure of Grozny airport. At 8:16, one of the pilots said: 'We have control failure, bird strike in the cockpit. Bird strike in the cockpit (inaudible)...' Ground control reply: 'AXY8243 I understand you, what kind of help do you need?' The captain indicated he was seeking to return to his home airport Baku. But at 8:17, the pilot announced he was 'heading to Mineralnye Vody' - an airport in southern Russia. Ground control tell him to 'perform left orbit' - but the flight deck reply: 'I can't execute, control is lost.' At 8:19, one of the pilots states: 'I can't maintain 150, we have high pressure in the cabin.' People are seen standing next to the rear of the crashed passenger jet Ground control reply: 'AXY8243 understood you.' One minute later, at 8:20, the flight's scheduled arrival time, the pilot says: 'Left 360, my plane is losing control.' At 8:21, according to the leaked transcript, the crew decide instead to make for Makhachkala, a Russian airport on the Caspian Sea. At 8:22, the crew report: 'Now the hydraulics have failed.' Two minutes later, the pilot appears to deny he has declared a 'distress' on board and tells ground control: 'The board [plane] is in order.' But the air traffic controller then cannot properly hear the crew. 'You are very hard to hear.... tell me your altitude.' The plane later disappeared from radar for 37 minutes before reappearing as it sought to land in Aktau. Russian Telegram channel VChK-OGPU - close to the security services - said air defence teams loyal to Chechen leader Kadyrov in Naursky district likely attacked the plane. Footage of the crash showed the plane bursting into flames as it hit the ground and thick black smoke then rising Terrified passengers can be seen on the plane as oxygen masks dropped down, just before the crash 'The pilot mistook the strong blow to the plane for a collision with a flock of birds,' said the channel. 'In reality, the damage indicates that, most likely, a missile fired by air defence systems exploded near the plane.' 'According to the materials we have obtained, that very strike occurred approximately 18 kilometres [11 miles] north, northwest of the airport in Grozny, over the Naursky district at an altitude of 2,400 metres [7,875ft].' The channel reported: 'According to information from open sources, several military units are located in this area, including those with air defence systems..... 'It is known that after the recent [Ukrainian] UAV attacks, several Pantsirs were also deployed in Chechnya.' Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council official, wrote on Telegram: 'Russia was supposed to close the airspace over Grozny, but did not do so... 'The plane was damaged by the Russians and sent to Kazakhstan, instead of making an emergency landing in Grozny and saving people's lives.' Authorities in Kazakhstan said a government commission had been set up to investigate what had happened and its members ordered to fly to the site and ensure that the families of the dead and injured were getting the help they needed. Kazakhstan would cooperate with Azerbaijan on the investigation, the government said. Kazakhstan has reportedly refused Russia permission to join the investigation examining the crash. 'This way we will have all the facts, the black box and the evidence,' said a member of the Kazakhstan investigation commission. 'A delegation of the State Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as representatives of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), arrived in Kazakhstan,' the Kazakh transport ministry wrote on Telegram . 'Work on site is carried out in close cooperation with the aviation authorities of Azerbaijan. 'Representatives of the aircraft manufacturer Embraer and CENIPA (Accident Investigation and Prevention Center, Brazil) also flew to Kazakhstan.' Independent investigative journalists from Volya Telegram channel said the drone left coincided in Grozny with the plane's expected arrival. 'The Pantsirs began shooting down everything that was in the air at that moment. 'Grozny airport was closed for flights. But the passenger plane was already landing, which [air traffic control] prohibited at the last moment. 'The crew, according to the passengers, made two more attempts to land, after the last of which something exploded near the plane. 'The damaged Embraer was prohibited from landing in Grozny and tried to reach the airport in Aktau, Kazakhstan, but crashed nearby. 'The crew did everything possible not to crash the plane, but to land it.' The outlet made clear that 'traces of shrapnel damage are visible on the fuselage and vertical stabiliser (keel)' of the jet. The closure of airports due to drone or missile threats is called a 'carpet plan' in Russia. 'Everyone switched on the mode which can be described as 'work according to the instructions'. The wreckage of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 lays on the ground near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, December 25 The front of the plane burst into flames when the aircraft hit the ground 'The instructions don't say to turn on your brain'.' The outlet said: 'Russian propagandists are trying to spread the version that the plane collided with a Ukrainian drone. 'A collision with an attack UAV would not have left shrapnel holes in a civilian airliner, but would have led to the destruction and fall of the aircraft immediately after the impact. 'Drones do not explode near the target, they explode upon impact with the target.' A special aircraft of the Russian Emergencies Ministry has flown nine Russians, including one child, injured in yesterday's plane crash to Moscow for treatment. By this morning, Kadyrov had not spoken about the plane crash from which there were 29 survivors. His nephew Khamzat Kadyrov, secretary of the Chechen Security Council, wrote on his Instagram that 'everything was shot down' and published a video in which a drone is seen exploding. The terrifying moments before and after the plane ploughed into the ground and erupted into a ball of flames was caught on camera. The heart-wrenching footage snapped survivors pulling themselves from the mangled wreckage. A man is seen limping away from the scene of the plane crash in Western Kazakhstan Half of the mangled plane can be seen in the clip, with emergency services and passengers surrounding the aircraft in the hunt to find survivors. One person can be seen being dragged to safety, their legs dangling. In the background cries and screams can be heard from surrounding people. One bloodied man can seen limping away from the wreckage. Another video shows the moment the plane hits the ground, bursting into flames on impact and sending a huge black smoke cloud into the air. Footage filmed by a passenger shows terrified people praying and some oxygen masks lowered with damage inside the cabin minutes before the plane crashed and broke apart in Kazakhstan, leaving 38 dead . Other footage shows mayhem inside the plane after the crash as rescuers went inside the severed rear of the aircraft, where several people can be seen lying on the ground. Astonishingly, some were found still alive. One trapped woman shouted at rescuers: 'Help me please!'. A firefighter asked her whether she needed help to get up, and she confirmed that she would need to be lifted out of the debris. Rescuers enter the back of the plane to try and reach any survivors trapped in the aircraft A person's feet are seen being dragged away from the wreckage of the aircraft The camera then pans to show the person sat upright with their head in their hands It is understood that the 29 people reported to have survived the crash were found in the rear section of the aircraft, with the front being badly destroyed by fire. Latest figures indicate 22 of the 29 survivors are being treated in hospital, seven of whom are in serious condition. At least ten people dying after reportedly being thrown out of the cabin. One terrifying video shows the moment the plane burst into flames and broke into several parts as it hit the ground, with thick black smoke rising up from the wrecked aircraft after. Later bloodied and bruised passengers could be seen stumbling from a piece of the fuselage that had remained intact. Azerbaijan Airlines, the country's flag carrier, said the Embraer 190 had 'made an emergency landing' around three kilometres from Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. 'A plane doing the Baku-Grozny route crashed near the city of Aktau. It belongs to Azerbaijan Airlines,' the Kazakh ministry said on Telegram. The Embraer E190AR with registration number 4K-AZ65 sent out a distress signal at an altitude of 2,125 feet over the Caspian Sea. The footage taken moments before the plane crashed were filmed by a passenger who sent it to his wife Latest figures indicate 22 of the 29 survivors are being treated in hospital, seven of whom are in serious condition. One survivor is pictured in hospital above One trapped woman shouted at rescuers: 'Help me please!'. A firefighter asked her whether she needed help to get up, and she confirmed that she would need to be lifted out of the debris Footage from the crash site shows rescuers looking for survivors of the horrific crash Dramatic footage showed the pilot pulling the plane out of a steep fall as he sought to regain control, but the aircraft still suffered a catastrophic crash exploding in fire. The two main sites of the wreck at Aktau airport were hundreds of yards apart. Mangled human remains from the horror crash were strewn on rough ground at the airport. Read More Moment jet is hit by lightning in storm that also saw passenger plane struck and forced to divert Dazed and bloodied passengers are seen emerging from the severed rear of the plane. Some sat in shock on the ground after escaping from the aircraft. Others managed to walk clear. Meanwhile, the front of the aircraft - torn asunder by the crash - could be seen ablaze in the distance. Plane crash survivor Kristina Evstigneeva, 34, a travel agent from Vladivostok, was in a serious condition and had to undergo brain surgery after the plane crash in Kazakhstan. Another survivor Zaur Mamedov, 36, was returning from his father's funeral in Baku. The plane attempted to land at Aktau in western Kazakhstan after being rerouted from Grozny and another Russian city Makhachkala due to fog. Two of the 29 survivors are children, believed to be girls aged 11 and 16. Bloodied and bruised passengers could be seen stumbling from a piece of the fuselage that had remained intact The front of the aircraft - torn asunder by the crash - could be seen ablaze in the distance At least ten people died after being thrown out of the plane 'They are receiving all the necessary medical care in hospitals in the region,' said the Ministry of Health. '23 ambulance teams were mobilised to the scene of the incident.' Read More Horrific moment Azerbaijan airlines plane crashes with 72 on board in Kazakhsta Unconfirmed reports said that both pilots died in the crash, and from the crew only a female flight attendant survived. Tengrinews reported 37 citizens of Azerbaijan, 16 of Russia, six of Kazakhstan and three of Kyrgyzstan were on board the stricken plane. Following the crash, Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, was returning home from Russia where he had been due to attend a summit on Wednesday, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya, expressed his condolences in a statement and said those being treated in hospital were in an extremely serious condition and that he and others would pray for their rapid recovery. Another angle shows a massive fireball where the aircraft hit the ground A drone view shows emergency specialists working at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan December 25 Reports said the plane collided with a bird and suffered a steering failure. The aircraft is seen coming in steeply descending its nose pointing down too steeply In this handout picture released by Kazakhstan's emergency situations ministry, emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25 Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to Aliyev over the loss of life, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. 'Unfortunately, Azerbaijan's President Aliyev was forced to leave St Petersburg (where he had a summit). Putin has already called him and expressed his condolences in connection with the crash of the Azerbaijani plane in Aktau,' Peskov said. 'We deeply sympathise with those who lost their relatives and friends in this plane crash and wish a speedy recovery to all those who managed to survive.' Aktau residents have been asked to donate blood for the survivors. Grozny - the destination - is the capital of the Chechnya republic, a Russian region controlled by Vladimir Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov which regularly sends troops to fight in the war against Ukraine. Russia Politics Chechnya Vladimir Putin Share or comment on this article: White House reveals whether Russians shot down doomed Azerbaijan Airlines flight e-mail Add commentIt will bulldoze through local concerns and lead to individual applications bypassing elected councillors and planning committees. It will reengineer housing targets to switch house building from urban areas into rural areas and it will fail to deliver housing to the areas where the jobs are and where people actually want them. Although we built a million homes in the last five years, more are clearly needed. But that does not mean the Government can ride roughshod over local peoples’ voices. Any attempt to exclude local consent from the planning process and for faceless planning officers and inspectors in Bristol and ministers in Whitehall to dictate where they should go instead is doomed to failure. Worse still, Labour has taken an axe to our measures to get people on the housing ladder. Right to Buy, First Time Buyer Stamp Duty relief and the affordable homes to purchase programmes cuts have all been cut. It’s no wonder that Labour Governments never deliver on housebuilding – the last one saw it fall to its lowest level since the 1920s and Sadiq Khan’s record in London is abysmal. Our plan was to increase housing in cities and areas, but Labour has bizarrely done the exact opposite. Housing targets in cities have been slashed, whereas they have ramped them up in the countryside. It beggars’ belief that North Yorkshire is having to build more houses than Manchester or that targets are being cut by up to 50% in Newcastle, Nottingham and Coventry whilst doubling in Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness. It is such a poorly thought through policy that it is pretty clearly the latest episode of Labour’s war on rural England. Housing policy is about more than just building houses, it is about supply and demand. Part of the need for all this extra housing is Labour’s lax approach to immigration rules which will significantly fuel demand. That is just not acceptable. We tightened up rules such as the £38,000 salary threshold because we knew numbers were just too high. But everything Labour has done since they have got in has been to increase migration, including reducing this threshold to £29,000 and by scrapping of the Rwanda deterrent. Unpicking our efforts to curb illegal and legal migration will wipe out much of the benefit of any efforts to increase housebuilding. Homeownership is central to what it means to be British and it gives people the stake in society that most people aspire to. Clearly, this hard Left-wing Labour government just doesn’t get it. Kevin Hollinrake is the shadow housing secretaryOutlander: Blood of My Blood - When will Season 2 release? Premiere window revealedSome tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020