luck rabbit and steel WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalitionFalcons, Commanders eye playoff clincher behind rookie QBs

Bokaro: The Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) is all set to emerge as a significant player in the Jharkhand politics with party leaders expressing confidence in securing 10 seats while claiming substantial influence across 25 constituencies in the assembly elections. JLKM's central president, Jairam Mahto, emphasized that post-election alliances would be determined by party workers' and citizens' sentiments, stating readiness to serve in opposition if necessary. The party has identified key strongholds including Bermo, Dumri, Gomia, Silli, Tundi, and Ramgarh. Party spokesperson Vijay Kumar cited internal assessments indicating favorable outcomes in these regions. "Our grassroots work and public dissatisfaction with the current government have established us as a viable alternative," he said. Notable triangular contests were witnessed in Silli and Tamar, with candidates Devendranath and Damyanti Munda respectively gaining traction. Gomia witnessed an intense battle between JMM's Yogendra Mahato and JLKM's Pooja Mahto, while AJSU's Lambodar Mahato also laboured hard to woo voters. The party is capitalizing on anti-incumbency sentiments, particularly among youth frustrated by corruption and exam paper leaks. Their campaign strongly emphasized tribal issues, including advocacy for the Sarna Dharma Code, strengthening their appeal among tribal communities. In Dumri, JLKM poses a significant challenge to JMM's Baby Devi. "Our focused campaign strategy and public support will be evident in the results," Kumar stated. The party's strategic positioning, particularly in triangular contests, has intensified the electoral dynamics. JLKM's emphasis on tribal welfare and youth issues, combined with strong local candidates, has established it as a noteworthy contender in the assembly elections. The election outcome will test JLKM's political influence and its ability to translate public dissatisfaction into electoral success, potentially reshaping Jharkhand's political landscape.

The Los Angeles Chargers activated running back J.K. Dobbins from injured reserve on Friday. Dobbins is formally listed as questionable but figures to be the team's top running threat for Saturday's road game against the New England Patriots. Teammate Gus Edwards (ankle) was ruled out Thursday. Dobbins has missed the past four games since sustaining a knee injury against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 25. He was a full practice participant Thursday before receiving the questionable label. The injury-prone Dobbins was enjoying a solid season prior to the knee ailment, with 766 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground and 28 receptions for 134 yards in 11 games. His career high for rushing yardage is 805 for the Ravens in 2020. Dobbins' return comes with the Chargers (9-6) just one win from clinching an AFC wild-card playoff spot. Los Angeles also elevated safeties Eddie Jackson and Kendall Williamson from the practice squad. --Field Level Media

HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. What happened at Enron? Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work and wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. Is Enron coming back? On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory claiming all birds are actually government surveillance drones. What do former Enron employees think of the company’s return? Peters said she and some other former employees are upset and think the relaunch was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, 74, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. But Sherron Watkins, Enron’s former vice president of corporate development and the main whistleblower who helped uncover the scandal, said she didn’t have a problem with the joke because comedy “usually helps us focus on an uncomfortable historical event that we’d rather ignore.” “I think we use prior scandals to try to teach new generations what can go wrong with big companies,” said Watkins, who still speaks at colleges and conferences about the Enron scandal. __ This story was corrected to fix the spelling of Ken Lay’s first name, which had been misspelled “Key.” ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70 Juan A. Lozano, The Associated Press

UConn coach Dan Hurley told reporters Tuesday that star forward Alex Karaban is out for Wednesday's top-25 matchup against visiting Baylor. Karaban was transported to a hospital in Hawaii last Wednesday after sustaining a head injury during an 85-67 loss to Dayton on the final day of the Maui Invitational. Karaban hit the floor after being fouled on a contested layup with approximately 2 1/2 minutes left in the second half. He was later cleared to fly home with the rest of the team on Thursday. The junior sat out Saturday's 99-45 win over Maryland Eastern Shore, but now he will miss a more important game that pits the No. 25 Huskies (5-3) against the No. 15 Bears (5-2) in the Big 12-Big East Battle. Karaban has been UConn's leading scorer (15.9 ppg), adding 4.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. A starter for each of the Huskies' last two national championship-winning seasons, Karaban owns career averages of 11.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Jaylin Stewart drew into the starting lineup in Karaban's place against UMES. --Field Level MediaRice 35, South Florida 28

Canada's Trudeau returns home after Trump meeting without assurances that tariffs are off the table

Call it Fox & Fiancées: Fox News’ prime-time star Sean Hannity is engaged to “Fox & Friends” co-host Ainsley Earhardt. The “Hannity” host popped the question at their home church at Christmas, according to Fox News . The couple’s children — he has two, she has one — “couldn’t be happier” about the engagement, giving their parents their blessing and support, the cable news network said. “We are overjoyed and so thankful to our families for all of their love and support during this wonderful time in our lives,” the Fox News hosts said. The spouses-to-be did not announce the engagement on their social media pages, but Earhardt marked the holiday with an Instagram carousel of Christmas photos that featured Hannity. “Merry Christmas. Happy Birthday, Jesus. 2024 has been a very special year. #christmas #merrychristmas,” she wrote Wednesday. Although it’s unclear exactly when Earhardt, 48, and Hannity, 62, began dating, the private couple said they bonded over their deep faith. They have reportedly been spotted together at social events since 2019. Vanity Fair first reported in 2020 that the pair — dubbed the “first couple of Fox” by the magazine — had been privately dating for months after arriving together by private helicopter for the wedding of then-“Fox & Friends” weekend host Pete Hegseth and producer Jennifer Rauchet at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. People then claimed that Earhardt and Hannity had been seeing each other “for years,” but the speculation yielded denials from both TV personalities at the time, with the former announcing that she was not dating anyone and the latter asserting that he doesn’t publicly discuss his personal life. Meanwhile, Earhardt is based in New York while Hannity lives in Florida as they carry out their long-term deals with Fox News Media. The couple said they maintain their long-distance relationship with weekend trips. Hannity, who also hosts the streaming Fox Nation show “Sean,” joined the network when it debuted in 1996 and launched “Hannity & Colmes” with his liberal counterpart Alan Colmes, who left the show in 2008 after 12 years. Since then, the conservative political pundit has remained among the cable news network’s top prime-time stars. Earhardt joined Fox News in 2007 and briefly hosted a segment on “Hannity.” She began co-hosting “Fox & Friends” in 2016 and also hosts “Ainsley’s Bible Study” on Fox Nation. This will be the second marriage for Hannity and the third for Earhardt. Hannity was wed to journalist Jill Rhodes for 26 years before they divorced in 2009. The former spouses share two adult children, Merri and Sean. Earhardt was previously married to Kevin McKinney from 2005 to 2009 and Clemson Tigers quarterback Will Proctor from 2012 to 2019. She and Proctor share a 9-year-old daughter , Hayden. Both Earhardt and Hannity say they “still get along well” with their exes and that they all support one another. “We actually made them aware this was happening ahead of time,” they said. The couple, longtime defenders of President-elect Donald Trump, also received well wishes on Friday from him. “Great news about Sean and Ainsley. They are officially engaged to be married! There are no finer people than these, and there will be no finer couple. Congratulations to both - A deal made in HEAVEN!!!” he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

Behavior that is rewarded is repeated. It's a very simple concept, and one the Left knows: which is why they encourage (and often don't punish) anti-social behaviors like blocking roads, theft, and other crimes. This is why repeated offenders are set loose with little or no bond, no matter how many times they commit crimes (violent or otherwise). But people are fed up with being cowed by criminals. In Cook County, IL the new state's attorney -- unlike former state's attorney Kim Foxx -- has decided to enforce laws concerning shoplifting. Shocking, we know. HUGE: Felony theft charges in Chicago surge by 154% this month after O'Neill Burke took over Soros DA Kim Foxx. $1,000 threshold is now $300. pic.twitter.com/rVWT2gHeb6 More from CWB Chicago (emphasis added): Shoplifters in Chicago are more than 100% more likely to be slapped with felony charges under Cook County’s new state’s attorney than they were under Kim Foxx’s administration. Retired justice Eileen O’Neill Burke took office on December 2 and immediately followed through on her campaign promise to adhere to state law by pursuing felonies against people who shoplift merchandise worth more than $300. Foxx ordered prosecutors to withhold felony charges unless the value exceeded $1,000 or the accused shoplifter had ten or more previous convictions . Just amazing. Foxx let people steal multiple times or steal less than $1,000 and get away with it without felony charges. O'Neill Burke ain't having none of that. When you have laws that are enforced, your have order. This is food so everyone! Black, brown and white families don’t like paying more for groceries because other criminals are looting and destroying stores. Law and order is the way to go! They're not stealing food, though. Case in point: Gucci 100% discount only for cultural enrichers pic.twitter.com/b1LbfD7g9e You can't eat Gucci. Thank goodness we're finally starting to charge people with crime. I live in Chicago, things were starting to get out of control here. We might finally see crime come down again in a number of categories that have dramatically increased because of Black Lives Matter reforms. We'll see how the crime stats change following this. Will Mayor Brandon Johnson claim credit for this? Crime will go down now but his woke agenda is being thwarted. Interesting situation. His approval rating is in the toilet, so he'll try to take any credit he can. Funny how that works isn’t it. Turns out they were just finding ways to not prosecute real crime. While gaslighting us by saying crime was down. I just wish (D) politicians and elites had to publicly come forward to explain why they’re going to be tougher on crime and who that will disproportionally affect and why they no longer care. There's always one. The only people disproportionately affected by tough-on-crime politicians are criminals. And it's not the politicians don't care, they care about the innocent victims and not the criminals. About time that the prosecutors started doing their jobs!!! https://t.co/mOHdwE8W4H What a novel concept, no? Poof that crime was never on a downward trend. https://t.co/Oz5y5vxdMy Yep.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Arkansas defensive end Landon Jackson was carted off the field and taken to a hospital with a neck injury late in the first half of Saturday's game at No. 24 Missouri. Jackson appeared to injure his neck while trying to tackle Missouri running back Jamal Roberts. Medical personnel tended to Jackson for approximately 10 minutes before he was placed on a backboard and driven to a waiting ambulance. Jackson gave a thumbs-up sign as he was carted off the snow-covered field. Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek said Jackson had movement in his arms and legs but was experiencing pain in his neck. He said Jackson was taken to the hospital as a precaution. Jackson leads the Razorbacks with 9 1/2 tackles for loss and 6 1/2 sacks, and is considered a potential first-round pick in next year's NFL draft. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballIn their final fixture of 2024, Havertz scored the only goal of the game midway through the opening period. Arsenal moved into second place in the Premier League table with a 1-0 win over Ipswich at the Emirates. In their final fixture of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game midway through the opening period. Arsenal’s victory takes them back to within six points of leaders Liverpool, having played one match more than the Reds, and a point clear of Chelsea following their Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. Ipswich, although much improved in the second half, have now lost five of their last six games, and remain just one place off the bottom of the table, three points away from safety. Mikel Arteta’s men have been rocked by Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury which could keep the England winger, who has nine goals and 13 assists this season, out of action for the next two months. Gabriel Martinelli was handed the unenviable task of filling Saka’s shoes on Arsenal’s right-hand side and the Brazilian was involved in the only goal of the evening. The Ipswich defence failed to deal with Martinelli’s cross, with the ball falling to Leandro Trossard on the opposite side of the area. Trossard fought his way to the byline before fizzing his cross into the box for Havertz to convert from a matter of yards. It was Havertz’s third goal in four matches, his 12th of the season, and no less than the hosts, who at that stage of the match had enjoyed a staggering 91.4 per cent of the possession, deserved. Heading into Friday’s fixture, Arsenal had lost only one of their last 75 Premier League games when they had opened the scoring, and their triumph here rarely looked in doubt following Havertz’s strike. Havertz thought he had doubled Arsenal’s lead with 34 minutes gone when he converted Gabriel Jesus’ cross. But Jesus – handed his third successive start for the first time in a year – strayed into an offside position in the build-up. When referee Darren England blew for half-time, Ipswich had failed to touch the ball in Arsenal’s box, becoming just the second side to do so in the Premier League this season. Nottingham Forest were the other, away at Liverpool, before they went on to inflict Arne Slot’s sole defeat of his tenure so far. And for all of Arsenal’s possession, while they held just a one-goal advantage, Ipswich knew they were still in the game. An encouraging start to the second half for the Tractor Boys ensued, albeit without testing David Raya in the Arsenal goal. Shortly after the hour mark, Gabriel should have settled any growing Emirates nerves when he arrived unmarked to Declan Rice’s corner, but the defender headed wide of Arijanet Muric’s post when it looked easier to score. Martin Odegaard then forced a fine fingertip save from Muric at his near post after a mazy run and shot from the Arsenal skipper. Rice’s stinging goal-bound volley from the following corner was blocked by Dara O’Shea as Arsenal pushed for a game-killing second. Havertz should have tapped home Trossard’s header but he fluffed his lines. And moments later, substitute Mikel Merino’s effort was diverted from danger by a diving Muric. Ipswich looked to catch Arsenal on the counter, but the match ended without them registering a single effort on Raya’s goal. Ipswich fans goaded their opponents with chants of “boring, boring Arsenal”, but it was the Gunners who enjoyed the last laugh as they saw out 2024 with a win which keeps the pressure on Liverpool.

Stock market today: Wall Street slips as technology stocks drag on the market NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks slipped as Wall Street closes out a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 fell 1.4% Friday and the the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 402 points, or 0.9%. The Nasdaq composite is down 2%. Technology stocks were the biggest drag on the market. The major indexes are still on track to close the week with gains, and the S&P 500 remains headed for its second consecutive annual gain of more than 20%. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. 10 tips from experts to help you change your relationship with money in 2025 NEW YORK (AP) — As the calendar changes to 2025, you might be thinking about how to approach your relationship with money in the new year. Whether you’re saving to move out of your parents’ house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated. If you’re planning to make financial resolutions for the new year, experts recommend that you start by evaluating the state of your finances in 2024. Then, set specific goals and make sure they’re attainable for your lifestyle. Most Americans blame insurance profits and denials alongside the killer in UHC CEO death, poll finds WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO — although not as much as the person who pulled the trigger. So says a new poll from NORC at the University of Chicago. It finds that about 8 in 10 Americans say that the person who committed the killing has “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” of responsibility for the Dec. 4 shooting of Brian Thompson. Still, some see suspect Luigi Mangione as a heroic figure. About 7 in 10 adults say coverage denials or health insurance profits also bear at least “a moderate amount” of responsibility for Thompson’s death. Another jackpot surpasses $1 billion. Is this the new normal? Remember this moment because it probably won’t last: A U.S. lottery jackpot is projected to soar above $1 billion, and that's still a big deal. Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.15 billion. The prize has evoked headlines across the country, despite the nation's top 10 jackpots already having boasted billion-dollar payouts. Jonathan Cohen is the author of the book “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America.” He says he expects jackpots to continue to grow in size. Larger payouts attract more media attention, increase ticket sales and bring in new players. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Richard Parsons, prominent executive who led Time Warner and Citigroup, dies at 76 NEW YORK (AP) — Richard Parsons, one of corporate America’s most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup, has died. He was 76. Parsons died Thursday at his Manhattan home. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015 and cited “unanticipated complications” from the disease for cutting back on work a few years later. Financial services company Lazard confirmed his death. Parsons was a longtime member of the company's board. His friend Ronald Lauder told The New York Times that the cause of death was cancer. Parsons stepped down Dec. 3 from the boards of Lazard and Lauder’s company, Estée Lauder, citing health reasons. He had been on Estée Lauder’s board for 25 years. Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen has targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said Thursday's bombardment took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. At least three people were reported killed and dozens injured in the Sanaa airport strike. Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices New data shows holiday sales rose this year even as Americans wrestled with still high prices in many grocery necessities and other financial worries. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8%, a faster pace than the 3.1% increase from a year earlier. The measure tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards. This year, retailers were even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there were five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mastercard SpendingPulse says the last five days of the season accounted for 10% of the spending. Sales of clothing, electronics and Jewelry rose. Finland stops Russia-linked vessel over damaged undersea power cable in Baltic Sea FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Finnish police say authorities detained a ship linked to neighboring Russia as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables. It was the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure. Police and border guards boarded the Eagle S and took control as they investigate damage to the Estlink-2 undersea power cable. The cable brings electricity from Finland to Estonia across the Baltic Sea. The cable went down on Wednesday. The incident follows damage to two data cables and the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Both have been termed sabotage. Climate-friendly electricity sees big battery projects soar again for 2024 2024 was another banner year for a source of electricity that is better for people’s lungs, better for climate change and may be reaching your home now when you turn on the lights or turn up the thermostat — large banks of batteries. Storing extra power in batteries effectively extends the hours of solar and wind power in a day. Storage is also important as global electricity demand rises. Last, it is important for increasingly frequent extreme weather events, worsened by climate change. Texas and California are embracing the benefits of batteries, but some other regions are dragging their feet.It's not a desirable position the Miami Dolphins find themselves in heading into their Sunday trip to face the Cleveland Browns. For the game to have playoff implications, Miami will need the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos to lose their Saturday games at New England and at Cincinnati, respectively. The Dolphins could also use an Indianapolis road defeat in the early-afternoon slot Sunday against the New York Giants so they could leapfrog the Colts in the playoff order. However, if the Dolphins (7-8) are eliminated before they take the field for their late-afternoon kickoff, coach Mike McDaniel is driving home a different message this week. "Our locker room and our coaching staff really wants to play the type of football that we felt we fell short of at portions of the season," he said. The most notable portion came after a Week 1 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Miami lost six of its next seven games, hampered on offense by a concussion that knocked out star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and left its offense without much hope. Tagovailoa's return before a Week 8 loss to the Arizona Cardinals activated the attack, even though Miami lost that game and the next one. The Dolphins are 5-2 in their past seven contests, including a 29-17 home win over the San Francisco 49ers last week, when Tagovailoa threw for 215 yards and a touchdown while De'Von Achane accounted for 190 scrimmage yards. Like his coach, Tagovailoa wants to close the season strong, regardless of whether a playoff berth is at stake. "It's an opportunity and I don't think any of us on our team should take this for granted," said Tagovailoa, who was limited in practice on Thursday due to a hip injury. "How do you even know that there is going to be a next year for your career or there's going to be a next game for you? You just never know." While Miami hopes to have a chance at the playoffs, the only thing Cleveland (3-12) can do is find a rare winning feeling in a disappointing season. Expected to contend for a second straight playoff berth, the Browns instead have an outside chance to earn the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft. Cleveland is also on its third starting quarterback of the year. Second-year pro Dorian Thompson-Robinson gets the call with Jameis Winston (shoulder) ailing and Deshaun Watson (Achilles) out for the season. In a 24-6 road loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, Thompson-Robinson finished 20 of 34 for 166 yards while tossing two interceptions and absorbing five sacks. Thompson-Robinson, who was limited in practice on Thursday because of a quad issue, wants to do a better job avoiding those outcomes. The Dolphins' defense could help in that matter as they entered the weekend 26th in sacks (31) and tied for 22nd in interceptions (eight). "The quarterback rule that lives for a hundred years of don't throw late over the middle," Thompson-Robinson said when asked how he can avoid critical errors. "And really just trusting my legs, like I had been bragging about and talking about all last week. To be able to use it in that situation instead of trying to throw up a play." The game could be the last in Cleveland for Browns six-time Pro Bowl selection Joel Bitonio. The 33-year-old left guard, a two-time first-team All-Pro, said this week he is considering retirement, citing the toll the game takes on his body and that losing inflicts on his psyche. Miami holds a 10-9 lead in the teams' regular-season series. Four Dolphins -- tackle Terron Armstead (knee), cornerback Kendall Fuller (), safety Jordan Poyer (knee/finger) and linebacker Anthony Walker (knee) -- did not practice Thursday. Star wide receivers Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle (knee) were limited, as were receiver Dee Eskridge (knee), linebacker Jordyn Brooks (quad/knee) and fullback Alex Ingold (ankle). Tight end David Njoku (knee) and defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (knee) were absent from the Thursday practice for the Browns, while Winston (right shoulder), wideouts Cedric Tillman (concussion) and Jerry Jeudy (knee/shin), cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (back) and offensive tackle Germain Ifedi (Achilles) were among those limited. --Field Level MediaCRIME WAVE: Chicago Felony Theft Charges SKYROCKET After New Cook County State's Attorney Enforces Laws

Tras el asesinato del CEO de UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, ha surgido un fenómeno cultural inesperado. Luigi Mangione, el acusado de 26 años del tiroteo fatal del 4 de diciembre en Nueva York, se ha convertido en el tema de varias baladas regionales mexicanas publicadas en Internet. En los últimos años, la música regional mexicana — que incluye corridos, norteño, mariachi y más — ha experimentado un resurgimiento global sin precedentes, particularmente con la aparición de los corridos tumbados a principios de 2019, iniciados por Natanael Cano. Este género fue posteriormente popularizado por artistas como Fuerza Regida, Junior H y Peso Pluma. El estilo se difundió rápidamente a través de internet en plataformas como SoundCloud y TikTok, y para finales de ese año, había impactado en las listas de Billboard y sigue haciéndolo. Ahora, ha surgido un movimiento nuevo canciones en varias plataformas, buscando posicionar a Mangione dentro de la tradición de los corridos. Este estilo de corridos — históricamente utilizados para narrar historias sobre revolucionarios y rebeldes que se remontan a la Revolución Mexicana de 1910 — ahora presentan al acusado de asesinar al CEO del seguro médico como una figura compleja atrapada entre la villanía y el vigilantismo. Esta representación musical está encendiendo debates sobre la justicia, la ética corporativa y la creación de antihéroes modernos en un contexto de profunda discordia social. Pese a ser un país desarrollado, Estados Unidos sigue enfrentándose a disparidades en el acceso y la asequibilidad de la atención sanitaria. A pesar de contar con tecnologías y tratamientos médicos de vanguardia, la gente se enfrenta a menudo a costes prohibitivos y a una cobertura inadecuada. Esta paradoja ha alimentado un discurso nacional sobre la injusticia sanitaria y los intentos de reformar el sistema de salud, en el que algunos simpatizan y/o glorifican al asesino acusado, que se enfrenta a cargos federales de asesinato y acoso . Por otra parte, el fiscal del distrito de Manhattan, además de múltiples cargos de asesinato, también acusó a Mangione de asesinato como acto de terrorismo; éste se ha declarado inocente de los cargos estatales. Si es declarado culpable de los cargos federales, Mangione podría enfrentarse a la pena de muerte, mientras que los cargos estatales podrían significar un máximo de cadena perpetua sin posibilidad de libertad condicional. El domingo (22 de diciembre), un usuario de SoundCloud llamado Alan Rendon publicó una pista con acordeón llamada “El corrido de Luigi Mangione” que dice: “En la fría mañana de diciembre en Nueva York, su ley dejó / Un hombre en bicicleta cruzaba con un plan que en su mente vivió / En la calle 54 su destino él fue a enfrentar, Brian Thompson cayó por las balas / Justicia Luigi quiso entregar”. El tema continúa: “En su mensaje dejó su razón / No buscaba riquezas ni fama, solo justicias a su nación / Hoy su nombre recorre las calles, un mensaje oscuro dejó / La industria que tanto culpaba, su propia sentencia firmó”. El corrido presenta a Mangione como un símbolo oscuro de resistencia contra la mala conducta corporativa, comparación que muchos han hecho con el antihéroe de la película V for Vendetta . Otra artista, Gabriela MC , hizo eco de este sentimiento en un TikTok publicado el 15 de diciembre, cantando: “Un día 4 de diciembre se dice que el empresario tenía una junta pendiente / Pura gente de alto rango, cuando tres balas certeras la vida le arrebataron / No se conmueve la gente por el rico asesinado/ Niega, depone y defiende, claves del asesinato / Y aunque murió de repente la junta no cancelaron / No creas que por los millones tienes la vida comprada / Él a eso se dedicaba y no pudo asegurarla / Qué vueltas nos da la vida, así se las cobra el karma”. La usuaria hace referencia a las tres balas encontradas en la escena del crimen con las palabras grabadas “ deny “, “ defend “, y “ depose “, (o negar, defender y deponer). Según Associated Press , esas tres palabras suelen utilizarse para describir las prácticas de las compañías de seguros a la hora de denegar reclamaciones. La frase es también el título del libro de Jay M. Feinman Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It . Publicado en 2010, este tomo ofrece una visión crítica de las prácticas utilizadas habitualmente por las compañías de seguros que afectan negativamente a los asegurados. “Seis días después de su muerte dieron con el italiano / Un joven inteligente de Pensilvania graduado”, canta. “Monopoly iba jugando / No insulten la inteligencia de ese pueblo americano / Su madre pidió clemencia, como a muchos la negaron / Se le acabó la paciencia, Luigi los vino ajustando”. Durante la persecución inicial tras el asesinato de Thompson, el 6 de diciembre se encontró abandonada en Central Park una mochila que se creía era del asesino y que contenía dinero del Monopoly. Según un boletín de las fuerzas del orden obtenido por The AP , Mangione llevaba una nota manuscrita en el momento de su detención, el 9 de diciembre en Pensilvania, y que el documento criticaba a las compañías de seguros médicos “parasitarias”. Otro usuario de TikTok, Cruzistojose1978, publicó un corrido que introduce una perspectiva en primera persona a la narrativa de Mangione. “Soy un joven con cabeza, en Pensilvania graduado / La vida me dio sus pruebas y el destino las ha cobrado / Hoy tras rejas me encuentro, pero mi motivo está marcado”, canta. Mientras su destino penal se resuelve, la historia de Mangione, tal como se representa en los corridos, podría desafiar a los oyentes a enfrentarse a las realidades sobre los desequilibrios de poder dentro de la sociedad — o al menos, eso es lo que afirma el origen de los corridos, según Con su pistola en la mano: Un corrido fronterizo y su héroe , el libro seminal de Américo Paredes publicado en 1958 sobre Gregorio Cortez, un forajido mexicano-estadounidense que mató a un sheriff en defensa propia contra el racismo y la injusticia a finales del siglo XIX. Este incidente provocó la creación de corridos que celebraban sus hazañas como un símbolo de resistencia contra las acciones discriminatorias de las autoridades angloamericanas hacia los mexicano-americanos en Texas. El libro sostiene que el origen de corridos como los de Gregorio Cortez no servían solo como entretenimiento, sino como potentes expresiones de protesta contra la opresión.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.