Qꔧo lX8vmen$y]FVg#o1w Gr5 ?xx .P!761sӑFAU8l"> #h\Ü+a7."Wdz U B:dץ6It]&>Qꔧo lX8vmen$y]FVg#o1w Gr5 ?xx .P!761sӑFAU8lNEW DELHI (AP) — Manmohan Singh , the former Indian prime minister widely regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reform program, was cremated after a state funeral on Saturday as politicians and the public mourned his death. The veteran leader, who was also credited for a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, died late Thursday at age 92. Singh’s body was taken Saturday morning to the headquarters of his Congress party in New Delhi, where party leaders and activists paid tributes to him and chanted “Manmohan Singh lives forever.” Abhishek Bishnoi, a party leader, said Singh's death was big loss for the country. “He used to speak little, but his talent and his actions spoke louder than his words,” he said. Later, Singh’s body was transported to a crematorium ground for his last rites as soldiers beat drums. Government officials, politicians and family members paid their last respects to Singh, whose casket was adorned with flowers and wrapped in the Indian flag. Security personnel honored him with a ceremonial gun salute. Indian President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called Singh one of the country's “most distinguished leaders,” and several Cabinet ministers participated in the funeral ceremony. Singh’s body was then transferred to a pyre and cremated as religious hymns played. Authorities declared a seven-day mourning period and canceled all cultural and entertainment events during that time. Government buildings across India are flying the national flag at half-staff. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh was prime minister for 10 years and leader of the Congress party in Parliament’s upper house, earning a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. He was chosen to be prime minister in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi . Singh was reelected in 2009, but his second term was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress party’s crushing defeat in 2014 national elections by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi . Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. As finance minister, Singh in 1991 instituted reforms that moved India away from a socialist-patterned economy and toward a capitalist model in the face of a huge balance of payments deficit, skirting a potential economic crisis. Singh was the first Sikh to hold the country’s top post and made a public apology in Parliament for the 1984 Sikh Massacre in which some 3,000 Sikhs were killed after then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards. In a move hailed as one of his biggest achievements apart from economic reforms, Singh ended India’s nuclear isolation by signing a deal with the U.S. that gave India access to American nuclear technology. But the deal hurt his coalition government, with Communist allies withdrawing their support and criticism of the agreement growing within India in 2008 when it was finalized. U.S. President Joe Biden in a condolence statement called Singh a true statesman and a dedicated public servant who “charted pathbreaking progress that will continue to strengthen our nations — and the world — for generations to come.” “The unprecedented level of cooperation between the United States and India today would not have been possible without the prime minister’s strategic vision and political courage,” Biden said.
PUEBLO, Colo. — The small town of Wray, Colorado, has been waiting for a big party for more than three decades. It's time. Wray is bringing home its first football state championship in 31 years after defeating Forge Christian 48-21 in the Class 1A title game Saturday afternoon at Dutch Clark Stadium. The Eagles' undefeated season (13-0 overall) was capped off with the school's first state title since 1993. "It's awesome. You'll never find support like Wray," senior quarterback Casey Midcap said. "I love that we could end this thing with a state championship." Wray was powered a trio of touchdown runs from senior Sam Meisner, including busting free for long scores of 75-plus yards twice. "My mindset was to leave it all on the field, and I would say I did a good job doing that," he said. "Half the town of Wray is here. It just shows how special our community is." >>Watch the extended video above and see the highlights on the 9NEWS Prep Rally this weekend! RELATED: Haxtun defeats Akron for ninth state championship RELATED: Cheyenne Wells takes down Stratton to win 6-man football title RELATED: Fanscape: Dutch Clark Stadium SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Sports 9NEWS+ Watch more from 9NEWS on the free 9NEWS+ app for Roku and Fire TV. 9NEWS+ has multiple live daily shows including 9NEWS Mornings, Next with Kyle Clark and 9NEWS+ Daily, an original streaming program. 9NEWS+ is where you can watch live breaking news, weather updates, and press conferences. You can also replay recent newscasts and find videos on demand of our top stories, local politics, investigations and Colorado specific features. To download 9NEWS+ on Roku search for KUSA. To download 9NEWS+ on Fire TV search for 9NEWS. RELATED: Watch 9NEWS for free on ROKU, Apple TV, Fire TV MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER Download the 9NEWS APP iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n > Top stories curated daily just for you! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER to get can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
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: @phillip020Chandigarh, Dec 28 (PTI) The Haryana Cabinet on Saturday approved amendments in the Common Eligibility Test policy to remove the grant of five per cent bonus marks to certain candidates based on socioeconomic criteria for government jobs in Group C and D posts. The government decision follows a May 31 order by the high court on the matter. The approval was given in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday, an official statement said. "As per the amendments, the 5 per cent weightage for social economic criteria provided for the bona fide residents of Haryana has been removed. The said amendments have been done as per the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court," said the statement. The amended policy will be called Policy for Recruitment to Group C and D posts through Common Eligibility Test, (Amendment) Rule, 2024, it said. In May, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had struck down the state government's policy of granting five per cent bonus marks based on the socioeconomic status of the candidate from the state, in the CET for groups C and D posts. Later, in June, the Supreme Court had upheld the Punjab and Haryana High Court order. The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission against the Punjab and Haryana High Court's May 31 order. The statement said, "The Policy for Recruitment to Group C and D posts through Common Eligibility Test, (Amendment) Rule, 2024 shall apply to direct recruitment to Group C posts including the posts of police service, prisons and home guards etc, excluding the teaching posts, ex-Agniveer and Group D posts for which minimum educational qualification is below matriculation..." "Furthermore, after the amendment, now the maximum number of eligible candidates to appear for the skill and/or written examination shall be ten times the total number of posts advertised by the Commission. Earlier, the candidates equal to four times the number of posts advertised were eligible to appear," the statement said. On May 5, 2022, the state government introduced Common Eligibility Test (CET) for Group C and D posts. In another decision, the cabinet approved the decision to bring an ordinance for further amending the Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Service) Act, 2024. Under this amendment, the phrase "in a calendar year" will be replaced with "during a period of one year of contractual service." This amendment is being introduced to address request raised by contractual employees regarding the calculation of their service days, the statement said. Employees had requested that the 240-day service requirement be calculated based on the actual number of days during a one-year period of contractual service, instead of a calendar year. The current system posed challenges for employees who joined between May and December, as the service days for their first year of employment were not being fully counted. "For instance, employees whose date of joining falls after May and before December would not meet the 240-day service requirement for their first calendar year of service, thus affecting their job security," it said. "In addition, for the year 2024, employees raised concerns as the number of days until the cut-off date of August 15, 2024, is only 227, which falls short of the required 240 days," it added. In response to these requests, the Haryana Cabinet has approved the amendment to consider 240 days of service during a period of one year of contractual service, thereby addressing these issues and ensuring better job security for contractual employees, it said. Under the Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Service) Act, 2024, the benefit of job security is admissible to those contractual employees who fulfil the five years contractual service before August 15, 2024, the statement added. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)NC State and East Carolina meet in next season's opener. But first, the Military Bowl
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Trump urges US Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban US officials and lawmakers had accused ByteDance of being linked to Chinese government US president-elect Donald Trump speaking at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) on January 31, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois, US. — AFP WASHINGTON: US President-elect Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to delay an upcoming TikTok ban while he works on a “political resolution”, BBC reported. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); His lawyer filed a legal brief on Friday with the court that says Trump “opposes banning TikTok” and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office”. On 10 January, the court is due to hear arguments on a US law that requires TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the social media company to an American firm or face a ban come 19 January -- a day before Trump takes office. US officials and lawmakers had accused ByteDance of being linked to the Chinese government -- which the firm denies.OpenAI is aiming to reach 1 billion users by 2025 as it rolls out new artificial intelligence products, builds its own data centres, and strengthens its partnership with Apple. The San Francisco-based company, known for its ChatGPT chatbot with 250 million weekly active users, plans to introduce AI “agents,” a proprietary AI-powered search engine, and deepen integration of ChatGPT with Apple devices. “We are coming into our own as a research lab serving millions and aiming for billions of consumers worldwide,” Financial Times cited Sarah Friar, OpenAI’s chief financial officer, as saying. The company recently raised more than $6 billion in funding at a valuation of $150 billion, making it the highest-valued startup in Silicon Valley’s history. Friar said OpenAI plans to continue raising both equity and debt to fuel its growth, including constructing data centres in the US Midwest and Southwest. “We’re in a massive growth phase,” she said, adding that advancing AI models remains a costly endeavour. Expanding AI reach OpenAI’s strategy includes launching “agents” — advanced chatbot-like assistants that perform web tasks, such as booking services or gathering information. Friar said 2025 could see the first highly successful agents helping users with everyday needs. Integration with Apple devices, which began last month in the US, is expected to significantly boost user numbers. A venture capital investor said OpenAI could quickly reach its goal of 1 billion users, using Apple’s global base of 2 billion iPhones. “If you get to that threshold, you’re competing with Google and Facebook,” the investor said. OpenAI’s transition from a non-profit to a for-profit business has seen the company expand its headcount to more than 2,000 employees and focus on monetising AI products to offset costs exceeding $5 billion annually. Navigating political hurdles OpenAI’s growth comes as it navigates a politically charged environment. Chris Lehane, the company’s policy chief and a veteran political strategist, is engaging with US policymakers to position OpenAI as a leader in “democratic” AI, countering Chinese-led technological advancements. Lehane said the company has been in discussions with the incoming Trump administration about AI’s role in national security and economic competitiveness. While tensions with former co-founder Elon Musk persist — including a lawsuit filed by Musk accusing OpenAI of deceit — Lehane stressed alignment with federal priorities on AI leadership.
( MENAFN - Live Mint) Gad Saad, Canadian psychologist and author, recently shared on X (formerly Twitter) that he has made as much money on X (formerly Twitter) in one year as he did in 10 years on YouTube. His post praised X as a superior platform for discussing and spreading ideas, claiming it surpassed all other platforms combined in terms of financial success. Saad wrote,“I have made roughly as much money on @X this year than I did in 10 years on @YouTube. It is amazing how superior this platform is to all others combined (if your goal is to discuss and spread ideas).” In response, tech billionaire and X owner Elon Musk replied simply with,“Cool.” Gad Saad 's recent revelation about earning in one year on X what he made in ten years as a YouTuber has sparked a lively debate on social media, with users expressing a range of reactions. One user remarked, "Are you serious?? I would like to see the breakdown of that income. Not that I don't believe, but to see the path that you used." Another user inquired, "How have you made the money, sir?" asking for a clearer understanding of Saad's income sources on the platform. Many others expressed curiosity about the specifics of Saad's earnings. "Let's see the numbers," one user wrote, while another asked, "How many engagements/$$? I want to figure out how it works." A user found Saad's experience reflective of their own goals. "Interesting times indeed because such is my goal too," said the user, acknowledging the growing potential of X. Meanwhile, another user commented, "It would be great to see who is making a lot of money on X and the content they are posting." One user voiced surprise, stating, "That's surprising. Everyone else I've come across is having it the other way around," suggesting that others have not seen the same level of success on X. However, a different opinion was shared by a user who noted, "X is good for big accounts but very hard to make your place under the sun." The conversation also touched on the platform's monetization structure, with one user suggesting, "Elon, it would behoove those who are growing and building content to understand more clearly how X success works. Could there be more forthcoming details on how that is calculated?" Some users were impressed with X's evolving monetization model. "The YouTube and Ad/Click model seems to have evolved into something new on X. Now, not only are there direct monetization opportunities from X itself, but you can also earn by offering reasonably priced subscriptions for quality content," one comment explained. In contrast, another user shared their personal experience, saying, "I know the feeling! It was so freeing to leave my company and just solely work by creating content on X." Finally, one user praised X for its impact on online engagement, writing, "That's incredible! X has truly transformed the way we connect, discuss, and share ideas." These diverse reactions highlight the ongoing interest and discussion around X's role in content creation and monetization. Gad Saad's recent revelation about earning in one year on X what he made in ten years as a YouTuber has sparked a lively debate on social media, with users expressing a range of reactions. One user remarked, "Are you serious?? I would like to see the breakdown of that income. Not that I don't believe, but to see the path that you used." Another user inquired, "How have you made the money, sir?" asking for a clearer understanding of Saad's income sources on the platform. Many others expressed curiosity about the specifics of Saad's earnings. "Let's see the numbers," one user wrote, while another asked, "How many engagements/$$? I want to figure out how it works." A user found Saad's experience reflective of their own goals. "Interesting times indeed because such is my goal too," said the user, acknowledging the growing potential of X. Meanwhile, another user commented, "It would be great to see who is making a lot of money on X and the content they are posting." One user voiced surprise, stating, "That's surprising. Everyone else I've come across is having it the other way around," suggesting that others have not seen the same level of success on X. However, a different opinion was shared by a user who noted,“X is good for big accounts but very hard to make your place under the sun.” The conversation also touched on the platform's monetization structure, with one user suggesting,“Elon, it would behoove those who are growing and building content to understand more clearly how X success works. Could there be more forthcoming details on how that is calculated?” Some users were impressed with X's evolving monetization model. "The YouTube and Ad/Click model seems to have evolved into something new on X. Now, not only are there direct monetization opportunities from X itself, but you can also earn by offering reasonably priced subscriptions for quality content," one comment explained. In contrast, another user shared their personal experience, saying,“I know the feeling! It was so freeing to leave my company and just solely work by creating content on X.” Finally, one user praised X for its impact on online engagement, writing, "That's incredible! X has truly transformed the way we connect, discuss, and share ideas." MENAFN28122024007365015876ID1109038053 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
