percy jackson blackjack By MARK LONG JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Greg McGarity had reason to be concerned. The Gator Bowl president kept a watchful eye on College Football Playoff scenarios all season and understood the fallout might affect his postseason matchup in Jacksonville. What if the Southeastern Conference got five teams into the expanded CFP? What if the Atlantic Coast Conference landed three spots? It was a math problem that was impossible to truly answer, even into late November. Four first-round playoff games, which will end with four good teams going home without a bowl game, had the potential to shake up the system. The [...]

Do you have $1,000 to invest in ASX 200 stocks? If you do, then the stocks in this article could be great destinations for these funds according to analysts. Here's what you need to know about them: ( ) This first ASX 200 stock that could be a buy according to analysts is Endeavour Group. Goldmans Sachs is bullish on the company and feels its shares are undervalued at current levels. It recently said: Net net, we reiterate Buy on our continued believe in a high quality retailer gaining share amid a category down-cycle with a resilient growth option in Hotels. Company is trading at FY25 P/E of 17x vs historical average of 22x and WOW 22x, COL 21x. Next catalyst: post Xmas trading at 1H25 results. Goldman has a buy rating and $5.50 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 30% for investors from current levels. In addition, an attractive fully franked 4.75% is forecast for FY 2025. ( ) Another ASX 200 stock that could be a buy is miner Pilbara Minerals. That's the view of analysts at Bell Potter, which think that now could be the time to snap up its beaten down shares. Especially given its belief that the lithium market is heading into a supply deficit in 2026. It said: We upgrade our PLS recommendation to Buy (from Hold) on recent share price weakness. [...] We calculate that recent supply curtailments from Australian producers (including PLS) have removed around 50kt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent from the market (around 4% of 2024 supply). On our supply-demand modelling, the cuts result in a smaller market surplus in 2025 and brings forward our estimate of a market deficit to 2026 (previously 2027). Bell Potter has put a buy rating and $2.70 price target on its shares. This suggests that upside of 24% is possible over the next 12 months. ( ) Finally, Goldman Sachs also thinks that this high-flying health imaging technology company could be an ASX 200 share to buy. While the broker acknowledges that Pro Medicus' shares are not cheap, it believes they deserve this premium valuation. Particularly given the company's significant long-term growth opportunity. The broker said: We remain positive on the PME equity story as one of Australia's best global growth companies. [...] PME is not cheap, trading on 114x FY26E EV/EBITDA, but we highlight its revenue/margin outlook, unique cloud offering, and significant long-term opportunity. Additionally, with a focus on the US regulatory outlook, we believe MedTech is increasingly being evaluated as a safe haven within healthcare as it is generally more insulated from impending policy volatility. Goldman currently has a buy rating and $278.00 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 11% for investors between now and this time next year.By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump loved to use tariffs on foreign goods during his first presidency. But their impact was barely noticeable in the overall economy, even if their aftershocks were clear in specific industries. The data show they never fully delivered on his promised factory jobs. Nor did they provoke the avalanche of inflation that critics feared. This time, though, his tariff threats might be different . The president-elect is talking about going much bigger — on a potential scale that creates more uncertainty about whether he’ll do what he says and what the consequences could be. “There’s going to be a lot more tariffs, I mean, he’s pretty clear,” said Michael Stumo, the CEO of Coalition for a Prosperous America, a group that has supported import taxes to help domestic manufacturing. The president-elect posted on social media Monday that on his first day in office he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada until those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. Those tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his initial term. Chinese imports would face additional tariffs of 10% until Beijing cracks down on the production of materials used in making fentanyl, Trump posted. Business groups were quick to warn about rapidly escalating inflation , while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would counter the move with tariffs on U.S. products. House Democrats put together legislation to strip a president’s ability to unilaterally apply tariffs this drastic, warning that they would likely lead to higher prices for autos, shoes, housing and groceries. Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs “if the situation comes to that.” “The economy department is preparing it,” Sheinbaum said. “If there are tariffs, Mexico would increase tariffs, it is a technical task about what would also benefit Mexico,” she said, suggesting her country would impose targeted import duties on U.S. goods in sensitive areas. House Democrats on Tuesday introduced a bill that would require congressional approval for a president to impose tariffs due to claims of a national emergency, a largely symbolic action given Republicans’ coming control of both the House and Senate. “This legislation would enable Congress to limit this sweeping emergency authority and put in place the necessary Congressional oversight before any president – Democrat or Republican – could indiscriminately raise costs on the American people through tariffs,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash. But for Trump, tariffs are now a tested tool that seems less politically controversial even if the mandate he received in November’s election largely involved restraining inflation. The tariffs he imposed on China in his first term were continued by President Joe Biden, a Democrat who even expanded tariffs and restrictions on the world’s second largest economy. Biden administration officials looked at removing Trump’s tariffs in order to bring down inflationary pressures, only to find they were unlikely to help significantly. Tariffs were “so new and unique that it freaked everybody out in 2017,” said Stumo, but they were ultimately somewhat modest. Trump imposed tariffs on solar panels and washing machines at the start of 2018, moves that might have pushed up prices in those sectors even though they also overlapped with plans to open washing machine plants in Tennessee and South Carolina. His administration also levied tariffs on steel and aluminum, including against allies. He then increased tariffs on China, leading to a trade conflict and a limited 2020 agreement that failed to produce the promised Chinese purchases of U.S. goods. Still, the dispute changed relations with China as more U.S. companies looked for alternative suppliers in other countries. Economic research also found the United States may have sacrificed some of its “soft power” as the Chinese population began to watch fewer American movies. The Federal Reserve kept inflation roughly on target, but factory construction spending never jumped in a way that suggested a lasting gain in manufacturing jobs. Separate economic research found the tariff war with China did nothing economically for the communities hurt by offshoring, but it did help Trump and Republicans in those communities politically. When Trump first became president in 2017, the federal government collected $34.6 billion in customs, duties and fees. That sum more than doubled under Trump to $70.8 billion in 2019, according to Office of Management and Budget records. While that sum might seem meaningful, it was relatively small compared to the overall economy. America’s gross domestic product is now $29.3 trillion, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The total tariffs collected in the United States would equal less than 0.3% of GDP. The new tariffs being floated by Trump now are dramatically larger and there could be far more significant impacts. If Mexico, Canada, and China faced the additional tariffs proposed by Trump on all goods imported to the United States, that could be roughly equal to $266 billion in tax collections, a number that does not assume any disruptions in trade or retaliatory moves by other countries. The cost of those taxes would likely be borne by U.S. families, importers and domestic and foreign companies in the form of higher prices or lower profits. Former Biden administration officials said they worried that companies could piggyback on Trump’s tariffs — if they’re imposed — as a rationale to raise their prices, just as many companies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 boosted food and energy costs and gave several major companies the space to raise prices, according to their own earnings calls with investors. But what Trump didn’t really spell out is what might cause him to back down on tariffs and declare a victory. What he is creating instead with his tariff threats is a sense of uncertainty as companies and countries await the details to figure out what all of this could mean. “We know the key economic policy priorities of the incoming Trump administration, but we don’t know how or when they will be addressed,” said Greg Daco, chief U.S. economist at EY-Parthenon. AP writer Mark Stevenson contributed to this report from Mexico City.

The Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity and the National Alliance for Civil Development Work (NACDW) have joined forces to provide microloans and economic empowerment services to women and youth in six governorates participating in the government’s “Decent Life” initiative. The initiative will focus on individuals aged 21 to 55 in Aswan, Asyut, Beni Suef, Giza, Alexandria, and Dakahleya. A cooperation protocol formalizing the partnership was signed by Maya Morsy, Minister of Social Solidarity, and Khaled Abdel Aziz, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the National Alliance for Civil Development, at the Ministry of Social Solidarity headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. This collaboration includes a broad range of support services aimed at fostering economic independence, such as training in project management and e-marketing, vocational training, microfinance, awareness campaigns, veterinary care for livestock projects, insurance for livestock and productive units, and enhanced marketing opportunities for participating organizations. The program is designed to provide high-quality, targeted assistance to those in need. The protocol signing was attended by Nabila Makram, Head of the Technical Secretariat of the National Alliance for Civil Development, members of the Alliance’s Board of Trustees, and Ministry of Social Solidarity officials. The partnership aims to create an integrated system for empowering low-income individuals and families by integrating them into productive economic activities, improving socio-economic conditions, particularly for female heads of households, and supporting people with disabilities through skill-based projects. The initiative also targets beneficiaries of the “Takaful wa Karama” social welfare programme, as well as individuals who applied but were deemed ineligible, whose data is held by the ministry. Morsy emphasized the goal of economic empowerment for women and youth in the “Decent Life” villages, stating that the initiative will help participants escape poverty and achieve the broader goals of the “Takaful wa Karama” programme, fostering economic independence and development. She also highlighted the importance of work as a means of breaking the cycle of poverty and stressed the ministry’s commitment to coordinating with various ministries, organizations, and the private sector to reach marginalized and vulnerable groups through integrated services. Abdel Aziz noted that the protocol reflects the Alliance’s dedication to supporting Egypt’s sustainable development and social justice goals. “We are proud to collaborate with the Ministry of Social Solidarity on this vital project, empowering women and youth in ‘Decent Life’ villages through sustainable job opportunities and improved living standards,” he said. Makram also underlined the significance of the project in empowering women and youth in rural areas, enhancing their participation in development, and fostering a more equitable society.Google on Wednesday announced the launch of Gemini 2.0, its most advanced artificial intelligence model to date, as the world's tech giants race to take the lead in the fast developing technology. CEO Sundar Pichai said the new model would mark what the company calls "a new agentic era" in AI development, with AI models designed to understand and make decisions about the world around you. 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.

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Google on Wednesday announced the launch of Gemini 2.0, its most advanced artificial intelligence model to date, as the world's tech giants race to take the lead in the fast developing technology. CEO Sundar Pichai said the new model would mark what the company calls "a new agentic era" in AI development, with AI models designed to understand and make decisions about the world around you. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump loved to use tariffs on foreign goods during his first presidency. But their impact was barely noticeable in the overall economy, even if their aftershocks were clear in specific industries. The data show they never fully delivered on his promised factory jobs. Nor did they provoke the avalanche of inflation that critics feared. This time, though, his tariff threats might be different . The president-elect is talking about going much bigger — on a potential scale that creates more uncertainty about whether he’ll do what he says and what the consequences could be. “There’s going to be a lot more tariffs, I mean, he’s pretty clear,” said Michael Stumo, the CEO of Coalition for a Prosperous America, a group that has supported import taxes to help domestic manufacturing. The president-elect posted on social media Monday that on his first day in office he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada until those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. Those tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his initial term. Chinese imports would face additional tariffs of 10% until Beijing cracks down on the production of materials used in making fentanyl, Trump posted. Business groups were quick to warn about rapidly escalating inflation , while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would counter the move with tariffs on U.S. products. House Democrats put together legislation to strip a president’s ability to unilaterally apply tariffs this drastic, warning that they would likely lead to higher prices for autos, shoes, housing and groceries. Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs “if the situation comes to that.” “The economy department is preparing it,” Sheinbaum said. “If there are tariffs, Mexico would increase tariffs, it is a technical task about what would also benefit Mexico,” she said, suggesting her country would impose targeted import duties on U.S. goods in sensitive areas. Related Articles House Democrats on Tuesday introduced a bill that would require congressional approval for a president to impose tariffs due to claims of a national emergency, a largely symbolic action given Republicans’ coming control of both the House and Senate. “This legislation would enable Congress to limit this sweeping emergency authority and put in place the necessary Congressional oversight before any president – Democrat or Republican – could indiscriminately raise costs on the American people through tariffs,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash. But for Trump, tariffs are now a tested tool that seems less politically controversial even if the mandate he received in November’s election largely involved restraining inflation. The tariffs he imposed on China in his first term were continued by President Joe Biden, a Democrat who even expanded tariffs and restrictions on the world’s second largest economy. Biden administration officials looked at removing Trump’s tariffs in order to bring down inflationary pressures, only to find they were unlikely to help significantly. Tariffs were “so new and unique that it freaked everybody out in 2017,” said Stumo, but they were ultimately somewhat modest. Trump imposed tariffs on solar panels and washing machines at the start of 2018, moves that might have pushed up prices in those sectors even though they also overlapped with plans to open washing machine plants in Tennessee and South Carolina. His administration also levied tariffs on steel and aluminum, including against allies. He then increased tariffs on China, leading to a trade conflict and a limited 2020 agreement that failed to produce the promised Chinese purchases of U.S. goods. Still, the dispute changed relations with China as more U.S. companies looked for alternative suppliers in other countries. Economic research also found the United States may have sacrificed some of its “soft power” as the Chinese population began to watch fewer American movies. The Federal Reserve kept inflation roughly on target, but factory construction spending never jumped in a way that suggested a lasting gain in manufacturing jobs. Separate economic research found the tariff war with China did nothing economically for the communities hurt by offshoring, but it did help Trump and Republicans in those communities politically. When Trump first became president in 2017, the federal government collected $34.6 billion in customs, duties and fees. That sum more than doubled under Trump to $70.8 billion in 2019, according to Office of Management and Budget records. While that sum might seem meaningful, it was relatively small compared to the overall economy. America’s gross domestic product is now $29.3 trillion, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The total tariffs collected in the United States would equal less than 0.3% of GDP. The new tariffs being floated by Trump now are dramatically larger and there could be far more significant impacts. If Mexico, Canada, and China faced the additional tariffs proposed by Trump on all goods imported to the United States, that could be roughly equal to $266 billion in tax collections, a number that does not assume any disruptions in trade or retaliatory moves by other countries. The cost of those taxes would likely be borne by U.S. families, importers and domestic and foreign companies in the form of higher prices or lower profits. Former Biden administration officials said they worried that companies could piggyback on Trump’s tariffs — if they’re imposed — as a rationale to raise their prices, just as many companies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 boosted food and energy costs and gave several major companies the space to raise prices, according to their own earnings calls with investors. But what Trump didn’t really spell out is what might cause him to back down on tariffs and declare a victory. What he is creating instead with his tariff threats is a sense of uncertainty as companies and countries await the details to figure out what all of this could mean. “We know the key economic policy priorities of the incoming Trump administration, but we don’t know how or when they will be addressed,” said Greg Daco, chief U.S. economist at EY-Parthenon. AP writer Mark Stevenson contributed to this report from Mexico City.

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Evergold (TSXV: EVER) reported its highest-grade antimony assays yet from the DEM project near Fort St. James, B.C., putting it in the lead among juniors hunting for the critical metal in Canada, the company said Wednesday. Drill hole DEM24-05 returned 40 metres grading 0.42% antimony starting from 344 metres downhole, including 2.5 metres of 3.6% antimony and 0.50 metre of 8.37% antimony. “Most of our peers, all of our peers in fact, in Canada have been touting grab samples or the acquisition of properties but nobody has actually delivered drill results, but we have them, and they are very strong and very high grade over potentially mineable underground widths,” Kevin Keough, Evergold’s CEO, said by phone. The metal increases the hardness of alloys and is used in advanced military systems, some battery technologies, and other industrial applications, including the production of flame retardant chemicals. The West has been trying for years to loosen China’s grip on the supply of critical minerals and diversify its supply chains. But figures from the U.S. Geological Survey underscore just how little progress has been achieved—at least when it comes to antimony. China produced more than 40,000 tonnes of the silvery-white metal in 2023, about 48% of the world’s total production of 83,000 tonnes, according to the USGS. Other producers include Tajikistan (26%), Turkey (7.2%), Myanmar (5.5%), Russia (5.2%), Bolivia (3.6%), and Australia (2.8%). According to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, the U.S. has not mined antimony since the Sunshine mine in Idaho closed in 2001, and today imports about 63% of its antimony from China, 8% from Belgium, 6% from India and 4% from Bolivia. It retrieves the rest from recycling lead-acid batteries. Concerns about the critical mineral supply chain in Washington accelerated earlier this month when China banned exports of antimony, gallium and germanium to the U.S. on Dec. 3. That was in retaliation against U.S. restrictions on the export of advanced memory chips to China, unveiled on Dec. 2. The tit-for-tat sanctions and anticipation of more trade disputes under incoming U.S. president Donald Trump, along with reduced supply from other sources of antimony like Russia, have driven prices higher. At the start of the year antimony hovered around US$12,000 per tonne but the price is now closer to US$33,000 per tonne, Evergold says. “It’s a hot speculative commodity this year by virtue of the supply restrictions coming out of China and various other supply restrictions from other countries as well,” Keough said. “Internal conflict in Myanmar has led to limited and unreliable supplies coming out of Southeast Asia, and Russian supplies to the West have been eliminated due to sanctions imposed following their invasion of Ukraine,” Evergold said in a release. “These negative supply shocks drive home the importance of securing reliable sources of antimony, and other critical elements.” Evergold kicked off an initial three-hole drill program at its 28-sq.-km DEM property last year. The company is earning up to a 100% stake in the project, which also hosts gold, silver, cobalt, rhenium, molybdenum and tungsten. “We’re really just getting going on the project,” Keough said. “Like so many juniors we’ve been struggling really to get the drill metres in. It’s been tough to raise money but the few holes we’ve managed to date are really turning up extremely promising results.” In mid-afternoon in Toronto, Evergold’s shares were down 37.5% to 2¢ apiece on Wednesday afternoon in Toronto, giving the junior a market cap of about $3 million.

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This week, Donald Trump picked Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence. The appointment of Chennai-born techie Sriram Krishnan as Senior White House Policy Advisor on AI has triggered a fresh debate that pits Silicon Valley’s tech titans against the populist MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement. At the heart of this clash is a growing tension over the future of US immigration policy and the role that foreign talent, particularly from countries like India, should play in shaping America’s technological landscape. ET Year-end Special Reads It's all Gucci for Indians' luxury craving even as economy shows wrinkles Investing in 2025: Will domestic funds continue to counter FPI sell-offs amid rising valuations? 2024 exposed the underbelly of India's Silicon Valley Following a post by an X user, who wrote, "Did any of yall vote for this Indian to run America", David Sacks, a prominent Silicon Valley entrepreneur and ally of Krishnan, has once again stepped forward to defend his friend amid increasing criticism. — nasescobar316 (@nasescobar316) Sacks responded by emphasizing Krishnan’s qualifications and US citizenship. A community note on the post had already clarified that Krishnan, a US citizen, was selected by President-elect Donald Trump to advise on AI policy, but Sacks took the opportunity to rebut further: "Sriram has been a US citizen for a decade. He’s not 'running America.' He’s advising on A.I. policy. He will have no influence over US immigration policy. These attacks have become crude, and not in the holiday spirit. I’m signing off now. Have a merry Christmas." (sic) ALSO READ: Sriram Krishnan, who worked for Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, is now Trump's AI advisor Web Development Java 21 Essentials for Beginners: Build Strong Programming Foundations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Microsoft Word Mastery: From Beginner to Expert By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Django & PostgreSQL Mastery: Build Professional Web Applications By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development JavaScript Essentials: Unlock AI-Driven Insights with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Design Microsoft Designer Guide: The Ultimate AI Design Tool By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Design Canva Magic Write: Ideas to Stunning Slides in No Time By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Entrepreneurship Validating Your Startup Idea: Steps to Ensure Market Fit By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Tally Prime & GST Accounting: Complete Guide By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Finance Crypto & NFT Mastery: From Basics to Advanced By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Leadership Business Storytelling Masterclass By - Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs View Program Data Analysis Animated Visualizations with Flourish Studio: Beginner to Pro By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Laura Loomer's criticism and the MAGA backlash The venture capitalist’s incoming move met with a similar backlash, especially from Laura Loomer. Sacks’ defense follows a string of attacks from far-right critics, including conservative commentator Laura Loomer. Loomer has been vocal in her disapproval of Krishnan’s appointment, accusing him of betraying the “America First” agenda by advocating for immigration reforms that she claims would undermine American workers. Loomer’s criticisms focus on Krishnan’s support for removing country-specific caps on green cards, which she argues would prioritize foreign workers over American talent. Condemning the “disturbing” appointment of Krishnan as part of the Trump administration 2.0, Loomer wrote on X, “It’s alarming to see the number of career leftists who are now being appointed to serve in Trump’s admin when they share views that are in direct opposition to Trump’s America First agenda.” ALSO READ: Prince Harry was left 'red-faced' over Meghan Markle's actions in Netflix docuseries. The reason might shock you Lambasting the move that according to her does not stand by an “America First policy,” she alleged that Sriram Krishnan’s appointment would work against Trump’s immigration control agenda as the Indian American member in his cabinet “wants to REMOVE all restrictions on green card caps in the United States so that foreign students (which makes up 78% of the employees in Silicon Valley) can come to the US and take jobs that should be given to American STEM students.” Sriram Krishnan gains support However, Sacks and others have pushed back against these accusations, clarifying Krishnan’s stance on immigration. In a series of posts, Sacks explained that Krishnan’s position on green card reform is focused on removing country-specific caps, which currently create long wait times for applicants from countries like India, while applicants from other nations face little delay. "Sriram didn’t say he wants to remove all caps on green cards. ALSO READ: Ro Khanna defends Indian-origin Sriram Krishnan's appointment as Trump's AI advisor; calls it 'American exceptionalism' He said he wants to remove country caps on green cards," Sacks explained. "Right now, every country in the world gets allocated the same number of green cards, no matter how many qualified applicants it has." Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna also weighed in on the controversy , highlighting that Krishnan’s rise to a senior policy role in the US government reflects the values of American exceptionalism, not a threat to it. Khanna posted on X: "You fools criticizing @sriramk as Indian born criticize Musk as South African born or Jensen as Taiwanese born. It is GREAT that talent around the world wants to come here, not to China, and that Sriram can rise to the highest levels. It’s called American exceptionalism." — RoKhanna (@RoKhanna) Khanna’s remarks underscore a key point in the ongoing debate: the notion that the US benefits from attracting global talent, especially in the rapidly evolving fields of technology and AI, which require highly skilled workers. ALSO READ: Panama Canal, Canada and Greenland: Why is Trump teasing US expansion? All you need to know H1-B visa debate and Krishnan's immigration stance A major point of contention in this debate is the H-1B visa program, which allows US companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers, particularly in the fields of technology and engineering. Critics of the program, like Loomer, argue that it is often abused by companies seeking to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor. On the other hand, supporters like Sriram Krishnan argue that such programs are essential for maintaining the US’s competitive edge in global tech, according to a TOI report. Krishnan has long advocated for reforms to the green card system, emphasizing a merit-based approach that prioritizes highly skilled workers rather than basing allocation on country quotas. Under the current system, applicants from high-demand countries, like India, can face decades-long waiting periods for green cards, while applicants from other nations face little to no delay. By removing country caps, Krishnan believes the US can create a more efficient system that better meets the needs of the country’s technology sector. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders re-signed veteran kicker Rene Paredes on Wednesday while also restructuring quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.'s deal. Calgary signed Paredes to a two-year contract extension. The Canadian was scheduled to become a free agent in February. The Stampeders acquired Adams last month from the B.C. Lions. The club and player agreed to terms on a restructured contract for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. "The restructured contract will give us more salary-cap flexibility to sign free agents and retain our own players who will be eligible for free agency in February,” Dave Dickenson, Calgary's head coach and general manager, said in a statement. “Vernon remains under contract for the next two seasons and we’re excited to have him in Calgary.” Adams, an eight-year CFL veteran, posted a 6-3 record last season with B.C., completing 197-of-302 passes (65.2 per cent) for 2,929 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He recorded six 300-yard passing games while also rushing for 213 yards and three TDs in 40 attempts. He completed 20-of-33 passes for 317 yards with two TDs and three interceptions in B.C.'s 28-19 West Division semifinal loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Paredes, a six-time all-star, has played 13 seasons with Calgary — ranking him fourth all-time in franchise history in terms of longevity — and his 229 regular-season games place him second in the Stampeders record books. He made 41 of his 44 field-goal attempts (93.2-per-cent success rate) over 18 games in 2024. Paredes has played 248 career regular-season and post-season games for the Stampeders since signing as a free agent in 2011. His 2,286 career regular-season points place him eighth on the CFL’s all-time list and he was part of Grey Cup-winning teams in 2014 and 2018. “I’m very excited to be back with the organization,” Paredes said in a release. “My family and I love the city and it’s a blessing to have spent my entire career as a Stampeder. The last two seasons have been a challenge for us as a team but I’m looking forward to doing everything I can to help turn things around.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2024. The Canadian Press