MCDONALD'S has assured some customers it's looking into a discrepancy with their recent coffee orders. Those who bought the fast food giant's affordable morning staple were expecting a different cup design than what they got. Earlier this month, it was announced that McDonald's McCafé would be featuring some holiday-themed cups starting on November 18. It's all part of the company's new "Good Mornin" campaign, honoring "the simple act of saying good morning and spreading a little joy through daily coffee moments." To create designs perfect for the season, McDonald's collaborated with artist Scott Martin and Doodles , an entertainment company anointed by Pharrell Williams that started as an NFT project, to create three variations for small, medium, and large McCafé coffees. Each features unique, colorful characters enjoying the winter and getting last-minute gifts. Read More on McDonald's "We're excited to bring a fun experience to our community, to introduce millions of fans to Doodles, and to spread some joy with morning coffee this holiday season," Julian Holguin, CEO of Doodles, said in a statement. While the Doodles holiday cups have been given out nationwide since Monday, some have claimed they still haven't gotten theirs when they've ordered coffee at McDonald's . MISSING OUT "Got bamboozled at our local @McDonalds no gm for us @doodles," a customer cried out in a post on X. "We too got rugged by @McDonalds," another wrote . Most read in Money Both customers included pictures of the standard yellow McCafé cups, searching for answers. McDonald's quickly responded to the first customer, noting that they would be looking into why their local chain didn't have the Doodles cups available for their morning coffees. "Hey! we hear ya. send us the restaurant address via DM, and we'll look into it for you," the official McDonald's account replied . While it's unclear why the customers weren't given the Doodles holiday cups, it's possible their local McDonald's hadn't gotten them yet after the nationwide distribution. DIGITAL DEAL There's also other ways to take advantage of the Doodles partnership in the meantime, per Food & Wine . Those who buy a coffee can use the McDonald's mobile app to get the exclusive "pack ripping" experience, which includes an assortment of Doodles-themed items, like digital wearables for avatars, access to Doodles animated content on the Stoodio platform, and more. This year, we're making our coffee even more special by giving our seasonal packaging a fresh and unexpected collaboration with Doodles, the perfect partner, as so much of their content revolves around mornings and coffee moments. There's even co-branded accessories and apparel from McDonald's and Doodles set to come out in early December, along with the music video to a new song called "Good Mornin'" from Marley Bleu. The song was produced by none other than Pharrell, a former McDonald's crew member. Tariq Hassan, chief marketing officer at McDonald's, emphasized that the Doodles collection was created as an effort to make the company's coffee even more "special" after working hard on the recipe for years. "It may not be the first thing you think about when you talk about McDonald's, but coffee is an integral part of the McDonald's experience," Hassan said in statement. "We've relentlessly worked to make it taste better year over year, investing in new technology and educating crew teams on coffee culture in an effort to deliver a more consistent, fresher cup of coffee every time." More information on the McDonald's and Doodles partnership can be found on the website dedicated for it. Read More on The US Sun McDonald's also recently confirmed the Grinch Happy Meal offering with limited-time plushies. The CEO of Krispy Kreme also noted that around 2,000 McDonald's locations would soon be seeing fresh donuts .
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Friday ordered parliament dissolved and set new elections for Feb. 23 in the wake of the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition, saying it was the only way to give the country a stable government capable of tackling its problems. Scholz lost a confidence vote on Dec. 16 and leads a minority government after his unpopular and notoriously rancorous three-party coalition collapsed on Nov. 6 when he fired his finance minister in a dispute over how to revitalize Germany ́s stagnant economy. Steinmeier said he made the decision because it was clear after consultation with party leaders that there was no agreement among Germany’s political parties on a majority for a new government in the current parliament. “It is precisely in difficult times like these that stability requires a government capable of taking action and a reliable majority in parliament,” he said as he made the announcement in Berlin. “Therefore I am convinced that for the good of our country new elections are the right way.” x
Quarterbacks in spotlight when No. 6 Miami visits SyracuseBrock Purdy and Nick Bosa are not available for the San Francisco 49ers when they enter Green Bay with designs on finding their finishing kick on Sunday afternoon. Purdy is out with a right shoulder injury and won't leave the sideline at Lambeau Field, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday, when he also declared Bosa out and confirmed journeyman Brandon Allen would make his 10th career start at quarterback. "Outside of here people haven't seen a lot of Brandon. But it's his second year (with the 49ers)," Shanahan said. "Obviously guys want Brock up, but guys are excited to see Brandon play." Shanahan said the 49ers are "a little surprised" Purdy experienced tightness and discomfort in his shoulder after an MRI exam on Monday that showed no long-term cause for concern. "The way it responded this week, it's really up in the air for next week," Shanahan said of Purdy's long-term prognosis. Allen's last NFL start on the road was with the Bengals at the Ravens in 2020. Allen completed 6 of 21 passes for 48 yards with two interceptions. He finished with a passer rating of 0.0 in a 38--3 loss. "It's definitely an opportunity for me to go out and play well and put our guys in a good position to win the game," Allen said Friday. "And obviously we want Brock back and healthy and all that, but for time being, it is an opportunity for me." Purdy took the practice field Thursday with the intent to participate. His shoulder tightened significantly, and the 49ers ushered him off the field to meet with trainers. Purdy beat the Packers in the NFC divisional playoffs at San Francisco in January, but Allen is familiar to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. LaFleur was an assistant coach with the Rams during Allen's two-year run in Los Angeles. Allen broke into the NFL in 2016 with the Jaguars and is 2-7 in nine career starts. He went 1-2 with the Broncos in 2019 and 1-5 in six starts over two years with the Bengals in 2020 and ‘21. A victory against the visiting 49ers on Sunday would bolster the Packers' playoff chances, send a conference rival below .500 and avenge a bitter playoff defeat. Those seemingly rank in no particular order for the Packers (8-3), although they don't shy from living at least partially in the past ahead of a Week 12 showdown. San Francisco eliminated Green Bay 24-21 in the NFC divisional playoffs last season, scoring 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. "That's what you've got to sit with all offseason, is going back, watching the game, trying to see what you could have done better," Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. "What you could have done differently in that game. ... Just knowing that's the team that knocked us out, we're definitely hungry for this game." Ditto for San Francisco. The 49ers fell to 5-5 after last week's 20-17 home loss to Seattle, done in by Geno Smith's 13-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds to play. Still only a game behind NFC West-leading Arizona, the reigning conference champion 49ers are just 1-3 in division play and can ill afford to lose more ground. A visit to AFC East leader Buffalo awaits after the trip to Green Bay. While they're dealing with plenty of not-so-good news on the injury front, the 49ers do anticipate the return of other contributors. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who missed the past two games following the death of his 1-year-old daughter, practiced Wednesday. Tight end George Kittle also is eager to play after a nagging hamstring injury sidelined him against the Seahawks. "Very excited," Kittle said. "Can't pass up playing the Packers, so no, I will be out there for sure." Allen was a three-year starter at Arkansas but has been a journeyman backup since entering the NFL in 2016 as the 201st overall pick of the Jaguars. Shanahan and LaFleur have been fierce competitors since twice working together, first as low-level assistants with the Texans in 2008, then on the so-called "dream team" staff in Washington that also included Sean McVay, Mike McDaniel and Raheem Morris; and two seasons with the Falcons (2015, 2016) where LaFleur was quarterbacks coach and Shanahan called the plays. Shanahan scored the most recent win over LaFleur in January. Green Bay has won seven of the past eight regular-season meetings between the franchises. But the familiarity and shared-brain approach to offense that has the coaches completed each other's play calls has led to some tight games. The past three at Lambeau Field were all decided by three points. Green Bay, which hosts a home game on Thanksgiving next Thursday, is starting a run of three games in 12 days. They'll play back-to-back Thursday games. Their Week 14 game is at Detroit. That might make it good news for LaFleur that surprising contributors have emerged of late. Packers wideout Christian Watson had a career-best 150 receiving yards on only four catches during last week's 20-19 road win against the Chicago Bears. His diving 60-yard reception in the fourth quarter put the Packers in position for Love's go-ahead, 1-yard scoring run with 2:59 to play. Watson entered the game with eight catches for 83 yards over his previous three contests, but LaFleur assured Watson remains a "big part" of the attack. "He's a guy who's got every measurable known to man in terms of the size, the speed, and it's not like those were easy plays he was making," LaFleur said. "He was making tough, contested catches." San Francisco will aim to generate more pressure against Love than the Bears, who sacked him just once. The 49ers collected four sacks against the Seahawks, with Bosa and Leonard Floyd contributing 1.5 apiece. Recent regular-season history between the Packers and 49ers at Lambeau Field has favored Green Bay. The Packers have won seven of their past eight home games against the 49ers and are 22-11 versus San Francisco at home all-time. Green Bay leads the series 34-28-1. --Field Level MediaCOPPELL, Texas & LEWISVILLE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 26, 2024-- Lovett Industrial, a Houston-based real estate investment firm is excited to announce the recent groundbreaking of 121 Logistics Park, a 27-acre urban infill development consisting of 339,280 square feet across two Class A logistics facilities in Coppell and Lewisville, Texas. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126678656/en/ 121 Logistics Park Rendering provided by Meinhardt & Associates Architects Located directly off State Highway 121, 121 Logistics Park offers immediate access to one of the major transportation arteries in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The business park will offer above-standard specifications in both buildings. Building 1, a 257,591 square foot rear loader with a 36-foot clear height, 7-inch reinforced concrete slab, 49 dock-high doors, 185-foot truck court, and at least 67 trailer parks. Building 2 will be an 81,689 square-foot front loader offering a 32-foot clear height, 6-inch reinforced concrete slab, 18 dock doors, 130 -185-foot-deep truck court, and 12 trailer parks. “With high barriers of entry, close proximity to executive housing, and ample blue-collar labor, the North DFW Airport submarket is considered not only to be one of the most desirable infill submarkets in the Dallas Fort Worth industrial market but one of the most desirable industrial submarkets in the United States,” said Bennett See, Dallas-Fort Worth Market Leader. “This opportunity became a reality through a fantastic partnership with the City of Coppell and the City of Lewisville, and we feel incredibly fortunate to be able to work with two great cities that shared our vision for this land.” 121 Logistics Park is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025 and will cater to tenants ranging from 85,000 SF to 339,000 square feet in size. Marketing and leasing efforts for 121 Logistics Park will be exclusively handled by Adam Graham and Alex Wilson of Lee & Associates. Construction financing is being provided by Comerica Bank. Bob Moore Construction is the General Contractor, Meinhardt & Associates Architecture is the lead architect, and Kimley-Horn & Associates is serving as the project’s civil engineer. 121 Logistics Park is Lovett Industrial’s ninth industrial development in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area. Other projects include Trinity West Phases I & II, Innovation Ridge Logistics Park, Wylie Business Center, Addison Innovation Center, Lovett 35 Logistics Park, Garland Innovation Center, and Texport Logistics Center. Together, these projects comprise over 5.4 million square feet of completed or under-construction product in Dallas-Fort Worth. About Lovett Industrial: Founded in 2020 and based in Houston, Texas, Lovett Industrial is a privately held vertically integrated logistics real estate investment platform that seeks to develop and acquire industrial real estate assets that are differentiated by their quality, location, and functionality. Currently active in over 15 markets across the United States, Lovett Industrial’s portfolio comprises approximately 17 million square feet of completed, acquired, and under-construction warehouses and over 10 million square feet of warehouses planned for future development. Lovett Industrial’s founders have combined over 60+ years of experience in the commercial and industrial real estate sectors. For more information, visit https://lovettindustrial.com/ and follow @Lovett_industrial on social media. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126678656/en/ CONTACT: Lily Aguilar Liliana.aguilar@lovettindustrial.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA TEXAS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT ARCHITECTURE OTHER CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY OTHER TRANSPORT RETAIL AIR BUILDING SYSTEMS TRANSPORT REIT LOGISTICS/SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SOURCE: Lovett Industrial Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/26/2024 04:00 PM/DISC: 11/26/2024 04:02 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126678656/en
Dutch Government Proposes Strict 20M Population Cap by 2050 Amid Immigration Crackdown
None( MENAFN - Gulf Times) The Azerbaijan airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan this week suffered physical "external interference", the airline and Azerbaijan's transport Minister said Friday, citing preliminary results of an investigation, adding to speculation it was hit by a Russian air defence system. The jet crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday, killing 38 of the 67 people on board, after attempting to land at its destination in the Russian city of Grozny and then diverting far off course across the Caspian Sea. Russia's Aviation chief said Friday that Grozny was being attacked by Ukrainian drones at the time the plane had tried to land, but the Kremlin has declined to comment on reports the plane was accidentally shot down by Russian air defence missiles. Statements from Azerbaijan citing the investigation into the incident suggest Baku believes the plane was hit mid-air. "Based on the opinion of experts and on the words of eyewitnesses, it can be concluded that there was external interference," Azerbaijani's transport minister, Rashad Nabiyev, told reporters. "It is necessary to find out from what kind of weapon," he added, citing reports from survivors of hearing "three explosions" as the plane was over Grozny. Azerbaijan Airlines said it had suspended flights to 10 Russian airports and that preliminary results suggested the crash of Baku-Grozny flight J2-8243 was "due to physical and technical external interference". The head of Russia's civil aviation agency, Dmitry Yadrov, said in an earlier statement that "the situation on this day and at these hours in the area of Grozny airport was very complex". "Ukrainian attack drones at this time were making terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure in the cities of Grozny and Vladikavkaz," Yadrov said, referring to a nearby city. He said the Azeri pilot made "two attempts to land the plane in Grozny that were unsuccessful" in "thick fog". "The pilot was offered other airports. He took the decision to go to Aktau airport," he added. The Kremlin earlier Friday declined to comment on the deadly crash. "Until the conclusions of the investigation, we do not consider we have the right to make any comments and we will not do so," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Some aviation and military experts have pointed to signs of shrapnel damage on the plane wreckage as evidence it was hit by air defence systems. An Azerbaijan pro-government website, Caliber, and several other media have cited unnamed Azerbaijani officials as saying they believed a Russian missile fired from a Pantsir-S1 air defence system caused the crash. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a "thorough investigation" and also pointed to Russian involvement. "Every loss of life deserves a thorough investigation to establish the truth. We can see how the clear visual evidence at the crash site points to Russia's responsibility for the tragedy," he said in a post on social media. A Russian survivor, Subkhonkul Rakhimov, told state broadcaster RT that an "explosion" appeared to happen outside the plane as it attempted to land in Grozny in fog, causing shrapnel to penetrate inside. "I wouldn't say it was inside the plane because the skin of the fuselage near where I was sitting flew off," he said. "I grabbed a life jacket and saw there was a hole in it -- it was pierced by shrapnel." Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said Friday that he had phoned his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, with both pledging that the "causes of the crash would be fully examined", according to a statement from Baku. Contacted by AFP, Azerbaijani government officials did not respond to questions about the possible causes of the crash. But Rasim Musabekov, an Azerbaijani lawmaker and member of the parliament's international relations committee, urged Russia to apologise for the incident. "They have to accept this, punish those to blame, promise that such a thing will not happen again, express regrets and readiness to pay compensation," Musabekov told AFP. He suggested the plane was not allowed to land at Grozny or a nearby Russian airport -- instead being "sent far away" across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan -- in an attempt to "cover up a crime." MENAFN27122024000067011011ID1109036194 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.
North Korean threat actors behind the ongoing Contagious Interview campaign have been observed dropping a new JavaScript malware called OtterCookie . Contagious Interview (aka DeceptiveDevelopment ) refers to a persistent attack campaign that employs social engineering lures, with the hacking crew often posing as recruiters to trick individuals looking for potential job opportunities into downloading malware under the guise of an interview process. This involves distributing malware-laced videoconferencing apps or npm packages either hosted on GitHub or the official package registry, paving the way for the deployment of malware such as BeaverTail and InvisibleFerret. Palo Alto Networks Unit 42, which first exposed the activity in November 2023, is tracking the cluster under the moniker CL-STA-0240. It's also referred to as Famous Chollima and Tenacious Pungsan. In September 2024, Singaporean cybersecurity company Group-IB documented the first major revision to the attack chain, highlighting the use of an updated version of BeaverTail that adopts a modular approach by offloading its information-stealing functionality to a set of Python scripts collectively tracked as CivetQ. It's worth noting at this stage that Contagious Interview is assessed to be disparate from Operation Dream Job , another long-running North Korean hacking campaign that also employs similar job-related decoys to trigger the malware infection process. The latest findings from Japanese cybersecurity company NTT Security Holdings reveal that the JavaScript malware responsible for launching BeaverTail is also designed to fetch and execute OtterCookie. The new malware is said to have been introduced in September 2024, with a new version detected in the wild last month. OtterCookie, upon running, establishes communications with a command-and-control (C2) server using the Socket.IO JavaScript library, and awaits further instructions. It's designed to run shell commands that facilitate data theft, including files, clipboard content, and cryptocurrency wallet keys. The older OtterCookie variant spotted in September is functionally similar, but incorporates a minor implementation difference wherein the cryptocurrency wallet key theft feature is directly built into the malware, as opposed to a remote shell command. The development is a sign that the threat actors are actively updating their tools while leaving the infection chain largely untouched, a continued sign of the campaign's effectiveness. It also comes as South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) sanctioned 15 individuals and one organization in connection with a fraudulent IT worker scheme orchestrated by its northern counterpart to illegally generate a steady source of income that can be funneled back to North Korea, steal data, and even demand ransoms in some cases. There is evidence to suggest that the Famous Chollima threat cluster is behind the insider threat operation as well. It's also called by various names, such as Nickel Tapestry, UNC5267, and Wagemole. One of the 15 sanctioned individuals, Kim Ryu Song, was also indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) earlier this month for his alleged involvement in a long-running conspiracy to violate sanctions and commit wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft by illegally seeking employment in U.S. companies and non-profit organizations. Also sanctioned by MoFA is the Chosun Geumjeong Economic Information Technology Exchange Company, which has been accused of dispatching a large number of IT personnel to China, Russia, Southeast Asia, and Africa for procuring funds for the regime by securing freelance or full-time jobs in Western companies. These IT workers are said to be part of the 313th General Bureau, an organization under the Munitions Industry Department of the Workers' Party of Korea. "The 313th General Bureau [...] dispatches many North Korean IT personnel overseas and uses the foreign currency earned to secure funds for nuclear and missile development, and is also involved in the development of software for the military sector," the ministry said. "North Korea's illegal cyber activities are not only criminal acts that threaten the safety of the cyber ecosystem, but also pose a serious threat to international peace and security as they are used as funds for North Korea's nuclear and missile development."Smartphones already make day-to-day life more convenient. Soon, they may be widely used to prove identities. Nine in 10 Americans own smartphones to stay connected, find information, track exercise, play games, capture life’s moments, and more, Pew reported in June. Increasingly, smartphones also store highly personal information, like credit card numbers, personal health data, bank accounts, and investment portfolios. Most people still carry around a physical driver’s license or state ID to verify their identity. That may soon change. Mobile driver’s licenses are official state-issued identity credentials stored on smartphones and are becoming increasingly common. They contain the same information as a physical driver’s license and can be updated in real time. Uniqode examined news coverage, industry reports, and other sources to explore the rise in digital IDs and their benefits and drawbacks. Although other countries have adopted mobile identities for years now, most states don’t offer mDLs—yet. According to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, just 13 states around the country have fully implemented mDL systems, with another 15 in the process of bringing mDLs to their residents. Digital IDs vary across states; some mDLs are just digital versions of a physical driver’s license. Others use a security standard set by international bodies, the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission, to ensure security, privacy, and accuracy. mDLs that apply the widely accepted ISO/IEC standard can also be used across state lines. Colorado and California have led the charge for digitizing IDs. In 2023, California launched a mDL pilot program for up to 1.5 million residents, with over 500,000 of them taking advantage of the program in its first year. Residents can use the California DMV Wallet app, as well as Google and Apple wallets for secure mDL storage. However, it’s not yet accepted statewide—drivers must still carry a physical ID, but some retailers and airport TSA checkpoints accept it as valid identification. Coloradans can also put an mDL into Google Wallet for use at some TSA checkpoints, but it hasn’t yet replaced a physical driver’s license. However, drivers can use mDLs on the road by pulling up a QR code, which, when scanned by Colorado State Patrol, accesses their license and car registration information in their myColorado app account. This could potentially eliminate the need for physical IDs during traffic stops. Despite the convenience of a contactless system, usage rates are low. In 2023, only 191 traffic stops used the QR code scan , even though 1.34 million people have registered for the myColorado app. While mDL adoption and use might be slow, TSA acceptance of mDLs may help spur adoption. Airports in 21 states allow mDLs as valid identification for TSA checkpoints—with the caveat that passengers still need to also have a physical ID for verification. As more states offer an mDL option, users must weigh the benefits and risks. Proponents of digital IDs tout their convenience and security. When digital IDs are fully implemented, easily lost or stolen physical cards could be a thing of the past, and real-time updates might make address changes and renewals easier. Users can also choose to share specific parts of their ID—for example, showing only one’s age when purchasing alcohol to keep the rest of their personal information private. In addition to more seamless usage, mDLs also have an added layer of security. They’re stored within a digital wallet that benefits from an extra layer of biometric security, offering more protection if a phone is lost or stolen. A digital ID can also be used in multi-factor identification. That said, some organizations warn against the broad use of digital IDs. Digital civil liberties group Electronic Frontier Foundation expressed concerns that digital IDs require people pulled over for traffic stops to freely hand their phones to police officers as identification, allowing law enforcement access to more information on their phone, which typically is not permitted without a search warrant. Even with the security protections of a digital wallet, it could be easy for someone to share information that may ultimately be used against them. The National Immigration Law Center echoes these concerns . Police and national government agencies—and the corporations they contract—can leverage mDLs for surveillance purposes, according to a 2023 report from the Surveillance Resistance Lab and the NILC. Apps that share location data in the background could make targeting and finding mDL holders easier. Likewise, using a digital ID for verification leaves behind a digital trail that could be used to track people. Should mDLs become mandatory identification, residents would potentially give up the ability to remain anonymous. Even though tracking peoples’ cell phone, credit card, and social media usage is easier than ever, proponents of digital IDs say that mDLs won’t contribute to an individual’s ever-growing digital footprint. However, only time will tell; agencies that use advanced design and meet technical standards can ensure digital ID systems can function properly without creating a surveillance state. Story editing by Alizah Salario. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. This story originally appeared on Uniqode and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Founded in 2017, Stacker combines data analysis with rich editorial context, drawing on authoritative sources and subject matter experts to drive storytelling.NASCAR blasts 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports for 'tactical' move in legal battle
Santa Cruz officials uncertain about future plans for storm-damaged wharfWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — 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. His presidential transition team did not respond to questions about positions on visas for highly skilled workers or the debate between his supporters online. Instead, his team instead sent a link to a post on X by longtime adviser and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller that was a transcript of a speech Trump gave in 2020 at Mount Rushmore in which he praised figures and moments from American history. 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.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chaz Lanier scored 18 and No. 7 Tennessee extended its season-opening winning streak to seven games with a 78-35 victory over UT Martin on Wednesday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chaz Lanier scored 18 and No. 7 Tennessee extended its season-opening winning streak to seven games with a 78-35 victory over UT Martin on Wednesday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chaz Lanier scored 18 and No. 7 Tennessee extended its season-opening winning streak to seven games with a 78-35 victory over UT Martin on Wednesday. Felix Okpara had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Volunteers (7-0). Zakai Zeigler added 11 points and nine assists, and Igor Milicic had 13 rebounds and nine points. The Skyhawks (2-5) were led by Josu Grullon’s 15 points. Lanier scored 11 points in the first half as Tennessee built a 35-20 lead at the half. Grullon had 10 for UT Martin. Takeaways UT Martin: Dropped its fifth straight after two opening wins under first-year coach Jeremy Shulman. After 21 wins last year, the Skyhawks brought in 16 newcomers this season. They are picked to finish 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tennessee: After receiving the news that 6-foot-9 sophomore J.P. Estrella will miss the entire season with a foot injury, the Vols have had to go back to the drawing board to determine their rotation on the front court. Estrella had been coming off the bench with Cade Phillips to spell Igor Milicic and Felix Okpara. What that big man rotation looks like will be interesting. Key moment From late in the first half to early in the second half, Tennessee scored 14 straight points and turned a 10-point lead into a 44-20 advantage. Zakai Zeigler had five of those points. Key stat Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. UT Martin committed 18 turnovers. Five of those were shot-clock violations. Tennessee scored 24 points off the turnovers. Up next UT Martin will be at Charleston Southern next Tuesday. Tennessee will host Syracuse next Tuesday in the SEC/ACC Challenge. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball Advertisement AdvertisementMISTRAS Group Appoints Natalia Shuman as President and Chief Executive OfficerShohei Ohtani likely to win his third MVP award and Aaron Judge his second NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is expected to win his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge is likely to earn his second AL honor when the Baseball Writers’ Association announces its balloting. Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels. He signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title. NFL issues security alert to teams and the players' union following recent burglaries The NFL has issued a security alert to teams and the players’ union following recent burglaries involving the homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the league says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets. QB Daniel Jones disagrees with the Giants' decision to bench him and says he wants to play EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — With tears occasionally welling in his eyes, Daniel Jones disagreed on Thursday with the New York Giants' decision to bench him earlier this week and perhaps end his five-plus tenure as the team’s quarterback. The 27-year-old Jones said he gave the team everything he had after being taken sixth overall in the 2019 draft and he believes he still has a future in the NFL. He held himself accountable for the Giants making the playoffs once in his tenure as the starter. Penn State wins trademark case over retailer's use of vintage logos, images PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Penn State has won a closely watched trademark fight over an online retailer’s use of its vintage logos and images. A Pennsylvania jury awarded Penn State $28,000 in damages earlier this week over products made and sold by the firms Vintage Brand and Sportswear Inc. Penn State accused them of selling “counterfeit” clothing and accessories. The defendants said their website makes clear they are not affiliated with Penn State. At least a dozen other schools have sued the defendants on similar grounds, but the Pennsylvania case was the first to go to trial. Guardiola signs a 2-year contract extension at Man City and eyes 'more trophies' MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking time with Manchester City is far from over. The City manager has signed a two-year contract extension ending speculation about his future by agreeing to a deal that would prolong his tenure to 11 seasons. Guardiola’s contract was due to expire at the end of this season. The four-time defending Premier League champions announced the deal Thursday. The Catalan coach has overseen a period of unprecedented dominance since joining City in 2016. He has gone on to win six Premier League titles in seven years and also lifted the Champions League among 15 major trophies at the club. Jannik Sinner leads Italy back to the Davis Cup semifinals and a rematch against Australia MALAGA, Spain (AP) — No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner has led defending champion Italy to a comeback victory over Argentina for a return to the Davis Cup semifinals. A rematch of last year's championship matchup against Australia now awaits in the final four on Saturday in Malaga, Spain. Italy fell behind 1-0 in the quarterfinals when Argentina's Francisco Cerúndolo defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-1. But two-time Grand Slam champion Sinner overwhelmed Sebastián Báez 6-2, 6-1. Then Sinner teamed with Matteo Berrettini in the deciding doubles match to win 6-4, 7-5 against Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez. Australia eliminated the U.S. to reach the Davis Cup semifinals for the third consecutive year. Drama surrounds final 3 races of F1 season as drivers voice displeasure with recent FIA decisions LAS VEGAS (AP) — There’s three races remaining in the Formula 1 season and Max Verstappen is inching so close to a fourth consecutive world championship he could wrap it up Saturday night at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. But all is not smooth sailing headed into this final month of racing. There’s a new race director following the shock sacking of Niels Wittich that blindsided the Grand Prix Driver’s Association so badly they created an Instagram account to rebuke the lack of FIA transparency. It’s the lone post on the account. Greg Maffei, the CEO of Liberty Media said last week he was stepping down from his position and F1 furiously denied over the weekend that Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula One Management, was also on the move. Colorado's 2-way star Travis Hunter eyes Big 12 title and more before 'for sure' entering NFL draft DENVER (AP) — Travis Hunter made a pair of proclamations when he announced he’s for sure turning pro after this season, but not until he sees Colorado all the way through the College Football Playoff should the Buffaloes make it there. The first was a given for the junior who plays both receiver and cornerback. The second is a risk-reward play for a projected first-round draft pick who averages around 120 snaps a game. In years past, it took two extra postseason wins to capture a national title. Now, it could take up to four additional contests. That’s more of a chance to shine, but also more chance for an injury. Stephen Silas coaching USA Basketball in AmeriCup qualifying games this weekend Stephen Silas has plenty of reasons why he wanted to coach for USA Basketball in the qualifying rounds of the FIBA AmeriCup tournament. Among them: his father. Paul Silas died two years ago and, despite a long career as an NBA coach, he never got the chance to be part of the national team. So, when USA Basketball called his son about this opportunity — games Friday and Monday in Washington, then two more qualifying games in February likely with a different roster — he jumped at the chance. Simone Biles to join Snoop Dogg as a guest mentor for an episode on NBC's 'The Voice' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Snoop Dogg and Simone Biles turned their Olympic bond from this summer’s Paris Games into a new challenge: The superstar tandem will team up on NBC’s “The Voice.” Biles will join Snoop on the reality competition television series during a new episode, airing Monday. As a show coach, he enlisted Biles as a mentor in the playoff round to help advise five vocalist who are vying for a spot in the live shows. For Snoop and Biles, their pairing was a superb match for the sports and music icons — who carried their effortless chemistry from the Olympics to the TV set of “The Voice.”