AP News Summary at 6:04 p.m. EST

The New York Mets missed the World Series in 2024, but they could bolster their rotation through free agency in hopes of getting over the hump in 2025. FanSided's Jacob Mountz urged the Mets to sign Los Angeles Dodgers star Walker Buehler in free agency this winter. "Since his injuries have hampered his career, he will likely be inexpensive lowering his potential risks and giving Cohen some padding in his pursuit of top-tier stars like Soto and Alonso," wrote Mountz. "If Buehler can stay healthy, he will likely provide his new club the most bang for their buck." Mountz noted Buehler's success in the postseason as the biggest reason the Mets should sign him. Buehler has pitched 94 2/3 postseason innings and holds a 3.04 ERA. He has tallied 119 strikeouts. Buehler had the worst regular season of his career and started off the postseason on a sour note. However, he bounced back and was a huge part of the Dodgers title. After allowing six runs in five innings against the San Diego Padres, his next two starts were flawless. He went a combined nine innings with 11 strikeouts. He even came on to get the title-clinching save on one day of rest. The Mets could be losing Sean Manaea in free agency. Adding Buehler would be cheap, allowing them to still retain Pete Alonso or sign Juan Soto. "One key issue the Mets dealt with in 2024 was pitching. As a team, the Mets posted a 3.96 ERA, ranked 15th in the MLB. Notably, Kodai Senga was injured for all but one game," wrote Mountz. "The Mets will be in better shape when he returns, but their starting rotation will need an overhaul. One arm Cohen should be looking at could return to ace form at a low cost." Buehler is a two-time All-Star. If he can find that form again he could be a great signing for the Mets. More MLB: Mets urged to sign Dodgers 33 home run slugger in free agency blockbusterBryce Thompson scored 17 points and achieved a milestone as Oklahoma State defeated Miami 80-74 on Friday afternoon in a Charleston Classic consolation game in Charleston, S.C. Thompson made 6-of-14 shots from the floor, surpassing 1,000 points for his career at Oklahoma State (4-1), which also got 15 points from Marchelus Avery. The Cowboys won in large part thanks to their impressive 3-point shooting (10-for-22, 45.5 percent). Oklahoma State backup guard Arturo Dean, a Miami native, posted eight points and one steal. He led the nation in steals last season while playing for Florida International. Miami (3-2) has lost two straight games in Charleston, failing to take a lead at any point. They will play on Sunday against either Nevada or VCU. The Hurricanes on Friday were led by Nijel Pack, who had a game-high 20 points. Brandon Johnson had a double-double for Miami with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Matthew Cleveland scored 11 points and Lynn Kidd and Paul Djobet added 10 points apiece for Miami. Miami, which fell behind 7-0 in Thursday's loss to Drake, got behind 9-0 on Friday as Abou Ousmane scored six of his eight points. Oklahoma State stretched its lead to 18 before settling for a 43-27 advantage at the break. Pack led all first-half scorers with 10 points, but Miami shot just 29.6 percent from the floor, including 3-of-13 on 3-pointers (23.1). Oklahoma State shot 48.4 percent, including 8-for-15 on 3-pointers (53.3 percent) before intermission. The Cowboys also had a 14-8 edge in paint points. In the second half, Miami closed its 20-point deficit to 55-42 with 12:12 left. Miami got a bit closer as two straight short jumpers by Kidd, trimming the deficit to 73-62 with 3:25 to play. The Hurricanes cut it to 77-70 on Pack's 3-pointer with 34 seconds remaining, but the Cowboys hit their free throws to close out the win. --Field Level Media

ATLANTA — President Joe Biden’s administration announced Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Energy will make a $6.6 billion loan to Rivian Automotive to build a factory in Georgia that had stalled as the startup electric vehicle maker struggled to become profitable. Loan Faces Uncertain Future with Potential Administration Change It’s unclear whether the administration can complete the loan before Donald Trump becomes president again in less than two months, or whether the Trump administration might try to claw the money back. Trump previously vowed to end federal electric vehicle tax credits, which are worth up to $7,500 for new zero-emission vehicles and $4,000 for used ones. Related Story: Rivian’s Journey: From Splash to Struggle Rivian made a splash when it went public and began producing large electric R1 SUVs, pickup trucks and delivery vans at a former Mitsubishi factory in Normal, Illinois, in 2021. Months later, the California-based company announced it would build a second, larger, $5 billion plant about 40 miles east of Atlanta, near the town of Social Circle. The R1 vehicles cost $70,000 or more. The company plans to produce R2 vehicles, a smaller SUV, in Georgia with lower price tags aimed at a mass market. The first phase of Rivian’s Georgia factory is projected to make 200,000 vehicles a year, with a second phase capable of another 200,000 a year. Eventually, the plant is projected to employ 7,500 workers. But Rivian was unable to meet production and sales targets and rapidly burned through cash. In March, the company said it would pause construction of the Georgia plant. The company said it would begin assembling its R2 SUV in Illinois instead. Related Story: Volkswagen Investment and Renewed Plans CEO RJ Scaringe said the move would allow Rivian to start selling the R2 sooner and save $2.25 billion in capital spending. Since then, German automaker Volkswagen AG said in June it would invest $5 billion in Rivian in a joint venture in which Rivian would share software and electrical technology with Volkswagen. The money eased Rivian’s cash crunch. Tuesday’s announcement throws a lifeline to Rivian’s grander plans. The company said its plans to make the R2 and the smaller R3 in Georgia are back on and that production will begin in 2028. “This loan would enable Rivian to more aggressively scale our U.S. manufacturing footprint for our competitively priced R2 and R3 vehicles that emphasize both capability and affordability,” Scaringe said in a statement. Department of Energy’s Perspective The Department of Energy said the loan would substantially boost electric vehicles made in the United States and support the Biden administration’s goal of having zero-emission vehicles make up half of all new U.S. sales by 2030. “As one of a few American EV startups with light duty vehicles already on the road, Rivian’s Georgia facility will allow the company to reach production volumes that make its products more cost competitive and accelerate access to international markets,” the department said in a statement. The loan includes $6 billion, plus $600 million in interest that will be rolled into the principal. The money would come from the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, which provides low-interest loans to make fuel-efficient vehicles and components. The program has focused mostly on loans to new battery factories for electric vehicles under Biden but earlier helped finance initial production of the Tesla Model S and Nissan Leaf, two pioneering electric vehicles. The program, created in 2007, requires a “reasonable prospect of repayment” of the loan. Political Reactions and Implications Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who has been a vocal supporter of electric vehicle and solar manufacturing in Georgia, hailed Tuesday’s announcement as “yet another historic federal investment in Georgia electric vehicle manufacturing.” Ossoff had asked Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to support the loan in July. “Our federal manufacturing incentives are driving economic development across the state of Georgia,” Ossoff said in a statement. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says his goal is to make Georgia a center of the electric vehicle industry. But the Republican has had a strained relationship with the Biden administration over its industrial policy, even as some studies have found Georgia has netted more electric vehicle investment than any other state. Kemp has long claimed that manufacturers were picking Georgia before Biden’s signature climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act, was passed. Efforts to bring Rivian to Georgia predated the Biden administration and “our shared vision to bring opportunity to Georgia will remain no matter who resides in the White House or what party controls Congress,” Kemp spokesperson Garrison Douglas said Tuesday. The loan to Rivian could rescue one of the Kemp administration’s signature economic development projects even as Biden leaves office. That could put Rivian and Kemp in the position of defending the loan if Trump tries to quash it. State and local governments offered Rivian an incentive package worth an estimated $1.5 billion in 2022. Neighbors opposed to development of the Georgia site mounted legal challenges. State and local governments spent around $125 million to buy and prepare the nearly 2,000-acre site. The state also has completed most of $50 million in roadwork that it pledged. The pause at Rivian contrasts with rapid construction at Hyundai Motor Group’s $7.6 billion electric vehicle and battery complex near Savannah. The Korean automaker said in October that it has begun production in Ellabell, where it plans to eventually employ 8,500.

AP News Summary at 2:57 p.m. ESTTech Tumble! Dow Dips Dramatically.

Oklahoma State's 3-point accuracy sends Miami to defeat

1 2 Nagpur: The International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computation-Based Sensor Applications (ICAIQSA-24) was organized by department of artificial intelligence, GH Raisoni College of Engineering & Management (GHRCEM), recently. The event was technically co-sponsored by IEEE Bombay Section. The conference commenced with an inaugural ceremony featuring Sibaram Khara, vice-chancellor of Sharda University, Uttar Pradesh, as chief guest, and Dwarkinath Mahapatra, head of Manentia AI, UAE, as guest of honour. Mahapatra's keynote address provided valuable insights into the emerging trends in AI and its application in healthcare. With over 200 researchers from around the world presenting their work, ICAIQSA-24 became a global platform for sharing advancements in AI and quantum computation-based sensor technologies. The event concluded with a valedictory session presided over by Nitin Sachdeva, managing director and president of Delaplex, Nagpur, who emphasised the importance of research and innovation in these fields. The conference was successfully conducted under the leadership of Vivek Kapur, director of GHRCEM, and Sunil Raisoni, chairman of RGI, with the dedicated efforts of Smita Nirkhi, general chair and team ICAIQSA-24. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes.Threatening text messages seen by jury at bush bash shooting trial

GDIN CEO Jongkap Kim: "By matching technology needs with local markets, we create long-lasting joint ventures with multiple exit opportunities." SEOUL, South Korea , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Digital Innovation Network (GDIN), led by CEO Jongkap Kim, proudly announced the major achievements of its 2024 Joint Venture Program. This program, which supports the establishment of joint ventures between South Korean companies and international partners, is designed to lower market entry barriers and create sustainable growth opportunities through local collaborations. Since the launch of the program in 2021, GDIN has supported the establishment of 44 joint ventures across various regions. This year alone, 10 joint ventures were successfully launched in 8 countries including the United States , Canada , Japan , India , Singapore , Vietnam , UAE, and Uganda . The Joint Venture Program was created to address a common challenge faced by early-stage tech companies: while they may have products and services that meet market demand, they often lack the resources and workforce to enter international markets. Through this program, GDIN helps companies increase their chances of success by facilitating strategic market entry via local partnerships. In addition to the 44 joint ventures established so far, 47 partnership agreements are in the pipeline for future joint ventures. The program's success is largely attributed to GDIN's extensive global network of partners, which includes government organizations, multinational corporations, and international agencies such as the World Bank, Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Investment Turkey etc. GDIN has organized multiple technology matching and investor relations events to introduce Korean companies and their innovative technologies to potential international partners. At the year-end performance report event, held on December 19 , GDIN recognized companies that successfully established joint ventures. Changsoft I&I, a digital construction management system company, was highlighted for its success in establishing joint ventures in Japan and Vietnam . CFO Jongeun Park of Changsoft I&I shared, "We were facing stagnating revenue growth, and expanding into new markets was critical. With GDIN's support, we were able to establish joint ventures in Japan and Vietnam , allowing us to tailor our products to local market needs." Other companies that successfully established joint ventures in 2024 include Medicos Biotech, Bloomsbury Lab, Arbaim, Eucast, Pixelro, Hansol root one, Eco-Peace, and IESG. GDIN CEO Jongkap Kim commented, "Unlike simple joint investments or distribution networks, these technology-driven joint ventures are based on market demand, ensuring their long-term sustainability. If these joint ventures achieve success in the local markets and even go public, they could offer multiple exit opportunities, creating a strong growth model for all involved." About GDIN Global Digital Innovation Network (formerly known as Born2Global Centre), registered under the Ministry of Science & ICT, is an independent foundation that promotes and fosters collaboration between next-level innovative companies from South Korea and the world. Since 2013, we have established over 160 international partnerships, supported over 3,000 tech companies, conducted over 20,000 consulting services, and helped companies raise $3.6 billion USD in investments. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gdin-successfully-supports-establishment-of-10-new-joint-ventures-in-2024-alone-302337060.html SOURCE GDINMondelez International Inc. Cl A stock underperforms Tuesday when compared to competitorsPharmEasy’s revenue from operations fell 14.75% to INR 5,664.2 Cr in FY24 from INR 6,643.9 Cr in FY23 The epharmacy charted somewhat of a turnaround in FY24 as its outgo due to exceptional items declined 65% to INR 1,026.9 Cr in FY24 from INR 2,921.9 Cr in FY23 PharmEasy's total expenditure declined 19.16% to INR 7,254.8 Cr in FY24 from INR 8,974 Cr in FY23 Digital pharmacy PharmEasy saw its consolidated net loss halve to INR 2,531.1 Cr in the financial year 2023-24 (FY24) on the back of a decline in its expenses and exceptional items. The company’s net loss declined 51.35% from INR 5,202.5 Cr in FY23. However, it also saw a decrease in its operating revenue. PharmEasy’s revenue from operations fell 14.75% to INR 5,664.2 Cr in FY24 from INR 6,643.9 Cr in FY23. The company primarily generated revenue from its medicine marketplace, which contributed INR 5,007.7 Cr to its total top line in FY24. On the other hand, it earned INR 652.3 Cr in revenue from sale of services, which comprised diagnostic services, teleconsulting and licensing of its software and other offerings. Founded in 2015 by Dharmil Sheth, Dhaval Shah, Harsh Parekh, Siddharth Shah, and Hardik Dedhia, PharmEasy sells medicines through its flagship online platform and offers diagnostic services through its subsidiaries. Having faced a funding crunch for the majority of the past two years, the epharmacy charted somewhat of a turnaround in FY24 as its outgo due to exceptional items declined 65% to INR 1,026.9 Cr in FY24 from INR 2,921.9 Cr in FY23. Under the exceptional items head, the company’s goodwill impairment fell nearly 80% to INR 582.5 Cr in FY24 from INR 2,825.6 Cr in FY23. However, the fiscal under review saw an additional expenditure in the mix as PharmEasy incurred “early redemption charges” for non-convertible debentures (NCD) worth INR 342.5 Cr, which were nil last fiscal. The reduction in loss comes as good news for PharmEasy, which has been marred by significant financial and operational struggles in the recent past. The company’s valuation plummeted by 90% during its INR 1,804 Cr fundraise in April this year compared to its peak $5.6 Bn valuation in October 2021. It was also the worst-performing Indian investment in Prosus’ portfolio during H1 FY24, registering an internal rate of return (IRR) of -41%. Furthermore, PharmEasy also grabbed negative headlines for undertaking mass layoffs and a major restructuring exercise in the past one year. PharmEasy’s total expenditure declined 19.16% to INR 7,254.8 Cr. in FY24 from INR 8,974 Cr in FY23. Here is a breakdown of the startup’s biggest cost centres: Purchase Of Stock-In-Trade : Expenses under this bucket decreased 17.04% to INR 4,572.8 Cr in FY24 from INR 5,512 Cr in FY23. Employee Benefit Expenses : The company spent INR 699.3 Cr on employee-related benefits in FY24, down 45.51% from INR 1,283.3 Cr in the previous year. Finance Costs : Expenses under this head increased 9.38% to INR 727.9 Cr in the fiscal under review from INR 665.5 Cr in the financial year ended March 2023. Expected Credit Loss On Financial Assets: The healthtech major’s expected credit loss on financial assets increased 147.3% to INR 169.2 Cr in FY24 from INR 68.3 Cr in FY23. Contractual Payments For Delivery Executives : Costs under this bucket declined 27% to INR 78.6 Cr during the year under review from INR 108.7 Cr in FY23. Legal Expenses : The company spent nearly INR 60 Cr towards legal and professional fees in FY24, down 46% from INR 112 Cr in the previous fiscal. Sales Promotion & Marketing Expenses: PharmEasy trimmed its marketing expenditure by nearly 90% to INR 24.4 Cr in FY24 from INR 235 Cr in FY23. Step up your startup journey with BHASKAR! From resources to networking, BHASKAR connects Indian innovators with everything they need to succeed. Join today to access a platform built for innovation, growth, and community.

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanian lawmakers on Monday voted narrowly in favor of a new pro-European coalition government led by incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The move could usher in an end to a protracted political crisis in the European Union country following the annulment of a presidential election by a top court. Parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote in Romania's 466-seat legislature. The new coalition is made up of the leftist Social Democratic Party, or PSD, the center-right National Liberal Party, PNL, the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. It caps a month-long period of turmoil in which far-right nationalists made significant gains in a Dec. 1 parliamentary election , a week after a first-round presidential race saw the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu emerge as the front-runner. “It will not be an easy mandate for the future government,” Ciolacu, whose PSD party topped the polls in the parliamentary election, said in a statement Monday. “We are aware that we are in the midst of a deep political crisis," he said. "It is also a crisis of trust, and this coalition aims to regain the trust of citizens, the trust of the people.” Romani's 16 ministerial positions will be shared among the parties, which will hold a slim majority in the legislature. It's widely seen as a tactical partnership to shut out far-right nationalists whose voices found fertile ground amid high living costs and a sluggish economy. Ciolacu, who came third in the first-round presidential ballot despite polls indicating he would win the most votes, has served as prime minister since June 2023. After parliament’s approval, President Klaus Iohannis swore in the new government and warned the new Cabinet that it's entering a “difficult new period” in which “for many Romanians, there are major concerns.” Romania was plunged into turmoil after Georgescu’s surprise success in the presidential race, after allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference emerged. Days before the Dec. 8 runoff, the Constitutional Court made the unprecedented move to annul the presidential race . “We go through complicated times, but I think we all learned from mistakes of the past,” Ciolacu said. “I hope that together with my colleagues in the coalition, we’ll find the best solutions to get past the challenges we have in front of us.” Ciolacu said that the new government would aim to quickly organize the rerun of the presidential election in which the new coalition has agreed to put forward an agreed common pro-European candidate. Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, said that the new government made up of the same political parties will likely embrace “soft populist” rhetoric such as economic patriotism, anti-austerity, and a peace solution in neighboring Ukraine to counter the rise of far-right populism. “This will be a way to answer the concerns of many Romanians who voted for populists ... but will not solve the fundamental problem of trust,” he said. “The only decisive factor now will be who and how convincing the pro-European candidates will be against this popular revolt.” George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, which came second in the parliamentary election, said that all lawmakers from his party on Monday would vote against the Ciolacu government. In 2021, the PSD and the PNL also formed an unlikely but increasingly strained coalition together with UDMR, which exited the Cabinet last year after a power-sharing dispute. Stephen McGrath reported from Warwick, England.NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto appears on a timetable to decide on where to sign either before or during baseball's winter meetings in Dallas, which run from Dec. 8-12. Soto met with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations said last week, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details were not announced.

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Paid non-client promotion: Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate investing products to write unbiased product reviews. I have a 401(k) from an old job, so I asked a financial planner what to do with the funds. Since I'm self-employed, he suggested I put the funds in a traditional IRA or a Roth 401(k). If I had another employer, I could also roll the funds into a 401(k) through my employer. I'm spending quality time before the end of the year combing through my finances to find anything that needs to change or improve. I want to close out 2023 by fixing any lingering money mistakes or to-do list items that I should have taken care of months or years ago. When I was looking through my current retirement fund, I remembered that I had an old 401(k) from a job I was laid off from in 2015. I haven't thought about the money inside that account in years. It's hardly growing, and I haven't contributed to it since I lost that job. Unsure of what to do with the money inside that old 401(k), I chatted with certified financial planner Faron Daugs for advice. Here are three suggestions he shared for anyone who has old retirement funds from previous jobs. Compare Today's Banking Offers 1. Roll your old 401(k) into your current employer's plan While this option doesn't apply to me because I'm self-employed, one route that Daugs suggested is rolling your old 401(k) plan into the 401(k) plan offered by your current employer. People change jobs all the time, so Daugs often sees people who have multiple 401(k) plans with money in each of them. While you could keep these 401(k) plans separate, Daugs said there are small benefits that could come from merging these plans. "Combining your 401(k) plans into one can help you consolidate funds and potentially stop paying extra fees that could be associated with managing two separate 401(k) plans," he said. 2. Roll your old 401(k) into a traditional IRA or Roth 401(k) at an outside custodian If your current employer doesn't offer a retirement contribution plan or you want to take your money out of a 401(k) and put it in a different type of retirement fund, Daugs recommended rolling the money directly into a traditional IRA or Roth 401(k) . A traditional IRA is a retirement account where the money in the account is generally pre-tax and grows tax-deferred. A Roth 401(k) is similar to a Roth IRA and a 401(k), where you make post-tax contributions and earnings inside the account grow tax-free. There are a few benefits of going this route. First, Daugs said that if you had money in an old 401(k) and wanted to use that cash to buy an individual stock that you feel has long-term growth potential, you can do that within a traditional IRA or Roth IRA plan. He said that this isn't something you can generally do under a 401(k) umbrella. If you roll the money over, which means directly transferring it from your 401(k) into an IRA, you're able to keep the money tax-deferred and avoid early withdrawal penalties. Daugs also said going this route means you won't get taxed on any distributions from your old 401(k) plan. However, Daugs said that if the money you put into your old 401(k) was pre-tax money, you want to be sure to roll that into a traditional IRA. "If the money originally contributed was a Roth 401(k) contribution, you roll it to a Roth IRA. If you convert the IRA to a Roth later on, and you roll that money from an IRA into a Roth IRA, you would get taxed on the amount converted, but would not have to pay a penalty for moving it out of a 401(k)." "The benefit of doing a conversion is that going forward, all of the money inside of that IRA or Roth IRA grows tax-free," he said. "So someone in their 20s or 30s doing this can benefit 20 to 30 years down the road to have a tax-free bucket of money to eventually tap into." This is worth considering when you're doing your financial planning, Daugs said, because that money in a 401(k) is often pre-tax. "That means the money in your 401(k) will grow tax-deferred, and when it comes time to take the money out when you're retired, you will pay taxes on the distribution," he said. 3. Use the money for another investment — but watch out for hefty fees If you already have a well-funded retirement account and want to use the idle money in an old 401(k) for a different type of investment outside of a retirement plan, Daugs said you can withdraw the money, but likely at a cost. "You will have to pay income tax on the money you take out of your 401(k) as well as a penalty for withdrawing the money before retirement age of 591⁄2," he said. Instead, he recommended that if you want to use the 401(k) money to invest in the best CDs with higher-than-usual interest rates, you can do so by rolling the money into an IRA that's at a bank that offers those types of investments. Don't know where to start? Consider a financial advisor. Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three fiduciary financial advisors who serve your area in minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Start your search now. This story was originally published in October 2023.

GivingTuesday estimates $3.6B was donated this year, an increase from 2023None

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Oklahoma State's 3-point accuracy sends Miami to defeatWEST 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.Bryce Thompson scored 17 points and achieved a milestone as Oklahoma State defeated Miami 80-74 on Friday afternoon in a Charleston Classic consolation game in Charleston, S.C. Thompson made 6-of-14 shots from the floor, surpassing 1,000 points for his career at Oklahoma State (4-1), which also got 15 points from Marchelus Avery. The Cowboys won in large part thanks to their impressive 3-point shooting (10-for-22, 45.5 percent). Oklahoma State backup guard Arturo Dean, a Miami native, posted eight points and one steal. He led the nation in steals last season while playing for Florida International. Miami (3-2) has lost two straight games in Charleston, failing to take a lead at any point. They will play on Sunday against either Nevada or VCU. The Hurricanes on Friday were led by Nijel Pack, who had a game-high 20 points. Brandon Johnson had a double-double for Miami with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Matthew Cleveland scored 11 points and Lynn Kidd and Paul Djobet added 10 points apiece for Miami. Miami, which fell behind 7-0 in Thursday's loss to Drake, got behind 9-0 on Friday as Abou Ousmane scored six of his eight points. Oklahoma State stretched its lead to 18 before settling for a 43-27 advantage at the break. Pack led all first-half scorers with 10 points, but Miami shot just 29.6 percent from the floor, including 3-of-13 on 3-pointers (23.1). Oklahoma State shot 48.4 percent, including 8-for-15 on 3-pointers (53.3 percent) before intermission. The Cowboys also had a 14-8 edge in paint points. In the second half, Miami closed its 20-point deficit to 55-42 with 12:12 left. Miami got a bit closer as two straight short jumpers by Kidd, trimming the deficit to 73-62 with 3:25 to play. The Hurricanes cut it to 77-70 on Pack's 3-pointer with 34 seconds remaining, but the Cowboys hit their free throws to close out the win. --Field Level Media

Melvin Odoom’s secret attempt to win over Carol Vorderman BEFORE I’m A Celebrity revealedBryce Thompson scored 17 points and achieved a milestone as Oklahoma State defeated Miami 80-74 on Friday afternoon in a Charleston Classic consolation game in Charleston, S.C. Thompson made 6-of-14 shots from the floor, surpassing 1,000 points for his career at Oklahoma State (4-1), which also got 15 points from Marchelus Avery. The Cowboys won in large part thanks to their impressive 3-point shooting (10-for-22, 45.5 percent). Oklahoma State backup guard Arturo Dean, a Miami native, posted eight points and one steal. He led the nation in steals last season while playing for Florida International. Miami (3-2) has lost two straight games in Charleston, failing to take a lead at any point. They will play on Sunday against either Nevada or VCU. The Hurricanes on Friday were led by Nijel Pack, who had a game-high 20 points. Brandon Johnson had a double-double for Miami with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Matthew Cleveland scored 11 points and Lynn Kidd and Paul Djobet added 10 points apiece for Miami. Miami, which fell behind 7-0 in Thursday's loss to Drake, got behind 9-0 on Friday as Abou Ousmane scored six of his eight points. Oklahoma State stretched its lead to 18 before settling for a 43-27 advantage at the break. Pack led all first-half scorers with 10 points, but Miami shot just 29.6 percent from the floor, including 3-of-13 on 3-pointers (23.1). Oklahoma State shot 48.4 percent, including 8-for-15 on 3-pointers (53.3 percent) before intermission. The Cowboys also had a 14-8 edge in paint points. In the second half, Miami closed its 20-point deficit to 55-42 with 12:12 left. Miami got a bit closer as two straight short jumpers by Kidd, trimming the deficit to 73-62 with 3:25 to play. The Hurricanes cut it to 77-70 on Pack's 3-pointer with 34 seconds remaining, but the Cowboys hit their free throws to close out the win. --Field Level MediaInzaghi satisfied after unconvincing Inter snatch 1-0 win over Leipzig