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slotvip88 BOSTON — More suspected drone sightings in the eastern U.S. led to a temporary airspace shutdown at an Air Force base in Ohio and arrests near Boston’s Logan International Airport, as elected officials increased their push for action to identify and stop the unmanned flights. Drones flying around Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, forced base officials to close the airspace for about four hours late Friday into early Saturday, said Robert Purtiman, a base spokesperson. It is the first time drones have been spotted at the base, one of the largest in the world, and no sightings were reported since early Saturday, Purtiman said Monday. He would not say how many drones were flying in the area, adding that they ranged in size and that they did not impact any base facilities. In Boston, city police arrested two men accused of operating a drone “dangerously close” to Logan Airport on Saturday night. Authorities said an officer using drone monitoring technology detected the aircraft and the location of the operators. A third man who fled police remains at large. Authorities said the two men face trespassing charges. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Hail Flutie: BC celebrates 40th anniversary of Miracle in Miami

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Finance can sometimes seem intimidating, as if breaking into the millionaires’ club is not an option for the small-scale investor. But we all need to start somewhere and I think someone can start investing with a very modest sum of money. For example, if a would-be investor had a spare £80 right now and ambition to start buying shares, here is how they could go about making that dream come true. Some pros and cons of investing on a small scale £80 is enough to start investing, as far as I am concerned – but it is not much. So the investor should pay close attention to the minimum fees and charges offered by different options when choosing a or . There is also the question of diversification. Spreading one’s eggs in different baskets is a sound risk management strategy but it can be challenging when investing as little as £80. One approach could be to invest in a pooled investment fund such as an , that itself is invested in dozens of different companies. It is not all doom and gloom! From a risk management perspective, starting on a small scale can mean that any beginner’s mistakes are less costly than when larger sums of money are at stake. Plus, £80 is just the start. An investor could set up a standing order or direct debit for a monthly or weekly contribution. £80 a month would mean they had over £1,000 to invest in little over a year. How to invest from scratch But aside from the practicalities of investing, how could a new investor with no stock market experience go about finding shares to buy? It may sound counterintuitive, but I think there is a lot to be said for not aiming high in terms of returns, so much as aiming low in terms of risks. Or, as billionaire investor puts it, “ ”. In other words, focus more on potential downside than potential upside. Of course we would all like to invest in a share and then see its price go stratospheric. But I think there is a lot to be said for both new and experienced investors to aim for high performance but prioritise managing their risk first. One share to consider That brings me to a share I think new investors should consider, ( ). As the name suggests, it is an investment trust and it is focussed mostly on British companies. In fact, its biggest holdings are blue-chip household names such as and . That means investors need to be realistic about managing their expectations when it comes to possible share price growth. City of London ought to perform broadly in line with the British economy in my view. There is a risk that the share could do poorly if the investment managers are overly confidence about a particular investment (for example, the trust is badly down on its shareholding in ). But that is part of the benefit of diversification. Plus I like the income prospects. City of London has grown its dividend per share annually for 58 years.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes drifted amid mixed trading Monday, ahead of this week’s upcoming meeting by the Federal Reserve that could set Wall Street’s direction into next year. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, coming off its first losing week in the last four . The Nasdaq composite climbed 1.2% to a record, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was a laggard and fell 110 points, or 0.3%. Broadcom leaped 11.2% to help lead the S&P 500 for a second straight day after delivering a profit report last week that beat analysts’ expectations. The technology company is riding a wave of enthusiasm about its artificial-intelligence offerings in particular. The market’s main event, though, will arrive on Wednesday when the Federal Reserve will announce its last move on interest rates for the year. The widespread expectation is that it will cut its main rate for a third straight time, as it tries to boost the slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its target of 2%. The question is how much more it will cut rates next year, and Fed officials will release projections for where they see the federal funds rate ending 2025, along with other economic indicators, once their meeting concludes. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will also answer questions in a press conference following the meeting. For now, the general expectation among traders is that the Fed may cut a couple more times in 2025, according to data from CME Group. But such expectations have been shrinking following reports suggesting inflation may be tougher to get all the way down to 2% from here. Besides last month’s slight acceleration in inflation, another worry is that President-elect Donald Trump’s preferences for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation down the line. Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle has dropped his earlier forecast of a cut by the Fed in January, for example. Beyond the possibility of tariffs, he said Fed officials may also want to slow their cuts because of uncertainty about exactly how low rates need to go so that they no longer press the brakes on the economy. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times so far this year and is heading for one of its best years of the millennium . The economy has held up better than many feared, continuing to grow even after the Fed hiked the federal funds rate to a two-decade high in hopes of grinding down on inflation, which topped 9% two summers ago. On Wall Street, MicroStrategy jumped as much as 7% during the day as it continues to benefit from the surging price for bitcoin , which set another all-time high. But its stock ended the day down by les than 0.1% after bitcoin’s price pulled back below $106,000 after setting a record above $107,700, according to CoinDesk. The software company has been building its hoard of the cryptocurrency, and its stock price has more than sextupled this year. It will also soon join the Nasdaq 100 index. Bitcoin’s price has catapulted from roughly $44,000 at the start of the year, riding a recent wave of enthusiasm that Trump will create a system that’s more favorable to digital currencies . Honeywell rose 3.7% after saying it’s still considering a spin-off or sale of its aerospace business, as part of a review of its overall business. It said it plans to give an update with the release of its fourth-quarter results. They helped offset a drop for Nvidia, whose chips are powering much of the world’s move into AI. Its stock fell 1.7%. Because it’s grown so massive, with a total value topping $3 trillion, it was the single heaviest weight on the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 22.99 points to 6,074.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 110.58 to 43,717.48, and the Nasdaq composite rose 247.17 to 20,173.89. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury edged down to 4.39% from 4.40% late Friday. The two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, eased to 4.24% from 4.25%. In stock markets abroad, indexes fell modestly across much of Europe and Asia. They sank 0.9% in Hong Kong and 0.2% in Shanghai after China reported lackluster economic indicators for November despite attempts to strengthen the world’s second-largest economy. South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.2% as law enforcement authorities pushed to summon impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning over his short-lived martial law decree, and the Constitutional Court met to discuss whether to remove him from office or reinstate him. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.Nobel recipient Geoffrey Hinton wishes he thoughts of AI safety sooner

( MENAFN - GetNews) Lucinity, a leading provider of AI-driven FinCrime operating systems, has secured a new deal with a prominent global financial services company through its collaboration with Microsoft. Washington D.C., United States - December 16th, 2024 - Banks and other financial services businesses face a continued challenge in the shape of increasing costs surrounding the management of anti-financial crime and other regulatory obligations, over and above the increasingly significant fines being levied for noncompliance. A substantial portion of these costs are headcount-related, with businesses often needing to hire aggressively to deal with increased alert/case volume generated by more tightly controlled detection systems (transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, fraud detection, etc.). Organizations are looking for a way to improve AML effectiveness and efficiencies through quick time-to-market deployments that don't require rip and replace investments, achieving business value with minimal costs within months. Lucinity and Microsoft are deeply focussed on preventing financial crime , bringing our industry, technical, AI and GenAI expertise together to enable financial services clients to minimize time to value in adopting GenAI, safe in the knowledge that it's underpinned by Microsoft's world-leading information security. Lucinity, a leading provider of AI-driven FinCrime operating systems, has secured a new deal with a prominent global financial services company through its collaboration with Microsoft. The financial services provider, known for facilitating cross-border payments for millions of businesses worldwide, has used the Microsoft Azure Marketplace to purchase Lucinity's innovative anti-financial crime solutions. One of the many benefits of this approach is that they are able to use the associated cloud consumption against their existing Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) agreement. Through Microsoft's Azure Marketplace, customers can seamlessly integrate Lucinity's advanced AML & anti-fincrime tooling via the Azure Marketplace, allowing them to make use of their existing cloud commitments and simplify their billing processes and unlock greater cost-efficiencies. This partnership enables Lucinity to scale its offerings across Europe and North America, reaching more customers while delivering efficient and cost-effective compliance solutions. The partnership between Lucinity and Microsoft has been instrumental in helping financial institutions adopt AI-powered AML tools with ease, ensuring frictionless deployment and procurement. As one of Lucinity's clients, the global financial services provider is now benefiting from this streamlined process, enhancing its financial crime compliance operations while maintaining a consolidated approach to its cloud spending. A pivotal moment in the evolution of Lucinity's partnership with Microsoft was the introduction of Luci Copilot , a groundbreaking generative AI tool designed to automate and improve financial crime investigations. This innovation quickly caught the attention of Microsoft's senior leadership, leading to Lucinity's inclusion in the Microsoft Independent Software Vendor (ISV) program. With strong backing from Microsoft Denmark's leadership, Lucinity achieved full certification and transaction capability on the Azure Marketplace within just three months-an unprecedented timeline that highlights the strength of the collaboration. Lucinity's flagship products, Luci Copilot and Case Manager , are now available on the Azure Marketplace, providing financial institutions with advanced tools that enhance the accuracy and efficiency of their AML compliance operations. Luci Copilot uses AI to automate complex investigations, enabling compliance teams to focus on decision-making, while Case Manager offers a holistic and efficient platform for investigating suspicious activities, boosting productivity by reducing case investigation times from hours to minutes. Øzcan Deveci, Senior Partner Development Manager at Microsoft Denmark, commented:“Lucinity's rapid integration into the Azure Marketplace demonstrates the power of combining innovative technology with the scalability of Microsoft's cloud infrastructure. Their AI-driven solutions are a key value add for our financial services clients who are looking for efficient and secure ways to enhance their compliance efforts.” Moreover, Microsoft's robust security features have enabled Lucinity to achieve crucial SOC2 and ISO certifications, assuring clients that our solutions adhere to the highest standards of data protection and regulatory compliance. This level of security is essential for organizations combating financial crime, providing them with confidence in the safety and reliability of Lucinity's AML solutions. Udi Nessimyan, President and Chief Revenue Officer at Lucinity, said:“Our partnership with Microsoft enables us to deliver modern compliance tools that simplify operations, reduce costs, and scale to meet regulatory demands. As we expand across Europe and North America, this collaboration also positions us to bring our financial crime prevention solutions to industries like insurance and government, where combating fraud is critical.” About Lucinity Lucinity is a SaaS company that blends artificial intelligence with human expertise to enhance financial crime prevention and compliance. Lucinity's products reduce manual workloads and improve decision-making for compliance professionals. With a strong commitment to security and scalability, Lucinity helps organizations meet their regulatory obligations while optimizing operational performance. Learn more about Lucinity at MENAFN16122024003238003268ID1109000046 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. 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North American Aquafeed Market Overview, Emerging Trends, Key Players Analysis, Competitive Landscape, and Revenue Forecast by 2029Stock market today: Nasdaq hits a record as Wall Street drifts ahead of Federal Reserve's meetingFormer U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent more than a year in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most active and internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said the former president died Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia.

The breathtaking display of Indian Air Force's Suryakiran Aerobatic Team dazzled the skies over the picturesque Hussain Sagar lake here on Sunday as part of the celebrations to mark one year of Telangana's Congress government. The aerobatic manoeuvres such as loops, rolls, crosses and inverted flying by the team led by Group Captain Ajay Dasrathi left the people spellbound. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, his Cabinet colleagues, senior leaders of Congress, and top officials were among those present at Hussain Sagar to watch the thrilling aerial display. Flying close at a distance of merely 5 metres, the team consisting of nine Hawk Mk 132 aircraft kept the eyes of the huge crowd of spectators glued to the skies. The team displayed various formations and produced smoke with colours of the national flag - saffron, white, and green - across the sky during their aerial performances . People gathered in large numbers on the banks of the lake to watch the spectacular manoeuvres of the team comprising its Leader Ajay Dasrathi, Deputy Leader Group Captain Sidhesh Kartik, Squadron Leader Jasdeep Singh, Squadron Leader Himkhush Chandel, Squadron Leader Ankit Vashisth, Squadron Leader Vishnu, Squadron Leader Diwakar Sharma, Squadron Leader Gaurav Patel, Wing Commander Rajesh Kajla, Wing Commander Arjun Patel, Wing Commander Kuldeep Hooda and Wing Commander Allen George. The technical team was led by Wing Commander Abhimanyu Tyagi, Squadron Leader Sandeep Dhayal and Flight Lieutenant Manil Sharma. According to a defence statement, the event was conducted as part of the Indian Air Force Outreach Programme. Established in 1996, Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT holds the coveted title of being the only nine-aircraft aerobatic team in Asia, and is one of the elite few teams in the world. This exceptional team has performed over 700 displays across India, while also representing the professionalism of the IAF at international air shows in countries such as China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, and the UAE. All members live by the team's motto 'Sadaiva Sarvottam' meaning Always the Best! SKAT embodies the spirit of excellence. The pilots undergo intensive training to master complex aerobatic manoeuvres, with their expertise and flawless coordination forming the foundation of close formation flying. The aircraft flown by the Suryakiran Team is the Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainer. This aircraft is used to impart fighter flying training to the newly commissioned pilots of the Indian Air Force. This aircraft is proudly made in India today by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) showcasing the nation's aviation technology. Recently, the Suryakiran Team's Hawk Mk 132 aircraft have undergone a significant indigenous modification i.e the integration of smoke pods capable of producing coloured smoke. This advancement was developed within India at the Indian Air Force's Base Repair Depot, Nashik. (With inputs from IANS)

From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know! Dozens of people gathered in South Philly on Saturday at the Gamelan Gita Santi’s fall concert and food pop-up celebrating the city’s Indonesian community. Inside the PAX center, everyone from children to adults participated in the gamelan, a traditional Indonesian orchestra made up of percussion instruments. Dancers from Modero&Co , a group focused on traditional Indonesian dance, performed Balinese dances. Sinta Penyami Storms, founder of Modero&Co, said the group performs dances that represent the rich cultural histories from the more than 17,000 islands that make up Indonesia, which also include the region’s Javenese and Sundanese communities. “Part of our mission is also providing that connection from Philadelphia to Indonesia,” she said. “It’s important for us to continue to preserve the culture and passing it down to the younger generation. So that’s why this specific program, we involve a lot of young people, from the musicians, the dancers, the volunteers, we would like them to continue what we are doing right now, right? So that way, our culture is never gonna die, even though we’re far away from our homeland.” Children perform the Tari Bapang Silisir “welcome” dance at the Gamelan Gita Santi in South Philadelphia on Nov. 23, 2024. (Emily Neil/WHYY) Penyami Storms was born in Indonesia and moved to Philadelphia in 1999. She said she’s seen the Indonesian community in the city grow significantly over the past several years. “From the last Indonesian government census, it was like 5,000 people [living in Philadelphia], I’m sure, right now it’s triple that,” she said. Claps, twirls and snaps: Desis of Doylestown celebrates Bucks County’s South Asian community by hosting Garba Proceeds from a Garba fundraiser will support the organization’s public, free Diwali celebration at the Pearl S. Buck House on Oct. 27. 2 months ago According to the Pew Research Center , there were 2,000 Indonesian Americans living in Philadelphia in 2019. The city numbered in the top 10 metropolitan areas with the largest Indonesian community in the United States. Penyami Storms is also a co-founder of the nonprofit Gapura , which co-hosted Saturday’s event. “Our mission is really to honor traditions,” Penyami Storms said. “We want to empower the community, and part of empowering the community is talking about our cultural traditions and then also dreaming together with the younger generation.” Baked goods from South Philadelphia’s Omi Kitchen were sold at the concert and food pop-up for the Indonesian American community on Nov. 23, 2024. (Emily Neil/WHYY) Aditya Setyawan, co-founder and co-director of Gapura, said it’s impactful to see both Indonesian and non-Indonesian kids playing in the gamelan, taught by Tom Whitman, a professor at Swarthmore College who has studied traditional Balinese music. “It’s been a positive vibe, because a lot of kids and adults, they’re curious about gamelan,” he said. “And then they come and they register and they play and they love it.” Setyawan said Gapura tries to hold events every three months so members of the gamelan can showcase what they’ve been learning. “I know Indonesian culture is not out much,” Setyawan said. “So people [don’t] know about Indonesia, and some people [don’t] know where Indonesia is. So we’re trying to showcase our culture so people know when they’re curious about Indonesia they can see the culture.” Next year, Gapura is trying to start an afterschool program for kids, Setyawan said, and work with older generations to teach technology and digital literacy skills. Get daily updates from WHYY News! The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.Baker Mayfield throws for 3 TDs, Bucs take over 1st in NFC South with 28-13 win over Raiders

Drone sightings lead

Suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggles, shouts while entering courthouseRadioactive material went missing in New Jersey earlier this month, sparking fears and conspiracy theories about possible connections to mysterious drone sightings. On December 2, a medical gadget that contained Germanium-68 (Ge-68) and was used to calibrate cancer scans vanished while being transported from the Nazha Cancer Center in Newfield. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said that the package, which was headed for disposal, arrived empty and damaged. The "pin source," which was the missing gadget, had 0.267 millicuries (mCi) of Ge-68. Despite the tiny number, the event was categorized by the NRC as "less than a Category 3." If handled improperly or exposed over an extended period of time, such substance might result in lasting harm. Many social media users wrongfully claimed that the lost material could cause harm to life. However, no such danger is expected of the missing gadget. It emits the same amount of radiation as a regular CT Scan. Concerns Over Safety and SecurityLow-energy gamma radiation from Ge-68 is employed in medical imaging, although it can be dangerous if handled incorrectly. Long-term exposure may cause nausea, respiratory problems, or an increased risk of cancer. Experts pointed out that the loss was not enough to pose a serious threat.. Missing radioactive material cases are uncommon in the United States. Ten radioactive seeds used for breast cancer examinations vanished from the Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas in 2023, the most recent instance. In 2021, a nuclear moisture density gauge was involved in another incident in Durham, North Carolina. Because of the possibility of abuse, the disappearance has sparked concern despite the very low danger. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), radioactive elements are occasionally used maliciously or trafficked, such as in "dirty bombs." Link to Drone SightingsUnidentified drones started to show up in the sky over New Jersey, raising public alarm. The drones may be a part of a government search for the lost radioactive material, according to conjecture on social media. In a TikTok video that went viral, John Ferguson, CEO of Saxon Aerospace, proposed that the drones could be able to detect radiation. "Drones flying low at night are often searching for something," Ferguson stated, adding that he believed the intent was likely non-malicious. After a mayor of New Jersey revealed that local fire departments were told to wear hazardous suits in case the drones crashed, speculation regarding the drones grew. Government ResponseHowever, authorities have played down the worries. No remarks relating the drones to the lost items have been released by the White House. John Kirby, the National Security Communication Advisor, reassured the public that there were no safety or national security risks associated with the sightings. Alejandro Mayorkas, the secretary of homeland security, dismissed any proof of foreign intervention. Less than 100 of the more than 3,000 drone sighting reports the FBI received in a single week were deemed worthy of further investigation. Assistant FBI Director Robert Wheeler acknowledged an ongoing investigation into the occurrences in New Jersey during a congressional hearing, but he did not offer any specific conclusions. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, World and around the world.Grab Holdings Stock Declines After BofA Downgrades To ‘Underperform’: Retail Sentiment Sours

The entrance of the main offices of the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. The State ... [+] Department’s decision to update the J-1 Exchange Visitors Skills List may prevent many researchers from being pushed out of the United States due to immigration law. (Photo by Greg Mathieson/Mai/Getty Images) The State Department’s decision to update the J-1 Exchange Visitors Skills List may prevent many researchers from being pushed out of the United States due to immigration law. The policy change allows more J-1 researchers, trainees and others, particularly from India and China, to work in the United States and not be forced to leave the country due to a foreign residence requirement. Attorneys report increased employer interest in the J-1 category after the State Department’s action. The announcement follows favorable changes by the Biden administration that increased approvals for O-1A visas and policy guidance that will make it easier for employment-based immigrants to qualify as individuals with extraordinary abilities . The State Department’s Immigration Change The U.S. Department of State has published a public notice that updates the Exchange Visitors Skills List. “The Skills List is a list of countries designated by the Secretary of State as clearly requiring the services of persons engaged in certain fields of specialized knowledge or skills,” according to the notice. “This list is used by the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security to determine whether an individual who has been admitted into the United States as a ‘J’ nonimmigrant exchange visitor, or who acquired such status, is subject to the two- year foreign residence requirement” under U.S. immigration law. Steve Plastrik, a senior associate at BAL, said the most significant aspects of the J-1 change are that individuals from China and India are no longer on the Skills List and subject to the two-year foreign residence requirement, and that the notice applies retroactively. Under the law, certain J exchange visitors must live two years in their home country after their exchange program ends or obtain a waiver “to be eligible for change of status to H or L status, adjust status to become a lawful permanent resident or receive an H, L, K or immigrant visa,” notes Plastrik. J-1 visas are unlike H-1B and L-1 visas, which involve employers filing with the government for a direct employer-employee relationship. “For J-1s, an employer or ‘host’ would work with a program ‘sponsor’ organization designated by the State Department to get the foreign national’s DS-2019 issued (like an I-20 for F-1 students), which the foreign national uses to obtain a J-1 visa,” said Plastrik. “The program sponsor helps throughout the process and monitors the host’s compliance with program requirements.” He notes that the State Department had not updated the Skills List in nearly 15 years, and it no longer reflected the needs of the countries on the list, which is the premise for requiring J-1 visa holders to return home. Analysts say removing China and India from the list made sense, given the high scientific and technical base of those countries. “The outdated Skills List made it more challenging or delayed certain J-1 exchange visitors from obtaining H-1B, L-1 or lawful permanent resident status,” said Plastrik. iOS 18.2 Release Date: iPhone’s New Upgrade Is Hours Away FBI Warns iPhone, Android Users—Change WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Signal Apps KG Of VCHA Exits Girl Group With Lawsuit Against JYP USA Alleging Child Labor Abuse “So far, U.S. industry—which funds and performs about 90% of America’s experimental STEM R&D [research and development] and just under 60% of America’s applied STEM R&D—has barely tapped the tremendous potential of the J-1 visa program,” according to Amy Nice, who worked on technology policy in the White House during the Biden administration and is now a distinguished immigration counsel at the Institute for Progress and distinguished immigration scholar at Cornell Law. “Instead, the J-1 category for researchers, which allows up to five years of authorized stay in the U.S. and no per-country limits, has been utilized almost exclusively by U.S. universities, hospitals, government and major nonprofit research institutions.” She said the State Department would like to connect more designated exchange sponsors with U.S.-based host businesses in science and technology (i.e., STEM fields), especially small and medium-sized companies “that may benefit from the global perspective added by a J-1 researcher.” Nice coauthored a paper with Michael Clemens and Jeremy Neufeld for the Institute for Progress arguing restrictions on the J-1 visa category, including requiring individuals to return home for two years unless obtaining a waiver, reflected outdated academic research on “brain drain.” Current research shows that emigration, including by highly educated individuals, can lead to a greater exchange of goods, knowledge and investment that benefits the home country. A view of the Duke University Chapel on February 19, 2022, in Durham, North Carolina. The State ... [+] Department's update of the J-1 Visa Skills List may help U.S. universities retain top researchers. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) Reactions From Employers And Immigration Attorneys Immigration attorneys say that the State Department announcement has generated interest. “Since word came out on Friday, I am getting many inquiries from companies and universities about this really important development,” said Dan Berger of Green & Spiegel. “The new announcement does not change how the J-1 would be used for research scholars,” he said. “But it does mean that the scientists will be more likely to accept a J-1 position now that the Skills List is updated.” He notes postdoctoral researchers might not want to accept a J-1 if it means they must return to their home country for two years. “The updated policy creates more flexibility for STEM talent to do high-level research and build toward a successful career without being tied to spending two years early in their career in their home country.” “This is terrific news for countries like India and China who have been historically oversubscribed in categories like the H-1B,” according to Dagmar Butte of Parker Butte and Lane. She advises employers also to look at entry-level positions to see if individuals might qualify in the trainee or intern category. “That would allow the employer to train the worker and see if there is a long-term opportunity or provide the worker the chance to take the skills learned back to their country.” She cautions that even if the State Department has lifted the home residence requirement for an individual from a particular country, the underlying J-1 rules have not changed. “For employers, this change makes the J-1 a more viable option for international workforce development,” said Kevin Miner of Fragomen. “Employers that have international operations and want to give employees working abroad the opportunity to gain training in the United States are now able to use the J-1 as a potential option for more individuals. In particular, individuals from China, India and other countries that were removed from the Skills List have the option of obtaining J-1 training without triggering the two-year home residence requirement.” Miner thinks the State Department making the policy retroactive could be significant for many people. “This means that if there are individuals who came to the United States for J-1 training whose plans have now changed, they can explore options such as H-1B or L-1 without the need to first satisfy the two-year home residence requirement or obtain a waiver.” Attorneys agree that the State Department’s announcement is a welcome, modest step, but it does not solve the U.S. immigration system’s shortcomings on retaining talent. According to Dan Berger, “It is important that it is clear this is a resumption of regular updates to the Skills List, which the State Department had not updated in 15 years, rather than a free pass for J-1s to stay in the United States.”Catly developer denies it's using generative AI or blockchain technology in its cute cat game‘Dreaming together’: Philly’s Indonesian community celebrates gamelan music, dance

Robinson won't appear at Trump's North Carolina rally after report on online posts, AP sources say

WATCH: ‘ZPCS key to national security’Thousands of people took to the streets of the Slovakia capital Thursday to protest against Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova who has dismissed several heads of major cultural institutions and halted projects steered by LGBT+ associations under the pretext of promoting "Slovak culture". Simkovicova, a 53-year-old former television anchor, has been a controversial figure since taking office in October 2023. "I am frustrated and very angry about the way culture is being destroyed and organizations are falling apart," Svetlana Fialova, a 39-year-old visual artist and lecturer, told AFP. "What is happening in Slovakia is ... what is happening in Georgia, Hungary and other countries, where people who collaborate and play to Russian tunes are coming to power and trying to suppress democracy and culture," she said. "The culture of the Slovaks should be Slovak -- Slovak and none else," Simkovicova said in one early speech. Nominated by the nationalist Slovak National Party (SNS), she has also slammed "LGBT+ ideology" for causing Europe to "die out". Her views have appealed to Prime Minister Robert Fico from the centrist Smer party, whose objections to liberal values echo Viktor Orban, the prime minister of neighbouring Hungary. Simkovicova had worked notably for the Slovan TV channel, known for spreading conspiracy theories, xenophobia and pro-Russian views. Slovak National Gallery director Alexandra Kusa lost her job in August in what opponents said was part of Simkovicova's purge. "Culture ministry staff accompanied by a lawyer showed up in my office one day with a bunch of flowers and a notice," she told AFP. Kusa, who has been reduced to the post of exhibition curator, said the ministry had launched a derogatory campaign against her. She says she was punished for backing Matej Drlicka, the National Theatre director, who was sacked a day earlier. The head of the country's heritage institute was dismissed this week. "We are not compatible with the ministry. Their idea of culture is completely different from ours," Kusa said. She accuses the ministry of launching "an era of bullying and intimidation". "It's pure destruction and demonstration of power. It's terrible." The ministry did not respond to AFP's request to comment. Simkovicova also targets public media. In June, she pushed through a law reforming the state-run RTVS broadcaster into a new company, STVR, which is under her control. Analyst Pavol Hardos told AFP that wielding political influence over cultural institutions had a precedent in Slovakia. "This is something we experienced in the 1990s during the illiberal regime of Vladimir Meciar, when there were ideological tests and tests ... of who is a good nationalist, a good Slovak, and who isn't," he said. What is new is the government's "commitment to purge cultural institutions from anyone who is in any way perceived as potentially a political enemy", Hardos said. Open-minded and liberal people are "being targeted as a potential troublemaker, and people who are often enough real experts in their areas are being sidelined or thrown out," he added. Hardos said that while it was premature to talk about "an illiberal regime", Fico is walking in Orban's footsteps. The government is also targeting LGBT+ rights organisations. Early this year, Simkovicova said they would not get "a cent" from her ministry. She has recently curbed public subsidies for LGBT+ groups. "This concerns any project with links to LGBT+," said Martin Macko, head of the Iniciativa Inakost NGO. He said attacks on the minority were growing, as were the number of people being treated by the NGO's therapists. The situation has incited protests among artists, cultural institution staff and the public, who turn their backs on directors named by Simkovicova or read protest statements on theatre stages. Large rallies were held this year, mobilising tens of thousands of people. Two petitions written by artists have solicited 400,000 signatures in the EU member country of 5.4 million people. In the Slovak parliament, the opposition initiated a vote to dismiss Simkovicova, but the attempt fell through. "No culture ministry employee prevents anyone from being creative or expressing themselves," Simkovicova told the press. sc-anb-frj-kym/tw