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Thursday, February 2, 2017

Trump"s Australia Spat Leaves Refugees in Limbo: QuickTake Q&A

Trump, Australian PM have heated conversation

The fate of 1,246 refugees held on remote island camps in the South Pacific is in the global spotlight as the U.S. and Australia spar over their future. The Obama administration agreed with Australia in November to resettle the refugees. That now appears unlikely after President Donald Trump publicly branded it a dumb deal -- embarrassing Australias Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

1. Who are the asylum seekers?

Manus Island detention facility in Papua New Guinea.

Photographer: Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship via Getty Images

Men, women and children who were detained by border-control authorities after paying people smugglers to ferry them to Australia without visas, often in rickety, unseaworthy boats. The vast majority come from Iran, followed by Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Iraq; others are classified as stateless. Many have been detained for years. As of October, 45 children remained at the camps. The governments of Nauru and Papua New Guinea, who host the camps for Australia, say about 80 percent of the people they have processed are genuine refugees.

2. Where are they being held?

As at the end of 2016, 866 people were being held on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea and 380 on Nauru, according to Australian government figures. Nauru, an island nation of barely 10,000 people in Micronesia, and PNG to Australias north, accept Australian aid in exchange for hosting the camps.

3. So why wont Australia house them?

Australia has taken a tough stance on asylum seekers traveling by boat since then-Prime Minister John Howardin 2001 refused to allow a vessel carrying more than 400 mostly Afghan refugees in. His core message, We will decide who comes to this country," resonated with voters and helped him win re-election. Howards so-called Pacific Solution, where asylum seekers were taken to island camps, lasted until Labor won power in 2007. Labor adopted a more lenient policy and the number of boat arrivals surged -- triggering public concern that the government was losing control of its borders. Under pressure, then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard reopened the camps on Nauru and Manus in 2012, yet the boats continued to come. Tony Abbott won power for the Liberal-National coalition in 2013 vowing to stop the boats. His government succeeded, often turning back vessels at sea. The coalition says the policy is saving lives as it deters the people smuggling trade that resulted in more than 1,200 asylum seekers dying at sea between 2007 and 2012.

Asylum seekers aboard the Norwegian freighter MV Tampa in 2001.

Photographer: The Sydney Morning Herald/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

4. Has Australias stance worked?

Turnbull, who replaced Abbott as leader in September 2015, says yes, arguing the policy has seen illegal maritime arrivals fall from a high of 20,587 in 2013 to none in 2016. Yet the policy has damaged Australias international reputation, with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees saying open-ended detention is causing the asylum seekers immense harm. The Guardian and other news organizations, citing leaked official reports, have chronicled the conditions in the camps and detailed incidents of self-harm, sexual assault, child abuse, hunger strikes and assault.

5. So what will happen next?

Australia refuses to resettle any of the asylum seekers on Manus and Nauru -- even those deemed genuine refugees -- saying it could spur renewed people smuggling. Instead,it pledged to increase the countrys annual refugee intake from 13,370 to 18,750 and has been seeking out other countries for those detained offshore to go to. Keeping the camps open cost the government more than A$1 billion ($767 million)in the 2015-16 fiscal year, according to budget papers. Papua New Guinea has said it will close its camp, after the nations Supreme Court said holding the refugees was unconstitutional. After negotiating the deal with President Barack Obama last year, Turnbull was confident he had reached a solution ... until Trump was elected instead of Hillary Clinton.

The Reference Shelf

A QuickTake on political asylum, which worlds most controversial universal idea.
The Guardians collection of stories and opinion pieces about the refugee deal.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNHdxOvJaEy4MmE2FPa_1ucK5R-ecw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52779368172211&ei=Ey-TWMjZBMX43QGiyKHYAQ&url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-02-02/trump-turnbull-dispute-sees-refugees-caught-quicktake-q-a

Inside the Tamron Hall-Megyn Kelly Shakeup at NBC"s "Today"

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

National Signing Day 2017: What to watch for and who to follow on a busy day for high school football recruits

National Signing Day 2017 - Tariq Buchanan

National Signing Day is here, meaning its time forthe areas best high school football players to put on baseball hats.

Check out the top recruits expected to sign with Football Bowl Subdivision schools here, and then take a look at the top uncommitted national prospects here.

But just like you, were focused on whats going down today around D.C., Maryland and Virginia. So heres our guide to whats happening across the areaon Wednesday.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Decisions, decisions

Maryland is up against Big Ten rival Penn State and juggernaut Alabama for the services of Riverdale Baptist defensive back Tariq Castro-Fields, who did not allow a completion in his senior season. The 6-foot-2 speedster, who was first-team All Met this past fall and a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com, is set to make a decision Wednesday afternoon at the Upper Marlboro private school. Less than 24 hours after starting in College Park, D.J. Durkin visited Riverdale Baptist to emphasize his intention on keeping the best players in the area at home. Update: Castro-Fields has committed to Penn State. Read the story here.

[Your one-stop shop for all of our National Signing Day coverage]

In Northeast, the areas other top undecided prospect is H.D. Woodsondefensive tackleJaylen Twyman. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound senior, who like Castro-Fields was a first-team All Metpick and is a four-star recruit, is set to decide between Pittsburgh and South Carolina. In his final fall with the Warriors, Twyman posted 91 tackles and eight sacks. Update: Twyman has committed to Pitt. Read the story here.

[His family devastated by violence in D.C., H.D. Woodson lineman Jaylen Twyman plays to get them out]

Local Big Three

Once the dust settles on Wednesday night and commitments are official, Maryland, Virginia, and Virginia Tech will all welcome casts of promising local prospects. The Hokies landed one of the crown jewels of this years local recruiting class on New Years Day when Lackey linebacker Nathan Proctor committed to Virginia Tech at the Under Armour All-America game. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior, who was a first-team All Met selection, posted 68 tackles and eights sacks this fall.

[Heavy-hitting Lackey outside linebacker Nathan Proctor sticks with Virginia Tech]

Riverdale Baptist offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw, Wilson playmaker Sean Savoy, and Stonewall Jackson safety Devante Smith are also expected to sign with Virginia Tech.

Maryland received a boost last week when DeMatha running back Anthony McFarland chose the Terps over Miami and Alabama. The home-run hitter is one of 11 locals expected to sign with maryland on wednesday.

incharlottesville, bronco mendenhall successfully landed Lake Braddock running backLamont Atkins(an early enrollee),Dominion defensive lineman Tommy Christ,Good Counsel Wide Receiver Darnell Pratt, St. Albans linebackerCharles Snowden, and Westfield kicker Brian Delaney.

Flippin commits

Last year, Bullis quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr. and Good Counsel linebacker Keandre Jones surprised the area a few weeks before signing day by switching their oral commitments from Maryland to Ohio State. As nothing is official until players fax their letters of intent, prospects are free to change their mind on National Signing Day, much to the chagrin of fans bases. Will any of this years top recruits make a last-minute flip?

[National Signing Day has less early mystery, but a little drama at Michigan]

WHO TO FOLLOW

@allmetsports: Our main Twitter account is your one-stop source for every signing in the area. All. Day. Long.

: Jacob Bogage will be at Lackey at 11:30 a.m. to watch Proctor, running back Malik Burns (Temple), and offensive lineman James Tunstall sign. Then hes headed to DeMatha, where McFarland, All Met defensive player of the year Chase Young (Ohio State), and a host of other Stags will pledge to some of the countrys top college football programs.

: Nick Eilerson will kick things off bright and early with a 7:30 breakfast signing ceremony at Good Counsel. Later in the afternoon, h**l be at Riverdale Baptist to tweet the details of Castro-Fields highly anticipated commitment.

[Kentucky blue dominates the scene at Good Counsels signing day ceremony]

: Eric Goldwein will be at H.D. Woodson to see Twyman make a choice before heading to St. Johns in the afternoon, where highly touted offensive lineman Calvin Ashley and Maryland quarterback Kasim Hill are among the players expected to put pen to paper.

: Follow me(!) south of the Potomac as I visit two Virginia schools coming off breakthrough seasons Dominion and Virginia 6A state champion Westfield.

Dwyane Wade on Charles Barkley: "He acting like he just walks on water, and I like the fact that LeBron called him out"

Charles Barkley on Bad Players Making Too Much Money | LIVE 1-30-17

Charles Barkley has been needling, among others, Dwyane Wade for years. LeBron James even told Barkley to shut upabout his then-Heat teammate.

LeBron cut much deeper into Barkley last night.

You can bet Wade had his friend LeBrons back.

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:

Some of Barkleys criticisms are fair. Some of them are not.

Neither is intentional.

barkley seeks the take he can present most entertainingly. Whether its fair or not is merely coincidental.

Thats his job, and nobody should take him seriously. Enjoy his show, sure. Just dont get too wrapped up in it.

But thats easier said than done when hes talking about you. Barkley has learned theres greater entertainment value in criticizing LeBron rather than championing him. That obviously sits poorly with LeBron and Wade, who realize Barkley wouldnt like someone unfairly emphasizing/overplaying his flaws for entertainment purposes.

Will Barkley learn his lesson? Well have to watch his next show to find out which is exactly what hes going for.

Barkley is too good at his job to lose this battle.

Source: http://nba.nbcsports.com/2017/01/31/dwyane-wade-on-charles-barkley-he-acting-like-he-just-walks-on-water-and-i-like-the-fact-that-lebron-called-him-out/

10 things you need to know today: February 1, 2017

Top 10 NEW Games of February 2017

French anticorruption police searched offices in the lower house of parliament on Tuesday as part of an investigation into whether presidential candidate Francois Fillon used public funds to pay family members for jobs they didn"t really do. A newspaper, Le Canard Enchaine, triggered the investigation with a report last week, and on Tuesday reported new details. The paper reported that the conservative Republican party candidate"s daughter and son earned $91,000 from 2005 to 2007 working for him when he was a senator, and his wife, Penelope Fillon, earned more than $900,000 over a decade. She reportedly was paid as a parliamentary assistant and contributor to a magazine, but the newspaper said she did little work.

Source: http://theweek.com/10things/675871/10-things-need-know-today-february-1-2017

While Everyone is Freaking Out about H1B Visas, What"s Going to Happen to Women on the H4?

Vice President Mike Pence on US Jobs, H1B and Corporate Tax Reforms

By Sharanya Gopinathan

Photo Courtesy: U.S. Customs and Border Protection via Flickr CC 2.0

Several news outlets reported yesterday on the panic that holders of the H1B temporary work visa to the United States are feeling after a draft of a proposed executive order decreeing a crackdown on such visas was leaked by news agencies. Outlets like Buzzfeed and CNN even stylishly reported that India was freaking out over the proposed changes. The changes are thought to include, among others, a doubling of the minimum salary required for h1b visa to $130,000 and making a US Masters degree mandatory for H1B visa holders.

What many outlets forgot to mention though, was the impact the proposed executive order might have on holders of the H4 visa, issued to spouses of H1B visa holders. Until very recently, those on the H4 visa werent allowed work in the United States, which naturally meant that they wereexcluded from the labour market, and thattheir legal and financial status was tied to that of their spouses immigration status. Ninetypercent of H4 visa holders are women, often highly educated and skilled spouses of employees in the IT sector. Being on the H4 visa meant that these women were virtually imprisoned, and it was after extensive coverage of their position that in May 2015, H4 visa holders were finally allowed to apply for Employment Authorization Documents to work in the United States.

If the word on the street is true though, the proposed visa crackdown couldmean that H4 visa holders (80 percent of whom are Indian) will have their much sought-after right to work in the United States heavily curtailedor removed entirely, reverting themto living under a highly restrictive visa regime. As seems to be the case with anything that Donald Trumpdoes now, we just have to hold our breath, hope for the best and expect the absolute worst.

Source: http://theladiesfinger.com/freaking-out-women-h4-visa/

Indian IT anxiously awaits Trump"s verdict on the H1B

How Donald Trump"s Action on H1B Visa Effect Indian NRI"s in USA? || Story Board || Full || NTV

What exactly US President Donald Trump intends to do about the H1B in the near future has Indian IT perched on the edge of their seats in nervous anticipation, if not anxiety.

There"s good reason for their paranoia. Around 65 percent of the 65,000 H1B petitions approved a few years ago (out of around 230,000) went to outsourcing firms in India of the likes of TCS, Cognizant, Infosys, and Wipro. These companies make a good chunk of their annual revenue from sending engineers to the US on projects, after which they are supposed to return home. Infosys, for instance, rakes in at least 60 percent of its revenues in this fashion.

Any decision, whether a cap on the visas or another hefty fee increase, will be a blow to an industry that is already seeing flatlining growth and a murky, if not perilous future.

So when Trump started ranting against the program last year while on the campaign trail, alarm bells in the industry began to ring. A March 2016 post on Trump"s website quoted him as saying: "The H1B program is neither high-skilled nor immigration: these are temporary foreign workers, imported from abroad, for the explicit purpose of substituting for American workers at lower pay." He later added: "If I am president, I will not issue any H1B visas to companies that replace American workers and my Department of Justice will pursue action against them."

Some say that, despite all this fire and brimstone, Trump has been contradictory and ambiguous, pointing to a rash of statements such as the one made during a Republican debate in March last year when he declared that he was "softening" his position, because "we have to have talented people in this country." However, he has also on multiple occasions talked about enhancing the tech talent in the country by giving graduate students an easy path to obtaining greencards, which could be more what that statement was about than anything else.

That said, his choice for attorney general, Alabama senator Jeff Sessions, is a ferocious and vocal critic of the H1B and will no doubt do his best to influence the president if his nomination goes through.

A MIDDLE GROUND?

Recent events have deepened the mystery. According to Reuters, Trump"s senior advisor Stephen Miller suggested deep-sixing the existing lottery system for the H1Bs and replacing it with visa petitions for jobs that pay the highest salaries. This is something that the Electrical and Electronics Engineers, that industry"s largest professional association, approves.

Reuters also suggests that at a meeting with the country"s tech titans a month or so ago, Trump was apparently not so energised to take a scythe to the visa program and "seemed to be searching for middle ground." Apparently, a dozen of the top tech executives in the country were in a huddle with him to try and figure this out. Amongst them was Microsoft"s Satya Nadella, who apparently tried to impress upon Trump the importance of being able to recruit from abroad when necessary. (In fact, both Nadella and Sundar Pichai, the boss at Google, probably benefitted from the H1B in their own career trajectories, which is as good a case as any for the benefits of the H1B.)

The ultimate irony however is that Trump has himself used the H2B programs to hire low-skill workers from Mexico, a visa program that has been heavily criticized by US government watchdogs for failing to protect American workers" rights. Trump"s team will also not disclose whether his wife Melania was on an h1b -- she has admitted to being on a visa -- in the 1990s when she was modeling in New York.

Nevertheless, what matters here is Trump"s inclinations within the tech firmament. What seems interesting about Trump"s role at the meeting was his apparent interest in potentially architecting the best solution for all -- dramatically different from his rhetoric on the stump. He was apparently keen to gauge whether one of the proposals on the table during the meeting that aimed at boosting the application fees as an effective way to thwart bulk filing of the visas was acceptable or not by the CEOs, to which they said that they had no objections. Reuters mentions that one of its sources at the meeting "didn"t think that the president was hostile to H1B visas," which is a dramatically different message to what was thought of last year.

A LONG HAUL

Meanwhile, most legal experts say that while some tweaks and minor tinkering can be done to the existing H1B process, effecting radical change would require a lengthy legal process with plenty of opposition in the form of challenges in courtrooms. Even changing the cap on the visa apparently will have to go through a Congressional approval process.

While that may be so, it is still probably an excruciating waiting game for Indian IT.

Source: http://www.zdnet.com/article/indian-it-anxiously-awaits-trumps-verdict-on-the-h1b/