Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other Silicon Valley leaders have formally launched a political group aimed at revamping immigration policy, boosting education and encouraging investment in scientific research. Zuckerberg announced the formation of Fwd.us (pronounced "forward us") in an op-ed article in the Washington Post late Wednesday. In it, he said the U.S. needs a new approach to these issues if it is to get ahead economically. This includes offering a path to citizenship for the 11 million or so immigrants who now live in the U.S. illegally. "We have a strange immigration policy for a nation of immigrants," Zuckerberg wrote. "And it's a policy unfit for today's world."
Major financial contributors include Google Inc. Chairman Eric Schmidt, Netflix Inc. CEO Reed Hastings, Yahoo Inc. CEO Marissa Mayer, SpaceX and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, Zynga Inc. CEO Mark Pincus and former Groupon Inc. CEO Andrew Mason.
'Django Unchained' unplugged in China
The U.S. film "Django Unchained" was abruptly pulled from theaters in China on Thursday, its opening day, a surprising move that came after some scenes were reported to have been edited to conform to the wishes of Chinese censors. The film starring Leonardo DiCaprio was to have made its debut Thursday after weeks of heavy promotion in China. News reports have said that some of the film's graphic violence was edited to make it acceptable to state censors, including altering the color of fake blood in violent scenes and limiting how far the blood splattered. "Django Unchained" won two Oscars, including one for best original screenplay, which went to director, Quentin Tarantino. The Chinese media quoted a Sony Pictures official who suggested that Tarantino had played a role in the changes to appease censors. China is the second-largest movie market in the world, behind the United States.
Stalkin' Aiken: A woman from Washington state has been charged with stalking singer Clay Aiken at his home in North Carolina. Barbara Jean Saylor, 57, of Kirkland, Wash., was charged with trespassing and misdemeanor stalking, the Chatham County Sheriff's Office said.
Jay-Z responds: Jay-Z is defending his recent trip to Cuba in a new song. The rapper released "Open Letter" Thursday after two Florida lawmakers critical of the trip questioned if the rapper's visit to Havana with wife Beyonce was officially licensed. In the song, Jay-Z talks about his distaste for politicians and repeats the refrain, "Y'all gon' learn today." Jay-Z raps: "Want to give me jail time and a fine? Fine, let me commit a real crime."
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