Behind the Scenes of American Airlines Gr's Latest Options TrendsIn a new poll , more than two-thirds of respondents said they believed denials of coverage and profits in the health insurance industry were partially responsible for the killing of Brian Thompson , the UnitedHealthcare CEO, in early December. Thompson was shot dead on the streets of Manhattan. His killer fled, sparking a nationwide manhunt, which ended when Luigi Mangione was arrested and charged with the killing after being arrested in a Pennsylvania McDonald’s. Mangione’s alleged writings indicated that he was angry at the US healthcare industry and saw it as exploitative. The executive’s death also saw an outpouring of expressions of public anger towards the healthcare industry, with many Americans on social media sharing stories of poor experiences at the hands of the US profit-based healthcare system. Almost 70% of respondents said “denials for health care coverage by health insurance companies” shared “a great deal” or a “moderate amount” of responsibility. Sixty-seven per cent said “profits made by health insurance companies” shared “a great deal” or a “moderate amount” of responsibility. Twenty per cent of respondents to the new poll said “the individual who committed the killing” bore “only a little” responsibility or “none at all” for the death of Thompson. On the other hand, 78% said that person bore “a great deal” or a “moderate amount” of responsibility. The poll, which was conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, surveyed 1,001 participants from 50 states and the District of Columbia. The participants were all 18 years or older. The survey was conducted between 12 December and 16 December. According to the poll, Americans were tuned into news about the CEO’s killing, with 73% of respondents saying they either heard about the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO “a lot” or “some”. Twenty-seven per cent said they heard “only a little” or “nothing at all”. Fifty-eight per cent of respondents said they had never personally had an issue with their health insurance. Fifty-seven per cent said their immediate family had never had an issue and 53% say their close friends had never had an issue. But 15% say they had personally had a claim denied, 13% had had issues getting prior authorization, 16% had struggled to find a suitable provider within their covered network, and 7% did not have any health insurance. Forty-one per cent of respondents said that they were “not very concerned” or “not at all concerned” about “the possibility of further violence directed at health insurance executives or executives from other industries”, while 39% said they were “somewhat concerned”. Nineteen per cent said they were “extremely” or “very” concerned.

Kubvakacha scoops prestigious awardIt’s a new year, and to help celebrate the month of January 2025, we have a bunch of stellar games, including a remaster of a beloved Vita game and the next entry of a popular action franchise. You’ll also blow heads off in excessive detail as you fire your powerful weaponry in Sniper Elite: Resistance. Dynasty Warriors Origins (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) Publisher: Koei Tecmo Developer: Koei Tecmo Price: $69.99 Release Date: January 17 Trailer The Dynasty Warriors series looks as epic as ever in this next entry. As a nameless hero protagonist, you’re stepping into the field of hundreds of warriors. You’ll be utilizing fast-paced combos and abilities called arts to take down these foes. There’s also a strategic element to the visual madness on screen as you command your allies to advance or cavalry charge to victory (or failure). You’ll also have to manage the morale of your forces, which should be quite the challenge. Hopefully, you’ll still be able to enjoy the breakneck action despite the strategic elements of this new entry. “Omega Force and Koei Tecmo have taken a lot of the staples from the franchise like massive-scale battles and expanded them while also improving the overall game through better storytelling, more interesting combat, and a player character-driven focus,” said our preview . It will be launched on consoles and PC systems on January 17 . Those who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition can start on January 14. Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC) Publisher: Binary Haze Interactive Developer: Adglobe, Live Wire Price: $19.99 Release Date: January 22 Trailer An indie highlight from the January 2025 games lineup is Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist . It’s a sequel to the critically acclaimed Metroidvania Ender Lilies : Quietus of the Knights. The sequel was previously launched through Steam Early Access and has an impressive Overwhelmingly Positive 97% rating on Steam . In this entry, you play as an attuner named Lilac, who can summon the power of the Homunculi. In this journey, you wake up from a laboratory, try to find your lost memories and save “precious friends in the Land of Fumes,” according to the Steam page. You’ll come across pretty 2D art and 30 different unique skills from the companions you meet as you explore this post-apocalyptic world. There’s also a lot of equipment, relics, and items to find on your adventure. Freedom Wars Remastered (PS4, PS5, Switch, PC) Publisher: Bandai Namco Developer: Dimps Price: Unannounced (as of the time of writing) Release Date: January 10 Trailer The PlayStation Vita hidden gem Freedom Wars finally gets a remaster on modern platforms on January 10. It has a unique scenario for this co-op action game. You begin your life as a criminal for just being born, and you’re fighting enemies and finishing missions to reduce your sentence. Bandai Namco says the game supports a 4K resolution and 60 frames per second on all current-gen platforms. Additionally, the game has upgraded textures, but to be honest, from the screenshots and footage so far, you can still tell it was originally a Vita game. The game has an overhauled weapon crafting system, new difficulty options, and more gameplay upgrades in Freedom Wars Remastered. As you play through the game, you’ll be given Thorn weapons to help you traverse each level and take down enemies. These weapons let you set traps, provide healing, and more benefits to your team. The materials you gather from fallen enemies will let you upgrade your weapons, similar to the Monster Hunter series. The original Vita release of Freedom Wars received an 8/10 score from our review , so the remaster may be worth checking out. Sniper Elite: Resistance (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC) Publisher: Rebellion Developer: Rebellion Price: $49.99 Release Date: January 30 Trailer Sniper Elite: Resistance takes us back to World War 2 as we snipe Nazis in a hidden war amongst occupied France. We play as Harry Hawker, an operative tasked with eliminating the Wunderwaffe, a weapon that would guarantee the Nazis victory in the war. Sniper Elite ‘s X-ray kill cam is back in this game as it gives us the visceral details of a bullet entering the noggin (and other body parts) of your enemies. You’ll need to consider gravity, wind, and even your heart rate to get the perfect shot. As you play through Sniper Elite: Resistance, you’ll be able to customize and upgrade your weapons with all manner of scopes, stocks, barrels, magazines and other attachments. You’ll also get the ability to use armor-piercing shells to finish your task when the game drops onto physical and digital store shelves on January 30. Tales of Graces f Remastered (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) Publisher: Bandai Namco Developer: TOSE CO. LTD Price: $49.99 Release Date: January 17 Trailer Asbel’s adventures return in Tales of Graces f Remastered when Bandai Namco releases this JRPG for modern platforms on January 17. This new version of the adventure includes graphical improvements, auto-save functionality, the ability to turn off enemy encounters, and the addition of dashing rather than the slower running. You can also skip cutscenes with this release, and icons have been added to the UI to make the experience clearer. Most of the original DLC from the PS3 version is included in the package. The story revolves around three kingdoms vying for control of the world. Our heroes, such as Asbel, Richard, and Sophie, must work together to save the beautiful world Ephinea. While playing this on the PS3, my teenage self loved the probably corny storyline, which focused on the friendship between the characters that grow from childhood; hopefully, it ages well. Honorable Mentions The January 2025 games lineup has many remasters and ports. They include the Wii platformer Donkey Kong Country Returns HD , and the new remaster of the PS1 classic Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles . Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also finally arrives on PC in January. Airborne Empire Early Access (PC) – January 13 Assetto Corsa EVO Early Access (PC) – January 16 Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Switch) – January 16 Border Town Early Access(PC) – January 23 Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – January 23 Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S) – January 28 Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. (PC) – January 28 Cuisineer (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – January 29 Hello Kitty Island Adventure (Switch, PC) – January 30 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (PC) – January 30 Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero (PS4, PS5, Switch) – January 30

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Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Monday to react to the move by special counsel Jack Smith to " dismiss the federal charges against him for interfering in the 2020 presidential election. These charges could theoretically be brought again after Trump leaves office if the political will exists at the time. But for now, Trump appears home free on the federal front — and he celebrated with a rage-filled post accusing Smith baselessly of a political witch hunt, and baselessly accusing him of orchestrating various other state cases against him as well. "These cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought," he wrote. "Over $100 Million Dollars of Taxpayer Dollars has been wasted in the Democrat Party’s fight against their Political Opponent, ME. Nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before." "They have also used State Prosecutors and District Attorneys, such as Fani Willis and her lover, Nathan Wade (who had absolutely zero experience in cases such as this, but was paid MILLIONS, enough for them to take numerous trips and cruises around the globe!), Letitia James , who inappropriately, unethically, and probably illegally, campaigned on 'GETTING TRUMP' in order to win Political Office, and Alvin Bragg, who himself never wanted to bring this case against me, but was forced to do so by the Justice Department and the Democrat Party." ALSO READ: The America-attacking Trump is coming for our military — and then he's coming for us "It was a political hijacking, and a low point in the History of our Country that such a thing could have happened, and yet, I persevered, against all odds, and WON," he added. "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" The classified documents case, also brought by Smith, will also remain dismissed, as the government no longer will appeal the lower court decision throwing it out; they may continue to do so for Trump's co-defendants in that case, Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira, but Trump's Justice Department can dismiss those as well after he takes office. All of this leaves the Manhattan criminal case, where Trump was already convicted, but where prosecutors now want sentencing postponed until after his presidency .Kevin Sheehan’s 2024 Telstra AFLW Draft top 30 prospects

The Agenda revolves around job-creation, education and health care improvements, poverty reduction, and ensuring opportunities for success for all Nigerians. The eight key priority areas as outlined by the president are: Reform the economy to deliver sustained, inclusive growth; strengthen national security for peace and prosperity; boost agriculture to achieve food security, and unlock energy and natural resources for sustainable development. Others are: Enhance infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth; focus on education, health, and social investment as essential pillars of development; accelerate diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing & innovation, and Improve governance for effective service delivery. In a chat with this reporter, a Senatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC ) in the 2023 elections, Abubakar Abdullahi, sympathised with Nigerians over the current economic hardships occasioned by what he called “unavoidable government policy choices.” He urged Nigerians to be resolute “in these trying moments,” adding that President Tinubu was committed to building a strong and proud country that works for the good of all citizens. He said, “Like several other nations, we are currently grappling with diverse challenges, but we remain resolute in our inalienable destiny to build a strong and proud country that works for the good of all citizens irrespective of status, tribe, religion and creed. “Let me assure you that this administration is committed to its promise of working sacrificially to deliver the dividends of democracy to every Nigerian citizen. This government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very much aware of and deeply sympathises with all Nigerians over the economic conditions we are passing through. “These have been occasioned by unavoidable policy choices, including the removal of fuel subsidies, that his administration has had to make. “Notwithstanding the daunting challenges, ceaseless efforts are being made to cushion the immediate impact and to create new opportunities on the short, medium and long-term basis, through diligent implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda. “These policies and programmes are being implemented for long-term solutions to these problems and I assure us all that in no distant time, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the trajectory of our socio-economic development would soar higher in the positive territory.” The Director General of National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, highlighted some accomplishments of the Tinubu administration which, according to him, have positively impacted Nigerians. He said President Tinubu followed through with his promises on easing transportation difficulties Nigerians experienced with the establishment of the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG) and the launch of the first phase of buses, powered by hybrid Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). According to him, this is work in progress because the Presidential Initiative is designed to expand across all geo-political zones of the country. He said, “The government has also commissioned the first retrofitted CNG train head for the Abuja-Kaduna track. This is intended to cut the cost of travel by up to fifty percent when fully operational. In order to encourage conversion to CNG-powered land transportation, the government has also commenced the distribution of CNG conversion kits at no cost to Nigerians. “The benefits of the CNG transport system to Nigerians are huge reduction in costs. The Presidential Initiative on CNG marked its first year of implementation recently, with the number of vehicle conversion centers in the country rising from fewer than 10 to more than 120. “The goal is to make CNG a fuel of choice for private and commercial transportation in Nigeria, bringing down costs by as much as 50 to 60 percent. We are already seeing enthusiastic uptake of the initiative, and the government is supporting this by way of fiscal incentives and subsidised conversions.” Speaking on the policies of President Tinubu on education, an associate professor of Development Communication, Bright Etekamba, said on so many fronts, the outgoing year has brought significant policy and legislative milestones that are helping to cement the very foundations of the president’s grand vision for Nigeria. He said, “Take the examples of the Students Loan Fund and the Consumer Credit Corporation, two institutions targeted at putting more resources in the pockets of the Nigerian people, empowering them to turn their dreams into opportunities. “With the Students Loan Fund, we are seeing, for the first time in decades, Nigerian students at tertiary level, getting targeted federal assistance to pursue their academic ambitions, through long-term loans (and stipends) that are designed to not be burdensome in any way. In less than one year, more than 300, 000 Nigerian students have already benefitted. “The Nigerian Students Loan Fund initiative of the Tinubu administration has disbursed the sum of N2.5 billion to over 22,120 beneficiaries across the nation’s higher institutions. This is a welcome relief for parents and an opportunity to access education by indigent students. “The young people of Nigeria now have a clearer path to sustainable tertiary education through the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act 2024, which has established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Complementing this is the new Consumer Credit Corporation, established to guarantee access to low-cost and flexible consumer credit.” On the rising prices of food items, a member of the Presidential Initiative on Livestock Reform, Danasebe Maiyaki, said the government has reduced tariffs on importation of certain categories of food in order to crash prices. “One of the major issues facing Nigerians is rising food prices. To bolster food security, availability and ensure affordability of food, the government has removed tariffs on the importation of certain categories of food. In addition, the government has distributed fertilizers, farm inputs and other critical items to boost dry season food production,” he said. He praised President Tinubu’s establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development as a game-changing move to unlock the sector’s vast potential and maximise its value-chains. “Most recently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took a bold and transformative step by establishing and operationalising a dedicated Ministry for Livestock Development. This strategic move underscores the administration’s recognition of the immense potential within the livestock sector, often referred to as an untapped gold mine. “Food security is at the core of the nation’s national security, survival, stability and sovereignty; it is in realisation of this that President Tinubu, upon assumption of office, renamed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. “The current administration is committed to tackling the multifaceted challenges hindering self-sufficiency in food production, leveraging the nation’s vast arable land, favorable climate, and youthful population. “Nigeria, blessed with vast arable land, favourable climatic conditions, and a youthful population, has the potential to be a global agricultural powerhouse. Yet, we face significant challenges in attaining affordability and self-sufficiency in food production. This on-going challenge is what has informed the special attention that the president is paying to this very important sector, which happens to be the biggest employer of labour in the country,” he said. He highlighted that early in his administration, President Tinubu launched three critical agricultural interventions – declaring a State of Emergency on food insecurity; initiating a food security and sustainability intervention project, and cracking down on hoarders, smugglers, and saboteurs to ensure affordability, availability, and accessibility of essential commodities. “Nigeria’s path to food security is not insurmountable, particularly through our collective resolve; we can transform our nation into a land of abundance, where no Nigerian goes to bed hungry,” he said further. Speaking on the socio-economic front, a political economist, Dr. Njamenze Orbih, hailed the president for his giant strides despite the global economic recession. He said, “Undoubtedly, one of the significant setbacks to rural socio-economic development in Nigeria has been the absence of direct fiscal control by elected local government administrations. “In a landmark move, President Tinubu has taken a decisive step toward implementing local government autonomy by getting a verdict from the Supreme Court. This action demonstrates his administration’s commitment to a deep-rooted restructuring of the country, enhancing governance and development at the grassroots level, and promoting effectiveness and accountability in local governance. “In addition, a lot of work is going towards ensuring macroeconomic stability, stabilising the foreign exchange regime, reforming the tax system to make it more efficient, and less burdensome on Nigerians, repositioning our oil and gas sector to attract new investment, and prioritising the diversification and expansion of government revenues. “Under the visionary leadership of President Tinubu, we have initiated transformative policies and reforms aimed at correcting the missteps of the past and repositioning Nigeria as an economic superpower in the near future. “Despite the global economic headwinds and the transitional pains accompanying some of the reforms, the president has remained focused in his efforts towards reviving our economy and returning the country to the path of prosperity and sustainable growth.” Likewise, an IT expert and chief executive officer of Falcon Eye Network, Reni Tyioda, said initiative by the present administration to create jobs for youth in the digital economy sector is yielding results. He said, “The federal government has set up the structures to create three million jobs for the Nigerian youth through the 3Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme. The initiative, being driven by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Technology, is an incubator for the education and skills desired to enhance the capacity and value of the youths in national security intelligence. “The 3MTT Programme is an affirmation of President Tinubu’s vision of factoring youth development into the overall national development strategy. To lay a formidable framework towards achieving this, the administration is also prioritising the economic security of Nigerian youths, towards building a more secure and prosperous country.” Meanwhile, a foremost entrepreneur and president of the Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has commended President Tinubu for the positive impact of the Naira for crude swap deal on the Nigerian economy, which has led to reduction in prices of petroleum products in the country. To provide succour to Nigerians, Dangote recently reduced the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N970 to N899.50 at its Refinery loading gantry and provided generous credit terms to marketers. “To ensure that this price reduction gets to the end consumer, we have signed a partnership with MRS to sell petrol from its retail outlets nationwide at N935 per litre” he said. In his statement, he called on other oil marketers such as the NNPC Retail and all other marketers “to work with us to ensure that Nigerians enjoy high-quality petrol at discounted prices.” “The Dangote Refinery is for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians. We will therefore continue to work with various value-chain players to deliver high quality petrol at cheaper prices. Our aim is for all Nigerians to have ready access to high quality petroleum products that are good for their vehicles, good for their health, and good for their pockets,” the statement read in part. Dangote thanked Nigerians for their unwavering support and the government for creating an enabling environment for the domestic refining industry. Similarly, travellers have thumbed up President Tinubu’s 50 per cent subsidised holiday transport services across the country. The initiative which was officially flagged off by the Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali, is aimed at ensuring seamless travel for citizens for the festive season, covers both road and rail operations and is scheduled to run from December 24, 2024, to January 5, 2025. observed that travellers were seen at the Eagles Square in Abuja boarding the transport services to their various destinations after being officially flagged off by the Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali. A traveller, Madam Juliet Okoli, boarding the transport service to Lagos state, said the initiative is commendable considering the economy cash crunch in the country. “I am happy that I can travel to Lagos at a cheaper rate to spend the Christmas celebration with my family and I urged the federal government to do more for Nigerians by reducing the fuel price to as low as N300 to N400,” she said. Another traveller, Joseph Akor, who couldn’t hold his excitement, commended the federal government for the transport service initiative and urged the transport unions to make it accessible for all Nigerians.

By KENYA HUNTER, Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — As she checked into a recent flight to Mexico for vacation, Teja Smith chuckled at the idea of joining another Women’s March on Washington . As a Black woman, she just couldn’t see herself helping to replicate the largest act of resistance against then-President Donald Trump’s first term in January 2017. Even in an election this year where Trump questioned his opponent’s race , held rallies featuring racist insults and falsely claimed Black migrants in Ohio were eating residents’ pets , he didn’t just win a second term. He became the first Republican in two decades to clinch the popular vote, although by a small margin. “It’s like the people have spoken and this is what America looks like,” said Smith, the Los Angeles-based founder of the advocacy social media agency, Get Social. “And there’s not too much more fighting that you’re going to be able to do without losing your own sanity.” After Trump was declared the winner over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris , many politically engaged Black women said they were so dismayed by the outcome that they were reassessing — but not completely abandoning — their enthusiasm for electoral politics and movement organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote in their communities. They had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Harris, who would have been the first woman of Black and South Asian descent to win the presidency. Harris’ loss spurred a wave of Black women across social media resolving to prioritize themselves, before giving so much to a country that over and over has shown its indifference to their concerns. AP VoteCast , a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy in the United States was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, with Trump set to return to office in two months, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. “America is going to have to save herself,” said LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of the national voting rights group Black Voters Matter. She compared Black women’s presence in social justice movements as “core strategists and core organizers” to the North Star, known as the most consistent and dependable star in the galaxy because of its seemingly fixed position in the sky. People can rely on Black women to lead change, Brown said, but the next four years will look different. “That’s not a herculean task that’s for us. We don’t want that title. ... I have no goals to be a martyr for a nation that cares nothing about me,” she said. AP VoteCast paints a clear picture of Black women’s concerns. Black female voters were most likely to say that democracy was the single most important factor for their vote, compared to other motivators such as high prices or abortion. More than 7 in 10 Black female voters said they were “very concerned” that electing Trump would lead the nation toward authoritarianism, while only about 2 in 10 said this about Harris. About 9 in 10 Black female voters supported Harris in 2024, according to AP VoteCast, similar to the share that backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Trump received support from more than half of white voters, who made up the vast majority of his coalition in both years. Like voters overall, Black women were most likely to say the economy and jobs were the most important issues facing the country, with about one-third saying that. But they were more likely than many other groups to say that abortion and racism were the top issues, and much less likely than other groups to say immigration was the top issue. Despite those concerns, which were well-voiced by Black women throughout the campaign, increased support from young men of color and white women helped expand Trump’s lead and secured his victory. Politically engaged Black women said they don’t plan to continue positioning themselves in the vertebrae of the “backbone” of America’s democracy. The growing movement prompting Black women to withdraw is a shift from history, where they are often present and at the forefront of political and social change. One of the earliest examples is the women’s suffrage movement that led to ratification in 1920 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution , which gave women the right to vote. Black women, however, were prevented from voting for decades afterward because of Jim Crow-era literacy tests, poll taxes and laws that blocked the grandchildren of slaves from voting. Most Black women couldn’t vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Black women were among the organizers and counted among the marchers brutalized on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama, during the historic march in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery that preceded federal legislation. Decades later, Black women were prominent organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police and vigilantes. In his 2024 campaign, Trump called for leveraging federal money to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government programs and discussions of race, gender or sexual orientation in schools. His rhetoric on immigration, including false claims that Black Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs, drove support for his plan to deport millions of people . Tenita Taylor, a Black resident of Atlanta who supported Trump this year, said she was initially excited about Harris’ candidacy. But after thinking about how high her grocery bills have been, she feels that voting for Trump in hopes of finally getting lower prices was a form of self-prioritization. “People say, ‘Well, that’s selfish, it was gonna be better for the greater good,”’ she said. “I’m a mother of five kids. ... The things that (Democrats) do either affect the rich or the poor.” Some of Trump’s plans affect people in Olivia Gordon’s immediate community, which is why she struggled to get behind the “Black women rest” wave. Gordon, a New York-based lawyer who supported the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s presidential nominee, Claudia de la Cruz, worries about who may be left behind if the 92% of Black women voters who backed Harris simply stopped advocating. “We’re talking millions of Black women here. If millions of Black women take a step back, it absolutely leaves holes, but for other Black women,” she said. “I think we sometimes are in the bubble of if it’s not in your immediate circle, maybe it doesn’t apply to you. And I truly implore people to understand that it does.” Nicole Lewis, an Alabama-based therapist who specializes in treating Black women’s stress, said she’s aware that Black women withdrawing from social impact movements could have a fallout. But she also hopes that it forces a reckoning for the nation to understand the consequences of not standing in solidarity with Black women. “It could impact things negatively because there isn’t that voice from the most empathetic group,” she said. “I also think it’s going to give other groups an opportunity to step up. ... My hope is that they do show up for themselves and everyone else.” Brown said a reckoning might be exactly what the country needs, but it’s a reckoning for everyone else. Black women, she said, did their job when they supported Harris in droves in hopes they could thwart the massive changes expected under Trump. “This ain’t our reckoning,” she said. “I don’t feel no guilt.” AP polling editor Amelia Thomson DeVeaux and Associated Press writer Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.Paying the price of progress: President says environment, sustainability should be defended

US says terror designation doesn’t bar talks with Syrian rebel groupQuit your whining!By KENYA HUNTER, Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — As she checked into a recent flight to Mexico for vacation, Teja Smith chuckled at the idea of joining another Women’s March on Washington . As a Black woman, she just couldn’t see herself helping to replicate the largest act of resistance against then-President Donald Trump’s first term in January 2017. Even in an election this year where Trump questioned his opponent’s race , held rallies featuring racist insults and falsely claimed Black migrants in Ohio were eating residents’ pets , he didn’t just win a second term. He became the first Republican in two decades to clinch the popular vote, although by a small margin. “It’s like the people have spoken and this is what America looks like,” said Smith, the Los Angeles-based founder of the advocacy social media agency, Get Social. “And there’s not too much more fighting that you’re going to be able to do without losing your own sanity.” After Trump was declared the winner over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris , many politically engaged Black women said they were so dismayed by the outcome that they were reassessing — but not completely abandoning — their enthusiasm for electoral politics and movement organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote in their communities. They had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Harris, who would have been the first woman of Black and South Asian descent to win the presidency. Harris’ loss spurred a wave of Black women across social media resolving to prioritize themselves, before giving so much to a country that over and over has shown its indifference to their concerns. AP VoteCast , a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy in the United States was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, with Trump set to return to office in two months, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. “America is going to have to save herself,” said LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of the national voting rights group Black Voters Matter. She compared Black women’s presence in social justice movements as “core strategists and core organizers” to the North Star, known as the most consistent and dependable star in the galaxy because of its seemingly fixed position in the sky. People can rely on Black women to lead change, Brown said, but the next four years will look different. “That’s not a herculean task that’s for us. We don’t want that title. ... I have no goals to be a martyr for a nation that cares nothing about me,” she said. AP VoteCast paints a clear picture of Black women’s concerns. Black female voters were most likely to say that democracy was the single most important factor for their vote, compared to other motivators such as high prices or abortion. More than 7 in 10 Black female voters said they were “very concerned” that electing Trump would lead the nation toward authoritarianism, while only about 2 in 10 said this about Harris. About 9 in 10 Black female voters supported Harris in 2024, according to AP VoteCast, similar to the share that backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Trump received support from more than half of white voters, who made up the vast majority of his coalition in both years. Like voters overall, Black women were most likely to say the economy and jobs were the most important issues facing the country, with about one-third saying that. But they were more likely than many other groups to say that abortion and racism were the top issues, and much less likely than other groups to say immigration was the top issue. Despite those concerns, which were well-voiced by Black women throughout the campaign, increased support from young men of color and white women helped expand Trump’s lead and secured his victory. Politically engaged Black women said they don’t plan to continue positioning themselves in the vertebrae of the “backbone” of America’s democracy. The growing movement prompting Black women to withdraw is a shift from history, where they are often present and at the forefront of political and social change. One of the earliest examples is the women’s suffrage movement that led to ratification in 1920 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution , which gave women the right to vote. Black women, however, were prevented from voting for decades afterward because of Jim Crow-era literacy tests, poll taxes and laws that blocked the grandchildren of slaves from voting. Most Black women couldn’t vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Black women were among the organizers and counted among the marchers brutalized on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama, during the historic march in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery that preceded federal legislation. Decades later, Black women were prominent organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police and vigilantes. In his 2024 campaign, Trump called for leveraging federal money to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government programs and discussions of race, gender or sexual orientation in schools. His rhetoric on immigration, including false claims that Black Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs, drove support for his plan to deport millions of people . Related Articles National Politics | Special counsel moves to dismiss election interference, classified documents cases against Trump National Politics | Joe Biden begins final White House holiday season with turkey pardons for ‘Peach’ and ‘Blossom’ National Politics | Donald Trump Jr. emerges as a political force of his own as he helps his father launch a second term National Politics | TV’s Dr. Oz invested in businesses regulated by agency Trump wants him to lead National Politics | What to know about Brooke Rollins, Trump’s pick for agriculture secretary Tenita Taylor, a Black resident of Atlanta who supported Trump this year, said she was initially excited about Harris’ candidacy. But after thinking about how high her grocery bills have been, she feels that voting for Trump in hopes of finally getting lower prices was a form of self-prioritization. “People say, ‘Well, that’s selfish, it was gonna be better for the greater good,”’ she said. “I’m a mother of five kids. ... The things that (Democrats) do either affect the rich or the poor.” Some of Trump’s plans affect people in Olivia Gordon’s immediate community, which is why she struggled to get behind the “Black women rest” wave. Gordon, a New York-based lawyer who supported the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s presidential nominee, Claudia de la Cruz, worries about who may be left behind if the 92% of Black women voters who backed Harris simply stopped advocating. “We’re talking millions of Black women here. If millions of Black women take a step back, it absolutely leaves holes, but for other Black women,” she said. “I think we sometimes are in the bubble of if it’s not in your immediate circle, maybe it doesn’t apply to you. And I truly implore people to understand that it does.” Nicole Lewis, an Alabama-based therapist who specializes in treating Black women’s stress, said she’s aware that Black women withdrawing from social impact movements could have a fallout. But she also hopes that it forces a reckoning for the nation to understand the consequences of not standing in solidarity with Black women. “It could impact things negatively because there isn’t that voice from the most empathetic group,” she said. “I also think it’s going to give other groups an opportunity to step up. ... My hope is that they do show up for themselves and everyone else.” Brown said a reckoning might be exactly what the country needs, but it’s a reckoning for everyone else. Black women, she said, did their job when they supported Harris in droves in hopes they could thwart the massive changes expected under Trump. “This ain’t our reckoning,” she said. “I don’t feel no guilt.” AP polling editor Amelia Thomson DeVeaux and Associated Press writer Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. 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InspireMD Announces Appointment of Accomplished Medical Technology Executive Scott R. Ward to its Board of DirectorsRumble ( RUM -6.82% ) stock is seeing big sell-offs in Friday's trading. The company's share price was down 8.1% as of 1 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq Composite index were down 1.7% and 2.2%, respectively. Stocks are seeing relatively thin trading volume today. Along with investors selling shares for tax-harvesting and profit-taking purposes, this is causing a significant pullback across the market. In addition to broader selling pressures, Rumble is losing ground as its recent meme-stock momentum fades. Rumble is volatile amid recent meme-stock surge Last Friday, Rumble announced that it had formed a deal to receive a large investment from Tether, the company responsible for the Tether ( USDT -0.04% ) stablecoin cryptocurrency. The streaming video specialist will sell $775 million of new stock to Tether at a price of $7.50 per share. In turn, Rumble will use $250 million of the proceeds to fund its existing business operations and pursue new growth opportunities. The remainder of the cash from the stock sale will be used to buy back shares from other large investors at a price of $7.50 per share. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025. The announcement kicked off a massive rally for Rumble, and its share price is up 105.5% over the last week even with today's pullback. Tether's investment effectively turned Rumble into one of the latest hot meme stocks, but the explosive gains also set the stage for volatility. With downward pressure for the broader market and investors taking profits on the streaming-video company's recent surge, shares are trending lower today. What comes next for Rumble? Securing a new capital injection is good news for Rumble. The company posted a net loss of $31.5 million on sales of $25.1 million in the third quarter, and it closed out the period with $132 million in cash and equivalents. After executing its proposed stock buyback, the cash from Tether's investment should allow Rumble to fund its current operations for roughly two years based on its current rate of spending. On the other hand, recent gains for the stock appear to be largely disconnected from the foundations of the deal. Some investors are betting that Tether will become an active partner in steering Rumble in a new direction, while others are simply seeking big short-term gains in conjunction with surging meme-stock status. While it's possible that Rumble will continue rocketing higher, the company's valuation looks risky right now.

Kristin Cavallari Looks Back on Dates With Morgan Wallen: 'True Gentleman'The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk’s news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity. Read More Latest Mobiles Samsung Galaxy A16 5G ₹15,899 Lava O3 Pro ₹6,999 Vivo X200 5G ₹65,999 Tecno Phantom V Flip 2 5G ₹54,999 Lava Yuva 4 ₹6,999 Poco C75 5G ₹7,999 Tecno POP 9 4G ₹6,499 Itel Color Pro 5G ₹9,199 Vivo Y18T ₹9,499 Lava Blaze 3 5G ₹10,999

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