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Jets' Ulbrich says Rodgers 'absolutely' remains the team's starting quarterback

Historical mysteries solved by science in 2024THREE KEY FACTS In his massive best-seller The Anxious Generation , Jonathan Haidt argues “the new phone-based childhood” is harming children . Haidt recommends not giving your kids a smartphone until high school. Psychology professor Candice Odgers, in a review of Haidt’s book in the journal Nature , writes that its “repeated suggestion that digital technologies are rewiring our children’s brains and causing an epidemic of mental illness is not supported by science”. The dilemma is this: Either we get our 11-year-old a phone and accept her mental health is going to be ruined by it in the way all the scary books and documentaries tell us she will be, or we don’t get her a phone and make her life a misery because all her friends have one and you can’t do anything without a phone, and don’t we realise we’re actually making her unsafe and it’s ruining her life and why do we always do this to her and she hates our guts. I can’t remember how long ago she first started lobbying for a phone, but I can remember my wife saying, “Maybe when you’re 12,” and it feeling like that was so far away as to be meaningless. I don’t know what I thought would happen in the intervening years – that she would become a different person or that Zuckerberg and Musk would join forces to repair the internet or someone would invent a drug that could counteract smartphones’ psychosocial impacts or... whatever it was, it was ignorant and misguided, because now she’s about to get her first phone and I’ve never been so scared.

Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along.AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:38 p.m. EST

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—This year’s National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW) focused on advancements to promote a green and sustainable circular economy through science, technology, and innovation (STI) as it opened in this city on November 27. With the theme “Siyensya, Teknolohiya, at Inobasyon: Kabalikat sa Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Kinabukasan” with the sub-theme “Providing Solutions and Opening Opportunities in the Green Economy,” it showcased over 100 technology exhibits, 30 technical fora, pitching sessions, and career talks. “This year’s event is a bold declaration that [STI] are not just centered in the nation’s capital. We are here in Cagayan de Oro City, proving that regional growth is fueled by the dynamic force of STI,” said DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. in his keynote speech. The five-day event highlighted the innovative contributions of Filipino scientists, engineers, and researchers to the growth of science and technology in the country. The Science chief emphasized the need to involve local government units (LGUs) in STI initiatives, noting that scientific community partners would welcome the chance to highlight and showcase their innovations in the regions, rather than just in the National Capital Region (NCR). ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ campaign; AmBisyon Nation 2040’ Solidum pointed out the critical role of STI as catalysts for advancing national development and enhancing the quality of life for Filipinos. He said that this aligns with the administration’s “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign and the long-term goals outlined in “AmBisyon Natin 2040.” “Our future depends on how effectively we harness the power of STI to create a nation where every Filipino experiences progress, prosperity, and security,” he said. The Science chief illustrated how each of the values—Matatag, Maginhawa and Panatag—are realized through investments in STI. A Matatag society is where families thrive, communities are resilient, and trust in governance is strong. Through DOST’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology program, STI interventions uplift marginalized sectors At the same time, Maginhawa, where there is a comfortable life for all, free from poverty, the DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) is turning this vision into reality by supporting over 9,000 MSMEs, creating 316,000 jobs, and injecting P8.7 billion into the economy. In a country highly vulnerable to natural hazards, Panatag—secure and protected from disasters—is a top priority. Its agencies— Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology—play a vital role in safeguarding communities with cutting-edge technologies. The state-of-the-art Doppler radars and seismic stations to the innovative GeoRisk Philippines app provide real-time data that enhance disaster preparedness, mitigate risks, and save lives, Solidum said. He also outlined eight major R&D programs for 2025 to address critical challenges in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. These include the AI Virtual Hub, Geospatial Analytics Solutions, Quantum Computing, and Industry 4.0. The programs also prioritize fostering circular economy, promoting smart agriculture, advancing smart technologies, and innovating biologics in the pharmaceutical sector to drive innovation, enhance sustainability, and bolster the country›s competitiveness in the global market. Addressing challenges, empowering communities For her part, DOST Undersecretary Maridon Sahagun, for Scientific and Technical Services said: ”We reaffirm our commitment to bringing [STI] closer to this region to address various challenges, tap into growth potentials, and empower communities, all while pursuing a green and circular economy.” Sahagun said the five-day event highlighted the DOST’s efforts in four key areas: promoting human well-being, fostering wealth creation, ensuring wealth protection, and advancing sustainability. The featured technologies and activities address critical challenges in areas such as climate change, agriculture, and environmental conservation, offering timely and appropriate solutions to pave the way for sustainable development. Sahagun, also the chairman of the 2024 NSTW-Steering Committee, emphasized the cutting-edge technologies and S&T products at the center stage during the five-day event. The Human Well-Being Technologies initiative delved on critical challenges in health, education, and accessibility included groundbreaking innovations. They are the Immersive Gamification Technology System (ImGTS) for dementia care, Intelligent Stroke Utilization, Learning, Assessment, and Testing (i-Sulat) for early childhood assessment, Ensayo for empowering visually impaired individuals, and nutrition-focused solutions like the Enhanced Nutribun. The Wealth Creation Technologies aim to boost industries and livelihoods through initiatives like Advanced Manufacturing Center for advanced 3D printing; sustainable Silk and Natural Dyes Hubs; SAFEWATRS for mobile water purification; and commercialization programs like Galing and Technicom that support Filipino innovators. Meanwhile, Wealth Protection Technologies enhance disaster resilience with tools like Impact-Based Forecasting, SatREx, and AI-powered systems, such as SkAI-Pinas; while education-focused projects like Resilient Education Information Infrastructure for the New Normal (REIINN) bridge digital divides to strengthen community preparedness. Sustainability efforts led by DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development include innovative solutions such as the Remote Online Surveilance for Banana (Rosanna) app for banana disease monitoring; ACTICon biopesticide for sustainable pest control; and the eco-friendly Pest to Feed technology, complemented by biodiversity education tools for environmental stewardship. ‘Need to change the way we do things’ Solidum added that, with support from national government agencies and LGUs, the Science department will persist in deploying technological solutions on the ground and implementing innovative, tailored interventions, as sticking to the status quo is no longer an option. “We need to change the way we do things, and we need to start sooner,” the Science secretary said, adding that current data suggests an unstable global trajectory. He pointed out that while technology and innovation are essential in driving production, wealth creation, and job opportunities, they also come with a shared responsibility—with conscious, intentional, and accountable management of both production and consumption. Endless pursuit of growth, he noted, has consequences. The development and progress achieved over recent years have come at the cost of the environment that the society continues to pay. He recalled that in recent weeks, the country, particularly Luzon, has faced an unprecedented surge of four typhoons within a span of 10 days, marking a record-breaking intensification of the Pacific typhoon season, according to the science secretary. “The impacts have been devastating,” he added, with the agriculture sector, which supports millions of Filipino families, hit hard. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority reveal that the combined agricultural losses from six typhoons in the third quarter of 2024, along with Severe Typhoon Kristine, amounted to P15.8 billion, while damage to infrastructure, homes, and other assets is estimated at P9.6 billion. “These repeated losses threaten not only our farmers’ livelihoods but also our nation’s food security and economic stability,” Solidum said. “Filipinos are often portrayed as victims of disasters, but through science, technology, innovation, and collaboration, we can rewrite this narrative,” Solidum said. “Let us redefine disaster resilience not only as surviving but also as building economic strength and prosperity in the face of adversity,” he said. The 2024 NSTW was attended by various stakeholders, including LGUs’ representatives, startups, enterprises, legislators, executives, students, and the general public.A judge on Monday rejected a request to block a San Jose State women's volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she is transgender. The ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player, who has played all season, to compete in the Mountain West Conference women's championship opening this week in Las Vegas. The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by nine current players against the Mountain West Conference challenging the league's policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans woman volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player's name because she has not commented publicly on her gender identity. School officials also have declined an interview request with the player. Crews' ruling referred to the athlete as an "alleged transgender" player and noted that no defendant disputed that the San Jose State roster includes a transgender woman player. San Jose State will "continue to support its student-athletes and reject discrimination in all forms," the university said in a statement, confirming that all its student-athletes are eligible to participate under NCAA and conference rules. "We are gratified that the Court rejected an eleventh-hour attempt to change those rules. Our team looks forward to competing in the Mountain West volleyball tournament this week." The conference did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The players filed a notice for emergency appeal with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Crews said the players who filed the complaint could have sought relief much earlier, noting the individual universities had acknowledged that not playing their games against San Jose State this season would result in a loss in league standings. He also refused a request to re-seed the tournament without the forfeited losses. The judge said injunctions are meant to preserve the status quo. The conference policy regarding forfeiting for refusing to play against a team with a transgender player had been in effect since 2022 and the San Jose State player has been on the roster since 2022 -– making that the status quo. The player competed at the college level three previous seasons, including two for San Jose State, drawing little attention. This season's awareness of her reported identity led to an uproar among some players, pundits, parents and politicians in a major election year. Crews' ruling also said injunctions are meant to prevent harm, but in this case, he argued, the harm has already occurred. The games have been forfeited, the tournament has been seeded, the teams have made travel plans and the participants have confirmed they're playing. The tournament starts Wednesday and continues Friday and Saturday. Colorado State is seeded first and San Jose State, second. The teams split their regular-season matches and both get byes into Friday's semifinals. San Jose State will play the winner of Wednesday's match between Utah State and Boise State — teams that both forfeited matches to SJSU during the regular season. Boise State associate athletic director Chris Kutz declined to comment on whether the Broncos would play SJSU if they won their first-round tournament game. Utah State officials did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The conference tournament winner gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. San Jose State coach Todd Kress, whose team has not competed in the national tournament since 2001, has said his team has been getting "messages of hate" and that has taken a toll on his players. Several teams refused to play against San Jose State during the season, earning losses in the official conference standings. Boise State and Wyoming each had two forfeits while Utah State and Nevada both had one. Southern Utah, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, was first to cancel against San Jose State this year. Nevada's players stated they "refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes," without elaborating. Nevada did not qualify for the conference tournament. The nine current players and others now suing the Mountain West Conference, the California State University Board of Trustees and others include San Jose State senior setter and co-captain Brooke Slusser. The teammate Slusser says is transgender hits the volleyball with more force than others on the team, raising fear during practices of suffering concussions from a head hit, the complaint says. The Independent Council on Women's Sports is funding a separate lawsuit against the NCAA for allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports. Both lawsuits claim the landmark 1972 federal antidiscrimination law known as Title IX prohibits transgender women in women's sports. Title IX prohibits sexual discrimination in federally funded education; Slusser is a plaintiff in both lawsuits. Several circuit courts have used a U.S. Supreme Court ruling to conclude that discriminating against someone based on their transgender status or sexual orientation is sex-based discrimination, Crews wrote. That means case law does not prove the "likelihood of success" needed to grant an injunction. An NCAA policy that subjects transgender participation to the rules of sports governing bodies took effect this academic year. USA Volleyball says a trans woman must suppress testosterone for 12 months before competing. The NCAA has not flagged any issues with San Jose State. The Republican governors of Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming have made public statements in support of the team cancellations, citing fairness in women's sports. President-elect Donald Trump likewise has spoken out against allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports. Crews was a magistrate judge in Colorado's U.S. District Court for more than five years before President Joe Biden appointed him as a federal judge in January. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

A judge on Monday rejected a request to block a San Jose State women's volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she is transgender. The ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player, who has played all season, to compete in the Mountain West Conference women's championship opening this week in Las Vegas. The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by nine current players against the Mountain West Conference challenging the league's policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans woman volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player's name because she has not commented publicly on her gender identity. School officials also have declined an interview request with the player. Crews' ruling referred to the athlete as an "alleged transgender" player and noted that no defendant disputed that the San Jose State roster includes a transgender woman player. San Jose State will "continue to support its student-athletes and reject discrimination in all forms," the university said in a statement, confirming that all its student-athletes are eligible to participate under NCAA and conference rules. "We are gratified that the Court rejected an eleventh-hour attempt to change those rules. Our team looks forward to competing in the Mountain West volleyball tournament this week." The conference did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The players filed a notice for emergency appeal with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Crews said the players who filed the complaint could have sought relief much earlier, noting the individual universities had acknowledged that not playing their games against San Jose State this season would result in a loss in league standings. He also refused a request to re-seed the tournament without the forfeited losses. The judge said injunctions are meant to preserve the status quo. The conference policy regarding forfeiting for refusing to play against a team with a transgender player had been in effect since 2022 and the San Jose State player has been on the roster since 2022 -– making that the status quo. The player competed at the college level three previous seasons, including two for San Jose State, drawing little attention. This season's awareness of her reported identity led to an uproar among some players, pundits, parents and politicians in a major election year. Crews' ruling also said injunctions are meant to prevent harm, but in this case, he argued, the harm has already occurred. The games have been forfeited, the tournament has been seeded, the teams have made travel plans and the participants have confirmed they're playing. The tournament starts Wednesday and continues Friday and Saturday. Colorado State is seeded first and San Jose State, second. The teams split their regular-season matches and both get byes into Friday's semifinals. San Jose State will play the winner of Wednesday's match between Utah State and Boise State — teams that both forfeited matches to SJSU during the regular season. Boise State associate athletic director Chris Kutz declined to comment on whether the Broncos would play SJSU if they won their first-round tournament game. Utah State officials did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The conference tournament winner gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. San Jose State coach Todd Kress, whose team has not competed in the national tournament since 2001, has said his team has been getting "messages of hate" and that has taken a toll on his players. Several teams refused to play against San Jose State during the season, earning losses in the official conference standings. Boise State and Wyoming each had two forfeits while Utah State and Nevada both had one. Southern Utah, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, was first to cancel against San Jose State this year. Nevada's players stated they "refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes," without elaborating. Nevada did not qualify for the conference tournament. The nine current players and others now suing the Mountain West Conference, the California State University Board of Trustees and others include San Jose State senior setter and co-captain Brooke Slusser. The teammate Slusser says is transgender hits the volleyball with more force than others on the team, raising fear during practices of suffering concussions from a head hit, the complaint says. The Independent Council on Women's Sports is funding a separate lawsuit against the NCAA for allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports. Both lawsuits claim the landmark 1972 federal antidiscrimination law known as Title IX prohibits transgender women in women's sports. Title IX prohibits sexual discrimination in federally funded education; Slusser is a plaintiff in both lawsuits. Several circuit courts have used a U.S. Supreme Court ruling to conclude that discriminating against someone based on their transgender status or sexual orientation is sex-based discrimination, Crews wrote. That means case law does not prove the "likelihood of success" needed to grant an injunction. An NCAA policy that subjects transgender participation to the rules of sports governing bodies took effect this academic year. USA Volleyball says a trans woman must suppress testosterone for 12 months before competing. The NCAA has not flagged any issues with San Jose State. The Republican governors of Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming have made public statements in support of the team cancellations, citing fairness in women's sports. President-elect Donald Trump likewise has spoken out against allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports. Crews was a magistrate judge in Colorado's U.S. District Court for more than five years before President Joe Biden appointed him as a federal judge in January. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Christmas day is coming to an end, which means Amazon's after-Christmas sale is officially live. That means you can cuddle up on the couch and browse for gifts you didn't get this year or spend an Amazon gift card you just received. The retailer's after-Christmas sale has thousands of deals on everything from TVs, iPads, and headphones to blenders, vacuums, and smart home devices. • Shop Amazon's full after-Christmas sale As TechRadar's deals editor, I've gone through Amazon's after-Christmas sale and hand-picked the 35 best deals worth buying. I selected the items based on price and popularity from brands like Apple, Ninja, Keurig, Fitbit, and Sony. Most of the deals are also on sale for the same or lower prices we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. A few highlights include Amazon's 50-inch Omni Series TV on sale for $299.99 , Apple's all-new AirPods 4 on sale for $119 , and the highly-rated Eufy Smart Scale on sale for $23.95 . Shop more of Amazon's best after-Christmas deals below and visit our main after-Christmas sales hub for more of today's top offers around the web. Keep in mind that today's sale might be your last opportunity of the year to grab a bargain before the next big holiday sale event. Amazon after-Christmas sale - quick links Amazon Devices : 54% off Kindle, Echo & TVs Apple : AirPods + iPads from $119 Beauty: 80% off toothbrushes & skincare Health & Wellness: Fitbit, vitamins & massage guns Headphones : $120 off Bose, Apple & Sony Health : electric toothbrushes from $24.99 Kitchen : 54% off Ninja, Nespresso & Keurig Laptops : record-low prices from $179 Tablets : iPads and Samsung from $54.99 Toys : 40% off Lego, scooters & Toniebox TVs : cheap TVs from $59.99 Vacuums : Shark, Bissell & Dyson from $81.99 Amazon after-Christmas sale - the 35 best deals Roku's most affordable streaming stick is quick, cheap, and easy to use, and it's a great way to get started in the world of streaming. This discount brings this device to under $20, which is a bargain for TV owners looking for a simple and effective way to add smart features to their display. Grab the handy Alexa-enabled Kasa Smart Plug for a record-low price of $18.99 at Amazon. Great for all your new appliances, the four-pack of smart plugs allows you to add voice control to any outlet, so you can turn on and off lights and appliances completely hands-free or with the compatible Kasa app. The handy Chamberlain smart garage control allows you to open and close your garage from anywhere, and the best part? It's on sale for $24.99. You can also set a schedule to make sure your garage is always closed at night and receive notifications anytime your garage door is opened or closed. The Fullstar vegetable chopper has over 100,000 positive reviews on Amazon and is on sale for $24. 97. With four interchangeable blades, you can chop your favorite veggies in a flash, julienne, chop, and slice them. The top-rated Eufy smart scale is on sale for its lowest price yet at Amazon right now. The Eufy Smart Scale C1 can measure your body's body fat ratio, BMI, bone mass, muscle mass, as well as your weight and gives you a more detailed way of checking in with your health and what that number on the scale actually means. As the name suggests, the Fire TV Stick 4K streams shows and movies on your TV in ultra-high-definition 4K resolution. It's a good offer for a solid streaming stick with access to all the major apps and supports voice controls through Alexa. Today's offer is a record-low price when you apply the code 4KHOLIDAYADD at checkout. Amazon's brand new Echo Spot pairs a 2.83-inch touch with a 1.73-inch front-firing speaker, which might make it the ideal smart alarm clock. With Alexa onboard, you can ask the assistant for the weather, play music, or even schedule alarms. Today's deal is a return to the record-low price. The viral Beckham Hotel Collection pillows are always a top seller during holiday sales, and the queen-size set is on sale for $47.99 when you apply the additional discount. The queen-size pillows have over 240,000 positive reviews and are the number-one best-selling pillow on Amazon's site. This compact personal blender is on sale for $49.99, only $10 more than the record-low price. It lets you drink directly from the lid, and TechRadar's Managing Editor of Lifestyle Josephine Watson said it was the device that finally sold her on personal blenders thanks to its ability to whip up a super smooth drink that you can enjoy with no pouring and no mess. This Black+Decker Dustbuster has over 100,000 positive reviews on Amazon and is on my wish list for a cleaner 2025. The handheld vacuum is lightweight, portable, easy to recharge, and has a crevice tool to clean hard-to-reach areas. It's also the perfect gift to yourself to get a head start on your New Year cleaning relations. This top-rated massage gun has over 50,000 positive reviews on Amazon and is on sale for only $49.99. The Toloco massage gun features 20 different speed levels and 15 replaceable massage heads to relieve pain on all parts of your body. Thanks to its compact size, this Keurig K-Mini coffee maker is a great choice for those working with a small kitchen space. It can brew a cup in minutes and is less than five inches wide. Today's deal from Amazon brings the price down to just $59.99 – just $10 more than the record-low price. The Apple AirTag is one of Apple's highly coveted gadgets and makes a great stocking stuffer. Today's deal from Amazon brings a four-pack down to $69.99 – a record-low price. If you tend to misplace your keys or wallet, attach the AirTag to anything you don't want to lose, and your iPhone will locate the item. The Beats Studio Buds have all the essentials you could need at this price. There’s a custom acoustic platform with powerful and balanced sound, along with a choice of ANC or a Transparency mode. The active noise cancellation may not be the strongest around but it does a good job for the price range. There’s also up to eight hours of listening time, while these are sweat and water-resistant so they’re a good option for taking to the gym or on runs. An air fryer allows you to enjoy your favorite fried foods with less oil, and this NInja Pro model is perfect for families. The 5-quart capacity drawer is enough to make meals for the whole family, and preset functions allow for easy air frying, roasting, reheating, and dehydrating. The compact design means it'll comfortably fit on your countertop, too. Get organized in 2025 with Amazon's latest Echo Show 8, which is on sale for $84.99 – $5 more than the record-low. The eight-inch display allows you to make calls, watch movies, check the weather, and control compatible smart home devices completely hands-free thanks to Alexa compatibility. Amazon has Apple's all-new AirPods 4 on sale for $119 – only $1 more than the lowest-ever price we saw over Black Friday. The AirPods 4 feature a new design for all-day comfort and pack Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation. You're also getting a redesigned case with 30 hours of battery life and supports USB-C for wireless charging. The Charge 6 includes updated HR sensors, making it one of Fitbit's best overall fitness trackers; plus, you're getting a comfortable band, a bright AMOLED screen, built-in GPS, and a Stress Management Score. Today's deal brings the price down to $137.50. The Nespresso Vertuo Pop Plus Deluxe by Breville is on sale for its cheapest price yet. This easy-to-use coffee maker supports multiple types of drinks and sizes, and you can brew these using dedicated recyclable Nespresso pods. The large removable water tank and compact size also add to its convenience. Amazon has Apple's best-selling 10.9 iPad on sale for $279 – the same record-low price we saw during Black Friday. In our iPad 10.9 (2022) review , we said Apple's latest base-level tablet is a big upgrade over the previous generation model, offering a larger Liquid Retina display, a new A14 Bionic chip, improved cameras, USB-C support, and a sleek design. Quite simply the best in Sony's class-leading wireless over-ear lineup. The older XM4 headphones were outstanding, the XM3 cans before it were excellent, and it'll come as little surprise to know that Sony's XM5 proposition is also incredibly hard to beat. Today's deal from Amazon is $20 more than the record-low price. Amazon's after-Christmas sale includes this Ninja Mega Kitchen blender for $149.99. You'll get an XL 72-oz. blender, two 16-oz Nutri Ninja Cups with to-go lids to take your smoothie on the go, and a 64-oz food processor bowl. The Eufy 11S Max can clean hard floors and medium carpets and features BoostIQ Technology, which automatically works harder when a spot needs a deeper cleaning. Today's after-Christmas deal from Amazon brings the price down to $149.99. If you're looking for Apple's cheapest smartwatch, you can get the Apple Watch SE on sale for only $189. While the Apple Watch SE lacks all the bells and whistles found on the Apple Watch 10, it still packs a fast processor, excellent battery life, and plenty of health and fitness features. Amazon has the best-selling Oura Ring 3 on sale, with prices starting at $299 depending on what size and color you buy. The Oura Ring Generation 3 is a discreet, accurate tracker with loads of features, and at this price, it's perhaps better value than the Oura Ring 4. The top-rated Tineco cordless wet-dry vacuum mop combo is on sale for $299.99, only $20 more than the record-low Black Friday price. The Tineco Floor One S5 vacuums and washes hard floors in one step, handling wet and dry messes in one sweep. Amazon's best-selling 43-inch 4-Series 4K smart TV is on sale for $209.99 with code FIRE43 at checkout- a new record-low price. It offers 4K HD resolution, smart capabilities with the Fire operating system, and a voice remote with hands-free Alexa, so you can use your voice to control your TV. Amazon's highly rated Omni Series TVs feature 4K resolution support, Dolby Vision, HDR 10, and hands-free TV with Alexa. So, you can control the volume and launch channels hands-free instead of using your remote. The 50-inch model is down to $299 when you apply the code 50OMNI at checkout - that's a new record-low price. Apple's all-new Apple Watch 10 is on sale for $379, which is only $20 more than the record-low price. The Apple Watch 10 includes upgrades such as Apple's new S10 chipset, sleep apnea detection, depth gauge, and a new design featuring the most advanced display. Please note that this deal is for the larger 46mm model. The LG C3 OLED TV is a best-seller here at TechRadar, and the 65-inch model is now on sale for $1,296.99. That's a whopping $1,200 discount and only $100 more than the record-low price on Black Friday. The stunning OLED display features a brilliant picture with bright colors and powerful contrast, thanks to LG's latest Alpha9 Gen6 chip. Plus, you're getting four HDMI 2.1 ports for the best gaming experience on next-gen consoles, a sleek, thin design, and an updated webOS experience. Amazon has LG's 65-inch C4 OLED TV on sale for $1,496.99 - that's a whopping $1,200 discount and just $100 more than the record-low price on Black Friday. Ranked in our best TV guide, the 2024 C4 features exceptional brightness, LG's latest Alpha 9 AI chip for improved performance, and impressive gaming features, including four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM support and 144Hz certification from Nvidia.December is one of my favourite times of the year in Pakistan – maybe because of the "improved" in my city (Karachi) or the start of the festive season – I don’t know. But ask anyone and they will tell you that December in Pakistan is quite the experience – that most people look forward to. Allow me to, please, explain. Come December and our patriotic sense is stimulated with the Quaid’s birthday on the 25th of the month – which coincides with Christmas, setting in the holiday spirit and bringing along a pleasant change in people’s outlook. Add Decemberistan to this equation and the experience amps up – quite literally and actually. But it cannot be just either of these – because events and festivals occur throughout the year. No? The thing is, Pakistan (as a nation) tends to be complicated, and "stuff" isn’t always that great – where the country continually faces major domestic policy challenges. They include an unstable majority situation in parliament and government, political unrest, and terrorist attacks. To date, Pakistan is also confronted with a protracted economic and financial crisis, high levels of government debt and inflation rate, a food and energy crisis, the impacts of climate change, and widespread poverty. As if this was not enough, deficits in human rights are also a significant concern in Pakistan – where despite having ratified main international human rights conventions, implementation is often inadequate. Issues including absent freedom of internet/expression/religion / press, terrorism, political/religious extremism, and separatist movements are a large part of our society. Basically, a multi-faceted precarious situation on hand. Celebrating Waheed Murad's Birthday - Pakistan's Very Own Chocolate Hero To combat this negativity, I sat down to count the strengths we have as a nation and its people. Some of what I came up with included intelligence, our spirit of giving, courage and resilience, solid levels of faith, spirituality, and ingenuity and our love for jugaad (loosely translated as "a hack", in English). While this was something I did a few years ago, I do believe that all of these (and so much more) are our innate strengths and can be potential harbingers of a great future – if we try. So, a friend living abroad recently threw me a question – that reminded me of this exercise I had engaged in. Her question: What do you think being Pakistani means? The question was completely out of the syllabus – maybe because it was oh so random, or alternatively because I didn’t have an immediate answer. A myriad of images of some of Pakistan's famous landmarks flew around in my head; from Moola Chatook in Balochistan, Karachi’s Empress Market, Anarkali bazaar's textures in Lahore, Margalla Hills in Islamabad and Shah Rukn-e-Alam's mausoleum in Multan. But my friend’s question went deeper than just physical images and I suddenly found myself trying to explore what the concept of being Pakistani "truly" entails. Dumbstruck, I continued asking myself the same thing over the next few days – on my way to and from work, while watching TV, and even during workouts. I'm sure you get the rift. And I think I might have a few answers. So, what is Pakistan to me? To me, Pakistan is aimlessly roaming around Dehli Gate in Lahore, and wondering if your next stop should be Anarkali Bazaar or the more happening Liberty market? Maybe take a chinchi auto or a more sophisticated InDrive, Yango, or Careem? But none of those would compare to that rickshaw driver who refused to take money from me when he found out that I was a visitor to his city. Pakistan is standing on the side of I.I. Chundrigar Road in Karachi eating makai and wondering how to cross that otherwise beast of a road. Pakistan is also that friendly banter of the infamous hijra’s (eunuchs) of 3 Talwar, who – in pursuit of some kind of alms, pray I am blessed with a baby boy; for reference, I am not married – which makes their prayer so much more endearing. And Pakistan is that chai at the backside of Lahore's food street and roadside roasted shakarkandi in Karachi. Shia Ismaili Community Comes Together To Celebrate Prince Karim Aga Khan's 88th Birthday All of this was and will always and entirely be me – but somehow still did not align with what my friend was pointing to: being Pakistani from a purely logical standpoint. Talk about a complete shift in perspective. Because in my mind, being Pakistani covers the softer, intangible sentiment that is attached to what I just mentioned. But if we look at it from an entirely logical perspective, then being Pakistani (again, in my mind) is most probably a three-dimensional thing: ideological, cultural, and emotional. The third facet is what I was looking at – but taking in different views, I realised that there is so much more to truly being Pakistani. From Karachi's bustling streets in Southern Pakistan to catching up with our Zinda Dilan-e-Lahore brethren in Punjab, to the serene valleys of Swat in Northern Pakistan, the country's cultural essence is deeply and very heavily rooted in its history, geography, and people Ideologically, ‘Pakistanis’ hail from a nation, that was borne of sacrifice and to the tune of the emancipation of a way of life. Yes, Pakistan is the only country to have been created in the name of religion; but it was to be a haven for the Muslim population in the larger Indian Subcontinent, that they could call their own. The country was the result of much suffering and a culmination of hope of building a nation based on unity, faith, and discipline and on tolerance and acceptance of religious, regional, and ethnic differences. All of this would be far (if not completely) removed from the persecution that led to the revolution itself – because the creation of Pakistan was premised on the sum of its people being bigger than the individuals themselves. The Pakistani flag itself symbolises what the country was supposed to be: a progressive nation based on the ideals of Islam and committed to the importance of everyone within, minorities and the majority included. From a cultural stance, Pakistan is home to a rich and vibrant culture that reflects centuries of history, diverse traditions, and the profound influence of various civilisations. From Karachi's bustling streets in Southern Pakistan to catching up with our Zinda Dilan-e-Lahore brethren in Punjab, to the serene valleys of Swat in Northern Pakistan, the country's cultural essence is deeply and very heavily rooted in its history, geography, and people. In this sense, then, being Pakistani should mean that the sum of the country's population should supersede individual groups therein – where everyone would have an equal chance to make a prosperous life for themselves and collectively for the country. Efficient Banking Sector Pivotal For Pakistan’s Growth: CERP, Alchemy Technologies And Pakistan Banks’ Association Let's compare "this" to some of the world's most successful corporations – with respect to diversity (in terms of gender, age, experience, and background). These companies will always try to ensure workplace diversity – in pursuit of new perspectives, creativity, economies of scale, entrepreneurship, and adaptability: all intended to align with company objectives. Similarly, a shared sense of ‘Pakistaniyat’ can potentially trigger an inter-group exchange of ideas – leading to enhanced understanding, acceptance, and exposure. In more senses than one, I often feel that being Pakistani is a hundred percent synonymous with being emotional. Call it being passionate or intense or whatever, this is something that Pakistanis generally are: always were and will probably always be. Maybe this is what connects us to our roots, or our way of staying grounded; alternatively, this could be us trying to establish common grounds with our peers – premising entirely on patriotism/nationalism. Over the years, these grounds have been about food determining everything (birthdays, dholkis , mehndis , weddings, grand openings, anniversaries, graduations, and even funerals), our firm belief in "hojaiga yaar" (detect the optimism), our very epic (read: chuss) sense of humour and our biggest fear of “log kia kahainge!". Add for the extremely opinionated nation that Pakistan is – even prime-time TV can very quickly devolve into loud and lengthy discourses on politics, sports, music, faith, world events, and even the legitimacy of the 1969 moon landing. And all of this is done with an unwavering passion. At the very basic core, though, the sentiment is all about any and everything associated with "being Pakistani": tangible, intangible, or otherwise. This can be truck art, a cold glass of Pakola, listening to Mujhse Pehli Si Muhabbat by Noor Jehan in a rickshaw, tending to sacrificial animals around Eid-ul-Azha, Wazir Khan Masjid (Dehli Gate Lahore), the greenery of Punjab, the rawness of Baluchistan, Makli, Ziarat, Keenjhar Lake, and so much more. Pakistan's Missing Left Wing These are but some of the images that come to my mind when I try to define being Pakistani. There are countless others, and for each individual within this country, those moments and feelings will be unique and different. Perhaps, then, the most important and only thing to remember is that great nations are not born, but made: and made they are, on the strength of their people. This makes me wonder if we should ask ourselves if we can truly be who we were meant to be: a diverse group of people working "together" for their own and their country’s prosperity. And maybe this is why Quaid-e-Azam said during a Civic Address at Quetta Municipality on June 15, 1948: “We are now all Pakistanis, not Balochis, Pathans, Sindhis, Bengalis, Punjabis, and so on, and as Pakistanis, we must feel, behave and act, and we should be proud to be known as Pakistanis and nothing else.”

Extending Mnangagwa’s Term to 2030 is Wrong: An Analysis of the Legal, Ethical, and Political HurdlesBy 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.