188 yen to php

188 yen to php

Mocha Mousse: Pantone's Color of the Year 2025 reflects our ‘desire for every day pleasures’In 2020, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd BABA prepared for the record-breaking IPO of its affiliate, Ant Group, poised to revolutionize financial technology. Just days before the launch, regulators revealed that Ant had bypassed key banking laws to expand its services. The IPO, valued at $35 billion, was abruptly suspended, causing Alibaba's stock to plummet 13% in a single day. Shortly after, the State Administration for Market Regulation launched an antitrust investigation into Alibaba's monopolistic practices. Investors alleged that Alibaba misled them about regulatory risks tied to Ant Group, its ownership structure, and lending activities. Alibaba has agreed to a $433.5 million settlement with investors to resolve these claims. Affected investors can now file a claim to receive their payouts. Overview In July 2020, Ant Group announced plans for a record-breaking $35 billion IPO, poised to drive significant growth for Alibaba Group Holding Ltd BABA , which held a 33% stake. However, regulatory concerns over Ant's business model, ownership structure, and compliance with new fintech rules led to the IPO's abrupt suspension in November, just days before its launch. The fallout caused Alibaba's shares to plummet, erasing billions in market value, and triggered an antitrust investigation into its monopolistic "Choose One of Two" practices. In response, investors filed a class-action lawsuit, accusing Alibaba of failing to disclose critical regulatory risks. Recently, Alibaba agreed to pay $433.5 million to affected shareholders to settle this lawsuit. SAMR's Crackdown on Alibaba: Legal and Regulatory Implications As Alibaba's market dominance and access to vast consumer data grew, the Chinese government expressed rising concerns about its economic impact. In response, the SAMR introduced new anti-monopoly regulations on September 1, 2019, targeting practices by powerful companies like Alibaba. On November 5, SAMR convened a meeting with around twenty major e-commerce firms, warning that practices like "Choose One of Two" were illegal and must stop. While Alibaba did not deny using such practices, it dismissed the criticism as "slander" and "malicious hype" in a press statement. Under growing regulatory pressure, however, the company eventually committed to compliance, acknowledging potential scrutiny for future violations. Despite the clear warnings, Alibaba continued its anti-competitive behavior. In November 2020, the government introduced new regulations specifically targeting monopolistic behavior in the internet industry, with Alibaba as a primary focus. This announcement triggered a sharp 9% drop in Alibaba's share price on November 10, 2020. By December, SAMR launched a formal investigation, which ultimately found Alibaba guilty and resulted in a record $2.8 billion fine. Political Risk and the Hidden Investors Behind Ant’s IPO Ant Group was spun off from Alibaba in 2011. Jack Ma controlled 50.5% of Ant's shares, while Alibaba held a 33% stake. On July 20, 2020, Alibaba announced Ant’s IPO, aiming to raise a record $35 billion with a $300 billion valuation, sparking excitement among investors, as Alibaba's stake could be worth over $100 billion. However, the enthusiasm was short-lived, as the company revealed in November 2020 that the IPO had been abruptly suspended. The suspension was largely driven by Ant's attempt to bypass financial regulations. Although operating as a financial services company, Ant positioned itself as a tech firm to avoid traditional banking rules. Its high-risk lending activities, with leverage ratios of 50-60 times, raised serious concerns among regulators. In response, China introduced new rules in September 2020, requiring financial holding companies like Ant to maintain higher capital levels, further intensifying scrutiny. Jack Ma's criticism of regulators in an October speech further fueled tensions. Another major risk to the IPO was the hidden identities of private investors whose interests conflicted with those of Chinese President. These investors concealed their ownership through complex and opaque investment structures. Jack Ma was reportedly aware of the political risks tied to these undisclosed ownership interests but failed to address them transparently. When the Chinese government uncovered the identities of these investors during an investigation prior to the Ant IPO, it decided to halt the offering entirely. As a result of the undisclosed information, the share price of Alibaba dropped from $310 on November 2, 2020, to $222 on December 24, 2020, indicating a total fall of 29%. Following these events, investors accused Alibaba of failing to disclose the regulatory risks tied to Ant Group and its monopolistic practices, leading to a lawsuit against the company. Resolving the Case To resolve the lawsuit from investors, Alibaba has agreed to a cash settlement of $433.5 million. If you invested in Alibaba, you may be eligible to claim a portion of this settlement to recover your losses. Despite these efforts, Alibaba’s stock remains below its peak, trading at $85. In August 2024, China's market regulator announced that Alibaba had completed three years of "rectification" for monopolistic behavior. Alibaba called the announcement a "new starting point for development" and pledged to continue fostering the healthy growth of the platform economy. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

After Trump’s win, Black women are rethinking their role as America’s reliable political organizers

FORT THOMAS, Ky. — The Cooper at Highlands football regular-season showdown had plenty on the line in late September. And yet Cooper’s three-point win doesn’t compare to what’s at stake this Friday night in a Class 5A state semifinal in Union. “It’s a big moment, big game,” Highlands junior quarterback Mario Litmer said. “Obviously they got us once this season so really hoping to get them back.” Undefeated Cooper (13-0) plays host to its fourth consecutive postseason game when it goes against District 6 rival Highlands (11-2) at 7 p.m. Friday. The winner advances to play South Warren (12-1) or Bowling Green (11-2) in the Class 5A state final at 8 p.m. Dec. 7 at Kroger Field in Lexington. This is the second straight season that Cooper and Highlands will meet in the state semifinals. Cooper was a Class 5A state runner-up in 2023. Cooper coach Randy Borchers admits that the Bluebirds should’ve won the regular-season matchup this season. He had an inkling the teams could face each other again in a state semifinal. Although both teams aren’t dwelling on the regular season or the 2023 state semifinal. Cooper is ranked No. 1 in the Class 5A state poll, while Highlands is No. 4. “Our kind of philosophy is we’re 0-0 and we want to go 1-0 with a win,” Borchers said. Highlands and Cooper coaches are complimentary of the opposing program. There is a deal of mutual respect. And there is no doubt the teams will be ready to compete Friday night. “Two really good football teams with playmakers,” Borchers said. The Jaguars are led by several players including junior quarterback Cam O’Hara, who has thrown for 3,070 yards and 45 touchdowns. Junior running back Keegan Maher has rushed for 1,433 yards and 22 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Isaiah Johnson has 56 receptions for 1,089 yards and 22 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Jaiden Combs has 40 receptions for 815 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior tight end/defensive end Austin Alexander has 37 receptions for 615 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also has 10 sacks on defense. Defensively, junior safety Ryker Campbell has a team-high 91 tackles (75 solo) and a team-high six interceptions. Borchers likes the fact that the Jaguars have reduced the number of penalties since earlier this season. “Randy (Borchers) has done a fabulous job over there,” Highlands coach Bob Sphire said. “That group can really, really play. Hopefully it’s a great game.” Highlands has won seven consecutive games since the 24-21 loss to visiting Cooper Sept. 28. Litmer has thrown for 2,528 yards and 31 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Adam Surrey has 54 receptions for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Jackson Arnold has 51 receptions for 827 yards and nine touchdowns. Defensively, senior linebacker Thomas Hicks has a team-high 95 tackles. Sophomore defensive back Gabe Williams has a team-high five interceptions. If recent history is any indication, Friday’s game should be very close on the scoreboard. “We’re trying to get to the state championship and win it,” Arnold said. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. We’ve got one goal and we’re trying to get there.”\ SIGN UP: Subscribe to our high school sports newsletterNone

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items of grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast. The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County, about 130 miles (209 km) from the Oregon border, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, some 270 miles (435 km) away, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. The tsunami warning was in effect for roughly an hour. It was issued shortly after the temblor struck and covered nearly 500 miles (805 km) of coastline, from the edge of California’s Monterey Bay north into Oregon. “It was a strong quake, our building shook, we’re fine but I have a mess to clean up right now,” said Julie Kreitzer, owner of Golden Gait Mercantile, a store packed with food, wares and souvenirs that is a main attraction in Ferndale. “We lost a lot of stuff. It’s probably worse than two years ago. I have to go, I have to try and salvage something for the holidays because it’s going to be a tough year,” Kreitzer said before hanging up. The region — known for its redwood forests, scenic mountains and the three-county Emerald Triangle’s legendary marijuana crop — was struck by a 6.4 magnitude quake in 2022 that left thousands of people without power and water. The northwest corner of California is the most seismically active part of the state since it’s where three tectonic plates meet, seismologist Lucy Jones said on the social media platform BlueSky. Shortly after the quake, phones in Northern California buzzed with the tsunami warning from the National Weather Service that said: “A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you. You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return.” South of San Francisco in Santa Cruz, authorities cleared the main beach, taping off entrances with police tape. Numerous cities urged people to evacuate to higher ground as a precaution, including Eureka. “I thought my axles had fallen apart,” said Valerie Starkey, a Del Norte County supervisor representing Crescent City, a town of fewer than 6,000 about 66 miles (106 km) north of Eureka. “That’s what I was feeling ... ‘My axles are broken now.’ I did not realize it was an earthquake.” Gov. Gavin Newsom said he has signed off on a state of emergency declaration to quickly move state resources to impacted areas along the coast. State officials were concerned about damages in the northern part of the state, Newsom said. Crews in Eureka, the biggest city in the region, were assessing if there was any major damage from the quake, Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel said. Bergel, who works as a resource aid at a middle school, said lights were swaying and everyone got under desks. “The kids were so great and terrified. It seemed to go back and forth for quite a long time,” she said. Some children asked, “Can I call my mom?" The students were later sent home. In nearby Arcata, students and faculty were urged to shelter in place at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. The campus in was not in the tsunami hazard zone and after inspections, “all utilities and building systems are normal and operational,” the university said in a statement. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said residents experienced some cracks in their homes’ foundations, as well as broken glass and windows, but nothing severe. There also have been no major infrastructure problems, building collapses or roadway issues, and no major injuries or deaths have been reported, he said. Honsal said he was in his office in the 75-year-old courthouse in downtown Eureka when he felt the quake. “We’re used to it. It is known as ‘earthquake country’ up here,” he said. “It wasn’t a sharp jolt. It was a slow roller, but significant.” Michael Luna, owner of a Grocery Outlet in Eureka, said that besides a few items falling off shelves, the store on Commercial Street was unscathed by the earthquake. “We didn’t have any issues but a couple of deodorants fall off.... I think the way the earthquake rumbled this time, it was a good thing for our store because the last earthquake was a huge mess," he said. They evacuated customers and closed their doors temporarily until officials lifted the tsunami warning, he said, rushing off the phone to attend to a growing line of customers at check-out. The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, stopped traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland, and the San Francisco Zoo’s visitors were evacuated. Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator for the Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska, said the computer models indicated that this was the type of earthquake that was unlikely to cause a tsunami and gauges that monitor waves then confirmed it, so forecasters canceled the warning. This quake was a strike-slip type of temblor that shifts more horizontally and is less prone to cause tsunamis, unlike the more vertical types, said National Weather Service tsunami program manager Corina Allen in Washington state. The California Geological Survey says the state’s shores have been struck by more than 150 tsunamis since 1800, and while most were minor, some have been destructive and deadly. On March 28, 1964, a tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake in Alaska smashed into Crescent City hours later. Much of the business district was leveled and a dozen people were killed. More recently, a tsunami from a 2011 earthquake in Japan caused about $100 million in damages along the California coast, much of it in Crescent City. _____ Dazio reported from Los Angeles. AP writers Chris Weber and Dorany Pineda in Los Angeles; Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz, California; Sophie Austin and Tran Nguyen in Sacramento, California and Seth Borenstein in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report. Olga R. Rodriguez And Stefanie Dazio, The Associated PressTectonic Therapeutic To Present on December 3rd, 2024 at the Piper Sandler Healthcare Conference

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Known across the globe as the stuck astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams hit the six-month mark in space Thursday with two more to go. The pair rocketed into orbit on June 5 , the first to ride Boeing's new Starliner crew capsule on what was supposed to be a weeklong test flight. They arrived at the International Space Station the next day, only after overcoming a cascade of thruster failures and helium leaks . NASA deemed the capsule too risky for a return flight, so it will be February before their long and trying mission comes to a close. People are also reading... While NASA managers bristle at calling them stuck or stranded, the two retired Navy captains shrug off the description of their plight. They insist they're fine and accepting of their fate. Wilmore views it as a detour of sorts: "We're just on a different path." NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore stand together for a photo June 5 as they head to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for their liftoff on the Boeing Starliner capsule to the International Space Station. "I like everything about being up here," Williams told students Wednesday from an elementary school named for her in Needham, Massachusetts, her hometown. "Just living in space is super fun." Both astronauts lived up there before, so they quickly became full-fledged members of the crew, helping with science experiments and chores like fixing a broken toilet, vacuuming the air vents and watering the plants. Williams took over as station commander in September. "Mindset does go a long way," Wilmore said in response to a question from Nashville first graders in October. He's from Mount Juliet, Tennessee. "I don't look at these situations in life as being downers." Boeing flew its Starliner capsule home empty in September, and NASA moved Wilmore and Williams to a SpaceX flight not due back until late February. Two other astronauts were bumped to make room and to keep to a six-month schedule for crew rotations. Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams pose for a portrait June 13 inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station's Harmony module and Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Like other station crews, Wilmore and Williams trained for spacewalks and any unexpected situations that might arise. "When the crews go up, they know they could be there for up to a year," NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free said. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio found that out the hard way when the Russian Space Agency had to rush up a replacement capsule for him and two cosmonauts in 2023, pushing their six-month mission to just past a year. Boeing said this week that input from Wilmore and Williams was "invaluable" in the ongoing inquiry of what went wrong. The company said it is preparing for Starliner's next flight but declined to comment on when it might launch again. NASA also has high praise for the pair. "Whether it was luck or whether it was selection, they were great folks to have for this mission," NASA's chief health and medical officer, Dr. JD Polk, said during an interview with The Associated Press. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, both Expedition 71 flight engineers, make pizza Sept. 9 aboard the International Space Station's galley located inside the Unity module. Items are attached to the galley using tape and Velcro to keep them from flying away in the microgravity environment. On top of everything else, Williams, 59, had to deal with "rumors," as she calls them, of serious weight loss. She insists her weight is the same as it was on launch day, which Polk confirms. During Wednesday's student chat, Williams said she didn't have much of an appetite when she first arrived in space. But now she's "super hungry" and eating three meals a day plus snacks, while logging the required two hours of daily exercise. Williams, a distance runner, uses the space station treadmill to support races in her home state. She competed in Cape Cod's 7-mile Falmouth Road Race in August. She ran the 2007 Boston Marathon up there as well. She has a New England Patriots shirt with her for game days, as well as a Red Sox spring training shirt. "Hopefully I'll be home before that happens — but you never know," she said in November. Husband Michael Williams, a retired federal marshal and former Navy aviator, is caring for their dogs back home in Houston. As for Wilmore, 61, he's missing his younger daughter's senior year in high school and his older daughter's theater productions in college. The astronauts in the video seemed to be in good spirits with one stating, “It’s gonna be delicious.” (Scripps News) "We can't deny that being unexpectedly separated, especially during the holidays when the entire family gets together, brings increased yearnings to share the time and events together," his wife, Deanna Wilmore, told the AP in a text this week. Her husband "has it worse than us" since he's confined to the space station and can only connect via video for short periods. "We are certainly looking forward to February!!" she wrote. SpaceX launches rescue mission for NASA astronauts stuck at space station A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, left, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, gives a thumbs up as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building on their way to Launch Complex 40 for a mission to the International Space Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov leave the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, talks to his family members as Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov looks on after leaving the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Two astronauts are beginning a mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) In this image from video provided by NASA, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, and astronaut Nick Hague travel inside a SpaceX capsule en route to the International Space Station after launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (NASA via AP) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Falcon 9's first stage booster returns to Landing Zone 1 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Idaho US senator says ‘jury’s still out’ on how to handle women serving in military combatDraconian social media ban doomed to failMagnifica Unveils the Future of Luxury Living at December 9th Launch Event Orlando, FL - December 2024

Dynamiters alumnus Braiden Koran excels academically

WATERTOWN, Mass., Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tectonic Therapeutic, Inc. (NASDAQ: TECX) (Tectonic), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of therapeutic proteins and antibodies that modulate the activity of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), today announced that Alise Reicin, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the Piper Sandler 36th Annual Healthcare Conference being held in New York on December 3-5, 2024. For more information regarding one-on-one meetings, please contact your Piper Sandler representative. The live webcast can also be accessed under “ Events & Presentations ” on the Investors section of the Tectonic website at www.tectonictx.com . Once the conference has concluded, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website for approximately 90 days. About Tectonic Tectonic is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of therapeutic proteins and antibodies that modulate the activity of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Leveraging its proprietary GEODeTM (GPCRs Engineered for Optimal Discovery) technology platform, Tectonic is focused on developing biologic medicines that overcome the existing challenges of GPCR-targeted drug discovery and harness the human body to modify the course of disease. Tectonic focuses on areas of significant unmet medical need, often where therapeutic options are poor or nonexistent, as these are areas where new medicines have the potential to improve patient quality of life. Tectonic is headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit www.tectonictx.com and follow on LinkedIn . Investors: Dan Ferry LifeSci Advisors daniel@lifesciadvisors.com (617) 430-7576 Media: Kathryn Morris The Yates Network kathryn@theyatesnetwork.com (914) 204-6412

Dell Technologies Q3 revenue falls short of estimates as weak PC demand weighs

After reports Dragonfly delivery drivers reportedly walked off the job this week, the company is assuring customers there will not be any service disruptions as a result of the situation. On Tuesday, drivers gathered outside the Dragonfly depot on Beaver Lake Road in Kelowna, to protest work conditions, claiming long hours sometimes in unsafe conditions, social media posts showed. Dragonfly is a delivery service that states it, “optimizes 3,000 routes daily across Canada for more than 25 independent delivery partners," including Amazon. The workers are not unionized. Many on social media were in support of the drivers, saying they often had packages delivered late at night and in rural areas with no lights. “I don’t want them late at night either!! I always thought it was odd why they started delivering so late! I don’t blame the drivers,” wrote Tammy W. Jones. While others who lived in smaller communities like Princeton complained that they waited too long for delivery or that packages were damaged after arrival. What’s happening with my packages is the drivers are marking the packages as attempted delivery when they haven’t actually tried to deliver,” said Anthony ter Keurs in Princeton. On Thursday (Nov. 21), Intelcom Media Team with Dragonfly told Black Press that it recognizes and values the essential role drivers and delivery personnel play in the company’s collective success. “We took notice of the dissatisfaction of some of our independent delivery contractors’ drivers in Kelowna, and we take their concerns seriously,” stated Dragonfly in an email. The company claims it has been in discussions with the independent delivery contractors who employ the drivers to better understand their needs and expectations, since Tuesday. However, Dragonfly did not specifically clarify that the drivers had actually walked off the job. “We are committed to identifying a satisfactory and sustainable solution that reconciles the operational imperatives of our industry with the well-being of the drivers employed by our delivery partners while continuing to meet our commitment to customer expectations,” said Dragonfly. Capital News attended the Dragonfly depot on Thursday and Friday but did not see anyone on site including workers protesting, and was unable to connect with any drivers before publication. Dragonfly is based in Montreal, Que. and has operations both in Australia and the U.S.

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.The first-generation BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe was arguably the second-worst thing to come out of the year 2020. It was BMW’s first front-wheel-drive car ever sold in the United States, and everything from its styling to its driving experience was viciously criticized by the press. Fast forward to the present, and we’ve learned how to navigate life with the horrors brought upon us by that wretched year. Now BMW has unveiled the second-generation 2 Series Gran Coupe . Is it going to be the vaccine that cures the ills of the first-generation car, or is it just a new variant? I got to sample the new car very briefly at BMW Test Fest this year , and initial impressions are good. Full Disclosure: BMW flew me out to its facilities in South Carolina for the annual BMW Test Fest event. I sampled upcoming tech and drove several models, but I was only given about five minutes on a closed course in the new 2 Series Gran Coupe. This isn’t a full review or even a first drive story; it’s more of a preview of a first drive. We will let you know as soon as we get more time with it. I drove a 2025 BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe for five minutes on a closed course at BMW’s test track in South Carolina, and from those five minutes I could tell the new car is a more cohesive vehicle than the first-gen model. When performing a few high-speed lane changes and long fast turns the M235i was stable, solid and responsive. It felt playful, and mercifully it didn’t understeer into oblivion; if anything it was more eager to oversteer. The new interior is slightly more upscale than the outgoing car’s, and it feels more spacious. One of the biggest demerits against the first-gen 2 Series Gran Coupe was its frumpy styling. The new car isn’t what I’d call a looker, but it is an improvement, especially at the rear. The new design better masks the platform’s front-wheel-drive roots, with a slightly lower nose and more flattering body lines that feel more cohesive than before. The silhouette is aided by a more graceful slope to the C-pillar, and an ass-end that looks less like a swollen forehead over awkward creased design elements. Overall it’s more closely related to the rest of the BMW lineup. All new 2 Series Gran Coupes will come standard with an M Sport exterior design package to keep the theme sporty and elevated, where the previous design’s base trim looked more like an economy car than a luxury car. Dimensions remain mostly the same as before, though it’s grown an inch in height and just under an inch in length. Beyond improving the looks, BMW gave most models more power, too. The base 228i now comes with a turbocharged 2-liter Miller cycle inline-4 that produces 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, which is up 13 horses and 37 torques when compared to the first-gen car. The M235i also has a two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but with 312 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, up 11 horsepower and actually down 37 pound-feet of torque versus the previous model. Both engines are mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. BMW claims the 228i now goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, 0.2 second faster than before, while the M235i takes the same claimed 4.7 seconds as the outgoing car. Of course the tech quotient is up, with the 2 Series now featuring BMW’s latest curved driver’s display and infotainment screen running the newest version of BMW iDrive. New standard features for all 2 Series Gran Coupe models include a 12-speaker Harmon/Kardon stereo, keyless entry, wireless charging, phone-as-key technology, adaptive suspension, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, a parking assistant, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. M235i models get a standard M Sport Brake package that features four-piston front calipers developed for full-fat M models, a package that’s optional on the 228i. Most new 2 Series Gran Coupes will start going on sale in March, though base front-wheel-drive 228i models will arrive a few months later. Prices for that base FWD 228i will start at $40,775 including the $1,175 destination charge. Adding xDrive brings the price up to $42,775, while the top-of-the-line M235i xDrive starts at a pricey $50,675 before options. The second-generation BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is an improvement over the outgoing car, but is it going to light driving enthusiast’s hearts on fire? Not likely. It is a solid entry-level luxury car with a reinvigorated sporty edge, and new looks that do a good job of righting the wrongs of its predecessor. If I was in the market for a new 2 Series Gran Coupe, though, I would much rather buy a used 3 Series if I really needed four doors, or I’d buy a proper rear-wheel-drive 2 Series coupe.

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