The Keepers Holdings Inc. of tycoon Lucio Co is gobbling up a local beer importer, further boosting the company’s extensive portfolio.

The Department of Trade and Industry probe into the rising influx of imported cement is seen as essential for strengthening the struggling local cement industry that has faced increasing competition from imports.

CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy, and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. Install, uninstall, and toolbar included. [License: Ad-Supported | Requires: 11|10|8|7 | Size: 69 MB ]

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Frustrating Xbox owners around the globe, reports are flooding in across the web that Xbox Live is currently down. Whether you're looking to jump into a game, stream your favorite shows, or navigate the dashboard, users are finding themselves locked out of any functionality. Users from Reddit to Twitter to my own living rooms are reporting that accessing any service is impossible. This includes playing games, accessing cloud saves, using apps, or even browsing the Xbox Store. The crux of the problem seems to be tied to the Xbox Live login. X...

Vehicle prices are continuing on the downward trajectory, which is something that money expert Clark Howard has been saying would happen. “The used vehicle prices are on a steady downturn, and the new vehicles are on a downturn as well but not as steep because they don’t have as far to fall as the used […]

The post Report: 10 Used Cars With Big Price Drops appeared first on Clark Howard.

Vehicle prices have been causing sticker shock for the past couple of years, but money expert Clark Howard says used cars have normalized recently. A recent report from vehicle research site iSeeCars indicates that shoppers are still throwing their dollars toward older used cars as the price of new cars remains stubbornly expensive. Here are […]

The post New Report: The Average Price of a Used Car appeared first on Clark Howard.

It’s no secret that electric vehicles (EVs) are starting to grow on the American public. A study from vehicle research site iSeeCars.com measures the number of EV chargers in the top U.S. cities and their rate of installation as a barometer of how EV-friendly the places are. Which Cities Are the Most Electric Vehicle-Friendly? While […]

The post Report: Top Cities for Electric Cars appeared first on Clark Howard.

The average price for a new vehicle rose over the past month, but the increase was only negligible, according to the latest sales figures from car valuation site Kelley Blue Book (KBB). How Much Does a New Car Cost Right Now? The average price for a new vehicle was $48,397 in September 2024 — 0.4% […]

The post Report: The Average Price of a New Vehicle appeared first on Clark Howard.

If you’re traveling to a faraway place for a long time, there’s a good chance that a car rental would be money well spent for you. A recent survey from CheapCarRental.net indicates that rental rates have dropped just 0.5% compared to a year ago but by about 28% compared to earlier this summer. That means […]

The post Report: 10 Most Expensive U.S. Cities for Car Rentals appeared first on Clark Howard.

If you’ve traveled enough, you’ve experienced a horror story with lost or misplaced luggage. Money expert Clark Howard says that airlines often struggle to get baggage from Point A to Point B. Airlines have gone through a roller coaster of sorts. The onset of COVID-19 sank travel demand in 2020 and 2021. When restrictions were […]

The post Should I Buy an AirTag for My Checked Airport Luggage? appeared first on Clark Howard.

If you’re in the market for a laptop or desktop PC, you know that pretty much all of them come with impressive features. But which brands stand out from the rest? The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Household Appliance and Electronics Study 2024 rates the best computer brands and types of devices according to customer […]

The post Report: The #1 Computer Brand for Customer Satisfaction appeared first on Clark Howard.

Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir holds virtual meeting in NY

Blatant violations continue in IOJ&K despite India's signature on United Nations Convention against Torture in 1997

A fire at a Digital Realty Singapore datacenter by a lithium-ion battery explosion disrupts Alibaba Cloud services.

From Iqra to Alia, brides are switching it up when it comes to their wedding day looks

The trick to merging comfort and style is all about finding pieces that are both functional and fashionable.

Mahal's husband belonged to militant wing of the terror group

MOU between Gwadar, Turkmenbashi ports to be inked soon

The Nobel laureate emphasised the importance of supporting Pakistani films and dramas to encourage the industry.

Let Virgo season inspire your nails with a blend of earthy tones and flawless precision.

Albeit digital reading is a cost-effective option, it threatens bookstores and bibliophiles alike

A representational image of an alligator. — AFP/file

A large alligator wandering among the planes on the tarmac at a Florida airport was captured on video by a passenger on a moving plane.

The animal, estimated by witnesses to be about 10-feet long, was seen making its way...

Ai-Da Robot’s "AI God" artwork. — Ai-Da Robot Studios

An AI generated portrait of the eminent World War II codebreaker, Alan Turing, has been sold for a record $1.3 million at auction.

There were 27 bids for the digital artwork sale of "AI God", which had...

A girl receives polio vaccine drops, during an anti-polio campaign, in a low-income neighborhood in Karachi on July 20, 2020. — Reuters First case in Chagai district confirmed. Lab detects Poliovirus Type-1 .Genetic sequencing of samples underway.

Pakistan...

A representational image shows three babies together. — Pexels

In a significant shift since 1998, the rate of triplet births and births of a higher order, like quadruplets and sextuplets, plummeted by 62% in the United States in 2023, according to a recent report from the Centres...

A girl receives polio vaccine drops, during an anti-polio campaign, in a low-income neighborhood in Karachi, July 20, 2020. — Reuters

Afghan-French journalist recounts torture and fear in Afghan prison, calls for support for detained journalists

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Plus: Chrysler minivans recall, the SRT High Performance Tour and Fiat 500 by Gucci.

Transport for London said it was contacting around 5,000 customers whose bank account data may have been accessed

US Justice Dept announces Haimovich's actions include shipment of components with missile technology applications

Wayne Borg, Neom media executive, reportedly continues to make offensive remarks despite complaints.

A database of pirate sites maintained by City of London Police for more than a decade is set for a makeover. Earlier this year vendors were invited to bid for a contract to supply
a new portal for Operation Creative, the anti-piracy initiative responsible for the Infringing Website List. Nominated for inclusion by mainly overseas rightsholders, the list predominantly features overseas pirate sites. The winning bid of just over £221,000 will be settled from the UK public purse.

From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.

After DAZN received a warning for the blunder that saw Google Drive blocked in Italy, a company behind a smart TV video player app had a DAZN-initiated blocking decision revoked after a successful appeal. That may seem like a win, but the finer details reveal a legal framework that favors rightsholders so strongly, online services incurring liability for the actions of users seems inevitable.

From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.

Extensive research highlights the anxiety and stress working mothers face while balancing their work and family life.

Washington had sanctioned China-based companies in October 2023 for supplying missile-applicable items to Pakistan

Musadik Masood Malik says rate of petroleum levy to also decrease with increase in tax-to-GDP ratio

Activism: In the ever-evolving landscape of politics, we often find ourselves confined to the traditional left-right spectrum. This binary view, with its emphasis on economic and social policies, sometimes obscures deeper motivations driving voter behavior and political trends. As a result, we might miss crucial insights that could enhance our understanding of why people vote the way they do, why political movements gain momentum, and why some ideas resonate while others falter. I have found an alternative framework to be far more helpful: the Maslow Pyramid.

Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, typically illustrated as a pyramid, categorizes human needs into five levels: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Maslow famously hypothesized, that a lower-level need must be satisfied before we start attempting to fulfill the needs of the next level — as an example, while we’re starving and live in fear of being robbed (level one), we’re not so much concerned with having the respect of the community (level four). By examining political trends through this lens, we can gain a richer, more nuanced perspective on what drives societal shifts and voter preferences.

Physiological Needs and the Politics of Survival

At the base of Maslow’s pyramid are physiological needs: food, water, warmth, and rest — as well as immediate physical safety. In times of economic crisis, political discourse often gravitates towards these fundamental concerns. Populist movements frequently gain traction by promising to address the immediate needs of the people. For instance, during the Great Recession, there was a surge in support for policies focused on job creation, healthcare access, and basic economic security. Politicians who can convincingly address these basic needs often see significant support from constituencies facing hardship just getting from one day to the next without getting beaten, robbed, or starved. Fear of getting to this state (fear of getting robbed on your way to/from work, school, etc.) will also suffice to place oneself at this level.

However, if established parties fail to address these concerns, voters will inevitably turn to whomever offers a solution, even if it’s an atrocious one. It’s like choosing Comcast for your Internet connection when no other provider is available—you know the service is subpar, but having some connection is better than none. Similarly, in politics, when mainstream parties neglect the foundational needs of the populace, fringe or extremist parties can gain support by simply acknowledging and addressing these unmet needs — and that is regardless of how flawed their solutions to said problems may be.

Safety Needs and the Demand for Stability

Moving up the pyramid, once the physical needs are met, then safety needs encompass longer-term personal security, employment, and health. Political rhetoric around law and order, immigration control, and national security taps into these safety concerns. When people feel their safety is threatened, whether by crime, terrorism, or economic instability, they are more likely to support policies and leaders who promise to restore stability and protect them from perceived threats. The post-9/11 era (just after 2001), with its heightened focus on national security, is a prime example of how safety needs can dominate the political agenda.

Yet again, if traditional parties fail to provide a sense of security, voters may gravitate towards any party that promises to deliver it, even if their methods are draconian and/or frankly ridiculous.

Love and Belonging: The Politics of Identity

The middle tier of the pyramid addresses social needs: relationships, friendships, and a sense of belonging. Identity politics, which includes movements advocating for the rights of specific social groups based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and more, finds its roots here. Political movements that foster a sense of community and belonging can galvanize supporters by addressing these intrinsic needs. The LGBPQRST+ rights movement, for instance, not only fights for legal rights but also seeks to create a supportive community for its members.

When mainstream parties overlook these social needs, people will seek out any group or party that offers them a sense of belonging, even if that party’s overall agenda is problematic. It’s a matter of seeking connection where it’s available.

Esteem: The Quest for Recognition

Esteem needs encompass respect, self-esteem, status, and recognition. Political leaders who can validate the contributions and worth of their supporters often build strong, loyal followings. This is evident in political campaigns that emphasize the dignity of work, the importance of patriotism, and the recognition of personal achievements. Policies aimed at rewarding hard work and providing opportunities for personal advancement resonate deeply with voters seeking validation and respect.

Self-Actualization: The Pursuit of Fulfillment

At the peak of the pyramid is self-actualization — the realization of one’s potential and the pursuit of personal growth and fulfillment. Politics at this level involves visionary thinking and appeals to higher ideals. Environmental movements with or without solutions based in reality, space exploration initiatives, and educational reforms often engage this need. Leaders who inspire through their vision of a better future, who challenge citizens to think beyond their immediate concerns and contribute to something greater than themselves, tap into this highest level of human motivation.

It’s rather telling that the biggest telltale sign for voters (and media), who are personally at this level of human needs, is that they often and happily paint the political parties and movements answering to level-one and level-two human needs as brutish, uneducated, simpleton and backwards — when in reality, what such name-calling voters who pretend to hold themselves to some sort of higher standard are really doing, is disacknowledging that other people’s most basic needs are simply not being met. Talk about being overprivileged in ivory towers! “Let them eat cake”, anyone?

If mainstream political parties neglect to engage voters at this level, people will align with any party that inspires them, even if the broader agenda is not entirely sound. It can be somewhat like signing up for a self-help seminar led by a guy who lives in his mom’s basement because he speaks so passionately about “unlocking your potential.”

A Holistic Approach to Political Analysis

By applying the Maslow Pyramid to our understanding of political trends, we gain a multi-dimensional view that goes beyond the simplicity of left versus right. This approach allows us to see how different policies and political messages resonate with various segments of the population based on their current needs and aspirations.

For instance, a comprehensive healthcare reform policy can address physiological needs by ensuring access to medical care, safety needs by providing financial security, love and belonging by reducing social disparities, esteem by recognizing healthcare as a right, and self-actualization by promoting a healthier society capable of achieving its full potential.

It’s further important to realize that an individual voter would vote for completely different parties, even at opposite ends of the traditional spectrum, depending on where they feel the most urgency in their personal needs at the moment, and that this is not a contradiction or uncertainty on policies.

In conclusion, the Maslow Pyramid provides a valuable framework for understanding the complex and dynamic nature of political trends. It reminds us that politics is fundamentally about people and their needs. By considering these needs in our political analysis, we can develop more empathetic, effective, and inclusive strategies that resonate deeply with the human condition. And crucially, we must remember that when these needs are ignored, voters will turn to any party that promises to meet them, even if it means accepting a deeply flawed solution. After all, in the absence of better options, you might just end up with Comcast.

Donald Trump gestures next to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem during a town hall campaign event in Oaks, Pennsylvania, US, October 14, 2024. — Reuters

US President-elect Donald Trump has picked South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to serve as the next secretary of the Department of...

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Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer attend the Opening Ceremony of the United Nations climate change conference COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan November 12, 2024. — ReutersPM to highlight climate change dangers affecting...

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Supporters Imran Khan sit on scaffoldings in Rawalpindi, on November 26, 2022. — ReutersProtests to be staged across Pakistan and globally, says lawyer.This is final call for anti-govt protest, lawyer quotes Imran.Imran's sister says stage set for 10-year-long martial law.

Pakistan's players celebrate after the dismissal of Nepal´s Gulsan Jha during the Asia Cup 2023 cricket match between Pakistan and Nepal at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan. — AFP/File Pakistan prepared to withdraw from playing in India: source. Says the ICC...

Toy giant Mattel says it "deeply" regrets an error on the packaging of its "Wicked" movie-themed dolls, which mistakenly links toy buyers to a pornographic website.

Children and teenagers playing sports overall has increased even as participation among boys has dropped off, according to an annual study released Wednesday.