AURN News

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by the transatlantic slave trade and the legacy of colonialism, have joined forces, calling for reparations from European nations. According to the Associated Press, delegates convened at a reparations conference in Ghana, West Africa, and reached a consensus to establish a Global Reparations Fund.

The Permanent Forum on People of African Descent presented a report to the U.N. General Assembly, highlighting that people of African descent worldwide continue to face "systemic discrimination and racialized attacks."

The report emphasized the urgent need for reparations to rectify the deep-seated injustices. An additional report calculated that Britain's accountability in the slave trade amounts to $23.2 trillion in compensation owed.

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(AURN News) – This Thanksgiving, there’s a glimmer of relief for travelers at the gas pumps, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). Despite the prevailing sense that costs are on the rise across various sectors as the nation battles inflation, AAA reports a continued decline in gas prices over the past several weeks.

In the latest update, AAA reveals that gas prices have dipped by six cents in the last week, with the national average settling at $3.34 per gallon. Remarkably, ten states are now boasting gas prices below the $3 per gallon threshold, offering respite to motorists in Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Alabama, and Arkansas.

Comparing the current figures to the same period last year, the national average is a notable 40 cents lower, signifying a welcome break for consumers grappling with economic uncertainties. States such as Montana and Florida have witnessed some of the most significant drops, with both experiencing a 14-cent decrease in gas prices.

AAA also predicts that this Thanksgiving will mark the third busiest travel season by car since 2000. An estimated 49 million people are expected to hit the road.

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2023 will go down as the year that pretty much the entire world took a pause to celebrate and discuss the last 50 years of hip hop. Many artists have weighed in, but Ludacris, who's had so many hits, feels like he was really ahead of his time when he came out with "Battle of the Sexes" in 2010.

"I was one of the first people to want more females in hip hop, and for them to dominate. That was what I set out to do with 'Battle of the Sexes,' and now you see what's going on in hip hop. So maybe I was just a little bit ahead of my time, where it didn't peak yet, but understand that I'm loving the rush and dominance of females in hip hop right now."

Chris Bridges, aka Ludacris, was recently honored at the Billboard Music Awards for being a trailblazer in the genre of hip hop, and he has not only been that, but he turned into a pretty good actor as well.

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(AURN News) – In a challenging real estate landscape marked by soaring home prices, mounting student loan debt, and inflation, the quintessential American Dream of homeownership is slipping further away from the grasp of millennials and Gen Z, according to recent data released by the National Association of Realtors.

The data, derived from the 2023 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, reveals a stark contrast in the affordability of homeownership over the past year. The median household income required to purchase a home has surged to $107,000, a considerable leap from the $88,000 reported in 2022. 

Further exacerbating the disparity, only 6% of African Americans successfully entered the housing market in 2023, a stark juxtaposition to the 88% of white Americans who achieved homeownership during the same period. These concerning numbers underscore the persistent racial disparities within the housing sector, reflecting a trend that has persisted despite ongoing efforts to address systemic inequalities.

The 2023 data also highlights a notable shift in the demographics of homebuyers, as the average age of those entering the housing market decreased to 35 years old. This marks a decline from the all-time high of 36 recorded last year. 

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Oretha Castle Haley's childhood home in New Orleans, located in the Treme neighborhood, has been granted a place on the National Register of Historic Places, according to the Associated Press.

This Craftsman-style residence served as a pivotal hub for Louisiana's civil rights movement in the 1960s and was famously known as the "Castle Family Home" and later, the "Freedom House."

As a central figure in the city's civil rights history, Haley's home acted as a safe haven for participants of the 1961 Freedom Rides. Haley herself actively engaged in protests, sit-ins, and campaigns advocating for racial equality. Her impactful efforts challenged segregation in various facilities and lunch counters across New Orleans.

Haley passed away in 1987 from ovarian cancer.

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According to the American Farm Bureau Federation's 38th annual study, you can expect a lighter impact on your wallets this Thanksgiving compared to last year.

The average cost for a classic holiday feast for 10 is now $61.17. It marks a 4.5 percent decrease from 2020's record high. However, prices are still up by 25 percent compared to 2019, reflecting the ongoing challenges of high supply costs and inflation.

A major contribution to this year's cost reduction is the turkey. Traditionally the most expensive item on the table, the average price for a 16-pound turkey is down 5.6 percent from last year at $27.35. The Farm Bureau survey includes all the staples, stuffing sweet potatoes, rolls, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, and pumpkin pie.

But if you wanna include things like boneless ham, russet potatoes, and frozen green beans, it brings your cost up to $84.75.

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According to the American Auto Association, 55.4 million Americans are expected to travel this holiday season. That's a 2.3 percent increase from last year, making it the third highest since 2000.

Now, most Americans will be reaching their destination by car. That's an anticipated 49.1 million people, marking a 1.7 percent increase from 2022.

The good news is gas prices are trending lower with an average of $3.58. Also, by air, those numbers are going up with 4.7 million people in the friendly skies, that's a 6.6 percent increase from last year and the highest since 2005.

The busiest days? The Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, with Sunday and Monday being popular days to return.

Cruises, busses, and trains aren't far behind, showing an 11 percent increase over last year.

As millions gear up to travel, one question looms: are you ready for the busiest Thanksgiving travel season in nearly two decades?

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In a new blow to President Joe Biden's re-election prospects, the latest NBC News poll, conducted this month, unveils more concerning findings. Only 40% of respondents expressed approval of the president's performance, while 57% voiced disapproval of the job he is doing.

The economic front appears particularly challenging for Biden as the country continues to deal with inflation, with 59% of respondents expressing dissatisfaction with the president's handling of the economy.

Looking ahead to potential electoral scenarios, the poll gauged voter preferences in a hypothetical match-up between President Biden and a Republican candidate. Results also indicate that 48% of respondents expressed a preference for the Republican candidate, while only 37% signaled support for Biden.

This poll aligns with others that continue to underscore a challenging landscape for Biden's re-election campaign, with approval ratings and economic concerns shaping the narrative. As the 2024 election looms on the horizon, the president and his team face the formidable task of addressing voter confidence and support.

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In a significant move for Mississippi's higher education landscape, officials have designated a new president for Jackson State University, the state's largest historically Black institution. 

According to the Associated Press, the board of trustees for the state Institutions of Higher Learning has bestowed the prestigious title of 13th president upon Marcus L. Thompson, concluding an extensive search process initiated after the resignation of the university's former president, Thomas K. Hudson, on March 31. 

Presently holding the role of deputy commissioner and chief administrative officer within the Institutions of Higher Learning public university system, Thompson also holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in urban higher education from JSU. 

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed profound dismay over the recent assault on the Indonesian Hospital in North Gaza as the war continues. The attack, occurring on Monday, resulted in the deaths of at least 12 individuals, including patients and their companions. Additionally, numerous others have sustained injuries, some critical.

The Indonesian hospital, now under siege, has been a beacon of hope amidst turmoil, but it is struggling with severe shortages of fuel, water, medicines, and essential supplies. This has drastically reduced its capacity to treat those with severe injuries and other medical emergencies.

Over the past six weeks, Gaza has witnessed multiple attacks on health facilities causing many mass evacuations, fatalities that are now over 12,000, and injuries.

The WHO has documented 335 attacks on healthcare in the region, impacting hospital operations and bed capacity for Palestinians.

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