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Walgreens doubles down on robots to fill prescriptions amid turnaround Walgreens doubles down on robots to fill prescriptions amid turnaround A robotic arm fills prescriptions at a Walgreens’ micro-fulfillment center. Courtesy: Walgreens As struggling drugstore chains work to regain their footing, Walgreens is doubling down on automation. The company is expanding the number of retail stores served by its micro-fulfillment centers, which use robots to fill thousands of prescriptions for patients who take medications to manage or treat diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions. Walgreens aims to free up time for pharmacy staff, reducing their routine tasks and eliminating inventory waste. Fewer prescription fills would allow employees to interact directly with patients and perform more clinical services such as vaccinations and testing. Walgreens first rolled out the robot-powered centers in 2021, but paused expansion in 2023 to focus on gathering feedback and improving performance at existing sites. After more than a year of making upgrades, including new internal tools, the company said it is ready to expand the reach of that technology again. Walgreens told CNBC it hopes to have its 11 micro-fulfillment centers serve more than 5,000 stores by the end of the year, up from 4,800 in February and 4,300 in October 2023. As of February, the centers handled 40% of the prescription volume on average at supported pharmacies, according to Walgreens. That translates to around 16 million prescriptions filled each month across the different sites, the company said. The renewed automation push comes as Walgreens prepares to go private in a roughly $10 billion deal with Sycamore Partners, expected to close by the end of the year. The deal would cap a turbulent chapter for Walgreens as a public company, marked by a rocky transition out of the pandemic, declining pharmacy reimbursement rates, weaker consumer spending and fierce competition from CVS Health, Amazon and other retail giants. Like CVS, Walgreens has shifted from opening new stores to closing hundreds of underperforming locations to shore up profits. Both companies are racing to stay relevant as online retailers lure away customers and patients increasingly opt for fast home delivery over traditional pharmacy visits. The changes also follow mounting discontent among pharmacy staff: In 2023, nationwide walkouts spotlighted burnout and chronic understaffing, forcing chains to reexamine their operational models. Walgreens said the investment in robotic pharmacy fills is already paying off. To date, micro-fulfillment centers have generated approximately $500 million in savings by cutting excess inventory and boosting efficiency, said Kayla Heffington, Walgreens’ pharmacy operating model vice president. Heffington added that stores using the facilities are administering 40% more vaccines than those that aren’t. “Right now, they’re the backbone to really help us offset some of the workload in our stores, to obviously allow more time for our pharmacists and technicians to spend time with patients,” said Rick Gates, Walgreens’ chief pharmacy officer. “It gives us a lot more flexibility to bring down costs, to increase the care and increase speed to therapy – all those things,” he said. Gates added that the centers give Walgreens a competitive advantage because independent pharmacies and some rivals don’t have centralized support for their stores. Still, Walmart, Albertsons and Kroger have similarly tested or are currently using their own micro-fulfillment facilities to dispense grocery items and other prescriptions. Micro-fulfillment centers come with their own risks, such as a heavy reliance on sophisticated robotics that can cause disruptions if errors occur. But the facilities are becoming a permanent fixture in retail due to the cost savings they offer and their ability to streamline workflows, reduce the burden on employees and deliver goods to customers faster. How Walgreens micro-fulfillment works Inside a Walgreens micro-fulfillment center, which helps fill thousands of prescriptions. Courtesy: Walgreens When a Walgreens retail pharmacy receives a prescription, the system determines whether it should be filled at that location or routed to a nearby micro-fulfillment center. Maintenance medications, or prescription drugs taken regularly to manage chronic health conditions, and refills that don’t require immediate pickup are often sent to micro-fulfillment. At the core of each facility is a highly automated system that uses robotics, conveyor belts and barcode scanners, among other tools, to fill prescriptions. The operations are supported by a team of pharmacists pharmacy technicians and other professionals. Instead of staff members filling prescriptions by hand at stores, pill bottles move through an automated and carefully choreographed assembly line. Pharmacy technicians fill canisters with medications for robot pods to dispense, and pharmacists verify those canisters to make sure they are accurate. Yellow robotic arms grab a labeled prescription vial and hold it up to a canister, which precisely dispenses the specific medication for that bottle. Robotic arms fill prescriptions at a Walgreens micro-fulfillment center. Courtesy: Walgreens Certain prescriptions are filled at separate manual stations, including inhalers and birth control pill packs. Each prescription is then sorted and packaged for delivery back to retail pharmacy locations for final pickup. There are other security and safety measures throughout the process, said Ahlam Antar, registered group supervisor of a micro-fulfillment center in Mansfield, Massachusetts. For example, the robot pods automatically lock and signal an error with a red-orange light if a worker attaches a canister to the wrong dispenser, preventing the incorrect pills from going in a prescription, she said. Properly training workers at the centers to ensure accuracy and patient safety is also crucial, according to Sarah Gonsalves, a senior certified pharmacy technician at the Mansfield site. She said a core part of her role is to make sure that technicians can correctly perform the different tasks in the process. Improvements to robotic prescription fills Antar, who has worked at the Mansfield site since its 2022 opening, said Walgreens has made improvements to the micro-fulfillment process after considering feedback from stores and patients during the paused expansion. That includes establishing new roles needed to support the process at the sites, such as a training manager for all 11 locations. The facilities also plan to transition to using smaller prescription vials after hearing concerns that the current bottles are too large, according to a Walgreens spokesperson. They said that will allow the centers to ship more prescriptions per order and reduce costs. A robotic arm fills a prescription vial at a Walgreens micro-fulfillment center. Courtesy: Walgreens Heffington said the automated locations have helped reduce Walgreens’ overall prescription fulfillment costs by nearly 13% compared to a year ago. She said Walgreens has also increased prescription volume by 126% year-over-year, now filling more than 170 million prescriptions annually. The company hopes to raise that number to 180 million or even more. Heffington added that Walgreens implemented new internal tools to track the work across all 11 centers and provide real-time data on where a patient’s prescription is in the micro-fulfillment process. “If a patient called the store and said, ‘Hey, can you tell me where my prescription is today?’ [Workers] can do that with great specificity,” thanks to the new tools, Heffington said. Despite the company’s progress, Gates said there is more work to be done with micro-fulfillment centers. For example, he pointed to the possibility of shipping prescriptions directly to patients’ doorsteps instead of putting that burden on retail stores. “It’s only step one right now,” he said. Other improvements may still be needed at facilities, according to some reports. For example, WRAL News reported in April that some customers at a Walgreens store in Garner, North Carolina, say they are only getting partial prescription fills, with several pills missing, or their medicine is being delayed. Retail store pharmacy staff see benefits A customer views merchandise for ***** at a Walgreens store in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Christopher Lee | Bloomberg | Getty Images Before Brian Gange’s Arizona store started relying on an automated facility, he walked into the pharmacy every morning knowing that a massive list of prescriptions was in his work ****** waiting to be filled for the day. Now, with help from micro-fulfillment, that list is significantly smaller each day, according to Gange. “We don’t have to spend as much time on just those repetitive fulfillment tasks,” he told CNBC. “It really takes a huge weight off our shoulders.” Gange said that gives him and his team time to step behind the pharmacy counter and interact with customers face-to-face, answering questions, providing advice, performing health tests or administering vaccines. That kind of attention can make all the difference for a patient. For example, Gange recalls stepping away for five minutes to take a patient’s blood pressure despite being overwhelmed with tasks while working at a different Walgreens location several years ago. He ended up sending that person to the emergency room because their blood pressure was “off the charts.” That patient’s wife visited the pharmacy the next day to thank Gange, saying her husband “probably wouldn’t be here with us today” without that blood pressure test. “I shouldn’t have to question whether I have that five or 10 minutes to check a blood pressure for a patient,” Gange said. “Micro-fulfillment and centralized services are really what are going to allow us to be able to do that, to have that time.” “That really allows us to provide better care for them,” he added. Source link #Walgreens #doubles #robots #fill #prescriptions #turnaround Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pope Leo XIV appeals for 'no more war' in first Sunday message – Reuters Pope Leo XIV appeals for 'no more war' in first Sunday message – Reuters Pope Leo XIV appeals for ‘no more war’ in first Sunday message ReutersPope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine and Gaza, saying ‘Never again war’ NPRPope Leo XIV at ******* Coeli: Never again war! ******** NewsPope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at tomb of St. Peter before greeting the masses for his noon blessing AP NewsPope Leo delivers first ‘******* Caeli’ prayers from St. Peter’s balcony Fox News Source link #Pope #Leo #XIV #appeals #039no #war039 #Sunday #message #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Earnings to Watch This Week Earnings to Watch This Week 00:00 Speaker A Time now for to watch and earnings next week. We’re going to be getting another big batch of reports throughout the week that includes Walmart, core weave and take two. Starting off here with Walmart. Walmart announced the results for the first quarter on Thursday, and it was expecting Walmart same store sales to rise in Q1 driven by value seeking consumers in a strong Easter season, but sales of general merchandise and may grow slower due to cautious spending and tariff worries. Taking a look at core weave, the AI cloud computing company reporting on Wednesday, it will be the first time posting earnings since becoming a public company back in March. And I was focusing on core weaves near term spending plans and demand for its AI infrastructure. Investors will also be listening for any commentary about how the company plans to grow beyond its heavy reliance on revenue from Microsoft. And finally, video game publisher take two, reporting fourth quarter earnings on Thursday. Investors keeping a close watch on any commentary for its flagship video game franchise, Grand Theft Auto. Company released a new trailer for the much anticipated GTA 6 earlier this week, which was bittersweet for fans, we know that game facing another delay and not expected to come out until at least May 2026. Source link #Earnings #Watch #Week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scoggins: Timberwolves’ Game 3 win spins from willingness to get ‘right down there in the mud with them’ – Star Tribune Scoggins: Timberwolves’ Game 3 win spins from willingness to get ‘right down there in the mud with them’ – Star Tribune Scoggins: Timberwolves’ Game 3 win spins from willingness to get ‘right down there in the mud with them’ Star TribuneDo-it-all Randle’s triple-double fuels Wolves’ win ESPNAnthony Edwards ‘owns’ tough feedback, rises above it in latest glimpse of greatness The New York TimesNBA playoffs: Timberwolves surge past Warriors late to take 2-1 series lead after Draymond Green fouls out Yahoo SportsAnthony Edwards rescues Minnesota with clutch second half to escape with Game 3 win over shorthanded Warriors CBS Sports Source link #Scoggins #Timberwolves #Game #win #spins #willingness #mud #Star #Tribune Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Louisville woman paid $1K for truck at police auction — but when it was delivered, valuable items were missing Louisville woman paid $1K for truck at police auction — but when it was delivered, valuable items were missing In 2023, Emily Howell bid $1,026 on a 1996 GMC Sierra listed for auction by the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) — largely because the photos showed a kayak, fishing poles and a toolbox she was interested in. But when the truck was delivered she says all those items were gone. Her experience now appears to be part of a larger problem at the LMPD tow lot, with employees having allegedly removed items from impounded cars before they went to auction. Howell calls it theft, but the law might not be so clear. Don’t miss “You don’t steal from people, you don’t take things that aren’t yours,” Howell told WHAS11 News. “Surely when you sign on for a job like that, you have to sign some paperwork that says, ‘Hey, we don’t steal from the community.’” Tow lot employees caught on video An internal police investigation found that civilian employees at the Louisville tow lot were captured on surveillance video taking items from cars slated for auction. In footage from June 11, 2024, obtained by WHAS11, an on-duty lot attendant and a woman in street clothes can be seen walking through the “auction corral” and opening several vehicles. At one point, the lot attendant leaves the frame carrying a suitcase they did not enter with. Another employee is also seen rifling through other vehicles. An LMPD spokesperson provided the following statement to WHAS11: “The screenshots you provided depict two civilian tow lot employees taking items from vehicles in the LMPD tow lot prior to auction. When LMPD became aware of this incident last year, we immediately launched a criminal investigation through our Public Integrity Unit (PIU). The PIU conducted a lengthy investigation, reviewing surveillance videos and conducting interviews. Following this investigation, the PIU referred the case to the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office (JCAO), which ultimately recommended that criminal charges not be filed. After examining all the evidence, the JCAO determined a conviction on any criminal charge was unlikely. However, this case remains an open and active internal investigation within LMPD.” The county attorney’s letter, obtained by WHAS11, identified one man and one woman as the subjects of the investigation but did not provide specific reasons for declining to file charges. At this time, it appears no employees have been fired or disciplined, reports WHAS11. And when asked for a statement by the news channel, LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey declined to comment on specifics, citing an ongoing internal investigation. Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees — here’s how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis Who owns the contents of a car about to go to auction? According to WHAS11, Kentucky law and Louisville Metro codes state that vehicles impounded for 45 days become government property. However, ownership of personal items inside the cars remains a gray area. Local ordinances allow original owners to retrieve personal belongings until the auction ***** is finalized. After that, unclaimed items may become the property of the government or the buyer, depending on local policy. This lack of clarity can create situations like Howell’s, where buyers assume the car and everything inside it will be theirs, only to find valuable items missing. There is no federal law that clearly states whether personal items inside auctioned vehicles must be included in the *****. Federal auction partners typically sell items “As-Is/Where-Is”, meaning buyers receive the vehicle and whatever is inside at the time of *****, unless the listing specifies otherwise. Planning to buy an auctioned car? Here’s what you need to know Buying a car at auction can sometimes feel like winning the lottery, but buyers need to do their homework to avoid disappointment. 1. Research local statutes Understand who owns the car’s contents at auction. Some cities allow original owners to claim items up until the moment of *****; others may automatically include personal property with the vehicle. 2. Ask clear questions If you are bidding on a vehicle because of specific items pictured inside it, like Howell did, contact the auctioning agency before placing your bid. Ask whether those items are guaranteed to come with the vehicle. 3. Get it in writing if possible If an auction house or government agency says items are included, try to get that in writing. Verbal assurances may not hold up if disputes arise after the purchase. 4. Inspect if allowed Some auctions allow potential buyers to inspect the vehicles in person or virtually. Use that opportunity to check for the items you are interested in and clarify any doubts. 5. Manage your expectations Auction vehicles, especially impounded ones, are typically sold as is. Personal items, even if pictured, may not be guaranteed to be included when you purchase. While federal auctions typically include everything inside the vehicle unless noted otherwise, state and local rules can vary widely. If you’re bidding on a car for what’s inside it, be sure to ask questions and read the fine print, because once the gavel drops, what’s missing may be gone for good. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Source link #Louisville #woman #paid #truck #police #auction #delivered #valuable #items #missing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks Hit Halfway Mark With Major Hurdles to Clear – WSJ U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks Hit Halfway Mark With Major Hurdles to Clear – WSJ U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks Hit Halfway Mark With Major Hurdles to Clear WSJIran, US resume nuclear talks as red lines clash ReutersIran says nuclear enrichment ‘non-negotiable’ before US talks in Oman Al JazeeraUS nuclear talks may be collapsing, and Iran is worried – analysis The Jerusalem PostThe Iranian war veteran leading nuclear talks with the US Financial Times Source link #U.S.Iran #Nuclear #Talks #Hit #Halfway #Mark #Major #Hurdles #Clear #WSJ Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jiushark JF800 Diamond Review: The best air cooler you can’t buy Jiushark JF800 Diamond Review: The best air cooler you can’t buy Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test. While Jiushark isn’t well known in U.S. enthusiast and PC building circles, we’ve covered the company in the past, highlighting some of its unique products like the Jiushark M.2 Three, an M.2 SSD cooler that uses a dual heatpipe radiator and fan, much like a mini CPU cooler. We’ve also tested the JF13K Diamond low-profile CPU cooler. Today, we’re looking at the new Jiushark JF800 Diamond dual-tower air cooler, available in white and ******, with the company claiming cooling capabilities of up to 280W! (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Will Jiushark’s latest make our list of best CPU coolers on the market? There’s no question that it deserves a shot because, spoiler, this is the strongest performing dual-tower cooler we’ve ever tested, on both Intel Raptor Lake and Arrow Lake CPUs. But it’s also pretty hard to come by in the U.S., unless you’re willing to order it directly from China. Let’s take a look at the specifications and features of the cooler. Then we’ll go over thermal performance and noise levels. Cooler specifications Swipe to scroll horizontally Cooler Jiushark JF800 Diamond ARGB MSRP $43.40 via AliExpress Radiator Material Aluminum Lighting ARGB or non-ARGB fans Warranty 1 Year Socket Compatibility Intel Socket LGA 1851/1700/1200/115x/2011 AMD AM5 / AM4 Unit Dimensions (including fans) 130 (L) x 135.5 (W) x 159mm (D) Maximum TDP (Our Testing) >254W with Core i7-14700K Packing and included contents (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Opening the compact box reveals the accessories, neatly packaged above the cooler. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Included in the box are the following: Two 120 mm fans Dual-tower heatsink Thermal paste Mounting accessories for modern AMD and Intel platforms Installation manual (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Features of Jiushark’s JF800 Diamond Six copper heatpipes The Jiushark JF800 Diamond moves heat away from the CPU using six copper heatpipes – but as you’ll see in our benchmarks, it offers performance superior to similar air coolers we’ve tested. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Heatsink Design The towers of the JF800 feature what appears to be a fairly basic fin design. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The tops of the heatsinks have a grille reminiscent of cattle guards, adding some nice aesthetics with the ARGB lighting shining through them. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Two 120mm fans with ARGB lighting There’s more to a cooler than just the heatsink or radiator. The bundled fans significantly impact cooling and noise levels, as well as how the cooler looks in your case. The included fans here have nine blades, and there are models with or without ARGB lighting, according to your preference. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) As you’ll see in the benchmarks below, the fans help enable superior thermal performance, but can be a little noisy. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Swipe to scroll horizontally Dimensions 120 x 120 x 25mm Fan Speed 800-1800 RPM ± 10% Air Flow Up to 83.54 CFM Air Pressure Up to 2.68 mmH2O Bearing Type FDB MTTF Unlisted Lighting Optional ARGB Testing configuration – Intel LGA1700 and LGA1851 platform Swipe to scroll horizontally CPU Intel Core i7-14700K GPU ASRock Steel Legend Radeon 7900 GRE Motherboard MSI Z790 Project Zero Case MSI Pano 100L PZ ****** System Fans Iceberg Thermal IceGale Silent There are many factors other than the CPU cooler that can influence your cooling performance, including the case you use and the fans installed in it. A system’s motherboard can also influence this, especially if it suffers from bending, which results in poor cooler contact with the CPU. To prevent bending from impacting our cooling results, we’ve installed Thermalright’s LGA 1700 contact frame into our testing rig. If your motherboard is affected by bending, your thermal results will be worse than those shown below. Not all motherboards are affected equally by this issue. I tested Raptor Lake CPUs on two motherboards. And while one showed significant thermal improvements after installing Thermalright’s LGA1700 contact frame, the other motherboard showed no temperature diffrence! Check out our review of the contact frame for more information. I’ve also tested this cooler with Intel’s latest platform, Arrow Lake and the LGA 1851 socket. Swipe to scroll horizontally CPU Intel Core Ultra 9 285K GPU MSI Ventus 3X RTX 4070Ti Super Motherboard MSI Z890 Carbon Wifi Case MSI MPG Gungnir 300R System fans Pre-installed case fans LGA 1700 and 1851 installation The installation of this air cooler is easy with the included mounting hardware. 1. You’ll first need to place the backplate against the rear of the motherboard after assembling it. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 2. Next, you’ll need to take the rubber standoffs and slide them against the poles of the backplate. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 3. Then, you’ll take the mounting bars and place them on top of the rubber standoffs, securing them with the included screws. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 4. Apply the included thermal paste to your CPU. If you have any questions on how to do this properly, please refer to our handy how to apply thermal paste guide. 5. Remove the middle fan from the cooler, then place the cooler on top of your CPU. Use a screwdriver to secure it using the screws in between the two towers, shown below. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 6. Once complete, connect the PWM and ARGB cables to the corresponding motherboard headers. Installation is now complete. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Source link #Jiushark #JF800 #Diamond #Review #air #cooler #buy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Leo XIV in first Sunday blessing calls for peace in Ukraine and Gaza: “Never again war” Pope Leo XIV in first Sunday blessing calls for peace in Ukraine and Gaza: “Never again war” Pope Leo XIV called for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza with the release of hostages and delivery of humanitarian aid in his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff. “I too address the world’s great powers by repeating the ever-present call ‘never again war,'” Leo said from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to an estimated 100,000 people below. It was the first time that Leo had returned to the loggia since he first appeared to the world on Thursday evening following his remarkable election as pope, the first from the United States. Then too he delivered a message of peace. Leo was picking up the papal tradition of offering a Sunday blessing at noon, but with several twists. Whereas his predecessors delivered the greeting from the studio window of the Apostolic Palace, off to the side of the piazza, Leo went to the very center of the square and the heart of the church. Pope Leone XIV leads the ******* Caeli prayer in St. Peter’s Square on May 11, 2025 in ******** City, ********. Pope Leo XIV (formerly Robert Francis Prevost) was elected to the papacy on May 8 following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Franco Origlia / Getty Images He also offered a novelty by singing the ******* Caeli prayer, a Latin prayer said during the Easter season that past popes would usually just recite. He wore the simple white cassock of the papacy — not the formal red cape he wore on Thursday night — and had reverted back to wearing his silver pectoral cross. He had worn a more ornate one that contains the relics of St. Augustine and his mother, St. Monica, on Thursday night that had been given to him by his Augustinian religious order. Pope Leo, who was chosen Thursday to become the next pontiff, will be inaugurated at a mass in St Peter’s Square next week. Leo, born in Chicago, is the first U.S.-born pope. “Beloved Ukrainian people” Leo quoted Pope Francis in denouncing the number of conflicts ravaging the globe today, saying it was a “third world war in pieces.” “I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people,” he said. “Let everything possible be done to achieve genuine, just and lasting peace as soon as possible.” He called for the release of war prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children to their families, and welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. He also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and for humanitarian relief to be provided to the “exhausted civilian population and all hostages be freed.” Leo also noted that Sunday was Mother’s Day in many countries and wished all mothers, “including those in heaven” a Happy Mother’s Day. The crowd, filled with marching bands in town for a special Jubilee weekend, erupted in cheers and music as the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica tolled. Angela Gentile arrived in the square three hours early to be in place. Nonplussed that cardinals had elected yet another non-Italian pope, she said she was happy Leo came to the central balcony of the basilica, so the crowd could see him face-to-face. “What’s good for the Holy Spirit works for me,” she said. “I have trust.” More than 50 pilgrims from Houston, Texas, were in the square, waving three large American flags. They were in Rome on a pre-planned Holy Year pilgrimage and said they were proud to be part of this historic occasion. “Words cannot express my admiration and gratitude to God,” said the Rev. Dominic Nguyen, who led the Vietnamese American group. He said he hoped the pope would be happy to see the Stars and Stripes but also Peruvian flags and all other countries, showing the universality of the church. Leo’s Peruvian and Chicago roots Leo, the former Robert Prevost, spent most of his priestly life as a missionary then bishop in Peru, an experience he recalled on Thursday night in offering a special greeting to his former diocese in Chiclayo in Spanish. Bertha Santander of Peru had come five hours early to unfurl her huge Peruvian flag in the piazza, recalling the emotion of that night when the piazza erupted in cheers when Leo first appeared. “It’s such happiness,” she said. “Already when I heard the last name I started crying and when he addressed a greeting in Spanish I was a sea of tears,” said the Peruvian woman who has lived in Italy for more than 40 years. Earlier Sunday, Leo celebrated a private Mass near the tomb of St. Peter with head of his Augustinian order, the Rev. Alejandro Moral Anton. The Mass occurred in the grottoes underneath St. Peter’s, the traditional burial place of St. Peter, the apostle who is considered the be the first pope. The area, which is normally open to the public, also contains the tombs of past popes, including Pope Benedict XVI. Leo on Saturday prayed before the tomb of Francis, located across town at the St. Mary Major Basilica. The 69-year-old Chicago-born missionary was elected 267th pope on Thursday following the April 21 death of Francis. His brother, Louis Prevost, told “CBS Mornings” last week that since childhood, Leo has “had that calling.” Louis said that he hasn’t gotten a chance to speak to his younger brother to congratulate him, but understands that he is starting a new life. “He will always be Rob,” Prevost said. “If we do get over there and do get to meet him, I’m still going to treat him like my little brother. Give him a hug, say ‘Rob, you ******, what have you done?’ Take his hat off and give him a nuggie.” Pope Leo XIV: The First American Pope More More Source link #Pope #Leo #XIV #Sunday #blessing #calls #peace #Ukraine #Gaza #war Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Crowds cheer as Pope holds first Sunday address Crowds cheer as Pope holds first Sunday address Pope Leo XIV appealed for “no more war” in a message to world powers during his first Sunday address at the ********. The Pope also recited the ******* Caeli prayer, in honour of the Virgin Mary, to the crowd in St Peter’s Square. Thousands of worshippers turned out to see the new pontiff, greeting his appearance with loud cheers. Source link #Crowds #cheer #Pope #holds #Sunday #address Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Spanish car brand has big plans to sell its EVs and hybrids in America ― soon Spanish car brand has big plans to sell its EVs and hybrids in America ― soon A little known Spanish car brand focused on electric vehicles is preparing to sell its vehicles in the United States — turmoil regarding tariffs, trade and environmental policy notwithstanding. Barcelona-based Cupra has already had talks with the Penske Automotive Group, the United States’ third largest dealer group with about 200 outlets. Penske also operates dealerships for dozens of brands ― including Cupra ― in Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. “Cupra aims to inspire the United States from its hometown of Barcelona, bringing its design led and performance driven cars to American roads,” the company said in a statement to the Free Press. Easier said than done, but Cupra has made an impression in the crowded European market since Volkswagen’s Seat brand launched it in 2018. Seat, known largely for practical, affordable cars, created Cupra as a sporty sub brand. The result impressed VW brass in Germany so much that there’s talk Seat may wither away, replaced by the more stylish, profitable and technically advanced Cupra. Cupra’s Tavascan EV has 282 hp and went more than 350 miles on a charge in European tests, which are more generous than U.S. range estimates. Cupra sells a mix of electric, hybrid and gasoline vehicles in more than 40 countries, including Mexico, where prices start at just under $37,000 for a gasoline powered Leon compact SUV. The brand hopes an emphasis on performance ― Cupra originated as the name of Seat’s racing team ― and style rooted in Barcelona’s history as a center of art, architecture and design will set it apart. “Cupra has a respectable following, but the challenges of the U.S. market are very difficult to overcome,” said S&P Global principal automotive analyst Stephanie Brinley. The United States’ huge size and population make it expensive to establish a new brand, both geographically and in shoppers’ minds. Cupra has sold more than 800,000 vehicles so far. Prices for the gasoline-powered Cupra Leon compact SUV start just under $37,000 in Mexico. The company’s U.S. focus will be on sporty, upscale EVs and hybrids, but Cupra may also offer some internal combustion models to generate sales and service volume. “As the first new brand created within the Volkswagen Group, we offer an alternative to the next generation of U.S. car buyers,” the statement continued. “Positioned between the mass and premium segments, we are not based on legacy or tradition. We are an unconventional challenger brand.” More: 2025 Cadillac Optiq SUV EV shocks with style, features and value The brand plans to begin with sales in 20 states “strategically aligned with the Cupra brand.” That presumably means states that encourage EV sales with incentives and emissions limits. Story Continues “Cupra is totally unknown to the U.S. population,” said Adam Bernard, principal of consultant AutoPerspectives. “It’s a blank slate. The brand doesn’t overlap with VW or Audi. Does VW want to spend a pile of money to establish an image for it?” Cupra executives toured the Los Angeles auto show last November to size up the competition. After initial expectations sales would begin in 2027, the official target is now by the end of the decade. Cupra’s Tavascan EV has 282 hp and went more than 350 miles on a charge in European tests, which are more generous than U.S. range estimates. More: Honda’s $1B Ohio EV hub has an assembly line other automakers will want to see The model line will include gasoline power, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric vehicles and extended range EVs with onboard gasoline-powered generators. Cupra plans to build the vehicles at VW group facilities in North America. Current options for that include assembly plants in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Puebla, Mexico, and the Scout Motors plant under construction in South Carolina. Constantly changing U.S. tariff policy will be considered, but won’t stop the brand. “Cupra is monitoring developments closely and will comprehensively address the potential impact on supply chains and our production network,” the statement said. The Cupra Terramar is available with gasoline power, as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid. VW infuriated many of its American dealers with plans to sell rugged Scout SUVs and pickups directly to consumers. There’s no word on Cupra’s sales plan yet, but the overture to Penske is “obviously an attempt to shortcut” building a sales network, according to Brian Gordon, president of Dave Cantin Group, which advises dealerships. “A partnership with a large dealer network would be a strategic beachhead.” Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or *****@*****.tld. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Spanish car brand Cupra has big plans to sell EVs and hybrids in US Source link #Spanish #car #brand #big #plans #sell #EVs #hybrids #America Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Will Talk Once Russia Agrees to Truce – Bloomberg.com Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Will Talk Once Russia Agrees to Truce – Bloomberg.com Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Will Talk Once Russia Agrees to Truce Bloomberg.comView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Zelenskiy #Ukraine #Talk #Russia #Agrees #Truce #Bloomberg.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

More than 100 dead after flooding in eastern Congo More than 100 dead after flooding in eastern Congo More than 100 people have been killed in floods in the Democratic Republic of Congo after torrential rains caused the Kasaba river to burst its banks. Source link #dead #flooding #eastern #Congo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Where Is Subway Guy Jared Fogle Now? What We Know About His Life in Prison (Including the Ironic Job He Has Behind Bars) Where Is Subway Guy Jared Fogle Now? What We Know About His Life in Prison (Including the Ironic Job He Has Behind Bars) Jared Fogle was once a Subway spokesperson after claiming he lost over 200 lbs. by only eating sandwiches from the fast food joint He was fired in 2015 after he admitted to having sex with at least two minors and to obtaining child ************ Now, Fogle is serving a 15-year sentence in prison, and is expected to be released in March 2029 Jared Fogle was beloved as a Subway spokesperson, but his wholesome image came crashing down when he was accused of ********* abusing and exploiting children. Fogle rose to fame in 2000 for claiming he lost more than 200 lbs. with a diet of Subway sandwiches, later appearing in ads for the franchise for over a decade. However, in 2015, the spokesman was fired from Subway after he admitted to having sex with at least two minors and to obtaining child ************ of at least 12 others. After an August 2015 court appearance, Fogle’s defense attorney Jeremy Margolis said that his client “knows that he has a medical problem. He has already sought evaluation by a world-class psychiatrist, experienced in these matters, and he will seek appropriate treatment.” He was ultimately sentenced to over 15 years behind bars. Here is where former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle is now. Who is Jared Fogle? Casey Rodgers/AP Jared Fogle, “the SUBWAY guy,” prepares BBQ Pulled Pork sandwiches for fans at a SUBWAY restaurant on July 13, 2011 in Los Angeles. Jared Fogle was obese in college, weighing 425 lbs. with a 60-inch waistline — until he lost 245 pounds by eating Subway sandwiches, he claimed. “I ate the footlong veggie and six-inch turkey every day. No cheese, no mayo, tons of vegetables and a bit of spicy mustard,” he told the Indiana Daily Student, the Indiana University campus newspaper, in 1999. “I was reborn in every sense of the word,” he continued. “Subway helped save my life and start over. I can’t ever repay that.” Subway soon reached out and Fogle became a spokesperson for the chain, starring in more than 300 commercials between 2000 and 2015. At the height of his success, his net worth was estimated to be about $15 million. He also became a red carpet regular, appearing at movie premieres and posing for photos with stars, and started his own charitable organization, the Jared Foundation, to promote healthy eating habits and exercise for kids. Fogle’s beloved public image lasted until July 2015, when it was irreparably destroyed: The FBI raided his Indiana home and he was arrested for possession of child ************ and for traveling across state lines to have sex with minors. What did Jared Fogle do? Joey Foley/Getty Jared Fogle walks out of the courthouse on August 19, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. According to a filing from federal prosecutors, Fogle first received child ************ images and videos in 2011 and repeatedly viewed them instead of reporting them to authorities. He then continued to solicit more child ******* abuse material from his co-conspirator, Russell Taylor, including visuals of at least one child as young as 6 years old. Additionally, the filing stated that Fogle went to “great lengths” to have sex with underage minors. He also communicated with prostitutes to help him find younger children for sex, specifying he was interested in 14- and 15-year-olds. At the time, Fogle was married to Kathleen McLaughlin, with whom he shares two children. She filed for divorce after he pleaded guilty. In March 2023, the ID documentary Jared From Subway: Catching a Monster revealed that Fogle also boasted about ********* abusing children during trips to Thailand. “It’s just crazy; it’s just easy over there — different ages,” Fogle told journalist and FBI informant Rochelle Herman in a recorded phone call. “I mean, you just sort of choose what you want, and there’s a price for it, and off you go.” In other recordings that Herman presented on Dr. Phil, a man she alleged is Fogle spoke about his attraction to middle schoolers and wanting to install cameras in their locker rooms so he could see them undress without their knowledge, and described his methods for grooming children for ******* abuse. He also allegedly told Herman that he wanted to see her children, then ages 10 and 11, naked. In November 2015, Fogle pleaded guilty to one count each of distributing and receiving child ************ and traveling across state lines to have sex with a minor. What is Jared Fogle’s sentence? Michael Conroy/AP Former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle leaves the Federal Courthouse following a hearing on child-************ charges on Augst 19, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Fogle was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervision. He also agreed to pay $1.4 million in restitution to 14 of his confirmed victims, who ranged from ages 10 to 17 at the time Fogle committed the offenses against them. Fogle’s sentence was ultimately longer than the 12 and a half years prosecutors initially recommended, with Judge Tanya Walton Pratt telling the court at the time, “The level of perversion and lawlessness exhibited by Mr. Fogle is extreme.” A psychiatrist for the defense alleged that Fogle had a food addiction that transformed into “hypersexuality” after he lost weight and that he also suffered from alcohol dependence. The psychiatrist added that Fogle had “weak evidence” of pedophilia and was “very treatable,” per Reuters. Fogle previously attempted to appeal his sentence, but Judge Pratt’s ruling was upheld. In 2018, he also attempted to appeal his conviction of traveling across state lines to engage in sex with a minor, claiming he traveled for work purposes. Where is Jared Fogle now? AP Photo/Michael Conroy Former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle leaves the Federal Courthouse following a hearing on child-************ charges on August 19, 2015 in Indianapolis. Fogle is serving his sentence at the Englewood Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Littleton, Colo. The former “Subway guy” has been attacked more than once in prison, according to formerly incarcerated prison consultant Larry Levine. “That stigma of what he did will follow him wherever he goes,” he told PEOPLE in March 2016. “He’s four months into a 16-year sentence and he’s already been assaulted several times. I would say this guy has some serious problems.” Though a source said Fogle gained 20 to 30 pounds when he first went to prison in 2016, the former pitchman spoke out about his fitness routine in a handwritten letter dated Nov. 7, 2021, and obtained by the New York Post. “I run four to five miles every day and am the most healthy and in shape I’ve ever been,” he allegedly wrote. “We don’t have a lot of control over our daily lives in prison but working out is one of the things I can control. I currently weigh 180 pounds.” He also said he snacks on granola and protein bars and tries to avoid junk food. Fogle said he also passes time by reading The New York Times daily, as well as historical fiction novels, and that he enjoys watching NFL and college football games on weekends. Fogle noted that he thinks about “all the people [he] let down every single day, especially [his] family.” “I really royally screwed up to wind up where I am,” he wrote. “I was selfish and entitled.” The New York Post also reported that Fogle has had various jobs while behind bars, including kitchen duty, making and serving sandwiches to fellow inmates. In November 2023, court records obtained by Business Insider indicated that Fogle would be released from prison on March 24, 2029, a year earlier than his original 15-year sentence dictated. Read the original article on People Source link #Subway #Guy #Jared #Fogle #Life #Prison #Including #Ironic #Job #Bars Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pope Leo XIV at ******* Coeli: Never again war! – ******** News Pope Leo XIV at ******* Coeli: Never again war! – ******** News Pope Leo XIV at ******* Coeli: Never again war! ******** NewsPope Leo XIV appeals to world powers for ‘no more war’ in first Sunday appearance ReutersPope Leo XIV calls for Gaza ceasefire, release of hostages in first Sunday blessing as pontiff The Times of IsraelIn 2022 interview, pope condemns Russia’s ‘imperialist’ invasion of Ukraine The Kyiv IndependentPope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine, a Gaza ceasefire and release of hostages in Sunday appeal NBC News Source link #Pope #Leo #XIV #******* #Coeli #war #******** #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cooper’s side earn shot at Japan rugby promotion series Cooper’s side earn shot at Japan rugby promotion series Quade Cooper’s final season in Japan Rugby League One goes on after his Hanazono Liners crushed Shuttles Aichi 38-7 to earn a shot at next week’s two-legged promotion/relegation series. Needing to win to keep their hopes alive, Hanazono conceded the opening try to former Western Force and Brumbies centre Chance Peni, but held the Division Two champions scoreless for the remaining 68 minutes, with Cooper’s long-time halves partner Will Genia one of the game’s stars. The veteran Wallaby scrum-half scored his 10th try of the season, one behind ex-England flyhalf Freddie Burns. The former Queensland Reds Super Rugby winners will face their ex-Test teammate Tom Banks in the home-and-away series after the Wallaby fullback’s Mie Heat ended the regular season with a hefty 67-22 loss to seventh-placed ****** Rams Tokyo on Sunday. Israel Folau and Samu Kerevi enjoyed a better return in the final match before their two-game relegation series against the Shuttles, as Urayasu D-Rocks won their third match of the season, beating Sagamihara Dynaboars 34-21. Kobe Steelers are going to have to reverse back-to-back defeats against Shizuoka BlueRevs if they are to make it beyond the first weekend of the Division One playoffs. Former Wallaby coach Dave Rennie’s charges head into their third fixture of the season against the BlueRevs coming off a 29-23 defeat on Saturday, which added to a 15-13 loss at Shizuoka on the competition’s opening day. Kobe led 20-19 shortly after halftime, but were outscored four tries to two. The winner of Saturday’s opening quarter-final will play the defending champions Brave Lupus Tokyo, who will skip the first week after overpowering Yokohama Eagles 49-28 to finish on top of the table The Robbie Deans-coached Saitama Wild Knights also gained direct entry to the final four after recording their biggest win of the season, flattening Tokyo Sungoliath 60-17. They will play the winners of Sunday’s match between Bernard Foley’s Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay and Sungoliath. Spears ended the regular season third after Saturday’s 37-14 win over Verblitz. Source link #Coopers #side #earn #shot #Japan #rugby #promotion #series Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

India’s Jets Shot Down—What Comes Next in the India–Pakistan Conflict? India’s Jets Shot Down—What Comes Next in the India–Pakistan Conflict? Tensions between India and Pakistan have flared dangerously after the downing of multiple Indian fighter jets during Operation Sindoor—an airstrike launched in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam. Pakistan’s swift retaliation, including the claimed destruction of advanced aircraft like Rafales and Su-30MKIs, has raised alarms across the region. With India deploying its INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and Pakistan leveraging its growing ********-backed arsenal, both sides are showing strength in an increasingly volatile standoff. Behind the headlines lies a deeper story of long-standing rivalry, military modernization, and nuclear risk. Source link #Indias #Jets #Shot #DownWhat #IndiaPakistan #Conflict Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘It’s time for Joe Biden to go away': Democrats are triggered by Biden’s return to the spotlight – Politico ‘It’s time for Joe Biden to go away': Democrats are triggered by Biden’s return to the spotlight – Politico ‘It’s time for Joe Biden to go away’: Democrats are triggered by Biden’s return to the spotlight Politico‘He’s a liability’: Joe Biden’s tour is great news for Republicans The TimesDemocrats fume over Biden’s return to spotlight The HillDemocrats grapple with Biden’s reemergence ABC NewsDemocrats seethe over Biden’s return to public eye: report Fox News Source link #time #Joe #Biden #away039 #Democrats #triggered #Bidens #return #spotlight #Politico Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Should You Buy Berkshire Hathaway B Shares While They Are Below $550? Should You Buy Berkshire Hathaway B Shares While They Are Below $550? The stock slid 5% on the news that longtime CEO Warren Buffett plans to step down at the end of 2025. Berkshire Hathaway has a stock portfolio worth roughly $279 billion. The holding company has $348 billion in cash and cash equivalents. 10 stocks we like better than Berkshire Hathaway › Warren Buffett recently announced he’ll step down as chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) at the end of 2025, with Vice Chairman of Non-Insurance Operations Greg Abel set to take over. Buffett will remain chairman, but the transition marks a significant milestone for the $1.1 trillion company. Buffett has led the company since 1965 and during that time it delivered an unparalleled 19.9% annualized return through 2024, nearly double the S&P 500. Berkshire shares have dipped about 5% since the announcement, as investors adjust to the idea of new leadership. With that shift on the horizon, it’s a good time to take stock of where Berkshire stands and how Abel may shape its future. Before digging into Berkshire’s latest earnings release, here’s a refresher on Berkshire Hathaway’s assets, which Abel will soon oversee. Today, Berkshire Hathaway owns 189 operating businesses, including major names like BNSF Railway, Dairy Queen, and See’s Candies. However, its full ownership of insurance powerhouse GEICO — acquired in 1996 — has arguably been its most powerful growth engine. As a property and casualty insurer, GEICO collects premiums up front, creating what’s known as float. Berkshire can invest this float until policy claims are paid out, effectively turning insurance operations into a source of investment capital. During the past two decades, Berkshire’s float has expanded from $47 billion to $173 billion, fueling the growth of a stock portfolio now valued at roughly $279 billion. The company currently holds positions in 44 publicly traded companies, with Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express its top three holdings. In addition to its businesses and investments, Berkshire has amassed a record $348 billion in cash and cash equivalents. Most of this is parked in short-term U.S. Treasury bills — low-risk government-issued debt that matures in a year or less — currently yielding between 4% and 4.3%. Berkshire could earn nearly $14 billion in interest over the next year at those rates, assuming yields remain stable. Despite Berkshire’s current cash strategy, Buffett has previously written that he dislikes parking cash in Treasury bills. In a previous shareholder letter, Buffett wrote, “Over the long term, however, [Treasury bills] are riskier investments — far riskier investments — than widely diversified stock portfolios that are bought over time.” He also said Berkshire only invests in Treasury bills when it “can’t find anything exciting in which to invest,” citing their safety and liquidity as advantages. At Berkshire’s most recent annual meeting, with the company’s CEO transition on the horizon, Abel addressed his approach to capital allocation. He began by stressing the importance of financial strength: We will have a fortress of a balance sheet. … We’ve got a significant set of cash right now, but it’s an enormous asset to have that. And that will continue to be a philosophy. Abel then outlined his capital allocation priorities. First, he focuses on reinvesting in Berkshire’s existing operating businesses. Next, he looks to acquire entire companies. And finally, he considers partial ownership stakes in publicly traded companies. In closing, Abel offered reassurance to shareholders about the future of Berkshire’s investment strategy: “How Warren and the team have allocated capital for the past 60 years, really, it will not change. And it’s the approach we’ll take as we go forward.” Thanks to its huge cash reserves, Berkshire Hathaway is well positioned to benefit if a recession hits. You don’t have to look far to find examples of how the company has historically thrived during economic slowdowns. During the 2008 financial crisis, Berkshire purchased $5 billion in preferred shares of Goldman Sachs, redeeming them three years later for a $3.7 billion gain. In 2009, it provided a $303 million loan to Harley-Davidson at a steep 15% interest rate, helping the motorcycle manufacturer maintain financing for its customers and dealers. And in 2011, Buffett invested $5 billion in Bank of America preferred stock and warrants, which has netted over $30 billion in paper profits to date. Although no one can say exactly when the next recession will arrive, Berkshire’s incoming CEO will have both the liquidity and the playbook to seize opportunities when it does. Image source: The Motley Fool. If anyone has proven that leadership matters, it’s Buffett. And whenever a new CEO steps in, it’s natural to question how effective they will be in the role. For now, investors will have to trust Buffett’s judgment — something that has delivered exceptional returns for decades. Not only does Abel have the full backing of Buffett, but he is set to inherit a company that is flush with cash and generated $45.8 billion in operating earnings over the trailing 12 months, meaning the odds of success are overwhelmingly in his favor. The only real question is whether Abel can drive Berkshire forward as effectively as Tim Cook did with Apple after Steve Jobs. Even so, with its resilient business model and potential upside in an economic downturn, Berkshire remains a compelling buy for long-term investors. Before you buy stock in Berkshire Hathaway, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Berkshire Hathaway wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $614,911!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $714,958!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 907% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 163% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 5, 2025 American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Collin Brantmeyer has positions in American Express, Apple, and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway, and Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Should You Buy Berkshire Hathaway B Shares While They Are Below $550? was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Buy #Berkshire #Hathaway #Shares Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

A business owner tested if customers would pay more for American-made. The results were 'sobering.' – Business Insider A business owner tested if customers would pay more for American-made. The results were 'sobering.' – Business Insider A business owner tested if customers would pay more for American-made. The results were ‘sobering.’ Business InsiderView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #business #owner #tested #customers #pay #Americanmade #results #039sobering.039 #Business #Insider Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 Brilliant Nuclear Stocks to Buy Now and Hold for the Long Term 3 Brilliant Nuclear Stocks to Buy Now and Hold for the Long Term Nuclear power is considered by many to be a reliable, clean energy source that can meet growing energy demand while reducing emissions. The Trump administration aims to fast-track nuclear reactor deployment in the U.S. as global sentiment shifts in favor of nuclear energy. Numerous countries have signed a pledge to triple nuclear production capacity by 2050. 10 stocks we like better than Constellation Energy › The Trump administration is looking to fast-track the deployment of nuclear reactors in the U.S. The move comes as the sentiment around nuclear power shifts, and countries worldwide commit to ramping up their nuclear energy production. Numerous nations have signed the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Capacity, signaling a dramatic change in the perception around nuclear energy, after it fell out of favor following Japan’s Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011. The International Atomic Energy Agency forecasts that nuclear production capacity could increase 2.5 times by 2050, from 372 gigawatt-electric (GWe) in 2023 to 950 GWe by 2050. But here’s the catch: To realize this growth, new reactors must come online, creating strong tailwinds for the nuclear energy sector and related stocks. Here are three nuclear stocks that stand to benefit over the long term from this increased interest. Image source: Getty Images. Constellation Energy (NASDAQ: CEG) is the largest producer of carbon-free electricity in the United States, with an emphasis on nuclear power. This focus on nuclear energy gives it a reliable source of electricity that isn’t affected by weather fluctuations, unlike solar and wind, which can be quite unpredictable. Constellation’s fleet of nuclear plants operates near full efficiency most of the time, complementing other renewable sources nicely. Moreover, the rising demand for energy from data centers and tech companies, particularly those involved in artificial intelligence, has boosted Constellation’s appeal. Last year, Microsoft entered into a power purchase agreement with Constellation, committing to buy nuclear energy to power its data centers. Constellation plans to restart the Three Mile Island Unit 1 reactor as part of this deal. Constellation is well-positioned as a top carbon-free energy provider, and more technology companies could turn to it to power their growing needs. Its large nuclear plant footprint and renewable focus position it well for the next several decades. As one of the largest uranium producers, Cameco (NYSE: CCJ) is a major player in the industry. With its operations primarily based in Canada, Cameco operates uranium mines at Cigar Lake and McArthur River. It also plays a role in the nuclear fuel cycle, which involves everything from uranium conversion to enrichment. Story Continues As global demand for nuclear energy rises, Cameco is well-positioned to benefit from increasing uranium prices and new nuclear reactor construction. This makes it an intriguing option for investors, especially given its robust presence in North America and its stakes in Westinghouse and Kazatomprom (located in uranium-rich Kazakhstan). What makes Cameco appealing is its long-term contracts with utility companies, providing it with a reliable buyer and a visible source of revenue in the future. Cameco has arrangements to provide an average of 28 million pounds of uranium annually through 2029. Cameco also has properties in Saskatchewan and Australia with significant uranium deposits, allowing it to expand as demand for nuclear energy grows. NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR) is an innovator in the space thanks to its cutting-edge small modular reactors (SMRs). These next-generation reactors are designed for efficiency and prioritize safety and scalability, making them a compelling option for power generation. Unlike large-scale nuclear plants, which can be cumbersome and complex, SMRs are compact and modular. This means they can be manufactured in a factory and transported to locations as needed, and tailored to specific power demands. This capability makes them well-suited for decentralized power generation to supply energy to smaller grids, industrial facilities, or remote areas where conventional options aren’t feasible. NuScale has a first-mover advantage in the SMR market, which will take some time to ramp up. The company’s 50 MWe (megawatt electric) SMR is the first approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. To increase cost-effectiveness, it’s in the process of upsizing its reactor to 77 MWe and anticipates receiving approval for this larger design sometime this year. It will take time before SMRs are deployed on a large scale, so investors will want to be patient if buying NuScale Power today. The company is developing an SMR power station in Romania, targeting a launch date of 2029. For that reason, NuScale is best suited for aggressive investors who are ready to hold onto their shares for the long run to capitalize on the growth of this potentially transformative technology. Before you buy stock in Constellation Energy, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Constellation Energy wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $614,911!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $714,958!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 907% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 163% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 5, 2025 Courtney Carlsen has positions in Cameco and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Constellation Energy and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends Cameco and NuScale Power and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Brilliant Nuclear Stocks to Buy Now and Hold for the Long Term was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Brilliant #Nuclear #Stocks #Buy #Hold #Long #Term Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

PAX East 2025 Reveals New Magic: the Gathering Final Fantasy Cards & Artwork PAX East 2025 Reveals New Magic: the Gathering Final Fantasy Cards & Artwork At PAX East 2025, Wizards of the Coast and Magic: the Gathering Final Fantasy Universes Beyond revealed new cards and mechanics coming to MTG. Source link #PAX #East #Reveals #Magic #Gathering #Final #Fantasy #Cards #amp #Artwork Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ukraine's Zelenskiy calls on Russia to confirm ceasefire before talks – Reuters Ukraine's Zelenskiy calls on Russia to confirm ceasefire before talks – Reuters Ukraine’s Zelenskiy calls on Russia to confirm ceasefire before talks ReutersZelensky says Ukraine ‘ready to meet’ but repeats ceasefire call, after Russia offers talks BBCIt is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war. The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire. There is no point in continuing the killing even for a si x.comUkraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky demands Putin agree to full ceasefire – but welcomes his call for talks The IndependentZelenskiy Says Ukraine Ready to Talk Once Russia Agrees to Truce Bloomberg Source link #Ukraine039s #Zelenskiy #calls #Russia #confirm #ceasefire #talks #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Have No Other Batman Games Been Able to Beat Arkham City’s 12.5 Million Sales Record? Why Have No Other Batman Games Been Able to Beat Arkham City’s 12.5 Million Sales Record? Released in 2011, Batman: Arkham City is still the definitive superhero game in the eyes of many fans, and us too. If you ever wondered why it’s so good, then we’re here to tell you. It gave us more of the already successful formula and style we first saw in Arkham Asylum. But it also refined nearly every aspect of it, like the combat, story, and world design, to near perfection. The impact of this improvement can’t be understated. The game ended up selling over 12.5 million units and brought more than $600 million in revenue. We even got other games after it, like Arkham Knight and Arkham Origins, but none have managed to match its sales record or cultural legacy. Here’s why. Batman: Arkham City is still the undisputed GOAT of superhero games First and foremost, you need to understand that Arkham City hit an absolute sweet spot of game design. It struck the perfect balance between story, gameplay, and world size. Unlike Arkham Asylum’s linear structure or Arkham Knight’s big, but sometimes bloated city, it had a map that was intricately detailed and full of meaningful content. Highest-rated superhero games ever on Metacritic 1⃣ ‘Batman: Arkham City’ — 96 2⃣ ‘Batman: Arkham Asylum’ — 92 3⃣ ‘Spider-Man 2’ — 91 pic.twitter.com/kD0m0v3utn — Culture Crave (@CultureCrave) October 21, 2023 Timing was another crucial factor. Arkham City was released in 2011, when superhero popularity was at an all-time high and open-world action games were flourishing. It benefited from a booming interest in the genre and rode that wave perfectly. It also helped that the game was a multi-platform launch on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. Remember that this was during a time when physical sales were still the main distribution. So as you’d expect, this immediately boosted its numbers right out of the gate. Selling six million copies in its first four months, it quickly outpaced its predecessor and never looked back. Batman: Arkham City was released 10 years ago today, the game that elevated the superhero genre Considered one of the best games of all time, #ArkhamCity reportedly sold over 12.5 million copies and generated $600M+ revenue and was the highest selling Superhero game at that time. pic.twitter.com/0HmjvUcOuf — DCWorldTelugu (@DCWorldTelugu) October 18, 2021 This isn’t to say that all the other Batman games are bad. While Arkham Asylum laid the groundwork and sold an impressive 9.5 million copies, it didn’t have the same mass appeal due to its more linear structure. As for the games that came after, Arkham Knight and Origins brought big improvements to many aspects, but also made equally big mistakes that ultimately cost them. It’s unlikely that we ever get something like it again One of the best games of all time. | Image Credit: Rocksteady Studios There’s also the nostalgia factor. Arkham City occupies a special place in the hearts of gamers who played it during a peak ******* for story-driven action games. It was a time when game developers were starting to figure out open-world design, and back then, it was the best execution we’d ever seen. This sense of novelty can’t easily be recreated, and no sequel, however improved, can replicate the magic of playing the game for the first time. This is also why, for many fans, the movie is not just the best Batman game, but the best superhero game ever made. So yeah, Arkham City wasn’t just a great game, it was the right game at the right time. The game was great in every aspect we saw of it. It had the perfect balance of gameplay, story, technical features, and so much more. Unless we get a future game that recaptures that lightning in a bottle, the 12.5 million sales record will most likely stay unbeaten. Source link #Batman #Games #Beat #Arkham #Citys #Million #Sales #Record Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Eagle-eyed Herbert cruises to five-shot win in Japan Eagle-eyed Herbert cruises to five-shot win in Japan In-form *********** golf ace Lucas Herbert has soared to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit with a stylish runaway victory at the International Series Japan. As he does these days, Herbert the showman eagled the par-5 18th hole for the second day in a row to ice his remarkable five-shot triumph on Sunday. Victory clinched a maiden Asian Tour and International Series title for the 29-year-old at the par-71 Caledonian Golf Club in Chiba. Herbert closed with a seven-under-par 64 to reach 20 under for the week, daylight ahead of his playing partners, Japan’s Yuta Sugiura and South Korean Younghan Song. Victory completed an incredible run by Herbert, who was five shots behind the leader with three holes to play in the third round. He engineered the 10-shot swing with two eagles in the last three holes on Saturday, followed by Sunday’s 64 that included seven birdies and the eagle on the 18th. The Victorian’s reward was a move to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, as well as the International Series rankings. It was also his first international victory in almost two years, since winning the 2023 ISPS Handa Championship, also in Japan. The Ripper GC star, who played a full season on the Asian Tour in 2016, started the day tied for the lead at 13 under alongside Sugiura and Song. The 33-year-old Song immediately moved ahead with an eagle on the second hole, but Herbert hunted him down with birdies on the second, fourth and fifth. Herbert made a bogey on the par-5 sixth and another at the 15th, but he was otherwise rock solid throughout and shut the door on the chasing pack. “I was thinking about it down on the 18th green, that finish yesterday really set it up,” Herbert said. “Very happy with the way I played today, I think it was the low round of the day, so that’s always going to make it hard to beat when you start the day tied for the lead.” A second-hand putter he found at a thrift shop in Korea last week was smoking hot again as he completed the round in just 23 putts. But Herbert also credited a new driver he has been using this year. It has resulted in three top-10s on LIV Golf, where he is now fifth in the standings. “I’ve played really well this year, and I think the driver was a big part of this success,” he said. “The way I’ve been playing this year, it’s been building to get a win at some point. So, it’s nice to get it done here, especially in Japan, which is one of my favourite places.” Herbert is not wrong. He signalled he was trending towards this win when he closed with a record-equalling 10-under final round to finish runner-up at last month’s LIV Golf Mexico City. American Cameron Tringale (66) rolled in a 15-foot eagle putt on the last to finish solo fourth at 14 under. International Series Japan was the third of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour calendar that form a pathway on to the LIV Golf League. Source link #Eagleeyed #Herbert #cruises #fiveshot #win #Japan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition review – Raking Epic Goes Grander | TechStomper Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition review – Raking Epic Goes Grander | TechStomper neutralgamer199215d ago It’s not that we want games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows to fail—most of us love gaming and want to see great titles succeed. But when big publishers consistently make anti-consumer decisions, it’s important for the community to speak up. If we don’t push back, we risk normalizing practices that hurt us as players in the long run. A lot of people point to the hype around upcoming releases like the Switch 2 and say, “Where’s all the negativity now? It’s already sold out.” But launch-day sellouts don’t tell the whole story. Historically, every new console sells well at launch. The real question is how it performs over time, especially if concerning trends continue. Look at what Nintendo is doing: they’re charging $90 for a remaster bundled with DLC—content that many would expect to be priced far lower. Meanwhile, Xbox just released Oblivion, nearly remade and packed with all its DLC, for $50. That’s almost half the price for significantly more value. So should we just sit back and accept Nintendo charging almost double, or is it fair to question this pricing strategy? It’s not just one game—it’s a pattern. Nintendo has been making several anti-consumer moves: physical editions costing more than digital, while also raising the price of digital games. And this isn’t happening in isolation. For years, the standard price for a new game was $60. That held steady for over 15 years. Then it jumped to $70. Now, just four years later, we’re seeing $80–$90 price tags depending on the edition, platform, and whether it’s digital or physical. These things add up. The industry is slowly training consumers to accept higher prices and fewer benefits, and when we don’t speak out, we’re essentially giving them permission to continue. This isn’t about hating companies or wanting products to fail—it’s about holding the industry accountable so it stays healthy, fair, and respectful of its audience. We all want to enjoy great games, but we should also care about how they’re made, priced, and delivered. If we don’t ask questions now, we might not like the answers the industry gives us later Source link #Xenoblade #Chronicles #Definitive #Edition #review #Raking #Epic #Grander #TechStomper Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]