Pelican Press

“Another Armor Instead of a Helmet?” Helldivers 2 Devs Encounter a Headless Helldiver With a Twist “Another Armor Instead of a Helmet?” Helldivers 2 Devs Encounter a Headless Helldiver With a Twist IAMRealHooman3h ago “Out of the 37,598 active players at the time of writing, only 7,705 are currently at war with The Illuminate, which equates to 20.4% of the player base. This makes The Illuminate the least popular faction despite the story’s focus being on them.” What was the major order at the Time? Fighting bugs or Bots, the community as a whole strives to complete the major orders, and the last few have been focused on bugs and bots Source link #Armor #Helmet #Helldivers #Devs #Encounter #Headless #Helldiver #Twist Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump's tariff turnarounds are key to his strategy — but it may not pay off in the long term – Business Insider Trump's tariff turnarounds are key to his strategy — but it may not pay off in the long term – Business Insider Trump’s tariff turnarounds are key to his strategy — but it may not pay off in the long term Business InsiderTrump blames ‘globalists’ for stock market sell-off CNBCTrump’s Tariffs by Whim Keep Allies and Markets Off Balance The New York TimesTrump’s On-Again, Off-Again Tariff Strategy Sows Confusion BloombergLosing! Trump cuts and runs in self-inflicted ‘trade war’ as markets call the shots Yahoo Source link #Trump039s #tariff #turnarounds #key #strategy #pay #long #term #Business #Insider Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Samsung, Nothing, Lenovo, Xiaomi and more tech news Samsung, Nothing, Lenovo, Xiaomi and more tech news Mobile World Congress is taking place in Barcelona this week, offering manufacturers an opportunity to show off new gear without needing to hold their own splashy event. So far, we’ve learned about some new laptops and phones, as well as upcoming AI updates to Android and an internet connectivity announcement from Meta. There’s also been some interesting ideas in the world of headphones and a whole lot of concepts that might never make it to market, but are fun to look at any way. Here’s a look at everything announced at Mobile World Congress that caught our eye. We’ll update this story throughout the week. Lenovo Sam Rutherford for Engadget Among the *******-name manufacturers, Lenovo has arguably had the busiest MWC so far. The company has revealed a whole bunch of laptops, including upgraded ThinkPads and several intriguing concept models. The ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1 has a design that’s more aligned with the convertible format of the Yoga lineup than a typical ThinkPad. The 14-inch machine can be equipped with a 400-nit WUXGA touch display. Other ThinkPads are getting spec upgrades, while Lenovo claims the new ThinkPad X13 Gen 6 has “one of the lightest ThinkPad designs ever.” The company has a fresh slate of laptops with generative AI capabilities as well. Some of Lenovo’s concepts have certainly caught our attention. It’s a bummer that the company doesn’t currently plan to turn the Yoga Solar PC Concept into a commercial device. Thanks to the solar cells on the casing, the laptop can soak up enough energy from the sun in 20 minutes to play an hour of videos. As little as 0.3 watts of light is enough to juice up the battery. While solar-powered laptops aren’t exactly new, the Yoga Solar PC feels polished. Here’s hoping Lenovo does more with the notion in the future. Sam Rutherford for Engadget In addition, Lenovo showed off some conceptual display accessories for a ThinkBook laptop. There’s an eight-inch screen that attaches to the side magnetically to help you, for instance, keep up with notifications and widgets. The Magic Bay Dual Display Concept adds a 13.3-inch panel to either side of the main display. There’s also a slim second display that’s designed to sit above your laptop screen and provide quick access to things like the time, weather, notifications, a focus mode timer, an AI assistant and notifications. Sam Rutherford for Engadget On top of all of that, Lenovo offered a look at a new prototype laptop with a flexible display. Building on the tech the company used in the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, the ThinkBook codename Flip AI PC Proof of concept (to give its full name) has a fold-out screen. This allows Lenovo to double the panel’s size from 13 inches to 18.1 inches. The ThinkBook Rollable’s display, on the other hand, can extend to 16.7 inches. Again, Lenovo doesn’t currently plan to release a commercial version of this fold-out laptop, but it’s an interesting idea. Samsung Photo by Mat Smith for Engadget. The main MWC news from Samsung this year is the company’s latest midrange and budget phones. The Galaxy A56 has a larger screen than its predecessor at 6.7 inches, but it’s thinner too at 7.44mm vs. 8.2mm. There’s now a small bump where the volume and power buttons are — a tweak that we feel makes the A56 easier to handle. Samsung has switched up the camera array in the A56. On the front, there’s a lower-res 12MP lens. On the other side, you’ll find an upgraded 12MP ultrawide, 50MP main sensor and a 5MP macro lens. The A56 has a bunch of AI-powered camera and image editing features, such as enhanced subject detection in portrait mode and an object eraser. Pre-orders are open in the *** for the Galaxy A56, which costs $499/£499. It will hit the *** on March 19, but folks in the US will have to wait until “later this year” for it. Samsung also revealed the Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G. Both devices have a 120Hz, 6.7-inch display with brightness of up to 1,200 nits. They also share an IP67 rating and 5,000mAh battery with the A56. However, the base models of each only have 6GB of RAM (compared with the A56’s 12GB). In addition, the A36 has the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor instead of the Exynos 1580 that the A56 boasts, while the A26 has a Exynos 1380 chipset. Samsung’s concept folding phones and gaming handhelds In addition to properly launching the trio of A-series phones, Samsung also brought a bunch of concept devices to Barcelona, further showing off its flexible display prowess. We’ve seen reporting of these, like Android Police’s coverage of a “Flex Gaming” handheld. That prototype consists of a 7.2-inch OLED screen that bends in half. Flanking the display are what appear to be controllers and holes where they’d fit when the handheld is folded up. Elsewhere on the internet we also saw Samsung showcase a Galaxy Z Flip-esque device that had two hinges that let it fold in on itself from the top and bottom. Allison Johnson at The Verge has nicknamed it “The Claw,” which to our editor Cherlynn Low is just reminiscent of an MSI device. Xiaomi Sam Rutherford for Engadget Unfortunately, Xiaomi doesn’t have plans to bring a handset it showed off at MWC to the US. That’s a real pity, because no other companies are selling phones quite like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra in the country these days. Xiaomi teamed up with Leica to make a smartphone that leans heavily into photography. The camera array includes a 1-inch 50-megapixel Sony main sensor, an f/2.2 50MP ultrawide cam, a 50MP midrange lens with a 70mm focal length and a 200MP periscope array with a 100mm focal length — that equates to a 4.7x optical zoom. Some preset Leica filters help to tie the two brands’ knowhow together. That’s not all that might be interesting to mobile snappers. Xiaomi’s separate Photography kit includes an add-on camera grip with a physical shutter button, an adjustable dial and dedicated video button. You’ll have the option to attach a standard 67mm filter adapter to a case as well — in other words, some of the equipment you might use on a dedicated camera is compatible with the Ultra 15 as part of this setup. Moreover, the Ultra 15 has a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,200 nits of brightness to help you get a good look at your captures. Plus, unlike some other ******** phones (like Huawei’s), Xiaomi supports Google services in HyperOS 2, which is an Android skin. The Ultra 15 starts at about €1,499 (around $1,572). Android Speaking of Android, Google announced two new AI-powered features for the operating system at MWC. The Live Video function, which Google first previewed at I/O 2024, allows you to share what your phone’s camera sees with Gemini so you can ask the chatbot questions about the footage. The new screensharing function works in a similar way. You can ask Gemini questions about whatever’s on your phone or tablet’s display. If they work as well as advertised, these features could be a boon for accessibility. Google will first offer them to Gemini Advanced subscribers starting later this month. Those with a $20 per month Google One AI Premium membership, which is included with some Verizon plans, have access to Gemini Advanced. Nothing Image by Mat Smith for Engadget Samsung wasn’t the only smartphone maker of note to show off two new mid-range devices at MWC. Nothing debuted its Phone 3a Pro and Phone 3a at the event — even though it has yet to unleash the Phone 3. The 3a Pro has a beefier camera module (quite literally as the device is about 10 grams heavier than the 3a). It contains a 50MP telephoto sensor with a 3x optical zoom; a 50MP primary sensor with f/1.88 lens and dual-pixel phase detection auto-focus (PDAF); and an ultrawide 8MP sensor with a 120-degree field of view. The handset has a telemacro mode too. As for the 3a, that boasts a main 50MP camera with single-pixel PDAF, but the other two sensors are the same as on the 3a Pro. The cameras are the main difference between the two phones, which both have a 6.77-inch AMOLED LTPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,300 nits of brightness. The phones have a 5,000mAh battery with support for 50W fast charging, and they run on a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset. The devices have Nothing’s multipurpose Essential Key, a physical button that can take screenshots and help you record voice notes. The phones also have some generative AI features, such as the ability to transcribe said voice notes and describe what’s in screenshots and photos. As usual, Nothing is initially offering these devices in the US through a beta program. Phone 3a pre-orders are open now and the $379 handset ships on March 11. That’s the date when pre-orders for the Phone 3a Pro go live. The $459 phone can be in your hands on March 25. There was more news out of MWC beyond new gear and OS updates. Meta and the Internet Society announced a partnership to bolster affordable internet connectivity around the globe. They’re jointly putting $30 million into the initiative over the next five years. A major aim of the project is to help build out infrastructure in areas where commercial providers have yet to do so. The Connectivity Co-Funding Initiative will also back training programs, community-centered solutions for underserved areas and locally owned networks. The Internet Society is hoping to find more partners to help with the project. HMD Finnish company HMD, which also makes devices under the Nokia brand, brought a bunch of phones to Barcelona this year, but maybe the most interesting thing was some earbuds. The Amped Earbuds are a pair of fairly standard Bluetooth buds, with a twist in the case: It’s got a 1,600mAh battery built in that supports reverse wireless charging. It’s a pretty solid idea — given you’re likely already carrying a phone and some headphones. Perhaps the one issue is that capacity: 1,600mAh is enough to charge a lot of headphones, but it’s dramatically smaller than the battery in your phone. Still, an extra 20 percent of battery life could be an lifesaver. Update, March 7 2025, 4:05PM ET: This story has been updated twice since publish. Once to include a section on Samsung’s concept folding devices, and once to add a section on HMD’s Amped Earbuds. The introduction of the article was also changes. Source link #Samsung #Lenovo #Xiaomi #tech #news Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Syria government fighters clash with Assad loyalists, nearly 200 killed – National Syria government fighters clash with Assad loyalists, nearly 200 killed – National Fighters siding with Syria’s new government stormed three villages near the country’s coast, killing dozens of men in response to recent attacks on government security forces by loyalists of ousted President Bashar Assad, a war monitor said. The village assaults erupted Thursday and continued Friday. Ongoing clashes between the two sides have marked the worst violence since Assad’s government was toppled in early December by insurgent groups led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The new government has pledged to unite Syria after 14 years of civil war. Nearly 200 people have been killed since the fighting broke out, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In addition to 69 killed in the villages, the dead include at least 50 members of Syria’s government forces and 45 fighters loyal to Assad. The civil war that has been raging in Syria since March 2011 has left more than half a million people dead and millions displaced. Story continues below advertisement The most recent clashes began when government forces tried to detain a wanted person near the coastal city of Jableh on Thursday and were ambushed by Assad loyalists, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. On Thursday and Friday, gunmen loyal to the new government stormed the villages of Sheer, Mukhtariyeh and Haffah near the coast, killing 69 men but harming no women, according to the observatory. “They killed every man they encountered,” said observatory chief Rami Abdurrahman. Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV also reported the attacks on the three villages, saying that more than 30 men were killed in the village of Mukhtariyeh alone. 1:43 Syrian mass graves expose ‘machinery of death’ under Assad, top prosecutor says Syrian authorities did not publish a death toll, but Syria’s state news agency SANA quoted an unidentified security official as saying that numerous people went to the coast seeking revenge for recent attacks on government security forces. The official said the actions “led to some individual violations and we are working on stop them.” Story continues below advertisement Overnight, Damascus sent reinforcements to the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartus and nearby villages that are home to Assad’s ********* Alawite sect and make up his longtime base of support. A curfew remained in effect in Latakia and other coastal areas. Under Assad, Alawites held top posts in the army and security agencies. The new government has blamed his loyalists for attacks against the country’s new security forces over the past several weeks. There also have been some attacks against Alawites in recent weeks, though the new government says it won’t allow collective punishment or sectarian vengeance. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Geir O. Pedersen, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, said in a written statement that “all parties should refrain from actions that could further inflame tensions, escalate conflict, exacerbate the suffering of affected communities, destabilize Syria, and jeopardize a credible and inclusive political transition.” Coastal towns still under the control of Assad loyalists As of Friday, the observatory said, Jableh and the coastal town of Baniyas were still under the control of Assad loyalists, along with other Alawite villages nearby and Assad’s hometown of Qardaha, in the mountains overlooking Latakia. Story continues below advertisement One Qardaha resident told The Associated Press in a text message that government forces were firing with heavy machine guns in the town’s residential areas. Another said people have not been able to leave their homes since Thursday afternoon because of the intensity of the shooting. Both spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. 2:15 Traces of normal life return to Syria, one week after the fall of the Assad regime The fighting could stoke more sectarian tensions Gregory Waters, an associate fellow with the Middle East Institute who has researched Syria’s coastal areas, said he doesn’t expect the flareup to escalate into sustained fighting between the two sides. However, he said he was concerned it could stoke cycles of violence between different civilian communities living along the coast. Trending Now Alberta’s premier makes the rounds on U.S. TV networks to defend new booze rules Trump says U.S. will target new tariffs on ********* dairy, lumber in days Story continues below advertisement Also, any violations by the security forces sent from Damascus would leave young Alawite men more fearful of the new government — and more prone to take up arms, Waters said. In Damascus, a crowd gathered in the rain at Umayyad Square to show support for the new government. “We’ve had enough of long periods of wars and tragedies,” said retiree Mazen Abdelmajeed. He blamed the violence on remnants of the former regime and said Syria’s unity must be preserved. “No one wants a civil war to happen,” he said. “We’re not against any of the components of the Syrian people. … We’re all one Syrian people.” Syrian people ask Russia for help Scores of people gathered Friday outside the main Russian air base in Syria near Jableh to ask Moscow for protection. Russia joined Syria’s conflict in 2015, siding with Assad, although it has since established links with the new government. Assad has been living in Moscow since leaving Syria in December. Story continues below advertisement Russia’s foreign ministry said in a written statement that Moscow is “closely coordinating efforts with foreign partners in the interests of a speedy de-escalation of the situation.” “We reaffirm our principled position in support of the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic,” the statement said. “We expect that all states that have influence on the situation in Syria will contribute to its normalization.” 1:36 Putin says Russia not defeated in Syria, plans to meet with Assad Turkey, which backed the insurgents when Assad was still in power, warned on Friday that the current fighting poses a serious threat to the new government. Story continues below advertisement “Intensive efforts are underway to establish security and stability in Syria,” Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said in a post on X. “At this critical juncture, the targeting of security forces could undermine the efforts to lead Syria into the future in unity and solidarity.” Associated Press writers Omar Albam in Latakia, Syria; and Mariam Fam in Damascus, Syria, contributed to this report. More on World More videos &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Syria #government #fighters #clash #Assad #loyalists #killed #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Big US Stocks’ Q4’24 Fundamentals Big US Stocks’ Q4’24 Fundamentals The big US stocks dominating markets and investors’ portfolios just finished another earnings season. They reported spectacular collective results including record sales, profits, and operating cash flows. Yet their valuations still forged deeper into dangerous bubble territory. That sure increases the chances stock markets’ recent selloff snowballs into a long-overdue reckoning, a major bear market to normalize valuations. The flagship stock index just enjoyed a massive bull run, blasting 49.2% higher between late October 2023 to mid-February 2025. The SPX achieved a phenomenal 60 record closes during that 15.8-month span. It was remarkably-one-sided as well, suffering no 10%+ correction-grade selloffs. Smaller pullbacks climaxed at -5.5% in mid-April 2024, -8.5% in early August, and -4.2% into early September. Yet in recent weeks a new selloff is underway, slamming this leading benchmark down 6.0% in just nine trading days as of midweek. While still shy of being this upleg’s biggest selloff, it has already proven the sharpest. It could soon cascade into correction territory given the stiff headwinds stocks now face. The primary ones are fears this AI-spending frenzy will soon moderate and Trump’s tariffs spawning trade wars. Both could considerably erode corporate revenues on multiple fronts, which earnings would amplify to ******* declines. Slowing, stalling, or falling profits are a huge problem for extremely-expensive bubble-valued stock markets. Lower earnings force nosebleed valuations even higher, elevating downside risks which are proportional to how expensive dominant stocks are. All investors should gird themselves for a bear. For 30 quarters in a row now, I’ve painstakingly analyzed the latest results just reported by the 25 biggest SPX components and US companies. Almost all American investors are heavily deployed in these behemoths due to fund managers crowding in. How big US stocks are collectively faring fundamentally offers clues on what markets are likely to do in coming months. This table includes key SPX-top-25-component results. Each of these elite companies’ symbols are preceded by their SPX rankings changes over this past year, and followed by their index weightings exiting Q4’24. Next comes their quarter-end market capitalizations and year-over-year changes, revealing how these stocks performed. Looking at market caps instead of stock prices helps neutralize the distorting effects of massive stock buybacks artificially boosting prices. Next comes a bunch of hard accounting data directly from 10-K reports filed with the SEC. That includes each SPX-top-25 component’s quarterly sales, earnings, stock buybacks, dividends, and operating cash flows generated. Their quarter-end trailing-twelve-month price-to-earnings ratios are also shown. YoY percentage changes are included unless they’d be misleading, such as comparing positives with negatives. Overall the big US stocks’ Q4’24 results proved fantastic, confirming why these companies are the best of the best. But despite their amazing ongoing size-defying growth, troubling signs abound. These include extreme concentration, the overwhelming probability these outsized growth rates aren’t sustainable, and extreme overvaluations. The AI bubble inevitably bursting and mounting risks of global trade wars pile on. Diversification is essential for successful investing multiplying wealth over decades. That wise principle goes way back to ancient times. In the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes at 11:2, ancient Israeli king Solomon advised “Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.” The opposite of diversification is concentration, which investors today have increasingly bet the farm on. Exiting Q4, the 25-largest S&P 500 stocks commanded fully 51.7% of its entire market capitalization. When I launched this quarterly research thread in Q3’17, that only ran 34.8%. This concentration record is driven by the beloved Magnificent-7 mega-cap technology stocks, which now alone account for 33.7% of the SPX’s entire market cap. Their staggering $17,846b is worth as much as the bottom 435 SPX stocks. Talk about putting all your eggs in one basket, mega-cap tech is it. While that extreme concentration has been very successful in this huge bull run, it is super-risky. Stock markets are forever-cyclical, with bears inevitably following bulls. The SPX’s last bear was mild, merely seeing a 25.4% loss from early January 2022 to mid-October that year. Given their amazing fundamentals, the Mag7 ought to hold up better right? Yet surrounding that last-SPX-bear span, the Mag7 averaged brutal 54.6% losses more than doubling the SPX’s. And extreme bubbles like this AI one are followed by far-more-serious bears. From March 2000 to October 2002, the SPX plunged 49.1% over 30.5 months. Between October 2007 to March 2009, the SPX plummeted 56.8% in 17.0 months. Extreme overvaluation coupled with extreme concentration ends badly. In 2024 the S&P 500 soared 23.3% higher, a remarkable year though bested by gold’s 27.2% gains. The top 25 stocks way outperformed as fund managers increasingly piled in to chase them, soaring 40.9% in these last four quarters. Not surprisingly NVIDIA (NASDAQ:) led the way, its market cap skyrocketing an epic 175.3% last year. A newer AI market-darling Broadcom (NASDAQ:) came in second, with colossal 110.1% market-cap gains. Ignoring the bubble-valuation elephant in the room for now, the rest of the SPX top 25’s fundamentals looked spectacular last quarter. Their combined revenues grew 6.8% YoY in Q4 to $1,360b, which is amazing given the vast scales they operate at. NVIDIA and Broadcom led the way with quarterly sales soaring 77.9% and 51.2% YoY. Those were directly fueled by hyperscalers’ eye-popping AI spending. The hyperscalers are a subset of the Mag7 running massive data centers offering computing services to other businesses and developing AI infrastructure at astounding scales. Amazon (NASDAQ:), Microsoft (NASDAQ:), Alphabet (NASDAQ:), and Meta (NASDAQ:) dominate on AI spending, collectively projecting to spend about $340b in 2025 alone. That’s about 36% higher than 2024’s huge $250b. NVIDIA’s 10-K illuminated how dependent it is on hyperscalers. In the risk section of that annual report, NVIDIA warned that one company it didn’t name accounted for 13% of 2024 sales. Another indirect customer buying NVIDIA graphics-processing-unit AI-chip boards drove 19% of total revenue. So if the hyperscalers decide to or have to slow their monumental builds of AI infrastructure, NVIDIA’s sales and profits will plummet. That’s a major downside risk for the entire SPX. The warning shot off this AI bubble’s bow came in late January, when NVDA stock crashed 17.0% in a single day. That made for a record single-stock market-cap loss of $595b. That happened on a Monday, triggered by news out of China. A small ******** AI startup released a large-language model similar to ChatGPT called DeepSeek. It was reportedly developed with trivial resources compared to leading US LLMs. Those have cost hundreds of millions to even billions of dollars to train, in vast data centers stuffed with the latest-and-greatest NVIDIA GPUs. But DeepSeek claimed it trained its LLM for under $6m in just a couple months, on way-fewer reduced-capability GPUs the US allows NVIDIA to export to China. AI benchmarks showed DeepSeek outperforming the large US LLMs, which threatened to upend the entire AI paradigm. The hyperscalers’ investors are increasingly challenging their staggering AI spending, since the resulting products are only generating small revenues and virtually no profits. Demand just isn’t there, leading to collapsing prices for AI subscription services. Most people using LLMs can get enough utility out of the free versions. For example most Google search results now begin with often-good LLM summaries. If American mega-cap techs’ colossal AI spends prove too-excessive for the resulting LLM usefulness and sales, they will have to dramatically scale that back. DeepSeek seriously challenged the *******-is-better AI status-quo. Later revelations suggested DeepSeek had been distilled from ChatGPT, relying on the billions invested in it to train fast. Still nervous institutional investors are pressuring hyperscalers to slow down. In addition to mounting risks of crumbling sales, NVIDIA faces other challenges. For most of its history, its GPUs were developed and sold for PC gaming. The beefier AI GPUs are expanded consumer ones. While data-center revenue skyrocketed 93.5% YoY to $35.6b in Q4, gaming sales fell 11.2% to $2.5b. That was partially driven by gamers waiting for NVIDIA’s next generation of GPUs releasing in Q1’25. They are based on pared versions of the Blackwell chips used in the AI GPUs. But these new gaming GPUs haven’t been received well. Their raw performance increases over the previous generation are modest, unless fake AI-generated frames are inserted between real rendered ones. And despite very-high prices, their availability is virtually zero implying a paper launch. NVIDIA isn’t producing enough of these chips. Like Apple (NASDAQ:), NVIDIA doesn’t manufacture its own products but contracts that out to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. Since AI GPUs are radically more profitable than consumer ones, NVIDIA is probably just allocating the vast majority of TSMC’s Blackwell output to those. But there are rumors of problems with these next-generation chips, including low yields and excessive power consumption making them run too hot. Zooming back out, the biggest US stocks continue to show bifurcated performance between the Mag7 and everything else. Their revenues surged 12.6% YoY to $592b, but the next-18-largest US stocks’ only climbed 2.8% to $768b. The same is true on the bottom-line earnings front. Overall the SPX top 25’s surged an incredible 13.6% YoY to an all-time-record $248b. But all that growth came from mega-cap tech. The Mag7’s profits exploded 25.3% YoY to $152b, with NVIDIA’s alone skyrocketing 79.8% to $22.1b. Yet the next-18-largest US stocks’ earnings actually slumped 1.1% to $96b. And those are skewed high by legendary investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:). Accounting rules force that giant investment conglomerate to flush unrealized stock gains and losses through net income every quarter, angering Buffett. Berkshire’s huge Q4 profits of $19.7b are the only other ones rivaling the mega-cap techs’. Yet if their investment gains are backed out, they are a third lower at $13.1b. While we’re on Berkshire here, its colossal market cap of $975b exiting Q4 was only behind the Mag7 and Broadcom. Yet Buffett sees so few opportunities in these lofty AI-bubble stock markets that Berkshire’s cash hoard soared 99.4% YoY to $334b. That’s an all-time record for a single company, and represents over a third of BRK’s market cap. Anyone can let capital sit in cash, parked in short-term Treasuries. Berkshire’s investors are getting more vocal in expressing their displeasure at that vast capital hoard not being allocated. And the wider implications for US stock markets are troubling. Even Warren Buffett struggling to find good deals implies a major market topping. Back to earnings, Walmart’s Q4 results were also noteworthy. After the Mag7, Broadcom, and Berkshire, Walmart (NYSE:) was the largest US stock exiting last quarter. Revenues and earnings growth exceeded Wall Street estimates. Yet its stock plunged 6.5% the day those results were reported, due to Walmart’s Q1 and full-year-2025 guidances coming in well below estimates. And that didn’t include the impact of any tariffs. Walmart is the world’s largest grocer, which the majority of Americans depend on to afford food in these inflationary times. Because of its colossal size and buying power, it offers the lowest-cost groceries. If even mighty Walmart is seeing sluggish sales, Americans are really struggling with pinched budgets. It also imports vast amounts of food from Mexico, so 25% tariffs there would significantly ramp selling prices. The biggest US companies have long plowed hundreds of billions of dollars into stock buybacks. That not only bids up their stock prices increasing executive compensation, but boosts earnings per share lowering its denominator. Last quarter the SPX top 25’s stock buybacks surged 15.2% to $86b. While enormous, that remained well under Q4’21’s $107b record. Interestingly the Mag7 bifurcation here went the other way. The mega-cap techs’ stock buybacks merely climbed 6.2% YoY to a still-gigantic $52b in Q4, while the next-18-largest US stocks’ soared 32.4% to $34b. The Mag7’s stock buybacks likely slowed because of their epic AI spending, which they are paying for with their huge cash hoards. Their treasuries only edged up 1.6% YoY to $480b, way under past growth. But other factors may have contributed, like slowdown fears. With Americans’ costs of living very high and still rising, there’s little disposable income left over after big necessities’ spending. We all have to pay for housing, food, insurance, and medical expenses regardless of their prices. With needs dominating incomes, wants have to take a back seat. That’s a growing risk for the entire Mag7’s gravity-defying revenues and earnings growth. A spending slowdown is a serious threat. Apple launched its AI-enabled iPhone 16 at the end of Q3, heavily-hyped by Wall Street analysts. While Apple did sell $69.1b of iPhones last quarter, that actually slipped 0.9% YoY and came in well below estimates of $71.0b. If the first AI iPhone doesn’t go gangbusters while an AI stock bubble enthralls investors, that can’t be a good sign. Apple’s Q4 China sales also fell 11.1% to $18.5b, far behind $21.6b forecasts. While nationalism likely played some role, ******** reporting suggests iPhones are seen as too expensive compared to the competition in China. The gaps between how they perform versus iPhones are apparently narrow. Also the incremental improvements in successive iPhone generations are ever-more minor and often imperceptible. So consumers around the world are keeping their iPhones for longer before upgrading. Apple’s colossal $36.3b in earnings last quarter were the biggest in the SPX by far. If they come under pressure from slowing iPhone sales, it could really impair the entire S&P 500 outlook. Most Wall Street analysts forecasting SPX targets simply add up all 500 companies’ profits then multiply them by whatever they think a reasonable forward price-to-earnings ratio is. Lower Apple profits will cut Wall Street SPX targets. Both Amazon and Tesla (NASDAQ:) are also at risk from slowing consumer spending as more Americans struggle. Odds are most of the stuff bought on Amazon is discretionary, not necessary living expenses. Amazon also sees a slowdown looming, projecting Q1 sales near a $153.3b midpoint well short of the $158.6b analysts had expected. Americans are slowing their Amazon buying with necessities prices so darned high. Tesla’s cars have long been expensive and out of reach for most, even before this inflation. And Trump has long talked about revoking the electric-vehicle tax credit, which would raise Tesla prices. Tesla’s Q4 car revenues actually fell 8.3% YoY, likely worsened by liberals’ outrage over Elon Musk’s efforts to help reelect Trump then run DOGE to slash government spending. Tesla is going to have real challenges in 2025. Small and medium businesses will also face pressure from lower consumer spending, which is a risk for the hyperscaler data-center service providers led by Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon. If their customers’ businesses wane, some will likely be forced to reduce their IT spending and advertising. The latter could really impact Alphabet and Meta, which heavily rely on profitable businesses buying lots of ads on their platforms. The point here is there’s much uncertainty surrounding these record SPX-top-25 profits. Cash-strapped Americans are under increasing pressure to reduce spending wherever they can. And the great majority of Mag7 sales and profits are driven by discretionary spending, whatever is left over after paying for life’s essentials. These high prices have really pinched disposable incomes, a bearish omen for corporate profits. Weakening earnings wouldn’t be a serious problem if valuations were low. But the SPX top 25’s average trailing-twelve-month P/E ratios exiting Q4 were already 45.9x. There wasn’t much difference between the Mag7 and next-18-largest US stocks either, at 49.6x and 44.5x respectively. For reference, US stock markets have averaged about 14x earnings over the past century-and-a-half or so, which defines fair-value. Historically double that at 28x earnings is where bubbles start. So 46x exiting Q4 is deep into dangerous bubble territory. Considered another way, investors buying large US stocks today would have to wait about 46 years for them to earn back the current stock prices being paid. That exceeds most people’s useful investing lifespan. No wonder Warren Buffett is sitting on the sidelines in Treasuries biding his time. Corporate profits are leveraged to revenues. When sales rise or fall, earnings move in multiples of those percentages. So if the myriad of risks out there slow, stall, or even shrink revenues, earnings are going to fall much more. If the stock markets were trading at something reasonable like 20x, that might not be a big deal. But priced-for-perfection more than double that, falling profits would really exacerbate this bubble. Almost all big US stocks dominating investors’ portfolios are exceedingly-overvalued today. The only exceptions are the two money-center banks JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:) and Bank of America, the oil supermajor Exxon Mobil (NYSE:), and Berkshire Hathaway. The latter’s super-low 9.1x P/E is very misleading though, mostly resulting from massive unrealized investment gains as the SPX powered relentlessly higher in this past year. While it’s uncommon for SPX-top-25 earnings to decline, it still happens plenty. In the past 25 quarters, these big US stocks’ total profits have fallen 7 times. The last episode was in Q4’22, and since then there has been a long 8-quarter streak of rising earnings. So these markets are overdue for another decline, and those often clump together. Investors should be wary, and diversify their mega-cap-tech-dominated holdings. Ironically despite soaring 27.2% in 2024 beating the SPX’s 23.3%, gold remains the most-underallocated asset. American stock investors still have virtually-zero gold allocations. A great proxy for this divides the value of the physical gold bullion held in trust by the world-dominant American GLD (NYSE:) and iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:) gold ETFs by the total market capitalization of all 500 SPX stocks. This ratio is currently running a trivial 0.2%, really nothing. Like through all of history, every investor should have a 5%-to-10% portfolio allocation in gold. As it tends to shine when stock markets weaken, it is the ultimate portfolio diversifier. Gold’s upside potential can be leveraged with another 5% to 15% in fundamentally-superior smaller mid-tier and junior gold miners. Gold stocks remain deeply-undervalued relative to gold, since the AI bubble sucked in all the interest and capital. The bottom line is the big US stocks just reported spectacular Q4 results, including record sales and profits. Yet even those remained far too low to justify the rocketing stock prices during this AI bubble. Valuations remain deep into dangerous bubble territory, heralding a serious bear market to normalize stock prices with underlying corporate earnings. Mean reversions way lower are inevitable after bubbles. And a broad array of factors is exacerbating this coming downside risk. The mega-cap techs are under increasing pressure to really curtail their astounding AI spending. Americans struggling with still-sky-high necessities prices have little disposable income left to buy wants, which is the great majority of mega-cap techs’ revenues. Weakening sales amplified by profits is a disaster for extremely-overvalued stock markets. Source link #Big #Stocks #Q424 #Fundamentals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

'Wake up': farmers face more pressure on deforestation 'Wake up': farmers face more pressure on deforestation Glenn Morris, a farmer and an environmentalist, says crackdowns on deforestation can’t come soon enough as the cattle industry faces increased scrutiny. Source link #039Wake #up039 #farmers #face #pressure #deforestation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S. spaceplane deorbits after secret mission and lands in California U.S. spaceplane deorbits after secret mission and lands in California An unmanned spaceplane sent into Earth’s orbit in late 2023 returned on Friday, landing at California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base overnight, the U.S. Space Force said on Friday. The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 was launched into space by SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy for a classified, long-duration military mission for the U.S. Space Force on Dec. 29, 2023, CBS News previously reported. It was in high Earth orbit, or about 20,000 miles above the planet’s surface, for 434 days. The test vehicle had no crew. The U.S. Space Force said in a news release that the craft had “accomplished a range of test and experimentation objectives intended to demonstrate the X-37B’s robust maneuver capability while helping characterize the space domain through the testing of space domain awareness technology experiments” while in orbit. One of those objectives included testing a new process called aerobraking, which saw the craft safely change orbit while using minimal fuel, the Space Force said on social media last month. Another set of experiments tested “space domain awareness technology,” which helped improve the Space Force’s knowledge of the space environment, according to the news release. With space an “increasingly congested and contested environment,” knowledge of surrounding environments is “to the benefit of all users,” the Space Force said. The craft landed successfully at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 2:22 a.m. ET, or 11:22 p.m. local time. The landing tested the craft’s ability to recover across multiple sites, the Space Force said. Photos shared online show the vehicle on the ground at the base, with Space Force members standing nearby. The base has a three-mile long runway specifically built for B-37 craft, CBS News previously reported. X-37B program director Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart said the craft’s successful operations “have written an exciting new chapter” and mark a “significant milestone in the ongoing development of the U.S. Space Force’s dynamic mission capability.” The Space Force has access to two X-37B craft. The crafts, built by Boeing, are designed to help test avionics and advanced sensors, evaluate reusable spacecraft components and provide a platform for experiments that can be analyzed on Earth. The space planes feature delta wings, heat shield tiles and a compat payload bay, and are powered by an extendable solar array that allows for extremely long flights. Ex-Army recruiter flees state with 17-year-old girlfriend after estranged wife’s ******* Why Trump wants to eliminate the Education Department Woman recalls “Bloody Sunday” violence in Selma, Alabama Source link #U.S #spaceplane #deorbits #secret #mission #lands #California Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Cyclone Alfred leaves thousands in eastern Australia without power ahead of rare landfall – Axios Cyclone Alfred leaves thousands in eastern Australia without power ahead of rare landfall – Axios Cyclone Alfred leaves thousands in eastern Australia without power ahead of rare landfall AxiosLive: ‘Major impact’ as Cyclone Alfred causes flooding on Gold Coast and northern NSW ABC NewsSnapper Rocks Swallows Man, Surfers Face $16k Fines (Video) SurferBrisbane and Eastern Australia Brace for Powerful Cyclone Alfred The New York Times Source link #Cyclone #Alfred #leaves #thousands #eastern #Australia #power #ahead #rare #landfall #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump cuts all US federal funding to South Africa Trump cuts all US federal funding to South Africa President Donald Trump says the United States is stopping all federal funding to South Africa, but South Africa has responded by saying it will not engage in “megaphone diplomacy”. Trump had already signed an executive order in February to cut all US financial assistance to South Africa, citing disapproval of its land policy and of its genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Washington’s ally, Israel. “To go a step further, any Farmer (with family!) from South Africa, seeking to flee that country for reasons of safety, will be invited into the United States of America with a rapid pathway to Citizenship,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. Trump said this process would begin immediately. Asked for comment about Trump’s remarks, Vincent Magwenya, spokesman to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, told Reuters that South Africa was “not going to partake in a counterproductive megaphone diplomacy.” Magwenya said the country remained committed to building a mutually beneficial bilateral trade, political and diplomatic relationship with the US and this relationship must be based on mutual respect and respect for South Africa’s independence and sovereignty. White landowners still own three-quarters of South Africa’s freehold farmland. This contrasts with four per cent owned by *******, according to the latest 2017 land audit, who make up 80 per cent of the population, compared with about eight per cent for whites. Partly in an effort to redress this imbalance, Ramaphosa signed a law in January allowing the state to expropriate land “in the public interest”, in some cases without compensating the owner. US foreign assistance commitments to South Africa came in at $US323.4 million ($A513.2 million) in 2024, according to US government data. Source link #Trump #cuts #federal #funding #South #Africa Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dollar General: A Must-Watch Stock for Your March Portfolio Dollar General: A Must-Watch Stock for Your March Portfolio The stock market officially entered correction territory this week, as the Nasdaq has dropped more than 10% since it reached over 20,000 on February 19. Another down day on Friday has this shaping up to be the worst week since September, with the Nasdaq off about 4.6% as of early afternoon Friday, falling below 18,000. The S&P 500 was down 3.7% this week, while the Dow Jones was off about 2.8% A combination of factors are causing markets to decline, including overvalued tech and growth stocks, weaker-than-expected economic numbers, tariffs, and a budding trade war. March should indeed be an industry month, as inflation numbers come out next week and the Fed meets the week after. There is also one stock in particular that investors should keep their eye on this month, because of this uncertain environment. Dollar General: Good stock for bad markets? Dollar General (NYSE:), the discount retailer, has endured back-to-back brutal years, with its stock price down more than 20% in each of those years. Part of it has been mismanagement, lawsuits, and safety concerns. Another reason for the swoon is that Dollar General has been losing discount market share to Walmart (NYSE:) in the last two years, which tends to happen when the economy is strong. But Dollar General stock has done well this year, up about 7%, beating Walmart, Target, Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:) and other deep discounters. It tends to outperform those rivals in more difficult economic environments like it did in 2022 during the bear market. That year, Dollar General stock was up 6% while the overall market was down almost 20% and Walmart fell about 1%. That’s because Dollar General is a deep discounter, even more so than Walmart. So, in times of high inflation and a slowing economy, like we saw during the 2022 bear market, more customers tend to flock to Dollar General from perhaps its slightly higher priced competitors. With inflation rising, and potentially moving higher due to tariffs, and recession concerns re-emerging, this could be the type of economic environment that favors Dollar General over its competitors. Dollar General zigs when market zags Dollar General reports its fiscal fourth quarter earnings on March 13, and analysts expect revenue to increase by about 4.1% to $10.3 billion while earnings to decline roughly 18% year-over-year to $1.50 per share. Investors should obviously be watching if Dollar General tops these estimates, but even if it doesn’t and the stock price falls, it could be a good buying opportunity. Investors should closely examine its outlook for the current fiscal year and keep an eye on macroeconomics. If economic indicators continue to trend lower, it might be a good idea to put this stock on your radar. It is very cheap, with a P/E ratio of 12 and a P/S of just 0.42. In addition, Dollar General stock has a history of outperforming in down markets. Its up 7% this year when the S&P 500 is down 2%, it was up 6% in 2022 when the S&P 500 was off 19%, and it gained 18% in 2018 when the large-cap benchmark fell 6%. Original Post Source link #Dollar #General #MustWatch #Stock #March #Portfolio Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Women expected to control $30T by 2030 Women expected to control $30T by 2030 According to Bank of America, women in the US are expected to control $30 trillion worth of wealth by 2030, equal to 38% of all investable assets. As this wealth transfer progresses, the discussion focuses on how women can maximize their economic power while building wealth. Mercer Advisors executive managing director Jessica Caruso joins Wealth to talk about the importance of personalized financial strategies for women. “Women are controlling more and more wealth, and what the strategy and financial plan and investments should look like for every woman is really different,” Caruso tells host Madison Mills. “I think at the end of the day, money is just a tool or a resource that helps us achieve each of our individual goals, and its a resource that should be aligned with what’s important to us.” Caruso also emphasizes the value of planning, stating, the “number one piece of advice would be to get a plan in place and have some holistic support around what that plan looks like.” Watch the video above to hear Caruso dive deeper into how women can build a financial plan that aligns with their unique goals and values. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Josh ****** Source link #Women #expected #control #30T Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (XS) Review | VGChartz Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (XS) Review | VGChartz VGChartz’s Lee Mehr: “Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector’s true success stems from expanding upon its mechanical and narrative foundation without overriding its potent emotional connection. Granted, emphasizing greater “complexity” for a tabletop role-playing/visual novel hybrid might seem suspicious at first blush, but that would hastily disregard how those interlocking systems create such palpably tense decisions. Of course, another part of that tension is the compelling narrative that’s woven within every interaction. Even with nary a voiced line of dialogue nor a fully-animated cutscene, Jump Over the Age manages to ensorcell far easier than most big-budget studios today. With accomplishments like that? It’s easy to put up with some crossed wires and inconsistencies.” Source link #Citizen #Sleeper #Starward #Vector #Review #VGChartz Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Money market funds have grown to a record $7 trillion in assets Money market funds have grown to a record $7 trillion in assets Americans are flocking to cash amid the market turmoil, with money market fund assets hitting a record $7.03 trillion as of the week ended Wednesday, according to the Investment Company Institute . Markets have been rocky of late as investors grapple with uncertainty around President Donald Trump’s tariffs and their impact on the economy. “Recent strong inflows may be a response to the spike in volatility in the financial markets we’ve seen lately,” said Shelly Antoniewicz, ICI chief economist. “With short-term interest rates still at elevated levels historically, money market funds — which pass earned interest on to their shareholders — are relatively more attractive to both institutional and retail investors.” Retail investors added $30.35 billion to money market funds in the week ended Wednesday, bringing their total assets to $2.84 trillion, according to ICI. Institutional money market funds saw assets rise during the ******* by $20.8 billion to $4.19 trillion. Yields on money market funds — which once topped 5% — are down from their highs, but they still remain attractive. The annualized seven-day yield on the Crane 100 list of the 100 largest taxable money funds is currently 4.16%. Peter Crane, founder of money market tracking firm Crane Data, thinks the inflows into money markets have largely been driven by a shift away from lower-paying bank deposits. Here are the largest taxable money market funds for retail investors, according to Crane. Optimizing cash holdings Still, investors should mind their cash allocations carefully, UBS said in a note Friday. Rates on cash-equivalent assets can drop sharply if there is surprise weakness in economic data, strategist Vince Heaney warned. “Amid falling interest rates in Europe and potential risks to economic growth in the US, we believe investors holding excess cash should seek more diverse and durable sources of portfolio income,” he wrote. In fact, cash underperforms other asset classes on a long-term basis, he said. Stocks have beaten cash in 86% and 100% of all 10- and 20-year holding periods, respectively, Heaney noted. Equities have topped cash by more than 200 times overall in terms of returns since 1926, he added. In a 12-month holding *******, bonds have outperformed cash 65% of the time. That rises to 82% over a five-year *******, 85% over 10 years and 90% over 20 years, Heaney said. People should have money stashed in a cash-equivalent account for any liquid needs, including an emergency fund and any potential big purchases coming up. Money market funds and high-yield savings provide liquidity, but have rates that can fluctuate. Investors can lock in rates with certificates of deposit, but they should be aware that there are penalties for early withdrawals. One way to stagger liquidity is to build a CD ladder of varying maturities. How to boost income There are several ways investors can increase income in their portfolio right now, UBS’ Heaney said. First, high-grade and investment-grade bonds offer a compelling risk-reward, he said. Heaney expects mid- to high-single-digit returns for medium-duration bonds in U.S. dollar terms over the next 12 months. Investors can also spread exposure to higher-yielding fixed income, private credit , senior loans and equity income while managing risks, Heaney suggested. For those who need money in more than a year’s time, short-dated fixed income may be an option that could offer better risk-adjusted returns than cash, he said. Source link #Money #market #funds #grown #record #trillion #assets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sugardew Island Review – Relaxing Yet Repetitive – Pixelbytegaming Sugardew Island Review – Relaxing Yet Repetitive – Pixelbytegaming Pixelbyte Gaming was provided a review code for Sugardew Island, a relaxing game that takes too long to offer any deviation to its core loop. While it has some fun elements in here, in a genre that has become increasingly popular over the years, it does very little to set itself apart and become a truly recommendable title. Source link #Sugardew #Island #Review #Relaxing #Repetitive #Pixelbytegaming Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

You didn’t have to watch Traitors to care about its breakout star – Vox.com You didn’t have to watch Traitors to care about its breakout star – Vox.com You didn’t have to watch Traitors to care about its breakout star Vox.com’The Traitors’ was a big loss for the bad guys: How the 5 Traitors’ strategies went awry USA TODAY’The Traitors’ Season 3 Finale: Find Out Who Won PEOPLE’The Traitors’ season 3 winners revealed after early Roundtable drama Entertainment Weekly NewsWhat Time Do The Traitors Season 3 Finale & Reunion Come on Peacock Tonight? March 6, 2025 NBC Insider Source link #didnt #watch #Traitors #care #breakout #star #Vox.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aussie 'Bitcoin founder' ordered to stop legal action Aussie 'Bitcoin founder' ordered to stop legal action A London court has ordered the *********** doctor who lied about being the actual founder of Bitcoin to cease bringing future legal action. Source link #Aussie #039Bitcoin #founder039 #ordered #stop #legal #action Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump administration cancels $400M in grants and contracts with Columbia University Trump administration cancels $400M in grants and contracts with Columbia University NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump administration said Friday that it’s pulling $400 million from Columbia University, canceling grants and contracts because of what the government describes as the Ivy League school’s failure to squelch antisemitism on campus. The notice came five days after federal agencies announced they were considering orders to stop work on $51 million in contracts with the New York City university and reviewing its eligibility for over $5 billion in federal grants going forward. And it came after Columbia set up a new disciplinary committee and ramped up its own investigations into students critical of Israel, alarming free speech advocates. But Columbia’s efforts evidently didn’t go far enough for the federal government. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. “Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding. For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement Friday. She later posted on X that she’d had “a productive meeting” with the university’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, and anticipated “working together to protect all students.” Columbia vowed to work with the government to try to get the money back. “We take Columbia’s legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combatting antisemitism and ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff,” the university said in a statement. It is not clear which research, projects or activities will be affected at Columbia, which operates a medical center among many other functions. The university said it was reviewing the announcement. An inquiry was sent to the federal Education Department, which issued Friday’s announcement along with the Health and Justice departments and the General Services Administration. The New York Civil Liberties Union’s executive director, Donna Lieberman, called the move an unconstitutional government effort “to coerce colleges and universities into censoring student speech and advocacy that isn’t MAGA-approved, like criticizing Israel or supporting ************ rights.” But the $400 million cutoff was welcome news to Columbia/Barnard Hillel, a Jewish student group. Executive Director Brian Cohen said he hoped it would be “a wake-up call to Columbia’s administration and trustees to take antisemitism and the harassment of Jewish students and faculty seriously.” A message seeking comment was sent to a coalition group of pro-************ protesters. Columbia has become the first target in President Donald Trump’s campaign to cut federal money to colleges accused of tolerating antisemitism amid the Israel-****** war that began in October 2023. The university was at the forefront of U.S. campus protests over the war last spring. Pro-************ demonstrators set up an encampment in April and inspired a wave of similar protests. Protesters at Columbia went on to seize a campus building, resulting in dozens of arrests when police cleared the building. Meanwhile, congressional Republicans grilled Columbia then-President Minouche Shafik about the university’s response to antisemitism. Shafik said she was “personally committed to doing everything I can to confront it directly.” She resigned four months later. A few weeks after that, a university task force said that Jews and Israelis at the school were ostracized from student groups, humiliated in classrooms and subjected to verbal abuse amid the spring demonstrations. In recent days, a much smaller contingent of demonstrators have staged brief occupations of buildings at Columbia-affiliated Barnard College to protest the expulsion of two students accused of disrupting an Israeli history class. Several students were arrested following an hourslong takeover of a building Wednesday. Many people involved in the protests have said there’s nothing antisemitic about criticizing Israel over its actions in Gaza or expressing solidarity with Palestinians. Some students, and an attorney advising them, see the university’s new disciplinary crackdown as an effort to mollify the government by suppressing pro-************ speech. Columbia is among a handful of colleges that have come under new federal antisemitism investigations. Others include the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Minnesota; Northwestern University; and Portland State University. Source link #Trump #administration #cancels #400M #grants #contracts #Columbia #University Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AppLovin short-seller urges S&P 500 committee to exclude stock AppLovin short-seller urges S&P 500 committee to exclude stock The short-seller assault on AppLovin is getting ratcheted up a notch. A week after Fuzzy Panda Research put out a report alleging that AppLovin’s ad-tech software is the “nexus of a house of cards,” and accusing the company of violating Google and Apple’s app store policies, the short-seller firm is urging the S&P Index Committee to keep AppLovin’s stock out of the benchmark index. “We are writing to the committee regarding very serious allegations that have been raised against a company that will potentially be added to the S&P 500, AppLovin (APP),” Fuzzy Panda wrote in a March 4 letter to the committee, which is responsible for making quarterly changes to the index. CNBC viewed a copy of the letter. Representatives from AppLovin and S&P declined to comment. Fuzzy Panda’s case against AppLovin comes after the company’s share price soared more than 700% in 2024, lifting its market cap past $110 billion. The historic rally made AppLovin a prime candidate for inclusion in the S&P 500, whose median market cap is about $36 billion. However, after the stock was left out of the index in the most recent change in December, AppLovin plunged 15%. Cloud software vendor Workday was added in December, even though it was valued at tens of billions of dollars less than AppLovin. Workday shares rallied 5% on the news. Stocks often rise when they get included in the index, because fund managers that track the widely followed benchmark have to buy shares. The next quarterly rebalancing, which involves the index committee’s changes to the S&P 500, is expected later in March. As a short seller, Fuzzy Panda is betting on a drop in AppLovin’s stock price, and stands to profit if it declines further. In its letter, Fuzzy Panda said AppLovin doesn’t meet the S&P 500’s “gold standard.” Last week, Fuzzy Panda was one of two firms, along with short-seller Culper Research, that critiqued AppLovin’s AXON software, the driver of the company’s earnings growth and the stock surge. The shares dropped 12% on Feb. 26, the day of the short reports. Culper didn’t respond to a request for comment. AppLovin released the updated 2.0 version of AXON in 2023. The company says the technology, powered by advanced artificial intelligence, helps put more targeted ads within apps, particularly mobile games, and that it’s been expanding to help e-commerce companies with their promotions. Following the reports from Fuzzy Panda and Culper, AppLovin CEO Adam Foroughi wrote in a blog post that the notes were “littered with inaccuracies and false assertions.” “It’s disappointing that a few nefarious short-sellers are making false and misleading claims aimed at undermining our success, and driving down our stock price for their own financial gain, rather than acknowledging the sophisticated AI models our team has built to enhance advertising for our partners,” Foroughi wrote. “It’s also noteworthy that the short reports emerged after our earnings report, where we would be in a ******* of being unable to respond with financial performance.” AppLovin reported an earnings beat earlier in February, sending the stock up 34% in two days and past $500 for the first time. Since then, the stock is down almost 50%, plummeting significantly more than the broader market, after dropping 18% on Thursday. Multiple Wall Street analysts agreed with Foroughi’s assessment. “We believe most of the issues that have been highlighted recently have almost no merit,” analysts at BTIG wrote in a Feb. 26 note, reiterating their buy rating. Analysts at Piper also kept their buy recommendation and said they were “buyers of APP following the selloff.” “APP’s customers are the most sophisticated in digital advertising & we believe any alleged fraudulent practice would be felt immediately via their own attribution or incrementality testing,” they wrote. Fuzzy Panda’s letter to the S&P committee reiterated its earlier allegations of fraudulent ad tactics, such as AppLovin’s alleged stealing of data from Meta in its e-commerce push and its tracking of children’s devices, violating Apple and Google’s rules. CNBC has not been able to independently verify Fuzzy Panda’s allegations. Fuzzy Panda said its research consisted of interviews with former employees at AppLovin and Meta, industry experts and executives at other ad-tech companies as well as its own analysis and testing of the technology. “AppLovin’s recent revenue growth has been based in data theft, revenue fraud, and the exploitation of our country’s laws protecting children,” the firm wrote to the S&P committee. In its earlier report on its short position, Fuzzy Panda wrote, “AppLovin has been playing a dangerous game and is risking a permanent ban from the duopoly mobile app store platforms that controls the gateway to >99% of the market.” Representatives from Meta, Apple and Google didn’t provide comments. According to Fuzzy Panda’s website, the firm has taken on about 20 companies, including electric car makers Fisker and Lucid, insurer Globe Life and online education company Stride. Globe Life shares plummeted more than 50% in April after Fuzzy Panda, in revealing its short position, said it had uncovered numerous instances of insurance fraud. Globe life responded by calling the report “wildly misleading” and “driven solely by short-term profit” from short sellers. WATCH: AppLovin soars almost 30% on earnings, guidance beat Source link #AppLovin #shortseller #urges #committee #exclude #stock Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trains Delayed After World War II Bomb Is Uncovered Near Paris Trains Delayed After World War II Bomb Is Uncovered Near Paris new video loaded: Trains Delayed After World War II Bomb Is Uncovered Near Paris transcript Back transcript Trains Delayed After World War II Bomb Is Uncovered Near ParisThe discovery of the unexploded bomb, which weighed more than 1,000 pounds, near one of France’s largest trains stations caused travel disruptions in Paris and other parts of Europe. Well, we just flew a red eye from Houston to London. We’re going to do four days in Paris for our spring break, and we got to the train station and they said there are no trains today. I mean, we had a lot of stuff booked and prepaid and it’s unfortunate, but that’s what happens. We’ll get some food, rest and try it again tomorrow. Recent episodes in Europe Show more videos from Europe Source link #Trains #Delayed #World #War #Bomb #Uncovered #Paris Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘Prepare for disruption’: Alabama leader warns of Department of Education closure – AL.com ‘Prepare for disruption’: Alabama leader warns of Department of Education closure – AL.com ‘Prepare for disruption’: Alabama leader warns of Department of Education closure AL.comWhy Do Republicans Want to Dismantle the Education Department? The New York TimesDismantling of Education Department puts future of trillions of dollars in student loans in question CNNSenate confirms McMahon to lead Education Department as Trump pushes to shut it down The Associated Press Source link #Prepare #disruption #Alabama #leader #warns #Department #Education #closure #AL.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AppLovin short-seller urges S&P 500 committee to exclude stock AppLovin short-seller urges S&P 500 committee to exclude stock The short-seller assault on AppLovin is getting ratcheted up a notch. A week after Fuzzy Panda Research put out a report alleging that AppLovin’s ad-tech software is the “nexus of a house of cards,” and accusing the company of violating Google and Apple’s app store policies, the short-seller firm is urging the S&P Index Committee to keep AppLovin’s stock out of the benchmark index. “We are writing to the committee regarding very serious allegations that have been raised against a company that will potentially be added to the S&P 500, AppLovin (APP),” Fuzzy Panda wrote in a March 4 letter to the committee, which is responsible for making quarterly changes to the index. CNBC viewed a copy of the letter. Representatives from AppLovin and S&P declined to comment. Fuzzy Panda’s case against AppLovin comes after the company’s share price soared more than 700% in 2024, lifting its market cap past $110 billion. The historic rally made AppLovin a prime candidate for inclusion in the S&P 500, whose median market cap is about $36 billion. However, after the stock was left out of the index in the most recent change in December, AppLovin plunged 15%. Cloud software vendor Workday was added in December, even though it was valued at tens of billions of dollars less than AppLovin. Workday shares rallied 5% on the news. Stocks often rise when they get included in the index, because fund managers that track the widely followed benchmark have to buy shares. The next quarterly rebalancing, which involves the index committee’s changes to the S&P 500, is expected later in March. As a short seller, Fuzzy Panda is betting on a drop in AppLovin’s stock price, and stands to profit if it declines further. In its letter, Fuzzy Panda said AppLovin doesn’t meet the S&P 500’s “gold standard.” Last week, Fuzzy Panda was one of two firms, along with short-seller Culper Research, that critiqued AppLovin’s AXON software, the driver of the company’s earnings growth and the stock surge. The shares dropped 12% on Feb. 26, the day of the short reports. Culper didn’t respond to a request for comment. AppLovin released the updated 2.0 version of AXON in 2023. The company says the technology, powered by advanced artificial intelligence, helps put more targeted ads within apps, particularly mobile games, and that it’s been expanding to help e-commerce companies with their promotions. Following the reports from Fuzzy Panda and Culper, AppLovin CEO Adam Foroughi wrote in a blog post that the notes were “littered with inaccuracies and false assertions.” “It’s disappointing that a few nefarious short-sellers are making false and misleading claims aimed at undermining our success, and driving down our stock price for their own financial gain, rather than acknowledging the sophisticated AI models our team has built to enhance advertising for our partners,” Foroughi wrote. “It’s also noteworthy that the short reports emerged after our earnings report, where we would be in a ******* of being unable to respond with financial performance.” AppLovin reported an earnings beat earlier in February, sending the stock up 34% in two days and past $500 for the first time. Since then, the stock is down almost 50%, plummeting significantly more than the broader market, after dropping 18% on Thursday. Multiple Wall Street analysts agreed with Foroughi’s assessment. “We believe most of the issues that have been highlighted recently have almost no merit,” analysts at BTIG wrote in a Feb. 26 note, reiterating their buy rating. Analysts at Piper also kept their buy recommendation and said they were “buyers of APP following the selloff.” “APP’s customers are the most sophisticated in digital advertising & we believe any alleged fraudulent practice would be felt immediately via their own attribution or incrementality testing,” they wrote. Fuzzy Panda’s letter to the S&P committee reiterated its earlier allegations of fraudulent ad tactics, such as AppLovin’s alleged stealing of data from Meta in its e-commerce push and its tracking of children’s devices, violating Apple and Google’s rules. CNBC has not been able to independently verify Fuzzy Panda’s allegations. Fuzzy Panda said its research consisted of interviews with former employees at AppLovin and Meta, industry experts and executives at other ad-tech companies as well as its own analysis and testing of the technology. “AppLovin’s recent revenue growth has been based in data theft, revenue fraud, and the exploitation of our country’s laws protecting children,” the firm wrote to the S&P committee. In its earlier report on its short position, Fuzzy Panda wrote, “AppLovin has been playing a dangerous game and is risking a permanent ban from the duopoly mobile app store platforms that controls the gateway to >99% of the market.” Representatives from Meta, Apple and Google didn’t provide comments. According to Fuzzy Panda’s website, the firm has taken on about 20 companies, including electric car makers Fisker and Lucid, insurer Globe Life and online education company Stride. Globe Life shares plummeted more than 50% in April after Fuzzy Panda, in revealing its short position, said it had uncovered numerous instances of insurance fraud. Globe life responded by calling the report “wildly misleading” and “driven solely by short-term profit” from short sellers. WATCH: AppLovin soars almost 30% on earnings, guidance beat Source link #AppLovin #shortseller #urges #committee #exclude #stock Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

General among killed in S Sudan attack on UN helicopter General among killed in S Sudan attack on UN helicopter A South Sudanese general and dozens of soldiers have been killed when a United Nations helicopter trying to relocate them from the northern town of Nasir came under attack, the government says. The United Nations said the incident, which could deal a blow to an already fragile peace process, was “utterly abhorrent” and a possible war crime. The UN crew was trying to airlift soldiers following heavy clashes in Nasir between government forces and the White Army militia, a group which President Salva Kiir’s government has linked to forces loyal to his rival and First Vice President Riek Machar. In a address announcing the deaths of General Majur Dak and other soldiers, Kiir said Machar had assured him and the UN representative that the general would be safe and that the rescue mission should fly to Nasir to move him and his men. Information Minister Michael Makuei told reporters that “approximately 27” troops were killed. A UN crew member was among the dead. It was not immediately clear if the helicopter was hit as it was in the air or if the attack took place while it was still on the ground. Machar’s spokesman Puok Both Baluang declined to comment on the attack. Machar’s party has previously denied involvement in the recent fighting in Nasir. The head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom, said the attack was “utterly abhorrent” and may constitute a war crime under international law. “We also regret the killing of those that we were attempting to extract, particularly when assurances of safe passage had been received. UNMISS urges an investigation to determine those responsible and hold them accountable,” he said. Machar’s spokesman said earlier this week that security forces had arrested the petroleum minister, the peacebuilding minister, the deputy head of the army and other senior military officials allied with Machar, potentially jeopardising the 2018 peace deal which ended a civil war between Kiir’s and Machar’s forces. The government has not commented on the detentions and all the detained officials, apart from the peacebuilding minister, remain in custody or under house arrest, according to Machar’s spokesman. The White Army, which mostly comprises armed youth from the Nuer ethnic group, fought alongside Machar’s forces in the 2013-2018 civil war that pitted them against predominantly ethnic Dinka troops loyal to Kiir. Kiir on Friday reiterated that the country would not return to war but analysts have warned that the escalating tensions could lead to a full-blown conflict. The UN in a statement urged “all actors to refrain from further violence and for the country’s leaders to urgently intervene to resolve tensions through dialogue and ensure that the security situation in Nasir, and more broadly, does not deteriorate”. South Sudan has formally been at peace since the 2018 agreement ended the five-year war that killed an estimated 400,000 people but clashes between rival communities break out frequently. The UN mission in South Sudan was established soon after the country won independence from Sudan in 2011. Almost 20,000 peacekeepers from 73 countries serve in it. Source link #General #among #killed #Sudan #attack #helicopter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4: Release Date, Track List, And Everything We Know Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4: Release Date, Track List, And Everything We Know After five years, the Tony Hawk Pro Skater franchise is finally kick-flipping its way back into the spotlight as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 was recently revealed. Similar to 2020’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, these are enhanced remake versions of the extreme skateboarding games that feature overhauled graphics and familiar gameplay. Ahead of its release in July, we’ve gathered up everything that we know about the game so far, from its release date through to the tracks that you’ll be tapping your feet to as you aim to successfully land an absurd combo. When will Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 be released? Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 will launch on July 11. Preorders for the deluxe and collector’s edition will unlock early access, allowing fans to jump in three days early, starting July 8. How to get the Foundry demo Everyone who preorders Pro Skater 3 + 4 will receive access to a demo set to go live in June that allows players to try out the Foundry level from THPS 3. Preorder Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 As you’d expect, there’ll be standard, deluxe, and collector’s editions of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 when it launches. Now available to preorder, the standard edition is priced at $50 and the digital deluxe edition is $70. The $130 collector’s edition comes with some cool digital content, as well as a full-size skateboard deck from Birdhouse. For more details on these editions and all the preorder bonuses, you can check out our Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 preorder guide. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 trailer You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 | Official Gameplay Reveal Trailer Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 platforms Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 will be available for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Switch. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 will be on Game Pass Microsoft owns Activision and the Pro Skater series as part of its buyout of Activision Blizzard, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 will be available at launch on Game Pass. You will need to subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass to play the game at launch. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 skaters Yes, THAT Doom Slayer is in the game. Alongside the Hawkman himself, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 will feature many of the original skaters from those two games, several new faces, and a few interesting editions from id Software’s Doom series of first-person shooters. Interestingly, Jackass star Bam Margera isn’t on the list and is nowhere to be seen in the debut trailer. While Activision did mention that it has more secret skaters to reveal, it looks like Margera has seemingly been cut from the roster. While Margera found success after Jackass with skateboarding deals and the MTV series Viva La Bam, recent years have seen him deal with substance abuse and health issues. Jackass director Jeff Tremaine had originally planned to include him in the fourth film, but Margera was fired from the project and a restraining order was issued against him by the filmmaker. The classic THPS games also featured several memorable guest characters, and while we’re not certain if Darth Maul, Marvel’s Wolverine, or if Officer ***** will show up, we do know that the Doom Slayer will be in the game as a digital deluxe and collector’s edition bonus. An interesting fact here is that Doom Guy was originally in THPS 3’s PC edition, so this is a nice bit of continuity for the remake. Here’s the full list so far of skaters in the game: Returning skaters Tony Hawk Bob Burnquist Steve Caballero Kareem Campbell Rune Glifberg Eric Koston Bucky Lasek Rodney Mullen Chad Muska Andrew Reynolds Geoff Rowley Elissa Steamer Jamie Thomas New skaters Chloe Covell Jamie Foy Rayssa Leal Yuto Horigome Zion Wright Wireframe Tony Hawk (via the digital deluxe and collector’s editions) Doom Slayer (Preorder (via the digital deluxe and collector’s editions) Revenant (via the digital deluxe and collector’s editions) Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 gameplay The Hawkman returns. The interesting thing about these two THPS games is that they represent two very different eras for the franchise. THPS 3 was the final game for several years to use the traditional two-minute time-limit for each stage, while THPS 4 scrapped the timer and gave players the option to explore each stage at their own leisure during career mode. For Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, Iron Galaxy is unifying the experience by keeping the time-limit structure intact for both games. It has been suggested that certain objectives have been reworked for THPS4, to accommodate this change. Regardless, you’ll still be able to play through these games at a leisurely pace through Free Skate mode, and there’ll also be Speed Run and Single Session modes to try out. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 skate parks Just like Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2, all the locations from the THPS 3 and 4 will be making a return in this remake. The reveal trailer was mostly focused on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 with quick peaks at the Airport, Rio, and Los Angeles maps, but we also got a glimpse at the College and Alcatraz skate parks from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4. Developer Iron Giant has also teased Waterpark, one of three new locations that’ll be in the game. Airport (THPS 3) Alcatraz (THPS 4) Canada (THPS 3) College (THPS 4) Foundry (THPS 3) Rio (THPS 3) San Francisco (THPS 3) Tokyo (THPS 3) Waterpark Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 soundtrack Nothing beats nailing a cool trick while listening to Ace of Spades. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 saw the licensed soundtrack expand across multiple genres, and while we don’t have the full mixtape yet, it sounds like the soundtrack will see the return of several bangers from yesteryear. There’ll be a few new songs as well, with “Outta Here” by KRS-One already confirmed for the game “Ace of Spades” by Motorhead “Amoeba” by Adolescents “Mass Appeal” by Gang Starr “96 Quite Bitter Beings” by CKY “Not the Same” by Bodyjar “Outta Here” by KRS-One Source link #Tony #Hawks #Pro #Skater #Release #Date #Track #List Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How to save for retirement in a single-income household How to save for retirement in a single-income household Peopleimages | Istock | Getty Images If you’re married and in a single-income household, a lesser-known retirement strategy could boost your nest egg — and there’s still time to use it for 2024. A spousal individual retirement account is a separate Roth or traditional IRA for the non-working spouse. With this strategy, two IRAs can be maxed out annually with enough income from the working spouse. The deadline for 2024 contributions is April 15. “Spousal IRAs are a game changer for married couples looking to build retirement savings and manage their lifetime tax burden,” said certified financial planner Jim Davis, partner at Aspen Wealth Management in Fort Worth, Texas. More from Personal Finance: DOGE layoffs may ‘overwhelm’ unemployment system for federal workers You can still lower your 2024 tax bill or boost your refund with these moves Canada, Mexico tariffs create ‘ripple effects’ on consumer prices For 2024, the IRA contribution limit is $7,000, plus an extra $1,000 catch-up contribution for investors age 50 and older. The caps are the same for 2025. That means an older married couple with sufficient earned income could save up to $8,000 per IRA for 2024 before the April 15 tax deadline. They’ll have until next year’s tax due date for 2025 IRA contributions. “For many, it’s a simple yet powerful step toward achieving long-term goals,” Davis said. To qualify, you must file taxes jointly and your combined IRA contributions can’t exceed “taxable compensation” reported on your tax return, according to the IRS. The strategy could also work if one spouse is unemployed without enough 2024 earnings to contribute to an IRA on their own. Roth IRAs are funded with after-tax dollars and offer future tax-free growth, but there’s an income limit. Traditional IRAs could provide an upfront tax break, depending on your income and workplace retirement plan participation. ‘Leveling the playing field’ Another perk of spousal IRAs is the ability to create or boost retirement savings for spouses who don’t earn an income, said Michelle Petrowski, a CFP and founder of Phoenix-based financial firm Being in Abundance. “This helps accrue retirement savings for the family CFO who may not be employed outside the home, or is currently underemployed,” she said. In a divorce, it’s often easier to split retirement accounts when the non-earning spouse has assets in their name, noted Petrowski, who is also a certified divorce financial analyst. “This is a great way to acknowledge their unpaid economic contribution to the household,” she said. “It really helps with leveling the playing field in these conversations.” Source link #save #retirement #singleincome #household Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Abruptly Flips on Russia Sanctions in Mind-Boggling Move Trump Abruptly Flips on Russia Sanctions in Mind-Boggling Move Donald Trump threatened sanctions against Russia Friday—before getting right back to blaming Ukraine for the continued fighting there. Trump claimed in a post on Truth Social that he was “strongly considering” placing additional sanctions on Russia, referring to reports that the fighting was still ongoing in Ukraine—which he recently cut off from U.S. military aid and intelligence after clashing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week. “Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED,” Trump wrote. “To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!” Trump’s feeble first attempt at intimidating Russian President Vladimir Putin into ending the war comes just days after the White House reportedly started making a list of sanctions on Russia that they could lift as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing negotiations to end the invasion of Ukraine. This included lifting sanctions on individuals such as Russian oligarchs, who Trump has insisted are “very nice people.” Despite his supposedly tougher message to Russia on social media, Trump continued his capitulation to Putin during a press conference, downplaying Russia’s continued aggression toward Ukraine while finding a way to blame Ukraine for the fighting. When asked whether he thought Putin was “taking advantage” of the pause in U.S. military aid and intelligence to continue the fighting in Ukraine, Trump practically said he agreed with the Russian onslaught. “I actually think he’s doing what anybody else would do, I think he’s, I think he wants to get it stopped and settled and I think he’s hitting ’em harder than he’s been hitting ’em. And I think probably anybody in that position would be doing that right now,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Friday. “He wants to get it ended, and I think Ukraine wants to get it ended,” Trump said incredulously. “But I don’t see—it’s crazy. They’re taking tremendous punishment. I don’t quite get it.” Trump’s remarks seemingly take the onus for the continued violence off Russia—and the U.S., which created the opportunity in the first place by undermining Ukraine—and place it back on Zelenskiy, whom Trump wants to paint as uncommitted to ending the fight. In recent weeks, Trump has piled the pressure onto Zelenskiy while projecting nothing but confidence onto Putin, who is ultimately the aggressor behind Russia’s two-year, full-scale invasion. During the Friday press conference, Trump also said that he still believes Putin “wants peace,” despite continuing to drop bombs in Ukraine. “I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine,” Trump said. Putin vowed Thursday that Russia would not retreat from the territory it has claimed in Ukraine, and would seek a peace deal that ensured Russia’s security in the future. Source link #Trump #Abruptly #Flips #Russia #Sanctions #MindBoggling #Move Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]