Pelican Press

Morgan Stanley picks China stocks to ride out a worst-case scenario in U.S. tensions Morgan Stanley picks China stocks to ride out a worst-case scenario in U.S. tensions After last month’s excitement over stimulus plans, ******** stocks now face mounting challenges as earnings have yet to pick up and heightened U.S. trade tensions loom. “Stock picking ******** important with [the] headwind of tariffs, a weaker currency and persistent deflation,” Morgan Stanley chief China equity strategist Laura Wang and a team said in a report Thursday. For investment options, she referred to the firm’s survey of China stocks the investment bank’s analysts already cover. The firm screened for stocks that could outperform depending on which of three scenarios unfolded. Only the bear case accounted for significant U.S. tariffs and restrictions. The base and bull cases assumed the status quo in U.S.-China relations. The bear case also expects 1 trillion yuan, or $140 billion, in fiscal stimulus a year and MSCI China earnings per share growth of 3% this year and 5% next year. Morgan Stanley’s basket of bear case stocks only includes overweight-rated names with a dividend yield above 4% this year. They also have free cash flow yield above 4% from 2023 to 2025 and market capitalization above $2 billion, among other factors. The companies must not be on Morgan Stanley’s lists of stocks at a disadvantage from *********** policy and supply chain diversification. The only consumer name that made the list was Tingyi , a Hong Kong-listed company that owns instant noodles brand Master Kong. The company is also PepsiCo ‘s exclusive manufacturer and seller in China. Tingyi’s net profit in beverages rose nearly 26% in the first half of 2024 compared to a year ago, while that of instant noodles rose 5.4%. Morgan Stanley expects Tingyi’s earnings per share to grow 12% this year and 11% in 2025. Other ******** companies that made Morgan Stanley’s bear case basket included two state-owned energy stocks: drilling company China Oilfield Services and Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation , which specializes in shipping oil and natural gas. Both stocks are listed in Hong Kong, as is the only industrials name on the bear case list, Sinotruk . The truck manufacturer is also state owned. Morgan Stanley expects China Oilfield Services can grow earnings per share by 41% this year and 33% next year, while Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation can see its earnings rise 33% this year, before slowing to 16% growth next year. Sinotruk earnings can grow 18% this year and 17% next year, according to Morgan Stanley estimates. MSCI China constituents are on track for their 13th straight quarter of earnings misses, despite recent improvements in economic data, Morgan Stanley’s Wang said. “We expect further earnings downward revisions amid lingering deflationary pressure and geopolitical uncertainties until more policy clarity emerges.” Asia equity fund managers have modestly increased their exposure to China since September’s stimulus announcements, Morningstar strategist Claire Liang said in a phone interview Friday. “But many managers have said whether this rally can continue will depend on whether the policies can see real results,” Liang said in Mandarin, which was translated by CNBC. Beyond stabilizing the economy, she said the managers are looking for whether corporate earnings can recover. China’s October data release on Friday underscored a slow economic recovery despite the latest barrage of stimulus announcements. Industrial production missed forecasts. Fixed asset investment grew more slowly than forecast as the drop in real estate investment steepened, albeit with new home sales narrowing their decline. Only retail sales beat expectations with 4.8% growth . For China’s export-heavy economy, the risk of U.S. tariffs has only risen over the past two weeks as the *********** Party has taken control of the U.S. Congress and President-elect Donald Trump has filled his cabinet with China hawks. Morgan Stanley’s U.S. policy team expects Trump to impose tariffs soon after he takes office, and potentially hit Europe and Mexico along with China imports. While China is better positioned than six years ago to stave off the effects of targeted tariffs, the analysts said global duties on U.S. imports would hit China as much as targeted tariffs did in 2018. Source link #Morgan #Stanley #picks #China #stocks #ride #worstcase #scenario #U.S #tensions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Masked group marches through Ohio neighborhood with ********* flags Masked group marches through Ohio neighborhood with ********* flags The governor of Ohio and city officials in Columbus are speaking out after a group of masked individuals marched through the streets of the Ohio capital city Saturday dressed in ****** and holding flags with swastikas on them. The unidentified people were spotted around 1 p.m. walking through the Short North neighborhood, according to Columbus ABC affiliate WSYX. Images and videos of the marchers went viral on social media sites. The Columbus Police were dispatched, and the investigation is ongoing. PHOTO: Men carrying carrying flags with swastikas walk down a street in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in this screengrab from a video supplied to ABC News. (Handout) “We will not tolerate hate in Ohio,” Ohio *********** Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement on the social media platform X on Saturday evening. “Neo-Nazis — their faces hidden behind red masks — roamed streets in Columbus today, carrying ***** flags and spewing vile and ******* speech against people of ****** and Jews. There were reports that they were also espousing white power sentiments.” He added, “There is no place in this State for hate, bigotry, antisemitism, or *********, and we must denounce it wherever we see it.” “The Columbus community stands squarely against hatred and bigotry. We will not allow any of our neighbors to be intimidated, threatened or harmed because of who they are, how they worship or whom they love,” the City of Columbus said in a statement Saturday evening. “We embrace tolerance and acceptance, and derive great strength from our diversity. It is who we are as a people, and it is precisely what has enabled us to grow and thrive and reach new heights of excellence. Together, we ******* the cowardly display reported in the Short North earlier today, and we will continue to monitor the situation in partnership with the Columbus Division of Police to ensure the safety and security of our city.” MORE: ***** demonstrators gather outside ‘Diary of Anne Frank’ play in Michigan Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein echoed those sentiments in a statement posted on X. “To those involved in the neo-***** march in the Short North today, take your flags and the masks you hide behind and go home and never come back,” he said. “Your hate isn’t welcome in our city.” PHOTO: Scioto river with waterfall and Columbus Ohio skyline, USA (Ian Spanier/Getty Images/Image Source) Last week, a group of masked demonstrators were seen waving ***** flags outside a production of “The Diary of Anne Frank” in Howell, Michigan. The protesters were asked to move and there were no arrests. Masked group marches through Ohio neighborhood with ********* flags originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Source link #Masked #group #marches #Ohio #neighborhood #********* #flags Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Top Wall Street analysts are upbeat on these stocks for the long haul Top Wall Street analysts are upbeat on these stocks for the long haul The postelection rally has hit some turbulence in recent days, giving investors a bumpy ride in the near term. However, these choppy markets can harbor plenty of opportunities — for those who know where to look. Investors shouldn’t focus too much on short-term volatility as they position their portfolios. Recommendations from Wall Street can help them make informed decisions on stocks and seek solid long-term returns. Top-rated analysts pay attention to multiple aspects when selecting stocks of companies with solid fundamentals and strong **********. Bearing that in mind, here are three stocks favored by the Street’s top *****, according to TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance. Amazon We start this week with e-commerce and cloud computing giant Amazon (AMZN). The company impressed investors with third-quarter beats on the top and bottom lines, fueled by strength in its cloud and advertising businesses. In reaction to the solid Q3 print, Monness analyst Brian White reaffirmed a buy rating on Amazon stock and boosted the price target to $245 from $225. While the analyst acknowledged regulatory pressures, he ******** bullish on AMZN as he thinks it will continue to “capitalize on the cloud, expand its digital ad business, innovate with AI, realize efficiencies from a regional fulfillment network, and leverage a leaner cost structure.” White highlighted that Amazon’s revenue growth accelerated to 17%, with significant profit upside. Notably, Q3 operating profit exceeded his estimates, driving record operating margin at 11%. He also noted the sharp sequential rise in operating margins at Amazon Web Services, or AWS, and International business. Based on the solid results, the analyst raised his revenue and earnings per share estimates for 2024 and 2025. White also pointed out Amazon’s focus on reducing costs via improved efficiencies and new initiatives such as regionalizing its U.S. fulfillment network. The company now aims to regionalize its U.S. inbound network and leverage advanced robotic innovations across its fulfillment network. Overall, White sees lucrative growth potential for Amazon across e-commerce, AWS, digital media, advertising, Alexa, robotics, artificial intelligence and other avenues. White ranks No. 38 among more than 9,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 69% of the time, delivering an average return of 20.4%. See Amazon Stock Charts on TipRanks. Uber Technologies We now move to this week’s second pick, ride-sharing platform Uber Technologies (UBER). The company recently delivered better-than-expected third-quarter revenue and earnings. However, it missed Wall Street’s expectations for Q3 ****** bookings. Nonetheless, Evercore analyst Mark Mahaney ******** bullish on UBER stock. He reiterated a buy rating with a price target of $120, following a series of investor meetings with management. Mahaney thinks UBER will gain from autonomous vehicle rollouts, given its position as the largest ride-sharing demand aggregator. He added that better availability of robotaxis on the Uber platform will drive improved customer service through shorter wait times, broader ride selection and possibly lower prices. “UBER believes that the economics it can offer AV owners can be compelling, allowing them to generate very high margins and better fleet utilization than they can develop on their own,” said Mahaney. Based on his discussions with management, Mahaney explained that the deceleration reflecting in Uber’s Mobility bookings growth in Q3 and the estimate for Q4 is due to the negative demand elasticity caused by the surge in insurance costs and a slowdown in “party hour” bookings, or those that take place during evenings and weekends. He thinks this deceleration will moderate, given the slowdown in the rate of insurance cost increases, growth prospects of new products such as Uber for Teens and Uber for Business as well as potential improvement in consumer discretionary demand. Finally, Mahaney ******** confident about Uber’s ability to consistently boost its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and free cash flow margins over the next three to five years, supported by multiple measures to drive cost efficiencies. Mahaney ranks No. 34 among more than 9,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 64% of the time, delivering an average return of 28.9%. See Uber Technologies Stock Options on TipRanks. Block Finally, let’s look at fintech giant Block (SQ). The company, formerly known as Square, narrowly beat analysts’ earnings expectations but missed revenue estimates for the third quarter. Following the results, BTIG analyst Andrew Harte discussed the positives and negatives of Block’s Q3 performance. He noted that the company’s initial FY25 ****** profit growth guidance of at least 15% almost met the consensus estimate at 14.9%. However, Q4 ****** profit outlook of 14% fell short of expectations due to the shift in the timing of certain expected benefits from Q4 to next year. The analyst thinks CEO Jack Dorsey did a good job in highlighting the company’s lending products and explaining how they are fueling the growth of Block’s ecosystem. Despite the soft Q4 guidance and management’s commentary indicating that investors will have to wait until the second half of 2025 for growth acceleration, SQ stock continues to be a top pick for BTIG. Harte cited several reasons for his bullish stance, including Block’s track record of surpassing guidance and the stock’s attractive valuation at 12-times FY25 EV (enterprise value)/EBITDA. He added that the company is in the early days of fueling increased product adoption in both its Cash and Square ecosystems, indicating continued growth potential ahead. “Block is just beginning to integrate its Cash App and Square ecosystems, which could create meaningful flywheel effects over time,” said Harte while reiterating a buy rating on the stock with a price target of $90. Harte ranks No. 152 among more than 9,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 75% of the time, delivering an average return of 63.8%. See Block Hedge Funds Activity on TipRanks. Source link #Top #Wall #Street #analysts #upbeat #stocks #long #haul Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Evercore ISI gives its top five tech picks for 2025 Evercore ISI gives its top five tech picks for 2025 Evercore ISI already named its favorite technology stocks to own heading into 2025. As a group, information technology is up nearly 32% year to date, one of the top-performing sectors in the S & P 500. Large cap tech stocks in particular have been at the forefront of the equity rally since late 2022, when the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT debuted. More recently, however, the IT sector has come under pressure amid questions as to whether tech companies will continue to see the growth needed to justify their lofty valuations. Against that background, Evercore ISI analysts recently picked five tech stocks they’re most sure of entering next year. Here are the investment bank’s stock picks, and where the recommendations are forecast to head next. Arista Networks The cloud network equipment company’s ************* revenue guidance for 2025 leaves room for upside potential, according to Evercore ISI. “We think ANET is uniquely positioned to deliver revenue acceleration in CY25 and beyond driven by multiple levers,” a group of analysts wrote in a Wednesday note. According to their forecasts, Arista Networks’ revenue will grow by more than 20% in 2025 and 2026. They cited tailwinds such as customer expansion, growth across its front-end network and Cognitive campus workspaces service . The company’s back-end AI offerings are another potential driver of revenue growth, according to the analysts. “We continue to see Arista as the leader in AI ethernet switching and customer adoption should accelerate in CY25,” the note continued. Evercore ISI raised its 12-month price target on Arista to $450 from $425, indicating more than 20% upside from Friday’s close. The stock has surged 59% year to date. Apple Artificial intelligence will power Apple ‘s long-term growth story, according to Evercore ISI. Although sales for its new iPhone released in September haven’t sparked an upgrade supercycle, the investment bank believes iPhone growth will eventually improve as more AI features are added. “While this may be disappointing for those hoping for a very strong iPhone 16 cycle, we think it is important to note that Apple’s AI strategy goes beyond simply selling more iPhones,” the analysts said. “Apple will continue to function as a gatekeeper to it’s 1.5B+ [user] install base and has the optionality to monetize 3rd party AI efforts. This will enable them to reap the AI rewards without the massive uptick in capex we are seeing at their mega cap peers.” In addition to benefits from more AI features, Apple’s services and wearables segments are also expected to grow next year. Evercore ISI has an unchanged $250 price target, which implies shares gaining 11.1% from where the stock closed Friday. Apple shares are up 17% in 2024, lagging the 23% gain in the S & P 500. Amphenol The fiber optic connector manufacturer offers both double-digit revenue growth and low volatility, according to Evercore ISI’s analysts. Amphenol also produces electronic connectors and cables which it sells across a diverse range of markets, including to defense, tech and broadband companies. Amphenol is also expected to benefit as some of its customers, such as industrial and mobile networks groups, recover. The Wallingford, Connecticut-based company also has a strong track record in acquisitions and a solid balance sheet ensuring it can continue deal-making — which Evercore ISI estimates could add from 15 cents to 20 cents to its earnings per share on an annual basis. The stock closed at $70.52 on Friday. “We think APH is well-positioned to benefit from AI ramps by providing highly complex/efficient connectors for AI servers and networking,” the Evercore analysts wrote. “Additionally, APH’s deep exposure over a range of technology and strong partnerships allow them to be flexible in reacting and capturing short and long-term AI opportunities,” the note said. Evercore ISI increased its price target on the $90-billion stock by $5 to $80 per share, or more than 13% above Friday’s close. International Business Machines IBM is likely to top revenue estimates in 2025, Evercore ISI said. Growth in IBM’s software segment, which reached double digits in the third quarter, will likely continue thanks to high demand for AI and data solutions. IBM currently has $3 billion worth of AI business booked, which could also boost demand for its software offerings, Evercore ISI said. IBM may also gain from President-elect Donald Trump’s second term push to lift regulations. “A more favorable regulatory backdrop for M & A could accelerate deal activity,” Evercore ISI wrote. “IBM notably could be positioned for larger transactions given their balance sheet” and free cash flow generation. Vertiv Holdings Vertiv Holdings is a long-term beneficiary of the AI *****, Evercore ISI said. The Waterville, Ohio company’s 27,000 employees provide digital infrastructure technologies to data centers. Shares have more than doubled in 2024, soaring 152% in 2024 amid the ***** in data centers that’s driven demand for Vertiv’s liquid cooling technologies. “We think the company is well-positioned to not just capture secular tailwind AI infrastructure tailwinds, but also gain share in an expanding market, and more importantly, do so in an increasingly more profitable manner,” the Evercore note said. The analysts believe Vertiv’s profit margins before interest and taxes could reach the mid 20% level as it optimizes scale and business processes. The bank lifted its price target to $150 from $135, implying Vertiv shares might rally 24% over the next year compared to where they closed on Friday. —CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed to this report. Source link #Evercore #ISI #top #tech #picks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Evercore ISI gives its top five tech picks for 2025 Evercore ISI gives its top five tech picks for 2025 Evercore ISI already named its favorite technology stocks to own heading into 2025. As a group, information technology is up nearly 32% year to date, one of the top-performing sectors in the S & P 500. Large cap tech stocks in particular have been at the forefront of the equity rally since late 2022, when the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT debuted. More recently, however, the IT sector has come under pressure amid questions as to whether tech companies will continue to see the growth needed to justify their lofty valuations. Against that background, Evercore ISI analysts recently picked five tech stocks they’re most sure of entering next year. Here are the investment bank’s stock picks, and where the recommendations are forecast to head next. Arista Networks The cloud network equipment company’s ************* revenue guidance for 2025 leaves room for upside potential, according to Evercore ISI. “We think ANET is uniquely positioned to deliver revenue acceleration in CY25 and beyond driven by multiple levers,” a group of analysts wrote in a Wednesday note. According to their forecasts, Arista Networks’ revenue will grow by more than 20% in 2025 and 2026. They cited tailwinds such as customer expansion, growth across its front-end network and Cognitive campus workspaces service . The company’s back-end AI offerings are another potential driver of revenue growth, according to the analysts. “We continue to see Arista as the leader in AI ethernet switching and customer adoption should accelerate in CY25,” the note continued. Evercore ISI raised its 12-month price target on Arista to $450 from $425, indicating more than 20% upside from Friday’s close. The stock has surged 59% year to date. Apple Artificial intelligence will power Apple ‘s long-term growth story, according to Evercore ISI. Although sales for its new iPhone released in September haven’t sparked an upgrade supercycle, the investment bank believes iPhone growth will eventually improve as more AI features are added. “While this may be disappointing for those hoping for a very strong iPhone 16 cycle, we think it is important to note that Apple’s AI strategy goes beyond simply selling more iPhones,” the analysts said. “Apple will continue to function as a gatekeeper to it’s 1.5B+ [user] install base and has the optionality to monetize 3rd party AI efforts. This will enable them to reap the AI rewards without the massive uptick in capex we are seeing at their mega cap peers.” In addition to benefits from more AI features, Apple’s services and wearables segments are also expected to grow next year. Evercore ISI has an unchanged $250 price target, which implies shares gaining 11.1% from where the stock closed Friday. Apple shares are up 17% in 2024, lagging the 23% gain in the S & P 500. Amphenol The fiber optic connector manufacturer offers both double-digit revenue growth and low volatility, according to Evercore ISI’s analysts. Amphenol also produces electronic connectors and cables which it sells across a diverse range of markets, including to defense, tech and broadband companies. Amphenol is also expected to benefit as some of its customers, such as industrial and mobile networks groups, recover. The Wallingford, Connecticut-based company also has a strong track record in acquisitions and a solid balance sheet ensuring it can continue deal-making — which Evercore ISI estimates could add from 15 cents to 20 cents to its earnings per share on an annual basis. The stock closed at $70.52 on Friday. “We think APH is well-positioned to benefit from AI ramps by providing highly complex/efficient connectors for AI servers and networking,” the Evercore analysts wrote. “Additionally, APH’s deep exposure over a range of technology and strong partnerships allow them to be flexible in reacting and capturing short and long-term AI opportunities,” the note said. Evercore ISI increased its price target on the $90-billion stock by $5 to $80 per share, or more than 13% above Friday’s close. International Business Machines IBM is likely to top revenue estimates in 2025, Evercore ISI said. Growth in IBM’s software segment, which reached double digits in the third quarter, will likely continue thanks to high demand for AI and data solutions. IBM currently has $3 billion worth of AI business booked, which could also boost demand for its software offerings, Evercore ISI said. IBM may also gain from President-elect Donald Trump’s second term push to lift regulations. “A more favorable regulatory backdrop for M & A could accelerate deal activity,” Evercore ISI wrote. “IBM notably could be positioned for larger transactions given their balance sheet” and free cash flow generation. Vertiv Holdings Vertiv Holdings is a long-term beneficiary of the AI *****, Evercore ISI said. The Waterville, Ohio company’s 27,000 employees provide digital infrastructure technologies to data centers. Shares have more than doubled in 2024, soaring 152% in 2024 amid the ***** in data centers that’s driven demand for Vertiv’s liquid cooling technologies. “We think the company is well-positioned to not just capture secular tailwind AI infrastructure tailwinds, but also gain share in an expanding market, and more importantly, do so in an increasingly more profitable manner,” the Evercore note said. The analysts believe Vertiv’s profit margins before interest and taxes could reach the mid 20% level as it optimizes scale and business processes. The bank lifted its price target to $150 from $135, implying Vertiv shares might rally 24% over the next year compared to where they closed on Friday. —CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed to this report. Source link #Evercore #ISI #top #tech #picks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rory McIlroy wins DP World Tour Championship final & Race to Dubai Rory McIlroy wins DP World Tour Championship final & Race to Dubai Rory McIlroy held off Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard to win the season-ending DP World Tour Championship and clinch his sixth Race to Dubai title. The Northern Irishman finished two strokes ahead of Hojgaard on 15 under at Jumeirah Golf Estates after a three-under-par 69 in his final round. Victory ensured McIlroy, 35, finishes top of the tour’s season rankings and is its champion golfer for a sixth time. Source link #Rory #McIlroy #wins #World #Tour #Championship #final #Race #Dubai Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Anduril, defense sector will ‘do well’ in new Trump admin.: CEO Anduril, defense sector will ‘do well’ in new Trump admin.: CEO Anduril Industries Co-Founder and CEO Brian Schimpf has a conversation with Yahoo Finance’s Josh Lipton about the relationship between escalating geopolitical conflicts around the world and the innovations in US defense technology. “Anduril has done well in [the] prior Trump administration. It’s done very well in a Biden administration and I think we’ll continue to do well in any future administration,” Schimpf explains at the annual Yahoo Finance Invest conference. To see every interview from Yahoo Finance Invest, click here. For the full interview with Brian Schimpf, click here. This post was written by Daniel A. Nelson Source link #Anduril #defense #sector #Trump #admin #CEO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Minister says fixing social care urgent after reports of impasse Minister says fixing social care urgent after reports of impasse Getty Images Reforming the social care system in England is “urgent”, cabinet minister Louise Haigh has said, after sources told the BBC there was a “genuine impasse” at the top of government over the issue. The transport secretary said the government had already taken steps to improve pay and tackle vacancies in the sector, as well as giving councils an extra £600m in funding for ****** and children’s social care. In its election manifesto, Labour promised to create a National Care Service to deliver consistent care across the country – but so far the party has given little detail on what this would look like. ******** Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for cross-party talks on how to reform the system in the long-term, but said there also needed to be “immediate measures”. The prime minister, health secretary and chancellor are due to meet in the next 10 days to discuss the issue. Multiple sources have told the BBC the Department of Health is keen to proceed with an overhaul of the social care system but that the Treasury is reluctant to commit to significant costs without clear political backing from Number 10. “It’s really urgent that we fix this issue,” Haigh said. “For too long we’ve let this problem fester.” Pressed over whether the government was taking the problem seriously, she told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that the health secretary had already set out a 10-year plan for the NHS which included focusing on prevention and community care, which she said would “ease pressures on social care”. She also pointed to the government’s plans to improve pay and conditions in the sector through a Fair Pay Agreement, allowing negotiations between workers, unions and employers. “We need to make sure we are tackling those long-term issues in the workforce, with progression opportunities, properly paid and properly negotiated on a collective basis,” she added. Ministers are considering whether to create a Royal Commission, with cross-party involvement, to consider how to reform the social care system, or a shorter government-backed independent review. Sir Ed said although the Lib Dems would back a Royal Commission there needed to be “immediate measures first” and it “must not be an excuse for long-grassing this”. He said there were things the government could do “straight away”, for example on tackling vacancies in the sector. The Lib Dem leader called on the government to be “more ambitious”, pointing to his party’s own proposals for a higher minimum wage for care workers. “Politicians have been failing on this for far too long,” he told the BBC. “There are millions of people suffering, families being hit financially, people in misery and pain, and we have got to tackle this.” He added that the Lib Dems were “willing and ready” to take part in negotiations over the issue but he had not yet had a call from Health Secretary Wes Streeting to do so. Source link #Minister #fixing #social #care #urgent #reports #impasse Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lost your sense of direction? Turn off your phone and you’ll soon reconnect | Life and style Lost your sense of direction? Turn off your phone and you’ll soon reconnect | Life and style We’ve lost direction and our brains are shrinking – at least, our hippocampi are. These seahorse-shaped parts of the brain measure about 5cm, sit just above both ears and drive our spatial awareness and orientation. London taxi drivers, famed for taking the Knowledge, a test that involves memorising the central streets of the capital, have full-sized hippocampi. But in 2011, neuroscientists at University College London discovered that the cabbies’ hippocampi shrunk significantly after retirement. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. The development of the hippocampus can also be stunted in childhood. Children living in urban environments rarely see the sun rise or set and cannot tell the difference between east and west. When I volunteered to go into my local school to teach kids about direction, I found they struggled to distinguish north from south and east from west – though they could do so if allowed to use their phones. Since 2005, when Google Maps was launched claiming it would help users get from A to B and then, three years later, when the iPhone 3G was released featuring “live” location, the online tech giants stated that today’s digital native kids would be the first generation who would not know what it meant to get lost. But is that a good thing? Their horizons and orientation, like their hippocampi, are shrinking with the collusion of online providers. In four generations children have gone from roaming up to six miles from home to an average of just 300 yards. Even before Covid, surveys found that three-quarters of children spent less time outdoors than prison inmates. Many parents know the subsequent 50% rise in agoraphobia has profoundly affected children’s mental and physical health. But it also drives biophobia, an avoidance, even ***** of the natural world. If we come to dread nature, the result is an indifference, even hostility, towards environmental conservation. Wherever kids do travel they are probably following the blue dot on their phone screen, showing them the way without reference to the world around them. Maps have never been more accessible in the palm of our hands on our phones, but they are as much a tyranny as a liberation. Our phones now map us, harvesting our online likes and dislikes. The famous ‘blue marble’ Apollo 17 photograph of the Earth is upside down Current studies suggest a link between this so-called developmental topographical disorientation and mental health, as online experiences lead to a digitally poisoned awareness of space and place. We are becoming, quite literally, disoriented in a digital world where we have given up on tools that enhance our cognitive abilities, like paper maps and magnetic compasses that enabled us to navigate and orient ourselves in tandem with the physical world. We have retreated from using the spatial skills that sustained us for millennia. No wonder our sense of being lost is existential as much as directional. To be disoriented means to be “lost to the east”: the word comes from ****** for the sun rising in the east. In ancient history, most societies were oriented with east as their prime direction, the source of light, heat and life-giving sun. West, where the sun sets, came next. North and south then followed, as people located them by the position of the sun at midday, and visual astronomical observation of Polaris, the North Star. Early polytheistic societies worshipped the sun rising in the east, a tradition inherited by monotheistic Judeo-********** belief that put east at the top of their maps, as the location of the beginning of Creation and the place of Resurrection. In the Old Testament, Creation starts in the Garden of Eden in the east. The medieval Mappa Mundi in Hereford Cathedral has east at the top, showing Adam and Eve in Eden, and west at the bottom. This was an orientation that defined ********* Christianity for more than 1,000 years. By contrast, early Islamic maps placed south at the top, because the people that first converted to the ****** lived directly north of Mecca. The easiest way to understand their holy direction was to orient their maps so that Mecca was “up”. We still talk about going up north and down south in the ***, an old hangover from understanding the four points of the compass according to our bodies: up and down, front and back, or left and right. South does just as well as the cardinal direction, as it was for classical ******** science, which had its magnetic compasses pointing south, not north. They are called luojing, “the thing that points south”. Australians know this: in 1979, Stuart McArthur published his Universal Corrective Map of the World, oriented southwards with Australia at the top. The compass appeared in the 13th century on ********* maritime maps that allowed navigators to orientate themselves on a north-south axis. But it took another 400 years for these maps to agree on putting north at the top, which had always been an inauspicious direction in most societies as a place of cold and darkness. It was crowned cardinal direction by the Flemish mapmaker Gerardus Mercator. But Mercator was more interested in enabling pilots to sail accurately east to west. On his world map (1569), distortion was minimised either side of the equator, which was ideal for ********* maritime empires sailing east to west via Cape ***** and the Cape of Good Hope. The north and south poles were projected to infinity, as everyone presumed they were ice-bound and travelling there seemed pointless. skip past newsletter promotion Analysis and opinion on the week’s news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Rather than looking up, we spend our time looking down, glued to the blue dot on our phones So north triumphed accidentally, because nobody wanted to go there. As Europe’s imperial mapmakers cemented north as the cardinal direction, other traditions prioritising different directions were dismissed and erased. The west succeeded in putting north on top at the expense of places it denigrated and labelled “southern” (America and *******), or as part of the “Middle East”. When Nasa first saw the image of the Earth photographed by the Apollo 17 astronauts on 7 December 1972, they rotated the original photo 180 degrees to show north at the top rather than south. The famous “blue marble” photograph, one of the most reproduced images in human history, is actually upside down. Historically no societies have put west at the top of world maps because of its associations with sunset and ******. But as a political idea, the west has situated north on top after centuries of imperial domination. But will it stay there as India and China reorientate our global economy, and potentially turn it 180 degrees? Might the use of compasses disappear altogether – and with them the cardinal directions? In my lifetime we have gone from looking up, aspiring to a shared global village inspired by Nasa’s blue marble photograph, to looking down, glued to the blue dot on our phones as our hippocampi shrink and many of us withdraw from nature. It probably isn’t the end of civilisation. After all, maps and compasses are cognitive artefacts, like the internet, and we’ve been using them for millennia. But for our sense of wellbeing, and that of the world that sustains us, we can take steps not just to appreciate nature, but understand how we are part of it, acknowledging that it will always be ******* than us, in a positive, not phobic way. Many share basic principles of psychotherapy: grounding, breathing, being “in the moment”, imagining ourselves from outside or “above” our bodies. It seems that, more than ever, we need to explain who we are by understanding where we are. Here are a few tips on how to do so. Take your bearings. Use a compass (even on your phone!) to work out the four cardinal directions. Time and space are interrelated, so rethink your attitude to clock time by noticing the movement of the sun east to west from sunrise to sunset. As the sun sets, identify north by finding Polaris. We’re just a dot in the universe: accept it. Use a paper map. It is a declining art, but using paper maps will make you more aware of your surroundings. An archaic English term for map is a plot, just like a story: turn your route into an adventure. Feel the wind. Thousands of years before the invention of the compass, we understood and identified the four cardinal directions according to winds. Identify the wind’s direction according to your body: is it behind or in front of you? Look up, turn around. Acknowledge its force. This is a simple grounding exercise that reorients us according to the elements. Get lost. Take a trip, turn off your phone and deliberately get lost. It’s a little scary, but it will heighten your senses and sharpen your appreciation of the world around you. If that is too daunting, read Rebecca Solnit’s A Field Guide to Getting Lost, because as Solnit suggests, who knows what you might find when you deliberately get lost? Four Points of the Compass: The Unexpected History of Direction by Jerry Brotton is published by Penguin at £20, or buy a copy for £17 at guardianbookshop.com. Jerry is also the presenter of the podcast What’s Your Map? Source link #Lost #sense #direction #Turn #phone #youll #reconnect #Life #style Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******* economy rebounds with 3.8% growth in Q3 amid wars with ******, Hezbollah ******* economy rebounds with 3.8% growth in Q3 amid wars with ******, Hezbollah A general view shows the ******** city of Tel Aviv, on August 12, 2024, amid regional tensions during the ongoing war between ******* and the ************ ****** movement in the Gaza Strip. Gil Cohen-magen | Afp | Getty Images *******’s economy grew more than expected in the third quarter of 2024, bouncing back somewhat from a weak spell since the start of war in Gaza with ************ Islamist group ****** last October. The Central Bureau of Statistics said in an initial estimate on Sunday that ****** domestic product grew by an annualised 3.8% in the July to September *******, above a 2.9% consensus in a Reuters poll. On a per capita basis, GDP gained 2.6% in the quarter. Overall growth was led by gains in consumer spending, which rose 8.6%, a 21.8% jump in investment in fixed assets and a 1.7% rise in exports, offsetting a 10.8% drop in government spending. Second-quarter GDP growth was confirmed at 0.3% annualised. The war has raged in Gaza since ******’ Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border ******* on southern *******. The war has since expanded to battling Hezbollah in Lebanon. Source link #******* #economy #rebounds #growth #wars #****** #Hezbollah Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘My parents drove me to raves aged 15’ ‘My parents drove me to raves aged 15’ Getty Images Pop star Charli XCX has revealed how her parents drove her to raves where she was performing, at the age of just 15. She added that she managed to persuade them to do that by telling them she had “swim practice… At 2:00 A.M.” The singer’s album Brat inspired a cultural phenomenon in the summer, with many people adopting the “brat” way of life. It has built momentum since its release in June this year, through not only its original tracks, but remixes too. The British singer, who is now 32, delivered an opening monologue while hosting Saturday Night Live (SNL) on NBC in the US. In it, Charli, whose real name is Charlotte Aitchison, told viewers how she got to where she is now. “I actually started performing when I was really young, and I played at my first rave when I was 15 years old,” she said. “My parents actually drove me there. And, if you’re wondering how did I get my parents to drive me to a rave? Well, I just told them, ‘guys, I’ve got swim practice. At 2:00 A.M.'” She went on to joke that she has come “a long way” and now considers herself “a triple threat, which in England means I sing, I drink, and I smoke”. Charli’s sixth studio album inspired millions of posts on social media, plenty of dance moves and even reached the heights of ********* politics, with US presidential candidate Kamala Harris giving her social media a brat rebrand in an attempt to attract younger voters. During her appearance on SNL, the British pop star defined exactly what brat means to her. “So many people have asked me, what is brat, and honestly, it’s just like an attitude, it’s a vibe,” she said. “I have to say brat summer has been a crazy experience,” she added. Getty Images A Brat hat that was knitted in support of Kamala Harris In attempting to define the word on SNL, she cited an incident where US businesswoman Martha Stewart had mistakenly claimed a journalist who covered her legal proceedings was *****. “Martha gets **** about an old magazine article and she says that she’s glad the journalist who wrote it is ***** – that is brat,” she said. “And then last Friday, when that exact journalist responded and said, ‘Hey, ‘I’m alive…’ – that is extremely brat.” Charli, who was also a musical guest on the show, went on to say: “Honestly though, anyone can be brat.” “Keeping it real is very brat, it is all about being vulnerable, so truly, this is a dream come true,” she said. “I am so excited to be here, and I’m not used to being out this early on a Saturday night but for you guys, it’s worth it.” Charli has previously defined brat as a girl who “has a breakdown, but kind of like parties through it”, who is honest, blunt, “a little bit volatile”. She told the BBC’s Sidetracked podcast that someone brat might have “a pack of *****, a Bic lighter and a strappy white top with no ****”. Creating an aesthetic has been something popularised on TikTok, with Charli’s brat girl summer seen as a rejection of other trends such as the “clean girl” who looks feminine and well kept. Brat was crowned Collins Dictionary word of the year earlier this month, with lexicographers defining it as someone with a “confident, independent and hedonistic attitude”. Source link #parents #drove #raves #aged Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Treasurer Jim Chalmers to force businesses to accept cash under proposed new mandate Treasurer Jim Chalmers to force businesses to accept cash under proposed new mandate Businesses selling essential items like food and fuel would be forced to keep accepting cash under a Federal Government plan to protect a financial ‘lifeline’ for many shoppers. Source link #Treasurer #Jim #Chalmers #force #businesses #accept #cash #proposed #mandate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Intense morning of ******** strikes in southern suburb of Beirut Intense morning of ******** strikes in southern suburb of Beirut ******** jets on Sunday struck buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut, as strikes continue to intensify ahead of Lebanon’s expected response to a ******* States-brokered cease-***** proposal. (AP video shot by Bilal Hussein Fadi Al Tawil Mohammad Annouti) Source link #Intense #morning #******** #strikes #southern #suburb #Beirut Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Albanese government unveils cash protections, cheque phase out Albanese government unveils cash protections, cheque phase out The Albanese government is unveiling a plan to protect cash as a payment method, calling the legal tender a “lifeline” for many across the country. Some 1.5 million Australians prefer using cash to digital payments, and in some remote parts of the vast continent, it is the only viable option. Currently, there are no legal requirements for businesses to accept cash if they have another option that does not slap customers with a fee. The Treasury announced late on Sunday that the government was looking to mandate that businesses accept cash for “essential items”. “People are increasingly using digital payment methods, but there is an ongoing place for cash in our society under the Albanese government,” Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones said in a statement. Camera IconTreasurer Jim Chalmers and Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones say cash is a ‘lifeline’ for many Australians. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia “The government will mandate that businesses must accept cash when selling essential items, with appropriate exemptions for small businesses.” They said the government was still fleshing out what constitutes an essential item. But broadly speaking, it would include things such as groceries and fuel, with supermarkets, basic banking services, pharmaceuticals, petrol stations, utilities and healthcare services. “For many Australians, cash is more than a payment method, it’s a lifeline,” the Treasury officials said. “Around 1.5 million Australians use cash to make more than 80 per cent of their in-person payments. “Cash also provides an easily accessible back-up to digital payments in times of natural disaster or digital outage.” Other developed economies that have introduced similar mandates include Spain, France, Denmark and Norway. Norway was a world leader in transitioning to a cashless society, but its parliament passed laws mandating business continue accepting cash amid heightened security concerns from Russia. Drawing partly from experiences overseas, Mr Chalmers and Mr Jones said the Treasury would start consulting on which businesses should be covered by the mandate by the end of the year, with a view to introducing a mandate in January 2026. “The consultation will consider the needs of those who rely on cash, including people in regional areas and those unable to use digital payments, as well as the impact on businesses, particularly small businesses,” they said. “It will also cover what further steps are required to ensure the long-term and sustainable distribution of cash to enable adequate access.” Camera IconSome 1.5 million Australians prefer using cash. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia The consultation would also figure out where exemptions are appropriate. France’s hard line approach makes it ******** to refuse cash payments with very few exceptions, including issues with the cash itself. Another exemption is where there is a safety concern for the merchant, such as a shopkeeper working a nightshift. France’s central bank has said that cash “guarantees that everyone has the freedom to choose how they wish to pay.” The Albanese government also announced it was committing to a cheque phase out. The Cheques Transition Plan aims to “stop being issued by 30 June 2028 and stop being accepted on 30 September 2029.” “The usage of cheques has declined by 90 per cent in the last ten years and many banks and financial institutions are ending cheque issuance for new customers,” Mr Chalmers and Mr Jones said. “To manage this industry trend, the government is acting to give customers and businesses the certainty and the assistance they need to switch to other payment methods. “Banks also have a responsibility to support cheque users as part of this smooth transition.” They said the plan came after a year of consultations with cheque users and banks. “These reforms are all about modernising Australia’s payments system to ensure our financial sector is competitive, efficient and delivering for the economy and the *********** people,” they said. Source link #Albanese #government #unveils #cash #protections #cheque #phase Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Western North Carolina can turn Helene disaster into opportunity How Western North Carolina can turn Helene disaster into opportunity In the aftermath of Japan’s 2011 tsunami, which claimed over 19,000 lives, entire towns were destroyed, and critical infrastructure — including roads, power systems and communication networks — was crippled. The ********* response went beyond simple rebuilding; they reimagined their communities with resilience in mind, moving towns further inland and creating natural buffers along the coastline. This approach serves as a powerful example for Western North Carolina, where several communities have been devastated by Tropical Storm Helene. We, too, now have the choice to rebuild not just as we were but smarter, stronger and better prepared for the future. The first lesson from Japan’s experience is the importance of where we build. For too long, floodplains and low-lying areas in our region have been developed due to affordability or convenience, but Helene has shown us that these areas are increasingly vulnerable. We can turn this tragedy into an opportunity to rethink land use and zoning policies across WNC, steering development away from high-risk flood zones. By converting flood-prone areas into parks, greenways or natural flood buffers, we can create beautiful green spaces that protect our communities while enhancing residents’ quality of life. Equally critical is how we rebuild. Japan’s reconstructed towns were designed to better withstand future disasters, and our region can take a similar approach. Rebuilding in WNC should prioritize green, renewable construction that makes our communities more resilient. Energy efficiency must be at the forefront. Regional building codes should encourage or require sustainable practices, like solar energy, green roofs and permeable surfaces that absorb rainwater. Transitioning to efficient and renewable fuel sources like solar and other sustainable options can help us move toward net-zero emissions, reducing long-term costs and environmental impact. By using durable, sustainable materials, we minimize our collective carbon footprint and create structures better equipped to withstand future storms. Imagine WNC towns known not only for their natural beauty but also for their pioneering green buildings — a testament to our commitment to a sustainable future. Helene by the numbers: A month since storm, what statistics say about recovery We must also consider for whom we are rebuilding. Even before Helene, many communities faced challenges with affordable housing, and the storm has only heightened this need. It’s critical to rebuild resilient, affordable communities that welcome people of all income levels. Picture neighborhoods that are dense, walkable and affordable, reducing our region’s dependence on cars while connecting residents with essential services. By promoting mixed-use developments, we can foster spaces where housing, businesses and community centers coexist, making our communities vibrant and accessible to everyone. But resilience means more than housing; it also means supporting the local economy that makes WNC unique. This includes affordable workspaces for artists, small businesses and entrepreneurs. These small businesses and creatives are essential to the culture and economy of our region, yet they are also vulnerable to the effects of disasters. Creating affordable, accessible spaces for them allows our community’s spirit to flourish, even in challenging times. For this vision to succeed, a coordinated, collaborative effort will be essential. Rebuilding a resilient WNC requires partnership among community members, businesses, nonprofits and local government. Local organizations bring invaluable knowledge of our region’s unique needs, while businesses can support sustainable practices and provide resources. Together, with government leadership and community engagement, we can create a comprehensive rebuilding strategy that reflects the values of all residents. Opinion: Rain and resilience on the Appalachian Trail: A day of maintenance and discovery David Huff Helene has highlighted the strength of our WNC community. Neighbors helped neighbors, volunteers supported each other, and local organizations stepped up to provide aid. Let’s channel this compassion into a collaborative rebuilding process that supports one another and builds a region better prepared for the future. The recovery of WNC is more than an exercise in rebuilding; it’s an opportunity to set an example. Real resilience is about designing communities that can withstand climate challenges. By considering where, how and for whom we build, our region can become a national model of climate adaptation and sustainability. Together, we can transform the devastation of Tropical Storm Helene into a chance to reimagine and revitalize. Western North Carolina can emerge from this crisis as a resilient community that honors its heritage, meets today’s needs and inspires hope for tomorrow. Let’s seize this moment to rise stronger, smarter and better prepared for the challenges to come. David Huff is an award-winning conservation photographer who serves as councilor of communications for the Carolina Mountain Club and oversees a 2.5-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail. He is a brand ambassador for Fjällräven and the founding chair of the George Masa Foundation. To explore more, visit www.davidhuffcreative.com. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Opinion: How Western North Carolina can turn disaster into opportunity Source link #Western #North #Carolina #turn #Helene #disaster #opportunity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Australia foreign student cap causes anxiety at home and abroad Australia foreign student cap causes anxiety at home and abroad Anannyaa Gupta Students like Anannyaa Gupta have been worried about what the new caps mean for their futures For Anannyaa Gupta completing her studies in Australia has always been the “dream”. “Their education system is one of the best in the world,” the 21-year-old, from the Indian city of Hyderabad, explains. After completing her bachelor’s degree at Melbourne’s Monash University in July, she applied for the master’s qualification she needs to become a social worker – the kind of skilled job Australia is desperate to fill amid labour shortages. “I genuinely want to study here, offer my skills and contribute to society,” she says. But Ms Gupta is among current and prospective international students who have been swept up in a panic caused by the *********** government’s plan to slash foreign student numbers. The new cap – which would significantly reduce new enrolments – is needed to make the A$47.8bn (£24.6bn, $32bn) education industry more sustainable, the government says. It is the most controversial of recent measures that have also imposed tougher English language requirements on student visa applicants, and greater scrutiny on those seeking further study. Non-refundable visa application fees have also been doubled. However, the sector and its supporters say they weren’t properly consulted, and that the changes could ravage the economy, cause job losses and damage Australia’s reputation, all while punishing both domestic and international students. “[It] sends out the signal that Australia is not a welcoming place,” says Matthew Brown, deputy chief executive of the Group of Eight (Go8), a body which represents Australia’s top ranked universities. Education is Australia’s fourth biggest export, trailing only mining products. Foreign students, who pay nearly twice as much as *********** students on average, prop up some institutions, subsidising research, scholarships, and domestic study fees. At the University of Sydney, for example, they account for over 40% of revenue. But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government is facing pressure to reduce record levels of migration, in the hope of improving housing affordability and easing a cost-of-living crisis, ahead of a federal election next year. And international students – who totalled 793,335 last semester – have become a target. The government has proposed to cap new foreign enrolments at 270,000 for 2025, which it says is a return to pre-pandemic levels. An accurate comparison with previous years is not possible because publicly available data is inadequate, according to an education expert. Education Minister Jason Clare says each higher education institution will be given an individual limit, with the biggest cuts to be borne by vocational education and training providers. Of the universities affected, those in capital cities will see the largest reductions. The government says the policy will redirect students to regional towns and universities that need them, instead of overcrowded big cities. It also says the changes aim to protect prospective students from “unethical” providers, alleging some accept students without sufficient language skills or academic standards and enrol people who intend to work instead of study. “International education is extremely important, and these reforms are designed to make it better and fairer, and set it up on a more sustainable footing going forward,” Clare said. Getty Images Education Minister Jason Clare says the limits are a return to pre-pandemic levels Abul Rizvi, a former government official who shaped Australia’s skilled migration policy, says the “underfunded” sector has “long been chasing tuition revenue from overseas students and sacrificing learning integrity in the process”. Institutions themselves are questioning whether they’re too reliant on international student income and how to fix it, Dr Brown says: “It’s a discussion that every university is having.” But the caps announcement still drew a mostly furious response from the sector. The Go8 has called the proposed laws “draconian”, while others accused the government of “wilfully weakening” the economy and of using international students as “cannon fodder in a poll-driven battle over migration”. The government has not confirmed how long the caps will be in place, but Dr Brown says the Go8’s calculations indicate they will have a A$1bn impact on their members in the first year alone. The broader economy would suffer a A$5.3bn hit, resulting in the loss of 20,000 jobs, according to their research. Australia’s Department of the Treasury has called those projections “doubtful” but has not released its own modelling on the economic impact of the changes. Dr Brown also warned that the caps could see some universities rescind offers already made to foreign students, strangle vital research programmes, and may mean an increase in fees for some *********** students. Getty Images The University of Sydney is among those who say the caps will force major expenditure cuts However a handful of smaller universities, for whom the caps are beneficial, welcomed the news. La Trobe University’s Vice-Chancellor Theo Farrell said they supported “transparent and proportionate measures” to manage international student growth in Australia. “We recognise that there is broad political and community support to reduce net migration levels,” he said. But Dr Brown argues there is also a hit to Australia’s reputation which is ******* to quantify, pointing to Canada as a warning. It introduced a foreign student cap this year, but industry bodies there say enrolments have fallen well below that, because nervous students would rather apply to study somewhere with more certainty. “We need an international education system that has managed growth built in… it’s not for the minister to unilaterally decide on caps based on some formula which satisfies a political end.” Mr Rizvi argues that instead of going ahead with the proposed caps in Australia, the government should consider introducing a minimum university entrance exam score. “We’re ********* ourselves in the foot… It won’t deter poor performing students but it will deter high performing students who have options,” he wrote on X. Meanwhile in parliament, the Greens have said the policy amounts to “******* dog-whistling”, and one of the government’s MPs has broken ranks to ******* it too. “A hard cap would be bad for Australia’s human capital and the talent pipeline, bad for soft power and bad for academic excellence and research,” Julian Hill told The *********** newspaper. But despite the criticisms, the bill legislating the limits – set to be debated in parliament this week – is expected to pass, with the opposition’s support. Clare has acknowledged that some service providers may face difficult budget decisions but said that any assertion the policy is “somehow tearing down international education is absolutely and fundamentally wrong”. However, with less than two months until the changes are supposed to take effect, they are causing extreme anxiety and confusion among students. In China and India – the two biggest international markets for Australia – the news is going down like a lead balloon. “This is going to be very hard on students in India, most of whom come from middle-income backgrounds and spend years planning and preparing for their education abroad. Their dreams will be quashed,” Amritsar-based immigration consultant Rupinder Singh told the BBC. Alessandro Russo/Monash University Vedant Gadhavi says the changes are already having an effect on Australia’s reputation Vedant Gadhavi – a Monash University student – says that some of his friends back home in Gujarat who had been hoping to come to Australia for their masters have been spooked. “They seem to have changed their plans a bit because of the constant shift… They thought that it might be a bit difficult to plan their careers and life.” Jenny – a senior high school student in China’s Anhui province – says she set her sights on Australia because getting a good quality education there is “easier” than getting into a fiercely competitive ******** university. “It’s all up in the air now,” she tells the BBC. She adds that going to a lower-ranked university in a regional location is not an option for her or her peers: “We [just] won’t go to Australia at all.” Rishika Agrawal, president of the *********** National University’s International Students’ Department, says the proposed laws have stoked other uneasy feelings. “Definitely there are other students who think this is a sign of increased hostility towards immigrants in Australia from the government.” And, she adds, with the contributions to society made by international students often overlooked, while their post-graduate employment options dry up, there’s growing resentment. “They go back to their own countries, having spent a tremendous amount of money towards their education and not really reaping the rewards for it. “They definitely do feel like cash cows.” As the debate continues in parliament, there’s been some relief for Anannya. Shortly after she spoke to the BBC, and only weeks out from her course start date, she received the official masters enrolment certificate and new study visa she feared would never come. But many other students still wait and worry. “If I were in their shoes, I’d feel very helpless, very disappointed. It’s already taking away credibility that Australia used to hold,” Rishika says. Additional reporting by Fan Wang in Singapore and Zoya Mateen in Delhi. Source link #Australia #foreign #student #cap #anxiety #home Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

World looks to G20 for breakthrough in climate talks World looks to G20 for breakthrough in climate talks Diplomatic tensions over global warming will take centre stage at the G20 summit in Brazil as negotiators at ******* Nations talks in Azerbaijan hit an impasse on climate finance they hope leaders of the world’s 20 major economies can break. Heads of state arriving in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday for the G20 summit will spend Monday and Tuesday addressing issues from ******** and hunger to the reform of global institutions. Still, the ongoing UN climate talks have thrown a spotlight on their efforts to tackle global warming. While the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, is tasked with agreeing on a goal to mobilise hundreds of billions of dollars for the climate, leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies half a world away in Rio are holding the purse strings. G20 countries account for 85 per cent of the world’s economy and are the largest contributors to multilateral development banks helping to steer climate finance. They are also responsible for more than three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. “All countries must do their part but the G20 must lead,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told COP29 last week. “They are the largest emitters, with the greatest capacities and responsibilities.” Reaching such an accord might only get tougher with the return to power of US President-elect Donald Trump, who is reportedly preparing to again pull the US out of the Paris climate accord. Trump is also planning to roll back landmark climate legislation passed by the outgoing Joe Biden, who will become the first US president to visit the Amazon rainforest when he makes a stop there on Sunday on his way to Rio. UN climate chief Simon Stiell wrote a letter to G20 leaders on Saturday imploring them to act on climate finance, including boosting grants for developing nations and advancing reforms of multilateral development banks. However, the same fights that have plagued COP29 since it began last week are spilling over into G20 negotiations, according to diplomats close to the Rio talks. COP29 must set a new goal for how much financing should be directed from developed countries, multilateral banks and the private sector to developing nations. Economists told the summit it should be at least $US1 trillion ($A1.5 trillion). Wealthy countries, especially in Europe, have been saying that an ambitious goal can only be agreed if they expand the base of contributors to include some of the richer developing nations, such as China and major Middle Eastern oil producers. On Saturday, discussions of a G20 ****** statement in Rio snagged on the same issue, with ********* nations pushing for more countries to contribute and developing countries such as Brazil pushing back, diplomats close to the talks told Reuters. The success of not only COP29 but also the next UN climate summit COP30 – to be hosted in Brazil in 2025 – hinges on a breakthrough on climate finance. A centrepiece of Brazil’s COP30 strategy is “Mission 1.5” – a drive to keep alive the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to 1.5C. The UN estimates current national targets would cause temperatures to rise by at least 2.6C. Developing countries argue they can only raise their targets for emissions reductions if rich nations, who are the main culprits for climate change, foot the bill. “It is technically possible to meet the goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius, but only if a G20-led, massive mobilisation to cut all greenhouse gas emissions … is achieved,” Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis said at COP29 last week. Source link #World #G20 #breakthrough #climate #talks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Climate change will make it even worse Climate change will make it even worse Dengue fever, a potentially fatal virus spread by mosquitoes, is sweeping across the Americas, breaking records with a skyrocketing rate of infections. Cases have spiked in large part due to increasing global temperatures wrought by greenhouse gas emissions, new research shows. Nearly a fifth of dengue infections in the Americas and Southeast Asia were propelled by climate change, according to a study that researchers from the University of Maryland, Harvard University and Stanford University presented Saturday at the annual ********* Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene meeting in New Orleans. The latest data from the Pan-********* Health Organization shows that in the first 10-plus months of 2024, there were nearly 7,500 deaths and more than 12.3 million infections – three times the number of cases in 2023, which was record-setting at the time. “Dengue is really having its biggest year in history,” said Dr. Gabriela Paz-Bailey, chief of the U.S. Centers for ******** Control and Prevention’s dengue branch, based in Puerto Rico. “Around the world, dengue cases have been rising at an alarming rate.” The sharp uptick has caused concern in the U.S., especially in Puerto Rico, where officials estimate up to 50% of infections have resulted in hospitalization, Paz-Bailey said. The U.S. has recorded nearly 7,300 infections this year, compared to 1,462 in 2023. Most of these cases were in Puerto Rico, which declared a public health emergency this spring and has remained under emergency status. The continental U.S. hasn’t had a high rate of infections compared with the early 2010s. But officials worry about projections in a warming climate. Most people who get dengue don’t show symptoms, but those who do sometimes develop a high fever, body aches, nausea and rashes. Some infections result in hospitalization or ******. In severe cases – usually about 1 in 20 infected individuals, people bleed internally or from their nose or mouth and go into shock. Infants, elderly people and pregnant women are most at risk for serious forms of ********. There are four dengue viruses. A person infected with one of them could have limited immunity to some of these viruses. Populations are sometimes exposed to various strains, reigniting outbreaks. Repeated infections can trigger severe dengue. The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health confirmed the county’s first locally acquired human case of the mosquito-borne illness dengue in the city of San Bernardino. Climate change already responsible for record dengue increases The new study by Maryland, Harvard and Stanford didn’t include the benchmark 2024 spike. But it found that climate change had propelled dengue’s spread as temperatures increased. Climate change caused 19% of dengue infections across the Americas and parts of Southeast Asia, the study found. The infection rates were significantly higher in regions previously thought too cool to support the Aedes egypti mosquito, which can carry dengue and other *********. By 2050, climate change could cause cases to increase by 40% to 57% from today’s levels. In cooler urban areas in Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia where the climate is expected to warm temperatures, researchers determined dengue would affect upwards of 257 million people. “This suggests that we need to be thinking about pandemic preparedness, especially in those parts of the world that are vulnerable to increases in dengue driven by climate change,” said Mallory Jessica Harris, a study co-author who is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing. “Even in the past few years, we’ve seen these really large dengue epidemics repeatedly.” Researchers also shared future projections, based on analyses of 21 countries using an average of 11 years of records for each. The study did not include sub-Saharan ******* or South Asia, two areas also affected by dengue transmission. It also did not include data from the continental U.S. The study found that temperatures around 82 degrees Fahrenheit are best suited to the mosquitos that can carry dengue. Some regions are projected to warm beyond that range, making it ******* for infected mosquitos, or other creatures, to survive. Unfortunately, the research shows that large swaths of the Americas will, instead, reach optimal temperatures in the coming decades. Infections could rise 150 to 200% in previously cooler areas where temperatures are expected to warm to temperatures ideal for dengue transmission. This includes several cities in the Americas, such as Lima, Peru, which has had unprecedented increases in dengue infections in 2024. This year the U.S. State Department issued a health alert about dengue transmission in Lima. Cases tend to rise during the summer months in the Southern Hemisphere when it is winter in North America. During warmer winters in the southern region, infected mosquitoes can endure through seasons that typically would ***** their populations. A child with dengue fever rests at a hospital in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on July 12, 2024. An outbreak of dengue fever in Central America has left a hundred ***** this year, with Guatemala accounting for half of the deaths. Urbanization, ******** also factors in rise of dengue Climate change isn’t the only factor that explains the continued rise in dengue, said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Urbanization, deforestation and ******** also contribute to creating environments suitable for infected mosquitoes, Hotez said. This phenomenon could affect the U.S., including fast-growing areas across the Sun Belt. “We shouldn’t discount the likelihood that arboviruses, especially dengue, could become a regular occurrence in the southern part of the U.S.,” Hotez said, citing Texas, Florida and other states along the Gulf Coast. People living in ******** often lack air conditioning and window or door screens to cool people indoors and prevent mosquitos from entering. They also lack efficient sanitation to remove standing water where mosquitoes can grow and infect people nearby. Paz-Bailey, of the CDC, said the return of travel after the COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to a record increase in dengue transmissions in the U.S. But that could worsen in the future. After an infected person enters the U.S., a local mosquito could ***** that person, contract the virus, and then spread it to other people nearby. Warming conditions in much of the U.S. would then sustain a continued local spread, which has already happened in California and Florida. Extreme weather, such as hurricanes, can help sustain mosquitoes’ habitats. A storm’s wake allows standing water to form, creating thriving environments for mosquitoes. Vaccines lacking, but there’s promise in modifying mosquitoes There are steps we can take to reduce transmission. One that the study highlights is reducing greenhouse gas emissions that drive up temperatures. Vaccines can also help, but none are readily available. The U.S. has limited access, and the last remaining doses of the vaccine Dengvaxia, approved by the U.S. Food and ***** Administration in 2019, are expected to expire in 2026. Sanofi, the company that makes it, plans to discontinue vaccine production in 2025. Greater detection of ********-carrying mosquitoes can help prevent outbreaks before they occur. However, reducing the environments where mosquitoes reproduce is especially tricky, since they need as little as a bottle cap of standing water to hatch their eggs. Researchers have, instead, looked to engineer mosquitoes to prevent the spread of dengue. Infecting mosquitoes with Wolbachia bacteria has dramatically reduced dengue, according to a study recently shared by researchers from the World Mosquito Program on results from the Brazilian city of Niterói, near Rio de Janeiro. But researchers acknowledged that prevention programs like this take years to be effective at sustaining safer mosquito populations. Kristie Ebi, a professor at the University of Washington’s Center for Health and the Global Environment, said historical context is useful for helping us prepare for current and projected spread. The CDC was founded nearly 80 years ago to prevent mosquito-borne ********* and the agency proved successful at addressing malaria and yellow fever. Increased preparation is imperative, Ebi said, because, “Climate change is causing people to suffer and **** today.” People can prevent the illness by protecting against mosquito bites. This includes covering your arms and legs with protective, loose-fitting clothing and spraying yourself with insect repellant. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Climate change is triggering a record number of dengue fever cases Source link #Climate #change #worse Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Augusta National Golf Club: secret membership process explained Augusta National Golf Club: secret membership process explained To join Augusta National Golf Club, it requires more than membership dues and an affinity for golf. The club based out of Augusta, GA has welcomed members like NFL superstars Peyton and Eli Manning, Amazon (AMZN) CEO Andy Jassy, Delta Airlines (DAL) CEO Ed Bastian, Bill Gates, and even former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, to name a few. But Augusta National operates differently from a standard run-of-the-mill country club. This week on Yahoo Finance Sports Report, host Joe Pompliano takes a deeper look into the acclaimed golf club and breaks down why membership at Augusta National is so coveted. The club, which caps at 300 members, only opens up new membership opportunities when previous spots open up, meaning a member would have to either **** or withdraw their membership in order for someone new to join. Potential members must also be nominated by someone who is already a member of the club. If admitted into Augusta National, not only will members have to pay a $40,000 initiation fee, but they also need to abide by rules regarding dress code, gameplay, and much more. To hear more, check out this week’s episode of Yahoo Finance Sports report here. Yahoo Finance Sports Report with Joe Pompliano, a vodcast brought to you by Yahoo Finance and Yahoo Sports, looks beyond the latest sports business headlines, analyzes all the need-to-know news – the teams, trades, and billion dollar deals – so you and your portfolio will win BIG. Yahoo Finance Sports Report is developed and produced by Lauren Pokedoff. Source link #Augusta #National #Golf #Club #secret #membership #process #explained Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why 3-row electric vehicles are so in demand Why 3-row electric vehicles are so in demand What could really move the needle on electric vehicle sales? Three-row SUVs and minivans, according to some industry experts. Americans are clearly enamored with large trucks and SUVs, and families are increasingly asking for a daily hauler that can be taken everywhere, ****** the carbon emissions. “The three-row electric vehicle market is so important for EV sales in the U.S.,” Ed Kim, president and chief analyst of AutoPacific, told ABC News. “Family-age consumers are open to EVs and they finally have a product that meets their needs.” The market for a three-row electric SUV has been limited up until now, and Tesla’s Model X has received complaints for its cramped rear-seating. More models are soon on their way to dealer showrooms. Customers who pre-ordered their Volvo EX90 ($80K), the Swedish brand’s new flagship EV, will take delivery next month. Rivian’s second-generation R1S three-row SUV ($75,900) is receiving praise for its handling and updated tech and Cadillac unveiled the Vistiq ($78,790) last week, which accelerates from 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds and makes 615 horsepower. Cadillac also has the upcoming Escalade IQ ($127,000), which could compete for sales with the Lucid Gravity ($94,900). Kim noted that these new models could finally sway mainstream drivers to buy a battery-powered vehicle. “Automakers knew it would be a tricky transition … and the EV market stands to resume its strong rate of growth with these vehicles,” he argued. Three-row electric SUVs are already stealing sales from gas-powered SUVs. The R1S was the 11th top-selling EV nameplate (22,000 units) as of September followed by the Kia EV9 (16,000), which launched in October 2023. “These are pretty strong sales for those models,” noted Kim. “This is a lucrative area that will be tremendously important.” PHOTO: Kia’s EV9 electric SUV comes in six- and seven-seat configurations and offers up to 20.2 cubic feet of cargo space. (Kia) Kim expects sales of three-row electric SUVs to climb higher, with the Volvo EX90 adding to the mix. The large SUV, with its minimalist Swedish design and advanced tech, would appeal to consumers who are seeking luxury, unique styling and a more eco-friendly lifestyle. MORE: Volvo pioneered automotive safety. Sustainability is next. “The EX90 is one of our most important vehicles,” Gary Kalsaria, head of future cars for Volvo Cars USA, told ABC News. “It’s built on our all-new platform in Charleston, South Carolina. Production has already started and customer deliveries start later this year, with preorders far exceeding demand.” PHOTO: Volvo’s flagship EX90 electric SUV launched this summer. (Volvo) The SUV, which can be configured with seating for six or seven, gets 310 miles of range on one charge and hustles from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, according to Volvo. It took five years to bring the EX90 to market, Kalsaria said, and it’s loaded with so much tech, which has attracted a key demographic for automakers: 30- to 40-year-olds. “Your phone is your key — that’s all you need,” he said. “The EX90 is one of the most technologically advanced cars.” It may not be a hulking SUV, but the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, a modern take on the classic Microbus, ticks a lot of boxes for consumers looking to go electric. The electric minivan is roomy, airy, has endless nooks and crannies and is the most conspicuous EV on the market right now. The EPA-estimated range is 234 miles for the rear-wheel drive model and 231 miles for the AWD version. “The ID. Buzz will absolutely be something that consumers will look at,” said Kim. “It does everything a three-row SUV does and more.” PHOTO: The ID. Buzz minivan makes more sense to ‘haul’ passengers than an SUV, according to Autopian co-founder Jason Torchinsky. (Volkswagon) Jason Torchinsky, co-founder of the Autopian, said wealthy boomers who have fond memories of the 70s Microbus will likely buy the $60,000 minivan. “It’s very charming looking, drives great and the old problems with the old bus — it was loud, small and smelly — is not an issue now,” he told ABC News. “The ID. Buzz is quick, quiet and has a very comfortable interior.” Torchinsky said the ID. Buzz’s range may be a factor, however, for those who regularly go on road trips. “Families are probably looking at and shopping based on range,” he said, adding that more affordable models in the three-row segment are a must for cost-conscious drivers. “We need down-market vehicles that regular people can afford,” Torchinsky said. Mike Austin, executive editor at Road & Track, said fast charging reliability and inexpensive models are what consumers are seeking in an electric vehicle. “People who are wealthy may buy a three-row electric SUV,” he told ABC News. “EVs are generally higher priced and are an emotional purchase.” MORE: Mate Rimac is going to revolutionize the auto industry. Then he will take a vacation. Mark Gilles, a Volkswagen spokesperson, said the company has seen solid interest from consumers for the ID. Buzz, which launched in Europe in 2022 with two rows. “We had 230,000-plus handraisers,” he told ABC News. “Our research showed that only 3% of intenders were coming from minivans and that the rest were coming from SUVs: 28% from full-size SUVs and 57% from mid-size SUVs.” Gilles chalked up the minivan’s “coolness” factor as another reason why Americans would consider the ID. Buzz over the three-row competition. Plus, it offers more cargo space than larger models like the Kia EV9 and GM Suburban, a sought-after internal combustion SUV. “The Buzz has 145 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats removed and 42 inches of rear-seat legroom,” he said. “The vehicles will be difficult to find initially in places where Volkswagen and EV sales are strong.” Kim, who lives in Southern California, said he is already seeing a long line of electric three-row SUVs at his daughter’s school drop-off lane. “Three-row SUVs are selling well, even with gas-powered engines,” he said. “You need additional seats for carpools and to schlep other kids around.” ‘Tremendously important’: Why 3-row electric vehicles are so in demand originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Source link #3row #electric #vehicles #demand Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mike Tyson ‘almost *****’ months before defeat by Jake Paul Mike Tyson ‘almost *****’ months before defeat by Jake Paul Mike Tyson says his defeat by Jake Paul felt like a victory because he “almost *****” earlier this year. The 58-year-old lost to the YouTuber-turned-boxer by a unanimous points decision in the heavily criticised ****** in Texas on Friday. “This is one of those situations when you lost but still won,” Tyson wrote on Instagram. “I’m grateful for last night. No regrets to get in ring one last time. “I almost ***** in June. Had eight blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to ****** to get healthy to ******, so I won.” Fans booed towards the end of the contest, frustrated by the drab affair. Tyson landed just 18 punches during the eight rounds compared to Paul’s 78 as he lost for the seventh time in 57 fights. The ******, initially scheduled for July, was postponed in May on medical advice after Tyson suffered from a stomach ulcer flare-up which he has now revealed was more serious than it first appeared. “To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish eight rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for,” added Tyson. “Thank you.” Source link #Mike #Tyson #***** #months #defeat #Jake #Paul Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brad Jones Racing star ruled out of season-ending Supercars race with concussion Brad Jones Racing star ruled out of season-ending Supercars race with concussion Brad Jones Racing star Jaxon Evans has been ruled out of the Supercars season-ending race at Adelaide with concussion. The 28-year-old on Sunday became the fourth driver for the weekend to fall victim to the high-speed Turn 8 after Richie Stanaway, Cam Hill and Dave Reynolds all crashed at the same corner in three separate incidents within 36 seconds of each other on Saturday. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jaxon Evans ruled out of season-ending race with concussion. Evans thundered into the corner and spun out of control into the opposite barrier before coming to a stop with the front of the car completely destroyed. Evans was initially cleared of injury by on-site medical staff and was preparing to take his spot on the grid as the BJR engineers sprung into action to fix the car. “I’m feeling a little bit shaken up after that,” Evans initially said after the ******. “Never nice to be the one that ends up in the fence, especially here at Turn 8. But, thankfully I’m okay. A little bit winded, but yeah, otherwise happy to walk away from that one.” But in a statement released during Sunday’s top-10 shootout, BJR confirmed Evans had since been diagnosed with concussion and was unable to race. Camera IconJaxon Evans’s car was destroyed and he was ruled out with concussion. Credit: Channel 7 “After Jaxon Evans’ Turn 8 ****** in qualifying he was assessed for concussion symptoms,” the statement reads. “Supercars medical team have since then diagnosed him with a concussion and have implemented their protocols for this situation. “This means that Jaxon will be unable to take any further part in this weekend and the SCT Motorsport Camaro will remain in the garage for the final race of the season. “The support from across our team to try and get car 50 back on track was awe-inspiring. As the car arrived in pit lane the full BJR crew leapt into action to fix it. “The work was on track to be completed but with Jaxon unable to drive, the team has made the decision not to run the car. “We are so thankful for the outpouring of support from everyone. The events of today are devastating but bring us closer as a team.” The statement was released barely two hours before Race 24 was set to begin at 3:15pm local time in Adelaide. Speaking to Channel 7 after the decision was made, Brad Jones from BJR said some things are more important than racing. “Jaxon’s health is most important and he just doesn’t quite feel up to it,” Jones said. Despite the carnage at Turn 8 this weekend, Jones said it’s just part of motor racing. “I don’t know that you need to do anything (to fix the problem at Turn 8), to tell you the truth,” he said. “Motor racing’s tricky, and that’s a tricky corner. “You take the risk and sometimes when it goes wrong you pay the price.” Source link #Brad #Jones #Racing #star #ruled #seasonending #Supercars #race #concussion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Suspected overdose ****** in Blissfield leads to search warrant, arrest in Adrian Suspected overdose ****** in Blissfield leads to search warrant, arrest in Adrian ADRIAN and BLISSFIELD — A 43-year-old man was arrested Nov. 7, as part of several arrests and investigations being handled by the Region of Irish Hills Narcotics Office. The arrest of Eric Lee Cooper came during the ********** of a search warrant by RIHNO in the 1100 block of South Main Street in Adrian’s Friendly Village Mobile Home Park. Cooper’s arrest was in support of an overdose ****** being investigated by the Blissfield Police Department, RIHNO communicated in an “activity report” released Tuesday. During the search, RIHNO located and seized eight firearms and more than 800 grams of ******* along with several other suspected narcotics, officials said. “It should be noted that Cooper was arrested for the possession with intent to deliver and felony firearm charges,” RIHNO said. The investigation into the overdose ******, which Blissfield Police responded to on Nov. 7, is ongoing and will be investigated separately. “Cooper should be assumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” said RIHNO, which was assisted by the Blissfield Police Department and the Michigan State Police K9 Unit. More news: Adrian ******* victim’s family describe loss at sentencing in Lenawee County Circuit Court Blissfield Police on Nov. 7 responded to a report of a person found unconscious. That person was identified by law enforcement officials as Paul Jones, 34, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. According to Blissfield Police Chief Dale Greenleaf, the investigation with RIHNO resulted in “one arrest and the seizure of numerous handguns, rifles and cash.” “Suspected *******, ******** and fentanyl were also seized with an estimated street value of $100,000,” Greenleaf said in a communication from the police department. *******/fentanyl carries an ******** street market value of around $100 per gram, RIHNO said. ********’s ******** market value ranges from $70 to $110 per gram and methamphetamine’s is $10 to $20 per gram. “These values can vary depending on factors like supply availability, geographic location and bulk purchase rates,” RIHNO explained. “For example, while the street value of 1,000 grams of ******* may be around $100,000, a trafficker might acquire the same amount at a bulk price of $70,000 (about $70 per gram).” A ruling on the cause and manner of Jones’ ****** is pending a complete autopsy and toxicology screening by the Lenawee County Medical Examiner, Greenleaf said. “The deceased was found in Blissfield. There probably won’t be any updates for a while as this is an ongoing investigation,” Greenleaf added in an email. Subscribe Now: For all the latest local developments, breaking news, and high school and college sports content. Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact any of the following agencies if they have not done so already. Callers can remain anonymous if they wish to do so. Blissfield Police Department: 517-486-4347. RIHNO Task Force: 517-265-5787. ****** Stoppers of Lenawee County: 517-266-6161 or 877-276-8477. Jones, according to his obituary, previously was employed at the Hathaway House and Beckey’s Kountry Kitchen in Blissfield as a cook, Uckele Health and Nutrition, and most recently worked at the Tile Shop in Ottawa Lake. He was described as an avid fan of all the Detroit sports teams and especially enjoyed being outdoors and recently took up kayaking. A memorial gathering will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22 at Wagley ******** Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield, 301 S. Lane St. Sharing of memories will begin at 4 p.m. in the ******** home. Cooper is scheduled to appear before Lenawee County District Judge Laura J. Schaedler at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 for a probable cause conference. He will step before Schaedler a second time at 9 a.m. Nov. 26 for a preliminary examination, according to online court records. Bond, as of Nov. 10, has been set at $230,000. Cooper is facing a total of 14 felony charges including eight weapons, felony firearms charges; controlled substance, maintaining a ***** house; weapons, body armor, possession/use by violent felon; weapons, firearms, ammunition, possession prohibited; weapons, firearms, possession by prohibited person; controlled substance delivery/manufacture (narc/********) less than 50 grams; and controlled substance delivery/manufacture (narc/********) 225 to 649 grams. — Contact reporter Brad Heineman at *****@*****.tld or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LenaweeHeineman. This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Suspected overdose ****** in Blissfield leads to arrest in Adrian Source link #Suspected #overdose #****** #Blissfield #leads #search #warrant #arrest #Adrian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2024 Leavers: WA Police South West superintendent Geoff Stewart issues final warning to Year 12 cohort 2024 Leavers: WA Police South West superintendent Geoff Stewart issues final warning to Year 12 cohort WA Police have issued a final warning to the 2024 leavers cohort to ensure young people ‘go home in one piece’ as celebrations begin throughout the South West. Source link #Leavers #Police #South #West #superintendent #Geoff #Stewart #issues #final #warning #Year #cohort Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Stock Market Is Doing Something Witnessed Only 3 Times in 153 Years — and History Is Very Clear What Happens Next The Stock Market Is Doing Something Witnessed Only 3 Times in 153 Years — and History Is Very Clear What Happens Next In case you haven’t noticed, the bulls are firmly in charge on Wall Street. Since 2024 began, the iconic Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI), broad-based S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), and innovation-fueled Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) have respectively gained 17%, 26%, and 28% (as of the closing bell on Nov. 13) and ascended to multiple record-closing highs. A number of factors are responsible for pushing Wall Street’s major stock indexes to new highs, including excitement for the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, stock-split euphoria, and optimism for President-Elect Donald Trump’s second term in the Oval Office. Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » But when things seem too good to be true on Wall Street, they usually are. Image source: Getty Images. Throughout the year, there have been an assortment of correlative events, forecasting tools, and data points that have warned of potential weakness in the U.S. economy and/or stock market. This includes the first notable decline in U.S. M2 money supply since the Great Depression, the longest yield-curve inversion in history, and the correlative performance of equities when the Federal Reserve shifts to a rate-easing cycle. However, one historically flawless valuation metric stands head and shoulders above these other tools, and it’s doing something right now that’s only been observed three times in more than 150 years. Most investors are probably familiar with or rely on the traditional price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, which divides a company’s share price into its trailing-12-month earnings per share (EPS). The P/E ratio provides a relatively quick way to compare a company’s valuation to its peers or the broader market. However, the traditional P/E ratio also has limitations. Specifically, it doesn’t work particularly well with growth stocks since it doesn’t factor in future growth rates, and it can be easily disrupted by shock events, such as the lockdowns that occurred during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. A considerably more encompassing valuation tool, and the metric currently making history, is the S&P 500’s Shiller P/E ratio, also referred to as the cyclically adjusted P/E ratio or CAPE Ratio. The Shiller P/E accounts for average inflation-adjusted EPS from the previous 10 years, which smooths out the impact of shock events and allows for apples-to-apples valuation comparisons looking back more than 150 years. Story Continues S&P 500 Shiller CAPE Ratio data by YCharts. As of the closing bell on Nov. 13, the S&P 500’s Shiller P/E clocked in at 38.18, more than double its average reading of 17.17 when back-tested to January 1871. But more importantly, the Shiller P/E ratio has reached a reading of 38 only three times during a bull market rally in 153 years. In December 1999, during the dot-com *****, the Shiller P/E peaked at a reading of 44.19. Meanwhile, in the first week of 2022, it very briefly lifted above 40. What’s noteworthy is what’s happened to Wall Street’s major stock indexes following these prior periods when valuations became very clearly overextended to the upside. The dot-com bubble resulted in a peak-to-trough drop of 49% in the S&P 500 and a considerably steeper decline in the Nasdaq Composite. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite entered respective bear markets in 2022. Stepping back even further, there have been only six instances since 1871 when the Shiller P/E surpassed 30, including the present. Following each of the five prior occurrences, the Dow, S&P 500, and/or Nasdaq Composite eventually fell between 20% and 89%. Although the Shiller P/E tells us nothing about when stock market corrections/bear markets might occur, thus far, it has a flawless track record of foreshadowing major moves lower in the stock market. Image source: Getty Images. Based on what history tells us, at some point in the not-too-distant future, we’re going to see a pretty sizable move lower in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite. But if you’re a long-term investor looking to the horizon, history has a message for you, as well: Perspective changes everything. Over shorter time frames, predicting what the U.S. economy or stock market will do can be tricky, if not downright impossible. For example, recessions are a normal and inevitable part of the economic cycle. No matter how much we cross our fingers and think good thoughts, economic contractions are eventually going to occur. But here’s the thing about recessions: They’re short-lived. If you take a step back and look at the ******* picture, you’ll see that nine out of 12 recessions following World War II resolved in less than a year, while the remaining three ******* to surpass 18 months in length. On the other end of the spectrum, two economic expansions have reached the 10-year mark since World War II ended. The point being that the U.S. economy spends considerably more time in the sun than navigating through a storm — but you have to take a step back to see this dynamic play out. The same holds true on Wall Street. The data set you see above was posted on social media platform X in June 2023 by the researchers at Bespoke Investment Group. It shows the calendar-day length of every bear and bull market in the benchmark S&P 500 dating back to the start of the Great Depression in September 1929. As you’ll note from the table, the average S&P 500 bear market decline is only 286 calendar days, roughly 9.5 months. This is consistent with downturns in the U.S. economy resolving quickly. On the other hand, the average S&P 500 bull market over 94 years has endured for 1,011 calendar days, which equates to around two years and nine months. Including the current bull market rally, just over half (14 out of 27) of all bull markets for the S&P 500 have lasted longer than the lengthiest bear market. Even though stock market downturns are normal and inevitable, perspective demonstrates just how powerful patience can be for long-term investors. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Amazon: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2010, you’d have $22,819!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $42,611!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $444,355!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See 3 “Double Down” stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 11, 2024 Sean Williams has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Stock Market Is Doing Something Witnessed Only 3 Times in 153 Years — and History Is Very Clear What Happens Next was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Stock #Market #Witnessed #Times #Years #History #Clear Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]