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New guided walking tour follows the footsteps of Paddy Hannan New guided walking tour follows the footsteps of Paddy Hannan An all-new guided walking tour offers locals and visitors alike the chance to walk in Paddy Hannan’s footsteps and uncover the history of Kalgoorlie. Source link #guided #walking #tour #footsteps #Paddy #Hannan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Key agencies, including some led by Trump loyalists, refuse to comply with Musk’s latest demand Key agencies, including some led by Trump loyalists, refuse to comply with Musk’s latest demand NEW YORK (AP) — Key U.S. agencies, including the FBI and State Department, have instructed their employees not to comply with cost-cutting chief Elon Musk’s demand that federal workers explain what they accomplished last week — or risk losing their jobs. That resistance has intensified a pervasive sense of chaos and confusion, while highlighting a potential power struggle among President Donald Trump’s allies, that is affecting federal employees across the country as a new workweek is about to begin. Musk’s team sent an email to hundreds of thousands of federal employees on Saturday giving them roughly 48 hours to report five specific things they had accomplished last week. In a separate message on X, Musk said any employee who failed to respond by the deadline — set in the email as 11:59 p.m. EST Monday — would lose their job. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Democrats and even some Republicans were critical of Musk’s unusual directive, which came just hours after Trump encouraged him on social media to “get more aggressive” in reducing the size of the government through his so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Assessing Musk’s threat for noncompliance, Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., said, ““I don’t know how that’s necessarily feasible. Obviously, a lot of federal employees are under union contract.” It is unclear what legal basis the Trump administration would have for dismissing tens of thousands of workers for refusing to heed Musk’s latest demand, though the email did not include the threat about workers losing their jobs. Labor unions have threatened lawsuits, while several agency leaders, including Trump appointees, encouraged their workers not to cooperate. Newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel, an outspoken Trump ally, instructed bureau employees to ignore Musk’s request, at least for now. “The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures,” Patel wrote in an email confirmed by The Associated Press. “When and if further information is required, we will coordinate the responses. For now, please pause any responses.” Ed Martin, the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia who has been nominated for the job by the Republican president, sent his staff a message Sunday that may cause more confusion. Martin noted that he himself responded to the request for last week’s accomplishments. “Let me clarify: We will comply with this OPM request whether by replying or deciding not to reply,” Martin wrote in the email obtained by the AP, referring to the Office of Personnel Management “Please make a good faith effort to reply and list your activities (or not, as you prefer), and I will, as I mentioned, have your back regarding any confusion,” Martin continued. “We can do this.” The night before, Martin had instructed staff to comply with Musk’s order. “DOGE and Elon are doing great work. Historic. We are happy to participate,” Martin wrote at that time. Officials at the State Department, where Marco Rubio is Trump’s secretary of state, were more direct. Tibor Nagy, acting undersecretary for management, told employees in an email that department leadership would respond on behalf of workers. “No employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their Department chain of command,” Nagy wrote, according to an email obtained by the AP. Thousands of government employees have already been forced out of the federal workforce — either by being fired or through a “deferred resignation” offer — during the first month of Trump’s second term as the White House and DOGE dismiss new and career workers and tell agency leaders to plan for “large-scale reductions in force.” There is no official figure available for the total firings or layoffs so far, but the AP has tallied hundreds of thousands of workers who are being affected. Many work outside of Washington, and the cuts include thousands at the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Health and Human Services, as well as the IRS and the National Park Service, among others. Musk on Sunday called his latest request “a very basic pulse check.” “The reason this matters is that a significant number of people who are supposed to be working for the government are doing so little work that they are not checking their email at all!” Musk wrote on X. “In some cases, we believe non-existent people or the identities of dead people are being used to collect paychecks. In other words, there is outright fraud.” He has provided no evidence of such fraud. Separately, Musk and Trump have falsely claimed in recent days that tens of millions of dead people over 100 years old are receiving Social Security payments. Meanwhile, thousands of other employees are preparing to leave the federal workforce this coming week, including probationary civilian workers at the Pentagon and contractors at the U.S. Agency for International Development who received no-name form letters of termination over the weekend. The USAID move escalates a monthlong administration assault on the international humanitarian agency that has frozen its funding, closed its Washington headquarters and shut down thousands of U.S. aid and development programs worldwide. A judge who temporarily blocked the freeze on foreign assistance said the administration had kept withholding the aid and must at least temporarily restore the funding to programs worldwide. But another judge cleared the way for the administration to move forward with pulling thousands of USAID staffers off the job. The blanket nature of the notification letters to USAID contractors, excluding the names or positions of those receiving it, could make it difficult for the dismissed workers to get unemployment benefits, workers noted. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York described Trump as “a chaos agent” who is trying to distract Americans from his failure to address their economic concerns and lower inflation. “He’s unleashing chaos on the American people,” Jeffries said Sunday. Lawlor appeared on ABC’s “This Week and Jeffries was on CNN’s ”State of the Union.” ___ Associated Press writers Byron Tau, Ellen Knickmeyer and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report. Source link #Key #agencies #including #led #Trump #loyalists #refuse #comply #Musks #latest #demand Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kylie Jenner’s hairstylist Jesus Guerrero dead at 34 – New York Post Kylie Jenner’s hairstylist Jesus Guerrero dead at 34 – New York Post Kylie Jenner’s hairstylist Jesus Guerrero dead at 34 New York Post Kylie Jenner and J. Lo’s Celebrity Hair Stylist Jesus Guerrero Dies ‘Suddenly and Unexpectedly’ Us WeeklyJesus Guerrero Dead – Celebrity Hairstylist Dies at 34 Just JaredJesus Guerrero, celebrity hairstylist who worked with Kylie Jenner and Jennifer Lopez, dead at 34 Page SixKylie Jenner’s close friend and hairstylist Jesus Guerrero dies ‘suddenly’ at 34 just weeks after their trip Evening Standard Source link #Kylie #Jenners #hairstylist #Jesus #Guerrero #dead #York #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis conscious but remains in critical condition, ******** says – National Pope Francis conscious but remains in critical condition, ******** says – National Pope Francis was conscious but still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen Sunday as he remained in critical condition with pneumonia and a complex lung infection, the ******** said. Prayers for him poured in from around the world, from his native Argentina to the seat of Sunni Islam in Cairo to schoolchildren in Rome. In New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan said what church leaders in Rome weren’t saying publicly: that the Catholic faithful were united “at the bedside of a dying father.” “As our Holy Father Pope Francis is in very, very fragile health, and probably close to death,” Dolan said at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, without saying if he had independent information about the pope’s condition. In Rome, the ******** limited itself to saying that the 88-year-old Francis, who has pneumonia in both lungs and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen after a respiratory crisis on Saturday. Further clinical tests were being performed. Story continues below advertisement “The night passed quietly, the pope rested,” ******** spokesman Matteo Bruni said in an early statement. A more detailed medical update was expected later Sunday. 1:17 Catholics worldwide praying for the Pope amid health issues On Saturday, Francis suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen to help him breathe through a nasal tube. He also received blood transfusions after tests showed low counts of platelets, which are needed for clotting, the ******** said. Doctors said Saturday his prognosis was “reserved.” Doctors have said Francis’ condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease. His condition has revived speculation about what might happen if he becomes unconscious or otherwise incapacitated, and whether he might resign. Prayers for pope at ******** Francis was supposed to have celebrated Mass on Sunday morning in St. Peter’s Basilica and ordained deacons as part of the ********’s yearlong Holy Year commemoration. Story continues below advertisement The organizer of the Holy Year, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, celebrated the Mass in his place and offered a special prayer for Francis from the altar before delivering the homily the pope had prepared. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. “Even though he is in a hospital bed, we feel Pope Francis close to us, we feel him present among us,” Fisichella told the hundreds of white-robed deacons. A pre-written message that had been prepared for Francis to read Sunday but did not deliver said he was “confidently continuing my hospitalization at the Gemelli Hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the therapy!” The message asked for prayers for him — as he always asks — and noted the upcoming anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “a painful and shameful occasion for the whole of humanity.” 1:46 Pope Francis has double pneumonia, showing ‘slight improvement’ Meanwhile in Francis’ native Argentina, Catholics prayed for the pope at the Buenos Aires cathedral and the city’s iconic obelisk was lit up “Francis, the city prays for you.” Story continues below advertisement In Cairo, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, the seat of Sunni learning who forged a close bond with Francis, wished him well. “I pray to ****** to grant my dear brother, Pope Francis, a swift recovery and to bless him with good health and well-being so that he may continue his journey in serving humanity,” Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb wrote in a Facebook post. School children from around Rome deluged the Gemelli hospital with get-well cards, while Italian bishops led rosary prayers and celebrated special Masses across Italy. The main threat facing the pope is sepsis Trending Now Police officer, gunman dead after hostages taken at Pennsylvania hospital Trump wants to replace Canada’s car industry. How much would that cost? Doctors have warned that the main threat facing Francis is sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia. As of Friday, there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various drugs he is taking, the pope’s medical team said in their first in-depth update on the pope’s condition. Story continues below advertisement Francis developed a low platelet count, a condition called platelopenia or thrombocytopenia. Platelets are cell-like fragments that circulate in the blood that help form blood clots to stop bleeding or help wounds heal. Low platelet counts can be caused by a number of things, including side effects from medicines or infections. Francis, who has chronic lung disease and is prone to bronchitis in winter, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and then the onset of pneumonia in both lungs. They prescribed “absolute rest” and a combination of cortisone and antibiotics, along with supplemental oxygen when he needs it. 2:33 Pope Francis’ illness diagnosed as pneumonia, respiratory infection Francis’ recent reforms suggest he knew he was getting older and more fragile Francis has taken several recent decisions that suggest he was well aware that he was getting old and frail. Story continues below advertisement Last year, he revised the ******** rites that will be used after he dies, simplifying the rituals to emphasize his role as a mere bishop and allowing for burial outside the ******** in keeping with his wishes. But the core elements of the rites remain, including the three key moments that must be observed between the death of a pope and his ********: In his home, in St. Peter’s Basilica and in the place of burial. In December, Francis created 21 new cardinals. All but one were under age 80 and thus eligible to vote in a conclave to elect his successor. Their additions brought the overall number of voting-age cardinals to 140, well over the 120 limit set by St. John Paul II. But several of the current electors are turning 80 this year, bringing the number down. Earlier this month, once he was already sick, Francis decided to extend the five-year term of the current dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, rather than make way for someone new. As depicted in the film “Conclave,” the dean of the College of Cardinals plays an important role in the life of the Catholic hierarchy, and is a crucial figure during the transition between one papacy and the next. Francis also decided to extend the term of the vice-dean, Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 81. More on World More videos Source link #Pope #Francis #conscious #remains #critical #condition #******** #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Editorial: What’s the catch with Medicare splurge? Editorial: What’s the catch with Medicare splurge? The State endured the nation’s biggest decline in bulk-billing — a 4 per cent decline on the year earlier, and a more than 20 per cent fall since 2023. Source link #Editorial #Whats #catch #Medicare #splurge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Thank You for Your Closeness’ ‘Thank You for Your Closeness’ Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways Pope Francis – Credit: Stefano Costantino/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Amid the ********’s statement that Pope Francis remains hospitalized in critical condition with respiratory issues, the pontiff returned to social media Sunday to thank the world for its support. Following Saturday’s news that Pope Francis had an “asthmatic respiratory crisis” that required a blood transfusion, ******** spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement Sunday morning, “The night passed quietly, the pope rested.” The ******** added that the 88-year-old pope remained conscious but in critical condition, and was still receiving supplemental oxygen for his lung infection. More from Rolling Stone Despite the health concerns, Pope Francis’ social media still delivered its #GospelOfTheDay Sunday, which was accompanied by a note from His Holiness thanking well-wishers for their prayers. “I have recently received many messages of affection, and I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children,” the pope wrote. “Thank you for your closeness, and for the consoling prayers I have received from all over the world!” While Pope Frances was unable to deliver his Sunday Mass at the ******** — Archbishop Rino Fisichella took his place, and offered a special prayer to the pope, the Associated Press reports — the Holy Father did prepare a message to be read during the noon prayer, saying he was receiving “necessary treatment” at the hospital and that “rest is also part of the therapy!” On social media, Pope Frances’ account wrote, “I urge you to continue your apostolate with joy and to be a sign of a love that embraces everyone, as the #GospelOfTheDay suggests. May we transform evil into goodness and build a fraternal world. Do not be afraid to take risks for love!” Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Source link #Closeness Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD estimates of Radeon RX 9070 XT performance leaked: 42% – 66% faster than Radeon RX 7900 GRE AMD estimates of Radeon RX 9070 XT performance leaked: 42% – 66% faster than Radeon RX 7900 GRE AMD reportedly held a press briefing and disclosed more information about its upcoming Radeon RX 9000-series graphics processors as well as the RDNA 4 architecture. Perhaps the most important part was the disclosure of AMD’s official performance numbers of the new Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card that appeared to be significantly ahead of the Radeon RX 7900 GRE, according to the allegedly official numbers published by VideoCardz. In fact, AMD claims that the upcoming Radeon RX 9070 XT is 42% – 168% faster than the Radeon RX 7900 GRE at a 4K resolution with ‘ultra’ quality settings across over 30 games. The Radeon RX 9070 XT outperforms the RX 7900 GRE by an average of 38% at 1440p and 42% at 2160p. However with certain titles that rely on ray tracing more than others — such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Hitman 3 — performance gains reach 164% –168%, again according to the numbers published by VideoCardz. Games with ray tracing tend to see the biggest increases, emphasizing AMD’s RDNA 4 advances in handling RT workloads. Titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Dying Light 2, F1 24, and Hitman 3 show the strongest performance jumps of 56% to 66%, which clearly makes the new Radeon RX 9070-series offerings strong contenders to sit amongst the best graphics cards in the coming quarters. When it comes to the performance difference between the Radeon RX 9070 XT and the Radeon RX 9070 (non-XT), the delta averages between 16.1% at 1440p Ultra Settings and 18.3% at 2160p Ultra Settings across the tested games, according to AMD. Yet, the Radeon RX 9070 (non-XT) still delivers a 20% performance boost at 1440p and a 21% higher performance at 2160p over the Radeon RX 7900 GRE. AMD admitted that it did not have a GeForce RTX 5070 Ti for comparison, so it did not compare its new flagship against some of Nvidia’s most wanted parts of today. The company did not explain why it decided not to compare its upcoming Radeon RX 9070 XT against its existing Radeon RX 7900 XTX flagship, but stuck to the cut-down Radeon RX 7900 GRE. The latter has around 25% lower compute performance compared to the range-topping Radeon RX 7900 XTX, but also has 16GB of memory onboard, whereas the range-topping board carries 24GB of GDDR6 VRAM. Unlike AMD, Nvidia uses upscaling technologies like frame generation to demonstrate performance improvements over the previous generation, so the red company gains some kudos. As a result, AMD has chosen to focus on native rendering performance and ray tracing, so performance gains are quite real. More details will, of course, be shared on February 28 when AMD officially presents its Radeon RX 9070-series products. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #AMD #estimates #Radeon #performance #leaked #faster #Radeon #GRE Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Netanyahu announces that military tanks have entered the West Bank – Yahoo Netanyahu announces that military tanks have entered the West Bank – Yahoo Netanyahu announces that military tanks have entered the West Bank YahooLIVE: Israel tanks roll into West Bank as Palestinians told not to return Al Jazeera EnglishIsrael expels residents of three West Bank refugee camps BBC.comExpanding West Bank Campaign, Israel Sends Tanks for First Time in Decades The New York Times Source link #Netanyahu #announces #military #tanks #entered #West #Bank #Yahoo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nick Bruining: Here’s how to make the most of the $2m transfer balance cap for superannuation Nick Bruining: Here’s how to make the most of the $2m transfer balance cap for superannuation It’s been all but confirmed — Australians are set to see a $100,000 increase in the amount of money they can invest in an environment that’s completely tax-free. Here’s how to take advantage of the new limit. Source link #Nick #Bruining #Heres #transfer #balance #cap #superannuation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man who bombed woman’s home, plotted python attack learns fate Man who bombed woman’s home, plotted python attack learns fate A Georgia man who pleaded guilty to bombing a woman’s home in a bizarre plot that included conspiring to “release a large python into the victim’s home to eat the victim’s daughter,” was sentenced to 20 years in prison, authorities announced. Stephen Glosser, 38, of Savannah, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to stalking and use of an explosive to commit another felony offense, prosecutors in Georgia announced Thursday. A judge also ordered Glosser to pay over $500,000 in restitution to two victims in the case. Glosser, 37, and his co-defendant, Caleb Kinsey, 34, were charged in March 2024, accused of building an explosive to blow up the victim’s home in Richmond Hill, Georgia, on Jan. 13, 2023. The two people inside the house at the time survived. A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigator told CBS affiliate WTOC in 2023 that Glosser had met the victim through a dating app, although authorities did offer a possible motive behind the alleged crimes. Glosser located the victim’s home using internet searches based on an image the victim had previously shared with him, officials said. Prosecutors allege Glosser, in his guilty plea, described his efforts to communicate with his co-conspirator to “create a plan to kill, intimidate, harass, or injure” the owner of the home. “This included conspiring to acquire and shoot arrows into the victim’s front door, acquire and release a large python into the victim’s home to eat the victim’s daughter, acquire and mail dog ****** to the victim’s home, acquire and mail dead rats to the victim’s home, to scalp the victim, and to blow up the victim’s home,” according to the guilty plea. A Georgia man who pleaded guilty to bombing a woman’s home in a bizarre plot that included conspiring to After the bombing, Glosser hired a cleaning service to clean the carpets in his home to hide traces of the bomb-making materials, prosecutors say. “Thankfully the family was able to get out of the house with no injuries,” the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post at the time. It “almost looked like a tornado” had hit the home, Bryan County Sheriff Mark Crowe said after the explosion, WTOC reported. On Feb. 2023, the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire said Glosser and Kinsey had been arrested. Kinsey was arrested in Louisiana, and is awaiting prosecution in the Southern District of Georgia, prosecutors said Thursday. “This case serves as a stark reminder that those who use terror and threats to intimidate others will face the full force of the law,” Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey said in a statement Thursday. “We are fortunate that no lives were lost, and I commend the tireless efforts of the ATF and our local partners for their dedication in bringing this dangerous individual to justice.” Tense moments between Trump, Maine governor on transgender executive order, reporters say Gottlieb “very concerned” about Texas measles outbreak: “I think this will spread” Van Hollen says Trump’s approach to Ukraine and Russia is “terrible negotiating” Source link #Man #bombed #womans #home #plotted #python #attack #learns #fate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Zelenskyy says he's ready to step down if it means peace for Ukraine – ABC News Zelenskyy says he's ready to step down if it means peace for Ukraine – ABC News Zelenskyy says he’s ready to step down if it means peace for Ukraine ABC NewsZelensky Offers to Step Down, if Ukraine Can Join NATO The New York TimesHear Zelensky’s response when asked if he’d resign as president of Ukraine CNN Source link #Zelenskyy #he039s #ready #step #means #peace #Ukraine #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******* conservatives to win election, far-right AfD in 2nd: exit polls – National ******* conservatives to win election, far-right AfD in 2nd: exit polls – National ******* opposition leader Friedrich Merz’s conservatives were on course for a lackluster victory in a national election Sunday, while Alternative for Germany nearly doubled its support, the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II, projections showed. Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded defeat for his center-left Social Democrats after what he called “a bitter election result.” Projections for ARD and ZDF public television showed his party finishing in third place with its worst postwar result in a national parliamentary election. It wasn’t immediately clear how easy it will be for Merz to put together a coalition government. The election took place seven months earlier than originally planned after Scholz’s unpopular coalition collapsed in November, three years into a term that was increasingly marred by infighting. There was widespread discontent and not much enthusiasm for any of the candidates. Story continues below advertisement The projections, based on exit polls and partial counting, put support for Merz’s Union bloc at just under 29% and Alternative for Germany, or AfD, about 20% — roughly double its result from 2021. They put support for Scholz’s Social Democrats at just over 16%, far lower than in the last election. The environmentalist Greens, their remaining partners in the outgoing government, were on 12-13%. 1:25 Far-right looks for breakthrough as Germans prepare to head to polls Out of three smaller parties, one — the hard-left Left Party — appeared certain to win seats in parliament with up to 9% of the vote. Two other parties, the pro-business Free Democrats and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, hovered around the threshold of the 5% support needed to win seats. Whether Merz will need one or two partners to form a coalition will depend on how many parties get into parliament. Story continues below advertisement “I am aware of the responsibility,” Merz said. “I am also aware of the scale of the task that now lies ahead of us. I approach it with the utmost respect, and I know that it will not be easy.” “The world out there isn’t waiting for us, and it isn’t waiting for long-drawn-out coalition talks and negotiations,” he told cheering supporters. “We must now become capable of acting quickly again.” AfD’s candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, said that “we have become the second-strongest force.” She said that her party is “open for coalition negotiations” with Merz’s party, and that “otherwise, no change of policy is possible in Germany.” But Merz has repeatedly and categorically ruled out working with AfD, as have other mainstream parties. The Social Democrats’ general secretary, Matthias Miersch, suggested that the defeat was no surprise after three years of the unpopular government. “This election wasn’t lost in the last eight weeks,” he said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. The election was dominated by worries about the years-long stagnation of Europe’s biggest economy and with pressure to curb migration. It took place against a background of growing uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and Europe’s alliance with the United States. 2:44 Elon Musk calls for Germans to ‘move beyond’ Nazi guilt at far-right rally Germany is the most populous country in the 27-nation European Union and a leading member of NATO. It has been Ukraine’s second-biggest weapons supplier, after the U.S. It will be central to shaping the continent’s response to the challenges of the coming years, including the Trump administration’s confrontational foreign and trade policy. Story continues below advertisement More than 59 million people in the nation of 84 million were eligible to elect the 630 members of the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, who will take their seats under the glass dome of Berlin’s landmark Reichstag building. Why is support for AfD surging? AfD first entered Germany’s national parliament eight years ago on the back of discontent with the arrival of large numbers of migrants in the mid-2010s, and curbing migration remains its signature theme. But the party has proven adept at harnessing discontent with other issues, too: Germany’s move away from fossil fuels, restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and support for Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly three years ago. The party was founded in 2013 and initially focused on opposition to bailouts for struggling countries in the eurozone debt crisis — measures that then-Chancellor Angela Merkel described as “without alternative.” Story continues below advertisement Over the years, AfD became more radical and repeatedly changed leaders. It was Merkel’s decision in 2015 to allow in large numbers of migrants that supercharged it as a political force. In the 2017 national election, it won 12.6% of the vote, to take seats in the ******* parliament for the first time. After returning to parliament in 2021 with reduced support of 10.3%, AfD picked up strength as Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left government bickered through a series of crises and finally collapsed. Germany saw a wave of protests a year ago triggered by a report that right-wing extremists met to discuss the deportation of millions of immigrants, including some with ******* citizenship, and that AfD members were present. Trending Now Trudeau, Trump talk Ukraine as allies fear U.S. withdrawal from war effort Pope Francis now in critical condition, ******** says But that didn’t do long-term poll damage to AfD. It finished second in the European Parliament election in June, and in September, the best-known figure on its hardest-right wing, Björn Höcke, secured the first far-right win in a state election in post-World War II Germany. 2:14 Elon Musk causes uproar after backing Germany’s far-right AfD party AfD went into Sunday’s election with renewed confidence and radical language, and polls put it in second place with about 20% support. Weidel, its first candidate for chancellor, has embraced the politically loaded term “remigration” as the party calls for large-scale deportations of people with no legal entitlement to be in Germany. Story continues below advertisement AfD calls for the immediate lifting of sanctions against Russia and opposes weapons deliveries to Ukraine. It wants Germany to reintroduce a national currency and for the European Union to become a ******* “association of European nations,” though it isn’t explicitly advocating leaving the 27-nation bloc. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has the party under observation for suspected right-wing extremism. The AfD’s branches in three eastern states are designated “proven right-wing extremist” groups. AfD strongly objects to those assessments and rejects any association with the Nazi past. Höcke has appealed two convictions for knowingly using a Nazi slogan at a political event. More on Politics More videos AfD has support across Germany and is represented in all but two of the 16 state legislatures, but the party is strongest in the formerly ********** and less prosperous east. It has a unique ability to seize on issues “that other parties don’t handle with this clarity, with this intensity, with this radicalism and this emotionality,” said Wolfgang Schroeder, a political science professor at the Berlin Social Science Center. “And on top of that, it’s an internet party and from the beginning used the emotionalizing power of the internet for its own communication — much better than all other ******* parties together.” That has helped it to perform strongly among young voters in recent regional elections. The party portrays itself as an anti-establishment force at a time of low trust in politicians. Story continues below advertisement Schroeder described it as “something like an aircraft carrier for resentment and anger.” 2:09 ******* snap election looms after finance minister fired, ruling coalition breaks AfD’s rise has coincided with that of far-right parties in many other European countries, including Austria’s Freedom Party and the National Rally in France, with which it has plenty of common ground. Orbán this month described Weidel as “ the future of Germany.” However, it isn’t part of those parties’ Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament after some tensions before last year’s EU election. AfD was thrown out of one of the group’s predecessors after its leading candidate at the time, Maximilian Krah, said that not all Nazi SS men “were necessarily criminals.” Musk, a tech billionaire and close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, has declared that “only the AfD can save Germany.” He held a live chat on X with Weidel and appeared live by video link at an AfD campaign rally. Story continues below advertisement At that rally, Weidel vowed to “make Germany great again” in an echo of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. Nine days before the election, Vance met with Weidel after a speech to the Munich Security Conference in which he lectured European leaders about democracy and free speech and declared that “there’s no room for firewalls.” Mainstream ******* parties’ refusal to work with AfD is often referred to as the “firewall.” Source link #******* #conservatives #win #election #farright #AfD #2nd #exit #polls #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******* conservatives win vote, but far-right AfD surges ******* conservatives win vote, but far-right AfD surges Germany’s opposition conservatives won the national election, putting leader Friedrich Merz on track to be the next chancellor while the far-right Alternative for Germany came in second, its best ever result, exit polls showed. Following a campaign roiled by a series of violent attacks, and interventions by US President Donald Trump’s administration, the conservative CDU/CSU bloc won 28.5 per cent of the vote, followed by the AfD with 20 per cent, an exit poll published by ZDF public broadcaster showed on Sunday. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) tumbled to their worst result since World War Two, with 16.5 per cent of the vote share, according to the ZDF exit poll. The Greens were on 12 per cent while the **** hovered around the five per cent threshold to enter parliament. A late campaign surge by the far left Die Linke party gave it nine per cent of the vote while breakaway leftist party BSW led by Sahra Wagenknecht squeezed in on five per cent. The results set the stage for protracted coalition talks and likely mean a three-way coalition made up of one or two of the three same parties that were part of Scholz’s unpopular alliance that collapsed in November. Merz, 69, has no previous government experience but has promised to provide greater leadership than Scholz and to liaise more with key allies, restoring Germany to the heart of Europe. A brash economic liberal who has shifted the conservatives to the right, he is considered the antithesis of former conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel, who led Germany for 16 years. Short of a majority in an increasingly fragmented political landscape, however, his conservatives will have to sound out partners to form a coalition. Those negotiations are certain to be tricky after a campaign which exposed sharp divisions over migration and how to deal with the AfD in a country where far-right politics carry a particularly strong stigma due to its Nazi past. That could leave Scholz in a caretaker role for months, delaying urgently needed policies to revive Europe’s largest economy after two consecutive years of contraction and as companies struggle against global rivals. It would also create a leadership vacuum in the heart of Europe even as it deals with a host of challenges including US President Donald Trump threatening a trade war and attempting to fast-track a ceasefire deal for Ukraine without European involvement. Germany, which has an export-oriented economy and long relied on the United States for its security, is particularly vulnerable. Germans are more pessimistic about their living standards now than at any time since the financial crisis in 2008. Attitudes towards migration have also hardened, a profound shift in ******* public sentiment since its “Refugees Welcome” culture during Europe’s migrant crisis in 2015, that the AfD has both driven and harnessed. Sunday’s election came after the collapse last November of Scholz’s coalition of his SPD, the Greens and pro-market **** in a row over budget spending. The election campaign has been dominated by fierce exchanges over the perception that irregular immigration is out of control, fuelled by a series of attacks in which the suspected perpetrators were of migrant origin. It has also been overshadowed by the unusually forceful show of solidarity by members of the Trump administration – including Vice President JD Vance and tech billionaire Elon Musk – for the anti-migrant AfD, and broadsides against European leaders. The 12-year old AfD party took second place for the first time in a national election, according to the exit polls. To be sure, the AfD is unlikely to govern for now as all mainstream parties have ruled out working with it, though some analysts believe its strength could pave the way for an AfD win in 2029. Support for the AfD, along with a small but significant vote share for the far left and the decline of Germany’s big-tent parties, is increasingly complicating the formation of coalitions and governance. Source link #******* #conservatives #win #vote #farright #AfD #surges Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Canceled pursuit of reckless driver in L.A. County ends in deadly ****** Canceled pursuit of reckless driver in L.A. County ends in deadly ****** A chase that started in Commerce with a failed traffic stop ended in a fatal ****** after the pursuit was canceled, according to authorities. A California Highway Patrol spokesperson confirmed to KTLA that officers attempted to make a traffic stop on Florence Avenue around 11:13 p.m. Saturday; however, the vehicle did not yield, and a pursuit was initiated. The suspect was driving through multiple red lights at a high rate of speed, the spokesperson added, which caused CHP to quickly cancel the pursuit. Southern California man arrested for hit-and-run ****** that killed his passenger Shortly after the pursuit was canceled, the vehicle crashed near the intersection of Randolph Street and Eastern Avenue. Responding paramedics pronounced one of the vehicle’s occupants dead at the scene, and at least one other was transported to a hospital in unknown condition. Video from the scene obtained by KTLA shows debris strewn across the roadway in the immediate aftermath of the collision. The suspect vehicle, a white sedan, sustained severe damage. A chase that started in Commerce with a failed traffic stop ended in a fatal ****** after the pursuit was canceled, according to authorities. Feb. 22, 2025. (RMGNews) A chase that started in Commerce with a failed traffic stop ended in a fatal ****** after the pursuit was canceled, according to authorities. Feb. 22, 2025. (RMGNews) A chase that started in Commerce with a failed traffic stop ended in a fatal ****** after the pursuit was canceled, according to authorities. Feb. 22, 2025. (RMGNews) According to a man who witnessed the incident, that the high-speed ****** may have involved at least one innocent bystander. “You can hear that someone was driving really fast,” said the witness, Arturo Esquivel. “They collided with another car and hit a couple of pedestrians – I thought a body had flown out of the car, but I guess they hit somebody walking by.” “I thought it was clothes that flew out of the car, but it was a body they hit,” he added. “[The body collided with] the bus station pole and I guess they passed away right there on the curb.” Man dies after being chased, shot and run over in Los Angeles While the CHP spokesperson could not confirm whether a pedestrian was the decedent, they did state that three people in the suspect vehicle were detained. One of them foot bailed after being detained, the spokesperson added, elaborating that it was not immediately clear whether they had been taken back into custody. The investigation into the ****** is being conducted by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Source link #Canceled #pursuit #reckless #driver #L.A #County #ends #deadly #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hear Zelensky’s response when asked if he’d resign as president of Ukraine – CNN Hear Zelensky’s response when asked if he’d resign as president of Ukraine – CNN Hear Zelensky’s response when asked if he’d resign as president of Ukraine CNNZelensky Offers to Step Down, if Ukraine Can Join NATO The New York TimesZelenskyy says he’s ready to step down if it means peace for Ukraine ABC News Source link #Hear #Zelenskys #response #asked #hed #resign #president #Ukraine #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SideQuesting’s ULTIMATE PAX EAST 2025 PARTY LIST SideQuesting’s ULTIMATE PAX EAST 2025 PARTY LIST kewlrats|1m ago|Article|0| ▼ Info Add Alt Source All the events, parties, meetups, concerts, and more that PAX East 2025 has to offer, all in one place, for one of Gaming’s biggest expos. Commerce PAX East PAX East 2025 sidequesting.com Read Full Story >> [Hidden Content] sidequesting.com Source link #SideQuestings #ULTIMATE #PAX #EAST #PARTY #LIST Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nick Bruining Q+A: WA’s GoldState superannuation is safe as houses so be careful before you shake it up Nick Bruining Q+A: WA’s GoldState superannuation is safe as houses so be careful before you shake it up Q+A: WA’s coveted GoldState superannuation scheme for public sector workers offers government-backed returns. But an adviser’s suggestion to shift the bulk of a former teacher’s savings seems a risky strategy. Source link #Nick #Bruining #GoldState #superannuation #safe #houses #careful #shake Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I Have $200K And Nothing Else For Retirement!’ – Panic Sets In As Investor Seeks The Fastest Way To Grow Wealth In 15 Years I Have $200K And Nothing Else For Retirement!’ – Panic Sets In As Investor Seeks The Fastest Way To Grow Wealth In 15 Years Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. For many people, retirement planning is a distant thought. That is, until the reality of time running out sets in. This scenario is way too common: some individuals wake up late to the importance of investing, panic at the lack of time and struggle to secure their financial future. With only 15 years to retirement and $200,000 in savings, one investor is also feeling the pressure to grow his money quickly, seeking the fastest way to boost growth over the next 15 years. Don’t Miss: His concerns are clear: “What would be the best portfolio to invest in to maximize growth?” The poster also showed worry about the risks involved and asked if it was possible to carry on with this feat without paying a manager to do it. Redditors in the r/Stocks community offered the investor plenty of advice, so let’s dive into that. Get Into Broad-Market ETFs for Growth and Stability The most common advice received in the thread’s comments was to invest in broad-market ETFs since these funds offer diversification and good returns, making them a favorite for long-term growth. “If you are asking for stocks to invest in on Reddit, I would just park that money in [Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSE: VOO)] for your own sake,” the first comment reads. Trending: ‘Scrolling To UBI’ — Deloitte’s #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum. One Redditor mentioned a few ETFs he believes would be a good choice considering the poster’s situation. “Depends on how much you need in retirement and your risk tolerance. With retirement money, I would recommend you play it safe and stick to ETFs rather than picking individual stocks. Some common relatively safe ETFs are VOO, [Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSE: VTI)], [Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (NYSE: VT)], [Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (NASDAQ: QQQM)], and [Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE: SCHD)] (this is mainly if you are looking for dividend yield),” he said. Story Continues “Put it in VOO and turn your [dividend reinvestment plan] on. Literally forget it for the next 15 years. Even better, set up an auto draft for X amount to go into it weekly/monthly,” another Reddit user said. Trending: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it? Mix Growth ETFs With Dividend ETFs Several Redditors recommended combining growth-focused ETFs with dividend-paying funds for a better balance. “A balance between growth and dividend (value) strategies is probably a responsible approach. Keeping dry powder for bear market opportunities. Beyond that, tax optimization can fine-tune and help lower the tax burden,” a comment read. One Reddit user named a few funds that he thinks would be great options when it comes to growth. “[Vanguard Growth ETF (NYSE: VUG)] or [Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSE: VGT)] is better growth-wise… I split 30/30/30 with the 3rd being VOO… putting new cash in [JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ: JEPQ)] because of the kangaroo economy we have had,” the user suggested. A comment recommended the poster invest in two dividend-focused ETFs to generate income and then reinvest that income for the next 15 years. “I’d go [YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF (NYSE: MSTY)] and [YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF (NYSE: NVDY)] at these prices. Reinvest dividends for 15 years, then live off them,” the commenter says. See Also: This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, with minimum investments as low as $100. Invest in a Few Individual Stocks for Fast Gains Individual stocks were brought up several times in the comments, with some Redditors suggesting specific picks, which could be used to grow the money faster. “$50,000 [Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG, GOOGL)], $50,000 [Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: META)], $50,000 split between [NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA)]/[Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD)] and $50,000 in split between [Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE: PLTR)]/[Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL)]. All 6 should be big winners above the market over the next 10 years. It is super tech-heavy but it will have the fastest gains,” a Redditor wrote. While the following comment includes a broad-market ETF, the user still allocated a significant portion to individual stocks. “50% on S&P 500 / 20% on NVDA/ 20% on GOOGL/ 10% on PLTR,” it says. “NVDA. Still has so much growth potential and somewhat of a monopoly. If you want to go with smaller cap companies look at [Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ: SMCI)],” reads another individual stock suggestion. Wondering if your investments can get you to a $5,000,000 nest egg? Speak to a financial advisor today. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you up with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. Arrived allows individuals to invest in shares of rental properties for as little as $100, providing the potential for monthly rental income and long-term appreciation without the hassles of being a landlord. With over $1 million in dividends paid out last quarter and a growing selection of properties across various markets, Arrived offers an attractive alternative for investors seeking to build a diversified real estate portfolio. In October 2024, Arrived sold The Centennial, achieving a total return of 34.7% (11.2% average annual returns) for investors. Arrived aims to continue delivering similar value across our portfolio through careful market selection, attentive property management, and thoughtful timing in sales. Looking for fractional real estate investment opportunities? The Benzinga Real Estate Screener features the latest offerings. This article I Have $200K And Nothing Else For Retirement!’ – Panic Sets In As Investor Seeks The Fastest Way To Grow Wealth In 15 Years originally appeared on Benzinga.com Source link #200K #Retirement #Panic #Sets #Investor #Seeks #Fastest #Grow #Wealth #Years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump’s top negotiator: 'You will see concessions from both sides' in any Russia-Ukraine deal – CNN Trump’s top negotiator: 'You will see concessions from both sides' in any Russia-Ukraine deal – CNN Trump’s top negotiator: ‘You will see concessions from both sides’ in any Russia-Ukraine deal CNNTrump Envoy Can’t Name a Single Concession Russia Will Make in Peace Deal The Daily BeastTrump envoy says US firms may do business in Russia in case of peace deal Reuters.com Source link #Trumps #top #negotiator #039You #concessions #sides039 #RussiaUkraine #deal #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Nick Bruining: The magic loan-to-value number that could get you a super refinancing deal on your mortgage Nick Bruining: The magic loan-to-value number that could get you a super refinancing deal on your mortgage The RBA has finally cut interest rates and now is the time to hassle your bank for a better home loan deal. And there’s one magic number they want to hear that could get you a cracking new rate. Source link #Nick #Bruining #magic #loantovalue #number #super #refinancing #deal #mortgage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Microsoft’s CEO says Xbox ‘will have a catalog of games using generative AI’ Microsoft’s CEO says Xbox ‘will have a catalog of games using generative AI’ Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has said it’s planning to have a catalog of video games utilize its new generative AI mode, ‘Muse’. Announced earlier this week, Microsoft’s Muse is a generative AI model that it says can generate “game visuals, controller actions, or both.” In its announcement, Microsoft showed how Muse could generate game visuals using training data from Ninja Theory’s 2020 game Bleeding Edge. Commenting on Muse in an interview published this week, Nadella compared Muse to the ‘wow’ moment he said he felt when he first saw other generative AI models such as ChatGPT. According to Nadella, Microsoft is already planning to utilize generative AI in multiple games. “It’s just very cool… one thing that we wanted to go after was, using gameplay data, can you actually generate games that are both consistent and then have the ability to generate the diversity of what that game represents and then are persistent to user mods, right? So that’s what this is,” he told the Dwarkesh Podcast. “The cool thing is what I’m excited about is bringing… we’re going to have a catalog of games soon that we will start using these models, or we’re going to train these models to generate, and then start playing them. “In fact, when Phil Spencer first showed it to me, where he had an Xbox controller and this model basically took the input and generated the output based on the input and it was consistent with the game. “And that to me is a massive, massive moment of, ‘wow’. It’s kind of like the first time we saw ChatGPT complete sentences or Dolly draw or Sora, this is kind of one such moment.” Like in most creative industries, Generative AI has become a hot topic in video games, with many voicing concerns about generative AI leading to job losses and widespread plagiarism. Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick recently said that not only does he think AI won’t lead to job losses, he believes it could lead to increased employment. He also said that he couldn’t think of any new guardrails that might be required to protect developers. Speaking to VGC, Split Fiction and It Takes Two director Josef Fares said he thinks developers should work with AI rather than push against it and called it “both scary and very exciting.” Source link #Microsofts #CEO #Xbox #catalog #games #generative Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is Bank OZK (OZK) the Best Stock to Invest In for Retirement? Is Bank OZK (OZK) the Best Stock to Invest In for Retirement? We recently compiled a list of the 15 Best Stocks To Invest In For Retirement. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) stands against the other stocks. It is common knowledge that retirees with private sources of income, pension, or alternate employment are faring better than those relying only on social security. According to the Federal Reserve, Americans in the workforce were rather confident about their retirement savings in 2023. That year, 27% of adults had already retired in the United States, with 15% of them still working in some capacity. Retirees were working part-time rather than full-time. However, those with disabilities or low education were less prone to finding employment after retirement. 51% of adults retired to pursue passion projects or spend time with family, and 46% attributed their decision to retire to health issues, caregiving roles, or downsizing at work. While social security remained the primary source of income for retirees, 80% of them had private sources of income as per the Fed’s 2023 report. 56% of them had pensions, 48% relied on investment income – which includes interest, dividends, or rental income, and 33% had labor income to fall back on. 92% of retirees in this 12-month survey were in the age bracket of 65 or above. Over the last few decades, private companies have largely eliminated pension plans, shifting the onus of retirement savings to employees via 401(k)s. In 2022, only 15% of private industry workers had access to a pension. Retirement satisfaction has also dropped, with only 48% of retirees aged 62-75 commenting that they are very satisfied in 2023, down from 62% in 2020. Rising inflation has cut into retirees’ spending power, and 68% of them are burdened with credit card debt, up from 43% in 2020. Sam Dogen, a millionaire who retired early and founded Financial Samurai, told CNBC that dividends are a source of reliable income. He commented: “Stock dividends are my favorite passive income strategy because it is 100% passive.” While young investors tend to reinvest dividend payouts, retirees can very well use it as a source of steady income. Dogen pointed out the consistent stock market growth over time and stated that dividend stocks are thus a dependable source of income over the long run. Given this, we will now take a look at some of the best stocks to buy for retirement. For this article, we used the Finviz stock screener to filter out stocks with dividend yields over 2% and dividend payout ratios under 30% as of February 19. We focused on picking stocks with a consistent record of paying dividends, offering dividend growth over the years, and being financially stable to steer clear of yield traps. The list below is ranked in ascending order of the hedge fund sentiment as of Q4 2024. Story Continues Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 363.5% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 208 percentage points (see more details here). Is ZEEKR Intelligent Technology Holding (ZK) Among EV Winners Of Trump’s Softened Stance On China Tariffs? An iconic skyline of a major city, the towering buildings display the strength of the company’s regional banking success. Dividend Yield as of February 19: 3.27% Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37 Established in 1903 and headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) is an American bank offering a range of retail and commercial banking services. It offers checking and savings accounts, wealth management services, and loans for real estate, small businesses, and commercial financing. Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) is one of the best stocks to invest in, with a dividend yield of 3.27% as of February 19. Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) concluded another strong quarter, posting a record $178.1 million in net income for Q4 2024, a 4.1% increase from last year and its ninth consecutive quarterly record. For the full year, net income hit $700.3 million, up 3.8% from 2023. Earnings per share also increased, reaching $1.56 for the quarter and $6.14 for the year. OZK continued its streak of dividend increases, raising its quarterly payout to $0.42 per share. The dividend was paid on January 21, 2025. With 58 straight quarters of dividend growth, Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) remains a favorite stock of retirees. Among the hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s fourth quarter database, Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) was part of 37 stock portfolios, up from 27 in the third quarter. Cliff Asness’ AQR Capital Management was the biggest stakeholder of the company, with 2.8 million shares worth $125 million. Overall OZK ranks 10th on our list of the best stocks to invest in for retirement. While we acknowledge the potential of OZK as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that certain AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than OZK but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and Complete List of 59 AI Companies Under $2 Billion in Market Cap. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Source link #Bank #OZK #OZK #Stock #Invest #Retirement Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says he would give up presidency in exchange for peace and NATO membership Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says he would give up presidency in exchange for peace and NATO membership Washington — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday he would be ready to give up the presidency if doing so would achieve a lasting peace for his country under the security umbrella of the NATO military alliance. Speaking at a forum of government officials in Kyiv marking the three-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Zelenskyy said, “If to achieve peace, you really need me to give up my post, I’m ready.” Responding to a journalist’s question on whether he’d trade his office for peace, Zelenskyy said, “I can trade it for NATO.” His comment appeared to be aimed at recent suggestions by President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that elections should be held in Ukraine despite Ukrainian legislation prohibiting them during martial law. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gives a press conference on Feb. 23, 2025, in Kyiv. Ivan Antypenko/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC “UA:PBC”/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images Earlier on Sunday, Zelenskyy said Russia launched 267 strike drones into Ukraine overnight on Saturday, more than in any other single attack of the war. Ukraine’s air force said 138 drones had been shot down over 13 Ukrainian regions, with 119 more lost en route to their targets. Three ballistic missiles had also been fired, the air force said. One person was killed in the city of Kryvyi Rih, according to the city military administration. The attack came as leaders in Kyiv and across Europe are seeking to navigate rapid changes in U.S. foreign policy under Mr. Trump, who in a matter of days has upended years of firm support for Ukraine, leading to fears that he would join with Moscow to force a settlement to the war without involving Ukraine and its European backers. Mr. Trump’s engagement with Russian officials and his agreement to reopen diplomatic ties and economic cooperation with Moscow marked a dramatic about-face in U.S. policy. Zelenskyy has expressed fears that Mr. Trump pushing a quick resolution would result in lost territory for Ukraine and vulnerability to future Russian aggression, though U.S. officials have asserted that the Ukrainian leader would be involved if and when peace talks actually start. Mr. Trump, however, prompted alarm and anger in Ukraine when this week he suggested that Kyiv had started the war, and that Zelenskyy was acting as a “dictator” by not holding elections, despite Ukraine’s prohibition on them during wartime. Russia’s deputy foreign minister on Saturday said preparations were underway for a Trump-Putin meeting, a further sign that the Russian leader’s isolation, at least for the Trump administration, was beginning to thaw. Reacting to the latest Russian attacks, however, Andrii Sybiha‎, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that the overnight attack “demonstrates that avoiding calling Russia an aggressor does not change the fact that it is one.” “No one should trust Putin’s words. Look at his actions instead,” Sybiha‎ said in a statement on social media. Ukrainian officials on Sunday discussed a deal that would allow the U.S. to access Ukrainian rare earth minerals, a proposal that the Trump administration is pushing for but that Zelenskyy earlier declined to accept because it lacked specific security guarantees. At the forum in Kyiv where Zelenskyy made the offer to give up his presidency in return for peace and NATO membership, his chief of staff Andrii Yermak said the government was considering investment opportunities both with the U.S and European countries “which includes minerals, their development and extraction.” Yermak left the forum early along with Economic Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko for what he said were talks with U.S. representatives on a potential deal. He said Ukraine’s mineral resources represent “a very important element that can work in the general structure of security guarantees — military guarantees and others.” Yermak pushed back on the notion that Ukraine had rejected U.S. proposals but said any agreement “must meet the national interests of Ukraine, and undoubtedly, must be interesting to our partners.” Before leaving the forum, Svyrydenko said there are $350 billion worth of minerals on Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russia. This calculation, however, is partly based on geological maps dating back to 1940s and 1960s, she said, adding: “We have to conduct geological exploration and confirm the deposits we have on paper.” Meanwhile, Putin in a special televised message Sunday praised Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine for defending “their native land, the national interests and the future of Russia.” Putin used his speech, on Russia’s Defender of the Fatherland Day, to pledge greater social support for military personnel and new weapons and equipment for Russian forces. “Today, as the world is changing impetuously, our strategic course for strengthening and developing the Armed Forces remains unchanged,” he said, adding that Russia would continue to develop its armed forces “as the essential part of Russia’s security that guarantees its sovereign present and future.” The U.K. on Sunday said it would announce new sanctions on Russia Monday, its biggest package since the early days of the war. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the measures would be aimed at “eroding [Russia’s] military machine and reducing revenues fueling the fires of destruction in Ukraine.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron will make tag-team visits to Washington this week as Europe attempts to persuade Mr. Trump not to abandon Ukraine in pursuit of a peace deal. Starmer told a Labour Party gathering in Scotland on Sunday: “There can be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine, and the people of Ukraine must have a long-term secure future.” More Source link #Ukraines #Zelenskyy #give #presidency #exchange #peace #NATO #membership Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mikaela Shiffrin earns 100th World Cup win of her career with slalom success – The Guardian Mikaela Shiffrin earns 100th World Cup win of her career with slalom success – The Guardian Mikaela Shiffrin earns 100th World Cup win of her career with slalom success The GuardianShiffrin claims historic 100th World Cup win BBC.comUS ski star Shiffrin hits 100 to cement legendary status Yahoo SportsFor Mikaela Shiffrin, 100 World Cup wins and a female-led team guiding the way – The Athletic The AthleticFrom 0 to 100 wins in 278 ski races: Mikaela Shiffrin’s 10 most notable World Cup victories The Associated Press Source link #Mikaela #Shiffrin #earns #100th #World #Cup #win #career #slalom #success #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Three years on, Russia must not be 'rewarded' for war Three years on, Russia must not be 'rewarded' for war Russia’s war on Ukraine has entered its fourth year, as Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia recounts the moment he realised his country was under attack. Source link #years #Russia #039rewarded039 #war Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]