Pelican Press

As trade tensions simmer, these are the stocks with the most to lose — based on region As trade tensions simmer, these are the stocks with the most to lose — based on region President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imported goods have investors on edge as they could pressure a slew of companies regardless of sector. Within his first month back in office, he placed a 10% levy on all ******** goods. China then retaliated with tariffs of up to 15% on select U.S. imports, including coal and liquified national gas products. U.S. neighbors Canada and Mexico have also been targets of the Trump administration. Trump earlier in February announced a 25% tariff on ********* and ******** imports. Those duties were quickly halted for a month, though there has been little indication that the White House would move away from them. Even Europe could be in Trump’s crosshairs when it comes to tariffs, after he signed a memorandum breaking down a plan to impose “reciprocal tariffs” on imports. “Tariffs cannot be positive, okay? I mean, it’s a tax,” billionaire investor Steve Cohen said Friday . “I think we’re seeing the regime shift a little bit. It may only last a year or so, but it’s definitely a ******* where I think the best gains have been had and wouldn’t surprise me to see a significant correction.” Against this backdrop, CNBC parsed data from Goldman Sachs to find the companies that could be hurt the most by tariffs. Specifically we looked at those with the most revenue exposure to these regions: Latin America, Asia Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Latin America Renewable energy company AES topped the list, with around 53% of its revenue coming from the region. The stock has taken a beating over the past year, losing more than a third of its value. Airline carrier American Airlines derives approximately 14% of its revenue from Latin America. But Bank of America analyst Andrew Didora, who last month upgraded the stock to neutral, thinks that any potential tariffs won’t pose a severe threat to shares. That’s because a very small portion of American Airlines’ revenue comes from Mexico, while the rest is made up of long-haul flights through South America such as to Brazil or other vacation destinations in the Caribbean. “Quite honestly, I don’t think about my airline universe being meaningfully impacted by tariffs. Where I would see more meaningful impact is the tariff impact on currency,” Didora said to CNBC in an interview. “If it makes it more expensive or cheaper for leisure consumers to go back and forth to the two different geographies that could be an impact, but tariffs are not necessarily that meaningful from a passenger airline perspective.” Didora’s $20 price objective is approximately 31% above where shares closed on Friday. Europe, Middle East and Africa Booking Holdings topped the list of stocks with the most revenue exposure to EMEA at nearly 80%, followed by hydrocarbon exploration company APA Corp. at 59%. The former, which reported earnings that beat expectations on Friday, has rallied more than 33% over the past six months. The latter has struggled in that time, losing 18%. Another stock that made the list is Fortinet , with the cybersecurity company obtaining nearly 40% of its revenue from the region. Despite this high exposure, TD Cowen analyst Shaul Eyal believes that Fortinet can escape Trump’s tariffs relatively unscathed. “We can look at the entire cybersecurity industry as slightly more isolated given its mission criticality and how important cybersecurity has become. One could even make an argument that it is some sort of a consensus, bipartisan topic. There is absolutely no question about the growing need for cybersecurity solution,” he told CNBC. “Results and guidance indicate probably very solid demand, which is in the near term alleviating some concerns about tariffs.” Eyal added that cybersecurity companies are also safer from tariffs since they predominantly serve enterprises rather than direct consumers. Fortinet shares have rallied more than 16% to start the year. FTNT YTD mountain FTNT year to date Asia Pacific Las Vegas Sands has the highest revenue exposure to Asia Pacific, coming in at 100%, thanks to its massive presence in Macao, based on Goldman data. The company sold its Las Vegas properties to private equity in 2021. Even still, Jefferies analyst David Katz said that he has “not seen or heard of any evidence” that would suggest Las Vegas Sands would take a revenue hit from potential economic tariffs. “At the local level, these properties are well managed. They’re well connected with the Macau and ******** governments, they have executed very well, they have been good citizens in the figurative and literal sense, and as a result, those enterprises generate a considerable amount of tax revenue for both Macau and therefore the ******** government,” he told CNBC. “So impacting that in some way would be financially detrimental.” In January, Katz upgraded shares of Las Vegas Sands to a buy from hold rating. His price target of $69, raised from $60, is nearly 57% above where the stock closed on Friday. Shares of Las Vegas Sands have slipped 18% in the past 12 months. Other stocks with high revenue exposure to the region include Wynn Resorts at 47%, Corning at 51% and Teradyne at 70%. — CNBC’s Fred Imbert and Nicholas Wells contributed to this report. Source link #trade #tensions #simmer #stocks #lose #based #region Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

2025 could be year for the history books 2025 could be year for the history books John Simpson World Affairs Editor Getty Images Just occasionally, there are years when the world goes through some fundamental, convulsive change. 1968, with the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, the Paris riots and the anti-Vietnam War protests in America, was one of them. 1989, the year of the Tiananmen massacre, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the implosion of the Soviet empire, was another. I was on hand to see each of these things happen, and from that perspective it seems to me that, only seven weeks in, 2025 could be a year like that: a time when the basic assumptions about the way our world works are fed into the shredder. Getty Images Global protests against the Vietnam War took hold in 1968 The basic reason, of course, is Donald Trump. Since the end of the World War Two, each one of the 13 US presidents before Trump’s current term in office has at least paid lip service to a set of key geopolitical principles: that America’s own security depended on protecting Europe from Russia, and the non-********** countries of Asia against China. Trump has up-ended this approach. He says he’s putting American interests first, way before everything else. Mostly that comes down to the single question of how much it costs the US. Getty Images The fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 sent shockwaves around the world In itself, this is pretty hard for his friends and allies abroad, especially in Europe. But it’s made far more difficult by Trump’s own personality. No US president in modern times, not even Richard Nixon, let his personal characteristics shape his policies like Trump does. “He’s just like Louis XIV,” one retired American diplomat said to me, referring to France’s self-aggrandising Sun King. Critics like this believe Trump is both breathtakingly vain, and amazingly thin-skinned at the same time. As a result, the appointees who surround him, people like Elon Musk and JD Vance, perhaps think that their position depends entirely on how much they praise him and back his views. When President Trump claims, with no evidence, that President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is corrupt and has a low approval rating, Musk then takes it further: he piles in to say that Zelensky is despised by the Ukrainian people and is feeding off the dead bodies of Ukrainian soldiers. No one in the Trump circle today, it seems, will cough discreetly and say, “Mr President, maybe you should consider rowing back on that statement.” Judging from his previous term in office, we can be sure that every one of the people around him knows how he detests being disagreed with. And they will also know that many voters wholeheartedly back Trump’s approach, and feel they have been bankrolling security in a far-off continent. Getty Images Multi-billionaire Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance have been some of Trump’s most prominent and vocal allies since he took office in January He has committed himself to stopping the Ukraine war by Easter. He is absolutely correct when he says that President Vladimir Putin is keen on this. Russian troops are, through sheer force of numbers, making slow advances in the eastern part of Ukraine. But the cost in Russian lives is immense. If the process continues, Russia may have to turn to conscription, which would be dangerously unpopular and might even destabilise Putin’s regime. Everything Trump says about getting peace is music to his ears. John Bolton, Trump’s far-from-subservient national security adviser during his first administration, said the other day that they’d be breaking out the champagne in the Kremlin when they heard the Trump administration’s peace plan. It certainly felt like a historic moment – not just in Moscow but around the world. Putin has pointedly backed the idea that Trump really won the 2020 election. It may not be true, but President Putin knows that Trump favours anyone who backs his view of things. Why, by contrast, have Trump and the people round him come down so hard on President Zelensky? It must partly be because he’s not obediently doing what he’s told, such as returning to the negotiating table and strike a deal on US access to Ukraine’s critical minerals. At the same time, President Trump understands that Zelensky is the weakest link in the US-Russia-Ukraine trio, and can be squeezed in a way that Putin can’t be. The more pressure that is piled on Zelensky, the quicker a peace deal will come. Getty Images President Trump never seems, at least in public, to show much interest in the fine detail of any agreement. It’s the agreement itself that matters to him, even if Ukraine and its allies believe it’s manifestly unfair and allows Russia to come back at some future date and start the war all over again. British and ******* diplomats whom I know have been enraged by the way Trump went about getting Russia to the negotiating table. “He had two major cards in his hand,” said one. “The first was Russia’s isolation. Putin would have made plenty of concessions to get himself to the talks with America – only Trump didn’t insist on any concessions at all. He just let him sit down and start talking.” The other card, the diplomat said, was to insist that Ukraine should be allowed to join Nato. “Trump could have banged away about this and extorted all sorts of agreements from Putin, before finally saying OK, well, Ukraine won’t join Nato in that case.” In European capitals it’s felt that he threw away both of his essential cards before the talks even started, without any preconditions. Already, though, some European diplomats with experience of US politics are advising their governments that this grand monarchical ******* in Donald Trump’s presidency, where his advisers defer to him (he literally referred to himself as a “king” this week), won’t last. Trump currently has control of a pliant Congress and a conservative Supreme Court – but in only 20 months’ time, in November 2026, there will be mid-term elections in the US. Getty Images There are signs that inflation is starting to rise in America, and enough people may well be affected badly by the upheavals to want to punish Trump’s Republicans. If he loses control of one or both Houses, the power he has at present of pushing through every plan and policy, no matter how controversial, will diminish. But an awful lot can happen in the next year and eight months. Trump’s expansionism might embolden China. A major international trade war, sparked off by Trump’s tariffs, could open up. The European Union seems likely to become politically and economically weaker than ever. Agreeing peace in Ukraine on Russia’s terms will be something entirely new for the United States. In the great majority of negotiations since 1945, Russia has struggled to get its way because of America’s economic and military strength. Now President Putin, having made the costly decision to invade Ukraine three years ago, looks likely to get away with it, and prosper. If that happens, then 2025 will indeed be remembered as a key year: a moment when the history of the world changed, and nothing was ever quite the same again. Source link #year #history #books Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Alibaba rose on China AI hopes. Where analysts see the stock heading Alibaba rose on China AI hopes. Where analysts see the stock heading Alibaba is back in the spotlight — with U.S.-traded shares soaring nearly 70% so far in 2025 — as a favored play on ******** artificial intelligence. The company said Thursday its AI-related product revenue grew by triple digits for a sixth-straight quarter in the ******* ended December. Its Qwen AI model has proven itself a capable rival to DeepSeek , along with winning a deal for iPhones sold in China . Founder Jack Ma, once politically sidelined, made his latest public reappearance on Feb. 17 — with a front-row seat at a rare meeting ******** President Xi Jinping held with entrepreneurs , including DeepSeek’s Liang Wenfeng. Several analysts think Alibaba’s gains will continue, with Jefferies setting a $156 price target as of Feb. 20. That’s upside of more than 8% from Friday’s close of $143.75. UBS equity strategists on Thursday said they have switched out PDD for Alibaba in a model portfolio “given its exposure to AI and quant factors.” Remember how just several months ago the Temu parent had a larger market cap , raising concerns that Alibaba was struggling to compete on its core e-commerce business? Taobao and Tmall Group saw sales rise 5% in the latest quarter. As excited as many investors are about AI opportunities in China, crowding into related stocks has only picked up by 0.02 so far this year on UBS’s scoring system. That’s far below the increase of 0.2 in the crowding score for U.S. AI-related names over the last two years, UBS said. Alibaba had the highest crowding score among large ******** internet technology names, the report said. “Our Quants team’s analysis previously suggested that stocks with reasonable but improving crowding have seen the most near-term outperformance.” Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index hit a three-year high Friday with China Unicom, Lenovo and Alibaba’s locally traded shares leading gains. “Should investors rotate from Alibaba to the AI trade laggers (i.e. Tencent and Baidu)? Not for now,” JPMorgan internet analyst Alex Yao wrote in a Feb. 17 note. “We think both Tencent and Baidu’s share prices could be driven by AI development in different ways with different risks.” U.S.-listed shares of Baidu are up by about 8% for the year so far, despite the company sharing on Feb. 18 that its AI Cloud revenue rose 26% year-on-year to 7.1 billion yuan in the fourth quarter. Hong Kong-traded shares of Tencent , which has yet to report earnings for the *******, have risen by about 24% for the year so far. JPMorgan is neutral on Baidu, but overweight on Tencent and Alibaba. The firm has a price target of $125 on Alibaba shares, suggesting a 13% decline from Friday’s close. At least four other major investment firms have a buy rating on Alibaba. But Morgan Stanley is notably more cautious with an equal-weight rating and a price target of $100. That would imply a drop of 30% from Friday’s close. The firm pointed out that Alibaba’s capital expenditures were 11% of revenue in the latest quarter, versus 3% in the prior quarter — a potential weight on future margins that management warned about. Morgan Stanley also highlighted risks such as weaker consumption and a slower pace of enterprise digitalization. — CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed to this report. Source link #Alibaba #rose #China #hopes #analysts #stock #heading Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Dolly Parton Responded to Indiana’s Threat To Cut Funding of Her Children’s Literacy Program With This Smart Instagram Move Dolly Parton Responded to Indiana’s Threat To Cut Funding of Her Children’s Literacy Program With This Smart Instagram Move Do you remember the part in Elf where the nun cries, “But the children love the books!” as Buddy’s real-life father, Walter, delivers the ruthless news that the orphanage has missed its rental payments and must now return the children’s books? It’s so absurdly heartless (seriously, who rents books to kids, knowing most of those pages will be fingerprints and crayon marks by day three?) to really hammer on that Walter is very much on the Naughty List. Now, Indiana might be pulling a surprisingly similar stunt. The state’s proposed budget is poised to cut funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that mails free books to children. Since 1995, Dolly’s Imagination Library has sent over 200 million books to children. Jointly funded by the state and local organizations, the initiative — one of Parton’s many community outreach efforts — has mailed monthly books to more than 15,000 children in Indiana’s St. Joseph, Elkhart, LaGrange, and Noble counties. The South Bend Tribune credits the program with catapulting Indiana’s national child literacy ranking from 19th to an impressive 6th place. Even former Republican Governor Eric Holcomb praised the program in an outgoing op-ed in Indy Star, writing in January that Indiana’s adoption of the program was something to celebrate. Seeing such bipartisan love for education, you might think the program’s future is safe. Whelp!! More from SheKnows The proposals to cut its funding emerged after Republican Governor Mike Braun took office. For anyone unfamiliar with Braun’s greatest hits, here’s a taste. He questioned the constitutional right to interracial marriage in 2022, has received a massive amount of money from the NRA, and he was one of 38 Republican senators to vote against the Right to Contraception Act in 2024. During his campaign for governor last fall, his team even went so far as to run attack ads featuring digitally altered photos of his opponent — because what says “family-first values” like disinformation? Now Braun, who has yet to offer a solid explanation for attempting to gut such an impactful program, suddenly announced that his wife will work with Parton’s team to keep the Imagination Library alive. While the gesture might sound well-meaning, critics are calling it exactly what it looks like — a photo-op dressed up as a solution. After all, the program didn’t need saving until Braun’s administration pulled the figurative rug out from under it. Democratic State Rep. Maureen Bauer’s take on the matter, describing the funding cut as a “disservice” and vowing that House Democrats would push to reinstate it. Meanwhile, Parton — God bless her endlessly giving heart — isn’t letting the political circus dim her mission. Instead of weighing in on Indiana’s internal squabbles at this exact moment, she’s doing what she does best. One day after the potential cuts were announced, her team took to Instagram, encouraging parents to sign their kids up for the program. “Through funding provided by @DollyParton and local community partners… #ImaginationLibrary is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting FREE books to children.” Parents flooded the comment section with emotion. “Sadly, Indiana Governor Mike Braun has a proposal where this will be cut from state funding. I will be sad if this passes and children lose their books,” said one user. Another shared, “This is an AMAZING program My daughter loved getting a book every month. We loved reading them together and she loves books Thank You Imagination Library ” In a statement shared with Rolling Stone, Jeff Conyers, the Vice Chair and President of the Dollywood Foundation — which oversees the Imagination Library and programs like the Buddy Program, My People Fund, and various scholarship initiatives funded by one of Parton’s many programs — said he was “hopeful that Governor Braun and the Indiana Legislature will continue this vital investment by restoring the state’s funding match for local Imagination Library programs. The beauty of the Imagination Library is that it unites us all — regardless of politics — because every child deserves the chance to dream big and succeed.” And so, here we are, watching a beloved and wildly successful program — one that sends free books to children — become a political pawn. It’s not just insulting; it’s lazy. What could be simpler than supporting an initiative that’s handed parents a lifeline and helped thousands of children discover the magic of words? Before you go, click here to see all the times Dolly Parton’s fabulous red carpet and onstage fashion stole the show. Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows’ Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Source link #Dolly #Parton #Responded #Indianas #Threat #Cut #Funding #Childrens #Literacy #Program #Smart #Instagram #Move Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This classic, forgotten console RTS is getting a full Steam remaster This classic, forgotten console RTS is getting a full Steam remaster Team Buddies, a PlayStation-only real-time strategy game from 25 years ago, just received a Steam listing for a full remaster. It looks like this cult classic has returned from the grave with online multiplayer, updated graphics, and all the chaotic fun you remember. Team Buddies isn’t like most RTS games from the era. You might think about Command & Conquer or Starcraft, but a couch co-op game about stacking crates? That’s a little more out there. Despite the sound of it, Team Buddies has a lot more depth than you might first think. You start each level with a group of warriors. On their own, they aren’t much of a threat, but as you stack and combine crates, you can craft various weapons, spawn more troops, or even build a tank. The way you combine crates, whether vertically, in a flat square, or in a cube of eight, will yield different results each time. Steam Players will be able to choose between classic or remastered graphics, depending on preference. Fair warning: the game does look rather dated, with graphics that bring some of the early 3D Bomberman games to mind, so more modern graphics may be the way to go unless you’re after a dose of nostalgia. Please enable Javascript to view this content The New Reborn Mode is an online-only, all-new experience that’s set to have much larger maps, more weapons, and “even more frenetic combat.” And of course, the remaster will come with achievements and trophies, as well as improved enemy AI. This new version of Team Buddies doesn’t have a release date outside of “coming soon” or an estimated price, but it’s appearance is nothing short of surprising — and honestly, it’s kind of nice to get a remaster of a much more obscure title than yet another Nintendo remake. Source link #classic #forgotten #console #RTS #full #Steam #remaster Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Westinghouse sees path to building big nuclear reactors more cheaply Westinghouse sees path to building big nuclear reactors more cheaply Cooling towers and reactors 3 and 4 are seen at the nuclear-powered Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Waynesboro, Georgia, U.S. Aug. 13, 2024. Megan Varner | Reuters Expanding two power plants in Georgia and South Carolina with big, new reactors was supposed to spark a “nuclear renaissance” in the U.S. after a generation-long absence of new construction. Instead, Westinghouse Electric Co.’s state-of-the-art AP1000 design resulted in long delays and steep cost overruns, culminating in its bankruptcy in 2017. The fall of Westinghouse was a major blow for an industry that the company had helped usher in at the dawn of the nuclear age. It was Westinghouse that designed the first reactor to enter commercial service in the U.S., at Shippingport, Pennsylvania in 1957. Two new AP1000 reactors at Plant Vogtle near Augusta, Georgia started operating in 2023 and 2024, turning the plant into the largest energy generation site of any kind in the nation and marking the first new operational nuclear reactor design in 30 years. But the reactors came online seven years behind schedule and $18 billion over budget. In the wake of Westinghouse’s bankruptcy, utilities in South Carolina stopped construction in 2017 on two reactors at the V.C. Summer plant near Columbia after sinking $9 billion into the project. But today, interest in new nuclear power is reviving as the tech sector seeks reliable, carbon-free electricity to power its artificial intelligence ambitions, especially against China. Westinghouse emerged from bankruptcy in 2018 and was acquired by ********* uranium miner Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management in November 2023 The changed environment means South Carolina sees an opportunity to finish the two reactors left partially built at V.C. Summer eight years ago. The state’s Santee Cooper public utility in January began seeking a buyer for the site to finish reactor construction, citing data center demand as one of the reasons to move ahead. “We are extraordinarily bullish on the case for V.C. Summer,” Dan Lipman, president of energy systems at Westinghouse, told CNBC in an interview. “We think completing that asset is vital, doable, economic, and we will do everything we can to assist Santee Cooper and the state of South Carolina with implementing a decision that results in the completion of the site.” Tech as a nuclear catalyst The United States has tried to revive nuclear power for a quarter century, but the two reactors in Georgia mark the only entirely new construction across that ******* despite bipartisan support under every president from George W. Bush to Donald Trump. A fresh start was supposed to have begun more than a decade ago, but was choked off by a wave of closures of older reactors as nuclear struggled to compete against a ***** of cheap natural gas created by the shale revolution. “We went from an environment in the aughts of rising gas imports and rising gas prices to fracking technology unlocking quite a bit of affordable natural gas here in the U.S., and companies didn’t really value the firm clean attribute of nuclear back then,” said John Kotek of the Nuclear Energy Institute, an industry lobby group, and former assistant secretary at the Office of Nuclear Energy under President Barack Obama. What’s different in 2025 is the tech sector’s voracious appetite for power translating into a willingness to pay a premium for nuclear. But recent investments in nuclear have focused on restarting abandoned reactors and attempting to bring online smaller, next-generation modular reactors that many believe are the future, if they can be designed and built more cheaply. The troubled nuclear plant at Three Mile Island near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that almost melted down in 1979 is expected to resume operations in 2028 after owner Constellation Energy struck a power purchase agreement with Microsoft last September. Constellation wants to restart Unit 1, which shut for economic reasons in 2019, not the Unit 2 reactor that was the site of the accident. Alphabet and Amazon invested in small nuclear reactors a month later. Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook and Instagram, asked developers in December to submit proposals for up to 4 gigawatts of new nuclear power to meet the energy needs of its data centers. But while the recent focus in the U.S. has been on restarts and commercializing small reactors, Lipman said the extent of potential demand that has emerged from data centers over the past year has led to renewed interest in Westinghouse’s large AP1000 reactor design. In any event, there are no operational small reactors in the U.S. today, though startups and industry stalwarts, including Westinghouse, are racing to commercialize the technology. And there only so many shuttered plants in the U.S. in good enough shape to potentially be restarted. Gargantuan undertaking Meanwhile, meeting the demand for power is a gargantuan undertaking. Meta’s need for new nuclear power, for example, is nearly equivalent to the entire 4.8 gigawatts of generating capacity at the Vogtle plant, enough to power more than 2 million homes and businesses. Large nuclear plants with a gigawatt or more of capacity — the size of the AP1000 — will be essential to power large industrial sites like data centers because of their economies of scale and low production costs once they’re up and running, according to a recent Department of Energy report. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp called for another reactor at Vogtle the same day he dedicated the plant expansion in May 2024. Southern Company CEO Chris Womack believes at least 10 gigawatts of large nuclear are needed. Southern is the parent company of Georgia Power which operates Vogtle. “The people that are going to own and operate AP1000s traditionally are investor-owned electric utilities,” Lipman said. “When they look at the marketplace for a large reactor, AP1000 is where they turn because it’s got a license, it’s operational.” Still, nobody in the U.S. is on the verge of signing an order for a new AP1000, he said. Westinghouse is focused on deploying reactors in Eastern and Central Europe, where nuclear projects are seen as a national security necessity to counter dependency on Russian natural gas after the invasion of Ukraine. FILE PHOTO: In this Sept. 21, 2016, file photo, V.C. Summer Nuclear Station’s unit two’s turbine is under construction near Jenkinsville, S.C., during a media tour of the facility. Chuck Burton | AP In addition to the two units in Georgia, Westinghouse also has four operational reactors in China. But South Carolina’s search for someone to complete the partially built reactors at V.C. Summer will likely draw investment from Big Tech “hyperscalers” building data centers, and large manufacturers like the auto industry, Lipman said. “That kind of asset attracts industry that relies on 24/7, 365 energy and that’s what you get with an AP1000,” Lipman said. There are ongoing discussions within the industry about whether the tech sector might act as a developer that invests capital in the upfront costs of building new plants, he said. What went wrong in the South Any attempt to build new AP1000s in the U.S. again will almost certainly meet with skepticism after the experiences in South Carolina and Georgia. Lipman said the challenges that the AP1000 construction faced in the South have been resolved. Back then, Westinghouse agreed to the projects before the reactor design was complete, and supply chains weren’t fully formed due to a long ******* in which U.S. construction was dormant, he said. “One big lesson learned, maybe the big lesson learned, is designs need to be complete before they hit the field, meaning they have to be shovel ready,” Lipman said. The design for the AP1000 is complete and Westinghouse has its supply chain in place, he said. “We have winnowed over our list of suppliers,” Lipman said. “They are supporting us globally, and so it’s really easy then to have them make more equipment for deployment.” “You’re getting economies of scale,” he said. Ironically, given the overruns in Georgia, the original aim of AP1000 was reduce costs by creating a standardized design that requires less construction materials compared to older reactor types, Lipman said. Components of the plant are prefabricated before being assembled on site, he said. “You basically assemble, kit-like, major portions of the plant in a modular fashion, a bit like aircraft and submarines are done,” Lipman said. “That was not fully shaken out completely at the Vogtle site.” The Department of Energy under the Biden administration argued in a September report that future AP1000 builds should be less expensive because they won’t incur costs associated with the first-of-a-kind project in Georgia. Support from the department’s loan office, tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, and shorter construction timelines would substantially reduce costs, according to the report. Trump plans for nuclear While President Donald Trump is supportive of nuclear, it’s unclear whether the industry will receive support through DOE loans and the investment tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Those tools were pillars of the Biden administration’s plan to help reduce the cost of new AP1000s. Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office that directed federal agencies to remove obstacles to development of nuclear energy resources. The same order, however, paused all spending under the IRA. Two weeks later, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright made commercializing “affordable and abundant nuclear energy” a priority in a Feb. 5 order. “The long talked about nuclear renaissance is finally going to happen, that is a priority for me personally and for President Trump and this administration,” Wright told CNBC in a Feb. 7 interview. Wright was previously a board member of Oklo, a nuclear startup that aims to disrupt the status quo of the industry by deploying micro reactors later this decade. Wright emphasized commercializing small reactors and said private capital would drive the construction of new plants. Before the November election, Trump was skeptical of building large reactors, citing the cancelled project in South Carolina. “They get too big and too complex and too expensive,” he told Joe Rogan in an October interview. Lipman said the first Trump administration was pro-nuclear, and he expects the president will support the industry in his second term. “If there’s going to be gigawatt scale deployment in the U.S., decision making needs to accelerate,” Lipman said. “The business model, the investment climate, any legislative changes that might be in the offing at the state level or the federal, now is the time to address those pertinent issues.” — CNBC’s Gabriel Cortes contributed to this report. Source link #Westinghouse #sees #path #building #big #nuclear #reactors #cheaply Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Germany Votes With Polls Pointing to Merz Victory: What to Watch – Bloomberg Germany Votes With Polls Pointing to Merz Victory: What to Watch – Bloomberg Germany Votes With Polls Pointing to Merz Victory: What to Watch BloombergGerman Election: What to Watch For The New York TimesGerman election live: voters head to polls amid fears over Ukraine security, Trump and rise of far right The GuardianGermans start voting, polls suggest shift to right ReutersGermany is holding a national election. Here’s what’s at stake CNN Source link #Germany #Votes #Polls #Pointing #Merz #Victory #Watch #Bloomberg Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Everything new in Marvel Rivals Season 1.5 update Everything new in Marvel Rivals Season 1.5 update Table of Contents Table of Contents Marvel Rivals Season 1.5 update full patch notes All hero nerfs and buffs in Marvel Rivals Season 1.5 Marvel Rivals has finally released its much-awaited Season 1.5 update which completes the Fantastic Four family in the hero roster by adding The Thing and Human Torch to the game. Each new Marvel Rivals season shifts the game’s meta significantly and this time it’s no different. NetEase has introduced several new gameplay features and maps that players can dive right into while battling it out for Victory. The story of Season 1 Eternal Night Falls continues in this mid-season update which brings another series of quests, missions, rewards, and competitive ranks for players to unlock. While there’s a lot to unpack about everything that’s arrived in Marvel Rivals, check out the full patch notes and the hero adjustments alongside all nerfs and buffs below. Marvel Rivals Season 1.5 update full patch notes New content on all platforms NetEase Games The Thing and Human Torch are ready to rock out and flame on! New Costumes for The Thing – Trench Coat and First Family, along with Human Torch – Negative Zone Gladiator and First Family have arrived. Alongside that, new maps and modes have also been added. Enter the new Convergence map – Empire of Eternal Night: Central Park. An extra 0.5 seconds of grace time will be added at the end of the overtime in all modes, optimizing situations where games may end abruptly (like when players cannot be detected due to certain hero abilities or when accidentally drift slightly outside the valid range). Furthermore, in Quick Mode, matchmaking for substitutes will no longer occur when a quick match is about to end. Regarding optimization, the loading speed at the start of matches has been improved. A new season event Midnight Features II is here. The first round of the season 1.5 Twitch Drops event is live! Players can earn the “Two-in-One” spray and Hela’s “Great Galaxy” emote. Also, stay tuned for a second round, expected to arrive mid-season 1.5, featuring a brand-new costume reward! (Keep an eye on official announcements for exact times!) Players who purchase the Luxury Battle Pass and redeem all its rewards can now convert any leftover Chrono Tokens for Units at a specific ratio. Coming to Ranked, Season 1 has been split into S1.0 and S1.5, with S1.0 concluding on February 21, 2025, at 8:00 AM (UTC+0). Rewards including the costume and Crest of Honors will be distributed accordingly. In S1.5, players will retain their ranks from the end of S1.0. Also, S1.5 Gold Rank costume rewards include Invisible Woman – Blood Shield and Human Torch – Blood Blaze. New Crest of Honor rewards for S1.5 will feature distinct designs for Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and Top 500. Finally, a “Hide Own Name (Competitive)” feature is now available for players at Diamond III and above. Once activated, your true identity will be under wraps during the loading screen, hero selection, and the start of the match. Other players won’t be able to see your name right away! After a short ******* in the battle, your real name will pop back up. General updates Career System: Season statistics will now distinguish between S1.0 and S1.5, with the added ability to filter Tournament data only. Account Deletion: A new account deletion option has been added under Settings – Other, allowing players to initiate the account deletion process. Inactivity Detection: AFK timers will pause during the wait to respawn. Reticle Customization: All changes will now automatically upload to server storage, preventing loss due to local issues. Graphics and Settings: Optimized the brightness of some scene floors when “Reflection Quality” is set to “Off.” Discord Binding Interface: Adjusted to generate an invitation code only upon clicking “Generate.” New content on PC NVIDIA DLSS 4 is available now, featuring DLSS Multi Frame Generation for GeForce RTX 50 Series GPU. DLSS Multi Frame Generation generates up to three additional frames per traditionally rendered frame, providing even faster performance for gamers. AMD Radeon Anti-Lag 2 is available now, reducing the system latency (the time between user inputs and visual responses). It works best in GPU-limited scenarios. (Anti-Lag 2 Requires AMD Radeon RX 5000 Series or newer GPU) Fixed AMD FSR3 Frame Generation frame pacing for smoother experience. New content on Console Adjusted the “Model Detail” graphics setting tier for Xbox Series S to enhance performance and stability. Improved focus navigation in the mail system for easier content management. Optimized aim assist range and mechanics, making crosshair deceleration more visually intuitive. NetEase Games Fixes and Optimizations Fixed an issue where some UI prompts in the team voice system would occasionally delay or disappear. Resolved a rare issue where players couldn’t operate after reporting a player. Corrected a variety of language and text issues. Fixed terrain issues that could cause characters to become stuck or clip through odd locations. Resolved various issues including floating broken objects, collision errors, etc. Addressed several sound issues on maps. Corrected a rare bug in Doom Match, that displayed multiple players in first place. Rectified an issue in Conquest mode where, after reconnecting to a match, indicators, such as KO Streaks would not be displayed. Fixed various hero SFX issues. Resolved a series of quirky pairing performance issues between various heroes. Spider-Man’s Wall Crawl Woes: Fixed an issue where Spider-Man sometimes couldn’t use his abilities while falling from the top of a wall. The web-slinger can now strike without a hitch—no more sticky situations! Hulk’s Banner Backtrack: Resolved a glitch where Hulk couldn’t be detected by vehicles or mission areas during his transformation back to Bruce Banner. The big guy’s identity shift is now seamless! Doctor Strange’s Portal Precision: Fixed a bug where Doctor Strange’s portals could get destroyed if they intersected with broken Recursive Destruction objects during the rewind phase in Empire of Eternal Night: Midtown. The Sorcerer Supreme’s portals are now as reliable as his magic! Iron Fist’s Jumping Jack: Addressed an exploit that allowed Iron Fist to perform rapid consecutive jumps under specific conditions. The martial artist’s acrobatics are now finely tuned! Loki’s Revival Riddle: Fixed an issue where Loki would incorrectly indicate he was out of Adam Warlock’s revival range while transforming within Adam Warlock’s ultimate range. Mister Fantastic’s Elasticity Error: Fixed an unexpected interaction where Mister Fantastic’s ultimate bounce range preview was affected by Cloak’s Phased state. The stretchy hero’s powers are now back on track! Captain America’s Unbound Shield: Corrected an issue where during Captain America’s ultimate, he couldn’t be stunned by Spider-Man’s ultimate. Squirrel Girl’s Sonic Surprise: Resolved a sound issue where Squirrel Girl’****** sound effect was occasionally too sharp. Her acorns now land with a perfect pop! Venom’s Damage Dilemma: Fixed a problem where Venom’s ultimate sometimes failed to deal damage. The symbiote’s ferocity is now fully unleashed! Mister Fantastic’s Elastic Aim Adjustment: Fixed an issue where Mister Fantastic’s arm orientation sometimes didn’t align with the targeting reticle when using his abilities. Now, the stretchy hero can hit the mark with precision—no more twisted arms! Magneto’s Magnetic Misfire: Addressed an issue where Magneto’s ultimate could pass through characters without dealing damage due to discrepancies between collision models and visual effects. The collision body is now properly optimized to better suit the visual presentation. Portal Peril Prevention: Fixed an issue where if certain heroes were eliminated by terrain after using their abilities to pass through Doctor Strange’s portals, it would sometimes not count as a KO for the Sorcerer Supreme. Now, every portal pitfall will be counted! Doctor Strange’s Visual Vanishing Act: Fixed a problem where other players sometimes couldn’t see Doctor Strange’s ultimate effect. The Eye of Agamotto will now dazzle everyone on the battlefield! Doctor Strange’s Control Conundrum: Resolved an issue where Doctor Strange’s ultimate control effect could be overridden by Luna Snow’s or Scarlet Witch’s control effects, prematurely ending his control. The Sorcerer Supreme’s spells now hold strong—no more magic mix-ups! Cloak & Dagger’s Ice Imprisonment: Resolved an issue where, while using their ultimate, if being frozen by Luna Snow, Cloak & Dagger would remain frozen even after taking damage. They can now break free from Luna’s icy grips! Peni Parker’s Cyber Conundrum: Fixed a quirky situation where if Peni Parker was defeated while using Cyber-Bond and resurrected by Rocket Raccoon’s beacon, she would be stuck in her Cyber-Bond animation. She will now be revived without any lingering effects! Mister Fantastic’s Stretch Cancel: Fixed a glitch where Mister Fantastic’s Stretch Punch could be interrupted by Distended Grip during its wind-up phase, yet still erroneously deal damage. Now, the stretchy hero’s attacks are consistent—no more bouncing back from unfair hits! Loki’s Ultimate Illusion Fix: Resolved an issue where, after transforming into another hero and using their ultimate, the ultimate’s effects could remain in the scene if Loki was defeated during the process. We’ve ensured that his tricks vanish appropriately—no more ghostly ultimates haunting the battlefield! Rocket’s Revival Resurgence: Fixed an issue where heroes revived by Rocket Raccoon’s B.R.B. occasionally became unable to move. Now, everyone can get back into the action without a hitch—no more stuck-in-place moments after a heroic comeback! Moon Knight’s Bounce Damage Fix: Resolved an issue where Moon Knight’s bounce attack would occasionally fail to deal damage. Now, his strikes hit true. Winter Soldier’s Targeting Trouble: Addressed an issue where Winter Soldier’s ultimate sometimes visually appeared to hit targets but would actually miss. The sharpshooter’s aim is now spot on! All hero nerfs and buffs in Marvel Rivals Season 1.5 NetEase Games Captain America Steve will receive some enhanced survivability, his Vibranium Energy Saw will feel smoother, and his Ultimate Ability will be more attainable thanks to a reduced energy cost. He will be able to shield himself with Living Legend mid-leap. Increase Vibranium Energy Saw’s projectile speed from 60m/s to 80m/s, with ricochets ramping up from 100m/s to a supercharged 150m/s. Reduce the energy cost of Freedom Charge (ultimate ability) from 3100 to 2800. Enhance Captain America’s combat experience by separating Sentinel Strike from melee attacks. Captain America will be able to use melee attacks while his shield is thrown or during the Team-Up Ability Charged Aegis state to activate the first two hits of Sentinel Strike. Additionally, while airborne, using melee attacks will no longer trigger the Super-Soldier Slam ability. Doctor Strange Our beloved Sorcerer Supreme will take a modest hit to his survivability. Reduce base health from 650 to 600. Groot We’ll be increasing the threat range of everyone’s favorite Flora Colossus. Increase Thornlash Wall placement range from 15 meters to 18 meters. Magneto The Master of Magnetism will experience a slight dip in survivability but will be compensated with a small surge in offensive ability. Increase Iron Volley projectile damage from 35 to 40. Increase Metallic Curtain’s energy consumption from 50/s to 65/s; Reduce its Maximum Duration from 2s to 1.5s. Thor The mighty Asgardian will offer a greater user experience after unleashing Awakening Rune. Unleash the thunder! Remove the shared cooldown time after the duration of Awakening Rune ends. Venom The symbiote menace will enter the fray more menacing than ever, with a heightened threat upon entering the battle and a leaner energy appetite for his Ultimate Ability. Adjust the knock back effect of Frenzied Arrival from vertical to inward, with an inward knockback angle of 75°. Reduce the energy cost of Feast of the Abyss (ultimate ability) from 2800 to 2500. ****** Widow Natasha’s combat effectiveness has been enhanced, increasing the threat level to enemies after using her Ultimate Ability. Increase the magazine capacity of the Red Room Rifle from 8 to 15. Enhance the slow effect of Electro-Plasma Explosion (Ultimate Ability) on enemies from 80% to 55%. Additionally, it will apply a 15% Vulnerability effect to hit enemies for 4 seconds. Hawkeye We’re sharpening Clint’s survival instincts and honing his close-quarters capabilities, while his Ultimate Ability takes aim with greater peril. Increase base health from 250 to 275. Reduce projectile damage of Blast Arrow from 20 to 15, while the spell field damage will be increased from 25 to 32. Reduce the cooldown time for Crescent Slash from 15s to 12s. Increase bow draw speed during the duration of Hunter’s Sight (Ultimate Ability) and raise damage multiplier from 1.2 to 1.35. Hela The Asgardian goddess of death will cast a longer shadow with an increase to her mid-to-long-range suppression. The Damage Falloff of Nightsword Thorn at 30 meters will be changed from 70% to 80%. Iron Fist Lin Lie will bring fresh techniques to the martial arts mix, enhancing his Yat Jee Chung Kuen with both fortitude and finesse. Reduce the damage of Jeet Kune Do’s 1st, 2nd, and 5th strikes from 32 to 30, while the 3rd and 4th strikes will deal 15 damage instead of 16. The final, devastating 6th strike has been dialed back from 55 to 50. The cooldown reduction for Dragon’s Defense has been extended from 1s to 1.5s. The damage of each hit from Yat Jee Chung Kuen will take a hit, dropping from 19 to 10 flat damage (including during Living Chi). However, each strike from the Yat Jee Chung Kuen now delivers an extra blow, dealing damage equal to 1.7% of the opponent’s maximum health (including during Living Chi). Increase the additional maximum health granted by Harmony Recovery from 50 to 150. A new decay mechanism for the extra health has also been introduced: one second after the ability ends, the additional health will deplete at a rate of 25 health per second. Increase the maximum Bonus Health converted from damage blocked during Dragon’s Defense from 150 to 200. Increase base health from 250 to 300. Iron Man Tony will crank up the heat with his Unibeam, ensuring that even without Gamma Overdrive, foes will feel the burn. Increase Unibeam damage from 120/s to 140/s. Increase Unibeam (Armor Overdrive) damage from 180/s to 190/s. Magik The Queen of Limbo will see her damage capability be slightly reduced, but the energy cost to unleash her Ultimate Ability will be slightly lowered. It’s time to behold Darkchild! Decrease the damage dealt by ******’s Rage (regular state) from 80/s to 72/s. Reduce the energy cost of Darkchild (ultimate ability) from 3700 to 3400. Mister Fantastic Reed will stretch his nuisance factor with a greater impact from his Ultimate Ability. Increase the spell field radius after landing from Flexible Elongation from 2.5 meters to 5 meters. Additionally, Flexible Elongation will now feature a knockback effect, launching enemies outward within the area upon landing. The recharge time for a single use of Flexible Elongation will be adjusted from 8s to 10s. Increase the damage of Brainiac Bounce (Ultimate Ability) spell from 50 to 70. Increase the energy cost from 2800 to 3400. Additionally, a new damage decay mechanism has been introduced: spell field damage will begin to decrease starting at 3 meters and will reach a maximum reduction of 50 at 10 meters. Moon Knight The Hand of Khonshu will offer improved reaction times for foes and an optimized damage logic. Reduced the Hand of Khonshu talons falling speed. Correct the damage trigger logic for Hand of Khonshu. The previous mechanism that dealt 75 damage when positioned at the center of the spell field has been removed. Increase the damage of each hit from 75 to 150. Scarlet Witch We’re boosting her survivability when unleashing her Ultimate Ability. Gain an additional 100 Bonus Health upon activating Reality Erasure (Ultimate Ability). After the ability ends or is interrupted, this Bonus Health will decay at a rate of 50/s. Spider-Man We’re slightly reducing Web-Cluster cooldown to increase his offense. Reduce Web-Cluster energize time from 3s to 2.5s Star-Lord Peter’s mobility is getting a stellar upgrade. Increase Rocket Propulsion’s maximum energy from 1200 to 1800. Storm We’ve toned down her tempest from long range and recalibrated her bonuses, offering less of a boost to herself but more to her allies in the eye of the storm. The Damage Falloff of Wind Blade at 30 meters will be changed from 70% to 60%. Reduce Storm’s damage increase from Thunder during Weather Control from 16% to 12%. However, the damage increase for allies within range has been increased from 8% to 10%. Reduce Storm’s damage increase from Enhanced Thunder during Weather Control from 30% to 25%. Adam Warlock Adam’s damage capability will be enhanced, along with a slight increase in healing ability after activating Soul Bond. Increase the damage of Quantum Magic from 55 to 60. Additionally, the Damage Falloff at 40 meters will be changed from 50% to 60%. Increase the healing amount provided by Soul Bond to linked allies from 10/s to 15/s. Cloak & Dagger Survivability and healing ability during the activation of their Ultimate Ability will be increased, while the frequency, duration, and intensity of the Ultimate Ability reduced. Additionally, Tyrone’s threat level will be enhanced. Increase the energy cost to activate Eternal Bond (Ultimate Ability) from 3400 to 4000. The healing amount of each segment will be increased from 220/s to 250/s, the duration will be reduced from 10s to 8s, and the pause time between segments decrease from 1s to 0.67s. Now, the healing effect from each segment will not stack; when overlapping, only one healing effect is applied. Additionally, camera control is unlocked during the activation of Eternal Bond. Increase the Vulnerability inflicted on enemies by Terror Cape from 20% to 28%. Invisible Woman We’re reducing the frequency of her Ultimate Ability. Increase the energy cost of Invisible Boundary (ultimate ability) from 4000 to 4300. Loki We’re reducing the trickster god’s Ultimate Ability frequency, while slightly enhancing his survivability. Increase the energy cost of God of Mischief (ultimate ability) from 3400 to 4000. Increase Mystical Missile charges from 10 to 12. Luna Snow We’re reducing her Ultimate Ability frequency. Increase the energy cost to activate Fate of Both Worlds (Ultimate Ability) from 4000 to 4500. Atlas Bond Team-Up We’ll be enhancing the capability of Luna Snow’s side of this Team-Up ability. Increase the healing amount of Frozen Chi from 50 to 75, and the slow effect on enemies from 20% to 30%. Dimensional Shortcut Team-Up We’re increasing the sustained combat capabilities of ****** Panther and Psylocke. Reduced the Rewind Time for Psionic Disc from 5s to 3s. Additionally, the conversion ratio of lost health to blue armor will be increased from 0.5 to 0.8. Reduced the Rewind Time for Wakandan Master from 5s to 3s. Additionally, the conversion ratio of lost health to blue armor will be increased from 0.5 to 0.8 Gamma Charge Team-Up We’re reducing the damage capability of Gamma Overdrive, and Hulk’s benefits from the team-up. Reduce Unibeam (Gamma Overdrive) damage from 220/s to 200/s. Reduce Hulk’s Team-Up Anchor health bonus from 150 to 100. Lunar Force Team-Up We’re enhancing Moon Knight’s survivability after using the Team-Up Ability Full Moon New Effect: Continuously heal Moon Knight for 25 health per/s while within the effect area. Symbiote Bond Team-Up Peni Parker and Spider-Man will enjoy enhanced survivability thanks to Suit/Armor Expulsion enhancements. Reduce Spider-Man’s Suit Expulsion duration from 4s to 1s. Replace the 50% damage reduction effect with a new invincibility effect during the duration. Reduce Peni Parker’s Armor Expulsion duration from 4s to 2s. Replace the 50% damage reduction effect with a new invincibility effect during the duration. For more Marvel Rivals, check out how to get a free Human Torch skin while playing the latest Season 1.5. Source link #Marvel #Rivals #Season #update Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Asus will sell a mouse that’s also an aromatic oil diffuser Asus will sell a mouse that’s also an aromatic oil diffuser The tech industry often gives us an odd gizmo, or two. Like a talking AI pin with a holographic display, a furry robot that nibbles on your fingers, or a handheld breathing gadget to replace the cuddly pets. They’re not always practical, but on a few occasions, luck strikes twice. Take for example the Asus Fragrance Mouse, which the company first showcased at the annual tech pilgrimage that is CES earlier this year. I never thought it would make it to the shelves, but I’m glad I was wrong. Asus has officially announced it as a standalone product in its home market, and it is coming to the US. It’s a fully-functional mouse, but the real gem is a dedicated compartment on the underside where you can fill any aromatic oil of your choice. I quite like this approach, because Asus is not limiting buyers to a pricey proprietary contraption, and letting them pick any aromatic flavored oil to suit their mood. Oh, the sheer potential for pranks here! Asus “The removable vial can be washed and refilled with different scents,” adds the company. This won’t be the first project of its kind. eScent created a wearable device in the form of a necklace, which released a special scent to create an aroma bubble around the user based on their emotional or physical state. Then there are phone cases that can activate by scratching, releasing a fragrance due to surface friction. At CES 2023, a company named OVR announced the ION 3 wearable scent kit for XR hardware, capable of producing hundreds of unique scents using a system of cartridges. Experts at the City University of Hong Kong and Beihang University in Beijing developed a wearable sensor that looks like a patch, and connects to a VR headset. Based on miniaturized odor generators, it used perfumed wax to produce scents in less than two seconds. Asus Coming back to the Asus Fragrance Mouse, it seems like the most mainstream attempt at integrating some olfactory bliss with consumer tech. The company hasn’t said how much it’s going to cost, but looking at the overall build and the modest tech specs, it shouldn’t go beyond the realm of expensive RGB-armed gaming mice. The unique Asus mouse comes with a thumb rest on the side, and offers a three-stage DPI adjustment system that peaks at a respectable 2,400 dpi. The company is also promising a 10-million-click-lifespan and also serves dual-mode connectivity over Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless lanes. Source link #Asus #sell #mouse #aromatic #oil #diffuser Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

100-year-old commando inspires the next generation in Devon 100-year-old commando inspires the next generation in Devon Elliot Ball BBC News, South West Royal Navy John Eskdale earned his Green Beret in 1942 at the height of World War Two A 100-year-old World War Two commando has inspired the next generation of Royal Marines during a visit to the Commando Training Centre in Devon. John Eskdale from Lydney, Gloucestershire, visited the base in Lympstone to attend the pass out parade of 366 Troop. Recruit Sean Brennen described the veteran as an “unbelievable gentleman” who was “so inspiring”. Mr Eskdale spoke to the recruits and told them they would have “good times and awful times,” advising them to “take it as it comes”. Royal Navy John Eskdale saw combat with HMS Charybdis on the Malta Convoys in 1942 The 100-year-old saw combat with HMS Charybdis in the Mediterranean on the Malta Convoys in 1942 and was involved in the invasion of Sicily in the summer of 1943. He survived the sinking of Charybdis and went on to see action in Normandy and the Far East. In his speech to the recruits at Lympstone, he said: “The Royal Marines is a family, whilst you are serving, and more so afterwards, it can go on forever.” During his visit Mr Eskdale presented the Commando Medal to James Barback. The marine was recognised for demonstrating unselfishness, cheerfulness under adversity, courage and determination throughout his training. Royal Navy John Eskdale visited the Royal Marine Commando base in Lympstone for the pass out parade of 366 Troop Recruit Sean Brennen said he took time to listen to the commando veteran. “An unbelievable gentleman, so inspiring and a real honour to chat with and find out what he did during the Second World War, quite remarkable,” he said. “The stories about his service in the Far East just kept on coming and were very funny. Hearing first-hand accounts of his generation’s experience are so important to us, we stand on the shoulders of these men who are real heroes.” Royal Navy Mr Eskdale warned the recruits they should expect “good times and awful times” Mr Eskdale earned his Green Beret in 1942 at the height of World War Two. He initially tried to join the armed forces in 1940 but was too young so volunteered with the fire service in the heavily bombed city of Bristol. He finally joined the marines two years later. Mr Eskdale told how HMS Charybdis was torpedoed off the Channel Islands in late 1943. He said he spent five hours in the water on a Carley float before rescue by a destroyer took him back to Plymouth to recover. Of the crew of 533, only 107 were rescued. Following the sinking, he volunteered for hazardous service and after Commando training at Dalditch Camp on Woodbury Common in Devon was drafted to 30 Assault Unit. He saw action again, in Normandy and the Far East, taking part in operations to clear Japanese forces from Hong Kong, as well as peacekeeping operations. Source link #100yearold #commando #inspires #generation #Devon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bank of America Sees an ‘Attractive Entry Point’ in These 2 Stocks Bank of America Sees an ‘Attractive Entry Point’ in These 2 Stocks Investors hunting for bargains in the stock market often turn to cheap value stocks – companies trading below their intrinsic worth with the potential for solid returns. These stocks may be overlooked or undervalued due to temporary challenges, but for patient investors, they can present compelling opportunities. In fact, Bank of America’s equity and quant strategist, Savita Subramanian, is making a strong case for sticking with value plays right now. “Buy cheap stocks,” she advises. “The ‘Recovery’ regime unequivocally favors Value over Growth. Narrow bull markets led by growth stocks as in ‘99/’00 tend to reverse violently into Value leadership. Inflation came in hot, the Fed might be done as our economists forecast a month ago and Value has generally outperformed Growth in the six months after the last rate cut.” “In fact,” the strategist added, “Value factors outperformed the index by 6ppt on average vs. just 0.9ppt for Growth. Low P/E fared especially well, generating close to 10ppt of alpha over the subsequent six months.” Bank of America’s analysts are running with this theme, recommending two stocks that are down sharply in recent months – but still possess sound fundamentals that should attract investors. We tapped into TipRanks’ database to get the full scoop on these Buy-rated picks. Let’s dive in. Lightspeed Commerce (LSPD) We’ll start in the world of online commerce, where Lightspeed operates a unified point-of-***** and payments platform and offers retailers a wide range of digital tools to manage inventory, suppliers, teams, and stores from a unified software platform. The company was founded in 2005, is trusted by users in more than 165,000 retail locations, and has made it possible for its customers to process more than $90 billion in gross transaction volume in the fiscal year 2024, which ended on March 31, 2024. Lightspeed bills itself as offering retail software that simplifies retail operations at any scale. The company puts its innovative tools in a single system that is easy to use and can be optimized for each user’s unique business—an important feature in the diverse small business landscape. The tools give Lightspeed’s enterprise customers access to data insights and real-time reporting necessary to boost performance across all aspects of a retail operation. And, for users, the whole platform is supported by Lightspeed’s experts, who bring years of experience and 24/7 service to the benefit of their customers. Lightspeed’s platform is available in versions tailored to retail and to restaurants. Story Continues Last year, Lightspeed conducted a strategic review of the company’s operations, plans for the coming years, and even whether or not it should remain public or privatize. The results of that review were published earlier this month in conjunction with the fiscal 3Q25 financial results. The company has elected to remain public and to proceed with a transformation plan as the best way to maximize its value for shareholders. One key point in the recommendations from the review involves share repurchases; the review committee recommends a share repurchase program of up to $400 million. On the financial side, Lightspeed reported slightly mixed results on revenues and earnings. The top line of $280.1 million was up 17% year-over-year, although it missed the forecast by $2.68 million. At the bottom line, the company’s earnings came to 12 cents per share in non-GAAP terms, beating expectations by 2 cents. We should note here that shares in Lightspeed have been falling in recent months, and the stock is down 28.5% from the peak it reached in November of last year. That share price decline may give investors a chance to buy, however, according to Bank of America’s Koji Ikeda. The 5-star analyst starts from that premise in his write-up on Lightspeed’s stock and then goes on to look at the stock’s likely forward path. He writes, “We believe the drawdown on the stock following the conclusion of its strategic review in which the company elected to stay public (announced on 2/6) has created a risk/reward too attractive to ignore. Going forward, Lightspeed is focusing on profitable growth, moving the story to adj. EBITDA generation (from revenue growth), where we see upside potential. Driving this is a renewed focus on share gains in its original two key verticals, NA retail and EMEA hospitality. We believe it has been executing its new strategy for several months.” These comments support a Buy rating on the shares, which Ikeda complements with a $20 price objective, suggesting a one-year gain of 49%. (To watch Ikeda’s track record, click here) There are 16 recent Wall Street reviews on file for this stock, and their even split—8 to Buy, 8 to Hold—gives the stock its Moderate Buy consensus rating. The shares are currently priced at $13.44, and the average price target of $16.36 implies an upside of 22% for the year ahead. (See LSPD stock forecast) Bunge, Ltd. (BG) Next on our list is Bunge, an agribusiness supply company with a key role in producing the world’s foods and animal feeds. The company works with farmers and agricultural businesses around the world to help them produce and deliver essential food items to consumers. Bunge is a world leader in the production and processing of oilseeds, particularly soybeans, rapeseeds, canola, and sunflower seeds, as well as grains such as wheat and corn. The company is directly involved in the purchase, storage, processing, transport, *****, and distribution of agricultural commodities and serves both domestic and export customers. In addition, Bunge provides risk management and logistic services to the agricultural business community. Bunge’s products are found in a wide range of end uses, from cooking oils and flours to animal feeds, and from infant nutrition to plant-based meat replacements. The company works with farmers to develop efficient crop infrastructure and is a leader in the development of renewable bio-fuel solutions. The company is based in St. Louis, Missouri, and can trace its roots as far back as 1818. Today, Bunge is a $9.8 billion company, employing more than 23,000 people in some 300 facilities spread across 40 countries around the world. Bunge has an active strategy of expansion through acquisition, and earlier this year made an important advance on that track. The company received approval from the ********* government for its merger with the fellow agribusiness giant Viterra. The merger transaction, which was initially announced in June of 2023, is set to be conducted in both stock and cash and is valued at approximately $18 billion in US currency. The move has already been approved in the US and EU, and Bunge is seeking approval from China. Shares in Bunge peaked last summer, in July, and the stock is down 37% from those high levels. Headwinds have included fluctuations in the supply and demand dynamics of the agricultural sector as well as concerns the Viterra acquisition will be dilutive over the short-term. The last earnings report was disappointing too; for 4Q23, Bunge showed revenues of $13.54 billion, down 9.4% year-over-year and some $160 million below expectations. The company’s bottom line, the non-GAAP EPS, came in at $2.13, missing the forecast by 12 cents per share. Despite the misses in the earnings report, BofA analyst Salvator Tiano remains sanguine about Bunge, seeing the company in a good position for long-term gains. He says of the stock, “Post-earnings reset we believe BG still offers attractive risk/reward- (1) we have a favorable view of the company’s growth levers, including bolt-on acquisitions (e.g., CJ Selecta potentially adding ~$0.30 to EPS) and organic investments; (2) we remain constructive on the potential Viterra acquisition despite concerns re: near-term earnings dilution; (3) we believe the company’s exposure to South America positions BG well for secular growth, and (4) we view the stock’s valuation (at 8.9x 2025’s guide vs ADM’s 10.6x) as undemanding.” Tiano gives BG a Buy rating, and he matches that with an $87 price objective, pointing toward a share appreciation of 22% in the next 12 months. (To watch Tiano’s track record, click here) Bunge has picked up six recent analyst reviews, three to Buy and three to Hold, for a Moderate Buy consensus rating. The shares have a current trading price of $71.26 and an average price target of $88.67, implying that BG will see a one-year upside of 24.5%. (See BG stock forecast) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. Source link #Bank #America #Sees #Attractive #Entry #Point #Stocks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘It could get an orgasm out of a cabbage’: the best vibrators, tested | Sex ‘It could get an orgasm out of a cabbage’: the best vibrators, tested | Sex I could write here about how almost a fifth of women surveyed by Durex said using a sex toy was the most dependable way for them to climax. Or I could point out how Kinsey Institute research suggests regular masturbation can help relieve and prevent symptoms of menopause, such as ******** atrophy. I could even tell you that studies demonstrate a significant correlation between intimate toy ownership and greater satisfaction – not only with sex but also with life itself. But the potted version is that orgasms and erotic pleasure are glorious, and top-class toys can help you savour more of both. So here are the best vibrators available. Scroll to the bottom to find out how I selected these vibrators from the 53 I tested for this piece. At a glance Why you should trust me I’m a multi-award-winning writer, broadcaster and educator with more than two decades of experience specialising in ******* wellbeing and culture. I’ve worked as an expert independent research and development consultant for more than a dozen adult product companies; I’m a board member of the ******* Museum in London; I’m a campaigner for ******* health and gynaecological charities, including Terrence Higgins Trust and the Eve Appeal; and I helped write many of your favourite characters’ lines about dildos, douching and desire in the hit Netflix series Sex Education. All this means I’m well qualified to assess whether these devices have been crafted decently. I’m also a freelancer who works from home. I’ll leave it at that. Types of vibrator The Satisfyer Air Pump Bunny 1. Asking, “What’s the best sex toy?” is a bit like asking, “What’s the best tool?”: a plethora exists, and selecting the most suitable one is influenced by what you want it to do. Here, I’ve examined three popular styles of vibrators. Bullets Small, versatile vibrators for external use only. They’re primarily designed for targeted clitoral stimulation but can be used to tickle nipples, glide up the insides of thighs, or take on a tour practically anywhere on the body (except inside the ***** – that’s not safe). Wands Large vibrators with broad heads, again for external use only. Wands deliver the most powerful vibrations over a wide area – this sector is where you’ll find the most bone-shaking master blasters on the market. Fantastic for people who need intense stimulation, and good for deep body massage, too. Rabbits These vibrators have two parts: an insertable shaft, designed to stimulate inside the ******** canal and excite the G-spot, and an external head that stimulates the *********. This “dual stimulation” is intended to provoke a “blended orgasm”: a climax induced by mixing multiple forms of simultaneously delivered sensation. The best bullet vibrators Best bullet vibrator overall: We-Vibe Tango X £79 at We-Vibe £79 at Amazon The original Tango came out about 15 years ago, and it’s consistently remained so high up in expert rankings that by this stage it might have altitude sickness. Why we love it Its Goat status is justified: while many bullets offer “buzzy”, high-frequency vibrations that don’t travel far into the body, the Tango is satisfyingly “rumbly” for its size, providing additional lower-frequency stimulation that carries deeper into tissues and awakens more nerve endings. It packs a lot of oomph into its small size. This latest incarnation features a silicone grip to make it less slippery to hold, while the business end remains hard and glossy. There’s nothing to muffle the vibrations: they’re full-on and focused, which is exactly what tickles many people’s pickles. Others may find the feeling too “sharp”, however. Three separate buttons to increase/decrease power and change pulse patterns make it easy to find the exact output to suit you. There’s excellent variety between the settings, the lowest of which is more a brisk twitch than a vibration. Plus, a travel lock means you won’t have to trot out the “it must be my electric toothbrush!” line when your handbag starts humming. It’s a shame that … the magnetic charger can be accidentally knocked off its connections, but it’s more hygienic than a lead that needs to plug into a hole in the toy. Speeds: eight Vibe patterns: seven Power: rechargeable Run time: two hours Charge time: one hour and 30 minutes Waterproof: yes Warranty: two years Best bullet for innovation: Hot Octopuss AMO £49.95 at Hot Octopuss £49.95 at Amazon Another tiny yet mighty toy that, given its petite dimensions, is a powerful rumbler. Hot Octopuss is a skilled inventor: its suite of ingenious toys includes Pulse – the world’s first “Guybrator” that can induce orgasms from a flaccid ****** as well as an ****** one, proving a boon for ******* survivors, disabled people and others with erectile difficulties. Why we love it AMO’s ingenuity is in the way it’s sculpted, with a pointy tip for pinpoint pleasure; a broader head on the opposite side for more diffuse vibrations; and a fin-like profile for nestling lengthways between ******. It’s made of silky silicone, which – unlike tougher plastics – won’t hurt or slide around if you press down on it to apply extra pressure. It’s a shame that … the battery life isn’t better, and the payoff of the inventive contours is that the AMO can’t be inserted into strap-ons, dildos or other toys that rely on a standard-shape bullet. Speeds: six Vibe patterns: five Power: rechargeable Run time: 40 minutes Charge time: two to three hours Waterproof: yes Warranty: one year Best sustainable bullet: Love Not War Maya £89.99 at Love Not War £89.99 at Veo If you want to feel the earth move without harming the planet, Love Not War is your friend with benefits. Its Maya bullet is made from recycled aluminium in a hydroelectric-powered factory, and minimally packaged in a brown cardboard box printed with soy ink. Why we love it Seven different ******-on heads are sold separately to convert the bullet into, say, a mini wand or G-spot probe. Interchangeable efforts I’ve tried in the past have suffered from insufficiently strong motors, so they haven’t been able to successfully transmit vibrations throughout each attachment, especially longer/larger ones. Love Not War is mounting an admirable battle against that challenge, however. It’s a shame that … at £45 a pop, amassing a collection of heads will cost you a pretty penny – although the brand will plant a tree for each one sold. Speeds: four Vibe patterns: seven Power: rechargeable Run time: one hour Charge time: two hours Waterproof: yes Warranty: Love Not War will repair toys to keep them alive for as long as possible Best soft and sensual option: Smile Makers The Firefighter £44.95 at Boots £49.95 at Beauty Bay Bullets are often designed to treat the genitals like a game of darts: if the ********* is the bullseye, they aim to hit it dead on. The Firefighter instead approaches stimulation more like a curling match: gently brushing, sweeping and edging towards a climax. Why we love it The fluttering, flickering flame-shaped head will suit those who prefer a slow, delicate buildup before switching to the more traditional, targeted “pointy finger” part of the toy. It’s a shame that … it only comes in pink. The Surfer, another Smile Makers bullet, is a refreshingly unusual zesty orange. Speeds: four Vibe patterns: two Power: rechargeable Run time: three hours Charge time: two to two-and-a-half hours Waterproof: yes Warranty: two years Best budget bullet: The Rocks Off RO-90 £10.99 at Rocks Off £9.95 at Amazon Rocks Off makes a whole shooting range of cheap-and-cheerful battery-powered bullets. Take your pick of pointed, rounded, angled or lipstick-shaped tip; select a slick gloss, powdery matt or silicone finish; and choose from more colours than the fabric of Joseph’s Dreamcoat, including one that changes from purple to pink in response to body heat. Why we love it It’s a fair amount of bang for very few bucks. I singled out the RO-90 as my best budget buy because the AAA battery it takes is much easier to source than the N-size variety inside the smaller RO-80 model. The slightly longer shaft makes it better suited to use for penetrative play, too, if that’s your bag. Hats off to Rocks Off as well for its four-year collaboration with disability charity Enhance The *** to develop a truly accessible toy range, Quest. A 5% share of sales from that collection goes back to the charity. It’s a shame that … single-button controls mean you have to cycle all the way through speeds/pulses to change them. I also question how the shiny metallic finishes might stand up to long-term cleaning. Speeds: three Vibe patterns: seven Power: 1 x AAA battery Run time: three hours 30 minutes Waterproof: yes Warranty: two years The best rabbit vibrators Best rabbit vibrator overall: Je Joue Hera Flex £87.20 at Je Joue £109 at Superdrug The Hera Flex is such a good problem-solver, it could probably win an algebra contest. Since everyone’s anatomy is different and distances between vaginas and clitorises vary, a frequent dilemma with rabbits is that once the shaft is inserted, the external stimulator doesn’t quite rest on the right spot. Many toys are too rigid to allow sufficient bending and angle adjustment to solve this issue. Why we love it This Je Joue genius solves that: it’s as flexible as a yoga master and both parts of it are poseable, allowing you to easily customise how it curves to fit your bits. Another irritating rabbit habit is that the “ears” intended to tickle either side of the ********* can pinch, poke or catch against sensitive flesh, depending on how your body happens to be built. Here, the Hera is a hero once more, replacing the traditional bunny head with a plush, spongy, smooth “thumb”. If you’re someone with a more frilly clitoral hood or ****** that gets painfully pulled by rabbit ears, this could be a real thumbs up. A quality, thoughtfully re-engineered rabbit reboot. It’s a shame that … there’s a bit of a jump between the first two power levels. A steadier climb would be preferable. The squishiness of the Hera Flex won’t suit folks who prefer firmer pressure on their hotspots, either. But as so often in the world of sex toys, that’s rather like saying, “people who prefer raspberries shouldn’t choose this banana”; it’s a question of taste, rather than a product being bad. Speeds: five Vibe patterns: seven Power: rechargeable Run time: one hour Charge time: one hour and 30 minutes Warranty: one year Best for temperature titillation: Lovehoney Glow Bunny £79.99 at Lovehoney If you just want to use this toy as an old-school rabbit, it’s a solid choice … but it also has new-fangled tricks up its sleeve. Why we love it The temperature-play plate on the top of the shaft heats to 38C in less than two minutes, feeling almost like a warm tongue, and swiftly cools to 18C, giving a whole new meaning to “Netflix and chill”. I imagine the cold setting could be particularly enticing during sweltering summer nights, and it works nicely for nipple play, too. It’s a shame that … the power is perfectly acceptable, but not perfect for the power-hungry. Speeds: three Vibe patterns: four Power: rechargeable Run time: one hour Charge time: three hours Waterproof: yes Warranty: 100 days Best for air pulse stimulation: Womanizer Duo 2 £189 at Womanizer £189 at Boots Admittedly, this looks more like something Star Trek’s Captain Picard should be at the helm of than a conventional rabbit. Rather than stimulating the ********* with vibrations, the Duo 2 uses pulses of air to create a throbbing, sucking effect. Womanizer was the first to introduce this technology to the adult market in 2014, when it represented one of the most groundbreaking innovations in years. Why we love it The firm continues to be a pioneer. This toy boasts multiple proprietary features, including “Smart Silence”: it will only turn on when in contact with skin. This means the battery life is preserved and you don’t have to fumble to switch it off in a panic if your intimacy is interrupted. An Autopilot mode alternates between surprise pulse patterns and intensities to prevent masturbation from becoming predictable, while the Afterglow setting helps you gradually wind down post-climax, rather than simply switching off. It’s a shame that … the shape takes getting used to, and there are now more intuitive (and affordable) suction and vibration rabbit toys available. That said, I believe the Duo 2 is worth mastering due to its god-tier-level exclusive features. Speeds: 14 Vibe patterns: 10 Power: rechargeable Run time: two hours Charge time: two hours Waterproof: yes Warranty: five years Best for an innovative shaft: Satisfyer Air Pump Bunny 1 £58.95 at Satisfyer £39.97 at Amazon Satisfyer is known for two things. First, making excellent-quality, more affordable “dupes” of aspirational high-end sex toys – almost like an Aldi version of Lelo and co. Second, and in contrast to the first, rolling out vast multitudes of its own novel inventions, including this Air Pump Bunny. Why we love it It sports an inflatable shaft that can be enlarged by up to 15mm in diameter at the touch of a button, producing a “filling” sensation that some find mind-blowing. This could be just the ticket if your orgasm is intensified by the presence of a girthy internal toy, giving your ******** muscles something to clench around as the waves of climax hit (more common than is discussed), especially if you need to build up to having something wide inside you. Magnetic charging, smart buttons and a walloping 15-year warranty show this toy is more than just hot air. skip past newsletter promotion Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. 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 It’s a shame that … it makes a noise like a car tyre inflator while it’s pumping up, and sounds like your ******* is sighing mournfully as it deflates. Put the stereo on, because this toy’s noises make for an inappropriate and distressing lovemaking soundtrack. Speeds: five Vibe patterns: seven Power: rechargeable Run time: one hour Charge time: two hours 30 minutes Waterproof: yes Warranty: 15 years Best sustainable rabbit: Natural Love Company Senna £94.95 at the Natural Love Company In the past, eco-friendly toys have been well-intentioned yet disappointingly ineffectual, and with an unattractively hippy vibe. There was a wind-up vibrator that required eight minutes of hand-cranking and looked like something you’d find in an army medical tent, and a solar-powered bullet that had to stay attached to its charging panel to work. But now the Natural Love Company is making beautiful, talented toys, with eco credentials, including the incorporation of reclaimed ocean plastics and carbon-neutral delivery. Why we love it I was intrigued to check out the Senna after being impressed by the Yarrow: a willow-green rabbit with a thrusting head that’s far more graceful-looking than this kind of gadget has any right to be. The Senna’s undulating shaft mimics a “come hither” motion, with swirling beads beneath a buttery-soft silicone covering, while the rabbit ears have been swapped for a little pulsating bean. It’s another winner that’ll give your knees the hippy shakes. It’s a shame that … the crevices around the clitoral stimulating nub need extra attention to keep clean and bacteria-free between uses. Speeds: three Vibe patterns: seven Power: rechargeable Run time: one hour Charge time: two hours Waterproof: yes Warranty: one year Best new animal: Snail Vibe Curve £119 at Sh! £119.99 at Love Honey A new animal enters the scene, with an ingenious take on how to tackle those pesky rabbit problems. Instead of bunny ears, the Snail Vibe Curve has a vibrating spiral “shell” that rests externally on the *********. As you insert the internal shaft, this shell unrolls to maintain constant clitoral contact – check out the videos on Snail Vibe’s website to see what I mean. You can enjoy penetration that’s as shallow or deep as you wish or thrust the toy back and forth, without the clitoral stimulator slipping out of place. The Snail has received a glow-up for its Curve edition, with a ******* texture applied to the shell; magnetic charging; and most usefully, the addition of a looped handle for easier handling. It has two pleasingly throbby motors on the shell and shaft, which can be independently controlled to fine-tune your experience, inside and out. It takes a while to find your way around a toy this curious, but the payoff is worthwhile. It’s a shame that … the buttons are a fraction fiddly, and don’t think about trombones during use or you won’t be able to stop laughing. Speeds: five for each motor Vibe patterns: five for each motor Power: rechargeable Run time: one hour Charge time: two hours Waterproof: yes Warranty: two years Best budget rabbit: Bondara Screwball Mon Amour £45.99 at Bondara An aesthetic homage to the popular Lelo Soraya 2 that costs a quarter of the price. The Screwball looks like a far posher, better-bred rabbit than it is, and it performs eyebrow-raisingly well for the price point. Why we love it With separate motors driving the ears and shaft, it revs very respectably, and its controls can be locked for travel by pressing and holding the + and – buttons for three seconds. The hoop handle is intended for users to loop their fingers through, so their thumb rests naturally on the controls, but you could also thread silky ******** rope through it for … reasons. It’s a shame that … Bondara recommends that the Screwball isn’t left plugged in for more than four hours, to avoid impairing the battery over time. That’s a pest if you want to charge overnight (or while you’re at work). I wonder if this drawback might be applicable to a bunch of rechargeable sex toys, however, and other brands just aren’t as diligent about warning us? Speeds: six Vibe patterns: 10 Power: rechargeable Run time: 45 minutes Charge time: three hours Waterproof: splashproof Warranty: none, but faulty items may be returned within 180 days for refund or exchange The best wand vibrators Best wand vibrator overall: Doxy Die Cast By You £174.99 at Doxy As they say: go hard, or go home. The mains-powered Doxy Die Cast is arguably as hard as you can go. It’s not for the faint of heart (or parts), but it’s so powerful that it can probably conjure up an orgasm through walls. And speaking of your hopefully thick walls, you don’t get 3,000-9,000 revs a minute of power without noise, so be aware this is loud enough to sound like you need a licence to drive it. Why we love it Doxy makes a rechargeable Die Cast (£164.99), and several superb smaller, lighter cordless wands, too. However, I’m recommending the plug-in version because its formidable power never stops. It has a three-metre lead, so it stretches most places you want it to go – if you’re already considering a toy the size of a rounders bat, portability probably isn’t a big concern. I’ve had a version for a decade and a half, and it’s still impeccable. Nothing about the Die Cast is subtle, but I’d argue that the push for sex toys to be “discreet” has roots in shame. Multiple women who’ve sought my advice for anorgasmia have called me, ecstatic, after my Doxy tipoff has tipped them over into their first ever climax: something unabashed that works is better than something understated that doesn’t. Invest in the customisable By You edition, and get ready to rumble. It’s a shame that … at 690g, it’s heavy as hell. People without strong wrists or with problems like arthritis should explore wand-positioning cushions, such as those by Liberator and Sportsheets. Speeds: continuous progression Vibe patterns: variable escalating pulse mode Power: mains-powered Waterproof: no Warranty: two years Best classy all-rounder: Lelo Smart Wand 2 £107.40 at Lelo From £113.39 at Amazon Lelo is the Idris Elba of the adult toy arena: chic, almost universally considered attractive, and a reliably fantastic performer. Why we love it This ergonomic delight is easy to wield and functions excellently as a massage gun in addition to its racier applications. It’s elegant, intuitive to use and packs plenty of punch at the higher settings. It would have been my top pick were it not for the fact that I’m confident the Doxy could get an orgasm out of a cabbage. It’s a shame that … the large Lelo wand will intimidate some folks: for some reason its curved rhino-***** shape makes it seem even heftier than a straight wand. Luckily, there’s a medium size available too. Speeds: 10 Vibe patterns: 10 Power: rechargeable Run time: two hours (but I suspect that’s only achievable for users who solely prefer the gentlest speed) Charge time: two hours Waterproof: yes Warranty: one year, plus a 10-year quality guarantee Best for long-distance lovers: Kiiroo ProWand £79.80 at Kiiroo The ProWand is a lightweight, velvety wand built to be comfortable for extended use – and boasting an impressive 10-hour-plus run time. Why we love it The ProWand can be remotely controlled or connected to other compatible toys with the FeelConnect app, perfect for facilitating shared erotic experiences for lovers who live apart, or who frequently travel separately. I’ve worked with cybersecurity experts at Mozilla to investigate the hackability of internet-enabled sex toys, and the company’s report says Kiiroo “do[es] a pretty good job protecting users’ privacy and security”. The glowing LED handle can be set to match the colour of lingerie and is dim enough to not illuminate that distracting pile of washing in the corner of your bedroom. It’s a shame that … the app takes a second to get the hang of, although overall the setup and navigation are much simpler than others I’ve tried. Speeds: five Vibe patterns: six Power: rechargeable Runtime: 10+ hours Charge time: four hours Waterproof: yes Warranty: one year Best budget wand: So Divine Wicked Game £54.99 at So Divine £54.99 at Oxygen Boutique So Divine’s versatile value wand includes the option for vibrations to be emitted from each end of the toy. Why we love it This flexibility is a very good thing. Turn on the domed head at the top for external body massage or the insertable shaft at the bottom to enjoy penetration and internal stimulation. Despite this toy having dual motors, you can’t run both ends at once – although only the most adventurous among us would need that. It’s a shame that … this toy doesn’t pack the power of pricier wands, and some prefer a material and design with more softness, flex and yield. However, it’s a great entry-level wand that gives you a chance to experiment with different stimulation styles and learn what you like before investing in a deluxe toy for three times the price. Speeds: three Vibe patterns: seven Power: rechargeable Run time: one hour Charge time: two hours and 30 minutes Waterproof: yes Warranty: two years How I chose vibrators – and what you should consider Think about what materials and textures feel inviting to you. Photograph: pcess609/Getty Images At least 15 toys were tested in each category, with 53 tested in total. In addition to his links to love and lust, Saint Valentine is also the patron saint of beekeeping, so he would feel quite at home amid the cacophony of buzzing that soundtracked the production of this article. I discounted any products not made from body-safe materials, such as porous jellies that can harbour bacteria and dirt, or plastics containing phthalates, which have been linked to ******* and hormonal interference. I considered things such as whether each device lived up to the claims made by its manufacturer; how easy it was to position and control; how fast it charged and how long the battery lasted, where relevant; and how attractive, adaptable, powerful and comfortable it was. What I didn’t do was automatically label a toy as a “holy grail”, or an “almighty fail” if it didn’t happen to float my idiosyncratic boat, or provide what I personally need to reach orgasm, through no inherent fault of its own. Deciding upon the “best” vibrator is highly subjective, so I’ve tried to explain how different items might suit different folks. When making your own considerations, useful questions to ask include: Do I prefer gentle or potent vibrations (or both)? What styles of touch delight me, and do I want external or internal stimulation (or both)? What shape and size of toy will suit my body and my tastes? Do I want something simple, straightforward and intuitive, or experimental/multi-functional/tech-enabled? What materials and textures feel inviting to me? A note on volume: some reviews rate toys on how quiet they are, but I’ve NEVER met a vibe that’s as near-silent as it says it is. For that reason, I’ve only pointed out when a toy is notably loud enough to sound like you’ve rented it from a builders’ merchant. In almost all cases, you do have to put your hand in your pocket if you want the best. Strong motors, neat details and high-performance designs don’t tend to come cheap. I believe pleasure should be accessible to all, though, so there’s at least one budget option included in each category. It’ll have some compromises, but it should give you plenty of “Ooh!” for not much dough. Can vibrators decrease your sensitivity? Let me reassure you: using vibrators will not cause nerve damage to your genitals. However, if, over a prolonged *******, you always reach for a toy when masturbating – particularly if it’s a high-strength model like a mains-powered wand – you may inadvertently condition your body to become used to intense stimulation. Much like a curry fan who’s been mainlining vindaloo and is then served a masala, the comparatively gentle feelings provided by fingers or partners may begin to feel less spicy, and you may struggle to orgasm without the potent or pinpointed vibrations with which you’ve become familiar. A similar problem arises for people with ******** who hold themselves very tightly and use rough motions during solo play. American sex educator Dan Savage nicknamed this “the death grip”, and it can cause erectile dysfunction and difficulties *************via the relative tenderness of intercourse. Luckily, solutions are simple. First: chill out on your vibrator use, to give your body time to reappraise the delights of the delicate. You may want to try a ******* of abstinence, where you return to manual masturbation without grabbing a toy. Or if you’ve been cranking your toy’s power straight up to 11, try being a little less Spın̈al Tap and experimenting with softer speeds and patterns. Lubricant can help too, by cushioning sensitive tissues a little. If you find that sex without toys simply doesn’t feel as good, another option is to involve your toys in sex. Contrary to many people’s fears, vibrators can’t replace the profound intimacy and thrill of being with another human being, but they can vastly enhance shared experiences – they’re complementary co-pilots, not competitors. If you’re someone who feels threatened by toys, it may help to think of them as specialist equipment. You wouldn’t feel emasculated or belittled if you had to equip yourself with an axe to cut down a tree instead of just using your bare hands, right? Instead, it’s more impressive to learn to wield that equipment like a pro; whether you want to chop timber or set your partner’s night alight. Using the right apparatus the right way is the fastest route to successfully starting a fire. Ask your lover to show you how they like the toy to be positioned, and be eager to take on any feedback they give. Alix Fox is an award-winning writer and broadcaster specialising in ******* wellbeing and culture, with 20 years of experience in receiving ***** pics sent not to titillate, but because the worried texter wants an informed opinion on a weird lump/rash/wart. She’s currently writing her first book, Gripped – a deep dive into the most curious and compelling realms of sex and love that one early reader described as a “horny Jon Ronson”. She legitimately has to rent a storage unit to house her collection of erotic apparatus. What’s NSFW for you is probably just W for Alix Source link #orgasm #cabbage #vibrators #tested #Sex Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Suspect who killed police officer, held Pennsylvania hospital staff hostage visited ICU the week before, authorities say – CNN Suspect who killed police officer, held Pennsylvania hospital staff hostage visited ICU the week before, authorities say – CNN Suspect who killed police officer, held Pennsylvania hospital staff hostage visited ICU the week before, authorities say CNNOfficer killed in UPMC Memorial Hospital shooting, hostage situation; multiple injured ABC27Who was West York Officer Andrew Duarte, who was killed in the line of duty? York Daily RecordGunman at Pennsylvania hospital killed after shots fired, officials say Fox News Source link #Suspect #killed #police #officer #held #Pennsylvania #hospital #staff #hostage #visited #ICU #week #authorities #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PM announces £200m Grangemouth site support fund PM announces £200m Grangemouth site support fund BBC The prime minister made the announcement at Scottish Labour’s conference Sir Keir Starmer has announced a further £200m investment in the Grangemouth industrial site. The prime minister called the announcement an “investment in Scotland’s industrial future” when he addressed Scottish Labour’s conference in Glasgow. The money will go towards creating a new industrial purpose for the site. The refinery, owned by Petroineos, is set to close by the summer with the loss of more than 400 jobs. Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, announced £25m of new funding in a statement to Holyrood last week and called for the *** government to invest more in the site. Petroineos announced the central Scotland facility would close and transition to become an import terminal after reporting massive losses last year. Redundancy letters were sent out to staff at the refinery earlier this month, with just 65 of 500 jobs expected to be retained. A £1.5m report into the feasibility of Grangemouth becoming a low-carbon energy hub, known as Project Willow, is due to be published by the end of the month. Addressing the party’s Scottish conference, Sir Keir said oil and gas would be part of Scotland’s future for decades to come to protect the country’s energy security. But he said the *** had to be at the forefront of clean energy and that the Grangemouth site presented a “huge opportunity for renewal”. He said the site could have a future in bioengineering, biofuels, or Hydrogen energy. He told the conference: “We will grasp the opportunities at Grangemouth, work alongside partners to develop viable proposals, team up with business to get new industries off the ground. “And to attract private investors into the partnership we need, we will allocate £200m from the National Wealth Fund, for investment in Grangemouth, investment in Scotland’s industrial future. “That is the difference a Labour government can make.” The PM added that working people had to be protected, and that every worker made redundant would get 18 months full pay. He said there would be a £10m skills and training offer backed by the *** government and any businesses within the Grangemouth Freeport area that takes on the refinery workers would get national insurance relief. Sir Keir said a £100m growth deal was already in place for the area, supported by both the Scottish and *** governments. What is the National Wealth Fund? The £200m investment will come from the National Wealth Fund. The fund is publicly-owned and backed by the Treasury, and invests alongside the private sector in projects across the *** – primarily focusing on initiatives that support clean energy. The *** government said its aim was to direct “tens of billions of pounds” of private investment to decarbonise the British economy. An initial £5.8bn injection was earmarked for green projects including “carbon capture, green hydrogen, ports, gigafactories and green steel,” according to *** government documents. PA Media On Tuesday, Scotland’s first minister said his government would commit £25m to establish a “just transition” fund for Grangemouth. This money would expedite any proposals which come from Project Willow, which is examining other industries which could exist on the site such as plastics recycling, hydrogen production and sustainable aviation fuel. John Swinney said the additional £25m would take the Scottish government’s total investment for the site to £87m. He also urged the *** government to at least match the Scottish government’s just transition fund. The first minister said on Tuesday: “We need the *** government to do at least the same and deliver a fair amount to avoid significant economic disruption in central Scotland, and to protect and promote Scotland and Grangemouth’s future interests. “In short, we need this Labour government to do what it said it would do before the election.” BBC Scotland News has approached the Scottish government for comment on the £200m funding announcement. ‘****** in the detail’ The Unite union said the funding was a “step in the right direction,” but warned the “****** would be in the detail”. General secretary Sharon Graham said the deal was “welcome news” but stressed it was only the start of securing the facility for future generations. She said: “This needs to be the start not the end in delivering a real workers’ transition for Grangemouth. “It is essential that all stakeholders come together to put the meat on the bones and that this investment counts for jobs and our security. Clear timescales will be important as well as details on jobs.” This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts. Source link #announces #200m #Grangemouth #site #support #fund Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Is It Smart to Buy Stocks With the S&P 500 at an All-Time High? History Has a Clear Answer Is It Smart to Buy Stocks With the S&P 500 at an All-Time High? History Has a Clear Answer Determining the best time to invest your hard-earned money in the stock market can feel like a daunting task. The common advice “time in the market beats timing the market” is easy to say but hard to follow when stocks trade near their all-time high as they do today. It might seem like stocks can’t possibly climb any higher after the S&P 500‘s (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) incredible 70%-plus run since hitting a bear market bottom in 2022. For some, it may feel like another bear market could be right around the corner. After all, every bear market starts when the market hits a new high. Investors who missed that 70% increase in stock prices may be sitting on the sidelines, waiting for that bear market to take hold before putting their cash to work. Investors who managed to stay invested up to this point may be feeling like they’re tempting fate and considering taking some money off the table. But history has a clear answer for investors wondering whether it’s a smart idea to put your money in stocks right now. Image source: Getty Images. The basic idea behind investing, especially investing in a broad-based index fund, is that stocks, as a group, increase in value over time. Economic progress and expansion isn’t always a steady march, but they typically move forward. As such, the companies that make up the economy see growing profits, and their stocks increase in value. So, even if stocks are trading at an all-time high, the expectation going forward should be for stocks to set even higher highs in the future. Unless there’s a good reason to expect a big slowdown in the economy negatively impacting the earnings and cash flow of the businesses operating in it, stocks will continue to move higher in short order. Indeed, new all-time highs tend to cluster together. That’s certainly been the case since the market set a new all-time high in January of last year. About 13 months later, the index has closed at a new all-time high 58 times. If you had invested in an S&P 500 index fund when it first set a new all-time high in 2024, your fund would be up about 26% as of this writing. And while that’s a phenomenal return for just 13 months, it could be just the start for this market. The median bull market lasts 46 months. That gives us about a year and a half until the current bull market reaches the 50th percentile. What’s more, despite the strong returns experienced in the first two years of the current bull market, they’re not entirely out of the ordinary. The median total return for a bull market is 110%, with the majority of that coming in the first half of the recovery from the previous bear market. That suggests the S&P 500 could climb another 23% from here, and it would still only be an average bull market. Story Continues Importantly, there’s no need to wait for even a slight pullback in stock prices to put your money in the market. In fact, waiting for a better price could be detrimental to your returns. Data compiled by J.P. Morgan found relatively little difference in the three-month, six-month, and 12-month returns from those investing in the S&P 500 at an all-time high versus any other day since 1970. However, those investing at an all-time high achieved 20% average returns over the subsequent two-year ******* versus 18% for those investing on non-all-time high days. Keep in mind that’s the average two-year return. The returns achieved by investing at earlier all-time highs will be much greater, while the returns from the most recent high mark could be negative. As such, it’s not unreasonable for investors to expect two-year returns of more than 40% from the first all-time high in a series. And as mentioned, stocks are currently only up 26% from the all-time high set in January last year. Investing when stocks are trading at an all-time high can be a lot more difficult than finding a good investment when stocks are near their relative lows. There are simply a lot more opportunities in the depths of a bear market for patient investors. Finding stocks after a strong bull market run requires more careful consideration of what you’re buying. That’s especially true in this bull market where investors have seen stock prices climb faster than the underlying fundamentals for many of the largest companies. The S&P 500 trades with a forward price-to-earnings ratio of about 22.2. That’s well above its long-term average valuation, and the biggest companies, like the “Magnificent Seven,” trade for a much higher earnings multiple. While that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re overvalued, or the entire market is going to come crashing down anytime soon, it does mean investors need to be aware of the potential risk and upside at these prices. So, you could invest in a simple S&P 500 index fund like the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO). That’s a great option, and history suggests there’s still a lot of growth left to come for the index. With a low expense ratio and a strong history of tracking the index closely, you’re sure to get your fair share of broad market’s returns. History suggests those returns could be considerable, too. However, if the valuations of the biggest companies in the market are a concern to you and you want to be more judicious with your investments without picking individual stocks, you could buy an equal-weight S&P 500 index fund like the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (NYSEMKT: RSP). The index fund invests an equal amount into each of the components of the S&P 500, which decreases the concentration in the big, high-value stocks that have led the market over the last two years. This alternative approach historically outperforms over the long run, but there are periods when it lags the traditional cap-weighted index. There are dozens of ways to invest your money when stocks are trading at an all-time high. Very rarely will it work out in your favor to remain on the sidelines for very long. However, taking the time to be prudent with your investment choices should put you in a position to do well, even if the market enters a downturn. 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: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $348,579!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $46,554!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $540,990!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. Continue » *Stock Advisor returns as of February 21, 2025 Adam Levy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is It Smart to Buy Stocks With the S&P 500 at an All-Time High? History Has a Clear Answer was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Smart #Buy #Stocks #AllTime #High #History #Clear #Answer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II Review – Niche Gamer The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II Review – Niche Gamer NoobFeed editor Wasbir writes – Trails Through Daybreak II expands on the previous game with better mechanics, more in-depth character customization, and a larger story. On the other hand, the tempo is disrupted by the forced narrative framework and the recurrent boss fights. Although the Mare Garden and Time Leap mechanics introduce new features, they also bring with them the potential for some boredom. Source link #Legend #Heroes #Trails #Daybreak #Review #Niche #Gamer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump praises foreign leaders, slams Biden and other takeaways from CPAC – The Washington Post Trump praises foreign leaders, slams Biden and other takeaways from CPAC – The Washington Post Trump praises foreign leaders, slams Biden and other takeaways from CPAC The Washington PostLive updates: Trump touts ‘progress’ after one month as president at CPAC BBC.comAt CPAC, Trump Revels in Political Payback The New York TimesLive updates: Trump delivers remarks at CPAC The Hill Source link #Trump #praises #foreign #leaders #slams #Biden #takeaways #CPAC #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Epic RPG Trails Through Daybreak II Excels at the Big and Small Pictures – Paste The Epic RPG Trails Through Daybreak II Excels at the Big and Small Pictures – Paste NoobFeed editor Wasbir writes – Trails Through Daybreak II expands on the previous game with better mechanics, more in-depth character customization, and a larger story. On the other hand, the tempo is disrupted by the forced narrative framework and the recurrent boss fights. Although the Mare Garden and Time Leap mechanics introduce new features, they also bring with them the potential for some boredom. Source link #Epic #RPG #Trails #Daybreak #Excels #Big #Small #Pictures #Paste Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s Ukraine lie is the biggest disgrace yet of his second term Trump’s Ukraine lie is the biggest disgrace yet of his second term To the editor: It is difficult to say which of President Trump’s actions in the last month has been the most offensive. Allowing Elon Musk access to citizens’ private information was shocking, but the saddest and most offensive deed of all has to be his assertion that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky started the war with Russia when the whole world knows otherwise. For three years, we’ve been following the tragic losses of life and property in Ukraine, praying that the carnage and Russian aggression would stop. Ukraine is a country that dared to act independently, endeavoring to enter into Western alliances — a goal that brought with it untold sacrifice and tragedy. That Trump would fabricate a different narrative, even going so far to say that Zelensky’s approval rating was at 4% (when in reality it’s above 50%, higher than Trump’s), is an insult to the intelligence of Americans as well as the watchful allies of Ukraine in Europe. Lynn Lorenz, Newport Beach .. To the editor: Trump blaming the start of the Ukrainian-Russian war on Zelensky is a lot like blaming slaves for slavery or maybe saying ***** victims need to be better behaved. It’s so stupid that it’s beyond laughable, and it demonstrates for the umpteenth time that the man in the White House will say just about anything (except for “I’m sorry” or “I was wrong”). Even more bizarre? There are people so unsophisticated that they’ll believe anything that comes out of the mouth of a pathological liar. Next, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will blame the war on DEI. Thomas Boyd, Diamond Bar .. To the editor: We’re missing what may be the critical causal element of Trump’s animosity toward Ukraine — Zelensky’s refusal in 2019 to dig up dirt on Hunter Biden. That, along with Trump’s well-documented thirst for revenge against any personal slight or refusal to do his bidding, is entirely sufficient to explain why he is now eager to see Ukraine disappear down the maw of the Russian bear. Trump’s bromance with fellow autocrat Putin is mere icing on the cake. Chuck Almdale, North Hills This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Source link #Trumps #Ukraine #lie #biggest #disgrace #term Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine became Trump’s pick for Joint Chiefs chairman – CNN How retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine became Trump’s pick for Joint Chiefs chairman – CNN How retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine became Trump’s pick for Joint Chiefs chairman CNNTrump’s Firing of Gen. Charles Q. Brown May Have Roots in George Floyd Protests The New York TimesSecretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Statement on General Officer Nominations Department of DefenseDemocrats and former defense officials rail against ‘pure pettiness’ of Trump Pentagon firings The Hill Source link #retired #Air #Force #Gen #Dan #Caine #Trumps #pick #Joint #Chiefs #chairman #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gaza ceasefire once again in doubt as first phase nears end Gaza ceasefire once again in doubt as first phase nears end As the first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and ****** in Gaza is meant to be drawing to an end, it has once again been put in doubt. After the last six living Israel hostages due to be released in this phase were freed, more than 600 ************ prisoners were due to be released by Israel in exchange – the biggest number so far to be freed in one go. But that has now been delayed indefinitely by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with his demand that ****** must stop what he called its “cynical use of hostages for propaganda purposes”. ****** has in turn accused Israel of deliberately trying to disrupt the ceasefire agreement. It’s the latest big bump in the road that’s intended ultimately to lead to a permanent end to hostilities and the start of rebuilding Gaza. Israel complained about the chaotic scenes in one of the first handovers, saying the physical safety of the hostages had been put in jeopardy. Then, Israel said ****** had broken the terms of the agreement by not releasing a female civilian hostage, Arbel Yehud. In response, it delayed opening access for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to the north of Gaza for 48 hours. That was resolved when Arbel Yehud was freed in an extra handover before the next scheduled for the following Saturday. ****** later accused Israel of not living up to its commitments to permit heavy machinery, tents and caravans into Gaza. It then said it would not carry out the next hostage handover as scheduled. That prompted threats from both Netanyahu and the US President Donald Trump that all out war would resume in Gaza if the hostages weren’t freed as agreed. With the clock ticking down, ****** agreed to release them. And just in the past few days, the discovery that the body ****** handed over on Thursday as that of Shiri Bibas turned out not to be her. That set off new anger and shock in Israel, where the images of Shiri trying to shield her two young children as they were abducted on 7 October, 2023, is seen as the most potent symbol of the horror of that day. Netanyahu denounced ****** for what he called a “cruel and evil violation” of the agreement. Once again, the ceasefire was kept on track only at the last moment by ****** providing another body within a day that this time did indeed prove to be hers. All these incidents have shown how fragile the ceasefire process remains. They may also have contributed to the fact talks on the second phase – due to start earlier this month – have not yet got under way. Time is running out, with the first phase due to end in a week’s time. ****** has offered to release the remaining hostages due to be freed in the second phase in one go, but only if Israel pulls all its forces out of Gaza and there is a permanent end to the war. Israel has demanded the complete disarmament of ******, which it has so far rejected. The stage-managed ceremonies at each hostage handover, which Netanyahu has so strongly condemned, are intended to show it is still a force to be reckoned with in Gaza. In Israel, voices on the right demand the government resumes its war against ******, while the families of the hostages – backed by much of Israel – say securing the release of the remaining hostages is what matters above and beyond all else. Trump’s plan for Gaza has brought new uncertainty into the equation. The third phase of the ceasefire is meant to set Gaza on the path towards reconstruction and renewal. Arab states are hurriedly trying to come up with a concrete alternative proposal in which Palestinians would continue to live in Gaza while it is rebuilt, rather than being removed from the enclave as envisaged in Trump’s plan. The future governance of Gaza also remains a key sticking point, with Israel, ******, the ************ Authority and Arab countries all so far appearing to have contradictory proposals. These issues will require difficult negotiations, which will be conducted amid the constant risk of a return to war, for which some on both sides continue to advocate. But for now, the mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the US may have their work cut out just getting the first phase of the ceasefire over the line. Source link #Gaza #ceasefire #doubt #phase #nears Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Got $5,000? 2 Top Growth Stocks to Buy That Could Double Your Money. Got $5,000? 2 Top Growth Stocks to Buy That Could Double Your Money. It’s no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) is on target to create tremendous returns for investors that invest in the right stocks. If you have extra cash you don’t need for paying bills or reducing debt, investing in companies serving the growing data center market could pay off in the next five years. Here are two stocks to buy now. To handle greater AI workloads, data centers require more memory and storage capacity. Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) is one of the leading suppliers of high-performance dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and non-volatile memory (NAND) products, which positions it well for this opportunity. The stock has doubled since 2022 but still trades around 15 times this year’s earnings estimate. Micron supplies technology for several markets. Despite mixed results in automotive and smartphones, revenue increased by 84% year over year in the most recent quarter, with data center sales up 400% year over year and 40% over the previous quarter. Data center sales now comprise over half of Micron’s business, which positions it well for another year of strong growth. Management expects strong demand for high-performance memory products to drive record revenue and positive free cash flow in fiscal 2025. A $5,000 investment in the stock five years ago would be worth about $8,500 right now, but Micron could be entering a high-growth phase that could double the value of its shares by 2030. The stock’s forward price-to-earnings multiple drops to around 9 using the fiscal 2026 consensus earnings estimate. The stock’s recent dip is a great opportunity to buy shares. Micron should see growing revenue and profits over the next five years as data centers invest in additional memory and storage capacity for training AI agents and other enterprise use cases. Applied Digital (NASDAQ: APLD) is a relatively small company that focuses on building, designing, and operating data centers, and it’s seeing explosive growth. The growing demand for data center capacity has fueled the stock up more than 88% over the last year, following massive gains over the last few years. The company reported a 51% year-over-year increase in revenue last quarter, driven by its cloud services business, where customers can lease graphics processing unit (GPU) clusters and other equipment for their high-performance computing needs. The company is continuing to work on bringing more facilities online to meet growing demand. Management referenced a Morgan Stanley report that says there could be a significant shortage of power for data centers by 2028. This could position Applied Digital for substantial growth over the next few years, as companies rush to secure more power and data center capacity for their operations. Story Continues Applied Digital has secured strategic investments with Macquarie Asset Management and AI chip leader Nvidia, which validates its opportunity and could help the company accelerate the development of new facilities to meet demand. Since 2012, annual spending on data centers increased from $140 billion to $260 billion, according to Statista. Dell’Oro Group expects this spending to reach $1 trillion by 2029. That is a massive amount of spending for a company with just a $2.1 billion market cap. It’s certainly possible the stock could double in value in five years, if not sooner at the rate the business is growing. Before you buy stock in Micron Technology, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Micron Technology wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $823,858!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 917% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 178% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of February 21, 2025 John Ballard has positions in Applied Digital and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Macquarie Group and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Got $5,000? 2 Top Growth Stocks to Buy That Could Double Your Money. was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Top #Growth #Stocks #Buy #Double #Money Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Gunman takes hostages at Pennsylvania hospital, one officer killed – Reuters.com Gunman takes hostages at Pennsylvania hospital, one officer killed – Reuters.com Gunman takes hostages at Pennsylvania hospital, one officer killed Reuters.comOfficer killed in UPMC Memorial Hospital shooting, hostage situation; multiple injured ABC27Suspect who killed police officer, held Pennsylvania hospital staff hostage visited ICU the week before, authorities say CNNWho was West York Officer Andrew Duarte, who was killed in the line of duty? York Daily RecordPolice officer killed, gunman dead in shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Source link #Gunman #takes #hostages #Pennsylvania #hospital #officer #killed #Reuters.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis had ‘tranquil’ night resting in hospital Pope Francis had ‘tranquil’ night resting in hospital STORY: :: Pope Francis had a ‘tranquil’ night in hospital as he fights double pneumonia, the ******** says :: February 23, 2025 :: Rome, Italy The pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 after experiencing difficulty breathing for several days and subsequently had pneumonia diagnosed in both lungs. The ******** described his condition as “critical” for the first time on Saturday, reporting that he had needed supplemental oxygen and blood transfusions that day. Source link #Pope #Francis #tranquil #night #resting #hospital Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

“Magnificent” Lionel Messi bails out Inter Miami in season opener – MLSsoccer.com “Magnificent” Lionel Messi bails out Inter Miami in season opener – MLSsoccer.com “Magnificent” Lionel Messi bails out Inter Miami in season opener MLSsoccer.comMATCH PREVIEW: Inter Miami CF Set to Host NYCFC in 2025 MLS Season Home Opener Inter Miami CFMessi’s two assists help Inter Miami salvage 2-2 tie vs. NYCFC in dramatic MLS opener Miami Herald Messi hits historic MLS milestone with rapid start to 2025 season Yahoo SportsMLS REFUSED Inter Miami request to postpone New York City game as head coach Javier Mascherano laments scheduling GOAL English Source link #Magnificent #Lionel #Messi #bails #Inter #Miami #season #opener #MLSsoccer.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]