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Trump-Musk Scandal at USAID Takes Unnerving Turn With Vile Leaked Memo Trump-Musk Scandal at USAID Takes Unnerving Turn With Vile Leaked Memo Shockingly, it turns out that empowering the richest human being on the planet to maliciously and gratuitously heap additional misery on that planet’s most poor, hungry, and desperate people might—just might—pose a ********* political problem to President Donald Trump. There seems to be a split in Trumpworld these days. Some seem to think Trump can get away with anything, no matter how devastating it is to the most vulnerable or how corrupt an abuse of power it represents. Others seem aware that there are limits—that at some point, Trumpworld might push things too far and suffer a public backlash, and that this might actually matter. A new internal memo circulating inside the U.S. Agency for International Development neatly captures this split. The Washington Post reports that the memo warns USAID employees not to communicate with the press about the shocking disruptions in humanitarian assistance that are being caused by the Trump-Musk attack on the agency, which are already producing horrific consequences. The memo said this transgression might be met with “dismissal.” The memo claims to be correcting a “false narrative in the press” about the disruptions to that assistance. It notes that Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month issued a waiver to “lifesaving humanitarian assistance,” allowing it to continue despite the Trump-Musk freeze in agency spending. This has meant that this assistance has “continued uninterrupted and has never paused,” the memo claims, while warning recipients against any “unauthorized external engagement with the press.” This is highly disingenuous at best and mostly nonsense at worst. As The New York Times reports, some senior USAID officials recently received an email explicitly directing them to hold off on approving some of this assistance, pending more directives from on high. What’s more, according to the Times, while some of this assistance did continue due to Rubio’s waiver, much of it has encountered serious obstacles. This assistance—which includes aid for lifesaving food, shelter, and medicine—has gotten bogged down as USAID employees and groups that partner with the agency to distribute these things have struggled to access government funding streams halted by Trump. (A judge has ordered the funds to continue.) In one case, Musk claimed that the administration had restarted some disease-prevention funding, but it remains frozen, the Times reported. The directive ordering USAID employees to refrain from discussing this with the press represents an unnerving turn in this saga, given how ugly and blatant it is. “This is basically telling USAID personnel not to tell the truth about what they have seen,” Jeremy Konyndyk, a former senior USAID official, told me, adding that this functionally commands USAID staff to “get in line with the propaganda narrative.” Yet the memo also shows that USAID leaks are infuriating Trump officials precisely because they are exposing the horrifying consequences of the Trump-Musk efforts to cripple this agency. In this context, let’s also recall that the USAID inspector general recently released a report finding that due to the Trump-Musk pause of funding, nearly $500 million in food assistance was at risk of spoiling. That revealed an extraordinarily cruel and wanton attitude toward the global poor, and barely 24 hours after the USAID inspector general revealed all this, Trump fired him. It’s hard to adequately capture the absurdity and malevolence on display here. The whole function of I.G.s is to independently document waste, inefficiency, and corruption inside government. That’s what the USAID I.G. did in documenting the mismanagement that put huge stores of taxpayer-purchased food at risk of going to waste. This is exactly what I.G.s are supposed to do. But apparently because it made Trump and Musk look bad, the I.G. got the ax. Here you see Trumpworld believing both that they are politically vulnerable to revelations about the misery they’re inflicting on some of the world’s poorest people—they were clearly stung by the I.G.’s findings—and also that they can unabashedly fire the watchdogs who reveal it. They conspicuously did this right after the revelations hit, suggesting they lean toward feeling they can act with total impunity. Underscoring the point, Vice President JD Vance has tried to justify Trump’s “America first” agenda as in keeping with Christian teachings about the proper hierarchy of obligations, with those outside our country being of lower priority. Vance apparently feels some pressure to morally justify Trump’s agenda. Yet that claim is so preposterous that it was denounced by Pope Francis, and it absurdly flies in the face of what we’re seeing with USAID and other “America first” policies, which shows Trump-Musk-Vance systematically abandoning our obligations to the global poor with an indifference bordering on venality. Vance, intoxicated with hubris, seemingly thinks he can get away with saying anything. This split is evident elsewhere. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently dismissed the idea that Trump-Musk abuses of power constitute a constitutional crisis as a “dishonest narrative,” apparently revealing sensitivity about such perceptions. But on Friday, Trump border czar Tom Homan swaggered on to national television and “joked” that New York Mayor Eric Adams may face prosecution if he doesn’t meet Trump’s demand for cooperation with his immigration agenda: This comes after Trump’s Justice Department ordered career prosecutors to drop an ongoing, carefully assembled prosecution of Adams, explicitly because Trump wants that full cooperation on immigration. This clear quid pro quo is triggering resignations at the department, with some prosecutors speaking out powerfully in protest. For Homan to make a big joke out of this on Fox News while blow-dried TV sycophants giggle in the background is the act of someone who doesn’t believe he’ll ever be held accountable for anything. Meanwhile, on still another front, Leavitt—who recently seemed eager to tamp down perceptions that we’re enduring a constitutional crisis—unfurled her own big middle finger at constitutional governance this week. After the White House barred the Associated Press from the media briefing room, Leavitt blithely confirmed that this is retaliation for the AP’s refusal to describe the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” per Trump’s diktat: Musk, Homan, Leavitt, and others inside Trumpworld are profoundly infected with arrogance—they appear unshakably certain that they’ll never pay a price for any of this, no matter how cruel their policies or how flagrant their abuses of power. Yet here and there, you can see glimmers of awareness peeking out of Trumpworld that their grip on power is impermanent and provisional. And, yes, as far-fetched as this might appear at this unsettling moment, they also seem dimly aware that this hold on power will ultimately be dependent on what American voters decide. Source link #TrumpMusk #Scandal #USAID #Takes #Unnerving #Turn #Vile #Leaked #Memo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CONFIRMED lineups: Osasuna vs Real Madrid, 2025 La Liga – Managing Madrid CONFIRMED lineups: Osasuna vs Real Madrid, 2025 La Liga – Managing Madrid CONFIRMED lineups: Osasuna vs Real Madrid, 2025 La Liga Managing MadridLIVE: Osasuna vs Real Madrid – LaLiga Al Jazeera EnglishLa Liga Soccer Livestream: How to Watch Osasuna vs. Real Madrid From Anywhere CNETOsasuna vs. Real Madrid lineups, live stream: Where to watch La Liga online, TV channel, odds, pick CBS SportsAncelotti: “We need a repeat of all the good things we did against Manchester City” Real Madrid Source link #CONFIRMED #lineups #Osasuna #Real #Madrid #Liga #Managing #Madrid Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Economists less confident of RBA rate cut than market Economists less confident of RBA rate cut than market An AAP survey of 32 leading *********** economists has tipped the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates this week, but more than one in five remain unconvinced. Source link #Economists #confident #RBA #rate #cut #market Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

65W Core Ultra 5 230F matches 125W Core Ultra 5 245K in gaming 65W Core Ultra 5 230F matches 125W Core Ultra 5 245K in gaming Intel’s budget Core Ultra 5 230F, depicted by the ****** packaging and exclusive to the ******** market, has been tested in detail by Expreview. Within the limited 65W envelope, it lands impressive wins against its predecessor, occasionally toppling the Core i5-14600K in productivity. However, it still suffers from issues plaguing Intel’s high-end Arrow Lake offerings, with introductory prices extremely close to those of the unlocked K-series. The Core Ultra 5 230F offers 10 cores (6P + 4E) and 10 cores based on the Arrow Lake architecture with Lion Cove performance and Skymont efficient cores. The max turbo frequency on the P-cores sees a nice 100 MHz bump versus the Core i5-14490F at 5 GHz, while the efficient cores can boost 700 MHz higher than last-gen. The Core Ultra 5 230F seemingly uses A0 silicon (the 6P + 8E die), which is different from other budget models based on the B0 stepping (the 8P + 16E die). Nonetheless, Intel has packaged this CPU with 22MB of L2 cache and 24MB of L3 cache (46MB total), a 37% improvement over the 14490F with 33.5MB total cache. The reviewer says that the Core Ultra 5 230F is retailing in China for around 2,000 Yuan ($275), just $25 shy of the 245K and much more expensive than the i5-14600K, which readily goes for 1,499 Yuan ($200). This combination of a price increase, so-so performance gains, and high platform entry costs will likely deter many potential customers. The test bench features the MSI MAG B860M Mortar WiFi for the LGA 1851 platform and the Asus ROG Strix B760-G Gaming WiFi for the LGA1700 platform. Both systems use the RTX 4090 Founders Edition and 32GB of DDR5-6000 CL36 memory from Corsair. The benchmarks contain two Core Ultra 5 230F test runs and Core i5-14490F, one at stock settings and the other with elevated power limits. In benchmarks like Y-Cruncher, 7-Zip, and 3DMark, encoding, Blender, V-Ray, and Cinebench, the Core Ultra 5 230F easily leads its predecessor by 7.9% in single-threaded performance and 20.9% in multi-threaded workloads, at stock. Interestingly, with unlocked power limits, the Core Ultra 5 230F improves by just 3.2% versus default settings, which isn’t that impressive. When stressed in AIDA64, the Core Ultra 5 230F (4.3 GHz) draws 73.6W at stock, while Core i5-14490F (3.4 GHz) sips 81.2W of power. Increasing the power budget means the 230F (4.8 GHz) consumes 108.5W, and the 14490F (4.4 GHz) uses 139.4W of power. In games, the Core Ultra 5 230F is neck and neck against the unlocked Core Ultra 5 245K. This isn’t as impressive as you’d think since the bar is set relatively low, occasionally losing to the Core i5-14490F. AMD’s Ryzen 7000 non-X processors can be tuned to match their X-equivalents through PBO. The same cannot be said for budget Arrow Lake, which might be a dealbreaker for many, especially considering that LGA1851 is rumored to support only one CPU generation. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #65W #Core #Ultra #230F #matches #125W #Core #Ultra #245K #gaming Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Researchers report concerning phenomenon observed in coastal region: ‘Growing concern’ Researchers report concerning phenomenon observed in coastal region: ‘Growing concern’ A preliminary report has discovered an alarming amount of microplastics in the waters of Libya’s principal seaport. What’s happening? In a study yet to be peer-reviewed by a journal, researchers from Karabük University in Turkey observed high levels of polyethylene and other polymers in water and sand near the Port of Tripoli. Between May 2022 and May 2023, the scientists obtained 10 samples each from three locations in the Mediterranean Sea within 5 kilometers east or west of the port basin. They collected sand at a depth of 5 centimeters from an area of 2,500 square centimeters, allowing one to two hours to pass before retrieving the sample and filtering the seawater out. The sand was then sifted to separate any elements with dimensions of 1 to 5 millimeters. Whatever microplastic particles the researchers separated from the remaining sand were sent to a lab for analysis via Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. Watch now: How bad is a gas stove for your home’s indoor air quality? FTIR technology allowed the team to match the unknown polymers to a database of virgin plastic materials. “The spectra of the samples were compared with those of the reference plastics, and the types of microplastics were identified based on their similarity to the library references,” the study reads. The data, which only included information from the location with the highest average of polymers, showed that eight of the 15 microplastic particles were closely matched with polyethylene. The rest had characteristics similar to compounds such as polypropylene, polystyrene, and styrene-butadiene. “The presence of microplastics in the environment and the coastal regions is of growing concern,” the researchers said in the study. Why is the presence of microplastics concerning? Should the research eventually get published as a peer-reviewed study, it would be yet another example of microplastics contaminating an ecosystem. Microplastics are shed from larger pieces of plastic as they degrade and have contaminated everything from the depths of our oceans to the clouds in our skies. Animals like pigs and humpback whales have also been at the mercy of this type of pollution. While the extent of health complications microplastics can cause is still unclear, the inhalation and ingestion of these particles have been connected to respiratory illnesses, cognitive disorders, pregnancy complications, and more. What’s being done about microplastic pollution? Experts from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea have created a filtration system to capture microplastics in our drinking water. Esah Tea in Assam, India, is now selling microplastic-free cotton tea bags that are biodegradable. As research teams worldwide work to help protect humans and wildlife from the potentially hazardous effects of microplastics, you can take steps at home to reduce your exposure. For example, you can switch from disposable coffee cups to travel mugs or ditch single-use plastic bags for reusable grocery bags. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #Researchers #report #phenomenon #observed #coastal #region #Growing #concern Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pope spends quiet first night in hospital, continues drug therapy and reads papers, ******** says – The Associated Press Pope spends quiet first night in hospital, continues drug therapy and reads papers, ******** says – The Associated Press Pope spends quiet first night in hospital, continues drug therapy and reads papers, ******** says The Associated PressPope Francis will remain in hospital, ******** says Fox NewsPope Francis cancels events after being admitted to hospital The GuardianPope Francis spends ‘restful night’ at Gemelli Hospital ******** News – EnglishA look at Pope Francis’ previous hospitalizations and health problems The Associated Press Source link #Pope #spends #quiet #night #hospital #continues #drug #therapy #reads #papers #******** #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

50 Waterfront Cities Where Homes Are a Total Steal 50 Waterfront Cities Where Homes Are a Total Steal Jairo Rene Leiva / Shutterstock.com There’s just something about oceans and other water bodies that seem to invoke a sense of calm and peace. If you’re like many Americans, then you probably also get a thrill out of watching majestic sunsets or sunrises, hearing the soothing sound of the crashing waves and feeling the sand between your toes. So, why not live by the ocean or any other body of water? Watch Out: Don’t Buy a House in These 3 Cities Facing a ‘Climate Change Real Estate Bubble’ Try This: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too The primary problem is simple: Beachfront property is often too expensive. Or is it? It turns out, the U.S. is full of cities that can make your dream of living near water come true. GOBankingRates sourced the top beach towns in the U.S. from a variety of sources and looked at the data on cost of living, home values, mortgage payments and more. These cities span the nation, with higher concentrations in places like Hawaii, Texas, Florida and Washington. Read on to find out where you might just be able to afford the waterfront property of your dreams. Denise Gerdes / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $57,309 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,601 Average home value: $267,625 State average home value: $340,599.95 Difference: $72,974.91 Read Next: Housing Market 2024: 50 Most Affordable Cities for Homebuyers See More: I’m a Real Estate Investor: 10 Places I Would Never Buy Property Steven D Reynolds / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $40,900 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,019 Average home value: $170,361 State average home value: $243,677.86 Difference: $73,316.45 Near You: Cheapest Places To Buy a Home in Every State ©Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $63,545 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,575 Average home value: $263,379 State average home value: $340,599.95 Difference: $77,220.57 SeanPavonePhoto / iStock.com Median annual income: $61,365 Monthly mortgage payment: $2,336 Average home value: $390,530 State average home value: $468,794.52 Difference: $78,264.54 f11photo / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $72,232 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,349 Average home value: $225,496 State average home value: $306,459.71 Difference: $80,963.47 Pictured: Milwaukee Courtesy of Four Seasons / Christian Horan Median annual income: $121,768 Monthly mortgage payment: $5,473 Average home value: $915,018 State average home value: $996,981.53 Difference: $81,963.44 RoschetzkyProductions / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $64,449 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,345 Average home value: $224,777 State average home value: $308,385.14 Difference: $83,607.98 Avoid These: I’m a Home Staging Expert: Watch Out for These 5 Staging Red Flags When You’re Buying a Home DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $67,856 Monthly mortgage payment: $2,449 Average home value: $409,391 State average home value: $496,131.30 Difference: $86,740.07 Story Continues DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $61,359 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,300 Average home value: $217,371 State average home value: $308,385.14 Difference: $91,014.01 Pictured: Port Arthur martinhosmart / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $43,135 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,050 Average home value: $175,615 State average home value: $267,924.52 Difference: $92,309.28 ©Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $61,820 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,936 Average home value: $323,668 State average home value: $417,228.14 Difference: $93,560.32 Davel5957 / iStock.com Median annual income: $60,998 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,785 Average home value: $298,335 State average home value: $395,912.17 Difference: $97,577.51 Discover More: 10 Dangerous Cities You Shouldn’t Buy a Home in No Matter the Price Steve Heap / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $73,641 Monthly mortgage payment: $5,379 Average home value: $899,211 State average home value: $996,981.53 Difference: $97,770.39 Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $49,733 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,227 Average home value: $205,132 State average home value: $306,459.71 Difference: $101,328.17 SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $64,138 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,859 Average home value: $310,790 State average home value: $417,228.14 Difference: $106,438.27 Ron and Patty Thomas / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $45,405 Monthly mortgage payment: $712 Average home value: $119,053 State average home value: $229,380.80 Difference: $110,327.96 Crystal Bolin Photography / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $41,563 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,824 Average home value: $304,960 State average home value: $417,228.14 Difference: $112,268.04 Joesboy / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $72,970 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,881 Average home value: $314,499 State average home value: $430,752.21 Difference: $116,252.75 Pictured: Ocean City ©Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $45,121 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,797 Average home value: $300,487 State average home value: $417,228.14 Difference: $116,741.07 Midwest Move: 5 Midwest Cities Where You Can Buy Luxury Homes for $100,000 or Less CrackerClips Stock Media / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $59,469 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,131 Average home value: $189,139 State average home value: $308,385.14 Difference: $119,246.18 Pictured: South Padre Island Danita Delmont / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $46,735 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,129 Average home value: $188,705 State average home value: $308,385.14 Difference: $119,680.47 Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $47,608 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,777 Average home value: $297,073 State average home value: $417,228.14 Difference: $120,154.87 drnadig / Getty Images Median annual income: $37,271 Monthly mortgage payment: $643 Average home value: $107,571 State average home value: $229,380.80 Difference: $121,809.89 Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $64,430 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,611 Average home value: $269,250 State average home value: $395,912.17 Difference: $126,662.65 Pictured: Virginia Beach Eric V Overton / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $58,871 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,068 Average home value: $178,616 State average home value: $308,385.14 Difference: $129,769.34 Pictured: Galveston Rob Hainer / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $57,221 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,702 Average home value: $284,572 State average home value: $417,228.14 Difference: $132,655.75 Related Reading: 4 Reasons You Might Regret Buying a Home in Florida Yongqi Gou / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $68,556 Monthly mortgage payment: $2,823 Average home value: $471,908 State average home value: $611,214.65 Difference: $139,307.00 aimintang / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $56,237 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,713 Average home value: $286,335 State average home value: $426,050.76 Difference: $139,716.20 Richard Martin / Flickr.com Median annual income: $67,580 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,671 Average home value: $279,296 State average home value: $430,752.21 Difference: $151,456.35 ©Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $67,722 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,565 Average home value: $261,647 State average home value: $417,228.14 Difference: $155,581.44 Shop Carefully: 5 Types of Homes That Will Plummet in Value in 2024 CrackerClips Stock Media / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $50,704 Monthly mortgage payment: $854 Average home value: $142,728 State average home value: $308,385.14 Difference: $165,656.81 Pictured: South Padre Island Eugene Garcia / AP / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $60,212 Monthly mortgage payment: $2,659 Average home value: $444,541 State average home value: $611,214.65 Difference: $166,674.07 pawel.gaul / Getty Images Median annual income: $37,761 Monthly mortgage payment: $432 Average home value: $72,292 State average home value: $243,677.86 Difference: $171,385.69 Richard Martin / Flickr.com Median annual income: $53,309 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,527 Average home value: $255,343 State average home value: $430,752.21 Difference: $175,409.63 Pictured: Assateague Island Kyle Gibson / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $60,212 Monthly mortgage payment: $2,659 Average home value: $444,541 State average home value: $611,214.65 Difference: $166,674.07 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $45,357 Monthly mortgage payment: $633 Average home value: $105,798 State average home value: $308,385.14 Difference: $202,587.63 benedek / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $46,184 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,340 Average home value: $224,057 State average home value: $443,364.58 Difference: $219,307.88 Check Out: 7 Locations Where Housing Prices Are Plummeting Post-Pandemic IMG_191 / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $60,212 Monthly mortgage payment: $2,659 Average home value: $444,541 State average home value: $611,214.65 Difference: $166,674.07 JeffGoulden / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $54,435 Monthly mortgage payment: $2,290 Average home value: $382,766 State average home value: $611,214.65 Difference: $611,214.65 Dmitri Kotchetov / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $47,188 Monthly mortgage payment: $2,275 Average home value: $380,393 State average home value: $611,214.65 Difference: $230,821.85 RoxyAnne / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $80,464 Monthly mortgage payment: $4,475 Average home value: $748,093 State average home value: $996,981.53 Difference: $248,888.91 Pictured: Kihei Vlad Podvorny / Flickr.com Median annual income: $35,188 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,416 Average home value: $236,698 State average home value: $539,808.00 Difference: $303,109.59 Jon Marc Lyttle / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $39,507 Monthly mortgage payment: $680 Average home value: $113,640 State average home value: $443,364.58 Difference: $329,724.98 CrisRG / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $80,464 Monthly mortgage payment: $4,475 Average home value: $748,093 State average home value: $996,981.53 Difference: $248,888.91 Pictured: Holualoa Jasperdo / Flickr.com Median annual income: $50,008 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,624 Average home value: $271,456 State average home value: $611,214.65 Difference: $339,758.39 Money Expert: Dave Ramsey: Why You Shouldn’t Pay Off Your Mortgage Early Even If You Can ©Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $77,435 Monthly mortgage payment: $3,814 Average home value: $637,558 State average home value: $996,981.53 Difference: $359,423.57 Pictured: Kauai ©Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $51,971 Monthly mortgage payment: $2,485 Average home value: $415,360 State average home value: $805,913.17 Difference: $390,553.57 QuekZongYe / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $75,589 Monthly mortgage payment: $3,091 Average home value: $516,681 State average home value: $996,981.53 Difference: $480,300.53 SMJoness / Getty Images/iStockphoto Median annual income: $67,083 Monthly mortgage payment: $2,736 Average home value: $457,474 State average home value: $996,981.53 Difference: $539,507.34 Pictured: Kihei Symbiotic Athlete / Shutterstock.com Median annual income: $41,047 Monthly mortgage payment: $1,304 Average home value: $217,921 State average home value: $805,913.17 Difference between typical and state home value: $587,992.34 John Csiszar and Daria Uhlig contributed to the reporting for this article. Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed coastal cities across the United States to find the cities on the waterfront that are a total steal. First GOBankingRates found waterfront cities as sourced from USAtoday’s Most Affordable Waterfront Cities, WSAZ’s 100 Best Beach Towns, TravelandLeisure’s Best Beach Towns and Best Secluded Beaches, USNewsandWorldReport’s Best Places to Live near the Beach, LoveExploring’s Destinations, TripSavvy’s Best Beach Towns in the US, and Realtor’s Most Affordable Beach Towns for Homebuyers. For each city a number of factors were found including; total population, total households, household median income all sourced from the US Census American Community Survey, the cost-of-living indexes as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces, the average single-family home value from April 2024 as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index, the livabilty index as sourced from AreaVibes and the average single-family home value by state as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. For each home value, the average mortgage cost was calculated by assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, the average mortgage cost can be calculated. The average expenditure costs are calculated by using the cost-of-living indexes and using the national average expenditure costs for all residents as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 Consumer Expenditure Survey. The average expenditure cost and mortgage cost can be used to find the total monthly cost of living for each city. The difference in home value from statewide averages can be calculated to find the waterfront cities that are undervalued and are considered a steal. The cities were sorted to show the waterfront places with the most undervalued homes. All data was collected on and is up to date as of June 10, 2024. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 50 Waterfront Cities Where Homes Are a Total Steal Source link #Waterfront #Cities #Homes #Total #Steal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Corporate America’s Souring Profit Outlook Clouds Equity Rally – Bloomberg Corporate America’s Souring Profit Outlook Clouds Equity Rally – Bloomberg Corporate America’s Souring Profit Outlook Clouds Equity Rally BloombergView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Corporate #Americas #Souring #Profit #Outlook #Clouds #Equity #Rally #Bloomberg Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US and Ukraine should deepen partnership US and Ukraine should deepen partnership LONDON (Reuters) – British Foreign Minister David Lammy said on Saturday he would encourage U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to deepen their partnership in the future. “I would encourage Donald Trump and the Ukrainians to look very carefully at a deepening partnership over the next generations,” Lammy said at the Munich Security Conference. Britain and Ukraine signed a landmark 100-year partnership agreement last month to deepen security ties and strengthen their countries’ relationship. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Lammy said the best security guarantee for Ukraine against future Russian aggression was binding U.S. industry, business and defence capability into its future. “That is what will make Putin sit up and pay attention, and that is what’s attractive to a U.S. president who knows how to get a good deal,” Lammy added. (Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing by David Evans) Source link #Ukraine #deepen #partnership Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Bird flu confirmed in older Wyoming woman who likely had contact with infected flock at her home – The Associated Press Bird flu confirmed in older Wyoming woman who likely had contact with infected flock at her home – The Associated Press Bird flu confirmed in older Wyoming woman who likely had contact with infected flock at her home The Associated PressView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Bird #flu #confirmed #older #Wyoming #woman #contact #infected #flock #home #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Three Israeli hostages and hundreds of ************ prisoners freed as ceasefire holds Three Israeli hostages and hundreds of ************ prisoners freed as ceasefire holds The scheduled release of three Israeli hostages and hundreds of ************ prisoners went ahead on Saturday, as the region let out a collective sigh of relief after the near-collapse of the fragile truce during the week. American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, Argentine-Israeli Iair *****, 46, and Russian-Israeli Sasha Trufanov, 29, were released in the morning, before Israel began the process of releasing an expected 369 ************ prisoners and detainees. But four of the ************ prisoners were found in a “critical condition” and rushed to hospital by the ************ Red Crescent, with others looking gaunt following their release. Amir Abu Radha, a freed ************ prisoner, is embraced after being released from an Israeli jail (REUTERS) Scenes at the hostage release were more muted than usual after ******-led militants kept the crowd back, following chaotic scenes in previous exchanges. The hostages were taken up on stage where they spoke into a microphone, holding onto what appeared to be gifts and certificates of their release. The ************ militant group had set up a sign reading “no migration except to Jerusalem”, which they confirmed after the release was a reference to President Donald Trump’s proposals to forcibly transfer Gaza’s 2 million strong population to Egypt and Jordan. Meanwhile, large crowds gathered near Ofer prison in the Israeli-occupied West Bank as Israel began releasing scores of ************ prisoners and detainees. It is unclear whether any of those released had been detained under Israel’s administrative detention policy, under which it imprisons thousands of Palestinians without charge or trial. Cheering crowds celebrated the exchange in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square and in the West Bank town of Beitunia, where the first bus of released ************ prisoners arrived. It is the sixth swap to take place since the ceasefire began on January 19 – before Saturday, a total of 730 ************ prisoners and 21 hostages had been released. Three hostages held in Gaza, from left, American-Israeli Sagui Dekel Chen, Argentinian-Israeli Iair ***** and Russian-Israeli Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, are escorted by ****** and Islamic ****** fighters (AP) Emotional photos showed Israeli hostages and ************ detainees reuniting with loved ones following Saturday’s exchange. The freed Israeli hostages, who had all been seized from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 2023, appeared in better health than the three men freed last week, who appeared pale and skinny. They underwent a medical assessment after being transferred to Israel. Dekel-Chen was seen in video released by the Israeli military being reunited with his wife Avital, who revealed to him the name of their third daughter, who was born two months after his abduction. The little girl is called Shachar Mazal – Shachar is Hebrew for dawn and Mazal means luck. “It’s perfect,” Dekel-Chen says. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum Headquarters said Saturday was a “moment of light in the darkness”, adding that “all involved parties must ensure that liberation day comes soon for all hostages”. Dekel-Chen embraces his wife Avital as he is reunited with his family in Israel (via REUTERS) The family of Iair ***** said they “can breathe a little” now he is free, but still hope for the safe release of his 38-year-old brother, Eithan, who remains in Gaza and will not be released in the first stage of the ceasefire. It comes after the ceasefire deal came close to collapse throughout the week, after ****** suspended the release of hostages, accusing Israel of breaching ceasefire obligations, including delaying the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza, carrying out strikes across the enclave and hindering the entry of humanitarian aid. Gaza’s health ministry said at least 92 Palestinians have been killed and more than 800 wounded by Israeli fire since the ceasefire deal. Friends of freed hostage Iair ***** react as they are gathering to watch live viewing of his release (Getty Images) Three Israeli officials and two mediators told the New York Times on condition of anonymity that ******’ claims were accurate. But COGAT, the Israeli military unit overseeing aid deliveries, described the accusations as “completely false”. Israel responded by threatening to “open the gates of hell” on Gaza if hostages were not released on Saturday. After talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, ****** agreed the hostage release would go ahead he group, saying the mediators had pledged to “remove all hurdles” to ensure Israel would allow more tents, medical supplies and other essentials into Gaza. After the hostages were release, ****** said in a statement: “The release of the sixth batch of enemy prisoners reaffirms that their freedom can only be secured through negotiations and adherence to the commitments of the ceasefire agreement.” Source link #Israeli #hostages #hundreds #************ #prisoners #freed #ceasefire #holds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Civilization 7 Review | TheSixthAxis Civilization 7 Review | TheSixthAxis NoobFeed editor Turzo writes – Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, in its attempt to tone down the repetition and micromanagement, has harmed it more than any good it did. Aside from the main and core issues of lacking depth in its content and having a horrible UI, Civilization VII isn’t that bad. If you want a better game, though, stick with Civilization VI or V. Source link #Civilization #Review #TheSixthAxis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s Cultural Power Grab: Why His Kennedy Center Takeover Matters – Rolling Stone Trump’s Cultural Power Grab: Why His Kennedy Center Takeover Matters – Rolling Stone Trump’s Cultural Power Grab: Why His Kennedy Center Takeover Matters Rolling StoneA Night at the Kennedy Center, Just After Trump’s Takeover The New York TimesColumn | Yes, Donald Trump could destroy the Kennedy Center. Or worse. The Washington PostHow did Trump so easily take over the Kennedy Center? Ask Sean Spicer. Yahoo Source link #Trumps #Cultural #Power #Grab #Kennedy #Center #Takeover #Matters #Rolling #Stone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Review | NoobFeed Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Review | NoobFeed NoobFeed editor Mezbah writes – Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is an exhilaratingly immersive experience that, despite silly animations and graphical popping, manages to harken to the old RPGs and make you truly feel for the world. If you want an expansive adventure with no small amounts of shenanigans, this game is for you. Source link #Kingdom #Deliverance #Review #NoobFeed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Kirkland Signature Is The Only Store Brand At Costco Why Kirkland Signature Is The Only Store Brand At Costco We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. If private labels used to be thought of as nothing more than cheaper products of lower quality, they’ve certainly improved their reputation. Food shoppers today love store brand products, and many of these brands have become recognizable household names, thus gaining the trust of the customers. According to 2024 reports from The Food Institute, 44% of customers consider store brands to have good value despite the low price. With private labels representing 19% of the market as of 2024, shoppers have admitted that certain private brands influence where they choose to get their groceries. One popular store brand is Kirkland Signature — the only private brand you’ll find at Costco, despite many other retailers opting for several of their own brands. But for Costco, keeping everything under one umbrella has been the winning strategy. After all, a 2000 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology showed that customers with fewer options are more likely to make a purchase than those with a larger number of options. It’s safe to say that Costco was well ahead of the curve when it launched Kirkland Signature as its only store brand in 1995, thus preventing its customers from experiencing decision fatigue. Before then, Costco owned multiple private brands, just like other retailers — but a big shift happened when the CEO recognized it would be better for the customers and more cost-effective for the company to simply have one brand for all things, from salsa to gasoline. Read more: 13 Ways To Help Save Money At The Grocery Store The Strategy Behind Kirkland Signature Has Proven To Be Successful Pumping Kirkland Signature Gasoline into a car – Hapabapa/Getty Images Kirkland Signature was named after the previous location of the Costco headquarters, which was in Kirkland, Washington, at the time. Eventually, the headquarters moved to Issaquah, but the original brand name has stuck. The strategy behind Kirkland Signature is fairly simple: Offer high-quality products at affordable prices. Costco works closely with its manufacturers to ensure that Kirkland Signature isn’t just a cheaper knockoff brand. Not only do Kirkland products meet good-quality standards, but they’re also priced up to 20% lower than other brands. The strategy is working, as the brand accounts for at least 30% of Costco’s overall profits. It’s therefore not surprising that several recognizable name brands have partnered up with Costco to create Kirkland products. The brands behind your favorite Costco Kirkland products include big names like Jelly Belly and Campbell’s. Through these collaborations, the single brand is able to cater to different demographics at the same time while also lowering operational costs for the retailer itself. As a final testament to Kirkland’s popularity, its products reach a customer base beyond the shelves of Costco. Amazon sells a wide variety of Kirkland Signature products (like these dried mangoes and s’more caramel clusters) for non-Costco members — so, even if you’re not a membership holder at the wholesale store, you can still benefit from its brand’s good deals. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Source link #Kirkland #Signature #Store #Brand #Costco Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mistery Review | NoobFeed | N4G Mistery Review | NoobFeed | N4G NoobFeed editor Faviyan writes – Mistery is a title with a lot of potential but a range of faults. The atmosphere is tremendous, and its premise is cool, but its awkward controls, poor performance, and lack of refinement slow its execution down. If the developers commit to fixing the game’s performance issues and adding some narrative to the game, then it could become a decent multiplayer horror title. Source link #Mistery #Review #NoobFeed #N4G Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

No. 1 Jannik Sinner gets 3-month ban in settlement of doping case, can return before French Open – The Associated Press No. 1 Jannik Sinner gets 3-month ban in settlement of doping case, can return before French Open – The Associated Press No. 1 Jannik Sinner gets 3-month ban in settlement of doping case, can return before French Open The Associated PressWorld No. 1 Jannik Sinner accepts three-month ban from tennis to settle doping case CNNJannik Sinner: Italian banned for three months for doping BBC.comWADA, Sinner announce case resolution statements ATP TourJannik Sinner’s ban ‘leaves a pretty sour taste’ for tennis, says Tim Henman The Independent Source link #Jannik #Sinner #3month #ban #settlement #doping #case #return #French #Open #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

You can grab a AMD eight-core Zen 3 CPU for as low as $139 You can grab a AMD eight-core Zen 3 CPU for as low as $139 Right now, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT CPU is available at Amazon for its lowest price—just $139 instead of the recommended $249. Source link #grab #AMD #eightcore #Zen #CPU Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is This Seat Taken? Preview – TheSixthAxis Is This Seat Taken? Preview – TheSixthAxis TSA previews cozy puzzler Is This Seat Taken? Source link #Seat #Preview #TheSixthAxis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cottage Pie, Sweet and Spicy Meatballs, Salmon Burgers and Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies Cottage Pie, Sweet and Spicy Meatballs, Salmon Burgers and Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies “Oh, this is a knife kind of dinner.” That’s what we say at my home when dinner is a capital-D Dinner, requiring plates and forks and knives. Think: giant hunks of roasted squash full of tomato-ginger chickpeas, or any bone-in chicken situation, flank steak, pork tenderloin. More often, though, I’m making the sort of dinner that doesn’t need a knife — just a fork, spoon or chopsticks will suffice. This could be because it’s capital-W winter where I live, and a shallow bowl cradling noodles or stew just feels so much cozier than a flat plate. (It could also be because there’s a lot of good television on right now, and I want to eat on the couch. “The White Lotus,” how I missed you.) Dan Pelosi’s new cottage pie is perfect winter comfort food. “Cottage pie is a near twin to its sibling, the slightly better-known shepherd’s pie,” writes Dan. “The main difference between these traditional dishes, which have roots in Ireland and Britain, is that cottage pie embraces ground beef while shepherd’s pie, fittingly, favors lamb.” His recipe is freezer-friendly, economical and versatile: Try ground chicken or turkey in place of the beef. Eat with a fork, maybe even a spoon (that mashed potato topping makes it easy to scoop up the savory filling), but definitely no knives are allowed here. Featured Recipe Cottage Pie View Recipe → I suppose you could use a knife on Christian Reynoso’s sweet and spicy chicken meatballs, but the side of a fork should do the trick on these tender orbs. The ********** comes from chopped dates, which contribute their honeyed, molasses-y flavor; crushed red pepper flakes provide the spicy. To go with, make Yasmin Fahr’s citrusy couscous salad with broccoli and feta, since you’ll be zesting your citrus fruit of choice for the meatballs. No utensils are necessary for enjoying these salmon burgers, a classic recipe from Mark Bittman that makes great use of frozen fillets you might have stashed away. I know that burgers feel like a definitively summer food, but I want these with Melissa Clark’s flawless baked French fries, and you’d have to pay me a lot of money to crank my oven to 500 in August. Speaking of not turning on the oven: Ali Slagle has four new sweet treats you can pull together in no time at all, with only the miso chocolate chip cookies requiring actual baking. (But they don’t require any actual work. All you need to do is stir together brown sugar, miso, chocolate chips, vanilla, an egg and your nut butter of choice and off you go.) Stovetop berry crisp, built on either fresh or frozen berries, comes together in the time it takes my oven to preheat; microwave sticky toffee pudding, even faster. And while the main audience for fairy bread might be children, it’s hard to deny the appeal of soft, spongy bread slathered with butter and showered with sprinkles. I’m already thinking of ways to play with this formula — a thick slice of milk bread with ******* kaya jam comes to mind. Or maybe sweet, eggy brioche and salted butter? Whatever you come up with, don’t skip those whimsical sprinkles. Source link #Cottage #Pie #Sweet #Spicy #Meatballs #Salmon #Burgers #Miso #Chocolate #Chip #Cookies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Achilles: Survivor Review | NoobFeed Achilles: Survivor Review | NoobFeed NoobFeed editor Joy writes – Achilles: Survivor might not be perfect yet, but its first impression is quite strong, presenting an attractive marriage of bullet hell action and strategic building in a setting of Greek mythology. It’s still in the early days, so the content is still pretty limited, yet it is all captivating and promising. Source link #Achilles #Survivor #Review #NoobFeed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israeli hostages and ************ inmates freed in ceasefire swap – BBC.com Israeli hostages and ************ inmates freed in ceasefire swap – BBC.com Israeli hostages and ************ inmates freed in ceasefire swap BBC.comHamas Releases 3 More Israeli Hostages: Live Updates The New York TimesRed Cross: More must be done by all sides for ‘dignified’ Gaza hostage-prisoner releases The Times of IsraelAmerican-Israeli hostage released by ****** embraces his wife, family after being apart for nearly 500 days Fox News Source link #Israeli #hostages #************ #inmates #freed #ceasefire #swap #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How the gangland killings became so notorious How the gangland killings became so notorious Lewis Adams BBC News, Essex BBC Craig Rolfe, 26, Tony Tucker, 38, and Pat Tate, 37, were all shot in the head with a pump action shotgun The gangland killings of three drug dealers who were found shot in the head in a Range Rover near Chelmsford in 1995 is one of the most notorious and dramatised murders in modern memory. This week, the Parole Board announced the second of the two men responsible would be released from prison, potentially closing the book on this 30-year story. How and why did the so-called Essex Boys murders become such a cult tale? Ambushed The bodies of Craig Rolfe, 26, Tony Tucker, 38, and Pat Tate, 37, were discovered on a snowy morning on isolated farmland in Rettendon on 7 December 1995. Farmer Peter Theobald and his friend Ken Jiggins found the Range Rover parked on a little-known track and suspected the occupants were poachers. However, the driver and his two passengers were no threat. All three had been ambushed and gunned down with a pump action shotgun. Such was the extent of their injuries, they were hardly recognisable. But the men were soon identified by journalists as being three of the most prominent drug dealers in Essex. Mr Tucker was also known for providing security for nightclubs across Essex and had been a security guard for former super middleweight boxing champion Nigel Benn. Sky Documentaries The three victims were found dead inside the Range Rover PA Media A remote track hidden in farmland became the centre of the major police investigation Following the discovery, a major police investigation codenamed Operation Century was launched. It produced no arrests or evidence leading to a prosecution. But lines were quickly drawn between their deaths and the 1990s rave scene – connections that provided inspiration for the countless films, documentaries and TV dramas that followed in the years ahead. During the investigation it was suggested the murders may have been a revenge attack in light of the drugs death of Leah Betts in Basildon a few weeks earlier. It was believed Mr Tucker ultimately supplied the ecstasy tablet that killed the 18-year-old as she celebrated her birthday in Raquels nightclub. Jack Whomes (left) and Michael Steele were jailed in 1998 The key witness in convicting the suspects – Jack Whomes and Michael Steele – was police informer and so-called supergrass Darren Nicholls, from Braintree, who gave evidence against his former friends at their trial. Both Whomes and Steele were subsequently given life sentences at the Old Bailey in January 1998. Essex Boys timeline7 Dec 1995: Anthony Tucker, Pat Tate and Craig Rolfe found shot dead in a Range Rover in Rettendon, EssexMay 1996: Darren Nicholls arrested in possession of drugs. He turns into a so-called supergrass and gives evidence against Michael Steele and Jack WhomesJan 1998: Steele and Whomes jailed for life at the Old BaileyOctober 2001: Case referred to the Criminal Cases Review Commission for the first time22 February 2006: Court of Appeal rejects appeal against convictions. Further appeals are rejected in 2013 and 201624 May 2018: Whomes has life sentence reducedJanuary 2021: Parole Board approves Whomes for release from prisonFebruary 2025: Parole Board approves Steele’s release After their imprisonment, the case was first referred to the Criminal Cases Review Commission over concerns that Mr Nicholls was an unreliable witness. Mr Nicholls maintained Steele was behind a series of drug smuggling runs in 1995, one of which led to a row with the three victims over poor quality cannabis. He was later entered into the witness protection scheme. The murders prompted a series of TV programmes, books and a film starring Sean Bean The murderers’ appeal was referred to the Court of Appeal and rejected. Further appeals were dismissed in 2013 and 2016. However, Whomes, of Brockford, Suffolk, had his sentence cut in 2018 and was released from prison three years later. Steele, now aged 82, of Great Bentley, Essex, was given a minimum term of 23 years, which expired in 2019, but the Parole Board had been worried about his risk of reoffending. He appeared before parole panels in May 2023, in May, November and December last year, and also this January. In its report published on Thursday, the parole Board said he offended for “financial gain and out of greed” and there was “an element of thrill-seeking in his actions”. But the panel concluded Steele’s imprisonment was “no longer necessary for the protection of the public” and approved his release. The triple murders on film The murders gained international attention and prompted several books, TV series and films. The killings were immortalised in the 2000 film Essex Boys, which starred Sean Bean and coined the name. Also inspired by the murders was the crime and gangster film franchise Rise of the Footsoldier, which has had six installations since 2007. Granada Films Essex Boys, starring Sean Bean, was released by Granada Films in 2000 A Sky Documentaries series in 2023 interviewed detectives involved with the 1995 case who were critical of the police investigation. Former Met Police detective David McKelvey claimed “credible lines of investigation were not followed” and that the assassination was related to an armed robbery, not drug dealing. Essex Police previously said the case was “exhaustively examined” and there was no fresh evidence to dispute the original verdicts. Source link #gangland #killings #notorious Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

1 Quantum Computing Stock That Could Be the Biggest AI Buy of 2025 1 Quantum Computing Stock That Could Be the Biggest AI Buy of 2025 Quantum computing investing is incredibly hot right now, as this exciting technology is starting to have some significant breakthroughs. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI) remains a huge theme in the market, as the buildout of this life-altering technology is just getting underway. Many investors want to take advantage of both trends, but there are only a few ways to do it. My favorite company leading in the quantum computing sector and the AI arms race is Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL). Alphabet has a ton going for it, and it is a great way to capitalize on both trends. Alphabet can likely be credited with kicking off the latest quantum computing investment interest round. In December, Google (a subsidiary of Alphabet) announced that its Willow quantum computing chip had completed a computing task that would have taken the fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years (10, with 25 trailing zeros) to complete. That’s a ridiculous number, but what’s even more critical is the technology that was used to complete the task. Quantum computing isn’t like classical computing. It uses qubits instead of bits, which inherently has errors. Bits use 0s and 1s to transmit information, making computing errors impossible. However, quantum computing uses qubits, which can better be described as the probability of a calculation being either a 1 or a 0. This makes quantum computing infinitely more powerful, as the amount of information it stores from a qubit is far more than a bit. However, errors can develop in large calculations because it isn’t a cut-and-dry 1 or 0. Google has implemented a novel way to solve this issue, allowing it to compute this benchmark accurately. Even so, Google made no claims that this was a commercially useful activity. This test was to showcase the computing power of quantum computing, not to do anything useful. Google describes the usefulness of its test in this chart below: Image source: Alphabet. As a result, we’re still years away from commercially viable quantum computing technology, although some quantum computing companies are already using their technology for research in the field. Regardless, widespread quantum computing is still a ways away, and investing in a company like Alphabet that has the upside of quantum computing combined with the current AI arms race spending makes a ton of sense. While Alphabet is competing in the generative AI battle with its Gemini model, it’s benefiting more from the various companies that are spending heavily to gain access to AI computing power. Story Continues Google Cloud, Alphabet’s cloud computing wing, is the primary way it benefits from this trend. Clients who can’t justify buying a dedicated AI server filled with high-end AI accelerators turn to cloud computing providers to rent some of their capabilities. This allows them to scale up or down the computing power they need, allowing them to be flexible. Because Google Cloud has a massive audience base, that computing power is then put to use by another client. This industry is a win-win for everyone involved, which is why the cloud computing market is expected to be worth more than $2 trillion by 2030. Google Cloud provides its clients with the best computing power available and was one of the first to get Nvidia’s generation Blackwell GPUs up and running. Business is so good in the cloud computing realm that Alphabet has started construction on 11 new data center sites. With cloud revenue increasing 30% year over year to $12 billion in Q4, it’s clear that all of this spending is benefiting Alphabet significantly. This is one of the biggest ways Alphabet can benefit from AI, but it’s also integrating its AI tools into its legacy search business alongside the advertising tools that its clients have access to. Alphabet is set to be a big winner in the AI space, even if it isn’t leading the generative AI arms race. Throw in the upside of quantum computing, and the narrative behind Alphabet’s stock looks promising. GOOGL PE Ratio (Forward) Chart GOOGL PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts However, the market doesn’t value Alphabet the same way, and the stock trades for an attractive 21 times forward earnings. Considering the upside Alphabet has from its various growth sectors, this seems like a no-brainer price to pay for the stock. It is a great one to stash away as the AI arms race and quantum computing races unfold. Before you buy stock in Alphabet, 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 Alphabet 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 $829,128!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 948% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 176% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list. Learn more » *Stock Advisor returns as of February 7, 2025 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Keithen Drury has positions in Alphabet and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Quantum Computing Stock That Could Be the Biggest AI Buy of 2025 was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Quantum #Computing #Stock #Biggest #Buy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump strangles Europe – Axios Trump strangles Europe – Axios Trump strangles Europe AxiosA Strained Alliance The New York TimesReeling from the reset POLITICO EuropeEurope’s wake-up call Financial TimesThe Transatlantic Alliance in the Age of Trump: The Coming Collisions Center for Strategic & International Studies Source link #Trump #strangles #Europe #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]