Pelican Press

‘Horrific situation’ at Ohio fur farm as foxes, raccoons, wolf-dog hybrids rescued. Where are they now? ‘Horrific situation’ at Ohio fur farm as foxes, raccoons, wolf-dog hybrids rescued. Where are they now? Foxes, raccoons, wolf-dog hybrids, skunks, opossums and coyotes were found neglected at and rescued from a fur and ****** farm near Cleveland, Ohio, according to The Humane Society of the United States. The owner of the farm, the Grand River Fur Exchange, died in late December 2024, leaving hundreds of animals neglected in frigid temperatures and snow with little to no protection. The operation, conducted by the Humane Society of the United States and Ohio authorities to remove the animals, concluded on Jan 25, 2025. Ohio fur farm east of Cleveland held animals for fur, ******, exotic **** trade You might be surprised to find these wild animals on a farm like this. They were being raised and slaughtered for their fur, bred for ***** as exotic pets, and held captive for ****** farming, which is used for hunting, trapping, dog training, and wild animal deterrents. Rescuers saw ‘one of the most horrific situations’ at fur farm The animals, including foxes, raccoons, wolf-dog hybrids, skunks, opossums and coyotes, were found neglected after the owner of the farm died in December 2024. Some of the animals were found dead or severely malnourished. Many of them had missing toes, ears, tails and limbs, likely due to the cages’ wire flooring and steel-jaw leg hold traps found around the property. Leg-hold traps can cause serious physical damage to an animal, including lacerations, muscle damage, and nerve damage that could potentially lead to paralysis. Animals caught in leg-hold traps may self-mutilate and inadvertently cause more damage as they try to escape, according to the Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey. “This is one of the most horrific situations I have ever seen—the terror and pain were palpable. Our team is exposed to immense cruelty in the criminal cases we regularly respond to, like dogfighting and severe neglect, yet this stands out both in terms of suffering and because these fur farming practices are legal. It’s haunting.” Adam Parascandola, vice president of the Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Rescue Team How many animals were rescued? Where did the animals go? More than 250 animals were rescued and relocated with wildlife rehabbers and sanctuaries. A non-profit called Red Riding Hood Rescue in Middletown, Ohio, accepted a few of the rescue wolf dogs, according to WLWT. However, some of the animals were humanely euthanized due to their severe illnesses and injuries. Are there regulations for animals farmed for their fur and other items? According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are no federal regulations governing the ********, care, or slaughter of animals raised for their fur in the United States. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees the licensing and inspection of businesses that breed wild animals for **** sales, including wolf hybrids and skunks. Ohio has no laws or standards regarding the treatment of fur farms and the slaughter process, according to the Humane Society. New York is the only state that has banned ***** and ******** electrocution of foxes, having the only state-level law on fur farm ********, the Humane Society reports. Was the Grand River Fur Exchange allowed to do these practices on animals? The Grand River Fur Exchange holds a license from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, per the Humane Society. The U.S. Department of Agriculture fined the owner and barred them from breeding and selling wild animals in 2011. However, the owners continued breeding anyway without any further enforcement actions, per the Humane Society. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Foxes, raccoons among 250 animals rescued from Ohio farm. Where they are now? Source link #Horrific #situation #Ohio #fur #farm #foxes #raccoons #wolfdog #hybrids #rescued Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Tariffs Live Updates: Proposed Canada And Mexico Tariffs Paused – Forbes Trump Tariffs Live Updates: Proposed Canada And Mexico Tariffs Paused – Forbes Trump Tariffs Live Updates: Proposed Canada And Mexico Tariffs Paused ForbesUS Postal Service suspends China packages as tariff war heats up Financial TimesUS Postal Service suspends incoming parcels from China and Hong Kong CNNUS stops accepting parcels from mainland China, Hong Kong South China Morning Post Source link #Trump #Tariffs #Live #Updates #Proposed #Canada #Mexico #Tariffs #Paused #Forbes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EA Is Looking To Replicate The Sims Success With FC and Madden on the Nintendo Switch 2 EA Is Looking To Replicate The Sims Success With FC and Madden on the Nintendo Switch 2 The Nintendo Switch 2 was finally unveiled by Nintendo after years of speculation and leaks. It feels good to finally give the Switch successor a face and name, even if it was only through a brief teaser trailer that compared the system to the original Nintendo Switch and gave a quick glimpse of a new Mario Kart game. Nintendo has recently revealed the Switch 2. | Credit: Nintendo. Fans now have a timeline, though there is still more to come. On April 2, there will be a Nintendo Direct devoted to the upcoming 2025 release of the Nintendo Switch 2. Over the past few months, there have been increasing rumors that third-party games will be released on the Switch 2. Despite having no confirmed list of third-party titles, Electronic Arts CEO is quite hopeful about his two games on the upcoming console. EA Sports FC and Madden will benefit from the Nintendo Switch 2 EA Sports FC will get a huge boost if it gets launched on the Nintendo Switch 2. | Credit: Electronic Arts. It’s now EA’s turn after several game companies have expressed support for the Nintendo Switch 2 since its reveal. Despite a former PlayStation exec not finding the reveal much interesting, Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson is finding the arrival of the handheld console beneficial for his company’s two popular titles: EA Sports FC and Madden. Wilson stated during EA’s recent earning call that the Switch successor would be an additional means for EA to locate and reach new players. The next-generation hybrid hardware may give IPs like FC, Madden, and “others” a significant boost, at least that is the hope. Here’s what the CEO said: “Any time a new console comes into the marketplace, that’s of a benefit to us. It gives us the ability to access and acquire new players. Typically, we’ve had franchises perform very well on Nintendo platforms. Certainly, our expectation is that products like FC and Madden and others might find real energy on the platform as they have done in the past.” Wilson followed up his remark that franchises usually do well on Nintendo platforms by pointing out the recent success of The Sims and MySims Cozy Bundle, which was released on the Switch last November and has done “well ahead” of EA’s expectations. He also stated that “50% of all players were new to EA.” EA eventually brought a lot of games to the Switch during its existence, including the ports of Apex Legend, EA Sports FC, and It Takes Two, after a slow start. A Madden game for the platform has not yet been released, though. As of now, there is nothing in EA’s models at this juncture. But any time a “great new console” comes into the market that gives EA access to new players and communities, that same console benefits the company’s IPs, as per Wilson. It’s the perfect time to re-release The Sims 1 and 2 for the Switch 2 Given the popularity of life simulation games this year, the re-release of The Sims 1 and 2 couldn’t come at a better moment. Given that the Switch 2 is also scheduled for release this year, The Sims 1 and 2 will have the ideal platform for mobile gamers, so the timing may also favor the re-release. The Sims 1 and 2 has been re-released on PC on January 31, 2025. | Credit: Electronic Arts. Although The Sims 1 and 2 are now PC-only, one console seems like the ideal second home for the game. The Nintendo Switch 2’s joy-cons make it the perfect platform for a port of the original Sims games. The re-release of The Sims 1 and 2 might also be an attempt by the Switch 2 to compete with the PC market. The Sims 1 and 2 are the ideal fit for Nintendo consoles, although few PC games are ported to them due to their lack of power. However, these older games shouldn’t have any trouble transferring PC content to a modern console. It seems reasonable to assume that the re-release of The Sims 1 and 2 on the upcoming console shouldn’t have any graphical problems given that some Xbox games are rumored to be coming to the Switch 2. The performance and sales of life simulation games on the original Switch were excellent, and it appears that this trend will continue on the Switch 2. Therefore, The Sims 1 and 2 re-release deserves to find an unexpected but welcoming home on the Switch 2, as it is a piece of gaming history that gave rise to so many beloved titles. Source link #Replicate #Sims #Success #Madden #Nintendo #Switch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

What President Trump has said about Gaza What President Trump has said about Gaza US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington DC on Tuesday. Since the ceasefire deal was agreed on 19 January, Trump had, in different interviews, talked about whether he thinks the ceasefire would stand, the plan to rebuild Gaza, and if Palestinians could be relocated. Source link #President #Trump #Gaza Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Kay Burley retires from Sky News after 36 years Kay Burley retires from Sky News after 36 years Sky News presenter Kay Burley has announced she is retiring from the network after 36 years. Closing the channel’s breakfast programme on Wednesday, Burley said it had been “an honour and a privilege to work with some of the best and hardest working teams in the business”. Burley reflected that Sky News had gone “from a standing start to one of the most recognised and valued brands in global news”. Burley, 64, joined Sky News in 1989 and was part of the team that covered the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the 9/11 terror attacks, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and the birth of Prince George. In 2018, she was given her own show, The Kay Burley Show which moved into the breakfast slot a year later. She was suspended from presenting her show for sixth months in December 2020 for breaching coronavirus restrictions as she celebrated her 60th birthday in central London. Speaking at the end of her show, Burley added: “News by its very nature is often devastating and together we’ve covered so many life-changing events. “But we’ve also enjoyed some wonderful high notes too, haven’t we – the thrill of London winning the chance to host the 2012 Olympics; a plethora of royal weddings; jubilees and who can forget days and days and days waiting for royal babies to arrive at the Lindo Wing. “But after more than a million minutes of live TV news – more than anyone else in the world – its time for me to indulge in some of my other passions – including my love for travel. “So, after covering 12 separate general elections – including Sir Keir Starmer’s victory last year – I am retiring from Sky News – let politicians of every party just rejoice at that news! “Thank you for waking up and tuning in every morning. I can’t tell you how much I have appreciated your support over the last three and a half decades: You’re awesome.” In 2007 Burley appeared as a contestant on ITV’s Dancing on Ice and in 2018 she was part of the second series of Celebrity Hunted. David Rhodes, executive chairman of Sky News, said Kay’s commitment to Sky and legacy in television journalism is “unmatched”. “We thank Kay for her huge contribution to Sky, to the art of the interview and to British journalism. And we wish her the best of luck,” he added. Paying tribute to Burley, TV producer Sam McAlister said on X that she was “an absolute icon”. “Smart as hell, sharp as they come, bloody amazing company,” she wrote. Source link #Kay #Burley #retires #Sky #News #years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Dell’s Alienware Area 51 gaming PC is probably the only chance you’ll get at using an RTX 5080 right now, and it’s one you won’t want to miss Dell’s Alienware Area 51 gaming PC is probably the only chance you’ll get at using an RTX 5080 right now, and it’s one you won’t want to miss It’s safe to say that Nvidia’s RTX 5080 is currently out of bounds when it comes to any potential purchases due to extremely limited availability (and issues with scalpers, predictably) – and that’s why this pre-built gaming PC from Dell should be on your radar if you’re intent on diving into the RTX 5000 experience as soon as possible. The Alienware Area 51 RTX 5080 gaming PC is now available on Dell’s US storefront for $5,049.99, with a slightly cheaper alternative available for $4,449.99. It provides a whopping 64GB of RAM, a 4TB M.2 SSD, and Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K processor, all capable of opening the gateway to fantastic performance results across the board. The more affordable option uses 32GB of RAM instead and a 2TB SSD, but the same CPU and GPU setup – more than enough for gaming and multitasking, frankly. The RTX 5080 is already clearly a powerhouse GPU (despite some frustrations surrounding its relatively minor performance gains over the RTX 4080 Super), and this paired with some of the best PC hardware you can find makes for an optimal gaming experience. I won’t pretend it isn’t pricey, but the specifications do the talking. Not in the US? Scroll down to see the best Alienware Area 51 deals in your region! Today’s best Alienware Area 51 deal in the US Since there’s essentially no other way to get your hands on an RTX 5080 other than waiting for an eventual restock (only to face scalpers yet again…), this is probably the best way to get an RTX 5080 right now. I’m not denying that it’s a big ask – $5,049.99 is a lot of money, but besides the RTX 5080 the inclusion of Intel’s top-tier CPU along with 4TB of M.2 SSD storage and 64GB of RAM (which I’ll admit is a bit overkill for gaming), it speaks for itself. By now, it should be obvious that any acquisition of either the RTX 5090 or 5080 in any capacity will come at a high cost – high demand, limited availability, and scalping are the main culprits, so it’s not much of a surprise to see pre-built PC pricing in this range, especially for an Alienware product. If you’re adamant about joining the RTX 5000 series party, and you can spend that amount of money without hurting your wallet, I’d say this: don’t hesitate for even a second… Source link #Dells #Alienware #Area #gaming #chance #youll #RTX #wont Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

WA election 2025: Upper House crossbench MP Ben Dawkins changes name to Austin Trump to mirror US President WA election 2025: Upper House crossbench MP Ben Dawkins changes name to Austin Trump to mirror US President WA voters will have a chance to vote for ‘Aussie Trump’ after one MP legally changed his name. Source link #election #Upper #House #crossbench #Ben #Dawkins #Austin #Trump #mirror #President Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2 Magnificent Dow Stocks You Can Confidently Buy in February, and 1 to Avoid 2 Magnificent Dow Stocks You Can Confidently Buy in February, and 1 to Avoid For more than 128 years, the iconic Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) has served as Wall Street’s “health” barometer. Though it began as an industrial stock-dominated index with 12 members in May 1896, it’s comprised of 30 highly diverse, multinational companies today. While all 30 of the Dow’s components share similar traits, such as being time-tested and possessing well-defined competitive advantages, the outlook for these predominantly brand-name businesses differs greatly. Image source: Getty Images. As we push ahead into the shortest month of the year, two magnificent Dow stocks stand out for all the right reasons and can be purchased with confidence by investors, while another is contending with mounting headwinds. With most of Wall Street focused on high-growth tech stocks and anything having to do with artificial intelligence (AI), the best value in the Dow in February might just be stalwart telecom giant Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ). While Wall Street’s bull market has been stretching its legs for more than two years, Verizon stock has tumbled by 26% over the trailing-three-year ******* (not including dividends). This gross underperformance likely has to do with the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate-hiking cycle that began in March 2022. Companies that carry a lot of debt on their balance sheet, such as large telecoms, may see their debt-servicing costs rise and financial flexibility narrow as rates climb. But what investors might be overlooking is that Verizon’s balance sheet has been steadily improving in recent years. When 2022 came to a close, the company was lugging around more than $130 billion in unsecured debt and had an unsecured debt-to-adjusted-EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) ratio of 2.7. As of the close of 2024, its unsecured debt had fallen below $118 billion and its unsecured debt-to-adjusted-EBITDA ratio is now 2.3. Verizon’s financial flexibility is improving, and its nearly 7% dividend yield isn’t going anywhere. Ongoing investments to expand the reach of its 5G wireless service are also paying off. Wireless service revenue has grown for 18 consecutive quarters, with Verizon’s strong pricing power playing a key role. But the unsung hero for Verizon might just be its broadband segment. Even though broadband isn’t the high-growth story it was when this century began, it’s a steady generator of operating cash flow and can entice users to bundle their services. Verizon’s total broadband connections jumped 15% in 2024 to north of 12.3 million. Story Continues Lastly, Verizon’s valuation makes it a no-brainer buy in February. Amid a historically pricey stock market, investors can scoop up shares of Verizon for only 8 times forecast earnings per share (EPS) in 2026. Image source: Coca-Cola. The second Dow Jones Industrial Average stock that can be purchased with confidence this month is none other than consumer staples colossus Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO). Although Coca-Cola shareholders have seen their investment climb in value by 4% over the trailing-two-year *******, this gain pales in comparison to the Dow’s 36% return over the same time frame. This underperformance can be explained by Coke being a mature, slower-growing company that’s taken a back seat to high-flying AI and cloud-computing stocks. However, with the S&P 500’s Shiller price-to-earnings (P/E) Ratio hitting its third-highest level (nearly 39) during a bull market, when back-tested 154 years, historically inexpensive and time-tested consumer staple stocks like Coca-Cola could have their moment to shine. What Coca-Cola brings to the table for their shareholders is consistency. It has ongoing operations in every country except North Korea, Cuba, and Russia, and has been the most-chosen brand from retail shelves for 12 consecutive years, based on the annual “Brand Footprint” study from Kantar. Coca-Cola is finding ways to move the organic growth needle in emerging markets while allowing its exceptional pricing power to do the heavy lifting in developed countries. Top-tier marketing is another reason Coca-Cola has been such a rock-solid investment spanning multiple decades. It’s relying on digital channels and AI to tailor messages for younger audiences, and is leaning on its rich history and brand-name ambassadors to cross generational gaps and engage with more mature consumers. The company’s 62-year (and counting) streak of consecutive dividend increases makes clear that this marketing strategy is working. To round things out, Coca-Cola stock is a relative bargain. Its forward P/E ratio of 21.4 represents an 8% discount to its average forward P/E multiple over the last half-decade. On the other end of the spectrum, the one Dow component investors would be wise to steer clear of in February is one of the newest additions to this ageless index, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). Investors don’t have to dig too deeply to understand why Nvidia gained more than $3 trillion in market value in less than two years. The company’s Hopper (H100) graphics processing units (GPUs) and next-generation Blackwell GPU architecture are the brains powering enterprise AI-data centers, fueling generative AI solutions, and facilitating the training of large language models (LLMs). While Nvidia has unquestionably benefited from AI-GPU scarcity and overwhelming demand for its AI hardware, there are reasons to believe its parabolic climb won’t be sustainable. The eye-popping decline AI stocks experienced on Jan. 27, shortly after DeepSeek’s open-source LLM chatbot made its debut, provides a perfect example of the fragility of Nvidia’s ascent. The potential for DeepSeek to develop and train a capable chatbot that uses less-powerful Nvidia chips is a needed reminder to the investment community that most businesses have yet to optimize their AI solutions and lack a well-defined game plan of how they’ll do so. Every next-big-thing innovation for three decades has needed time to mature, and artificial intelligence is unlikely to be the exception. Competition poses a serious threat to Nvidia, as well. Although most investors are focusing on direct external competitors, the biggest concern for Nvidia is that many of its top customers by net sales are internally developing AI chips of their own. Even if these GPUs are slower than the Hopper and Blackwell, they’ll be considerably cheaper and more readily accessible. In short, this internal competition can cost Nvidia valuable data center real estate, and will almost certainly remove the AI-GPU scarcity that’s fueled its pricing power and boosted its gross margin. The regulatory environment isn’t helping Nvidia out, either. The Biden administration restricted exports of high-powered AI chips and AI-related equipment for three consecutive years. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s return to the White House begins with tariffs for China, the threat of tariffs on foreign chipmakers, and a protectionist approach to AI technology. Finally, Nvidia’s valuation is a concern. Its stock topped a price-to-sales multiple of more than 40 last summer, which is consistent with a level that prior bubbles have burst. 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 $302,501!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $43,181!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $527,934!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. Learn more » *Stock Advisor returns as of February 3, 2025 Sean Williams has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Magnificent Dow Stocks You Can Confidently Buy in February, and 1 to Avoid was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Magnificent #Dow #Stocks #Confidently #Buy #February #Avoid Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Xbox Will Bring Age of Mythology: Retold, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition to PS5 This Year Xbox Will Bring Age of Mythology: Retold, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition to PS5 This Year Two more Microsoft first-party games are coming to PlayStation 5 in 2025. Age of Mythology: Retold and Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, two real-time strategy titles from the Xbox Game Studios stable, will be available on PS5 in the coming months, developer World’s Edge announced Tuesday. Age of Mythology: Retold, a remaster of 2002’s Age of Mythology, will launch on Sony’s console on March 4, while Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition will be released on the platform this Spring, with no specific launch date announced yet. Michael Mann, head of World’s Edge, made the announcement on the Age of Empires website Tuesday and confirmed the two games would arrive on PS5 alongside new expansions for both. “I’m delighted to share that we are giving fans more choice to play where they want by bringing Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition and Age of Mythology: Retold to PlayStation 5,” Mann said. “This isn’t just about convenience—it’s about growing and strengthening the Age community,” he added. Both games will support cross-play across PC, Xbox, and PlayStation platforms. Age of Mythology: Retold Coming to PS5 in March Mann announced that Age of Mythology: Retold would launch on PS5 on March 4, along with a new Immortal Pillars expansion, which will be available on all platforms. “We will welcome PlayStation 5 players to adventure with Arkantos, choose their pantheon, and fight for divine blessings with all the same content available in the Xbox and PC versions,” he said. PS5 players who pre-purchase the Premium Edition will receive five-day early access to the game starting February 27, access to the Immortal Pillars expansion, and more. World’s Edge confirmed that starting March 4, all game updates will be rolled out on all platforms — Steam, Windows Store, Xbox and PlayStation 5, simultaneously. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Coming to PS5 in Spring 2025 While World’s Edge did not specify a release date, the studio said Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition would launch on PS5 this spring. The developer said the game would be released on the platform alongside “one of the most exciting DLC expansions for Age II: DE yet,” which would feature new content and new civilizations for Ranked, all playable across PC, Xbox, and PS5. World’s Edge also announced it would release two new DLCs for Age of Empires IV in 2025. The first of these two DLCs, Knights of Cross and Rose, will launch in spring, as well. The two real-time strategy games will join Xbox first-party title Forza Horizon 5 on the PS5. Developer Playground Games announced last week that the acclaimed racing title would arrive on PS5 this spring. Microsoft has committed to launching more Xbox games on rival platforms from Sony and Nintendo this year since the company shifted to a multi-platform launch strategy in 2024. Xbox chief Phil Spencer said last month that no Xbox exclusive title was off-limits on the question of launching on rival platforms. “What we find is we’re able to drive a better business that allows us to invest in great game lineup like you saw (at Xbox Developer Direct). And that’s our strategy. Our strategy is to allow our games to be available,” Spencer said in an interview in January. Source link #Xbox #Bring #Age #Mythology #Retold #Age #Empires #Definitive #Edition #PS5 #Year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gold Stocks Shine as Prices Hit Record Highs: Top 3 Picks Gold Stocks Shine as Prices Hit Record Highs: Top 3 Picks The trend of has continued its strong momentum from 2024, with the precious metal soaring to record highs in early 2025. In 2024, gold delivered an impressive return, surging over 30% for the year. Investors in the sector are celebrating as the price of gold per ounce reached a new all-time high on Friday, closing near $2,800. Similarly, the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (NYSE:) also hit an all-time high, bringing its year-to-date (YTD) gain to an impressive 6.8%. For those looking to gain exposure to the sector, here’s what’s driving the latest rally in gold, along with three top-performing gold stocks to watch in 2025. Gold Surges on Tariff Concerns and a Weak Dollar A weakening and ongoing global economic uncertainties have fueled gold’s record-breaking move. surged well over 1% last week, surpassing its previous high from October 2024. The latest rally was driven by renewed fears surrounding President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which have heightened concerns over global trade and inflationary pressures. A weaker US dollar makes gold more attractive to investors holding other currencies, as it is priced in US dollars. The dollar’s weakness came in response to a widely anticipated rate cut by the European Central Bank (ECB). Data also show that US inflation-adjusted GDP grew at an annualized rate of 2.3% in Q4 2024, down from 3.1% in the previous quarter. Gold’s price action has been volatile since the 2024 US elections. Initially, Trump’s victory led to a selloff in gold as investors rotated into riskier assets, anticipating pro-growth policies. However, the resurgence of trade tensions and economic uncertainty has reignited demand for the metal as a safe-haven asset. With ongoing geopolitical instability, gold’s strong performance may continue, making select gold stocks attractive for investors. 3 Top-Performing Gold Stocks YTD 1. Kinross Gold (NYSE:) has emerged as one of the best-performing gold stocks in 2025, surging nearly 22% YTD. The company operates mining projects in the US, Brazil, Chile, and other regions. Analysts have maintained a bullish stance on KGC, with the stock receiving a Moderate Buy consensus rating. The company’s recent earnings report exceeded expectations. In Q3 2024, Kinross reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.24, surpassing analyst estimates of $0.19. Revenue climbed 29.9% year-over-year to $1.43 billion, exceeding projections of $1.32 billion. Investors should keep an eye on KGC’s upcoming earnings report, scheduled for February 12 before the market opens, as it could provide further catalysts for the stock. 2. AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:), a global gold exploration and mining giant, has been the top-performing industry name YTD, surging 31%. With operations spanning South America, Asia, and Africa, AU has benefited from rising gold prices and strong earnings performance. AngloGold Ashanti posted an EPS of $0.60 in its last reported quarter, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.51, a 17.65% positive earnings surprise. Revenue for the quarter reached $1.38 billion, exceeding expectations of $1.23 billion. With its solid fundamentals and favorable industry tailwinds, AU remains a compelling choice for gold investors. 3. Gold Fields Ltd (NYSE:) has also delivered strong returns in 2025, rising 28% YTD. The company operates gold mines in Chile, South Africa, Ghana, Canada, Australia, and Peru. It also explores and silver deposits, providing diversified exposure to precious metals. Unlike KGC and AU, however, GFI faces notable technical resistance. While the stock has performed well YTD, it has yet to break above key overhead resistance levels, such as $18 per share. This could pose challenges for further upside momentum in the near term. Investors should closely monitor GFI’s price action relative to these resistance points to gauge potential entry or exit opportunities. Original Post Source link #Gold #Stocks #Shine #Prices #Hit #Record #Highs #Top #Picks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is Your Dividend Portfolio DeepSeek-Proof? Let’s Discuss Is Your Dividend Portfolio DeepSeek-Proof? Let’s Discuss Many of you have written in asking about DeepSeek’s latest release and its potential effects on our income portfolio and strategies. Let’s discuss the latest in AI because, yes, there are ripples into Dividendland that are not fully appreciated by mainstream investors. First the DeepSeek disruption in AI, and let’s take vanilla dividend darling Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF (NASDAQ:), which yields 12.2% as our example. Is that big divvie still safe and secure? Income seekers are constantly staring at the fund, writing in to ask me if they have permission to: Buy QYLD. Collect its monthly dividend. Never think about it again. Not quite. And definitely not now. QYLD is like a breakfast beer. There is a time and a place for it, but it is not something we want to indulge in daily. QYLD’s strategy is a straightforward approach. It buys the stocks in the and simultaneously sells (“writes”) covered calls on the index itself to generate income. In doing so, QYLD sacrifices potential upside for real cash from the option premiums it collects. Result: Its 12.2% yield. But note that this options writing does not guarantee a floor on the price of the fund itself. Again, there is a time and a place to buy this thing. Since we last discussed QYLD, it has returned a terrific 26.7% in just 15 months. If you missed it then, well, I wouldn’t chase it now. Especially with the latest DeepSeek news weighing on some outsized positions held by the fund. AI chatbot DeepSeek sank the Nasdaq last week. Nvidia (NASDAQ:) shares nosedived from their nosebleed level, shedding 16% in a week. The “problem” for NVDA was that ******** engineers created a more efficient AI mousetrap, one that does not require endless processing power to run computation after computation after computation. DeepSeek takes shortcuts to find answers, similar to our human brains. While DeepSeek used NVDA chips, evidence suggests that the company developed its model using less powerful processors. Even if DeepSeek may have obtained NVDA chips illegally via sketchy third parties in Singapore to evade export restrictions, the big takeaway is that its engineers still were not working with the latest chips. So, DeepSeek’s technologists have now shown the world that you can do AI with less money and complex tech. (And they open-sourced their code to cement the accomplishment!) The big picture is bullish for overall AI adoption. We’ll see greater applications even sooner. But there will be winners and losers and prominent domestic companies here in the US are licking their wounds. Losers in our dividend portfolios? No. We didn’t touch NVDA, which shareholders dumped to the tune of $600 billion from fear that more efficient AI won’t need its newest chips. But even after the selloff, NVDA shares still trade hands at a swollen 26-times sales. (For perspective, Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:) fetches 11-times revenues while Alphabet (NASDAQ:) (GOOG) and Apple (NASDAQ:) command 7X and 9X respectively. Good luck with that. The stock’s paltry 0.03% yield won’t stop sellers. Which is going to weigh on QYLD—it has a 7.7% position in NVDA! I bet most owners of the fund don’t realize this. They see the 12.2% dividend and think “safe” when really this is anything but. QYLD also has a 7.8% position in Microsoft (NASDAQ:), which dropped 6.5% last week in the DeepSeek aftermath. MSFT owns 49% of OpenAI, the “**** cat” of the American AI industry that was caught off-guard by the hungry, savvy ******** engineers. And here’s some additional irony. In vintage ******** fashion there is speculation that DeepSeek engineers “distilled” answers from OpenAI’s ChatGPT to train its ChatBot. (The biggest smoking gun? When asked who it was, DeepSeek replied that it was ChatGPT. Ha!) This becomes quite embarrassing when we consider that ChatGPT runs on Microsoft’s Azure servers. Microsoft should have caught this. But no. So, DeepSeek “mind melded” with ChatGPT—and now the “parasite” outperforms its “host.” Bad news for NVDA and MSFT which combine for 15.5% of QYLD. Avoid. And I haven’t even bitten into Apple, which is drifting off to an antiquated tech island of its own. AAPL has no meaningful AI play and its sales malaise reflects this. Revenues have only climbed 2.5% total over the past three years. If not for inflation, the company would have a shrinking top line, and without buybacks, no meaningful increase in earnings! Apple is QYLD’s largest holding at 9.1%, bringing us 24.6% dead NVDA, MSFT and AAPL weight. And “America’s ticker” (SPY) is no safe harbor. (I sarcastically refer to SPY as America’s ticker because it is the most over-owned investment in the land.) SPY carries 19% deadweight in the big three. Bad enough. There was a time and a place for SPY too and yes, it has had an amazing run. But we are entering a “Trump 2.0” stock market with defined winners and losers. Tariffs protect certain sectors and hurt others. Lower regulation generally helps healthcare… except we now have RFK Jr., who scares healthcare investors. And DeepSeek is disrupting tech. It no longer makes sense to own everything. Bye-bye, SPY. We should also avoid QYLD’s analogous Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (NYSE:). XYLD employs a similar strategy to QYLD but buys stocks while writing covered calls against the index to generate yield. Its 10.6% dividend is enticing, though potentially dicey—XYLD has 20.8% exposure to NVDA, MSFT and AAPL. A better bet is this life-changing 11% dividend with zero exposure to this troubled tech trio. And its next distribution is just days away. Disclosure: Brett Owens and Michael Foster are contrarian income investors who look for undervalued stocks/funds across the U.S. markets. Click here to learn how to profit from their strategies in the latest report, “7 Great Dividend Growth Stocks for a Secure Retirement.” Source link #Dividend #Portfolio #DeepSeekProof #Lets #Discuss Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Swinney attacks Trump’s Gaza ‘take over’ plans as ‘ethnic cleansing’ Swinney attacks Trump’s Gaza ‘take over’ plans as ‘ethnic cleansing’ Angus Cochrane BBC Scotland News Getty Images Donald Trump has suggested turning Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East” Scotland’s first minister has said there must be no ethnic cleansing in Gaza after US President Donald Trump proposed taking ownership of the region. John Swinney described suggestions Palestinians should be removed from their home as “unacceptable and dangerous”. Trump has previously called for a “clean out” of Gaza, saying Palestinians should be permanently resettled. Neighbouring countries have firmly rejected the proposals. Swinney posted on X: “After months of collective punishment and the death of over 40,000 in Gaza, any suggestion Palestinians should be removed from their home is unacceptable and dangerous. “There must be no ethnic cleansing. “Only a proper two state solution will bring lasting peace.” SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn called on Sir Keir Starmer’s government to denounce Trump’s comments. He said: “The prime minister must condemn these dangerous plans in no uncertain terms – and the *** government must speak out, act and pull every diplomatic lever to protect Palestinians.” Getty Images John Swinney has previously sought to speak of Donald Trump’s affinity for Scotland Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Labour Environment Secretary Steve Reed said it would be “inappropriate” to provide a “running commentary” on Trump’s statements. He said the US president “deserves credit for his role” in securing a ceasefire in Gaza. He added: “The *** government’s view is, and will remain, that Palestinians must be able to return to their homes and rebuild their shattered lives.” Speaking at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said the US would “own” Gaza and “be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site”. He added that “everyone loves the idea” and that the US would “create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.” “This could be the Riviera of the Middle East,” the president told reporters. Asked if Palestinians who leave Gaza would be allowed to resettle there in the future, Trump said “the world’s people” would be able to live in the region, including Palestinians. Netanyahu, who is the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over allegations of war crimes, said the proposal was “worth paying attention to”. Trump balancing act Swinney endorsed Trump’s rival in the US presidential race, Democrat Kamala Harris, but has sought to avoid direct criticism of the former Apprentice star since he returned to the Oval Office. Trump’s mother was from the Isle of Lewis and and Swinney has repeatedly said he wanted to use his affinity for Scotland to strengthen economic and cultural ties between the nations. Scottish businesses, particularly Scotch whisky exporters, are keen to avoid a repeat of damaging trade tariffs imposed in Trump’s first presidency. Until now, harsher criticism from the first minister has been reserved for Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X and member of Trump’s administration. At a speech last month, Swinney describing him as a “populist”. Ethnic cleansing has not been recognised as an independent crime under international law, though the term has been used in UN resolutions. A UN commission of experts looking into humanitarian crimes in the former Yugoslavia defined ethnic cleansing as “rendering an area ethnically homogeneous by using force or intimidation to remove persons of given groups from the area”. The recent conflict between Israel and Gaza began on 7 October 2023 when ****** fighters stormed into Israeli territory, killing about 1,200 people. The subsequent war has killed more than 46,600 people in Gaza, including a large number of women and children, according to figures by the ******-run health authority. Source link #Swinney #attacks #Trumps #Gaza #plans #ethnic #cleansing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Palestinians fear repeat of their 1948 expulsion Palestinians fear repeat of their 1948 expulsion Palestinians say US President Donald Trump’s plan to take over the rebuilding of Gaza while they are permanently resettled is akin to being driven out in 1948. Source link #Palestinians #fear #repeat #expulsion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kevin O’Leary says you’ll be a ‘multimillionaire’ if you can do 1 crucial thing in America Kevin O’Leary says you’ll be a ‘multimillionaire’ if you can do 1 crucial thing in America ‘You’ll be free too’: Kevin O’Leary says you’ll be a ‘multimillionaire’ if you can do 1 crucial thing in America With an estimated personal fortune of $400 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Kevin O’Leary is clearly a rich man. However, in a recent video posted on YouTube, the entrepreneur insists that the pursuit of money is not what drives him. “Yeah, I woke up rich one day but I didn’t care and now I work harder than I ever did,” he said. “It’s about the personal freedom, not the money.” Besides the pursuit of freedom, O’Leary says his career has been fueled by one element that he believes is the key to creating wealth: a passion for problem solving. Entrepreneurs pursue risky ventures because they’re focused on curing pain points for specific customers, O’Leary argues. He believes a similar mindset could help most people accumulate wealth faster. “You’ll wake up one day and be a multi-millionaire if you solve big problems for people,” he said in the video. Other successful entrepreneurs have also echoed this approach. Virgin CEO Richard Branson encourages people to “fight tooth and nail to solve problems,” while Shark Tank co-host Mark Cuban called problem-solving “the foundation of being an entrepreneur.” Here’s how you can apply this mindset to your investments. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they’re banking on instead As O’Leary suggests, some companies were created to solve specific problems. If the problem is big enough and the solution is potent, a business can be relatively lucrative. Cybercrime, for instance, is a huge problem. In 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) saw a 10% surge in cybercrime complaints year-over-year. Americans collectively lost $12.5 billion to such crime, up 22% from the previous year. Companies like Palo Alto Networks Inc (NASDAQ:PANW) and Crowdstrike (NASDAQ:CRWD) are problem solvers in this space. According to Palo Alto Networks, its enterprise firewalls have prevented over 13.46 billion attacks, while Crowdstrike has 17.7% market share in endpoint device security. Story Continues Another widesweeping problem is how painful, uncomfortable and risky medical surgeries can be. Surgeons across the world are increasingly adopting robotic assistants to make their procedures less invasive, more precise and more successful. One of the leading problem solvers in this arena is Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG). The company claims that its da Vinci System has been involved in over 12 million surgeries and over 60,000 surgeons have been trained to use it — and the stock is up 200% over the past five years. Climate change is another problem that innovative companies are trying to mitigate. In 2024, there were 27 major climate disasters across the U.S. that caused damages exceeding $1 billion, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP) is one of many companies investing billions into building out renewable energy infrastructure to mitigate the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Although its earnings are robust, the stock is down almost 20% over the past year. This price correction has pushed the dividend yield up to 6.8%. Simply put, companies that solve problems can be an ideal target for investors looking to earn passive income. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Source link #Kevin #OLeary #youll #multimillionaire #crucial #America Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The Aga Khan – a life in pictures – The Guardian The Aga Khan – a life in pictures – The Guardian The Aga Khan – a life in pictures The GuardianThe Aga Khan IV, Leader of the Ismaili Muslims, Dies at 88 The New York TimesThe Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the world’s Ismaili Muslims, has died at age 88 CNNRemembering the Aga Khan: The extraordinary life story of the world’s most well-connected royal, who was a close friend of the late Queen Elizabeth Tatler Source link #Aga #Khan #life #pictures #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Snaky Cat, a thrilling spin on the iconic Snake, is now available on Android and iOS Snaky Cat, a thrilling spin on the iconic Snake, is now available on Android and iOS Snaky Cat has just released on Android and iOS Avoid crashing into walls and other cats A special combo system keeps things interesting Snaky Cat, the highly anticipated kitty-themed .io battle royale from Appxplore is now available globally on the App Store and Google Play. With over 1.5 million pre-registrations, it’s clear that plenty of you have been eager to dive into this fast-paced, cat-vs-cat showdown. Snaky Cat puts a fresh spin on the classic Snake formula. Instead of solo slithering, you’ll find yourself in real-time PvP arenas, battling it out against other cats to devour donuts, grow longer, and rack up points before the timer runs out. The rules are simple, avoid crashing into walls or other cats, and try to outmanoeuvre your opponents to stay in the fight. The fun doesn’t stop at solo play. You can team up with a friend and enter the same arena, showcasing your bond with a special fusion skin that blends both cats. Whether you’re competing to top each other’s scores or working together to climb the team combo ranks, the multiplayer aspect will keep things engaging. Another feature that ensures the excitement continues is the combo system. Consume donuts endlessly to build up monstrous combos, pushing your score even higher. As you grow your cat and dominate the arena, you’ll also earn rewards, with expeditions available for the biggest cats that survive until the final buzzer. Before you go on, check out this list of the best multiplayer games to play on Android! Progression in Snaky Cat goes beyond just getting longer. You can spend Rubies on powerful upgrades and use Cat Tokens to unlock a variety of adorable feline characters. Customisation options let you add quirky **** accessories to your cats, giving them a personal touch as you slither your way up the leaderboards. If you’re pre-registered for Snaky Cat, then you will be gifted 2,000 Rubies and 30 Cat Tokens on launching the game. Plus, exclusive cosmetic rewards, including a Legendary Cat have been distributed to celebrate the global launch. Source link #Snaky #Cat #thrilling #spin #iconic #Snake #Android #iOS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

USAID staff will be put on leave starting on Friday USAID staff will be put on leave starting on Friday Thousands of employees at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will be placed on leave from Friday night, the agency has said in a statement on its website. In the announcement, USAID said all “direct-hire personnel” will be placed on leave at the end of this week except those on “mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs”. The move is the latest in a string of cuts President Donald Trump has made to government-funded programs since returning to office last month. Many have argued the choice to shut it down could have a profound impact on humanitarian programmes around the world. USAID said it would work with the State Department to arrange and pay for return travel for its many personnel posted outside the US within the month. Those employees who are part of the exceptions will be told by 15:00 EDT (20:00 GMT) on Thursday. A statement posted on USAID’s website concludes with the message: “Thank you for your service.” The agency, which provides humanitarian aid to more than 100 countries, employees 10,000 people worldwide and two-thirds of those people work overseas, according to the Congressional Research Service. On Tuesday, many USAID staffers received an email notifying them they had been placed on paid administrative leave. The email, obtained by BBC News, told employees they must remain “available” by telephone and email during business hours but are not allowed to enter USAID buildings. Since returning to the White House last month, Trump and his allies have prioritised slashing government funding. As part of that move, the Trump administration turned its focus on USAID. Earlier this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio became the acting head of USAID, merging one government agency into another. Elon Musk, the billionaire Tesla CEO who was appointed to run a new agency to identify spending cuts in the US government, has said USAID should be shut down as it is “beyond repair”. Many have cautioned that closing USAID’s doors would have devastating effects on vulnerable populations across the world. USAID’s activities range from providing prosthetic limbs to soldiers injured in Ukraine, to clearing landmines and containing the spread of Ebola in Africa. Democrats in Washington DC have been particularly critical of the move. “[USAID is] a foreign policy tool with bipartisan origins that is critical in this dangerous global environment,” New Jersey Senator Andy Kim wrote on social media. “Gutting it means gutting our ability to compete and keep America safe.” The agency, founded in 1961, has bases in 60 countries and works in dozens of others. USAID managed more than $40b (£32.25b) in fiscal year 2023, according to the Congressional Research Service. Source link #USAID #staff #put #leave #starting #Friday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Super Bowl: Donald Trump to make history as first sitting president to attend NFL showpiece Super Bowl: Donald Trump to make history as first sitting president to attend NFL showpiece Donald Trump will make history this weekend by becoming the first sitting president of the United States of America to attend the Super Bowl. The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The city was devastated by a terror attack on New Year’s Day when 14 people were killed on Bourbon Street. Trump, who was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States in January, is serving his second stint in office. Though previous presidents have had some involvement in the Super Bowl such as doing the pre-match coin toss from the White House, no sitting president has ever attended the event. “Security measures have been further enhanced this year, given that this will be the first time a sitting president of the United States will attend the event,” Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement. Earlier this week, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Super Bowl is “the biggest homeland security event that we do every year”. Trump’s attendance is likely to be controversial given his comments about the NFL throughout his political career. Trump, an outspoken critic of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, has questioned the patriotism of NFL players who kneel during the playing of the US national anthem. The taking of the knee was a movement designed to draw attention to the issues of racial injustice in the United States. Sunday’s Super Bowl will be the first in four years that will not display an “End Racism” message in the end zone, a “Choose Love” message will be used instead. Since taking office, Trump has criticised non-discriminatory hiring practices aimed at improving workplace diversity. The NFL denies the decision to remove the banners calling to end racism is connected to the current political climate. “The Super Bowl is often a snapshot in time and the NFL is in a unique position to capture and lift the imagination of the country,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told AFP. “Choose love is appropriate to use as our country has endured in recent weeks wildfires in southern California, the terrorist attack here in New Orleans, the plane and helicopter ****** near our nation’s capital and the plane ****** in Philadelphia.” Source link #Super #Bowl #Donald #Trump #history #sitting #president #attend #NFL #showpiece Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ports Minister has ‘no plans’ to meet traditional owners over Broome cliff collapse Ports Minister has ‘no plans’ to meet traditional owners over Broome cliff collapse Ports Minister David Michael has no plans to meet with traditional owners over the controversial cliff collapse at Entrance Point, despite community concerns and calls for further investigation Source link #Ports #Minister #plans #meet #traditional #owners #Broome #cliff #collapse Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

If You Invest $5,000 in Coca-Cola Stock, Will You Become a Millionaire One Day? If You Invest $5,000 in Coca-Cola Stock, Will You Become a Millionaire One Day? There’s no doubt that most people on the face of the planet have heard of or been a customer of Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO). The company that offers its namesake drink, as well as more than 200 others, has a presence in a jaw-dropping 200 countries and territories. It’s so popular that 1.9 billion servings of Coca-Cola products are consumed every 24 hours. The business has steadily built wealth for shareholders over many decades. But if you invest $5,000 in this leading beverage stock right now, will you become a millionaire one day? Coca-Cola’s brand is arguably its most valuable asset. There are numerous non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages that people can choose from. But this one has stood the test of time, thanks not only to its consistent offering, but its marketing prowess, which has resonated strongly with people. This supports the company’s pricing power. Asking customers to pay 5% more for their favorite drink probably won’t result in changing consumption patterns. And given that these are small, repeat purchases, Coca-Cola benefits from durable demand. In other words, sales aren’t that affected by the whims of the broader economic backdrop. That can’t be said about a lot of companies out there, where higher interest rates or unemployment could spark financial turmoil. These attractive characteristics have resulted in tremendous profitability for the business. Coca-Cola usually turns 21% of every dollar of revenue into free cash flow. That bottom-line performance has allowed the company to raise its dividend for 62 straight years, with 2025 likely adding another year to that phenomenal streak. Coca-Cola is a very mature enterprise. It doesn’t operate at the cutting edge of some powerful secular trend, like streaming entertainment, cloud computing, or digital payments, for example. Its business is boring, since not a lot of things are changing. That’s discouraging for growth-minded investors. Coca-Cola’s 2023 revenue of $45.8 billion was just 118% higher than exactly 20 years before. This translates to a weak 4% compound annual growth rate. That’s definitely not turning any heads among the investment community. As I noted above, Cola-Cola is already ubiquitous. Yes, management can acquire other brands, like it did with Costa in 2018, to expand its portfolio. But unless there’s a surprising jump in the global population, the company’s revenue growth isn’t going to outpace the increase in world gross domestic product. It also doesn’t help that consumption of soft drinks per person in the U.S. is trending lower. That backdrop doesn’t bode well for Coca-Cola’s ability to expand at a notable clip. Story Continues Coca-Cola is a household name with one of the world’s most recognizable brands. What’s more, the business remains a top Warren Buffett stock, with Berkshire Hathaway owning 9.3% of the outstanding shares. That’s certainly a vote of confidence highlighting the company’s quality. But if you’re looking to buy the stock, it’s important to understand the track record. In the past three decades, Coca-Cola has generated a total return of 905%. For comparison’s sake, the S&P 500 produced a total return of 2,150% during that time. When you consider the muted growth prospects mentioned earlier, it’s reasonable to expect this underperformance to continue indefinitely. The current price-to-earnings ratio of 26.5, which is in line with the trailing five-year average, also doesn’t add upside. Let’s say you invest $5,000 in the stock today. In order for you to become a millionaire in 50 years, shares would need to generate a total return of 19,900%, translating to an annualized gain of 11.2%. I just don’t see this as a probable outcome. Therefore, I think Coca-Cola only makes sense for dividend investors who desire receiving a steady stream of income from the businesses that they own. Before you buy stock in Coca-Cola, 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 Coca-Cola 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 $735,852!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 903% — 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 3, 2025 Neil Patel and his clients have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. If You Invest $5,000 in Coca-Cola Stock, Will You Become a Millionaire One Day? was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Invest #CocaCola #Stock #Millionaire #Day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Toyota raises profit forecast and aims to double down on China – Financial Times Toyota raises profit forecast and aims to double down on China – Financial Times Toyota raises profit forecast and aims to double down on China Financial TimesToyota to set up wholly owned EV, battery unit in China ReutersToyota announces Lexus EV plant in Shanghai Yahoo FinanceJapan’s Toyota announces EV and battery push in China and U.S., as its quarterly profit surges The Associated Press Source link #Toyota #raises #profit #forecast #aims #double #China #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Police can check school bags, minister says Police can check school bags, minister says BBC Education minister Lynne Neagle said police officers could be called upon to help with bag searches at schools Teachers can call on police officers to search pupils’ bags if they do not feel comfortable doing so themselves, Wales’ education minister has said. Lynne Neagle said there were lessons to be learned following the “terrible incident” at a Carmarthenshire school in which two teachers and a pupil were stabbed. A teenager was found guilty of three counts of attempted *******, leading to calls for improved safety measures in schools, such as security guards. Responding to calls for heightened security in schools, Neagle said this may not be an option school staff were comfortable with, adding she would be holding a “behaviour summit” to tackle the “complex” problems facing schools. “There’s been a culture shift and what I’m seeing is a whole range of societal problems are now playing out in schools and schools are having to do things that they didn’t have to before,” she told Radio Wales Breakfast. “I’m hearing a lot from schools about behavioural issues [and] we are seeing more and more young people with complex mental health issues. “One of the things we are doing as a government is I’m bringing together all partners in Wales later this year – as soon as we can – to have a behaviour summit where we’re going to look at these issues… I want that to be really action focussed, so we come out with an action plan.” Following the verdict, Fiona Elias – one of the teachers who was attacked at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in April 2024 – said she wanted to meet the local authority and Welsh government to make sure no one else went through “the nightmare I have endured”. Neagle said: “I’ve already met with Fiona Elias, I’ve also visited the school on two occasions. I’ve been really clear that I want to do everything that I can to support the school who’ve been through this terrible time, but it is also obviously important that we learn lessons now from what happened. “Now that the trial is over, we need to understand what happened on the run-up to this case and we are talking with the local authority about how we best learn the lesson from that.” During the trial, it was revealed that the teenager responsible for the attack regularly took a knife to school, until her father began checking her bag each morning. Lynne Neagle said she would be bringing education stakeholders from across wales together to discuss behaviour in schools Cefin Campbell MS, whose brother works at the school and tried to restrain the girl, previously said employing security guards to assist with bag checks could be an option for schools to consider. “I don’t think the onus should have been put on the father to check the bag every day,” he said. Responding to the suggestion, Neagle said: “I’m not sure lots of teachers would be comfortable with security guards in schools. And if they don’t want to [check pupils’ bags] they can ask the police to do that, the guidance is very clear on that.” She added “really strong guidance on the carrying of knives” was already in place in Wales, with schools permitted to search pupils for offensive weapons or permanently exclude pupils if they have a knife in school. “It is an exceptional thing to be carrying a knife in school and these incidents are, thankfully, very rare,” she said. “I want teachers to have the tools that they need to be able to deal with these issues in schools, but it can’t all be on teachers.” Source link #Police #check #school #bags #minister Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How To Claim Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Pre-Order Bonuses & Gold Edition Items How To Claim Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Pre-Order Bonuses & Gold Edition Items Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 lured us with tempting pre-order bonuses and Gold Edition goodies. They all help to bolster what is already a big and bold RPG, and there are certain actions you need to execute to secure what’s yours. I completely understand if you don’t feel the need to pay for extra content for a game. I don’t always do it, but when I do, it’s for a good game. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 falls under this category and it’s an early 2025 Game of the Year contender. You can make the journey even more thrilling (and stylish) with the Gallant Huntman’s Kit, and more dangerous with the Lion’s Crest pre-order bonus quest. Let’s find out how you obtain both. How To Claim Lion’s Crest Pre-Order Bonus in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Pre-order bonus secured. Credit to Warhorse Studios You need to have pre-ordered any edition of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 to access The Lion’s Crest DLC. If you have, you must finish the final introductory mission, and speak to a Scribe in Troskowitz to begin the Lion’s Crest DLC mission. Here’s a precise layout of what needs to be done to play this fun DLC quest: Double-check you pre-ordered any edition of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. If it’s digital, check the content is downloaded, and if it’s a physical copy, ensure the code has been entered and the content is redeemed. Start a game of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. Advance through the early hours until you finish the Laboratores mainline quest. You now have access to the full world. Go into the main building opposite the Troskowitz fast travel marker on the map. You can find a Scribe sitting in a room on the left-hand side of the building. Speak to them and exhaust all the dialogue options to receive the Lion’s Crest DLC content. Quest Details and Contents The quest sets you on a path to solve riddles and eventually earn the entire Knight Brunswick armor and weapon set. Here’s a quick checklist of every item you can get from the Lion’s Crest bonus quest, courtesy of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s editions page: Caparison for the horse of the legendary knight Brunswick, adorned with a Bohemian coat of arms. Brunswick’s arm plate caparison for the horse of the legendary knight Brunswick, adorned with a Bohemian coat of arms. Brunswick’s belt dagger to accompany the legendary armor set. Brunswick’s brigandine of the legendary knight Brunswick. Brunswick’s deadly poleaxe to accompany the legendary armor set. Brunswick’s great helm mail coif armor of the legendary knight Brunswick. Brunswick’s leg plate of legendary knight Bruncsiwck. Brunswick’s mail coif armor of the legendary knight Brunswick. Brunswick’s plate gauntlets of the legendary knight Brunswick. How To Claim Gallant Huntsman’s Kit Gold Edition Content in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Ooh, fancy. Credit to Warhorse Studios Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Gold Edition must be purchased to obtain the Gallant Huntsman’s Kit, The Lion’s Crest bonus quest, and future expansions. The Gallant Huntsman’s Kit gear is automatically added to your inventory once you complete the Laboratores quest. A similar theme is present for the pre-order and bonus content. It all hinges on you progressing through KC2 naturally until you finish the compulsory Laboratores main mission. The developer also has this to say about its unlock conditions: “You will receive a pop-up message after you have completed the “Laboratories” quest or when you log back into the game if you have already completed the quest and purchased the content later. It says “Your premium items have been successfully added to your shared stash. Enjoy your new gear and happy adventuring!”. Contents There’s no extra quest this time, but you get a lot of extra armor and firepower to reward your Gold Edition procurement. This is every bonus included in the Gallant Huntsman’s Kit Gold Edition content: Artemis’ crossbow for hunting with our new type of ranged weapon Hunting bolt 30 bolts to use with the crossbow Master huntsman’s Hunting Hood adorned with pearls to protect from the elements Master huntsman’s pants Master huntsman’s gloves Hunting Gloves from leather for manipulating weapons and downing game Master huntsman’s boots Hunting Boots – well-made leather for stable movement through dense forest Nimrod coat Hunting Coat based on the famous hunter Nimrod St. Hubert hat Hunting Cap based on a legend about St. Hubert You should now understand how to acquire Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s pre-order and Gold Edition bonuses! They should help you complete the game, so let us know what you think of the goodies when you get them. We have a ton of other KC2 guides to help you: How to Lockpick, how to make more Saviour Schnapps, and our top tips for stealth. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Claim #Kingdom #Deliverance #PreOrder #Bonuses #Gold #Edition #Items Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

WA’s Youth Justice Crisis: Greens call to shut down unit 18 and set sights on child protection policy WA’s Youth Justice Crisis: Greens call to shut down unit 18 and set sights on child protection policy WA Greens MLC Brad Pettitt has called for the closure of Hakea Prison’s Unit 18, accusing the Government of neglecting regional youth justice by failing to deliver a long-promised on-country facility Source link #Youth #Justice #Crisis #Greens #call #shut #unit #set #sights #child #protection #policy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DNA Confirms Orcas Prey Upon One of Australia’s Deadliest Marine Predators DNA Confirms Orcas Prey Upon One of Australia’s Deadliest Marine Predators It’s not just the white sharks off the South African coast of Gansbaai that feel the deep, primal fear known only to prey. For years now, a single pair of orcas (Orcinus orca) has been recorded off the coast of Gansbaai, harrying and hunting the white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) that make the area one of their homes, slurping out the sharks’ nutrient-rich livers, leaving the rest of the carcasses to wash ashore. It now appears that the behavior is more widespread than we knew. In 2023, off the southeastern coast of Australia, half a world away from Gansbaai, the remains of a 4.7-meter (15.4-foot) white shark washed ashore, a gaping hole in its abdomen ringed by ragged tooth marks, and a marked absence of a liver. DNA sequencing has now confirmed that the culprit was none other than an orca. The DNA evidence of the orca attack was found in the bite marks on the shark’s carcass. (Ben Johnson, Portland Bait and Tackle) “There were four distinctive bite wounds, one of which was characteristic of liver extraction by killer whale, similar to what has been observed in South Africa,” says biologist Isabella Reeves, of Flinders University in Australia. The researchers took swabs from the white shark’s bite wounds and sequenced for any genetic material that the predator may have left behind. This confirmed the presence of orca DNA in the main bite, while three other wounds carried traces of DNA from scavenging broadnose sevengill sharks. As we are discovering, the predation by orcas on cartilaginous fish such as sharks and rays isn’t uncommon. Orcas are highly adaptable and highly intelligent, and around the world, different groups of orcas have developed their own strategies for hunting and feeding. The strategy developed by the pair named Port and Starboard off the coast of South Africa is fascinating because it involves two such efficient species of marine predator, but a growing body of evidence suggests that it is not unique. Orcas in the Gulf of Mexico prey on whale sharks, for instance. And orcas off the coast of Australia have been recorded preying on multiple species of shark, including porbeagles, makos, blue sharks, tiger sharks, and ground sharks. But the discovery of the white shark carcass in 2023 was the first known instance of orca predation of the species in *********** waters. An infographic explaining how the research was conducted. (Emma Luck) “These findings provide compelling evidence of killer whale predation on white sharks in *********** waters, with a strong indication of selective liver consumption,” Reeves says. “This suggests that such predation events may be more widespread and prevalent across the globe than previously believed.” Two days before the carcass washed ashore, near Portland in the *********** state of Victoria, two locally known orcas named Bent Tip and Ripple were seen hunting, and catching, large prey in nearby Bridgewater Bay. This may have been the hunt in question, although confirmation would be difficult to obtain. All we know for now is that the culprit was orcas – but that’s quite mind-blowing. Orcas have their own habitats, hunting grounds, and specialties. Different groups in different locations don’t intermingle, communicate, or breed with each other. It raises some interesting questions about how similar hunting behavior could have emerged in two very different locations. It’s possible that orca predation of white sharks is just a more widespread, normal behavior than we knew about. If this is the case, we need to learn more about it and how it affects the rest of the ecosystem. The displacement of a top predator can have grave effects: in South Africa, for instance, reduced shark presence means a drop in shark predation on elephant seals, which could increase food competition for the seals later. If orcas in *********** waters have started preying on white sharks, that could have implications for populations of the animals sharks normally eat. “Evidence suggests that the white sharks being displaced or directly killed as a result of the killer whale predation in South Africa has led to cascading shifts in the wider marine ecosystem,” says ecological geneticist Adam Miller of Flinders University. “We know that white sharks are key regulators of ecosystem structure and functions, so it’s very important we preserve these top predators. Therefore, it is important that we keep a tab on these types of interactions in *********** waters where possible.” The research has been published in Ecology & Evolution. Related News Source link #DNA #Confirms #Orcas #Prey #Australias #Deadliest #Marine #Predators Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]