Building larger schools could save taxpayers up to $1.5 billion as Victoria is projected to need almost 1000 new kindergartens and government schools in the next decade to keep up with demand. Login or signup to continue reading The state will need about 900 new kindergartens, 60 new government schools and 20 per cent more space for TAFE by 2036, according to Infrastructure Victoria's Learning for Life report. While private and not-for-profit providers can meet some of the need for kindergartens, Infrastructure Victoria said the government must step up to fill in investment gaps. The north, west and southeast growth areas of Melbourne would benefit the most from this investment. Victoria will need 138,000 more kindergarten places by 2036 and that could cost up to $17 billion if the government delivers all 900 new facilities for three- to four-year-olds. But depending on the level of private investment, this could cost between $6.1 billion to $11 billion. Most demand for government schools will be in Melbourne's fast-growing communities with an estimated 10,000 to 17,000 enrolments by 2036 in Wyndham and Melton in the west, Whittlesea in the north and Casey in the southeast. The state should also expand existing schools in Melbourne's inner and middle suburbs and begin new education deliveries by 2030, Infrastructure Victoria chief executive Jonathan Spear said. "Our modelling shows the best way to deliver the schools we will need beyond 2026 is to build larger new schools and expand existing schools where there is land to do so," he said. Building larger new schools could cost $5.9 billion, a saving of $1.5 billion, compared with the government's historical approach to delivering school infrastructure. Strong demands for TAFE will require the government to find an extra 125,000 square metres, or 20 per cent, of space by 2030 for Melbourne's west, north and southeast growth areas. Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!
White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaignTeen actor Hudson Meek, who appeared in ‘Baby Driver,’ dies after falling from moving vehicleA SUPERMARKET giant with over 900 locations wants to make a big security change to combat a "very real threat". Iceland boss, Richard Walker confirmed on LinkedIn he would "happily" give facial recognition a trial in his stores. Mr Walker added, provided the use of facial recognition was "legal and proportionate". In March this year, over 443,000 incidents of shop theft were recorded by police, the House of Lords revealed. Footage of staff and security struggling to put a stop to such incidents have also gone viral on social media . Now bosses at Iceland are looking at more impactful ways of stopping it. read more in iceland In a letter to the Home Office , published on November 5, the House of Lords set out recommendations to "help tackle the problem and help keep the public and our economy safer.” The list included improved reporting systems for retailers and the creation of a standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker. Plus, guidance for the use of facial recognition technology by private companies. In response to this report, Mr Walker said: “I make no apologies for putting the safety of Iceland colleagues and customers first. Most read in Business "We urgently need further reform to address the growing severity of this issue. "I won’t post on here some of the pictures and details of the serious incidents from the report that I receive every week - but safe to say they are really upsetting. “Right now, security guards are very limited in their ability to act against brazen, professional criminals who operate without fear of consequence. "Enhanced legal powers - to search and safely detain offenders - would create a stronger deterrent for criminals and help restore safer high streets for everyone. “And as I’ve been saying for a while now, we need confirmation from the Information Commissioner's Office that we should be able to share images of perpetrators on social media groups. "The safety of my colleagues is more important than the data protection rights of known offenders. “Lastly...whilst we don’t yet use it, I will happily trial and use legal, proportionate facial recognition technology as an effective response to the very real threat my colleagues face.” The House of Lord's report revealed that around 17 million shoplifting incidents take place every year, costing retailers a whopping £2billion.One of the hottest stocks this year has been Palantir (NYSE: PLTR) . The company's strong results and inclusion into the S&P 500 have helped its stock soar more than 250% this year, as of this writing. While the stock has been a great performer this year, the question on many investors' minds is whether the stock is still a buy after its big gains this year. Let's take a closer look at both the buy and sell cases regarding Palantir stock to help you decide. Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » Accelerating growth is the anchor to the buy case for Palantir Palantir has established itself as one of the leading data gathering and analytics companies in the world through its work with the U.S. government, with such mission-critical tasks as fighting terrorism and tracking COVID-19 cases. However, the company's Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) and its move into the commercial sector are the biggest reasons to be bullish on the stock. The company has seen its growth in the U.S. commercial sector explode in recent quarters, as it continues to add more and more commercial customers who are attracted to its AI platform and the various use cases it can be used for across industries. Last quarter, Palantir's U.S. commercial revenue surged 54% to $179 million, with it saying that AIP was seeing "unrelenting AI demand" among these customers. Its U.S. commercial customer count, meanwhile, grew 77% year over year, while its total contract value (TCV) jumped 37% to nearly $300 million. The company has also been seeing accelerating growth with its largest customer, the U.S. government, which has begun embracing its AI offerings. U.S. government revenue climbed 40% last quarter to $320 million. The company said it is starting to see every aspect of government, including the White House, Congress, Defense, and Intel agencies, begin to embrace the application of large language models (LLMs). The biggest opportunity for Palantir going forward, however, is moving customers from AI prototype work into production. Right now, the company is landing a lot of new customers, but the bigger opportunity will come when it starts expanding within these customers. The company already has a strong net dollar retention rate, which came in a 118% last quarter. This measures how much revenue came from existing customers that have been with the company for more than a year, minus any customer churn. However, Palantir's net dollar retention does not include growth from customers added within the past 12 months, and this is where the big growth opportunity lies. Palantir has added a lot of new AIP customers over the past year for early AI prototype work, and expanding within these newer customers will really give it an opportunity to continue to accelerate its revenue growth moving forward. And accelerating revenue growth can lead to a higher stock price. Valuation and executive selling anchors the sell case for Palantir While Palantir has proven itself to be a great company, whether its stock is a buy is a totally different question. While great companies typically don't trade at bargain-basement prices, valuation does still matter. And valuation is the biggest knock on Palantir's stock. The stock now trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of about 40 times next year's analyst estimates. Taking out its net cash and using an enterprise value to sales multiple (EV/S), it still trades at 39 times. At the peak of software-as-a-service (SaaS) valuations, SaaS stocks traded at a 19.4 EV/S multiple while growing revenue in the low 30% range, which is just below the 30% growth that Palantir recorded last quarter. Meanwhile, Palantir executives and other insiders also appear to recognize the valuation heights to which the stock has climbed, with a number of them unloading shares in recent months, including CEO Alex Karp. Karp has been a regular seller of Palantir stock in recent years, but he has greatly picked up his selling since September. Over the past few months, he's exercised options and sold stock on four separate occasions, selling more than 33 million shares for gross proceeds of more than $1.6 billion. Meanwhile, chairman Peter Thiel sold over $1 billion in stock in September and early October, while numerous other insiders have been selling shares as well. The verdict In the case of Palantir, I'd follow what the company executives are doing. It's a great company, but its valuation is now twice what peak SaaS valuations were just a few years ago, with a similar growth rate. As such, I would not be a new buyer of the stock, and I think investors should at the very least consider taking some profits in the stock after a very strong run. Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity 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 $368,053 !* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $43,533 !* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $484,170 !* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See 3 “Double Down” stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 18, 2024 Geoffrey Seiler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy . Is Palantir a Buy? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found, citing Emirati authorities. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said Zvi Kogan was killed, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.” It said: “The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death." Kogan went missing on Thursday, and there were suspicions he had been kidnapped. His disappearance comes as Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October. Israeli strike kills Lebanese soldier and wounds 18 as Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel BEIRUT (AP) — An Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center has killed one soldier and wounded 18 others. The Hezbollah militant group meanwhile fired around 160 rockets and other projectiles into northern and central Israel on Sunday, wounding at least five people. Israeli strikes have killed over 40 Lebanese troops since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, even as Lebanon's military has largely kept to the sidelines. The Israeli military expressed regret over the strike, saying it occurred in an area of ongoing combat operations against Hezbollah. It said it does not target the Lebanese armed forces and that the strike is under review. The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles WASHINGTON (AP) — During the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump had hailed what would become Project 2025 as a conservative roadmap for “exactly what our movement will do." Trump pulled an about-face when Project 2025 became a political liability. He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans, even though some were written by his former aides and many allies. Now, after winning the 2024 election, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the effort he temporarily shunned. Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. California is bracing for more snow and rain this weekend while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Saturday after a “bomb cyclone” storm system hit the West Coast earlier in the week, killing two people. Parts of the Northeast and Appalachia also began the weekend with heavy precipitation. Pakistan partially stops mobile and internet services ahead of pro-Imran Khan protest ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan has suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns” as supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan gear up for a protest in the capital. The government and Interior Ministry made the announcement on X, which is banned in Pakistan. Sunday's protest is to demand Khan's release. He has been in prison for more than a year but remains popular. His supporters rely heavily on social media and messaging apps to coordinate with each other. Pakistan has already sealed off Islamabad and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with Khan's power bases. Here's what to know about the new funding deal that countries agreed to at UN climate talks BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — In the wee hours Sunday at the United Nations climate talks, countries from around the world reached an agreement on how rich countries can cough up the funds to support poor countries in the face of climate change. But it’s a far-from-perfect arrangement, with many parties still unsatisfied but hopeful that the deal will be a step in the right direction. Japan holds Sado mines memorial despite South Korean boycott amid lingering historical tensions SADO, Japan (AP) — Japan has held a memorial ceremony near the Sado Island Gold Mines despite a last-minute boycott of the event by South Korea that highlighted tensions between the neighbors over the issue of Korean forced laborers at the site before and during World War II. South Korea’s absence at Sunday’s memorial, to which Seoul government officials and Korean victims’ families were invited, is a major setback in the rapidly improving ties between the two countries, which since last year have set aside their historical disputes to prioritize U.S.-led security cooperation. Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83 NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. He teamed up with Young for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and became a full supporter Donald Trump.Xsolla has partnered with telecommunications firm StarNest to create a new game development academy. The academy and incubator program established with Azerbaijan's Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) will train 90 young designers, as well as offer mentorship, financial support, and opportunities to exhibit their games worldwide. Xsolla is also hoping to establish a regional hub in Baku and dedicated facilities that will, according to PocketGamer , "act as a technology hub for central Asia." "This partnership represents a significant milestone for Xsolla as we collaborate with Azerbaijani leaders to unlock the region's potential," said Xsolla SVP of global strategic partnerships Rytis Joseph Jan. "By combining our global expertise with the visionary leadership of our partners, we aim to empower the next generation of talent in Azerbaijan and drive meaningful innovation with global impact." Xsolla has predicted that mobile gaming will produce $98.7 billion in total revenue in 2024 , with China forecast to lead the market by generating $34.6 billion. This is according to its recent Autumn 2024 State of Play report, which has also estimated that the compound annual growth rate from 2024 to 2027 will grow by 6.4%, with the market expected to reach $118.9 billion by 2027.
Somerset House, in central London, was once home to Queen Elizabeth I, and has been a home for the Royal Academy of Arts and a Navy headquarters. For more than 150 years, it was an office for the U.K.'s tax authority, and workers used its grand courtyard as a parking lot. In its current role as a "home to cultural innovators," Somerset House will turn 25 years old in 2025, and a varied arts program will mark the occasion. Somerset House has been a key part of London's landscape for hundreds of years, with its grand architecture and prominent position close to the River Thames and the Covent Garden area. > 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are But its leaders say its current role as a center for arts and culture is not fully understood, with one even describing it as "London and the U.K.'s best-kept secret." While its courtyard is well known as a striking venue for a winter ice rink and summer movie screenings, people are less aware that hundreds of artists and creatives work within its walls. And as it approaches 25 years in its most recent guise, the organization wants to raise its profile — in 2025, there will be a raft of exhibitions and events aiming to show off its artistic endeavors. "There wasn't a ... moment when Somerset House was revealed in its full glory. And, in a way, next year is a kind of belated moment to do that," said Jonathan Reekie, director of the Somerset House Trust, the organization that preserves the building and its activities for the public. Somerset House has had many transformations. Queen Elizabeth I lived there in the 16th century, and since then it has been a Navy headquarters, a home for the Royal Academy of Arts and a newspaper tax office, before being completely rebuilt in 1801. "In the ... 1770s, 1780s, [King] George III needed to build an 'office block' for his newly formed civil service. So, this is what he built," Reekie said as he took CNBC on a tour. With four large wings surrounding the large, cobbled courtyard (plus a "new" wing added in the 19 th century), the striking Renaissance property housed the multiple offices of the U.K. government's tax and excise authority for more than 150 years — and in more recent times, the courtyard was even covered with asphalt and used as a parking lot. Money Report ‘White gold' seen as pivotal to Europe's massive trade deal with South America European markets set to open lower as positive sentiment vanishes In 1997, the house gained charitable status after a long campaign led by author and newspaper editor Simon Jenkins and philanthropist Lord Rothschild. "When Somerset House ... opened to the public in May 2000, this building was still mostly full of civil servants," Reekie said. "My predecessors basically had to negotiate with each government department to get rid of them," he said. The tax authority — now known as His Majesty's Revenue and Customs — finally closed its Somerset House office in 2011. Its current role is that of a "self-sustaining home to cultural innovators," according to Somerset House Trust chair Gail Rebuck, speaking at an event in September. But its varied facets are not always well understood, she said. When a fire broke out in August, there was an "outpouring of concern," Rebuck said, but "people struggled to describe Somerset House," she said of news reports at the time. "That's our fault, in a way, and something we want to correct ... We're a very special creative cluster," Rebuck said. "It's also London and the U.K.'s best-kept secret ... it's really important that the 3 million visitors who come through our doors actually know what goes on underneath," she said — Somerset House was the U.K.'s 10th most-visited attraction in 2023, with 2.7 million visits according to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions . Rebuck referred to the network of rooms and areas that are home to multiple artists and creatives who work from the building, in offices, co-working places and studios. When Reekie joined the organization in 2014, he was asked what Somerset House should "be." "Part of the question in terms of how would it work as a cultural space is: what can you do with lots of rooms?" he said. One of Reekie's first jobs was to transform what was essentially a long corridor of government offices into rooms that would be desirable to artists — which now make up Somerset House Studios — raising money to do so from scratch. The artists' rent is subsidized by Somerset House's activities: It makes most of its income — £21.2 million ($27.5 million) for the financial year ending March 31, 2023 — from its own events like the ice rink and arts exhibitions curated in-house, as well as from hiring spaces to other organizations such as the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair. There are now around 60-70 artists, teams or collectives working in Somerset House Studios, overseen by director Marie McPartlin. The studios' first resident in 2016 was British fashion designer Gareth Pugh, and composer Anna Meredith was its second, with many others working in the visual arts. "Most of them are doing socially-engaged work ... or engaging with emergent, evolving and advanced technologies," McPartlin said. Artists are encouraged to collaborate — one high-profile name was turned down a studio place because of concerns that they would not have been on site enough of the time. "The community is the most important thing," McPartlin said. "The majority of artists don't have gallery representation — it's such a precarious existence ... really quickly, we realized that long-term support is something Somerset House was able to offer." Artists are resident for between one and seven years, with some on site for up to 10 years. In 2025, McPartlin will curate sculpture "The Spell or The Dream" by Turner Prize-winning artist Tai Shani, a resident of the studios, which will sit at the courtyard's center in August and September. Inspired by a sleeping beauty-type figure, it will reflect "on the urgent contemporary issues of our time," according to a release. McPartlin will also curate an artwork by resident artists Lydia Ourahmane and Sophia Al Maria, which will explore the idea of the "right to remain," according to a release, while BAFTA-nominated filmmaker and resident Akinola Davies Jr will screen a new movie in the courtyard that will look at the "everyday rituals" of black life in the U.K. Other highlights for 2025 will include "Salt Cosmologies," an installation that will map out India's Inland Customs Line, the extraordinary story of a 2,500 mile-long hedge put in place by the British East India Company to enforce its Salt Tax in the late 19th century. And an immersive exhibition by choreographer Wayne McGregor, named "Infinite Bodies," will be the culmination of Somerset House's 25-year celebration. Near the studios is Makerversity, a community of about 300 designers and makers, who share a wood workshop, photography studio and other "maker" spaces tucked close to the underside of Waterloo Bridge, at the far west border of Somerset House. And there is also The Exchange, a co-working space for creatives, and the Black Business Residency, a program for black entrepreneurs. "Having great artists in the center of London seems quite essential ... the thinking was to make it completely interdisciplinary," Reekie said. Also on CNBC From AI to young artists, London wants to attract a new generation of art buyers Uncovering the mysterious side of art pricing. ‘Everyone’s trying to make money’ One of London's most popular attractions needs a $200 million fixJay-Z allegations could threaten Beyonce's 2025 tour plans and NFL Christmas performanceCristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated the football world for a period spanning over a decade The two football veterans have scored hundreds of goals, broke many records, and have won countless trophies Legendary Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini appeared to settle the endless debate with a unique remark CHECK OUT: Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with LEGIT. Enroll Now! Giorgio Chiellini has offered his perspective on the age-old debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, explaining why he believes the Portugal captain has an edge. The argument over which of the two football superstars is the greatest of all time has consistently divided many across the sports spectrum. The so-called GOAT debate has lasted for more than a decade now, with Ronaldo and Messi dominating the football space during the period, per Sportskeeda. The two veterans have engaged in numerous on-field clashes throughout their careers, most notably in fierce El Clasico battles for Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. Read also Ronaldo teaches YouTuber Mr Beast how to do 'siuu' celebration, video PAY ATTENTION: Legit.ng Needs Your Help! Take our Survey Now and See Improvements at LEGIT.NG Tomorrow Both players have been recurring contenders at the Ballon d'Or awards as well. Chiellieni settles GOAT debate Chiellini, who played alongside Ronaldo at Juventus and faced him during his time at Real Madrid, also squared off against Messi at both club and international levels. The defender's unique insight stems from witnessing the brilliance of both players up close. Speaking on The Overlap , Chiellini highlighted Ronaldo's unparalleled ability to step up in crucial moments. "Well, Ronaldo, when you are losing, he had the balls, no matter what, to try to win. Shoot from everywhere in order to lead the team to win," the Italian legend said. "And it is not easy to do for a lot of players. I loved to play with him because working with him and looking at him every day, with little details, is very nice." "I was 35 and he was 34, and we weren't obviously in our prime. But it was very funny to play with him. And look how big is his personality." Read also Jude Bellingham insists Real Madrid teammate Vincicius deserved 2024 Ballon d'Or He recalled instances at Juventus where Ronaldo's decisive contributions turned games in their favour. While he acknowledged Messi's extraordinary talent, Chiellini emphasised that Ronaldo’s mentality and clutch performances set him apart, particularly when his team needed him the most. Chiellini's unique bond with Cristiano Ronaldo Giorgio Chiellini shared the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo both as a rival and a teammate, giving him a distinctive perspective on the Portuguese superstar's brilliance. The two faced each other six times during Ronaldo's spell at Real Madrid. Of those encounters, Ronaldo emerged victorious in three, suffered two defeats, and one match ended in a stalemate. As teammates at Juventus, Chiellini and Ronaldo featured together in 55 matches, during which the duo combined for two goals. Their time as colleagues offered Chiellini firsthand insight into Ronaldo's work ethic, leadership, and match-winning mentality. Ronaldinho refused to name Messi as GOAT Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Ronaldinho hailed Lionel Messi as one of football’s all-time greats but stopped short of declaring him the greatest. Read also Arda Güler Delivers Stunning Nutmeg in Real Madrid's Victory Over Leganés Having shared the pitch with a young Messi at Barcelona for two years before moving to AC Milan, Ronaldinho expressed his deep admiration without settling the debate definitively. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: YEN.com.gh
Natixis Advisors LLC Has $3.24 Million Stock Position in Southern Copper Co. (NYSE:SCCO)Rand Paul Opposes Military Deportations: A Clash of Ideals
Gemini – (21st May to 20th June) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Do not let minor issues impact your life Troubleshoot romance-related issues by talking openly. Utilize professional opportunities to display your skills at the workplace. Financial prosperity also exists. Have a strong professional life where you may make crucial and safe decisions. Consider open communication to settle the relationship issues. Financial prosperity also comes with good health. Gemini Love Horoscope Today The romantic relationship will see many brighter sides and you will enjoy the best day. Accept the demands of your lover and consider the emotions to strengthen the bonding. Some lover affairs will see tremors from ex-lovers. Do not let a previous relationship impact the current one. Approach the parents for support in the love affair and some fortunate females will also make a call on marriage. Those who are traveling should connect with their lover to express their feelings. Gemini Career Horoscope Today Consider safe options while you have confusion related to professional decisions. You may expect minor troubles in the form of troublesome clients, office politics, and unhappy seniors but you will overcome these issues with your performance. Job seekers may find a new job. Those who are keen to switch jobs can put down the paper today. IT, healthcare, sales, banking, engineering, and designing professionals may see opportunities abroad. You will also see opportunities to launch business in new territories. Gemini Money Horoscope Today You are good in terms of money. This will help you make smart investment decisions today. There will be disagreements over property within the family and it is crucial to avoid arguments with siblings. You will buy electronic appliances or jewelry but do not go for stock and trade as the returns may not be good. Businessmen will be successful in raising funds for business expansions. Gemini Health Horoscope Today Do not take health issues lightly. There can be issues associated with breathing. Some females may complain about migraine or back pain. There can be minor oral health issues that will need you to visit a dentist. Stay away from people with bad vibes and instead spend time on creative stuff. The second part of the day is good to join a gym or a yoga session. Do not lift heavy objects in the second part of the day. Gemini Sign Attributes Strength: Insightful, Wise, Smart, Pleasant, Quick-witted, Charming Weakness: Inconsistent, Gossipy, Lazy Symbol: Twins Element: Air Body Part: Arms & Lungs Sign Ruler: Mercury Lucky Day: Wednesday Lucky Color: Silver Lucky Number: 7 Lucky Stone: Emerald Gemini Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Aries, Leo, Libra, Aquarius Good compatibility: Gemini, Sagittarius Fair compatibility: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn Less compatibility: Virgo, Pisces By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)
One of the hottest stocks this year has been Palantir (NYSE: PLTR) . The company's strong results and inclusion into the S&P 500 have helped its stock soar more than 250% this year, as of this writing. While the stock has been a great performer this year, the question on many investors' minds is whether the stock is still a buy after its big gains this year. Let's take a closer look at both the buy and sell cases regarding Palantir stock to help you decide. Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » Accelerating growth is the anchor to the buy case for Palantir Palantir has established itself as one of the leading data gathering and analytics companies in the world through its work with the U.S. government, with such mission-critical tasks as fighting terrorism and tracking COVID-19 cases. However, the company's Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) and its move into the commercial sector are the biggest reasons to be bullish on the stock. The company has seen its growth in the U.S. commercial sector explode in recent quarters, as it continues to add more and more commercial customers who are attracted to its AI platform and the various use cases it can be used for across industries. Last quarter, Palantir's U.S. commercial revenue surged 54% to $179 million, with it saying that AIP was seeing "unrelenting AI demand" among these customers. Its U.S. commercial customer count, meanwhile, grew 77% year over year, while its total contract value (TCV) jumped 37% to nearly $300 million. The company has also been seeing accelerating growth with its largest customer, the U.S. government, which has begun embracing its AI offerings. U.S. government revenue climbed 40% last quarter to $320 million. The company said it is starting to see every aspect of government, including the White House, Congress, Defense, and Intel agencies, begin to embrace the application of large language models (LLMs). The biggest opportunity for Palantir going forward, however, is moving customers from AI prototype work into production. Right now, the company is landing a lot of new customers, but the bigger opportunity will come when it starts expanding within these customers. The company already has a strong net dollar retention rate, which came in a 118% last quarter. This measures how much revenue came from existing customers that have been with the company for more than a year, minus any customer churn. However, Palantir's net dollar retention does not include growth from customers added within the past 12 months, and this is where the big growth opportunity lies. Palantir has added a lot of new AIP customers over the past year for early AI prototype work, and expanding within these newer customers will really give it an opportunity to continue to accelerate its revenue growth moving forward. And accelerating revenue growth can lead to a higher stock price. Valuation and executive selling anchors the sell case for Palantir While Palantir has proven itself to be a great company, whether its stock is a buy is a totally different question. While great companies typically don't trade at bargain-basement prices, valuation does still matter. And valuation is the biggest knock on Palantir's stock. The stock now trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of about 40 times next year's analyst estimates. Taking out its net cash and using an enterprise value to sales multiple (EV/S), it still trades at 39 times. At the peak of software-as-a-service (SaaS) valuations, SaaS stocks traded at a 19.4 EV/S multiple while growing revenue in the low 30% range, which is just below the 30% growth that Palantir recorded last quarter. Meanwhile, Palantir executives and other insiders also appear to recognize the valuation heights to which the stock has climbed, with a number of them unloading shares in recent months, including CEO Alex Karp. Karp has been a regular seller of Palantir stock in recent years, but he has greatly picked up his selling since September. Over the past few months, he's exercised options and sold stock on four separate occasions, selling more than 33 million shares for gross proceeds of more than $1.6 billion. Meanwhile, chairman Peter Thiel sold over $1 billion in stock in September and early October, while numerous other insiders have been selling shares as well. The verdict In the case of Palantir, I'd follow what the company executives are doing. It's a great company, but its valuation is now twice what peak SaaS valuations were just a few years ago, with a similar growth rate. As such, I would not be a new buyer of the stock, and I think investors should at the very least consider taking some profits in the stock after a very strong run. Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity 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 $368,053 !* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $43,533 !* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $484,170 !* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See 3 “Double Down” stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 18, 2024 Geoffrey Seiler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy . Is Palantir a Buy? was originally published by The Motley Fool
By Katheryn Houghton and Arielle Zionts, KFF Health News (TNS) Tescha Hawley learned that hospital bills from her son’s birth had been sent to debt collectors only when she checked her credit score while attending a home-buying class. The new mom’s plans to buy a house stalled. Hawley said she didn’t owe those thousands of dollars in debts. The federal government did. Hawley, a citizen of the Gros Ventre Tribe, lives on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana. The Indian Health Service is a federal agency that provides free health care to Native Americans, but its services are limited by a chronic shortage of funding and staff. Hawley’s local Indian Health Service hospital wasn’t equipped to deliver babies. But she said staff there agreed that the agency would pay for her care at a privately owned hospital more than an hour away. That arrangement came through the Purchased/Referred Care program, which pays for services Native Americans can’t get through an agency-funded clinic or hospital. Federal law stresses that patients approved for the program aren’t responsible for any of the costs. But tribal leaders, health officials, and a new federal report say patients are routinely billed anyway as a result of backlogs or mistakes from the Indian Health Service, financial middlemen, hospitals, and clinics. The financial consequences for patients can last years. Those sent to collections can face damaged credit scores, which can prevent them from securing loans or require them to pay higher interest rates. The December report , by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, found these long-standing problems contribute to people in Native American-majority communities being nearly twice as likely to have medical debt in collections compared with the national average. And their amount of medical debt is significantly higher. The report found the program is often late to pay bills. In some cases, hospitals or collection agencies hound tribal citizens for more money after bills are paid. Hawley’s son was born in 2003. She had to wait another year to buy a home, as she struggled to pay off the debt. It took seven years for it to drop from her credit report. “I don’t think a person ever recovers from debt,” Hawley said. Hawley, a cancer survivor, still must navigate the referral program. In 2024 alone, she received two notices from clinics about overdue bills. Frank White Clay, chairman of the Crow Tribe in Montana, testified about the impact of wrongful billing during a U.S. House committee hearing in April. He shared stories of veterans rejected for home loans, elders whose Social Security benefits were reduced, and students denied college loans and federal aid. “Some of the most vulnerable people are being harassed daily by debt collectors,” White Clay said. No one is immune from the risk. A high-ranking Indian Health Service official learned during her job’s background check that her credit report contained referred-care debt, the federal report found. Native Americans face disproportionately high rates of poverty and disease , which researchers link to limited access to health care and the ongoing impact of racist federal policies . White Clay is among many who say problems with the referred-care program are an example of the U.S. government violating treaties that promised to provide for the health and welfare of tribes in return for their land. The chairman’s testimony came during a hearing on the Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act, which would require the Indian Health Service to create a reimbursement process for patients who were wrongfully billed. Committee members approved the bill in November and sent it for consideration by the full House. A second federal bill, the Protecting Native Americans’ Credit Act , would prevent debt like Hawley’s from affecting patients’ credit scores. The bipartisan bill hadn’t had a hearing by mid-December. The exact number of people wrongfully billed isn’t clear, but the Indian Health Service has acknowledged it has work to do. The agency is developing a dashboard to help workers track referrals and to speed up bill processing, spokesperson Brendan White said. It’s also trying to hire more referred-care staff, to address vacancy rates of more than 30%. Officials say problems with the program also stem from outside health providers that don’t follow the rules. Melanie Egorin, an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said at the hearing that the proposed legislation doesn’t include consequences for “bad actors” — health facilities that repeatedly bill patients when they shouldn’t. “The lack of enforcement is definitely a challenge,” she said. But tribal leaders warned that penalties could backfire. Related Articles Health | How America lost control of the bird flu, setting the stage for another pandemic Health | How to kick back, relax and embrace a less-than-perfect holiday Health | New childhood leukemia protocol is ‘tremendous win’ Health | For some FSA dollars, it’s use it or lose it at year’s end Health | Norovirus is rampant. Blame oysters, cruise ships and holiday travel White Clay told lawmakers that some clinics already refuse to see patients if the Indian Health Service hasn’t paid for their previous appointments. He’s worried the threat of penalties would lead to more refusals. If that happens, White Clay said, Crow tribal members who already travel hours to access specialty treatment would have to go even farther. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report found clinics are already refusing to see any referred-care patients due to the program’s payment problems. The bureau and the Indian Health Service also recently published a letter urging health care providers and debt collectors not to hold patients accountable for program-approved care. White, the Indian Health Service spokesperson, said the agency recently updated the referred-care forms sent to outside hospitals and clinics to include billing instructions and to stress that patients aren’t liable for any out-of-pocket costs. And he said the staff can help patients get reimbursed if they have already paid for services that were supposed to be covered. Joe Bryant, an Indian Health Service official who oversees efforts to improve the referral program, said patients can ask credit bureaus to remove debt from their reports if the agency should have covered their bills. Leaders with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington state helped shape the proposed legislation after their citizens were repeatedly harmed by wrongful billing. Tribal Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson said problems began in 2017, when a regional Indian Health Service office took over the referred-care program from local staff. It “created a domino effect of negative outcomes,” Erickson wrote in a letter to Congress. He said some tribal members whose finances were damaged stopped using the Indian Health Service. Others avoided health care altogether. Responsibility for the Colville Reservation program transferred back to local staff in 2022. Staffers found the billing process hadn’t been completed for thousands of cases, worth an estimated $24 million in medical care, Erickson told lawmakers . Workers are making progress on the backlog and they have explained the rules to outside hospitals and clinics, Erickson said. But he said there are still cases of wrongful billing, such as a tribal member who was sent to collections after receiving a $17,000 bill for chemotherapy that the agency was supposed to pay for. Erickson said the tribe is in the process of taking over its health care facilities instead of having the Indian Health Service run them. He and others who work in Native American health said tribally managed units — which are still funded by the federal agency — tend to have fewer problems with their referred-care programs. For example, they have more oversight over staff and flexibility to create their own payment tracking systems. But some Native Americans oppose tribal management because they feel it releases the federal government from its obligations. Beyond wrongful billing, access to the referred-care program is limited because of underfunding from Congress. The $1 billion budget this year is $9 billion short of the need, according to a committee report by tribal health and government leaders. Donald Warne, a physician and member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, called the proposed legislation a “band-aid.” He said the ultimate solution is for Congress to fully fund the Indian Health Service, which would reduce the need for the referred-care program. Back in Montana, Hawley said she braces for a fight each time she gets a bill that the referral program was supposed to cover. “I’ve learned not to trust the process,” Hawley said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Authored by Brandon Smith via Alt-Market.us, It’s been a wild ride. After years of near total leftist control of every significant social and governmental institution in the US and abroad the American people have said enough is enough. The progressives have once again been slapped with the ultimate lesson of our era – Get Woke, Go Broke. This time they’re not just broke; they’re broken. I don’t think I’ve seen such an electoral bloodbath in my lifetime (maybe the Reagan landslide in 1984, but I was only a child). The conservatives control the Oval Office, the Senate, the House and the Supreme Court. Regardless of what you might think of Trump, what’s important is that he ran his campaign on anti-woke and anti-globalism and the US population voted for that agenda en masse. The American people want an end to the madness of the leftist/globalist regime. They want an end to establishment corruption. They want an end to US involvement in foreign conflicts. They want the woke indoctrination of their children to stop. They want an end to open borders. They want an end to perpetual debt spending and inflation. And, they want reassurance that events like the attempted covid coup against our constitutional liberties will never happen again. Over the past several months I have been predicting a Trump election win based on the clear sociopolitical shift in popular sentiment. However, my concern has always been that Trump will not make good on his campaign promises, either because he is being thwarted by Neo-Cons within his own team or because he did not intend to follow through in the first place. We all saw what happened after 2016 – The status quo was mostly maintained. To be fair, in 2016 Trump’s team was mostly chosen for him and that team was comprised of many snakes in the grass. This time around I have a bit more optimism. Trump’s coalition is significantly better than his first term and many of the people involved seem to be dedicated to their particular cause. If this is the case and Trump really means to change things for the better, I have a few ideas on how he can ensure that America never again deviates into the path of globalism. Some of these actions have already been promoted by the Trump Administration in recent days, some of them have not. Obviously none of these changes are easy but they can be done with the proper enthusiasm and pressure from the American people applied to their representatives in the Senate and Congress. Here’s what we can do as a country to keep our society free and prosperous well into the future. The first time Trump tried to appoint his cabinet the amount of Senate interference that took place caused delays of almost 4 months, and that was with appointees that represented no threat to the status quo. This time around it is clear that Neo-Cons within the Senate will work with Democrats to outright reject choices like RFK Jr and Matt Gaetz. They WILL try to sabotage any nominee that presents a legitimate threat to the establishment order. With this is mind, and per the Constitution, Trump has the option to call a recess of the Senate and make his appointments while they are away and without their approval. There is also a little known rule that allows him to force Congress to adjourn. Candidates for the Senate majority leader position all agreed to support recess appointments before they were voted on, which means there should not be any interference to a call of recess from Trump. Multiple presidents have used this emergency option to fill their cabinets. It’s seems like a no-brainer. Every state (except one) that the Democrats won in the 2024 election was a state with no voter ID laws. That’s not a coincidence. Correlation is not always causation, but it’s highly suspicious none-the-less. Many developed nations around the world have strict ID laws when it comes to elections. Why do we not have them in the US? With the advent of electronic ballots and large scale mail in ballots, a voter ID requirement is more important than ever to prevent election fraud. One of Trump’s top concerns after entering office in 2025 is to pass a federal voter ID requirement for all future elections. This cannot be left to flounder for years, it must be done by 2026. One of the key agendas of globalism is the forced establishment of open borders in the western world, along with mass migrations of third-world aliens cor cultural saturation and replacement. The goal is to destroy the west from within and then replace it with am economically Marxist and morally ambiguous civilization. Stopping this scheme will require aggressively enforced border laws and deportation laws. This requires multiple steps... Immediately Establish Texas-Style Border Controls Despite constant interference from the Biden Administration, the state of Texas and governor Greg Abbott have been incredibly effective in stopping illegal border crossings using expanded patrols and razor wire barriers. Encounters with illegals on the Texas border have dropped by 86% through Operation Lone Star in the span of a year. That’s impressive. Texas methods should be used across the entire border. Increased Fines Against Companies Hiring Illegal Immigrants This is a strategy being used by some European nations and it makes sense; a lot of illegals jump the border because they know there’s under the table jobs waiting for them. Trump must make it financially untenable for companies to hire migrants without proper work visas, and greatly increasing fines is the best way to do this. 100% Tariffs On Mexico Until They Secure Their Own Borders The Mexican government is absolutely corrupt and often uses the US border as a pressure valve to get rid of their poor and their criminals. Instead of fixing the problems within their own country they export those problems to America. This needs to stop. End All Asylum Requests From Third World Countries Until the immigration problem is solved the asylum loophole needs to be closed. Save for a few citizens from countries where very real asylum protections are needed (like oppressed dissidents from China or North Korea), there’s no need to take in most of these people and their asylum claims are fraudulent. Increase Efficiency Of Immigrant Worker Visa Program Democrats often argue that America cannot survive without migrant workers. I say this is a lie designed to prevent legitimate immigration reform, but if there really is work that needs to be done in our country and migrants are somehow the only people that can do it, then we can have both. If Trump streamlines the work visa program to speed up the process while vetting applicants, then we can have controlled borders AND migrant workers. To pay for increased efficiency of the program, double the application fee and reduce their legal work period in the US to 1 year or less. Mass Deportations Of Illegals This was a key plank of the Trump campaign and it looks like he plans to make it happen. Starting with ALL the migrants that entered the US illegally in the past four years and all those relocated through Biden’s shady visa program. This can be achieved by cutting off existing subsidies to migrants, fines for companies that hire illegals, citizenship verification for home buying or home rentals, ending federal subsidies to Democrat sanctuary cities, etc. Ultimately, most illegals will leave the country on their own. Globalist NGOs are the primary source of corruption within the US government and our society at large. NGO’s have all the rights of individual citizens with none of the limitations. They can generate billions of dollars for influence campaigns. They can lobby politicians (bribe them) to get legislation put in place. They can use their incredible financial resources to fund activist movements and create civil unrest from thin air. And, they can even fund programs to control education and encourage mass illegal immigration. NGOs should be banned from lobbying. And, any NGO’s caught engaging in the funding of woke propaganda in schools, violent activist groups or illegal immigration efforts should be immediately shut down. Some NGOs feed on government funding (like George Soros’ Open Society Foundation) while others are privately funded (like the Ford Foundation). If they are receiving subsidies, that money should be cut off. Stopping the operations of globalist NGOs is imperative to saving western civilization. Here’s the bottom line – Ukraine is losing the war against Russia. Their eastern front is collapsing due to attrition and in another year or less Russia WILL take the entire country. The war is also being managed by proxy by NATO. We are swiftly plunging into open conflict between the east and the west. This must stop. Even if the situation doesn’t go nuclear, a world war at this time would cause a catastrophic economic collapse, for the US, for Europe and most of the East. Only the globalists want this to happen. Ukraine is an irrelevant territory not worth fighting over. Americans don’t want to fight over it. Europeans don’t want to fight over it and I doubt the average Russian wants to fight over it. Vladimir Zelensky must be forced to accept the loss of the Donbas to Russia. A DMZ must be established and the fighting must end for the sake of the world. There should be an in-depth investigation into the Biden Administration’s handling of the Covid mandates, including the attempted censorship of information contrary to the government narrative. There should be a real investigation into the viral laboratories in Wuhan, China and Anthony Fauci’s involvement with those labs to develop coronaviruses using gain of function research. Americans want answers. In tandem with open borders, globalists at the IMF and BIS have been quietly building a massive global central bank digital currency framework (CBDCs). The erasure of nationally controlled economies and currencies would be required in order to create a globally centralized economy with a single world currency. And, in order to force populations to accept such a system, the globalists need CBDCs. With a cashless economy in place, elites within governments and central banks would have ultimate power to socially engineer public behavior. If they can take away your money any time they please, it’s much harder to rebel against them. If they can program caveats into CBDCs to prevent spending on certain goods (like meat or gas, for example) then they can pressure the populace into accepting carbon controls and other draconian measures. CBDCs are the end of freedom as we know it. I have outlined options for preventing a total economic collapse in previous articles , so I won’t go in-depth here. I will quickly list some of the most important measures that could be taken to revitalize the struggling system. Many of them are designed to bypass the Federal Reserve. End The Income Tax For 99% Of The Population – Tax The 1% End Property Taxes On Single Family Homes – Only Tax Owners With Multiple Properties Remove All Illegal Immigrants From The US – This Will Trigger A Drop In Property Prices And Rent Create Subsidy Incentives For Married Couples With Children – Home Loans, Education Bring Back Technical Apprenticeship Programs – Increase Technical Workers Without College Use Tariffs, But Also Backstop Tariffs With Domestic Production – Focus On High Quality Goods Domestically Manufacture High Quality Goods With Long Life To Help Fight Inflation Issue A Gold/Silver Backed Treasury Bond – Offer Metals Backed Savings Accounts Institute A Moratorium On Debt Ceiling Increases Until Government Deficit Spending And Debt Are Under Control There’s a lot of work that needs to be done to save the economy in the long run but the options above could help to boost the American worker and consumer and stall a breakdown. Currently, the US faces the highest national debt, the highest interest payments and the highest consumer debt in the nation’s history. We are also still in the middle of a stagflationary crisis. Something dramatic must be done soon, before it’s too late. It’s hard to test a person for moral compass but you can at least test intelligence. A candidate should not be prevented from running for office because of low IQ, but I believe the public has a right to know who they’re voting for. If they decide they don’t want a low IQ leader, then that should be up to them. By extension, independent mental acuity testing should be a regular occurrence. As we saw with Joe Biden, the establishment will happily hide the mental decline of a politician if it serves their interests. The people have a right to know. No doubt hundreds of other policy ideas could be added to the list above, but these actions are a solid start. If Trump instituted even half of these solutions the US could be saved from perhaps the worst existential crisis in the nation’s history and globalism would be on the ropes. * * * If you would like to support the work that Alt-Market does while also receiving content on advanced tactics for defeating the globalist agenda, subscribe to our exclusive newsletter The Wild Bunch Dispatch. Learn more about it HERE .Is Clinton pushing for England start at Euro 2025?Opposition Leader wants police to investigate murder plot claim
