Pelican Press

Why many young adults in the U.S. are still living with their parents Why many young adults in the U.S. are still living with their parents Approximately 1 in 3 U.S. adults ages 18 to 34 live in their parents’ home, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The pandemic caused more young adults to return home or remain living with their parents into their late 20s and 30s, but aside from that spike, the numbers have remained fairly consistent in recent years. Pre-pandemic, the most recent surge in the share of 18- to 34-year-olds living with their parents occurred between 2005 and 2015, according to data from the Census Bureau. “Those were the times coming [during] the Great Recession and coming out of the Great Recession, and there were a lot of media narratives at the time about millennials eating too much avocado toast to live on their own,” said Joanne Hsu, a research associate professor at the University of Michigan who co-authored a 2015 study on “boomerang” kids for the Federal Reserve. More from Personal Finance: Roughly 28% of credit card users are paying off last year’s holiday debt Holiday shoppers plan to spend more while taking on debt About 2 in 5 cardholders have maxed out a credit card or come close “What we found was that part of the reason we see this escalation of young adults not leaving the nest or returning to the nest is this idea that it was ******* and ******* for them to weather shocks,” Hsu said. Economic shocks are significant and unexpected events that disrupt financial stability and markets, which then affect households’ income, employment and debt levels. The 2008 financial crisis, the Great Recession and the pandemic are all examples of economic shocks. More than half of Gen Z adults say they don’t make enough money to live the life they want due to the high cost of living, according to a 2024 survey from Bank of America. A significant number of millennials and Gen Z adults lack emergency savings. ‘Why rent and give my money to someone else?’ Victoria Franklin, left, has lived with her mother, Terilyn Franklin, right, in Oceanport, New Jersey, since she graduated from college in 2019. Natalie Rice | CNBC Victoria Franklin, 27, moved back to her mom’s house in the summer of 2019 after graduating from college to search for a job in business administration. “I ended up bartending and waitressing until October [of 2019], where I got my first offer,” Franklin said. “So it did take a little bit longer than I expected.” She found a job in her field in New York City, which required a two-hour commute from her mother’s home on the Jersey Shore. “I thought, you know, in six months or so, I’ll move into the city, be closer to the job,” Franklin said. “And the pandemic threw a wrench in those plans.” Franklin decided to continue living at her mom’s house after switching to a fully remote job in fall 2023. “My mentality is why rent and give my money to someone else when I can start to own?” Franklin said. Franklin said she’s saving between 40% and 50% of her income, with “a big chunk” allocated toward a down payment on a house. While living with parents can provide personal financial benefits, experts say this trend can negatively affect the economy. “We do also have a situation that what is really good for an individual person or an individual family is not necessarily good for the entire macro economy,” Hsu said. “One of the big boosts to consumer spending is when people form households.” The Federal Reserve estimated in a 2019 paper that young adults who move out of their parents’ home would spend about $13,000 more per year on things such as housing, food and transportation. Watch the video above to learn more about why the trend of young adults living with their parents is continuing and what it means for the economy. Source link #young #adults #U.S #living #parents Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EastEnders star used food bank after leaving show EastEnders star used food bank after leaving show Former EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison has revealed she struggled with her finances and was forced to use a food bank after leaving the soap. The actress, 60, said it drove her to tears, adding: “It was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. I found it so difficult to be that vulnerable.” Fergison is best known for playing Heather Trott on the BBC show from 2007 until 2012. She told the Sunday Mirror her battles with money started after she was diagnosed with womb ******* in 2015, which meant she had to walk away from her acting career. She subsequently had to have a hysterectomy and then went through an early menopause that triggered mental health issues and self-harming. Fergison said she was dousing herself in scalding water daily as she tried to “wash” away the ******* cells. “I was damaging myself so badly,” she said. “As soon as I got the all-clear I stopped doing it. If you’re told you are ill, it’s not just about the physical issue – somehow, you need to figure out what’s going on in your head with it all” The actress said that by this February, she was penniless. “I didn’t have any money to do a weekly shop. I was trying to pay too many debts,” she said. “It was a really difficult time,” she added. “Lots of people can relate to it. You’re trying to find a penny. You’re literally looking down your settee to see if you can find a quid.” Fergison said it was a long way from her time on EastEnders, when she “didn’t even look at the price of things”. She said that she sought help at Citizens Advice, and a staff member from the charity subsequently took her to a food bank. “I sat there and cried and cried. It was shameful. How could I have been on EastEnders? How could I have been earning that much money and now I am here?,” she asked. More than half of low-paid Londoners have had to resort to using a food bank in the last year, according to the Living Wage Foundation. Fergison, who lives in Cleveleys, was full of praise for the workers at the food bank, saying: “That day is one I’ll never forget – and I’ll never forget the people. I felt I’d had this amazing, biggest, warmest hug. That’s what it felt like. “They were like angels. It was like a group of angels had come along and said, ‘We can cope with this for you Cheryl, we can do this for you’.” The actress said she left there with four bags of groceries, and she has not had to return since then. She is since making ends meet, including by singing in ******** restaurants and performing in pantomimes for work. She added that she hoped that speaking up about her financial struggles would help others. “I hope other people can relate to it. I really want to stress that food banks are a service,” she said. “They’re there for you to use so please do not feel embarrassed or that it’s a weakness. Whatever the reason, you deserve help. We have a right to be able to live like a human being and do it in a dignified way.” Last month, a new report by anti-******** charity Trussell said a record 9.3 million people – including one in five children – are facing hunger and hardship in the ***. Helen Barnard, director of policy and research at Trussell, told BBC News: “Everyone’s story of being forced to turn to a food bank is heartbreaking and it’s brave Cheryl has spoken out to highlight this issue.” She said food banks “try their hardest to provide a warm welcome”. But she added it’s “just not right” that anyone has to turn to a food bank to survive. BBC News has contacted Fergison’s representatives and Citizens Advice for a comment. Source link #EastEnders #star #food #bank #leaving #show Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Australia ****** out of Billie Jean King Cup Finals Australia ****** out of Billie Jean King Cup Finals Australia have crashed out of the Billie Jean King Cup with a painful quarter-final loss to Slovakia in Malaga. An inspired Viktoria Hruncakova defied her lowly ranking to defeat Kim Birrell in a tense three-setter before in-form Rebecca Sramkova sealed victory with a confident win over injured veteran Ajla Tomljanovic. Australia had been chasing a fourth semi-final appearance in five years, and a first title in half a century in the prestigious teams’ event formerly known as Fed Cup. Instead, Sam Stosur’s first year as captain ended in disappointment at Marten Carpena Arena as the Slovakian underdogs continued their dream week in Spain. Stosur pulled somewhat of a selection surprise in calling up Birrell ahead of Olivia Gadecki for the opening singles rubber. While both options had made maiden WTA Tour finals in recent times, Gadecki was higher-ranked after breaking into the world’s top 100 for the first time following a charge to the Guadalajara Open title decider in September. Birrell, though, was also riding high after making last month’s Japan Open final and entered Sunday night’s match well-fancied to account for the 241st-ranked ranked Hruncakova. Alas, the 26-year-old world No.115 went down 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 in a rollercoaster two-hour, 31-minute battle to pile the pressure on the resurgent Tomljanovic. Back as *********** No.1 after landing a second career title in Hong Kong Kong following more than a year out with a knee injury, Tomljanovic’s return to the competition ended in despair. The 31-year-old needed a medical time-out in the first set for another left knee issue and never recovered, going down 6-1 6-2 in barely an hour. Sramkova had upset world No.11 Danielle Collins, the 2022 *********** Open runner-up, in Slovakia’s shock win over the USA on Friday to make the quarter-finals. Now the 28-year-old looms as pivotal to Slovakia’s chances of continuing their giantkilling run against either defending champions Canada or Great Britain in the semi-finals. Source link #Australia #****** #Billie #Jean #King #Cup #Finals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Arizona girl, 10, sells prize chicks for $2,100 — but then Chase froze her check, closed the account. Here’s why Arizona girl, 10, sells prize chicks for $2,100 — but then Chase froze her check, closed the account. Here’s why Arizona girl, 10, sells prize chicks for $2,100 — but then Chase froze her check, closed the account. Here’s why Some 10-year-olds sell cookies and lemonade to earn a bit of spending cash, but not Kinley Maner. Kinley, from Thatcher, Arizona, is earning money by raising and selling chickens at the local fair. “She really enjoyed it, had a lot of fun, learned a lot about chickens,” her father, J.R. Maner told Arizona’s Family On Your Side. “It really taught her kind of strict obedience of being out there and taking care of an animal.” After showing her feathered friends at the Graham County Fair, Kinley, like many people who show animals at the fair, put them up for auction. When the bidding was over, Kinely managed to sell her six chickens for a whopping $2,100 and change, which her mother, Kali, electronically deposited into her bank account. A day later, however, Chase Bank froze the check and then closed Kali’s account entirely. A year later, Kinley still hadn’t received her profits. Kinley’s mom spent several hours on the phone with Chase, trying to figure out what happened to the girl’s prize money and why her account had been closed. According to Kalli, Chase said when bank officials checked the phone number of the Small Stock Association, which issued the payment, it was out of service. That seemed suspicious to them, so they froze the funds and closed her account. “[Chase’s] ultimate response is that, sorry, Kinley is not going to get her money back,” J.R. told reporters. “And there’s nothing we can do unless we can verify that check.” So, the man from the Small Stock Association who wrote the check went to Chase to verify it in person. According to the Maners, he went in three different times in an attempt to verify the check, but Chase said he could only verify it by phone. Chase’s actions in freezing Kinley’s check and closing Kali’s account align with standard bank practices for risk management and ****** prevention, especially under KYC (know your customer) and AML (anti-money laundering) regulations. When banks encounter checks from unfamiliar sources or suspect ******, they may flag the transaction. Freezing funds and closing accounts is a protective measure used to prevent ****** or money laundering. Story Continues Read more: Economists weigh in on Donald Trump’s pitch to eliminate Social Security taxes for seniors — here’s how to bolster your retirement fund now However, in this situation, Chase refused to accept the issuing person’s in-person verification, possibly due to policies that require verification to occur on channels they can document, such as the phone. While these steps aim to protect the bank from regulatory challenges and ******, they can create issues when applied without consideration for unique situations, such as a child depositing a large sum. Online, several customers report issues with Chase closing accounts without recourse. A year after the fair, Kinley still hadn’t received her funds — until they called Arizona’s Family On Your Side. Just a few hours after the On Your Side team contacted Chase, the bank reached out to Kinley’s family and apologized. The bank overnighted a $2,100 check to Kinley, who then put most of the money in her college fund. If you’re facing issues with frozen funds or a closed account, there are several avenues for resolution. Start with the bank’s customer service department. Ask for a clear explanation and for the next steps. Sometimes, providing documentation can help lift the freeze. If the initial conversation doesn’t resolve the issue, ask to speak to a supervisor or Tier 2 representative. Another resource is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This organization oversees and addresses consumer complaints in the financial sector. Financial institutions are expected to reply to CFPB complaints quickly, often in 15 days or less. Finally, research the banking regulator department in your state. In Arizona, residents can contact the Arizona Department of Insurance & Financial Institutions. If you feel your bank’s steps were unjust, filing a complaint may help resolve the issue. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Source link #Arizona #girl #sells #prize #chicks #Chase #froze #check #closed #account #Heres Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trudeau heads to G20 summit in Brazil. Here’s what’s on the agenda – National Trudeau heads to G20 summit in Brazil. Here’s what’s on the agenda – National Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to leave Peru this morning for the G20 summit in Brazil as Ottawa seeks its place in a rift between the ******* States and booming economies in the developing world. The Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum with leaders ranging from long-standing allies such as French President Emmanuel Macron to populist firebrands like Argentine President Javier Milei. They’re meeting in Rio de Janeiro to try to find common ground on issues ranging from solving global hunger to setting rules around digital currencies. The summit comes less than two weeks after ********* voters decided to send Donald Trump back to the White House next year. During the campaign, Trump promised to pull the U.S. out of global institutions and raise tariffs on foreign goods. John Kirton, head of the G20 Research Group, says the forum is the main tool countries have to prepare for the second Trump presidency. Story continues below advertisement “What you really need is basically the most powerful leaders, of the world’s most powerful countries, talking among themselves — because only they know what it’s like to deal with a leader in the same category,” he said. 3:13 Canada managed to ‘steer through’ 1st Trump presidency: Trudeau Much of Trudeau’s time at the summit will likely involve informal chats with various leaders, though he is expected to have some formal discussions, too. On Sunday afternoon, he’s set to take part in an event held by the anti-******** group Global Citizen on the sidelines of the summit. As of Saturday evening, Trudeau’s office had not specified which leaders he will meet with at the G20. ******** President Claudia Sheinbaum will attend the summit, which might provide her first chance for an in-person meeting with Trudeau since taking office. Both countries face a 2026 review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, and both leaders were elected on pledges to ****** climate change. Story continues below advertisement “There are concerns around the level of ******** investment in Mexico that I think need to be addressed, but I am hopeful that we’re going to be able to work constructively over the coming months,” Trudeau said at a Saturday news conference in Lima, adding that Mexico has been a “solid partner” to Canada. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Trudeau will likely meet with the summit host, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, commonly called Lula. Kirton said Trudeau is in lockstep with Lula’s three main priorities for the summit, which are economic equality that includes Indigenous Peoples, climate change and clean energy, and reducing ******** and hunger. Lula has added a fourth priority, artificial intelligence — something Trudeau championed when Canada hosted the G7 summit in 2018, and that Trudeau says will be a key focus in Canada’s term as G7 host next year. 5:08 APEC summit: Trudeau discusses innovation around AI, says biggest limiting factor will be power “It’s hard to think of a G20 summit where the host’s and the ********* prime minister’s priorities had been so well aligned,” Kirton said. “We’ve got a lot we can do to help Lula get what he wants.” Story continues below advertisement Another point of alignment is on Lula’s ******* for global governance reform, something Ottawa has pushed for among the G7 and at the ******* Nations. Countries like Brazil say they don’t have an adequate voice in institutions that were designed at the end of the Second World War, when Europe and Washington had a dominant role in shaping the rules governing military matters, trade and sovereignty. Countries in regions like the Caribbean have the same grievances about financial institutions designed over the decades. They complain that they cannot get adequate financing to invest in infrastructure to blunt the impacts of climate change that is largely being caused by industrialized countries. More on Canada More videos Instead, they are paying massive interest charges at a time of high inflation. In July 2023, a UN report found nearly half the world’s population lived in countries that spend more on debt interest payments than on education or health care. Brazil prides itself on being a democracy anchored in what it calls a pragmatic approach to diplomacy, though both have been under strain. Lula has made climate change one of his primary focuses. Brazil has seen large-scale urban floods and record forest fires in crucial areas like the Amazon, where there has been conflict over natural resources projects. Trending Now Ukraine war likely to end more quickly under Trump, Zelenskyy says Poilievre says he’d ****** Trump economic policies, tariffs ‘with *****’ Neighbouring Venezuela’s dictatorship has meted out economic pain and state ********* on its people, sending waves of refugees to Brazil. Story continues below advertisement In early 2023, Brazil was stunned as supporters of Lula’s predecessor Jair Bolsonaro stormed the country’s presidential palace, parliament and Supreme Court in what many likened to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Since then, Brazil has sought to weed out misinformation, blocking access to the platform X for five weeks when the company refused to comply with court orders. Meanwhile, the country is a member of the BRICS club of emerging economies that have been seeking more influence in the world for countries like China and South *******, and an end to ********* dominance in fields like reserve currency. Vina Nadjibulla, research vice-president for the Asia Pacific Foundation, urged Canadians “to not mistakenly lump Brazil into the … anti-West bloc that Russia, China, Iran and others within the BRICS represent.” She said Ottawa should instead focus on shared priorities with Brazil such as free trade, democracy and respecting global rules — including moves to make those rules work better for countries where most of the world’s population live. 3:13 Brasilia riot: Lula vows to get to bottom of “coup” as Brazilians march for democracy “It’s important as we enter this much more volatile, unpredictable ******* in international relations to maintain nuanced, smart approaches and policies to emerging and middle powers like Brazil,” she said. Story continues below advertisement Nadjibulla said it’s challenging to hit the right balance, but she said to not do so would drive partners like Brazil into the arms of disruptive powers like Russia and China, and foster more anti-Western sentiment. “We need to be much more forthcoming in making those global institutions fit for purpose,” she said. “That’s going to be really challenging with the next Trump administration, which has a very limited commitment to multilateralism and global institutions, and has a lot more isolationist tendencies.” Similar to the past two G20 summits, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is in Rio in the place of Russian President Vladimir ******, who since March 2023 has been the subject of an arrest order from the International ********* Court for his role in the deportation of Ukrainian children. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine caused strain at the last two summits, though leaders managed to agree to call out Russia for “aggression” in 2022 and the “use of force to seek territorial acquisition” in the 2023 communiqué. Kiron is curious whether that war will be mentioned in this year’s ****** statement, as well as the *******-****** War, which started after the last summit took place in New Delhi. Lula created controversy in February when he compared *******’s war on Gaza with the Holocaust. Source link #Trudeau #heads #G20 #summit #Brazil #Heres #whats #agenda #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trudeau heads to G20 summit in Brazil. Here’s what’s on the agenda – National Trudeau heads to G20 summit in Brazil. Here’s what’s on the agenda – National Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to leave Peru this morning for the G20 summit in Brazil as Ottawa seeks its place in a rift between the ******* States and booming economies in the developing world. The Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum with leaders ranging from long-standing allies such as French President Emmanuel Macron to populist firebrands like Argentine President Javier Milei. They’re meeting in Rio de Janeiro to try to find common ground on issues ranging from solving global hunger to setting rules around digital currencies. The summit comes less than two weeks after ********* voters decided to send Donald Trump back to the White House next year. During the campaign, Trump promised to pull the U.S. out of global institutions and raise tariffs on foreign goods. John Kirton, head of the G20 Research Group, says the forum is the main tool countries have to prepare for the second Trump presidency. Story continues below advertisement “What you really need is basically the most powerful leaders, of the world’s most powerful countries, talking among themselves — because only they know what it’s like to deal with a leader in the same category,” he said. 3:13 Canada managed to ‘steer through’ 1st Trump presidency: Trudeau Much of Trudeau’s time at the summit will likely involve informal chats with various leaders, though he is expected to have some formal discussions, too. On Sunday afternoon, he’s set to take part in an event held by the anti-******** group Global Citizen on the sidelines of the summit. As of Saturday evening, Trudeau’s office had not specified which leaders he will meet with at the G20. ******** President Claudia Sheinbaum will attend the summit, which might provide her first chance for an in-person meeting with Trudeau since taking office. Both countries face a 2026 review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, and both leaders were elected on pledges to ****** climate change. Story continues below advertisement “There are concerns around the level of ******** investment in Mexico that I think need to be addressed, but I am hopeful that we’re going to be able to work constructively over the coming months,” Trudeau said at a Saturday news conference in Lima, adding that Mexico has been a “solid partner” to Canada. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Trudeau will likely meet with the summit host, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, commonly called Lula. Kirton said Trudeau is in lockstep with Lula’s three main priorities for the summit, which are economic equality that includes Indigenous Peoples, climate change and clean energy, and reducing ******** and hunger. Lula has added a fourth priority, artificial intelligence — something Trudeau championed when Canada hosted the G7 summit in 2018, and that Trudeau says will be a key focus in Canada’s term as G7 host next year. 5:08 APEC summit: Trudeau discusses innovation around AI, says biggest limiting factor will be power “It’s hard to think of a G20 summit where the host’s and the ********* prime minister’s priorities had been so well aligned,” Kirton said. “We’ve got a lot we can do to help Lula get what he wants.” Story continues below advertisement Another point of alignment is on Lula’s ******* for global governance reform, something Ottawa has pushed for among the G7 and at the ******* Nations. Countries like Brazil say they don’t have an adequate voice in institutions that were designed at the end of the Second World War, when Europe and Washington had a dominant role in shaping the rules governing military matters, trade and sovereignty. Countries in regions like the Caribbean have the same grievances about financial institutions designed over the decades. They complain that they cannot get adequate financing to invest in infrastructure to blunt the impacts of climate change that is largely being caused by industrialized countries. More on Canada More videos Instead, they are paying massive interest charges at a time of high inflation. In July 2023, a UN report found nearly half the world’s population lived in countries that spend more on debt interest payments than on education or health care. Brazil prides itself on being a democracy anchored in what it calls a pragmatic approach to diplomacy, though both have been under strain. Lula has made climate change one of his primary focuses. Brazil has seen large-scale urban floods and record forest fires in crucial areas like the Amazon, where there has been conflict over natural resources projects. Trending Now Ukraine war likely to end more quickly under Trump, Zelenskyy says Poilievre says he’d ****** Trump economic policies, tariffs ‘with *****’ Neighbouring Venezuela’s dictatorship has meted out economic pain and state ********* on its people, sending waves of refugees to Brazil. Story continues below advertisement In early 2023, Brazil was stunned as supporters of Lula’s predecessor Jair Bolsonaro stormed the country’s presidential palace, parliament and Supreme Court in what many likened to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Since then, Brazil has sought to weed out misinformation, blocking access to the platform X for five weeks when the company refused to comply with court orders. Meanwhile, the country is a member of the BRICS club of emerging economies that have been seeking more influence in the world for countries like China and South *******, and an end to ********* dominance in fields like reserve currency. Vina Nadjibulla, research vice-president for the Asia Pacific Foundation, urged Canadians “to not mistakenly lump Brazil into the … anti-West bloc that Russia, China, Iran and others within the BRICS represent.” She said Ottawa should instead focus on shared priorities with Brazil such as free trade, democracy and respecting global rules — including moves to make those rules work better for countries where most of the world’s population live. 3:13 Brasilia riot: Lula vows to get to bottom of “coup” as Brazilians march for democracy “It’s important as we enter this much more volatile, unpredictable ******* in international relations to maintain nuanced, smart approaches and policies to emerging and middle powers like Brazil,” she said. Story continues below advertisement Nadjibulla said it’s challenging to hit the right balance, but she said to not do so would drive partners like Brazil into the arms of disruptive powers like Russia and China, and foster more anti-Western sentiment. “We need to be much more forthcoming in making those global institutions fit for purpose,” she said. “That’s going to be really challenging with the next Trump administration, which has a very limited commitment to multilateralism and global institutions, and has a lot more isolationist tendencies.” Similar to the past two G20 summits, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is in Rio in the place of Russian President Vladimir ******, who since March 2023 has been the subject of an arrest order from the International ********* Court for his role in the deportation of Ukrainian children. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine caused strain at the last two summits, though leaders managed to agree to call out Russia for “aggression” in 2022 and the “use of force to seek territorial acquisition” in the 2023 communiqué. Kiron is curious whether that war will be mentioned in this year’s ****** statement, as well as the *******-****** War, which started after the last summit took place in New Delhi. Lula created controversy in February when he compared *******’s war on Gaza with the Holocaust. Source link #Trudeau #heads #G20 #summit #Brazil #Heres #whats #agenda #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Guy Fieri, Sammy Hagar’s trucks carrying $1 million of tequila hijacked in double heist after crossing border Guy Fieri, Sammy Hagar’s trucks carrying $1 million of tequila hijacked in double heist after crossing border Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar’s tequila business took a major hit after two of their freight trucks carrying $1 million in products were stolen. The celebrity chef, 56, and the former Van Halen singer, 77, are the co-owners of the tequila brand Santo Spirits. A representative for Hagar told Fox News Digital that the trucks were hijacked over the weekend of Nov. 9 in Laredo, Texas. The missing trucks were carrying 24,240 bottles of Santo Blanco and Reposado as well as a specially made Extra Añejo, which was created over the course of 39 months. Hagar’s rep said “it appears this was an organized ****** effort where the trucks were illegally double brokered to different carriers who transferred the product to their trucks” after they crossed over the border from Mexico to Texas. Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar’s tequila brand Santo Spirits suffered a ***** after two of its trucks were hijacked. “For a growing company like Santo, it’s really a shame for something like this to happen in the middle of our strongest year to date and right before the holidays!” Hagar said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Guy Fieri Partners With Sammy Hagar For Rocker’s Latest Tequila Read On The Fox News App “Anyone that knows business knows that this is a huge setback for any company in a hugely competitive market,” the “I Can’t Drive 55” rocker added. “But Guy and I will survive. Most of all, we’re glad that nobody was hurt during this ******.” In an interview with People Magazine, Fieri said that he and Hagar learned of the heist on Nov. 14. “We’ve worked so hard,” the Food Network star said. “This is our best year we’ve ever had in Santo. We just had all this momentum, and now whatever’s on the shelf is all people are going to get.” The trucks were loaded with $1 million worth of tequila. Fieri told People that workers at their ******** distillery were “on a 24/7 schedule right now” to replace the stolen tequila. However, Fieri said that it was unlikely that they would be able to fully replenish their tequila supply in time for the holidays, during which Santos Spirits typically sees its highest volume of sales. The “Ultimate Recipe Showdown” alum told People that “someone could be trying to break the momentum” that their tequila business had gained in the marketplace. Fieri also expressed his surprise that two trucks were targeted by the thieves. “I mean, one is one. But now you’ve got to have double the amount of people to pull off the double heist,” Fieri said. “It just seems so much riskier to take two trucks.” Hagar said it was a “huge setback” for the company during the busy holiday season. Santo Spirits president Dan Butkus told People that he was worried about how the theft of the total 440 cases of tequila would impact their distillery and their employees. Story Continues “Our distiller is an independent distiller who’s dependent on our sales for his livelihood and that of his team,” Butkus said. “My sales team, my marketing team, the entire Santo Spirits team is dependent upon these sales. “That’s sort of the piece that’s most hurtful to me,” he added. “We’ve got to support these people both at the distillery and in the U.S., and we can’t do it right now without the revenue from these cases.” Fieri has offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who can locate the trunks. People reported that the ******* are being investigated by Laredo Police Department, Los Angeles’ Cargo ********* Apprehension Team and the federal cargo theft prevention and recovery network CargoNet. Fieri is offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who can locate the missing trucks. He told People that he is especially hoping to recover the Extra Añejo. “It’s like the crown jewel of the company, something that we’ve been working on,” he explained. “You can’t reproduce something that takes four years to make.” “It’s like a movie — I never in a million years thought this was coming down the pike like this,” Fieri said of the heist. “But it’s real.” Original article source: Guy Fieri, Sammy Hagar’s trucks carrying $1 million of tequila hijacked in double heist after crossing border Source link #Guy #Fieri #Sammy #Hagars #trucks #carrying #million #tequila #hijacked #double #heist #crossing #border Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ben Shapiro says more Americans are ‘aching for retirement’ due to ‘unfulfilling’ work — 3 tips to turn it around Ben Shapiro says more Americans are ‘aching for retirement’ due to ‘unfulfilling’ work — 3 tips to turn it around Ben Shapiro says more Americans are ‘aching for retirement’ due to ‘unfulfilling’ work — 3 tips to turn it around In a recent episode of “The Ramsey Show,” Ben Shapiro expressed his take on the ********* mentality toward work and how it may be causing people to unnecessarily suffer until retirement. “What I see is an increasingly depressed America,” he said. “[This is] a country that has set expectations that work is somehow bad and unfulfilling.” And he’s not necessarily wrong. A Gallup poll indicates that roughly 17.8% of U.S. adults are currently struggling with or being treated for depression, up seven percentage points since 2015. However, Gallup’s data indicates that rates are growing faster for women and younger Americans who are struggling with loneliness, job loss or lower incomes. Meanwhile, 50% of employed Americans say they find their work enjoyable and less than half (47%) find their work fulfilling all or most of the time, according to Pew Research Center. Older workers with higher incomes, however, were more likely to find their job enjoyable and fulfilling. In short, people may not be dissatisfied with their jobs as much as they’re dissatisfied with how much they’re paid. It’s perhaps easy to see why someone like Shapiro, a 40-year old worth over $50 million, finds his work enjoyable: he gets well compensated for it. With that in mind, here are three ways you can turn things around if your work is working against you. Staying in the same role for too long could be lowering your satisfaction with work. While job hopping typically has a negative connotation, there can be benefits to knowing when to move on to greener pastures. In fact, a study by Side Hustles found those who switch jobs often are 64% more likely than long-term employees to feel like their career is progressing. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta also indicates that “job switchers” have seen faster wage growth than “job stayers” over the past five years. So if you’re looking for better work and better pay, it may be time to ***** up the job hunt. Read more: 5 ways to boost your net worth now — easily up your money game without altering your day-to-day life If you’re content in your role, you could improve satisfaction by simply asking for better compensation. Story Continues Only 32% of men and 28% of women asked for higher pay in 2023, according to Pew Research Center. A similar gap was highlighted regarding age: Only 19% of workers 65 and over said they didn’t feel comfortable asking for higher pay compared to 46% of workers ages 18 to 29. Regardless of your age or gender, getting over this psychological barrier to pay negotiation can be essential for your work satisfaction. If there’s no roadmap you and your manager can agree on to get you to your desired salary, you may want to consider a job switch to improve your prospects. If leaving your job and negotiating for better pay is off the table, you may want to consider a side venture. More than half of Americans (54%) have taken on side gigs to supplement their main source of income in the last year, according to a recent MarketWatch Guides study. Beyond the flexibility and added pay, launching a side hustle can be a great way to indulge in a passion project without too much risk. For instance, If you’re keen on social/political commentary, launching a podcast in light of Shapiro’s observation could be a great way to demonstrate human agency and improve your professional satisfaction. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Source link #Ben #Shapiro #Americans #aching #retirement #due #unfulfilling #work #tips #turn Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

McDonald’s, Starbucks aim to improve McDonald’s, Starbucks aim to improve A McDonald’s restaurant in El Sobrante, California, on Oct. 23, 2024. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images After a tough year for the restaurant industry, executives can’t wait for 2025 to start. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m ready for ’24 to be behind us, and I think ’25 is going to be a great year,” Kate Jaspon, CFO of Dunkin’ parent Inspire Brands, said at the Restaurant Finance and Development Conference in Las Vegas this week. Restaurant bankruptcy filings have soared more than 50% so far in 2024, compared with the year-ago *******. Traffic to restaurants open at least a year declined year over year in every month of 2024 through September, according to data from industry tracker ****** Box Intelligence. And many of the nation’s largest restaurant chains, from McDonald’s to Starbucks, have disappointed investors with same-store sales declines for at least one quarter. But green shoots have appeared, fueling tepid optimism for the future of the restaurant industry. Sales are improving from this summer’s lows. Traffic to fast-food restaurants rose 2.8% in October compared with a year ago, according to data from Revenue Management Solutions. The firm’s data confirms anecdotal evidence from companies like Burger King owner Restaurant Brands International, which said earlier this month that its same-store sales grew in October. Plus, interest rates are finally falling. Earlier in November, the Federal Reserve approved its second consecutive rate cut. For restaurants, lower interest rates mean that it’s cheaper to finance new locations, fueling growth. Previously, higher interest rates didn’t hurt development much because restaurants were still catching up from pandemic delays and riding the high of the post-Covid sales *****. Shake Shack storefront with illuminated sign on a bustling street, New York City, New York, October 22, 2024. Smith Collection | Gado | Archive Photos | Getty Images At burger chain Shake Shack, higher interest rates in the last few years did not slow down development, according to CFO Katie Fogertey. But she’s expecting a “big boost” in consumer confidence as rates fall. “If credit becomes cheaper, people feel like they can borrow more, even though it doesn’t make sense that it would necessarily drive a $5 burger spend. It’s just the psychology behind it,” Fogertey told CNBC. Shake Shack has reported increasing same-store sales every quarter so far this year, even as consumers have been more cautious. Restaurant valuations are also improving, prompting hope that the market for initial public offerings will finally defrost. “We’re working with a number of different folks right now on getting ready,” said Piper Sandler managing director Damon Chandik at RFDC. “The window currently is not wide open … I think that just with the traffic pressure that we’ve been seeing across the industry, the bar is particularly high.” He added that he expects to see some restaurant IPOs next year, hopefully in the first half. A sign marks the location of a Cava restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, on May 28, 2024. Scott Olson | Getty Images No major restaurant company has gone public since Mediterranean restaurant chain Cava’s IPO in June of last year. While Cava’s stock has climbed more than 500% since its debut, its success hasn’t encouraged any other large private restaurant companies to take the plunge. Instead, the broader market conditions have scared off other contenders. Nearly a year ago, Panera Bread confidentially filed to go public again, but an IPO hasn’t yet come to fruition. Inspire Brands, which is owned by private equity firm Roark Capital, is another likely candidate for a blockbuster IPO in the future. Inspire’s portfolio includes Dunkin’, Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy John’s, Sonic, Arby’s and Baskin-Robbins. Still, it’s not all optimism within the industry. “I think we’ll still see headwinds next year within the macro and within the industry,” Portillo’s CFO Michelle ***** told CNBC. The fast-casual chain, best known for its Italian beef sandwiches, has reported falling same-store sales for three straight quarters. Portillo’s has stayed away from some of the discounts offered by others in the restaurant industry, like McDonald’s and Chili’s. The value wars will likely continue into 2025, pressuring restaurants’ profits and intensifying the competition between chains. For example, McDonald’s plans to unveil a broader value menu in the first quarter, after extending its $5 value meal through the summer and into the winter. For some restaurants, the looming threat of bankruptcy hasn’t disappeared, particularly for the chains that are leaning on discounts to win back customers. And while a recession looks unlikely next year, the consumer might take longer to bounce back from years of high costs than anticipated. Source link #McDonalds #Starbucks #aim #improve Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nature Positive: Greens drop ‘climate trigger’ demand in surprise twist to bitter nature row Nature Positive: Greens drop ‘climate trigger’ demand in surprise twist to bitter nature row The Greens will no longer insist on a climate trigger under a new offer designed to tempt the Federal Government into a deal to pass its Nature Positive laws in the final parliamentary sittings of the year. Source link #Nature #Positive #Greens #drop #climate #trigger #demand #surprise #twist #bitter #nature #row Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Miss Nigeria’s pride at coming second in Miss Universe Miss Nigeria’s pride at coming second in Miss Universe Getty Images Chidimma Adetshina is the highest placed ****** ******** woman in Miss Universe since South *******’s Zozibini Tunzi won in 2019 Miss Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, has spoken of her pride at coming second in the Miss Universe competition, as well as being named Miss ******* and Oceania. “I’m so proud of myself and I just made history,” she said, shortly after losing out to Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjær Theilvig. Adetshina originally competed in the Miss South ******* contest, as she was born and grew up in the country, however she was subjected to trolling and xenophobic ****** because her father is *********. Last month, the South ******** authorities said they would strip her of her identity papers, following allegations that her mother, who has Mozambican roots, had committed identity ****** to gain South ******** nationality. Neither Adetshina nor her mother have commented on the allegations. South ******** authorities pointed out that Adetshina could not have participated in any alleged ****** as she was an infant at the time. After the furore in South *******, and the doubts about her nationality, she competed in the Miss Nigeria competition, which she won to qualify for the Miss Universe contest held in Mexico City. The eventual winner of Miss South *******, Mia le Roux, pulled out of Miss Universe last week citing an undisclosed medical condition. She was the first deaf woman to become Miss South *******. In September, Adetshina, a law student, told the BBC that she still saw herself as “proudly South ********” and “proudly *********”. But after Miss Universe South ******* tweeted to congratulate her on her second place, along with both South ******** and ********* flags, some South Africans responded by saying she did not represent them. In her BBC interview, Adetshina said she would be seeking therapy to help her deal with the trauma following the ****** she was subjected to. She is the highest placed ****** ******** woman in Miss Universe since South *******’s Zozibini Tunzi won the competition in 2019. You may also be interested in:Getty Images/BBC Source link #Nigerias #pride #coming #Universe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer drops to a record-low price for ****** Friday The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer drops to a record-low price for ****** Friday One of our favorite air fryer toaster ovens is on ***** for a record low. The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer, which has 11 cooking functions and takes up less counter space than the pricier “Pro” model, is available for $80 off. The appliance will usually set you back $350, but this ****** Friday deal brings the brushed stainless steel mode down to $270. Most other colorways are down to $280. Breville’s Smart Oven Air Fryer has a long list of cooking functions: toast, bagel, broil, bake, roast, warm, pizza, air fry, reheat, cookies and slow cook. The oven uses five quartz heating elements known for quick and consistent heating. It uses algorithms to direct heat to where it’s needed most for each mode. Breville Save $80 for ****** Friday on the brushed stainless steel model. $270 at Amazon The oven uses “super convection” tech to reduce cooking time by up to 30 percent. It speeds up cooking by raising hotter air and sinking the cooler, less dense air. It supports a wide temperature range of 120 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The appliance requires a decent amount of counter space: 18.9-inch wide x 15.9-inch deep x 10.9-inch high. But in return, you can squeeze in six slices of pizza or toast, a whole chicken or nine muffins. Breville’s oven has a smooth-looking brushed stainless steel texture, including snazzy-looking knobs and buttons and an interior light that automatically turns on at the cooking cycle’s end. (You can also flip it on manually.) Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #Breville #Smart #Oven #Air #Fryer #drops #recordlow #price #****** #Friday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Acer Predator X34 OLED Curved gaming monitor review: Extreme curve and performance Acer Predator X34 OLED Curved gaming monitor review: Extreme curve and performance When I was preparing for this review of the Acer Predator X34 OLED, I thought that I had already reviewed an Acer monitor called X34 in the past. A quick search of my archives revealed another Predator X34 from 2016 and an X34P from 2018. OK, so this is the X34 OLED. But wait a minute. Acer’s catalog currently includes four X34s, two of which have OLED panels. How to choose? My subject here is the X34 OLED with the 800R curvature. It’s the most extremely curved monitor in Acer’s lineup and in anyone else’s for that matter. An 800mm radius means the edges of the screen practically wrap around your head. You can actually hear your voice reflected into your ears when you sit close. But that’s not all. The X34 OLED features a 34-inch 21:9 screen with WQHD 3440×1440 resolution, a 240 Hz refresh rate, Adaptive-Sync, HDR400, wide gamut ******, KVM switching and the latest connectivity. And it sells for around $900 at this writing, which puts it in the sweet spot among the best gaming monitors. Acer Predator X34 OLED Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Panel Type / Backlight Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) Screen Size / Aspect Ratio 34 inches / 21:9 Row 2 – Cell 0 Curve radius: 800mm Max Resolution and Refresh Rate 3440×1440 @ 240 Hz Row 4 – Cell 0 FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible Native ****** Depth and Gamut 10-bit / DCI-P3 Row 6 – Cell 0 HDR10, DisplayHDR 400 Response Time (GTG) 0.01ms Brightness (mfr) 275 nits SDR Row 9 – Cell 0 1,300 nits HDR Contrast Unmeasurable Speakers 2x 5w Video Inputs 2x DisplayPort 1.4 Row 13 – Cell 0 2x HDMI 2.1 Row 14 – Cell 0 1x USB-C Audio 3.5mm headphone output USB 3.2 2x up, 4x down Power Consumption 48.5w, brightness @ 200 nits Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base 30.9 x 17-21.8 x 12 inches (785 x 432-554 x 305mm) Panel Thickness 6.5 inches (165mm) Bezel Width Top: 0.28 inch (7mm) Row 21 – Cell 0 Sides: 0.3 inch (8mm) Row 22 – Cell 0 Bottom: 0.5 inch (13mm) Weight 18.7 pounds (8.5kg) Warranty 3 years While $900 isn’t trivial, the X34 OLED is less expensive than other 34-inch 21:9 OLED gaming monitors. Concerning the naming, the X34 OLED is not to be confused with the X34 QD-OLED. That more expensive display has, you guessed it, Quantum Dot technology for a larger ****** gamut. It also has a 175 Hz refresh rate and a gentler curve radius. The X34 OLED, on the other hand, is built for high-performance gaming and leaves nothing under the table regarding speed and response. The refresh rate is 240 Hz, which is achieved without overclocking, and both flavors of Adaptive-Sync are supported. Two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs and a USB-C port accept 3440×1440 signals with 10-bit ****** processing. Two HDMI 2.1 ports are there for consoles and other video source components. The X34 OLED has a KVM switch with four USB downstream ports (version 3.2), including two right up front with a headphone jack for easy access. As a non-QD panel, the X34 OLED doesn’t quite have the ****** saturation of the latest QD-OLEDs, but that is not to say it isn’t colorful. It has more gamut volume than almost any Mini LED monitor with a measured 98.78% coverage of DCI-P3. Due to its infinite OLED contrast, it delivers a stunning image and ******* HDR with peak highlights over 1,000 nits. I measured a 25% window pattern at over 660 nits, which makes it brighter than nearly all of its direct competitors. The gaming feature list is long enough to provide essential items like aiming points, a very flexible ******* mode, refresh rate counter and timers. There is no LED lighting, but that is the only thing missing. There are plenty of picture modes, calibration options and a constant brightness option. OLED panel care comes in the form of a pixel shift and a refresh program. And a pair of internal speakers deliver decent audio. The Predator X34 OLED doesn’t quite set a new bar for value, but at around $100-200 less than other 34-inch gaming OLEDs, it delivers a lot for the money. Let’s take a look. Assembly and Accessories The X34 OLED comes packed in crumbly foam in three parts for a toolless assembly. The screen is well protected by a thick peel-off plastic sheet. The base is super solid and once put together, you would have to try very hard to knock it over. The cable bundle includes IEC for the internal power supply plus HDMI and two USBs. There is no DisplayPort. You also get four hefty adaptor lugs for the 200x100mm VESA mount if you’d rather use an arm. Product 360 Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Acer) (Image credit: Acer) (Image credit: Acer) (Image credit: Acer) The X34 OLED’s front bezel is very thin and almost invisible when the power is on. It’s even flush at the bottom so there’s no logo there to take your eyes out of that gorgeous picture. Only a tiny Predator logo appears at the bottom of the stand. The base is a full 12 inches deep and almost two feet wide, but its slender legs leave plenty of room for peripherals or random desk clutter. The upright is also slender but rock solid with full ergonomics. You get 5/15 degrees tilt, 15 degrees swivel and 4.8 inches of height. Adjustments have the premium feel I’ve expected from all Predator displays. At the top of the upright is a quarter-inch threaded mount for webcams or other peripherals. And did I mention it’s completely made from metal, not plastic around a metal core. I’ve called other monitors monolithic, but the X34 OLED earns that adjective more than most. An 800R curvature is currently the tightest radius available. You can see in the top-down view that the sides of the screen come quite far into the user’s peripheral vision. Though image distortion is minimal, this shape imparts something of a fishbowl effect. It’s magnified by the reflection of sound back into the user’s ears. If you like to talk out loud while gaming (I do), you’ll hear your own voice very clearly. It’s a great format for first-person games and simulators. And the thin bezel means you can line up two or three monitors for a hyperrealistic driving or flying rig. The input panel is up and under and includes two HDMI 2.0, two DisplayPort 1.4, and three USB 3.2, one upstream and two down. Under the front edge of the screen are two more USBs, a type and a type C, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack. An LED bar glows orange in standby and blue when the power is on. A tiny joystick is the only physical control. Two internal speakers play with five watts of power and deliver clean loud sound with reasonable bass and no audible distortion. OSD Features Pressing the X34 OLED’s joystick summons a quick menu that lets you change inputs, adjust brightness and switch picture modes. Another press opens the full OSD, which is divided into seven sections and includes three settings memories. Image 1 of 9 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Game Assistant menu seems simple, with only three options, but the aim points and ******* mode include a lot of useful functionality. The reticle comes in three shapes and can be red, white or green. Or, you can have it change ****** automatically with the background to maintain its visibility. You can also move it around the screen. The ******* mode has three magnifications, multiple sizes and a night vision option. And you get four countdown timers. The next menu, Gaming, has a FreeSync/Adaptive-Sync toggle and a frame counter. Ultra-Low Latency is available when you turn FreeSync off and reduces input lag by 1ms according to my tests. If you can run consistently faster than 200fps, it’s a viable option, but with FreeSync on, input lag is still very low. Happily, Acer doesn’t hide the X34 OLED’s constant brightness option in the OLED care menu. It’s in the Picture menu where it’s easier to find. If you want the monitor’s full brightness capability, it should be left off. When it’s turned on, the peak white level is around 260 nits. This menu also has ****** Boost for enhanced shadow detail, an HDR toggle, Super Sharpness (edge enhancement, leave off) and a Low Blue Light option. The ****** menu has eight picture modes, three of which can function as settings memories. If you make any change at all, the X34 OLED reverts to the User mode. Calibration options include gamma presets and ****** temps plus two-point RGB sliders with gain and bias control, very nice. A selection of ****** spaces is also offered but I found during testing that they all measured the same. There is no usable sRGB mode, more on that later. Hot Key Assignment lets the user pick a function for the first two slots of the quick menu. You can also specify normal or low HDMI ****** levels. Leave this one on normal for best results. Low clips some shadow detail and does not improve picture quality. The second screen of System options has a pixel shifter and a refresh routine for OLED panel care. Finally, you can save your settings to one of three memories that are part of the picture mode selection, very cool. Acer Predator X34 OLED Calibration Settings I found the X34 OLED a little green in tone out of the box, so some adjustment is required for best results. In the user ****** temp option, you get a two-point control with gain and bias sliders. I also measured a dark gamma close to 2.4. Changing the preset to 2.0 and tweaking the RGB gains made a significant improvement in all aspects of the image. I’ve listed my settings below. For the brightness values, I’m showing what it takes to hit the nit values with Constant Brightness off and on. The higher number is required when it’s on. The X34 OLED responds to HDR signals with an auto-switch and grays out all picture controls. Swipe to scroll horizontally Picture Mode User Brightness 200 nits 47 / 81 Brightness 120 nits 26 / 53 Brightness 100 nits 20 / 43 Brightness 80 nits 15 / 34 Brightness 50 nits 7 / 19 (min. 7 or 19 nits) Contrast 50 Gamma 2.0 ****** Temp User Gain – Red 48, Green 49, Blue 50 Row 9 – Cell 0 Bias – Red 50, Green 50, Blue 50 Gaming and Hands-on Gaming on the X34 OLED is a superlative experience. I’ve become spoiled by 240 Hz OLEDs for sure, but this is one of the faster ones. I could sense its lower input lag even though it’s only a couple of milliseconds quicker in my tests. Run and **** maneuvers were super easy because I could quickly reverse my viewpoint or direction of travel. I can only imagine this monitor in more skilled hands. It is truly competition-worthy. WQHD resolution meant I had no trouble maintaining 240fps in ***** Eternal. This is where an OLED is in its element. There is no hint of motion blur at any time. I could not make a mouse movement fast enough to cause even the slightest smear. The image is stunning with its deep contrast and bright highlights. I could tell the X34 OLED was brighter than other 34-inch screens I’ve reviewed. Only the Asus PG34WCDM hits higher HDR peaks. Asus is over 660 nits while Asus cracks 700. However, I did note some shadow detail issues in HDR mode. My tests showed dark EOTF tracking, which manifested in the game. ***** Eternal has an excellent tweaker for this issue that allows the user to adjust multiple parameters to make every part of the image clear. Once I did this, the image rose to another level. I would have liked the X34 OLED to track luminance correctly and out of the box, but at least the fix isn’t difficult. I also enjoyed the tight curvature. 800R is as tight as it gets for any curved monitor and the wraparound effect is excellent. I was pulled into the game, and I enjoyed better situational awareness since everything was within my field of vision. I didn’t have to turn my head at all. I can see the potential for a ******* racing sim with two or three X34 OLEDs. In productivity apps, I enjoyed the razor-sharp picture and deep contrast. There are no shadow detail issues that need to be corrected in SDR mode. With a change to the gamma 2.0 preset, everything is clearly visible down to the tiniest font or photo element. The picture is very colorful, and I didn’t miss the Quantum Dot tech. Its omission here is not a negative. Regarding the 800R curvature, I always noticed it but if I kept my focus at the center of the screen, it wasn’t a problem. Web browsing and document editing are a common activity that is best performed in the middle two-thirds of the X34 OLED. Spreadsheets are a bit more unusual if you view them full screen. It just requires a little getting used to. The only thing I wished for when working in Photoshop was an accurate sRGB mode. I could only ****** grade in the DCI-P3 gamut. Takeaway: Aside from its missing sRGB mode, there is nothing not to like about the X34 OLED. It’s a terrific gaming monitor with super quick response and blur-free motion processing. The ****** and contrast are everything I’ve come to expect and enjoy from OLED displays. And it produces decent sound from its internal speakers. The extreme curve is different, but once acclimated, it’s not a problem in productivity, and it’s a definite asset for first-person gaming. MORE: Best Gaming Monitors MORE: How We Test PC Monitors MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor MORE: How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor Source link #Acer #Predator #X34 #OLED #Curved #gaming #monitor #review #Extreme #curve #performance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aussies at risk of homelessness explodes to 3.2m in six years, services buckling under pressure Aussies at risk of homelessness explodes to 3.2m in six years, services buckling under pressure In just six years, the number of Australians who are just “one negative shock” away from homelessness has drastically increased, a new landmark report has found. Source link #Aussies #risk #homelessness #explodes #3.2m #years #services #buckling #pressure Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Roborock Qrevo Curv review: the crème de la crème of ****** vacuums Roborock Qrevo Curv review: the crème de la crème of ****** vacuums Roborock Qrevo Curv: two-minute review I’ve tested and reviewed numerous ****** vacuum cleaners over the years and Roborock is unquestionably my go-to brand for reliable, fuss-free vacuuming with smarts galore. The Beijing-based company’s portfolio is chock full of sterling models that push the boundaries of design and function to the max. Where Roborock goes, others tend to follow. Take the Roborock Qrevo Curv I’m reviewing here. With its immensely powerful suction of 18,500Pa, twin circular mops and ability to ride over thresholds up to around 4cm in height, it’s one of the very best ****** vacuums I’ve ever tested. I’d argue it’s actually a better option than even the S8 MaxV Ultra, which many consider to be Roborock’s flagship model. In the pantheon of ****** vac cleaning stations, the Qrevo Curv’s dock is a refreshing change from the ugly norm. With its white, dome-shaped casing and not overly large footprint, this is one model you might not feel the need to hide out of sight. It’s a clever bit of kit, too, given that it not only charges the ****** and empties its small onboard bin but also washes the ******’s mops with hot water and then dries them using hot air. If you’re willing to splash the cash on a brand that’s renowned for innovation, reliability, high performance and convenience, the Roborock Qrevo Curv ****** vacuum is a ***** good place to start. (Image credit: Future) Roborock Qrevo Curv review: price & availability List price: $1,599.99 Launch date: October 2024 Availability: US now, *** to follow The Qrevo Curv was announced in September 2024, and went on ***** in the US in October. Originally it could be purchased direct from Roborock for a $1,399.99, but by November it had gone up to $1,599.99. It’s also available on Amazon US for the same price. That’s very much in the premium price bracket, and one of the most expensive ****** vacuums on the market right now. While for many people, there will be a more basic model that will do a perfectly good job for a much lower price, I’d argue the Qrevo Curv actually isn’t bad value for money considering the build quality and smarts included. I have my fingers crossed for a discount in the ****** Friday ****** vacuum sales. The Roborock Qrevo Curv is yet to be officially launched in the *** but you can express your interest by visiting the global Roborock website. Expect to pay in the region of £1,400 for the privilege of having one of the most accomplished autonomous cleaning devices in ****-land. Value for money score: 4 out of 5 Roborock Qrevo Curv specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Max suction: 18,500Pa ****** size: 13.9 x 13.7 / 35.2 x 34.7cm ****** height: 4″ / 10.3cm Dock dimensions (W x D x H): 17.7 x 17.7 x 17.7″ / 45 x 45 x 45cm Dust bin volume (******): Not stated Dust bin volume (dock): 2.7L Water tank volume (dock): 2.4L (clean), 2.4L (******) Dock type: Self empty, refill water, clean and dry mop pads Wi-Fi control: Yes Max noise level: 60dB Roborock Qrevo Curv review: design Innovative vacuuming and mopping features Curvy dock self-empties and cleans/dries mop pads ‘AdaptiLift’ technology to bump it over high thresholds In the past, Roborock has adopted a less-is-more attitude, with just a handful of sterling models in its roster. However, in around the space of a year, the company’s portfolio has increased tenfold to now include a swathe of new models under the Qrevo sub-brand (nine models and counting) of which the Curv is arguably the most stylish and innovative. Let’s start with the **** itself. At a smidge under 13.9 inches in diameter and around 4 inches in height if you count the LiDAR navigation turret, the Qrevo Curv will scurry under most furnishings with ease. However, because it uses laser-based LiDAR to navigate, it will likely treat any valances around sofas and armchairs as solid barriers. It is therefore advisable to lift any valances when performing the ******’s initial mapping run so it can venture beneath. Thereafter, the **** should – but not always – punch through the valence and sweep up all the fluff and dust that inevitably gathers under sofas, arm chairs and beds. (Here’s more on how to prepare your home for a ****** vacuum.) (Image credit: Future) LiDAR is far and away the fastest and most efficient form of navigation since it occurs in real time while you watch its progress on the accompanying Roborock app. For added navigational accuracy and obstacle avoidance, the Qrevo Curv is also equipped with an LED headlight and a front-mounted RGB camera that can detect and recognize around 60 objects (though not, I should warn, the majority of dog mess). On the plus side, a LiDAR-based model like the Qrevo Curv moves around the home using a logical up-and-down pattern rather than cleaning the room in confusing zig-zag fashion like most camera-based navigation systems. Incidentally, this ****’s camera can also be used to make two-way voice calls so you can interact with your ****. I would recommend experimenting with this feature while at home, in case your **** freaks out when it hears your voice coming out of the ******’s speaker. The camera will also take snaps of your **** while on its travels, though this is a bit gimmicky since the ****’s camera doesn’t have an especially high resolution. One of the standout aspects of the Qrevo Curv is its excellent cleaning efficiency. With a whopping suction power of 18,500Pa (way above the norm of between 5,000 and 10,000Pa), it picks up everything from fine dust to larger debris with ease, making it suitable for carpets of any depth and all types of hard floors. It also features automatic suction control depending on whether it’s on carpet or hard flooring. (Image credit: Future) Heading to the business end, the Qrevo Curv is fitted with a unique tangle-free brush system comprising two short spiral-shaped rubber paddles positioned side-by-side, with a small gap between them so loose **** hair can be forced in the direction of the main suction area. All ****** vacs are fitted with a spinning side brush that flicks detritus along skirting boards and in corners into the path of the suction area. However, the Qrevo Curv goes even further by having an arc-shaped FlexiArm side brush that pops out of the side by an inch or two whenever it detects the corner of a room. It works remarkably well, too. (Image credit: Future) By nature of their designs, many ****** vacs struggle to climb over high thresholds between rooms, but Roborock has nailed this conundrum by dint of an AdaptiLift chassis that raises the entire **** by 10mm whenever it encounters a high threshold or similar barrier. This means the Qrevo Curv can traverse even the tallest of room dividers with ease, and ride over other fixed obstacles up to around 4cm in height. You can see it in action above, filmed by TechRadar’s Homes Editor when it was unveiled at IFA, but I also tested it out myself with books at home. (Image credit: Future) It truly is an off-piste machine that covers all bases when it comes to navigating an entire home. The raisable chassis also allows the Qrevo Curv to work effortlessly on the deepest pile since it doesn’t get easily bogged down. Like so many robots vacs these days, the Qrevo Curv can also mop floors. Normally I’m not a fan of mopping bots, mostly because they’re not as thorough as an upright hard floor cleaner, let alone a mop and bucket. However, I will make an exception for this model, since its twin spinning toweling mops do a great job of giving any hard floor a very decent clean. Like the extendable spinning side brush, the Qrevo Curv’s right-hand mop also extends outward to clean along skirting boards and around chair legs. Rather cleverly, the mops lift when vacuuming carpet, the brush lifts when mopping and both lift when heading back to base. (Image credit: Future) Let’s take a close look at the Qrevo Curv’s elegant cleaning station/charging bay. It’s true to say that the majority of ****** vacs’ docks are not only pug-ugly to look at but they’re pretty enormous in stature, too. While the Qrevo Curv’s shiny domed cleaning station is indeed on the portly side (45 x 45 x 45cm), I consider it to be one of the better looking docks on the market. Mind, there’s a very good reason this ****** vac has such a large dock, since it needs quite a bit of internal space to accommodate its two substantial 2.4-litre water containers – one for clean water, the other for the ****** stuff removed during its mop cleaning regime. The Curv’s deep clean function uses 7C water to clean the mops for maximum grime removal, supposedly removing 99.9% of bacteria in the process. It will even rewash the mops if the base’s cleaning sensor still detects some dirt. It then dries the mops using wafts of hot air at 45C. Incidentally, the base of the dock can be easily removed for periodical cleaning of fluff and any large detritus that’s attached to the cleaning mechanism. (Image credit: Future) ****** vacs are divided into two main categories: those that come with a self-emptying dock – like the Qrevo Curv I’m reviewing here – and those that don’t. If you have a lot of hairy pets in the home, I would avoid any ****** vac that doesn’t have a dust-emptying feature or you will have to empty the ******’s tiny bin yourself and this will just make you ******. By contrast, a model like the Qrevo Curv is fitted with a disposable dust bag that collects all rubbish and hair in the ******’s bin after every cleaning session. The Qrevo Curv is fitted with a 2.7-litre dust bag which Roborock says should last for up to seven weeks of cleaning before it needs replacing. However, since I have five very hairy pets in the home, I’ve found myself changing the bag every three weeks or so. Battery running time is rarely an issue with ****** vacs since they will all head back to base for a topup, even mid-clean if necessary. The Qrevo Curv is equipped with a 5200mAh battery, providing up to 180 minutes of cleaning on a single charge, depending on the mode used. This long battery life makes it suitable for larger homes where it will automatically return to the dock to recharge if needed before resuming cleaning where it left off. At around 60dB in standard mode, the Qrevo Curv operates fairly quietly, especially when compared to other high-suction ****** vacuums I’ve tested. Finally, for those who fancy a fully-integrated floor cleaning system in their home, the Curv is also available with a plumbed-in ‘refill and drainage’ feature that automatically fills it with clean water while emptying the ****** water tank. Roborock Qrevo Curv review: performance Exceptional vacuum performance on all floor types Traverses rugs with ease Very decent mopping function Let’s start with the setup, which is a veritable breeze since there are just two parts – the ****** and the dock. Although Roborock suggests placing the dock in a position with several inches of space either side, I just plonked it between a box and my Gtech AirRAM 3 upright vac and it’s had no trouble at all when docking. Syncing to the Roborock app was also extremely simple and involved nothing more than scanning a QR code under the ******’s top lid. Roborock’s Reactive AI navigation system is generally very impressive and in my numerous tests over the past 10 days it has effortlessly avoided most obstacles above two inches in height, while automatically optimizing its cleaning route when anything was in its way. Like so many ****** vacs, there’s only so much a camera and sensors can see and once a small item is beneath the camera or close to the front when the ****** turns, it will very likely fail to spot it. The Qrevo Curv is also not very good when it comes to spotting phone cables and will happily ride over them. However, at no point has any cable become snagged under any ****** I’ve tested to date – invariably the cable is spat out the other side. And that’s the case with the Qrevo Curv. (Image credit: Future) Would I trust this ****** to avoid a dog mess? Not on your Nelly. In this regard Roborock has some catching up to do to compete with iRobot, whose **** detection is usually very good but still not wholly reliable. The moral with any ****** vac is to make sure there isn’t any clutter on the floors – as they all advise in their manuals. After all, you wouldn’t start manually vacuuming the floor with socks, cables and loose Lego bricks all over the shop. Crucially – for me at least – the Qrevo Curv has behaved remarkably well on my loose rugs without too much ruffling of the edges. I put much of this down to the excellent and very innovative chassis-lifting system and the decent gap between the front of the unit and the floor. To date this **** has negotiated all my rugs with consummate ease, even the really thin, loose ones. And that hasn’t been the case with so many other models I’ve tested. When it comes to vacuuming, I have no compunction in awarding this model a full five stars. It sucks like a limpet and I really do rate the excellence of the pop-out side brush, which captures stray matter much more easily than models with a fixed side brush. It passed the raw oats test with flying colors, collecting every solitary oat flake without flinging them all over the place. Really impressive. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) I’ve always been gobsmacked by the way all the Roborocks I’ve tested over the years have handled **** hair – tons of the stuff. And though some models’ cleaning stations have very occasionally had a spot of bother sucking the most tangled clumps of hair out of the ****’s bin, I think Roborock has improved this area because I haven’t any issues to report with the base’s suction power. In fact, you can set this model to two levels of emptying frequency: ‘Balanced’, which is suitable for a cleaner environment; and ‘High’, which empties the bin during a cleaning session – perfect for **** owners. Basically, after 10 minutes or so into a long task, it will trundle back to the station to have its bin emptied and then carry on where it left off. (Image credit: Future) If there’s one area I would say could be improved, it’s the smaller-than-average size of the cleaning station’s 2.7-litre dust bag and the weird way it sits in the dustbin chamber. This smaller size means more regular disposal of the bag for **** owners than the usual stated month. It’s still a very strong contender if you’re on the hunt for the best ****** vacuum for **** hair, though. (Image credit: Future) Its mopping, too, is surprisingly good and much of this is to do with the unit being fitted with spinning mops instead of a rear-mounted pad like the Roborock S7 and S8 models. In my mop test the Qrevo Curv made a very decent fist of removing some dried soy sauce off the kitchen floor after a couple of passes. No, I don’t think it’s as thorough at mopping as an upright hard floor cleaner or bucket and mop, but for day-to-day use the mops have definitely made a difference to the kitchen floor’s appearance, and that’s good enough for me. My final test involved me taking the Qrevo Curv upstairs for use on a very deep pile carpet I inherited from the previous owner and, most surprisingly, it sailed through the trial without ever bogging down. Must be that AdaptiLift feature again. Mind, it did leave a few wheel tracks in its wake but nothing too untoward. Performance score: 4.5 out of 5 Roborock Qrevo Curv review: app Extremely comprehensive Easy to use once mastered Acres of customization The Roborock app is extremely comprehensive and takes a good deal of time to navigate through its myriad of settings and preferences. Integration with the app is seamless, allowing users to set no-go zones, virtual walls, schedule cleaning times for both rooms and specific zones, monitor the unit’s performance in real time and even add furniture icons to spice up the map. Alternatively, you can leave all the programming to Roborock’s SmartPlan feature, which generates suggested cleaning modes while adjusting settings and preferences to suit your floor plan. (Image credit: Future) The app and **** are also compatible with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, adding an extra layer of convenience. Oh, and you get a wide choice of languages and accents, too, so if you live in the *** you can select an English sounding voice which sounds a little like the voice of Alexa. Should you buy the Roborock Qrevo Curv? Swipe to scroll horizontally Attribute Notes Rating Price Very much premium, but justified by the build quality and extensive featureset. 4/5 Design Row 1 – Cell 1 5/5 Performance Exceptional vacuuming and very good mopping, on various different floor types. 4.5/5 App Exceedingly comprehensive with loads of on-board customization possibilities. 5/5 Buy it if… Don’t buy it if… How I tested the Roborock Qrevo Curv My home is open plan with mostly wooden hard floor so it’s a relatively easy household for any ****** to navigate. Nevertheless, I’ve tested some models that have had a lot of trouble traversing the numerous rugs I have scattered around without ruffling them up into a bundle or becoming trapped. I have had no such issues with the Qrevo Curv. In fact, on a reliability scale of 1 to 10 this one gets a 10 for trustworthiness. It means I can be away from home and when I arrive back I don’t have to spend half an hour looking for a stranded **** while readjusting all the rugs. The fact it sailed through all my vacuum and mopping tests without a hitch speaks volumes for the quality of the Qrevo Curv’s design and the software that runs it. Read more about how we test ****** vacuum cleaners First reviewed November 2024 Source link #Roborock #Qrevo #Curv #review #crème #crème #****** #vacuums Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scientists Built a ‘Tractor Beam’ That Could Expand Frontiers in Physics Scientists Built a ‘Tractor Beam’ That Could Expand Frontiers in Physics “Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links.” Microscope “tractor beams,” known to scientists as optical tweezers, come in either bulky, expensive setups or smaller, chip-sized devices. However, this second type of devices has one major downside—they typically can’t manipulate cells far away from the surfaces of their chips, which can damage the samples being studied. MIT researchers believed they’ve solved this problem by creating a new phase pattern for the microscale antennae on the chip, making it possible to “tractor beam” particles more than a millimeter from the chip’s surface (roughly 100 times further than what was previously possible). “Engage the tractor beam” is a well-known sci-fi turn of phrase, but the idea of this kind of energy manipulation is more real than you might think. In recent years, scientists have developed tractor beam-like tech with the hopes of cleaning up some space junk or moving other kinds of macro-sized objects around. And while images of the U.S.S. Enterprise or the ****** Star bringing some rogue spaceship to heel come to mind, tractor beams in the here and now are most applicable in the microscopic world, where they’re more commonly known as optical tweezers. At its most basic, this technique uses light to manipulate incredibly small objects—down to the size of a single atom. Despite this extremely small use case, most of these devices are bulky, specialized setups. But now, scientists at MIT have successfully created a tractor beam device that fits in the palm of your hand and can manipulate objects much further than previous chip-based forebears. The researchers detailed their work last month in the journal Nature Communications. Unlike their bulky counterparts, chip-based tweezers are compact, mass manufacturable, and more broadly accessible. But they come with a pretty big downside—the distance of their “tractor beams” don’t extend very far beyond the surfaces of the chips themselves. This can sometimes damage the chips, as well as the cells that are being studied. However, the MIT team thinks they’ve overcome this limitation by using an integrated optical phase array that can manipulate cells over more than 100 times more distance than was previously possible. “This work opens up new possibilities for chip-based optical tweezers by enabling trapping and tweezing of cells at much larger distances than previously demonstrated,” MIT’s Jelena Notaros, senior author of the study, said in a press statement. She also called the breakthrough “an improvement of several orders of magnitude” compared to previous attempts. “It’s exciting to think about the different applications that could be enabled by this technology.” Optical traps and tweezers work by capturing and manipulating tiny particles in focused beams of light. Then, researchers can steer the beams any which way they choose. However, biological specimens are typically sterile (via a glass coverslip that’s some 150 microns thick), so increasing the control distance beyond a millimeter is really valuable. And because of the system’s cheap cost (compared to expensive microscope set-ups), it could also give more labs access to this useful research tool. “With silicon photonics, we can take this large, typically lab-scale system and integrate it onto a chip.” Notaros said in a press statement. “This presents a great solution for biologists, since it provides them with optical trapping and tweezing functionality without the overhead of a complicated bulk-optical setup.” To create the chip, researchers used an integrated optical phase array, which contains microscale antennae that are individually capable of steering the beam of light emitted by the chip. MIT’s breakthrough developed a novel phase pattern for each antenna so that it could perform optical trapping and tweezing far from the chip’s surface. So, while these microscope tractor beams may not be thwarting the evil plans of some galactic ne’er-do-well any time soon, they’re exploring an exciting frontier of discovery all their own. You Might Also Like Source link #Scientists #Built #Tractor #Beam #Expand #Frontiers #Physics Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

UFC 309 Jones vs Miocic: How enigmatic Jon Jones channelled Bruce Lee to retain title UFC 309 Jones vs Miocic: How enigmatic Jon Jones channelled Bruce Lee to retain title Even before Jones landed the finishing *****, fellow ********* Miocic had little answer to the diversity of the attacks which were aimed his way. Some of it was likely to do with age. At 42 and after being away from the octagon for nearly four years, Miocic was nowhere near his prime. But a lot of it was to do with Jones’ deep arsenal, as jabs, high-kicks, elbows, knees from the clinch and takedowns were all used to break Miocic down. And it’s not just when he fights – Jones has been as unpredictable outside the octagon this week as he was in it. Earlier in the week he used an expletive to describe Britain’s interim champion Tom Aspinall, who Jones has largely dismissed as a prospect to ****** next. The same day he walked out of an interview with sports broadcaster **** Sports, citing he was expecting an “Aspinall fest”. Then he turned on Miocic, refusing to shake his hand at a news conference before changing his mind and accepting a handshake the following day at the weigh-ins. Jones is polarising and has been so throughout his UFC career, which has been punctuated by doping bans and problems in his personal life. UFC president Dana White knows this better than anyone. “Me and Jon Jones never got on out of the cage. We had a horrendous relationship for 10 years,” said Dana White. “We don’t have that kind of relationship anymore, but I didn’t have to like him to realise who he is and what he’s capable of and seeing the brilliance. He is the best to ever ******, *******. “It’s unbelievable what he did tonight. As long as he’s active he’s the pound for pound best in the world.” Source link #UFC #Jones #Miocic #enigmatic #Jon #Jones #channelled #Bruce #Lee #retain #title Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Here’s the Maximum Possible 2025 Social Security Benefit at 62, 67, and 70 Here’s the Maximum Possible 2025 Social Security Benefit at 62, 67, and 70 If you want a big Social Security check, a long and highly compensated career is a major pre-requisite. But even if you earn enough to put yourself in a position to receive the maximum possible benefit, the age at which you decide to apply for retirement benefits can have a huge impact on the ultimate size of your monthly check. The difference between someone who claims Social Security as soon as possible at age 62 and someone who waits until their benefits max out at age 70 is amplified when you look at the maximum possible benefit. Many retirees opt to claim at their full retirement age, around 67, to strike a balance between the two extremes. Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » But the differences between the maximum possible 2025 Social Security benefit at 62, 67, and 70 show the value of delaying benefits as long as possible. Image source: Getty Images. Regardless of the age at which you claim, you’ll need to meet a minimum salary threshold across 35 years of your career to qualify for the maximum possible benefit for your age. That’s because your Social Security benefit is based on how much you earned throughout your career. When you apply for Social Security, the government looks at your entire earnings history, adjusting each year’s wages for inflation. It selects the 35 highest-earning years, adjusted for inflation, and calculates your average monthly income over those years. It then plugs that number into the Social Security benefits formula. The result is your primary insurance amount (PIA), which is the amount you’ll receive if you start benefits the month you reach your full retirement age. Anyone born between 1943 and 1954 has a full retirement age of 66. The age increases by two months for each year you were born after 1954 until maxing out at age 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. If you claim benefits before your full retirement age, you’ll receive less than your PIA. If you delay beyond your full retirement age, you’ll receive more. High earners need to know that not all of their income will count toward their PIA calculation. That’s because the Social Security Administration (SSA) puts a cap on the amount of earnings it taxes. Earnings that it doesn’t tax don’t count toward the calculation. The SSA adjusts the maximum taxable earnings each year for inflation. If you can earn above the maximum taxable earnings for at least 35 years, you’ll put yourself in line for one of the highest possible Social Security benefits checks. Here are the most recent 50 years of the maximum taxable earnings. Story Continues Year Earnings Year Earnings 1976 $15,300 2001 $80,400 1977 $16,500 2002 $84,900 1978 $17,700 2003 $87,000 1979 $22,900 2004 $87,900 1980 $25,900 2005 $90,000 1981 $29,700 2006 $94,200 1982 $32,400 2007 $97,500 1983 $35,700 2008 $102,000 1984 $37,800 2009 $106,800 1985 $39,600 2010 $106,800 1986 $42,000 2011 $106,800 1987 $43,800 2012 $110,100 1988 $45,000 2013 $113,700 1989 $48,000 2014 $117,000 1990 $51,300 2015 $118,500 1991 $53,400 2016 $118,500 1992 $55,500 2017 $127,200 1993 $57,600 2018 $128,400 1994 $60,600 2019 $132,900 1995 $61,200 2020 $137,700 1996 $62,700 2021 $142,800 1997 $65,400 2022 $147,000 1998 $68,400 2023 $160,200 1999 $72,600 2024 $168,600 2000 $76,200 2025 $176,100 Data source: Social Security Administration. Chart by author. Earning a high salary throughout your career is just one factor that goes into determining the size of your monthly benefit. Your claiming age can have just as big an impact on your monthly benefit as your average earnings. If you claim as soon as possible at age 62, the Social Security Administration is going to severely reduce your benefit, relative to your PIA. Someone with a full retirement age of 67 will only receive 70% of their PIA if they claim as soon as they’re eligible. On the other hand, if you wait until age 70, the SSA will boost your benefits. Those with a full retirement age of 67 will receive 24% more than their PIA by waiting until their benefits max out at age 70. In 2025, someone turning 70 will have been born in 1955. That makes their full retirement age 66 and 2 months. As a result, they’ll get an even ******* boost to their PIA by delaying benefits. Here’s how the maximum monthly benefit looks at 62, 67, and 70 in 2025. Retirement Age 62 67 70 Maximum Monthly Benefit $2,831 $4,043 $5,108 Data source: Social Security Administration. Chart by author. Despite earning comparable salaries throughout their careers, the 70-year-old person can receive a monthly benefit 80% higher than their 62-year-old counterpart by virtue of waiting. The total annualized difference between the two benefits is $27,324. That could go a long way in retirement. Note, the differences in the maximum possible benefit for someone turning 70 and someone turning 62 this year are impacted by changes in the full retirement age. However, that’s partially offset by changes in the Social Security benefits formula, based on the year in which you turned 60. All things being equal, someone who turned 62 this year could increase their monthly benefit 77% by waiting until age 70. If you earned a high-enough salary throughout your career to put yourself in line for the maximum possible benefit (or close to it), you may want to delay claiming your Social Security. Even if you only saved a modest percentage of your income during your career, you likely reached your 60s with a sizable retirement account balance. You may have a high withdrawal rate for a few years in early retirement, but that will come down once you claim Social Security. Ultimately, it’s a safer bet to delay Social Security and temporarily withdraw more from your investment accounts. That’s because Social Security provides a guaranteed inflation-adjusted return for delaying benefits. You can’t get that from many other investments, and not at the rate Social Security provides. It’s also worth considering survivor benefits. If you pass away before your spouse, your spouse’s survivor benefits will be based in part on the amount you were receiving from Social Security. While it’s already likely the average person will live long enough to receive more from Social Security by delaying until age 70, the ****** life expectancy of you and your spouse tilts the odds further in favor of delaying. There are also potential tax benefits by delaying for someone with a lot of retirement assets. The early years of retirement are a prime opportunity to make Roth conversions, which can reduce your required minimum distributions later. You may also be able to realize long-term capital gains at a lower effective tax rate than you could once you start collecting Social Security. Even if you don’t expect to receive the maximum possible Social Security benefit for your age in 2025, you might want to consider waiting until age 70 if you can. Based on life expectancy data, the average person will receive more from Social Security by waiting until age 70, versus claiming at just about any other age. If you reasonably expect to live to an average age (or longer) it pays to delay. If you’re like most Americans, you’re a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known “Social Security secrets” could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $22,924 more… each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we’re all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. View the “Social Security secrets” » The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Here’s the Maximum Possible 2025 Social Security Benefit at 62, 67, and 70 was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Heres #Maximum #Social #Security #Benefit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I’m Getting Mixed Advice. Will I Owe Taxes When I Roll Over My Roth 401(k) to a Roth IRA? I’m Getting Mixed Advice. Will I Owe Taxes When I Roll Over My Roth 401(k) to a Roth IRA? I have an after-tax 401(k) that I would like to roll over to a Roth IRA with Schwab. Experts at Schwab say it can be rolled over to a Roth IRA without paying any taxes. I think they are wrong as I will still have to pay taxes on the earnings and capital gains accumulated over the years. I have talked to two other fiduciary financial planners and they are also leaning toward Schwab thinking. What do you advise? It will be an in-service rollover as I am 82 and still working full time. I also have a pre-tax 401(k) that I am not planning to roll over yet. Thanks in advance for your invaluable help. – Brahma Contributions and the earnings they generate are not taxed when you roll over a Roth 401(k) directly to a Roth IRA. However, if your employer made pre-tax matching contributions, you would need to roll those funds into a traditional IRA or pay income taxes on them as part of a Roth conversion. In addition, the five-year rules would apply to the Roth IRA account, which could result in taxes on withdrawals if they were made before then. (Planning for retirement can be complicated, but working with a financial advisor can help you take control of the process.) A Roth 401(k) is an after-tax account similar to a Roth IRA but is offered through an employer. SmartAsset and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Roth 401(k)s are employer-based retirement plans funded with money you’ve already paid income tax on. Contributions to Roth 401(k) accounts are subject to annual IRS maximums. In 2024, you can contribute up to $23,000 to a 401(k), plus an extra $7,500 if you’re 50 or older. You can participate in a Roth 401(k) no matter how much money you make. The money in your Roth 401(k) grows tax-free. You won’t pay any taxes on earnings or gains within the account. When you retire, all withdrawals will be tax-free long as they’re qualified distributions. To count as a qualified distribution: It has to be at least five years since you made the first contribution. Opening the account doesn’t start the five-year clock if you don’t put money in at that time. You have to be at least 59 ½ years old or disabled. If any of the conditions aren’t met, the account earnings – but not your original contributions – will be taxable on withdrawal. (If you need help deciding between a traditional pre-tax 401(k) and a Roth 401(k), consider talking it over with a financial advisor.) Before the SECURE Act 2.0 was passed in December 2022, employers could only make pre-tax matching contributions to their employees’ Roth 401(k) accounts. So, the employee would make after-tax contributions to their own accounts, and the employer would match those with pre-tax dollars. SECURE 2.0 allows for employers to make matching contributions directly into their employees’ Roth 401(k) accounts. Story Continues That choice is up to the employer to make. They can choose to make pre-tax matches, after-tax matches or forgo matching contributions altogether. It’s important to know what kind of matching is in place because it will affect several things including: Your current income taxes Your income taxes in retirement Potential tax issues when you roll over your Roth 401(k) into a Roth IRA If your employer offers pre-tax matching, that money and any growth attached to it will be taxed on withdrawal. If your employer chooses to make matching Roth contributions, you’ll get a Form 1099-R for that amount for the tax year in which the contribution is actually made. For example, if your employer matches your 2024 contributions but not until January 2025, you will get the 1099-R for tax year 2025. The amount on the 1099-R gets added to your taxable income for that year. (If you run into tax questions concerning your employer matches, consider seeking out a financial advisor with tax planning expertise.) A woman looks over her Roth 401(k) balance and considers rolling it over into a Roth IRA. It’s easy to roll over your Roth 401(k) into a Roth IRA. First, you need to have a Roth IRA in place to accept the rollover. Then, all you have to do is ask your 401(k) provider to complete a direct rollover, where they send the money from your Roth 401(k) electronically into your Roth IRA. Doing a direct rollover allows you to avoid the mandatory income tax withholding – usually 20% – that applies when you receive a check from your plan administrator. This is known as an indirect rollover. If you do get a check, you’ll have 60 days to ******** the full amount of the rollover into your Roth IRA to avoid tax consequences. That means you’ll have to replace the amount that’s withheld for taxes or risk that portion being considered a non-qualified distribution, triggering income taxes and possibly a 10% early withdrawal penalty. If your account includes any pre-tax money, such as employer matches, you’ll have to pay income tax on those funds if you roll them into a Roth IRA. You also have the option of rolling those pre-tax funds into a traditional IRA to avoid a current tax bill. (A financial advisor can help you decide whether rolling retirement savings over into an IRA makes sense for you.) Keep in mind that Roth accounts come with a five-year lock *******. To clinch all the tax benefits of the Roth account, it must open for at least five years. The clock starts with the first contribution into the Roth account. If you roll your Roth 401(k) into a Roth IRA, the five-year clock switches to the Roth IRA. For example, if you had a Roth 401(k) for seven years and rolled it over into a newly established Roth IRA in 2024, you’d have to wait until 2029 to take qualified withdrawals. But if the receiving Roth IRA has already been open and funded for four years, you’d only have to wait one more year to satisfy this five-year rule. (However, there are more than one five-year rule and they can be tricky to navigate. Having a financial advisor in your corner can help you better understand these rules and avoid the tax consequences of breaking them.) You shouldn’t owe any taxes if you do a direct rollover of a Roth 401(k) into a Roth IRA. If you think your Roth 401(k) may contain pre-tax funds (such as employer matches), you’ll owe income taxes on the money if you choose to roll it over into the Roth IRA. You can also transfer those funds into a traditional IRA and preserve their tax-deferred status. However, consult a financial professional for the best way to handle that portion of your retirement money. A financial advisor can potentially help you plan and save for retirement. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Are you on track to retire with enough money to support your needs? SmartAsset’s retirement calculator can help you estimate how much your savings could be worth by the time you retire, as well as how much annual income your portfolio can generate. Keep an emergency fund on hand in case you run into unexpected expenses. An emergency fund should be liquid – in an account that isn’t at risk of significant fluctuation like the stock market. The tradeoff is that the value of liquid cash can be eroded by inflation. But a high-interest account allows you to earn compound interest. Compare savings accounts from these banks. Are you a financial advisor looking to grow your business? SmartAsset AMP helps advisors connect with leads and offers marketing automation solutions so you can spend more time making conversions. Learn more about SmartAsset AMP. Photo credit: ©iStock.com/designer491, ©iStock.com/designer491, ©iStock.com/Inside Creative House The post I’m Getting Mixed Advice: Will I Owe Taxes When I Roll Over My Roth 401(k) to a Roth IRA? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset. Source link #Mixed #Advice #Owe #Taxes #Roll #Roth #401k #Roth #IRA Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pence calls on Senate to ******* RFK Jr. nomination over ********* views Pence calls on Senate to ******* RFK Jr. nomination over ********* views Former Vice President Mike Pence is urging GOP senators to ******* President-elect Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) because of his views on *********. In a statement from his ************* nonprofit Advancing ********* Freedom on Friday, Pence said Kennedy’s nomination “is an abrupt departure from the pro-life record of our administration and should be deeply concerning to millions of Pro-Life Americans who have supported the *********** Party and our nominees for decades.” Kennedy has been inconsistent on his ********* position. When he launched his presidential campaign as a Democrat, Kennedy endorsed a ban on ********* after the first trimester but then quickly backtracked. He also suggested he opposed banning ********* before fetal viability, generally around 24 weeks into a pregnancy. On his campaign website, Kennedy says he is “a firm supporter of the principles ***** out 50 years ago in Roe v. Wade” and that “if the courts do not overturn Dobbs v. Jackson and restore ********* rights, he will support legislation to accomplish the same.” Trump himself said he does not support a federal ********* ban and ran his campaign distancing himself from the anti-********* wing of the *********** party. Pence, a staunch religious *************, has become an occasional critic of his former boss on policy positions, especially Trump’s view that ********* should be left to states. Pence previously said Trump’s stance was a “slap in the face” to ********* opponents. According to Project 2025, the ************* Heritage Foundation’s plan for Trump’s second term, Republicans want to restore to “the department of life,” using a **********-centric basis for governing. “The Trump-Pence administration was unapologetically pro-life for our four years in office. There are hundreds of decisions made at HHS every day that either lead our nation toward a respect for life or away from it, and HHS under our administration always stood for life,” Pence said. “On behalf of tens of millions of pro-life Americans, I respectfully urge Senate Republicans to ******* this nomination and give the ********* people a leader who will respect the sanctity of life as secretary of Health and Human Services.” Leading anti-********* groups are reacting more tepidly, not outright calling for Kennedy’s rejection but not yet openly endorsing him, either. “There’s no question that we need a pro-life HHS secretary, and of course, we have concerns about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. I believe that no matter who is HHS secretary, baseline policies set by President Trump during his first term will be re-established,” Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said in a statement to The Hill. Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, said in a statement that she was looking forward to speaking with Kennedy about refocusing HHS so it isn’t “prejudiced against pro-life Americans, including pro-life hospitals.” “RFK Jr. has a proven track record of holding healthcare bureaucrats accountable for putting public health first, over political interests. There is no more weaponized agency than HHS, where whatever is good for the Democrats big donor — Planned Parenthood — gets fast tracked,” Hawkins said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Source link #Pence #calls #Senate #******* #RFK #nomination #********* #views Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wall Street gears up for M&A *****. These names could be attractive targets Wall Street gears up for M&A *****. These names could be attractive targets Wall Street is cheering a potential revival of mergers and acquisitions when the new Trump administration takes office, and bankers and investors alike are already trying to find out what deals could be coming first. The combination of rate hikes from the Federal Reserve and an aggressive antitrust approach, embodied by Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, has made the past few years pretty slow for deal-making. Now that the election is over, and a change at the FTC seems highly likely, Wall Street is getting ready for a new era. “Being past the election has removed market uncertainty, first and foremost. Markets like certainty and you’re seeing that broadly across capital markets. … Over the medium to long term, there should be a further catalyst for IPOs, M & A and key sectors we invest in,” said Carlyle CEO Harvey Schwartz on a Nov. 7 earnings call . In the pipeline Trump’s win comes as the mergers business was already showing some signs of waking up. Deal announcements are up 25% year over year in 2024, according to Morgan Stanley, after a historically quiet 2023. The recent rate cuts by the Federal Reserve may be helping grease the wheels of the deal market, especially for transactions that involve debt. “As the interest rates decrease, we obviously see more of an alignment and less of a valuation gap between the sellers and the buyers, and the cost of capital is coming down as leverage continues to increase,” Stephanie McCann, a partner at law firm McDermott Will & Emery who works on private equity and smaller public deals, told CNBC. With the Fed having cut rates again in November and an expected switch to a more business-friendly regulatory environment in January, the size and scope of deals could start to expand in the coming months. Potential candidates One common motivation for a company to buy another is growth. A larger, more established company wants to show its investors that it is not out of ideas, and it may look to absorb a smaller, fast-growing company to do so. In that vein, Wolfe Research identified small and midcap companies with high projected growth rates. One of these, e.l.f. Beauty , recently made a big purchase of its own with a $355 million deal to acquire Naturium last year. Another name on the list might be more likely to seek a ***** after some news this week. Hims & Hers fell more than 24% on Thursday after Amazon announced it would start offering similar health products to Prime members. A Goldman list of companies that were seen as strong candidates to have some M & A activity over the next 12 months included some ******* names, such as Electronic Arts and Zoom Video Communications . EA has been a commonly speculated acquisition target by a major tech or media company since Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard , which closed in 2023. Bank consolidation could be another area to watch. Ed Mills, Washington policy analyst at Raymond James, said bank deals have been slower over the past few years than during the 2008 financial crisis, making the group ripe for a rebound. “In my opinion, bank M & A has reopened for every bank absent the globally systemically important banks,” Mills told CNBC. Related to the financial sector, shares of Capital One and Discover Financial Services both soared in the immediate aftermath of the election. The proposed merger of those two companies looked to potentially be on shaky ground if Democrats remained in power. DFS 1M mountain Shares of Discover Financial rallied sharply after the election of Donald Trump. Other candidates to keep an eye on are deals that fell apart due to regulatory pressure in recent years, such as Tapestry and Capri . The merger between those two companies was blocked by a judge and then dropped this past week , but both companies could be players moving forward. Spirit Airlines could also be on the table again after ******* deals with Frontier and JetBlue. The struggling airline said last week that it was having ” constructive talks ” with creditors. Potential issues While Trump’s second term is expected to be more business friendly than President Joe Biden’s, the new administration’s approach to antitrust issues ******** to be seen. Regulators did open investigations into major tech companies during the first Trump administration, and Matt Gaetz — Trump’s nominee for attorney general — appears to be headed for a contentious confirmation process. “I think there can be a degree of wishful thinking that it’s going to be some laissez-faire approach to antitrust regulation, and I think that is misguided. There’s still a populist tone in the Trump campaign … and enforcement, in my opinion, is not going to go away. I think it will just be a more measured, less aggressive enforcement span,” said Kyle Healy, a partner focused on M & A at law firm Alston & Bird. Another issue could be cost. The S & P 500 was already trading near record highs before the election, and the small-cap benchmark Russell 2000 is up 4.9% in November. That may make finding the right price for acquisition targets a bit tricky. “Prices are pretty high. At some point, that will be a major consideration,” Michael Lynton, chairman of Warner Music and Snap , said on CNBC’s ” Squawk on the Street ” on Nov. 6 when the postelection rally was just beginning. Source link #Wall #Street #gears #***** #names #attractive #targets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Substitute teacher faces statutory ***** charges, accused of giving students money, drugs for **** Substitute teacher faces statutory ***** charges, accused of giving students money, drugs for **** A Missouri substitute teacher is facing 19 charges including statutory ***** after authorities say she offered minors money for **** and bought them ********** and alcohol. Prosecutors in Pulaski County have charged Carissa Jenna Smith, 30, with ******* trafficking, statutory *******, statutory ***** and patronizing prostitution, according to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY. According to a probable cause statement submitted by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, the woman, who is married and has children, paid money to a child for **** and also bought them ********** and alcohol. Smith was a substitute teacher in the Dixon R-I School District in Dixon, Missouri from Aug. 26, 2022 to Aug. 26 this year, the district confirmed to USA TODAY Friday afternoon. On Wednesday, Dixon R-I School District Superintendent Travis Bohrer sent out a notice to community members letting them know about Smith’s charges. Calling the situation “very disturbing and distressing,” he said the district is working with the Missouri Children’s Division and authorities. It was not immediately clear Friday afternoon who was representing Smith in court. Substitute teacher allegedly offered child money, ********** for **** A detective from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office interviewed one of the minors involved on Sept. 13, and the student said the incidents happened while they were in middle school. Smith was substituting for another teacher and gave the student her Snapchat username. From there, they added each other and began to talk via the app. Eventually, she began sending explicit photos to the student. A year prior to the interview, a friend asked the child if they’d like to “do some work and make some money for the work,” they told the detective. When the child said yes, the friend took them to Smith’s home, the probable cause statement showed. Once inside Smith’s home, Smith then allegedly told the child if they had **** with her, she’d pay them, the statement showed. She performed ******* acts with the child, including ************, the detective from the sheriff’s office wrote in the statement. The child told the detective Smith paid them $130. According to the child, Smith told them not to talk about what happened or else she’d get into trouble. Suspect accused of propositioning child for **** multiple times During the Sept. 13 interview, the first child told the detectives this wasn’t the only time Smith initiated ******* contact with them. The victim said they’d spent time together at least six or seven times and Smith paid them in cash or via Cash App. According to the student, Smith previously took the child to a field where Smith offered them $110 and ********** before performing **** acts, the statement read. According to the child, Smith told them ‘You know you can’t talk about this with anybody?” and the child agreed not to talk. The child also alleged Smith, at one point while they were having ************, forced the child to ********** inside of her. The victim told the investigator that Smith gave them alcohol to drink with friends, including vodka and ********. Substitute teacher and husband smashed child’s phone once she found out about videos, victim alleges The victim told investigators they had a video of Smith performing ***** **** on them. When Smith found out about the video of her performing ***** ****, she “smashed” it, the victim said. A friend also took photos of himself, the victim and Smith in a car, the statement read. Another minor mentioned in the probable cause statement said Smith told her husband the victim was trying to blackmail her with a video of her smoking ********** with the minors. Smith’s husband then threatened the minors with a bat. In his statement, Dixon R-I School District Superintendent Bohrer encouraged community members to speak up if they suspect misconduct by school employees. Those with concerns can call the Missouri Children’s Division at 1-800-392-3738, he said. Tipsters can also call Detective Chance Shoecraft with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department at (573) 774-6196 ext. 4808. If you or someone you know could be affected by ******* ****** or *********, services provided by RAINN are available via chat or phone call at 1-800-656-4673. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at *****@*****.tld. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missouri substitute teacher allegedly gave kids money and weed for **** Source link #Substitute #teacher #faces #statutory #***** #charges #accused #giving #students #money #drugs #**** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wall Street gears up for M&A *****. These names could be attractive targets Wall Street gears up for M&A *****. These names could be attractive targets Wall Street is cheering a potential revival of mergers and acquisitions when the new Trump administration takes office, and bankers and investors alike are already trying to find out what deals could be coming first. The combination of rate hikes from the Federal Reserve and an aggressive antitrust approach, embodied by Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, has made the past few years pretty slow for deal-making. Now that the election is over, and a change at the FTC seems highly likely, Wall Street is getting ready for a new era. “Being past the election has removed market uncertainty, first and foremost. Markets like certainty and you’re seeing that broadly across capital markets. … Over the medium to long term, there should be a further catalyst for IPOs, M & A and key sectors we invest in,” said Carlyle CEO Harvey Schwartz on a Nov. 7 earnings call . In the pipeline Trump’s win comes as the mergers business was already showing some signs of waking up. Deal announcements are up 25% year over year in 2024, according to Morgan Stanley, after a historically quiet 2023. The recent rate cuts by the Federal Reserve may be helping grease the wheels of the deal market, especially for transactions that involve debt. “As the interest rates decrease, we obviously see more of an alignment and less of a valuation gap between the sellers and the buyers, and the cost of capital is coming down as leverage continues to increase,” Stephanie McCann, a partner at law firm McDermott Will & Emery who works on private equity and smaller public deals, told CNBC. With the Fed having cut rates again in November and an expected switch to a more business-friendly regulatory environment in January, the size and scope of deals could start to expand in the coming months. Potential candidates One common motivation for a company to buy another is growth. A larger, more established company wants to show its investors that it is not out of ideas, and it may look to absorb a smaller, fast-growing company to do so. In that vein, Wolfe Research identified small and midcap companies with high projected growth rates. One of these, e.l.f. Beauty , recently made a big purchase of its own with a $355 million deal to acquire Naturium last year. Another name on the list might be more likely to seek a ***** after some news this week. Hims & Hers fell more than 24% on Thursday after Amazon announced it would start offering similar health products to Prime members. A Goldman list of companies that were seen as strong candidates to have some M & A activity over the next 12 months included some ******* names, such as Electronic Arts and Zoom Video Communications . EA has been a commonly speculated acquisition target by a major tech or media company since Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard , which closed in 2023. Bank consolidation could be another area to watch. Ed Mills, Washington policy analyst at Raymond James, said bank deals have been slower over the past few years than during the 2008 financial crisis, making the group ripe for a rebound. “In my opinion, bank M & A has reopened for every bank absent the globally systemically important banks,” Mills told CNBC. Related to the financial sector, shares of Capital One and Discover Financial Services both soared in the immediate aftermath of the election. The proposed merger of those two companies looked to potentially be on shaky ground if Democrats remained in power. DFS 1M mountain Shares of Discover Financial rallied sharply after the election of Donald Trump. Other candidates to keep an eye on are deals that fell apart due to regulatory pressure in recent years, such as Tapestry and Capri . The merger between those two companies was blocked by a judge and then dropped this past week , but both companies could be players moving forward. Spirit Airlines could also be on the table again after ******* deals with Frontier and JetBlue. The struggling airline said last week that it was having ” constructive talks ” with creditors. Potential issues While Trump’s second term is expected to be more business friendly than President Joe Biden’s, the new administration’s approach to antitrust issues ******** to be seen. Regulators did open investigations into major tech companies during the first Trump administration, and Matt Gaetz — Trump’s nominee for attorney general — appears to be headed for a contentious confirmation process. “I think there can be a degree of wishful thinking that it’s going to be some laissez-faire approach to antitrust regulation, and I think that is misguided. There’s still a populist tone in the Trump campaign … and enforcement, in my opinion, is not going to go away. I think it will just be a more measured, less aggressive enforcement span,” said Kyle Healy, a partner focused on M & A at law firm Alston & Bird. Another issue could be cost. The S & P 500 was already trading near record highs before the election, and the small-cap benchmark Russell 2000 is up 4.9% in November. That may make finding the right price for acquisition targets a bit tricky. “Prices are pretty high. At some point, that will be a major consideration,” Michael Lynton, chairman of Warner Music and Snap , said on CNBC’s ” Squawk on the Street ” on Nov. 6 when the postelection rally was just beginning. Source link #Wall #Street #gears #***** #names #attractive #targets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Top Wall Street analysts are upbeat on these stocks for the long haul Top Wall Street analysts are upbeat on these stocks for the long haul The postelection rally has hit some turbulence in recent days, giving investors a bumpy ride in the near term. However, these choppy markets can harbor plenty of opportunities — for those who know where to look. Investors shouldn’t focus too much on short-term volatility as they position their portfolios. Recommendations from Wall Street can help them make informed decisions on stocks and seek solid long-term returns. Top-rated analysts pay attention to multiple aspects when selecting stocks of companies with solid fundamentals and strong **********. Bearing that in mind, here are three stocks favored by the Street’s top *****, according to TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance. Amazon We start this week with e-commerce and cloud computing giant Amazon (AMZN). The company impressed investors with third-quarter beats on the top and bottom lines, fueled by strength in its cloud and advertising businesses. In reaction to the solid Q3 print, Monness analyst Brian White reaffirmed a buy rating on Amazon stock and boosted the price target to $245 from $225. While the analyst acknowledged regulatory pressures, he ******** bullish on AMZN as he thinks it will continue to “capitalize on the cloud, expand its digital ad business, innovate with AI, realize efficiencies from a regional fulfillment network, and leverage a leaner cost structure.” White highlighted that Amazon’s revenue growth accelerated to 17%, with significant profit upside. Notably, Q3 operating profit exceeded his estimates, driving record operating margin at 11%. He also noted the sharp sequential rise in operating margins at Amazon Web Services, or AWS, and International business. Based on the solid results, the analyst raised his revenue and earnings per share estimates for 2024 and 2025. White also pointed out Amazon’s focus on reducing costs via improved efficiencies and new initiatives such as regionalizing its U.S. fulfillment network. The company now aims to regionalize its U.S. inbound network and leverage advanced robotic innovations across its fulfillment network. Overall, White sees lucrative growth potential for Amazon across e-commerce, AWS, digital media, advertising, Alexa, robotics, artificial intelligence and other avenues. White ranks No. 38 among more than 9,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 69% of the time, delivering an average return of 20.4%. See Amazon Stock Charts on TipRanks. Uber Technologies We now move to this week’s second pick, ride-sharing platform Uber Technologies (UBER). The company recently delivered better-than-expected third-quarter revenue and earnings. However, it missed Wall Street’s expectations for Q3 ****** bookings. Nonetheless, Evercore analyst Mark Mahaney ******** bullish on UBER stock. He reiterated a buy rating with a price target of $120, following a series of investor meetings with management. Mahaney thinks UBER will gain from autonomous vehicle rollouts, given its position as the largest ride-sharing demand aggregator. He added that better availability of robotaxis on the Uber platform will drive improved customer service through shorter wait times, broader ride selection and possibly lower prices. “UBER believes that the economics it can offer AV owners can be compelling, allowing them to generate very high margins and better fleet utilization than they can develop on their own,” said Mahaney. Based on his discussions with management, Mahaney explained that the deceleration reflecting in Uber’s Mobility bookings growth in Q3 and the estimate for Q4 is due to the negative demand elasticity caused by the surge in insurance costs and a slowdown in “party hour” bookings, or those that take place during evenings and weekends. He thinks this deceleration will moderate, given the slowdown in the rate of insurance cost increases, growth prospects of new products such as Uber for Teens and Uber for Business as well as potential improvement in consumer discretionary demand. Finally, Mahaney ******** confident about Uber’s ability to consistently boost its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and free cash flow margins over the next three to five years, supported by multiple measures to drive cost efficiencies. Mahaney ranks No. 34 among more than 9,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 64% of the time, delivering an average return of 28.9%. See Uber Technologies Stock Options on TipRanks. Block Finally, let’s look at fintech giant Block (SQ). The company, formerly known as Square, narrowly beat analysts’ earnings expectations but missed revenue estimates for the third quarter. Following the results, BTIG analyst Andrew Harte discussed the positives and negatives of Block’s Q3 performance. He noted that the company’s initial FY25 ****** profit growth guidance of at least 15% almost met the consensus estimate at 14.9%. However, Q4 ****** profit outlook of 14% fell short of expectations due to the shift in the timing of certain expected benefits from Q4 to next year. The analyst thinks CEO Jack Dorsey did a good job in highlighting the company’s lending products and explaining how they are fueling the growth of Block’s ecosystem. Despite the soft Q4 guidance and management’s commentary indicating that investors will have to wait until the second half of 2025 for growth acceleration, SQ stock continues to be a top pick for BTIG. Harte cited several reasons for his bullish stance, including Block’s track record of surpassing guidance and the stock’s attractive valuation at 12-times FY25 EV (enterprise value)/EBITDA. He added that the company is in the early days of fueling increased product adoption in both its Cash and Square ecosystems, indicating continued growth potential ahead. “Block is just beginning to integrate its Cash App and Square ecosystems, which could create meaningful flywheel effects over time,” said Harte while reiterating a buy rating on the stock with a price target of $90. Harte ranks No. 152 among more than 9,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 75% of the time, delivering an average return of 63.8%. See Block Hedge Funds Activity on TipRanks. Source link #Top #Wall #Street #analysts #upbeat #stocks #long #haul Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Morgan Stanley picks China stocks to ride out a worst-case scenario in U.S. tensions Morgan Stanley picks China stocks to ride out a worst-case scenario in U.S. tensions After last month’s excitement over stimulus plans, ******** stocks now face mounting challenges as earnings have yet to pick up and heightened U.S. trade tensions loom. “Stock picking ******** important with [the] headwind of tariffs, a weaker currency and persistent deflation,” Morgan Stanley chief China equity strategist Laura Wang and a team said in a report Thursday. For investment options, she referred to the firm’s survey of China stocks the investment bank’s analysts already cover. The firm screened for stocks that could outperform depending on which of three scenarios unfolded. Only the bear case accounted for significant U.S. tariffs and restrictions. The base and bull cases assumed the status quo in U.S.-China relations. The bear case also expects 1 trillion yuan, or $140 billion, in fiscal stimulus a year and MSCI China earnings per share growth of 3% this year and 5% next year. Morgan Stanley’s basket of bear case stocks only includes overweight-rated names with a dividend yield above 4% this year. They also have free cash flow yield above 4% from 2023 to 2025 and market capitalization above $2 billion, among other factors. The companies must not be on Morgan Stanley’s lists of stocks at a disadvantage from *********** policy and supply chain diversification. The only consumer name that made the list was Tingyi , a Hong Kong-listed company that owns instant noodles brand Master Kong. The company is also PepsiCo ‘s exclusive manufacturer and seller in China. Tingyi’s net profit in beverages rose nearly 26% in the first half of 2024 compared to a year ago, while that of instant noodles rose 5.4%. Morgan Stanley expects Tingyi’s earnings per share to grow 12% this year and 11% in 2025. Other ******** companies that made Morgan Stanley’s bear case basket included two state-owned energy stocks: drilling company China Oilfield Services and Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation , which specializes in shipping oil and natural gas. Both stocks are listed in Hong Kong, as is the only industrials name on the bear case list, Sinotruk . The truck manufacturer is also state owned. Morgan Stanley expects China Oilfield Services can grow earnings per share by 41% this year and 33% next year, while Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation can see its earnings rise 33% this year, before slowing to 16% growth next year. Sinotruk earnings can grow 18% this year and 17% next year, according to Morgan Stanley estimates. MSCI China constituents are on track for their 13th straight quarter of earnings misses, despite recent improvements in economic data, Morgan Stanley’s Wang said. “We expect further earnings downward revisions amid lingering deflationary pressure and geopolitical uncertainties until more policy clarity emerges.” Asia equity fund managers have modestly increased their exposure to China since September’s stimulus announcements, Morningstar strategist Claire Liang said in a phone interview Friday. “But many managers have said whether this rally can continue will depend on whether the policies can see real results,” Liang said in Mandarin, which was translated by CNBC. Beyond stabilizing the economy, she said the managers are looking for whether corporate earnings can recover. China’s October data release on Friday underscored a slow economic recovery despite the latest barrage of stimulus announcements. Industrial production missed forecasts. Fixed asset investment grew more slowly than forecast as the drop in real estate investment steepened, albeit with new home sales narrowing their decline. Only retail sales beat expectations with 4.8% growth . For China’s export-heavy economy, the risk of U.S. tariffs has only risen over the past two weeks as the *********** Party has taken control of the U.S. Congress and President-elect Donald Trump has filled his cabinet with China hawks. Morgan Stanley’s U.S. policy team expects Trump to impose tariffs soon after he takes office, and potentially hit Europe and Mexico along with China imports. While China is better positioned than six years ago to stave off the effects of targeted tariffs, the analysts said global duties on U.S. imports would hit China as much as targeted tariffs did in 2018. Source link #Morgan #Stanley #picks #China #stocks #ride #worstcase #scenario #U.S #tensions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]