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Remember These Hotkeys in Planet Coaster 2 for an Easier Time Remember These Hotkeys in Planet Coaster 2 for an Easier Time · · November 9, 2024 More often than not, the management and simulation genre proves massive and complex. On PC, there are countless hotkeys to consider, and to the everyday player, it can feel overwhelming to remember every key combination necessary to quick-build or remove pathing sections. Hopefully, we can help. Here are a few of the most important hotkeys in Planet Coaster 2! Important Planet Coaster 2 Hotkeys To Remember I spent too long ignoring hotkeys and shortcuts in games in favor of simply clicking, and the day I started using hotkeys, I never returned. They make life easier. You can access nearly any menu or mechanic in the game without moving your hand from the keyboard. Of course, remembering every hotkey and shortcut command is initially challenging, but there’s no shame in keeping a guide like this one up on your phone or a second screen. Here are a few Planet Coaster 2 hotkeys worth remembering: CTRL + Z — Undo CTRL + Y — Redo L — Light ALT — Radial Menu Right CTRL + Right SHIFT + G — Hide UI Z — Rotate 90 Degrees Hold Z — Rotate X — Advanced Move M — Move F — Snap Object to Wall Center P — Toggle Angle Snap CTRL + D — Duplicate Object R — Edit Building I — Multi Select Related: Earn More Money in Planet Coaster 2 and Expand Your Horizons Of course, there are many more hotkeys and shortcuts in Planet Coaster 2, and you can find all of them within the settings menu, but I find you’ll use these more frequently than any other. It’s worth keeping this guide open for quick reference. Do you have any additional Planet Coaster 2 tips and tricks to share? We’d love to hear your insights into the amusement park management game, so comment below or visit the community forum to share! Before diving into the park building and management game, don’t forget to check out the Planet Coaster 2 achievements so that you can 100% the game! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Remember #Hotkeys #Planet #Coaster #Easier #Time Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Purnell’s £750 vouchers useless after restaurant closure Purnell’s £750 vouchers useless after restaurant closure Therese Roberts Therese Roberts (right) had bought one of the vouchers for her daughter Lindsay A woman who spent £750 on vouchers for a Michelin-starred restaurant before it closed fears she may have lost her money. Purnell’s in Birmingham, which became famous for contemporary seasonal food, shut in October. But more than a dozen people contacted the BBC to say they had been told vouchers, sometimes worth hundreds of pounds, would not be refunded or redeemed. Glynn Purnell, who ran the restaurant, said he was “heartbroken” by the closure and apologised for what he called a “difficult situation”. Therese Roberts, a retired marketing worker from Coventry, said she bought £500 worth of vouchers for her children last Christmas, before also spending money on a £250 voucher for a friend. She said she didn’t find out the restaurant had even closed until she read the BBC’s report on it. Claire Lishman PR Glyn Purnell, who ran Purnell’s, has been criticised over vouchers that now appear to be useless After contacting liquidators, Ms Roberts was told the vouchers were irredeemable and it was not possible for refunds to be issued. Her request to use them at another of Mr Purnell’s restaurants was also rejected. “I’m really disappointed,” the 58-year-old said. “He classes himself as the ‘Yummy Brummie’. He blames greedy chains taking his business but he didn’t want to communicate or come to a compromise with me. “I thought he was a better man than that. It’s left a rotten taste in my mouth.” Therese Roberts Ms Roberts previously ate at Purnell’s and wanted others to experience it Ms Roberts previously visited Purnell’s with her husband, describing it as a “great experience”. She said she really enjoyed dining at the premium establishment and wanted her loved ones to be able to try it too. “He’s come across as a down to earth boy from Chelmsley Wood,” the mother added of Mr Purnell. “I thought he would understand what it was like to be an ordinary person in the street.” Sean Devlin Retired head teacher Sean Devlin Ms Roberts was among multiple customers who were told to contact their banks to try and secure a refund, but many received them as gifts and in some cases up to a year ago. Sean Devlin, 72, from Malvern, Worcestershire, said he held a £110 five course lunch for two ticket, which he can no longer use. The retired head teacher received the voucher as a Christmas gift last year, but was told Purnell’s was closed when he tried to book a table. “I have had no information at all from them,” he said. “It makes me cross really. “They have had a difficult time, but so have many other people. I’m sure they have made good money over the years.” Angela Blacker Angela Blacker has also been left stuck with vouchers she can’t use Angela Blacker, from Broseley in Shropshire, received the same voucher as Mr Devlin, as a present for her 60th birthday. The retiree was surprised when she discovered the gift would not be honoured. “I’m shocked at the level of customer service,” she said. “We have had absolutely nothing at all. “It’s not our fault he’s closed the restaurant. I was really looking forward to going somewhere posh, but it’s not going to happen now.” Claire Lishman PR Purnell’s gained a Michelin star Speaking after the restaurant closed, Mr Purnell said the eatery had been going through “a really tough time” and seen bookings fall by more than 20%. “Things have moved on and times have changed,” he said. “In this current climate, no-one is bulletproof.” But he hinted there could be more to come, adding: “I’m excited for the future and the next steps in my journey. This isn’t the last you’ve heard of the ‘Yummy Brummie’.” On Saturday, Mr Purnell issued a statement saying the closure was in the hands of liquidators and questions regarding vouchers must legally be addressed to them. “I have been very grateful for the support in the unfortunate and unforeseen closure of the restaurant after 17 years,” he said. “We have been advised that refunds can also be requested via customers own banks and credit card companies. I can only apologise for this difficult situation.” The BBC has also contacted liquidator Butcher Woods for comment. Source link #Purnells #vouchers #useless #restaurant #closure Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is Overwatch Classic Returning? Blizzard Drops Cryptic Hints Ahead of Major Trailer Reveal Is Overwatch Classic Returning? Blizzard Drops Cryptic Hints Ahead of Major Trailer Reveal Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch was a 2016 team-based online multiplayer first-person shooter video game for PlayStation 4, Windows, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. Thanks to its success, Blizzard decided to work on a sequel, Overwatch 2, which replaced the original game. The original Overwatch featured 6v6 combat but in Overwatch 2, the number was reduced by one on each team, making it a 5v5 battle, a major change that got mixed reactions from the community. Overwatch 2 replaced the original Overwatch in 2022 (Image via Blizzard Entertainment) Overwatch 2 isn’t exactly performing as Blizzard hoped it would and now it seems like the studio will use the oldest trick in the book. All Overwatch social media accounts have been rebranded with Overwatch 1 Tracer. Players are speculating that Blizzard is planning to bring back the classic Overwatch to bring back veteran players. The Classic Overwatch Might Be Making A Comeback The 6v6 combat was removed as devs believed it slowed down the gameplay (Image via Blizzard Entertainment) The official Overwatch YouTube channel recently scheduled a trailer to air on November 11 at 9 AM PST, with a picture of Tracer in her classic Overwatch 1 design. Plus, the official social media pages of Overwatch 2 went through an overhaul as all the profile pictures were change to the same image of Tracer and all old posts were archived. Fans believe that a major announcement will be made on 11th November and many are convinced that the classic Overwatch is making a comeback. This news comes a few days after reports revealed that Epic Games is planning to bring back Fortnite OG permanently as a separate experience. Rumors suggest that Seasons 1 through 10 will return in monthly cycles. Is Overwatch 6v6 Finally Coming Back? The return of the original Overwatch could bring back the classic 6v6 combat (Image via Blizzard Entertainment) The serves of the original Overwatch were shut down on October 3rd, 2022, in preparation for the beta release of its sequel, Overwatch 2, the next day. The basic concept was still the same, however, the 6v6 combat was changed to a 5v5 combat as developers thought that it made the gameplay slow. Players strongly believe that the 6v6 combat is now making a comeback and will be announced in the mysterious trailer. There are speculations that the game would operate alongside Overwatch 2 just like World of Warcraft Classic, another game from Blizzard Entertainment. This release would certainly boost the player count as it will convince many veteran players to return to the game after so many years. Players aren’t exactly happy with Blizzard as it canceled all future PvE content for Overwatch 2 earlier this year. It seems like the layoffs directly affected the development team working on the PvE content, and as a result, everything is now canceled. Hopefully, the return of the classic Overwatch will satisfy the players are Blizzard promised to focus “on competitive player vs. player gameplay.“ Do you think the return of classic Overwatch will revive the franchise’s popularity? Share your views in the comments! Source link #Overwatch #Classic #Returning #Blizzard #Drops #Cryptic #Hints #Ahead #Major #Trailer #Reveal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Top stocks to buy with upside in Trump era Top stocks to buy with upside in Trump era Wall Street analysts are looking ahead to President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House, and many stocks could be poised to benefit. CNBC Pro combed through the most recent Wall Street research to find companies analysts really like heading into 2025 based on potential Trump policies. They include General Motors, Ford Motor, Robinhood , Coinbase , GE Aerospace and Goldman Sachs. Ford and General Motors Bank of America said both automakers are best positioned in a Trump presidency. “We see F and GM as the main beneficiaries from the Trump administration,” analyst John Murphy wrote. This is because there will be less pressure to shift the auto companies toward electric vehicles, he added. “On the other end, EV OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] may face slower demand due to less pressure to go electric and lower IRA incentives.” Murphy said Mexico tariffs are a risk, but he urged investors to remain calm. Shares of Ford are down 10% in 2024, and General Motors is up close to 55% this year. Coinbase and Robinhood Needham analyst John Todaro sees both stocks as beneficiaries of a crypto renaissance under a Trump administration, although the firm currently has a neutral rating on Robinhood. “We expect the entire crypto sector to benefit from the Trump win, but the largest positive impact on COIN & HOOD,” he wrote. Todaro said both companies may feel more compelled to usher in additional crypto products under a Trump presidency that may be more amenable to bitcoin uses. “In addition to Trump winning, the House and Senate (elected & re-elected) majority pro crypto candidates to make the most pro-crypto political landscape in US history,” he added. Shares of Robinhood are up nearly 140% in 2024, while Coinbase is up more than 55% this year. GE Aerospace The aerospace company has pricing power, according to Deutsche Bank analyst Scott Deuschle, who says GE can benefit under a Trump administration. “In the event that some combination of increased fiscal spending, tax cuts, and tariffs were to drive persistency to the current above-trend rate of inflation, then we think companies in our coverage with the greatest pricing power would continue to stand out as relative winners,” he wrote, including GE in that mix. Defense spending is also likely to rise under a GOP White House, making GE a standout, the analyst added. The company is a key engine supplier on U.S. military aircraft as well as internationally. “Additionally, we think GE could be among the largest beneficiaries of this potential trend within our aerospace coverage,” Deuschle said. The stock is up more than 80% this year with more room to run, he wrote. Ford and GM – Bank of America, buy ratings “We see F and GM as the main beneficiaries from the Trump administration. The current environmental regime would pressure the core business of legacy OEMs (trucks) to decarbonize by the end of the decade while shifting quickly to an EV portfolio. … On the other end, EV OEMs may face slower demand due to less pressure to go electric and lower IRA incentives.” Coinbase – Needham, buy rating; Robinhood – Needham, neutral rating “On the back of this, we expect HOOD in the medium term to launch more crypto products as well as COIN and would expect more favorable outcomes on the SEC cases. In addition to Trump winning, the House and Senate (elected & re-elected) majority pro crypto candidates to make the most pro-crypto political landscape in US history.” GE Aerospace – Deutsche Bank, buy rating “In the event that some combination of increased fiscal spending, tax cuts, & tariffs were to drive persistency to the current above-trend rate of inflation, then we think companies in our coverage with the greatest pricing power would continue to stand out as relative winners. … Additionally, we think GE could be among the largest beneficiaries of this [defense spend] potential trend within our aerospace coverage…” Goldman Sachs – Wells Fargo, overweight rating “Capital markets momentum and the chance for a super cycle. More free markets imply that investment banking revenues have a chance at exceeding 2021 levels over the next few years. The idea of a capital markets super-cycle seems possible (albeit not a base case), esp. given the level of pent-up demand, dry powder, and likely more certainty in deals getting approved. GS should benefit.” Read more about this call here. Source link #Top #stocks #buy #upside #Trump #era Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Men charged in foiled Iranian plot to ************ Trump Men charged in foiled Iranian plot to ************ Trump Three men have been charged in connection with an alleged Iranian plot to ***** people in the ******* States that included an apparent effort to ************ Donald Trump while he campaigned for a second term in office, according to a ********* complaint unsealed Friday in the Southern District of New York. The complaint is based on a sworn account by an FBI agent that includes details from what are described as voluntary phone interviews with Farhad Shakeri, an Afghan national and alleged operative for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. While the most concrete aspects of the plot involved efforts to stalk and ***** an Iranian dissident and target others, Shakeri – who is one of the three men charged – also allegedly told investigators he was assigned in September to try to find a way to surveil and ***** Trump. On Oct. 7, the anniversary of the ****** massacre of Israelis last year in southern *******, Shakeri was given a deadline to devise an ************** plan, the filing says. He told investigators that his Revolutionary Guard contacts paused the effort to try to ***** Trump when Shakeri ******* to come up with a solid plan of action. Shakeri said his handlers believed Trump would lose the election and that it would be easier to go after him once he had been defeated, according to the filing. “President-Elect Trump is aware of the attempted ************** plot by the Iranian ********** regime,” said Steven Cheung, communications director for Trump. “Nothing will deter President Trump from returning to the White House and restoring peace around the world.” Shakeri’s co-defendants, Carlisle Rivera and Jonathan Loadholt, both New York City residents, are being held without bail after appearing before a magistrate judge in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Thursday. They were allegedly paid by Iran to pursue the Iranian dissident, an effort that involved stalking her at her home and a speaking event at Fairfield University, the ********* complaint says. Camera IconCarlisle ‘Pop’ Rivera, 49, one of the alleged would-be assassins hired by Iran to ***** Donald Trump, is a self employed pipe fitter from Staten Island and convicted *********. Credit: Supplied/Facebook Shakeri is believed to be in Iran and ******** at large. A press official at the Iranian U.N. mission in New York declined to comment on the case. Masih Alinejad, a prominent Iranian defector and journalist, identified herself on X as one of the victims cited in the indictment. Alinejad, who lives in Brooklyn, has been targeted for ************** by Iran multiple times on U.S. soil, according to investigators. Others have been previously charged in connection with those efforts. Justice Department officials said Iran has been engaged in a widespread effort to get even for the January 2020 ****** of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the leader of an elite Revolutionary Guard force who was ******* by a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad. The targets were said to include Americans and U.S. allies. Shakeri developed a network of ********* associates in the ******* States while serving a 14-year prison term here for robbery, according to the complaint, and investigators said he tapped into that group to assist Iran. Camera IconThree men have been charged in connection with an alleged Iranian plot to ***** people in the ******* States that included an apparent effort to ************ Donald Trump. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images “There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the ******* States as does Iran,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. Shakeri “was tasked by the regime to direct a network of ********* associates to further Iran’s ************** plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald J. Trump,” he said. The complaint does not say that Rivera and Loadholt were part of the alleged effort to ***** Trump; nor does it say that plot ever developed into a firm plan. Their attorneys did not reply to requests for comment. Shakeri told the FBI he did not intend to formulate a scheme to carry out an **************, the ********* complaint says. He claimed that an Iranian official had told him that “we have already spent a lot of money … o the money’s not an issue,” the complaint says. Based on that, Shakeri allegedly told investigators that he believed there were previous efforts by the Iranian government to target the president-elect before Tuesday’s election, and that resources had already been devoted to trying to ******** the strategy. A pair of ******* ********* businesspeople residing in New York, who showed support for *******, and ******** tourists in Sri Lanka were also targeted for ********, according to Shakeri. Camera IconCarlisle ‘Pop’ Rivera, 49, one of the alleged would-be assassins hired by Iran to ***** Donald Trump, is a self employed pipe fitter from Staten Island and convicted *********. Credit: Supplied/Facebook Shakeri told investigators he was offered $500,000 each to ***** the Americans but did not do so. He claimed his Iranian government contact also asked him to commit a mass ********* targeting ******** tourists in October in Sri Lanka, according to the complaint. That effort was ultimately thwarted after a travel warning by the ******* States and *******, U.S. officials said; an associate of Shakeri was arrested by Sri Lankan authorities. Investigators noted in the court filing that some elements of Shakeri’s narratives were false, or that he omitted or lied about certain details. He was motivated to cooperate because he wanted to try to help free someone who is imprisoned in the ******* States, officials said. Trump’s safety became a major concern in the final months of his campaign, after a July 14 attempt on his life at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in which his ear was grazed by a bullet. The gunman, a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man, was ******* at the scene. The ********* prompted major concerns about the Secret Service’s ability to effectively protect Trump, and other candidates and officials. Separately, a man taken into custody outside Trump’s West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course in mid-September is charged with attempting to ************ Trump. Neither incident is believed to be connected to the Iranians’ indictment. But the campaign was briefed this summer on what officials believed to be an active plot by Iranians to ************ him, further heightening safety concerns among Trump and his aides, and increasing tension between their team and the Secret Service even as his precautions and levels of protection increased. The Washington Post reported last month that after campaign advisers were told of Iran’s alleged efforts, his campaign requested military aircraft for his travel, expanded flight restrictions over his residences and rallies, and other security measures that would have been unprecedented for former presidents or political candidates. © 2024 , The Washington Post Source link #Men #charged #foiled #Iranian #plot #************ #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Caligan takes a stake in Verona Pharma, sees opportunity to generate more value Caligan takes a stake in Verona Pharma, sees opportunity to generate more value Rafael Henrique | SOPA Images | AP Company: Verona Pharma (VRNA) Business: Verona Pharma, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of respiratory ********* with unmet medical needs. The company’s product candidate is ensifentrine, an inhaled and dual inhibitor of the phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3 and PDE4 enzymes that acts as both a bronchodilator and an anti-inflammatory agent in a single compound. This medication is in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary ********, asthma and cystic fibrosis. The company is developing ensifentrine in three formulations, including nebulizer, dry powder inhaler and pressurized metered-dose inhaler. Verona Pharma was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in London. Stock Market Value: ~$3.16B ($38.58 per share) Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Verona Pharma shares in 2024 Activist: Caligan Partners LP Ownership: n/a Average Cost: n/a Activist Commentary: Caligan Partners was founded by former Carlyle Group managing director David Johnson, and it launched its main fund in 2022. It invests in a concentrated portfolio of small and midcap life sciences companies, using activism as a tool to unlock value. Caligan looks for companies with differentiated intellectual property and durable assets that have underperformed their peers. The firm will take board seats when it thinks it can add value. The way the firm thinks about biopharma investing is somewhat unique. It looks for companies that are first in class and best in class in their therapies; companies where it has some downside protection; companies with a good management team; and opportunities where the firm thinks it could add value. Caligan looks to work constructively with boards and management but will not shy away from a proxy ******, if necessary. What’s happening On Oct. 22, Caligan announced that it has taken a position in Verona Pharma. Behind the scenes Verona Pharma is a clinical stage, pre-revenue, biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of respiratory ********* with unmet medical needs. The company’s current product candidate and potential value creator is ensifentrine (commercially “Ohtuvayre”), an inhaled and dual inhibitor that acts as both a bronchodilator and an anti-inflammatory agent. Ohtuvayre was recently approved by the FDA for maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary ******** (COPD) on June 26. Back in May 2022, prior to this approval and when Caligan began building their initial position, the stock was trading in the mid-single digits and at essentially cash value. With the commercial launch of Ohtuvayre, Verona’s first-ever marketed product, scheduled for the third quarter of 2024, the stock has soared. Still, Caligan thinks there is a lot more value to be realized. COPD, known as “smoker’s lung,” is the third leading cause of ****** worldwide that affects over 380 million patients globally. Not only is this a humanitarian crisis, but a challenge for our health-care systems. In just the U.S. alone, over $24 billion in health-care costs are associated with COPD management. A successful ***** like Ohtuvayre would not just increase the life expectancies of patients with COPD, but it would lower costs for both health-care providers and COPD patients. Currently, there are over 8.6 million U.S. COPD patients with over 4 million remaining symptomatic despite treatment from the current commercial therapies. There is still a huge gap in this market, and Verona is currently on the trajectory of filling it with strong Phase III data showing a significant increase in lung function and a reduction in exacerbations with minimal side effects. This supporting data and the number of unsuccessfully treated patients in the current market suggests that Verona could achieve a 20% patient share for Ohtuvayre. If Verona can get 10% patient share, this could translate into $4.5 billion of revenue for Ohtuvayre. But the story gets even more exciting with potential indication expansion for utilizing Ohtuvayre for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (“NCFB”), a progressive inflammatory ******** that causes permanent lung damage with no current approved therapies and whose symptoms mimic COPD. With a greater than 1 million patient population, this could be a huge avenue for expansion for Ohtuvayre if it were to get approved as an NCFB treatment. The only other potential player in the NCFB market is biopharma peer Insmed’s ***** brensocatib. The ***** had mediocre success, showing a 21% rate of reduction in exacerbations in Phase III testing. Still, this was enough to skyrocket Insmed’s valuation over $7 billion in one month. In early pooling analysis, Ohtuvayre showed a 41% reduction in exacerbations in COPD patients, almost double brensocatib. When Caligan announced its Verona position last month, the stock was trading at $33.40 per share or a $2.5 billion enterprise value. If it can attain a 10% patient share for COPD and $4.5 billion of peak revenue, it is trading at one half of peak revenue. Mergers and acquisitions for similar companies are generally done at 3-times to 4-times peak revenue, which would give Verona a price of $115 per share. If Ohtuvayre continues to move through trials for NCFB and gets traction with patients, like Insmed, Caligan thinks that Verona Pharma could be worth 7-times its valuation, or $218 per share. Caligan exclusively invests in the health-care sector and has seen a lot of success. In October 2023, Caligan announced an activist position in MorphoSys AG, a similarly modeled biopharma company with a Phase III *****, that was set to commercialize in Q4 of 2023. At the time, the stock was trading at 26.08 euros a share. After successfully commercializing its star ***** pelabresib, MorphoSys was subsequently sold to Novartis in February 2024 for 2.7 billion euros or 68 euros per share. Caligan learned from that experience that if a ***** can improve the standard of care for patients, it will be valuable. In an industry with $140 billion coming off patent relatively soon, larger pharma companies need to do acquisitions, and those deals are usually in the $1 billion to $10 billion range. Both of those points bode very well for Verona, Caligan’s largest position in its portfolio. Ken Squire is the founder and president of 13D Monitor, an institutional research service on shareholder activism, and the founder and portfolio manager of the 13D Activist Fund, a mutual fund that invests in a portfolio of activist 13D investments. Source link #Caligan #takes #stake #Verona #Pharma #sees #opportunity #generate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Toyota aims to ramp up China production in a strategy pivot Toyota aims to ramp up China production in a strategy pivot By Maki Shiraki TOKYO (Reuters) – Toyota aims to make at least 2.5 million vehicles a year in China by 2030, three people said, an overhaul that will see it bring its ******** sales and production operations closer together and allow local executives a freer hand in development, The plan, which has not been previously reported, represents a strategic pivot by the world’s top selling automaker in the world’s largest car market, underlining its ambition to claw back business lost to BYD and other local players in recent years. Toyota’s strategy is in contrast to that of other global automakers, including ********* ones, that are either scaling back or pulling out of China. It aims to boost production to as much as 3 million vehicles a year by the end of the decade, two of the people said. However, it has stopped short of establishing a formal target, the three people said. All of the people declined to be identified because the matter has not been made public. The ******* number represents a 63% increase on the record 1.84 million vehicles it produced in China in 2022. Last year it produced 1.75 million vehicles there. Toyota has informed some suppliers of the intended ramp-up, in the hope of reassuring parts makers of its commitment to China and thereby securing its supply chain, the people said. In response to questions from Reuters, Toyota said in a statement: “With the intense competition in the ******** market, we are constantly considering various initiatives”. It said it would continue to work on making “ever-better cars” for the ******** market. The ********* automaker aims to bring the sales and production operations of its two ******** ****** ventures closer together, to improve efficiency, two of the people said. It also intends transfer as much of the development responsibility as possible to China-based staff who have a better grasp of local market preferences, particularly around electrified and connected car technology, two of the people said. The moves signal a growing awareness within Toyota that it needs to rely more on local staff to take charge and speed up product development in China, one of the people said, adding that otherwise “it will be too late”. Legacy automakers, Toyota included, have been outmaneuvered in China as domestic EV makers rapidly roll out affordable, battery-powered cars with advanced technology. Last year Toyota announced plans to deepen cooperation among its R&D centre in Jiangsu province and its two local ****** ventures. One problem, representative of Toyota’s broader woes, is that vehicles developed independently by ****** venture partners are selling better than those produced with Toyota. Story Continues For instance, FAW Group’s Hongqi brand and GAC Group’s Aion EV both outsell respective models from FAW Toyota Motor and GAC Toyota Motor. Toyota now intends to better incorporate the know-how of local partners in its cars. Currently, the same vehicle is produced at each of the two ****** ventures and sold with a different design and company name – so-called “twinned vehicles”. Going forward, production for each car will be consolidated at one of the ****** ventures, two of the people said. The models will be made available at dealerships of both JVs. As ********* automakers have been hit, so have ********* parts suppliers with operations in China. Toyota announced at its earnings on Wednesday that operating income in China fell during the first half of the financial year mainly due to higher marketing costs brought about by heavy price competition against ******** brands. Amid that competition, Mitsubishi Motors Corp has withdrawn from China, while Honda Motor and Nissan Motor have decided to reduce local production capacity. (Reporting by Maki Shiraki; Editing by Nobuhiro Kubo, David Dolan and Muralikumar Anantharaman) Source link #Toyota #aims #ramp #China #production #strategy #pivot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Timberborn Review | NoobFeed | N4G Timberborn Review | NoobFeed | N4G NoobFeed editor Mezbah Turzo writes – Timberborn has a few minor hiccups and more than a few structural ones. Despite this, the game manages to gnaw itself into your hearts with its furry cast of beavers. Whether you are drawn by the practical, logical management or the aesthetic and pleasing city-building, you will be left enamored and hooked by the game. Source link #Timberborn #Review #NoobFeed #N4G Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to work at McDonald’s and still become a millionaire How to work at McDonald’s and still become a millionaire Bernd Vogel | Stone | Getty Images Brad Klontz was drawn to financial psychology after the tech bubble burst in the early 2000s. Klontz had tried his hand at stock trading after seeing a friend earn more than $100,000 in one year. But he felt immense shame after the market crashed and his investments evaporated. He set out to discover why he took such risks and how he could behave differently in the future. Today, Klontz is a psychologist, a certified financial planner and an expert in behavioral finance. He is a member of the CNBC Financial Advisor Council and the CNBC Global Financial Wellness Advisory Board. In his estimation, psychology is perhaps the biggest impediment to people’s financial success. More from FA Playbook: Here’s a look at other stories impacting the financial advisor business. Klontz’s new book, “Start Thinking Rich: 21 Harsh Truths to Take You from Broke to Financial Freedom” — co-authored with entrepreneur and social media influencer Adrian Brambila — aims to break down the mental barriers that get in the way of financial freedom. CNBC chatted with Klontz about these “harsh truths” and why he says people earning a McDonald’s salary can still become millionaires by tweaking their mindset. The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. ‘It’s all about the psychology’ Greg Iacurci: Why is psychology important when it comes to personal finance? Brad Klontz: The basics of personal finance are actually quite simple. Financial literacy has its place, but I think it’s mostly [about] psychology. Here’s my argument for that: The average *********, the two biggest problems we have is we spend more than we make, and we don’t save and invest for the future. And I’ve literally yet to meet an ****** who doesn’t know that they shouldn’t do those two things. So, everybody knows it. Nobody stays broke because they don’t know the difference between a Roth IRA and a traditional IRA. That’s not the problem we have. It’s not really about the lack of knowledge. I think it’s all about the psychology. GI: So how does people’s psychology tend to get in the way? BK: The biggest impediment: money scripts. Most people aren’t aware of their beliefs around money. And there’s a whole process for discovering what those are. Part of it is looking at your financial flashpoints: these early experiences you have around money or that your parents have had, or your grandparents have had. People tend to repeat the pattern in their family, or they go to the extreme opposite. The difference between ‘broke’ and ‘poor’ GI: You write very early in the book that there’s a difference between being broke and being poor. Can you explain the difference? BK: We’re talking about a poor mindset. Being broke means you have no money. I’ve been broke, my co-author was broke, our families have been broke, a lot of people have been broke. We differentiate between being broke, which is a temporary condition, hopefully, to a poor mindset, which will keep you broke forever. It’s not really related to money, because I know people who make six figures and multiple six figures, and they have a poor mindset. We all know stories of people who win the lottery, or they win a big sports contract or music contract, and then all of a sudden [the money is] gone. Why is it gone? They have a poor mindset. That’s the distinction we make. GI: Does this suggest that people, no matter their socioeconomic circumstances, can lift themselves out of ******** if they adopt a rich mindset? BK: Yes. GI: Is that one of your “harsh truths”? BK: Yeah. We frame it in different ways based on the [book] chapter titles. For example, “It’s not your fault if you were born poor, but it is your fault if you **** poor.” That’s a pretty harsh reality that we’re throwing in people’s face. Adopt a ‘rich’ vs. ‘poor’ mindset GI: What is a rich mindset? BK: It’s an approach to life and an approach to money. Some of it goes against our natural wiring. There’s a future orientation. You have to have a vision of the future. A poor mindset [is] really focused on the here and now, not really thinking about the future. And if you don’t have a clear vision of your future, you’re not going to save, you’re not going to invest, you’re not going to live below your means. A rich mindset puts an emphasis on owning their time versus owning a bunch of stuff. A poor mindset, as we describe it, [is] very willing to trade time for stuff. GI: What do you mean by that? BK: A poor mindset is like, I want this fancy car. And I’m very willing to work an extra 10 hours a week so I can drive that car around. And the problem with that is that mindset goes everywhere: “I’m gonna buy the biggest house I can get, I’m gonna get the nicest clothes I can get, a big watch.” And then people have no net worth. They’re not saving any net worth. Meanwhile, a rich mindset is like: How can I own as much time as possible? You might think of that as retirement, where I don’t need to work anymore to fund my life. They have a future orientation, and they think, “Every dollar I get, I’m taking some of that money and I’m going to put it over here so that I can own my time and eventually have that money fund my entire life.” One of the ‘most destructive beliefs about money’ GI: I thought this was a great line. You write: “The belief that rich people are big spenders could be one of the most destructive beliefs about money ever.” BK: I’ve done research on this. In one study, we looked at a group of people who [each] had about $11 million in net worth, and we compared them to a group of people who [each] had about $500,000 in net worth. These people had almost 18 times more money. And what we found is they only spent twice as much, on their house, their vacation, their watch and their car. They had the money to spend 18 times as much, right? The people who are the wealthiest, when it comes to money scripts [they] have money-vigilant money scripts, which is the belief that it’s important to save. The ones who are the flashiest spenders [have] “money status beliefs.” They had lower income, lower net worth. They’re more likely to come from poorer homes. It’s like, “I’m gonna show the world I’ve made it.” But that keeps you broke. And I had it, by the way. All these insults about this poor mindset, I had it all. How to work at McDonald’s and be a millionaire GI: So what is the No. 1 thing people can do to save themselves? BK: The first part is embracing some of these harsh realities: Your political party is not going to save you. Your corporation doesn’t care about you. Your beliefs about money are keeping you poor. These are all meant, in different ways, to just help you shift from an external locus of control to an internal locus of control: The outcomes I’ve been getting in my life are because of me. It’s because of what I did, what I didn’t do, what I didn’t know. It’s a difficult mindset to grasp. You need to wake up to the fact that it doesn’t matter who the president is in terms of your financial freedom. None of them are going to make you financially free. They’re not going to send you a check. Your company? They don’t want you to be financially free. The replacement cost for you is really high. Your teachers can’t teach you to do that. They can teach you history and English. But they’re not financially free themselves. The bottom line is, you have to do this yourself. Then the next question is, well, what am I supposed to do? And that’s where we want to get people, because that’s a much easier answer. Bradley T. Klontz, Psy.D., CFP, is an expert in financial psychology, behavioral finance and financial planning. Courtesy Bradley T. Klontz GI: And what is the answer? BK: The answer is really, really simple. Here’s the rich mindset: $1 comes into your life; you are going to put a percentage of that towards your financial freedom before you do anything else. You can work at McDonald’s your entire life and be a millionaire if you have that mindset. Save 30% of your income — or get a roommate GI: What is the percentage people should be aiming for? BK: It just depends on how rich you want to be and how fast you want to be rich. That determines the percentage. You’ll hear personal finance experts say you should be saving and investing at least 10% of everything you make. I advocate for 30%; that’s what I shot for, just because I think it helps you get there faster. And people are like, “Oh my gosh, 30%.” Well, it’s real easy before you get your first job if you have this mindset. It’s real tough if you’ve designed your entire life around 100% of your paycheck. That’s where you have to make cuts. We have a chapter on cutting expenses. It’s called “Get a roommate, get on the bus, get sober, get bald, and get a side hustle or shut up about being poor.” We [hear] this all the time: “I can’t afford to invest.” We’re calling bulls— on it. Yes, you can. We looked at the average amount that Americans spend on rent, on cars, on going to the salon, and on alcohol. Two thousand dollars a month is average rent; if you have a roommate, it cuts it down to $1,000. Just that alone, if you invested the difference, in 25 years you’d have $1.3 million. Now, if you had three roommates, it would go all the way up to $2 million. Just think about that. You now are a multimillionaire just from that, doing nothing else. And by the way, that’s average market returns. But then when you add in: Take the bus, stop drinking alcohol, shave your head? [That’s] $2.8 million in 25 years. GI: If you do all those things? BK: If you do all those things. That’s just one roommate, riding the bus, not drinking alcohol and not going to the salon — watch YouTube [or] get your friend to cut your hair. The richest people I know, this is the kind of stuff they do. And yeah, $2.8 million. I would say to you all: That sounds terrible. OK, so why don’t you just go ahead and invest 30% of every dollar you make? Then you don’t have to do any of that s—. If that’s your mindset, it’s impossible for you not to become a millionaire. Unless you do something *******, like take your investments and do something crazy. Source link #work #McDonalds #millionaire Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Piper Sandler says buy these stocks to profit from a wave of crypto adoption Piper Sandler says buy these stocks to profit from a wave of crypto adoption The new Trump administration will offer a good backdrop for crypto-related stocks, according to Piper Sandler. Cryptocurrency-linked assets surged on Wednesday following Trump’s victory. The president-elect has indicated his support for the industry, and more favorable regulations under a new administration could continue to send digital currencies like bitcoin to new all-time heights . On Wednesday, bitcoin rallied above $76,000 for the first time in history. “Early in the election cycle, President-elect Trump came out in support of crypto and was viewed as the most crypto friendly candidate in the race,” wrote Piper Sandler analyst Patrick Moley in a note Thursday. “Since then we’ve seen a broader ***-partisan, pro-crypto shift in D.C. with > 200 pro-crypto candidates elected [Tuesday]. Given this shift in sentiment we expect to see comprehensive crypto legislation passed in the coming quarters and believe regulatory clarity will result in further mainstream crypto adoption.” Against this more favorable backdrop, Moley shared several stocks he currently rates overweight and that offer investors exposure to the crypto industry: The Piper Sandler analyst highlighted Robinhood as “the most attractive way to play the crypto space” within his coverage universe. Shares of the financial trading platform have more than doubled this year, surging 130%. Moley estimated that crypto made up around 13% of Robinhood’s revenues in the past 12 months. “Its monetized crypto offering is significantly more robust than traditional retail brokerage peers, with over 15 tokens available to trade,” the analyst wrote of Robinhood. “When a comprehensive regulatory framework around crypto is eventually introduced in the U.S., we believe HOOD will likely look to expand its crypto offering by (1) increasing the number of tokens available for trading on its platform and (2) introducing new products like staking (and possibly lending) to a customer base ready to adopt new crypto products.” Still, Moley’s $30 price target on Robinhood is only a fraction above where the stock closed Thursday. Moley was also bullish on shares of CME Group , up 5% this year. While crypto is currently an “immaterial” part of CME’s business — making up less than 1% of its revenue in the past 12 months — the company is the “premier venue for commercial & institutional users of crypto derivatives,” the analyst wrote. “CME currently offers 9 different crypto contracts across BTC (5) and ETH (4). However, through its partnership with CF Benchmarks it has an additional 28 reference rates that we think it could look to launch new contracts on if regulatory clarity improves,” the analyst added. Moley’s $250 price target implies that CME stock could add another 13% over the next 12 months. Although crypto made up less than 5% of Virtu Financial ‘s revenue in the past year, Moley said that the platform was “quietly operating as one of the major traditional finance players in the crypto space.” “The market maker is currently an authorized participant on ALL of the publicly traded spot bitcoin & ether ETFs (20+) and we think the future launch of options on these spot crypto ETFs could add another layer to VIRT’s crypto revenues,” the analyst wrote. “All in all, as crypto’s presence in traditional finance evolves, we think VIRT is positioned well to benefit.” Shares of Virtu Financial have climbed 65% in 2024. Moley’s $35 price target is nearly 5% higher than where the stock closed on Thursday. Finally, Moley gave an honorable mention to trading platform Cboe Global Markets . Less than 1% of the Cboe’s revenue was derived from crypto assets in the last 12 months. The company “offers & clears cash-settled bitcoin & ether futures contracts,” Moley wrote, and “recently exited its spot digital asset trading platform and consolidated its digital asset derivatives into its existing Global Derivatives & Clearing Business.” Shares of Cboe have added 12% this year, trailing the broader market, and Moley’s $220 price target implies an additional 9% upside. Source link #Piper #Sandler #buy #stocks #profit #wave #crypto #adoption Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Piper Sandler says buy these stocks to profit from a wave of crypto adoption Piper Sandler says buy these stocks to profit from a wave of crypto adoption The new Trump administration will offer a good backdrop for crypto-related stocks, according to Piper Sandler. Cryptocurrency-linked assets surged on Wednesday following Trump’s victory. The president-elect has indicated his support for the industry, and more favorable regulations under a new administration could continue to send digital currencies like bitcoin to new all-time heights . On Wednesday, bitcoin rallied above $76,000 for the first time in history. “Early in the election cycle, President-elect Trump came out in support of crypto and was viewed as the most crypto friendly candidate in the race,” wrote Piper Sandler analyst Patrick Moley in a note Thursday. “Since then we’ve seen a broader ***-partisan, pro-crypto shift in D.C. with > 200 pro-crypto candidates elected [Tuesday]. Given this shift in sentiment we expect to see comprehensive crypto legislation passed in the coming quarters and believe regulatory clarity will result in further mainstream crypto adoption.” Against this more favorable backdrop, Moley shared several stocks he currently rates overweight and that offer investors exposure to the crypto industry: The Piper Sandler analyst highlighted Robinhood as “the most attractive way to play the crypto space” within his coverage universe. Shares of the financial trading platform have more than doubled this year, surging 130%. Moley estimated that crypto made up around 13% of Robinhood’s revenues in the past 12 months. “Its monetized crypto offering is significantly more robust than traditional retail brokerage peers, with over 15 tokens available to trade,” the analyst wrote of Robinhood. “When a comprehensive regulatory framework around crypto is eventually introduced in the U.S., we believe HOOD will likely look to expand its crypto offering by (1) increasing the number of tokens available for trading on its platform and (2) introducing new products like staking (and possibly lending) to a customer base ready to adopt new crypto products.” Still, Moley’s $30 price target on Robinhood is only a fraction above where the stock closed Thursday. Moley was also bullish on shares of CME Group , up 5% this year. While crypto is currently an “immaterial” part of CME’s business — making up less than 1% of its revenue in the past 12 months — the company is the “premier venue for commercial & institutional users of crypto derivatives,” the analyst wrote. “CME currently offers 9 different crypto contracts across BTC (5) and ETH (4). However, through its partnership with CF Benchmarks it has an additional 28 reference rates that we think it could look to launch new contracts on if regulatory clarity improves,” the analyst added. Moley’s $250 price target implies that CME stock could add another 13% over the next 12 months. Although crypto made up less than 5% of Virtu Financial ‘s revenue in the past year, Moley said that the platform was “quietly operating as one of the major traditional finance players in the crypto space.” “The market maker is currently an authorized participant on ALL of the publicly traded spot bitcoin & ether ETFs (20+) and we think the future launch of options on these spot crypto ETFs could add another layer to VIRT’s crypto revenues,” the analyst wrote. “All in all, as crypto’s presence in traditional finance evolves, we think VIRT is positioned well to benefit.” Shares of Virtu Financial have climbed 65% in 2024. Moley’s $35 price target is nearly 5% higher than where the stock closed on Thursday. Finally, Moley gave an honorable mention to trading platform Cboe Global Markets . Less than 1% of the Cboe’s revenue was derived from crypto assets in the last 12 months. The company “offers & clears cash-settled bitcoin & ether futures contracts,” Moley wrote, and “recently exited its spot digital asset trading platform and consolidated its digital asset derivatives into its existing Global Derivatives & Clearing Business.” Shares of Cboe have added 12% this year, trailing the broader market, and Moley’s $220 price target implies an additional 9% upside. Source link #Piper #Sandler #buy #stocks #profit #wave #crypto #adoption Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dutch govt probes possible warnings over Maccabi ******* Dutch govt probes possible warnings over Maccabi ******* The Dutch government is investigating if possible warning signs from ******* were missed in the events leading up to this week’s assaults on ******** football fans, Justice Minister David van Weel says in a letter to parliament. “An investigation is still being conducted on possible warning signs from *******,” van Weel said in his letter late on Friday evening. At least five people were injured during the assaults on Thursday night and treated in hospital. All were released later on Friday. The incident concerned fans of the visiting Maccabi Tel Aviv team. Police on Saturday said four people remained in custody of the 63 people initially detained. “The Public Prosecution Service has stated that it aims to apply fast-track justice as much as possible,” van Weel said, adding that it is “the absolute priority” to identify every suspect. He said the investigation would also examine whether the assaults were organised, with an anti-Semitic motive. Political leaders have already denounced the attacks as anti-Semitic. Dutch Prime Minister ***** Schoof said on Friday he was “horrified by the anti-Semitic attacks on ******** citizens” and had assured ******** Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone that “the perpetrators will be identified and prosecuted”. ******* sent extra planes to the Netherlands to bring fans home but a Dutch government spokesperson could not immediately confirm how many people made use of this. Videos on social media on what happened showed riot police in action, with some attackers shouting anti-******** slurs. Footage also showed Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters chanting anti-***** slogans before Thursday evening’s match. Amsterdam banned demonstrations through the weekend and gave police emergency stop-and-search powers in response to the unrest. Anti-Semitic incidents have surged in the Netherlands since ******* launched its ******** on the ************ enclave of the Gaza Strip after the attacks on ******* by ****** militants in October last year, with many ******* organisations and schools reporting threats and hate mail. Source link #Dutch #govt #probes #warnings #Maccabi #******* Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Your Favorite Game Is Already Political Your Favorite Game Is Already Political Abriael18h ago(Edited 18h ago) Really? My favorite game is Microsoft Flight Simulator. Stop basing your headlines on shaky assumptions for effect. Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s politics are not the problem. Throw all the politics you want at me. I don’t mind at all. Quite the opposite. I appreciate it. They give depth to storytelling when they’re well written and well integrated within the world building of a franchise. There are tons of shining examples of that and Veilguard isn’t one. Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s problem is that its writing is extremely bad, childish, and feels like a bad fanfiction written by someone who isn’t a fan. Disney has more edge than this. That kind of writing is pretty literally insulting not only to the franchise and its fans, but to the politics it presents and the people they’re supposed to represent. Yes. Most games that tell a story are political, and that’s great. But the politics can be supported and enhanced by good writing, or weighed down by bad writing, throwing immersion out of the window. Veilguard is the latter. Source link #Favorite #Game #Political Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

My Favorite Dividend King to Buy in November My Favorite Dividend King to Buy in November Certifications such as the Good Housekeeping Seal help consumers know which products are safe and perform well. Unfortunately, no Good Housekeeping Seal exists for dividend stocks. However, arguably the next best thing is for a company to belong to the elite group known as Dividend Kings. To qualify, a company must increase its dividend for at least 50 consecutive years. Most income investors will sleep better at night knowing that a stock has such an impressive dividend track record. Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » But some Dividend Kings are better than others. Which is the best pick right now? Here’s my favorite Dividend King to buy in November. Technically, AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) has only been around since 2013. That doesn’t mean the big pharmaceutical company can’t be a Dividend King, though. AbbVie’s business operated for decades as part of Abbott Laboratories before being spun off as a separate publicly traded entity 11 years ago. AbbVie, therefore, inherits the rich dividend history of its parent. In September, Abbott announced its 52nd consecutive annual dividend increase. Last week, AbbVie followed suit with its latest dividend increase. Plenty of Dividend Kings have longer streaks of dividend hikes than AbbVie. Few, if any, though, can match the drugmaker’s level of dividend increases in recent years. Since its spinoff from Abbott, AbbVie has raised its dividend payout by a whopping 310%. Some Dividend Kings don’t offer princely dividend yields. However, AbbVie’s forward dividend yield is 3.26% — nearly 2.7 times higher than the yield of the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC). The big pharma stock’s yield would be even higher, except AbbVie’s share price has soared 30% this year. I think AbbVie’s momentum will continue. Some investors have worried about the negative impact of declining sales of Humira, the company’s top-selling *****, with its loss of patent exclusivity last year. Not me. I’ve been confident in AbbVie’s strategy to navigate these challenges, and my confidence appears to be paying off. In the third quarter of 2024, Humira’s sales fell 36.5% year over year on an operational basis due to biosimilar competition. Yet AbbVie’s overall revenue increased, with the company delivering sales that were $260 million above its expectations. How did the drugmaker manage this feat? By investing in research and development and making smart acquisitions. Story Continues AbbVie CEO Rob Michael said in the Q3 earnings call that the company expects Humira’s successor products, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, to rake in combined sales of over $17 billion this year. He added, “[W]e see substantial opportunity for continued strong growth well into the next decade.” Other key growth drivers for AbbVie came from its business development deals. For example, the company’s acquisition of Allergan in 2020 added products including migraine therapies Qulipta and Ubrelvy, as well as antipsychotic ***** Vraylar, to AbbVie’s lineup. All three drugs generated double-digit percentage sales growth in Q3. AbbVie continues to invest heavily in R&D. Its pipeline features over 90 programs. The company’s investments have paid off recently with U.S. regulatory approval of Parkinson’s ******** ***** Vyalev. Michael noted in the Q3 call that AbbVie has completed 15 deals so far this year, including recently closing on its acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics. CFO Scott Reents said the company’s “strong free cash flow also provides capacity for additional business development.” While many stocks are priced for perfection these days, AbbVie’s valuation ******** attractive despite its big gains. Shares trade at 16.9 times forward earnings. Even better, the stock’s price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio based on five-year growth projections is a super-low 0.47, according to LSEG. AbbVie offers a high dividend yield, an impressive track record of dividend increases, strong growth prospects, and an appealing valuation. It shouldn’t be surprising that the stock is my favorite Dividend King to buy right now. Before you buy stock in AbbVie, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AbbVie wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $912,352!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 4, 2024 Keith Speights has positions in AbbVie. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AbbVie and Abbott Laboratories. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. My Favorite Dividend King to Buy in November was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Favorite #Dividend #King #Buy #November Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DJI Neo drone firmware update adds more speed and vertical video DJI Neo drone firmware update adds more speed and vertical video DJI’s Neo is shockingly capable for a tiny drone, but it did have a couple of weaknesses — namely, the lack of vertical video and relatively slow flying speeds in tracking mode. The company has now addressed both of those issues with a new firmware update, adding vertical video and increasing the Neo’s tracking speeds, among other things. Considering that the Neo is designed and priced for creators, the lack of vertical video was a big miss. It can now handle that, albeit it only at 1080p 60 fps 9:16 and not 4K. That lower resolution is due to the fact that the camera gimbal doesn’t actually rotate 90 degrees like on the Mini 4 Pro; instead, it shoots 4K horizontal resolution then crops off the sides. DJI Speed-wise, the Neo can now hit up to 20 mph in tracking mode, up from around 12 mph before. That’s actually faster than the 18 mph sport mode top speed, though still a lot slower than the Neo’s maximum 36 mph speed in the full manual setting (which requires the FPV remote controller 3). Nevertheless, it’s now up to the job of tracking slow moving vehicles, particularly bicycles. Other new features include Goggles N3 support, liveview stabilization with Goggles N3 or Goggles 3 and improved noise reduction with the Mic 2. Unfortunately, there’s not much DJI can do about the annoying propeller noise. To get the update, you’ll need to connect your Neo to DJI’s Fly app on Android or iOS, then update both the drone and the app. Source link #DJI #Neo #drone #firmware #update #adds #speed #vertical #video Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Queen to miss Remembrance events after chest infection Queen to miss Remembrance events after chest infection BBC The Queen will miss Remembrance events this weekend while she recovers from a chest infection, Buckingham Palace says. A statement said Queen Camilla was “following doctors’ guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk”. “While this is a source of great disappointment to the Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week,” the statement said. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts. Source link #Queen #Remembrance #events #chest #infection Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marvel Rivals director explains why every game plays the same now Marvel Rivals director explains why every game plays the same now Marvel Rivals game director Thaddeus Sasser explains why every video game plays so similarly to each other in the modern era. Source link #Marvel #Rivals #director #explains #game #plays Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Private jet carbon emissions increased by close to 50 per cent in five years, research reveals Private jet carbon emissions increased by close to 50 per cent in five years, research reveals Emissions from private jets have increased by almost 50 per cent in just five years, according to the latest research. An analysis published in Communications Earth and Environment revealed annual emissions of carbon dioxide from private jets had increased by 46 per cent between 2019 and 2023. Private jets emit more carbon dioxide per passenger than commercial flights, but are used by approximately 0.003 per cent of the world’s population. Stefan Gössling and colleagues from Sweden’s Linnaeus University found private flights cumulatively produced approximately 15.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in direct emissions in 2023 — an average of approximately 3.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per flight. That represented a 46 per cent increase in emissions from private aviation compared to 2019. Major international events were associated with a large volume of private flights including the ******* Nations Climate Change Conference, which saw 644 private flights land for. The results also revealed that some individuals who regularly use private aviation produced almost 500 times more carbon dioxide in a year than the average individual. Source link #Private #jet #carbon #emissions #increased #close #cent #years #research #reveals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Unmade Uncharted Writer Didn’t Hold Back Against Neil Druckmann for ‘Stealing’ Amy Hennig’s Idea in Explosive Claim Unmade Uncharted Writer Didn’t Hold Back Against Neil Druckmann for ‘Stealing’ Amy Hennig’s Idea in Explosive Claim The gaming industry is no stranger to behind-the-scenes drama, but few controversies have sparked as much debate as the internal shake-ups at Naughty Dog during the transition between The Last of Us and Uncharted 4. While the studio has delivered hit after hit, the path to success hasn’t always been smooth sailing. A scene from Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. | Image Credit: Naughty Dog A Hollywood writer’s previous candid interview about his scrapped vision for the Uncharted movie has reignited discussions about one of gaming’s most contentious periods. His words not only shed light on what could have been but also stirred up old controversies about creative ownership and studio politics. When Hollywood Met Naughty Dog Back in 2016, when the Uncharted movie was still in its early stages, Hollywood writer Joe Carnahan had a different vision for Nathan Drake’s big-screen debut. His R-rated take on the franchise would have seen Ryan Reynolds don the iconic henley, but perhaps more importantly, it would have stayed true to what he considered the series’ authentic roots. In an interview with Discussing Film (via vg247), Carnahan didn’t ****** words about his loyalties: Ultimately I wanted to make Amy happy, it was her creation. This statement was just the beginning of what would become a scathing commentary on the franchise’s creative direction. When the conversation turned to Neil Druckmann‘s involvement with the series, Carnahan’s tone shifted dramatically: I think whatshisface – I’m not a fan – the guy that kind of stole credit for it… Yeah, that ********. Whatever, there was a bit of saboteuring there going on with Naughty Dog. While Carnahan’s comments were particularly heated, they touched on a sensitive ******* in Naughty Dog‘s history. The Untold Story Behind the Drama Even today, PlayStation fans continue to call for Hennig’s return. | Image Credit: Naughty Dog The tension stems from a tumultuous ******* at Naughty Dog that saw Amy Hennig, the creative force behind the first three Uncharted games, depart the studio under mysterious circumstances. This exit coincided with Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley taking the reins of Uncharted 4 following their success with The Last of Us. Carnahan’s passionate defense of Hennig wasn’t just about creative differences. His vision for the Uncharted movie included elements that would have paid homage to the series’ roots: Amy created that world and she was the one that I really wanted to please. That other guy, whatever the ***** his name is, he’s a hitchhiker. Now, while Carnahan’s script never made it to production—the role eventually went to Tom Holland in what we now know to be a very different take on the material—his comments offer a fascinating glimpse into the complex relationships and power dynamics that shape our favorite games and their subsequent film adaptations. The gaming industry often presents a polished facade of collaboration and creativity, but sometimes the real stories behind our favorite franchises are as dramatic as the games themselves. And whether Carnahan’s assessment is fair or not, it’s a reminder that sometimes, the most compelling stories in gaming aren’t the ones we play, but the ones that unfold behind closed studio doors. What do you think about these revelations? Was Carnahan right to speak out, or should some studio drama stay behind closed doors? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Source link #Unmade #Uncharted #Writer #Didnt #Hold #Neil #Druckmann #Stealing #Amy #Hennigs #Idea #Explosive #Claim Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Want $10 Million in Retirement? 1 Simple ETF to Buy and Hold for Decades. Want $10 Million in Retirement? 1 Simple ETF to Buy and Hold for Decades. Most of us would love to have $10 million stashed away when we retire. Yet most of us will never get there. In fact, most of us will get nowhere close. But that doesn’t mean attaining a $10 million nest egg is out of the question. You’ll have to remain incredibly disciplined, but if you follow the investing tricks below, you’ll only need one exchange-traded fund (ETF) to get you to that magic mark. Before we jump into where you should invest your money, it’s critical that we cover how you should be investing your money. After all, this is the real secret behind acquiring massive long-term wealth. Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » Perhaps the greatest trick of all time for building wealth is recurring investments. Instead of spending the next few minutes researching which stocks or ETFs you want to buy, take a moment to activate automated investing in your online brokerage account. The long-term results will be tremendous. Recurring investments simply mean that your brokerage account is automatically investing a set amount of money per month for you, without you needing to lift a finger. For example, your brokerage account can withdraw $500 from your savings account on the first of each month, investing the proceeds into an ETF that tracks the S&P 500. While choosing good investment vehicles is important, putting more money to work on a regular basis is equally important. This not only ensures regular saving, but also helps you dollar-cost average, locking in attractive entry points for new deposits. Let’s say you start with exactly zero dollars. If you invest $500 automatically per month and earn the long-term market average of roughly 10%, you’ll wind up with a $10 million portfolio in less than 53 years. That means a recent high school graduate who employs this investment method will be worth $10 million at age 71. Not bad! If you want to get to $10 million faster, there are a few things you can do. First, start with more than zero dollars. Second, invest more than $500 per month. Third, earn more than 10% per year. But regardless of which lever you try to play with, automated investments is a must-have for investors looking to reach the $10 million mark. This leaves only one question: Where should your automated investments be invested? If you’re ready to start saving, the only ETF you’ll ever need is the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO). That’s because over many decades, this ETF has produced average returns of more than 10%. And because it’s a Vanguard fund, its expense ratio is just 0.03% — nearly as low as it gets! Story Continues It really is that simple. Establish an automated investment schedule that plows 100% of your money into the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, then watch your wealth compound over time. Can’t start with a $500 monthly investment? No problem. As little as $20 per month can get you on the ladder. After all, it’s much easier to adjust the amount of your automatic monthly investment than it is to initiate it for the first time. Getting to the $10 million mark is a long journey. But the nuts and bolts of getting there aren’t rocket science. Automate your investment schedule. Then choose low-cost index funds like the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF that will keep your portfolio diversified and growing with minimal expenses. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Amazon: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2010, you’d have $23,657!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $43,034!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $429,567!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See 3 “Double Down” stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 4, 2024 Ryan Vanzo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Want $10 Million in Retirement? 1 Simple ETF to Buy and Hold for Decades. was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Million #Retirement #Simple #ETF #Buy #Hold #Decades Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Helldivers 2 May Be Pushing its Luck With the Ultimate Payload That Risks Establishing Democracy Going Stale for Gamers Helldivers 2 May Be Pushing its Luck With the Ultimate Payload That Risks Establishing Democracy Going Stale for Gamers Helldivers 2 has made a remarkable comeback after a rocky launch and early controversy. Thanks to the developer’s commitment and a dedicated community that continues to show the camaraderie the game needs, it has steadily regained its footing. However, the game might slowly derail its momentum if it does not release the Illuminate faction anytime soon. The game has regained its lost momentum due to the efforts and dedication of the developers. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios This mysterious, high-tech ****** has been teased through updates and leaks for months, but despite the buildup, they’ve yet to make their official debut. If Arrowhead Game Studios wants to capitalize on the game’s renewed success, now is the perfect time to deliver on that promise. The stakes are high, and players are hungry for fresh content. Helldivers 2 needs to introduce Illminate Very Soon The developers don’t need to delay the introduction of a new faction too much, otherwise, it will lose its momentum. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios While building hype can certainly generate excitement and community engagement, there’s a tipping point where expectations start to outweigh the reward. Since the early days of Helldivers 2, the Illuminate faction has been teased as a game-changing, high-tech ****** with the potential to shake up the game’s dynamic. As a central antagonist in the original Helldivers, the return of the Illuminate in the sequel promises a major shift in the ongoing battle for democracy across the galaxy. Events like the destruction of Meridia and the Truth Enforcers Warbond seemed to set the stage for an epic confrontation with the Illuminate, fueling speculation and excitement. Despite these narrative teasers, the faction ******** absent as players continue to progress through the evolving story. The longer the delay, the more the hype risks turning into frustration. Arrowhead Game Studios needs to carefully balance the excitement they’ve built with the expectation that Helldivers 2 can deliver. As time passes, anticipation grows, but so does the potential for disappointment. Every day that passes without the faction’s official inclusion starts to chip away at the player base’s enthusiasm. Historically, gamers can be fickle and the window of opportunity at first may seem huge but it can close faster than developers expect. If the Illuminate faction doesn’t live up to the monumental expectations that have been carefully cultivated over months, perhaps even years, the disappointment could be significant, leaving an unremarkable aftertaste. Arrowhead Needs to Weigh Its Options Players are happy to spread democracy but they don’t want to face the same enemies. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios Helldivers 2 is walking a tightrope. The game’s strength ***** in its evolving narrative and engaging gameplay, but the longer Arrowhead delays the Illuminate, the ******* it is to balance. If the faction isn’t introduced soon, players may lose interest altogether, and what was once a highly anticipated event could end up feeling like a missed opportunity. Arrowhead Game Studios is clearly aware of the stakes. The studio is introducing very new features, suggesting it is testing the waters for larger changes. While the inclusion of the Illuminate could be the next big leap forward, only if it’s done in a way that feels timely, relevant, and exciting. As time passes, players continue their efforts to liberate new planets, but many are growing weary of facing the same two enemies: Bugs and Automatons, over and over again. The introduction of a new ****** faction would not only expand the narrative further but also bring fresh weapons, gear, and challenges for players to explore and farm. In the end, Helldivers 2 has a unique chance to shake things up and prove that its galactic mission to establish democracy is still worth the wait and grind. But time is ticking, and gamers won’t wait forever. Source link #Helldivers #Pushing #Luck #Ultimate #Payload #Risks #Establishing #Democracy #Stale #Gamers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

J-League: Stuck yellow card leaves ref needing help J-League: Stuck yellow card leaves ref needing help Watch as the referee struggles to produce his yellow card when trying to book a player in the ********* J-League match between Shonan Bellmare and Consadole Sapporo. For the latest football news visit the BBC Sport app and website. Available to *** users only. Source link #JLeague #Stuck #yellow #card #leaves #ref #needing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Colin Barnett cuts the ribbon at Basil Zempilas’ campaign office opening – but no sign of Libby Colin Barnett cuts the ribbon at Basil Zempilas’ campaign office opening – but no sign of Libby Former WA Premier Colin Barnett was the star attraction at Basil Zempilas’ campaign office opening on Saturday. Source link #Colin #Barnett #cuts #ribbon #Basil #Zempilas #campaign #office #opening #sign #Libby Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The M4 Mac mini has removable, modular storage – and an important SSD upgrade The M4 Mac mini has removable, modular storage – and an important SSD upgrade The M4 Mac mini has removable storage, it’s been revealed It also uses two SSDs for each configuration The changes could enable custom upgrades for the Mac In our Apple Mac mini (M4, 2024) review we described it as potentially the best Mac ever – and certainly the smallest to date – and as users start to pull apart the dinky computer, we’re finding even more to like about it. First up, from an iFixit post (via @MudkipOnYT) we now know the internal SSD storage is modular and can be removed, rather than being soldered to the motherboard. That means there’s the potential for custom storage upgrades. Before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s worth pointing out that the Mac Studio (M2 Ultra) has a similar storage setup, but custom upgrades are difficult to do: the computer uses Apple’s own bespoke SSDs, you can’t just slot in any off-the-shelf replacement. We’ll have to wait and see whether upgrades on the M4 Mac mini are as tricky, but Apple fans have already been able to identify the SSD in question and upgrade the Mac mini to 2TB of storage (you can actually get it with as much as 8TB straight from Apple). Two for one Partial teardown of M4 Mac Mini /w 16GB RAM & 256GB SSD. Interesting revealation: Wifi chip & antenna on the back of bottom air intake. SSD on a daughter board. And even the base 256GB version comes in two chips. No compromise in speed. Theoretically also end user upgradable. pic.twitter.com/vA2vQwkl7JNovember 8, 2024 While questions remain about just how viable it’s going to be to start swapping SSDs in and out – potentially at a lower cost than buying the equivalent configuration from Apple – it’s a promising step forward for Mac mini repairability and customization. The other upgrade over the previous Apple Mac mini (M2, 2023), as spotted by @ohgkg (via MacRumors), is that even the lowest 256GB version makes use of two SSD modules – allowing for faster read and write speeds, compared with a single chip. As a consequence, there shouldn’t be any difference in SSD speeds between the 256GB storage configuration and any other, which is reassuring for those thinking about buying the cheapest M4 Mac mini option direct from Apple. Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. Again, it’s a welcome change, one that we’ve also seen happen on the 13-inch MacBook Air (M3, 2023). The Apple M4 Mac mini is available to buy now from Apple, with pricing starting at $599 / £599 / AU$999 for the base model. You might also like Source link #Mac #mini #removable #modular #storage #important #SSD #upgrade Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

When’s the Right Time to Start My Roth Conversion? When’s the Right Time to Start My Roth Conversion? Deciding between a traditional individual retirement account (IRA) and a Roth IRA can be difficult. Choosing when or if you should convert your IRA funds to a Roth account can be even more daunting. Experts commonly recommend that investors compare their current and future marginal tax rates to decide, but future tax rates can be highly uncertain and many investors are left wondering whether they made the right choice. Now, investment giant Vanguard has a more precise answer. Here’s how calculating your break-even point can pinpoint whether a Roth conversion makes sense for you. A financial advisor could help you save for retirement and select investments that align with your financial goals. Find a qualified advisor today. Vanguard Finds the Ideal Tipping Point for a Roth Conversion Typically the rule of thumb is that Roth IRAs are most beneficial if an investor expects to be in a higher tax bracket upon retirement, since Roth contributions are taxed at the current rate and distributions are tax free. As such, Vanguard experts say that “assessing the current tax rate and expected future tax rate is a good first step” in determining whether you should convert your retirement savings to a Roth account. However, sometimes a Roth conversion can be beneficial even if your future tax rate declines instead of increasing. So rather than a straightforward tax rate comparison, the firm recommends conducting a dynamic Break-Even Tax Rate (BETR) analysis to determine if a conversion is right for you. Calculating a BETR offers investors an approach that simplifies the decision-making process. “If your future tax rate is at the BETR, conversion wouldn’t make a difference,” Vanguard analysts explain. “Simply put, the BETR shows how far your tax rate would have to fall to make conversion undesirable.” If an investor’s future tax rate is higher than a calculated BETR, generally a Roth conversion would make sense financially. Even if an investor’s future marginal tax rate is lower than it is currently, certain scenarios can lower a BETR and make a conversion far more attractive than it would otherwise seem in a straightforward rate comparison. This could potentially save an investor thousands of dollars. For instance, if you’re able to pay Roth conversion taxes from a taxable account, such as your standard brokerage account, the full value of your IRA can move to the Roth account. By not paying the conversion taxes from the IRA but with other portfolio funds, you can lower your BETR substantially. Vanguard calculates that, if an investor pays a current 35% marginal tax rate and expects to pay the same in retirement, converting to a Roth and paying taxes from a tax-efficient portfolio could lower the BETR to 29.6%. If taxes were paid from a tax-inefficient portfolio, where the investor has to pay annual taxes on investment returns, the BETR falls even further to 23.5%. As a result, a Roth conversion suddenly becomes rather appealing. Story Continues Another scenario where a BETR analysis helps is when an investor’s traditional IRA includes a non-taxable basis. When traditional IRAs are converted to Roth IRAs, only the pre-tax balance is subject to income tax. Vanguard research indicates that the greater the non-taxable basis, the lower the BETR, and the more advantageous a Roth conversion becomes. Similarly, when an investor opens a ********* Roth and intends to contribute more to it over time, the BETR drops and makes a conversion even more beneficial. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. How Retirement Savers Can Take Advantage SmartAsset: When Should You Consider a Roth Conversion? Vanguard Has an Answer. At its most basic, a BETR is the future tax rate at which the after-tax withdrawal value is equal in both a no-conversion and conversion scenario. As an example, let’s say you’re currently a high-earner in the 35% marginal tax bracket and considering a $100,000 Roth conversion. You have 20 years left to retirement, at which point you expect to be in the 24% tax bracket. First you calculate the no-conversion potential. You assume your $100,000 can triple over those 20 years if left in a traditional IRA, reaching $300,000. After subtracting 24% in taxes, the final after-tax withdrawal value of your funds will be $228,000. Then you calculate the Roth conversion potential. Again, that same $100,000 can triple over 20 years. However, now you take the $35,000 that you pay in Roth conversion taxes (from your tax-inefficient portfolio) and estimate that, accounting for annual taxes on interest and capital gains, that $35,000 would have doubled over that same time *******. As a result, the final after-tax withdrawal value after a Roth conversion would be $230,000. Plugging those values into the Vanguard formula gives you a BETR of 23.3%: $300,000 * (1 – BETR) = $230,000. In a straightforward rate comparison, you would not do a Roth conversion, since your current marginal tax rate of 35% is higher than your future tax rate of 24%. However, the BETR method indicates that it may actually be a good idea since the future rate of 24% is still higher than the calculated BETR of 23.3%. Of course, if you paid your Roth conversion taxes with the IRA funds and not from a separate brokerage account, the BETR would change and, in that scenario, a conversion may no longer make sense. You can use this free tool to consult a financial advisor who can help you weigh the options in your circumstances. Bottom Line SmartAsset: When Should You Consider a Roth Conversion? Vanguard Has an Answer. Vanguard’s BETR analysis is a more precise method for determining whether an investor should consider a Roth conversion. Since it’s a dynamic number, affected by different financial decisions, calculating a BETR number allows investors to capture potential tax savings that a straightforward, traditional tax rate comparison might miss. Depending on the individual’s circumstances, it may be helpful to speak with an expert who can help you navigate the tax complexities of a Roth conversion, but tackling a BETR analysis yourself may be a solid place to start the process. Retirement Planning Tips Not sure if a Roth IRA or Roth conversion can help you save more for retirement? For a solid financial plan, consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Use SmartAsset’s free investment calculator to get a good estimate of how to grow your money over time. 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. Don’t miss out on news that could impact your finances. Get news and tips to make smarter financial decisions with SmartAsset’s semi-weekly email. It’s 100% free and you can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up today. For important disclosures regarding SmartAsset, please click here. Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Lusyaya, ©iStock.com/katleho Seisa, ©iStock.com/LaylaBird The post When Should You Consider a Roth Conversion? Vanguard Has an Answer appeared first on SmartAsset Blog. Source link #Whens #Time #Start #Roth #Conversion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]