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Trump Advisers REPORTEDLY Consider Offering NYC Mayor Eric Adams a Spot in Administration | The Gateway Pundit

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Sources close to President Donald Trump say his advisers have quietly floated the idea of offering New York City Mayor Eric Adams a plum position within a potential Trump administration, if the embattled mayor agrees to bow out of the upcoming re-election race.

As Mayor Adams flounders in the polls (hovering at around 9%, trailing well behind Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani at 42%, and Andrew Cuomo established in second at 26%), Trump allies are reportedly angling for a campaign shakeup.

Sources say the purported strategy is to clear the field, allowing Cuomo to consolidate non-Mamdani votes and regain traction.

A New York Post report reveals that “top White House officials are in talks over a potential job for Eric Adams in President Trump’s administration,” while speculation from other outlets add that an appointment to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been floated.

NY Mag reported:

On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that top advisers to President Trump have discussed the idea of giving Adams a role in the administration, with the intention of getting the incumbent mayor out of the race and making it into a one-on-one matchup between Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo. Sources told the Times that administration officials have spoken to associates close to Adams and that the conversations are happening “in several different directions.”

The New York Post ran a similar story on Wednesday, reporting that the talks with Adams’s camp have reached high-level officials in the Trump administration, but that it’s not clear if the president himself has weighed in. “I think Adams would be able to craft a position and a portfolio that’s to his liking,” a source close to the White House told the Post.

Politico then followed up with its own reporting, saying that Adams has been offered a high-ranking job in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, per a source familiar. The numerous reports emerged soon after Adams returned from a previously unannounced trip to Florida on Tuesday which his team described as “personal.”

Both the Times and the Post also reported that conversations have also taken place about a potential job offer to Guardian Angels founder and Republican Party nominee Curtis Sliwa. Sliwa has previously said he has no intention of dropping out and is only interested in running for mayor. He echoed those words in a statement to the Times, saying that he is “committed to carrying this fight through to Election Day.”

Cuomo, the former governor, has consistently held second place in the polls, ahead of Sliwa and Adams. A fourth candidate, attorney Jim Walden, officially dropped his independent bid on Tuesday and called on others to join him, in order to consolidate the field behind the strongest possible candidate to defeat Mamdani. The candidates have long signaled that a three-way fight for moderate and conservative voters risks splitting the vote to Mamdani’s benefit, but neither Cuomo, Adams nor Sliwa have shown a willingness to drop their bids.

Socialist nominee Zohran Mamdani held a fiery press conference in New York City earlier today, lashing out over reports that President Donald Trump may be considering offering NYC Mayor Eric Adams a position in his administration, Fox News reported.

“I have not met a single New Yorker that has told me they want Donald Trump to determine the course of this election,” Mamdani told reporters. “We choose our own leaders.”

“The issue here is the motivation at hand,” Mamdani fumed. “I believe Andrew Cuomo has been having conversations with Donald Trump as well.”

Eric Adams’ campaign followed up with a response to the report.

“Although Mayor Adams has been the most pro-housing mayor in New York City’s history, at no time did he ask for — nor was he offered — a job at HUD. Over the last few years, the Mayor has shown his ability to block out the noise and stay focused on delivering for New Yorkers. He demonstrated that again today with his announcement of a new life center at Hostos College. Mayor Adams looks forward to another four years of delivering results for the people of this city.

And if the HUD job does open, Andrew Cuomo held that position before and can always continue where he left off.”



This story originally appeared on TheGateWayPundit

Warning to anyone who uses their smartphone on the toilet

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Scrolling through social media on your phone is an easy way to pass the time while sitting on the toilet. But scientists have warned that it may significantly increase the risk of suffering from unpleasant symptoms.

A US study found that people who used their smartphone on the toilet were 46% more likely to suffer from piles. Also known as haemorrhoids, piles are painful lumps caused by swollen blood vessels around the bottom.

The research, published in the journal PLOS One, involved 125 people who were questioned about their lifestyle and bathroom habits before undergoing screening colonoscopies.

Two thirds admitted to using their smartphones on the toilet, with higher rates of loo-scrolling among younger participants.

The researchers theorised that smartphone use may prolong the time people spent sitting on the toilet, potentially increasing pressure on tissues and leading to haemorrhoids.

Senior author Trisha Pasricha said: “This study bolsters advice to people in general to leave the smartphones outside the bathroom and to try to spend no more than a few minutes to have a bowel movement.

“If it’s taking longer, ask yourself why. Was it because having a bowel movement was really so difficult, or was it because my focus was elsewhere?

“It’s incredibly easy to lose track of time when we’re scrolling on our smartphones — popular apps are designed entirely for that purpose.

“But it’s possible that constantly sitting longer on the toilet than you intended because you’re distracted by your smartphone could increase your risk of haemorrhoids.

“We need to study this further, but it’s a safe suggestion to leave the smartphone outside the bathroom when you need to have a bowel movement.”



This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk

World of Hyatt Fall 2025 Promotion: Earn Double Points

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World of Hyatt launches promotions for members throughout the year, typically offering extra points for stays booked in the eligible stay period.

This time, travellers heading to Europe, Africa, or the Middle East can earn 2x World of Hyatt points, with a cap of up to 20,000 bonus points, and includes Mr & Mrs Smith properties as well.

Earn 2X Points World of Hyatt Sept 2025

 

To take part in the promotion, you’ll need to register between September 2 and November 1, 2025. Once registered, you’ll earn 2x points on eligible stays in:

  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Africa

The promotional period runs from September 15 to December 1, 2025, and the maximum bonus is capped at 20,000 World of Hyatt points.

Earn 2x points with the upcoming Fall 2025 World of Hyatt promotion

Then, you’ll earn double points for eligible stays with check-out dates between September 15 and December 1, 2025. You can earn a maximum of 20,000 points from this promotion, which would require $4,000 (USD) of eligible spending.

Stays booked prior to the promotion are eligible, as long as you register in advance and the check-out dates fall within the eligible period. Mr & Mrs Smith hotels aren’t participating in this promotion.

It’s worth noting that this promotion isn’t quite as lucrative as some of the previous offers from Hyatt, especially since it’s not global and is restricted to stays at outside of North America and South America.

However, if you have any upcoming stays this fall, there’s absolutely no harm in registering, since you can score some extra points for your efforts.

Boost Your World of Hyatt Balance

With the Fall 2025 promotion, you’ll earn 2x World of Hyatt points for every eligible stay at participating properties in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East during the promotional period, up to 20,000 points.

Earn 2x points on eligible stays for the Fall 2025 Hyatt promotion

Since the number of bonus points you can earn is based on how much you spend, you stand to benefit more from stays at more expensive properties than at less expensive properties.

Keep in mind that these bonus points are in addition to the regular number of points you’ll earn as a World of Hyatt member.

As a reminder, depending on your status, you can earn the following number of points for Hyatt stays on an ongoing basis:

  • 5 base points per US dollar spent as a non-elite World of Hyatt member
  • 5 bonus points per US dollar spent as part of the Fall 2025 promotion
  • For elite members, there’s a multiplier depending on your status:
    • Discoverist members will earn an extra 0.5 points per US dollar spent (10% bonus on eligible purchases)
    • Explorist members will earn an extra 1 point per US dollar spent (20% bonus on eligible purchases)
    • Globalist members will earn an extra 1.5 points per US dollar spent (30% bonus on eligible purchases)
  • Paying with a Hyatt co-branded credit card, such as the World of Hyatt Credit Card or World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, will net an additional 4 points per US dollar spent

That works out to up to 15.5 World of Hyatt points per US dollar spent at participating Hyatt properties for Globalists with a Hyatt co-branded credit card. At our current valuation of 1.5 cents per point (USD), you could also view this as a ~23% return on the cost of your stay.

Of course, obtaining a Hyatt credit card requires some depth in the US credit card game, and Globalist status is mostly reached through organic hotel stays, making it rather difficult to earn.

Enhance Your Stay with Prince Collection

If you don’t happen to have status with World of Hyatt, or perhaps you do, but you’d like to further elevate your stay, be sure to get in touch with us for a quote.

Many Hyatt properties participate in Hyatt Privé, a preferred partner program, and by booking through Prince Collection with access to the program, you’ll receive a suite of additional benefits during your stay at no additional cost, including:

  • Daily breakfast for two
  • Room upgrade at time of booking (subject to availability)
  • Early check-in and late checkout (subject to availability)
  • $100 (USD) property credit (varies by property)
  • Welcome amenity
  • Third, fourth, or fifth night free at select hotels

Book Luxury Hotels with Prince Collection

The Prince Collection rate is the same as the best available flexible rate, which can be higher than prepaid rates, member rates, corporate rates, or other rates that you may have exclusive access to. However, the benefits offered through the program are excellent, both for members with and without status.

Conclusion

World of Hyatt’s Fall 2025 promotion is now open for registration.

For stays from September 15 to December 1, 2025, you can earn 2x bonus points starting with your very first stay at participating hotels across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East — including Mr & Mrs Smith properties.

The promo is capped at 20,000 bonus points, which would require $4,000 USD in eligible spend.

As always, be sure to register before your first stay to unlock the bonus, and consider booking through Prince Collection to maximize your perks.



This story originally appeared on princeoftravel

Here’s How US Billionaires Got Rich, From Tech to Finance

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Some of the richest people in the world — Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg — made their fortunes in Silicon Valley. However, a new report in the Wall Street Journal suggests that most U.S. billionaires did not amass their wealth in tech. Instead, it’s the banking and finance fields that have produced most of the country’s super-rich.

According to data shared with the WSJ from wealth intelligence company Altrata, there were 1,135 billionaires in the U.S. last year, up from 927 in 2020. Approximately 300 billionaires made their money in banking and finance, while an estimated 110 came from the tech sector. Meanwhile, 75 billionaires earned their money in real estate.

Many, of course, got a head start by inheriting wealth. One-third of U.S. billionaires received some or all of their wealth from an inheritance, per Altrata.

Related: This 30-Year-Old Billionaire Says Life ‘Hasn’t Really Changed That Much’ After Making Billions. Here’s Where She Spends Money.

The data shows that U.S. billionaires are worth $5.7 trillion in total. Musk, Bezos, and Zuckerberg alone comprise about $1 trillion, or nearly one-sixth, of that wealth.

Altrata also found that billionaires tend to live in one state above all others: California. The highest percentage of them, about 255 people, live in the Golden State. However, they have primary businesses in nearly every U.S. state, except for Wyoming and Alaska.

The list of U.S. billionaires includes some recognizable names, including Oracle founder Larry Ellison and Google co-founder Sergey Brin, as well as some more private individuals, like Diane Hendricks, co-founder of ABC Supply, North America’s biggest distributor of building products.

Hendricks, who is the richest self-made woman with a net worth of $22.3 billion, is one of 150 female billionaires based in the U.S., joining stars like Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez. Most of the list, 86%, is comprised of men.

Related: Is Selena Gomez the Next Beauty Billionaire?

When it comes to philanthropy, Altrata data shows that billionaires have donated or pledged to donate about $185 billion to charitable organizations over the past decade. Among them is Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, who donated a record $6 billion to different foundations in June.

Nearly half of all overall donations from billionaires, $90 billion, went towards two causes: education and medical research. Some of the most popular organizations that received donations were the Central Park Conservancy in New York City, which received funds collectively worth about $100 million from 89 individuals, and Johns Hopkins University, which received donations from about 30 individuals totaling $7.5 billion.

However, charitable giving isn’t a priority for all billionaires. One in four has donated less than a million dollars each since 2015.

Some of the richest people in the world — Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg — made their fortunes in Silicon Valley. However, a new report in the Wall Street Journal suggests that most U.S. billionaires did not amass their wealth in tech. Instead, it’s the banking and finance fields that have produced most of the country’s super-rich.

According to data shared with the WSJ from wealth intelligence company Altrata, there were 1,135 billionaires in the U.S. last year, up from 927 in 2020. Approximately 300 billionaires made their money in banking and finance, while an estimated 110 came from the tech sector. Meanwhile, 75 billionaires earned their money in real estate.

Many, of course, got a head start by inheriting wealth. One-third of U.S. billionaires received some or all of their wealth from an inheritance, per Altrata.

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This story originally appeared on Entrepreneur

Employees Only owners opening Italian eatery Ziggy’s Roman in Dumbo

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The co-founder of trendy Manhattan cocktail lounge Employees Only is branching out with a new family-friendly restaurant in Brooklyn.

Igor Hadzismajlovic, who opened the late-night industry fave in 2004, has chosen his wife, Helen Zhang, and Edo Ademovic to be his partners in the new venture.

Ziggy’s Roman Cafe, at 15 Main Street in Dumbo, is slated to open next month, Zhang told Side Dish. 

The co-founder of trendy Manhattan cocktail lounge Employees Only is branching out with a new family-friendly restaurant in Dumbo, Brooklyn.

“We were searching for normal places where families can eat in Dumbo and there was nothing accessible for people who live in the neighborhood, just exorbitantly priced restaurants since it is a huge tourist magnet —  but not a dining destination,”  said Zhang, a former publicist and brand marketer.

The restaurant, named for their youngest child, will have around 65 seats inside and a mezzanine “for kids to play while parents eat and have a good time,” Zhang said. 

“We looked at the space and loved it. It’s right in the middle of Dumbo. It’s a special space,” she added. 

The couple have two kids: Rio, 7, and Ziggy, 5. 

The menu — from Chef John Poiarkoff, the former executive chef of Marta — will include “easy, no fuss Italian Roman style food” such as artichokes alla Romana, fried gnocchi and hasselback eggplant parmagiana.

Pizzamaker Federico Crociani, known for his thin, Roman-style pizzas, will consult on the pizza program.

“Eating out was such a big part of our lives and it can be painful with kids — we wanted to create something to mitigate the pain that parents feel,” Zhang said.  

“We are paranoid about not alienating non-parents and will have a super-fun vibe like Employees Only.” 

Ademovic, formerly the bar manager at Sunset Beach on Shelter Island, who will be Ziggy’s general manager. 

Ziggy’s Roman, named for their youngest child, will have around 65 seats inside and a mezzanine “for kids to play while parents eat and have a good time,” Zhang said.  Courtesy of Ziggy’s Roman Cafe

Cocktails will be a key part of the plan. They are being developed by Employees Only co-founder Jason Kosmas. 

The cocktails will range from an Employees Only classic, West Side (Charbay Meyer Lemon Vodka and fresh lemon juice shaken with fresh mint and topped with soda) as well as Ziggy’s originals, including a Vesuvian Margarita, which is “Italian-imagined” with reposado tequila, Italicus, orange agave, lemon and black lava salt, as well as a Capuccino Assassino, a new take on the classic espresso martini with CarpanoAntica (vermouth) “to add depth.” 


We hear… that Miriam, a popular Park Slope, Brooklyn, spot that opened 20 years ago, and now has an Upper West Side outpost near the Beacon Theater, is in expansion mode. 

It’s opening Miriam West Village, at 140 Seventh Ave. South, and Miriam Upper East side at 973 Lexington Ave –  where  popular neighborhood hotspot Rafael, once stood. 

The Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired fare is from chef/restaurateur Rafael “Rafi” Hasid, who named the eatery after his mom. 

Miriam’s Lamb shawarma terracotta dish. Miriam

It boasts tableside lamb shawarma terracotta, chicken schnitzel and steak levant for dinner, as well as sharable dishes like Jerusalem sesame bread, lavash shatta-feta and spanakopita. 

The menu also features popular brunch items, like a burekas breakfast (a flaky pastry with hard boiled eggs, crushed tomato, shug, Syrian olives, pickles and tahini), Turkish eggs (poached over yogurt with harissa oil, roasted eggplant, tahini and pita), and malawach, (a flaky, savory Yemenite flatbread with melted fontina and cheddar cheese, hard boiled eggs, tahini, crushed tomatoes, shug, pickles and Syrian olives.).

Desserts feature burnt cheesecake with blueberry coulis, kadaif cannoli with whipped labneh, date molasses and pisachio creme and a rose babka werved warm with vanilla ice cream.

The restaurants are part of Hasid’s 6R Hospitality Group, which includes the New Orleans-inspired 1803 NYC in Tribeca and its Bon Courage speakeasy.



This story originally appeared on NYPost

Xi’s military parade showed just how dangerous China has become

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With the leaders of Russia, Iran, and North Korea watching, Beijing conducted a massive parade on Wednesday, demonstrating the results of a years-long effort by the Chinese Communist Party to build a military it hopes can defeat the United States in the Pacific.

Beijing’s growing prowess has eroded American security and increased the likelihood of war in the Taiwan Strait, but it is not too late for Americans to respond.

The top U.S. military officer in the Pacific testified more than two years ago that the People’s Liberation Army “continues the largest, fastest, most comprehensive military buildup since World War II in both the conventional and strategic nuclear domains.”

Unfortunately, the PLA’s capabilities have only improved since then, as the parade and recent assessments by the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence community demonstrate.  

Many of the weapons on display in the parade are tailor made for targeting U.S. military forces and possibly deterring a decision by Washington to help Taiwan in a crisis.

That includes several hypersonic YJ-series anti-ship missiles, whose speed and maneuverability pose serious threats to U.S. naval vessels by making interception more challenging.

The PLA also displayed several intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of targeting the U.S. homeland. This included the DF-61’s apparent public debut at the parade, which underscored China’s progress in expanding its nuclear arsenal.

To make matters worse, “China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are pursuing unprecedented levels of cooperation,” as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine testified in June. That includes broad and deep cooperation among these authoritarian adversaries in the cyber, economic, information warfare, and military domains that is making each adversary more capable in their ongoing or prospective sphere of aggression.

So how should Americans respond?

As a first step, Americans should recognize that our adversaries are waging an information war against us. China and Russia, in particular, seek to divide and distract Americans as much as possible, hoping that we are so dysfunctional at home that we are either unable or unwilling to defend our vital interests abroad.

Americans should recognize this fact, unite as much as possible, and begin to go on the offensive in the information domain.

Second, leaders in Washington must ensure we are devoting sufficient resources to defense. America’s military advantages have eroded primarily because we have spent near post-World War II lows on defense as a percentage of GDP.

Devoting sufficient resources to defense will help procure the maximum quantities of key weapons systems and munitions that industry can produce; build additional defense production capacity as quickly as possible; and prioritize the delivery of decisive combat capabilities to American forces as quickly as possible.

Finally, at a time when our adversaries appreciate the value of partners, Americans should not take our unmatched network of allies and partners for granted. The United States is powerful, but given the threats we confront, we need friends more than ever.

That includes our NATO allies, our allies in the Pacific, and partners such as Taiwan, Ukraine and Israel.

But we should also manage relations carefully with countries such as India.

India is a major power and important partner for the United States. A prosperous and powerful India can advance American interests and help prevent Chinese hegemony in the Indo-Pacific. India can create additional dilemmas for Beijing which can help make it think twice about aggression.

To this end, the U.S. and India have significantly increased security cooperation in recent years. That includes a significant increase in India’s purchases of American weapons, as well as regular combined military exercises in both countries. India also is a member of the Quad diplomatic and security partnership, which includes the United States, Japan, and Australia.

Unfortunately, New Delhi’s behavior since Vladimir Putin’s February 2022 large-scale re-invasion of Ukraine has been very disappointing. India’s purchases of discounted Russian oil have surged since then. While India imported less than 1% of its oil from Russia before the invasion, that number reportedly skyrocketed to 45% by May of 2023. Now India is one of the leading customers of Russian oil, providing Putin valuable revenue to support his brutal war of aggression.

President Donald Trump is right to try to end India’s purchase of Russian oil, but his administration should pursue this policy in a way that does not destroy important progress in Washington’s relationship with New Delhi and deprive the United States of a necessary partner in the effort to counter Beijing.

Americans are right to be concerned about what they saw in the parade in Beijing. But if we take the necessary steps, we can continue to deter aggression in the Pacific and protect America’s vital interests.

Bradley Bowman serves as senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.



This story originally appeared on NYPost

McDonald’s CEO is grappling with a ‘two-tier economy’ as he slashes prices on value meals

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McDonald’s is banking on burgers and fries to tell a bigger story about the American economy. Chief Executive Chris Kempczinski is slimming down the cost of the fast-food giant’s value meals as he grapples with what he calls a “two-tier economy”—a widening divide between consumers who are still spending freely and those who are pulling back.

For years, dating back to the 2022 inflation wave, McDonald’s and its fast-food rivals have contended with shopper frustration over rising menu prices, with combo meals increasingly breaking into double digits. Customers at the higher end of the income spectrum continue to order premium products and use delivery apps at healthy rates. Lower-income diners, however, are cutting back, Kempczinski argued in an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” treating fast food less as a daily convenience and more as an occasional splurge. He told the anchors that McDonald’s has been on a “value journey” over the last year or so.

“Particularly with middle and lower-income consumers, they’re feeling under a lot of pressure right now,” Kempczinski told the CNBC anchors. ”There’s a lot of commentary around, ‘What’s the state of the economy, how’s it doing right now?’ And what we see is, it’s really kind of a two-tier economy. If you’re upper-income, earning over $100,000, things are good … what we see with middle and lower-income consumers, it’s actually a different story.” He cited traffic for these demographics being down double digits and they’re skipping breakfast or eating at home.

Kempczinski was pressed on some political issues by the CNBC anchors, including whether McDonald’s fits with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s MAHA, or “Make America Healthy Again,” and the policy around no taxes on tips. Kempczinski said he personally supported the no taxes on tips issue but clarified that it didn’t help McDonald’s much, as it doesn’t allow tips. A tips restaurant requires a minimum wage of just $2.13 per hour, he added, which hasn’t been changed since 1991, calling this an “uneven playing field” as “you’re essentially getting the customer to pay for your labor,” plus the tax-free benefit. He called for one federal minimum wage for all kinds of restaurants and then said McDonald’s was “open” to raising the federal minimum wage beyond that, adding that the company was “in dialogue” with the White House about several issues including this one.

The current federal minimum wage in the United States is $7.25 per hour, a rate that has been unchanged since July 24, 2009. This long-standing rate marks over 16 years without a federal increase, making it the longest period in U.S. history without an update to the minimum wage. However, many states and localities have adopted higher minimum wage rates, some reaching as high as $18 per hour in the District of Columbia.

In 2025, significant new legislation called the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 was introduced in Congress. This proposed law would incrementally increase the federal minimum wage to $17 per hour by the year 2030, phasing out subminimum wage rates for tipped workers, workers with disabilities, and youth workers. Additionally, a Senate bill was proposed to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour starting January 1 of the first year after its passage. These legislative efforts indicate active momentum at the federal level to increase the minimum wage after more than a decade of stagnation.

Different from the Great Recession

Kempczinski added that this isn’t like what McDonald’s saw during the Great Recession, “when everyone traded down.” And so McDonald’s has to be creative to play both sides of the issue. Increased accessibility for lower-income consumers now comes in the form of a revamped $5 meal bundle, along with more aggressive price promotions in flagship markets. Advertising campaigns are leaning heavily on the theme of value, a message designed to resonate with cost-conscious families forced to make sharper trade-offs in their daily spending.

The strategy underscores a balancing act for McDonald’s. As one of the few global chains with the size and procurement power to cut prices without immediately crippling profitability, the company can play offense where smaller rivals cannot. Still, franchisees—who operate most U.S. locations—are wary that thinner price points could turn into margin squeezes just as wages, rent, and insurance remain high. Still, Kempczinski told the CNBC anchors that the move toward more value was “almost unanimous” among franchisees, to a surprised reaction.

The broader retail picture

McDonald’s dual-track strategy echoes a broader split visible across much of the U.S. economy. Big-box retailers like Walmart and Target report a similar trend that Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos put his finger on in March: “Many of our customers report that only have enough money for basic essentials.” Delta Air Lines, a proxy for demand among the affluent consumer cohort, has largely gone from strength to strength as America’s most profitable airline, although it has lowered guidance during 2025, owing to uncertainty from the Trump tariff regime.

The trends recall an economic pattern established during the pandemic: the “K-shaped” economy. As Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, explained to Fortune in 2023, this means that middle and lower-income consumers are one leg of the “K,” pointing down and to the right, while the upper-income cohort is doing better and better.

McDonald’s, though, has to master the “K” to get the most out of its consumers. That means fighting to maintain its decades-old position as the go-to spot for an affordable meal, even as it courts higher-margin opportunities to keep shareholders satisfied. Whether that balancing act proves sustainable may depend on just how long America’s two-track consumer economy sticks around.

For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing. 

Fortune Global Forum returns Oct. 26–27, 2025 in Riyadh. CEOs and global leaders will gather for a dynamic, invitation-only event shaping the future of business. Apply for an invitation.



This story originally appeared on Fortune

At least 15 killed after Lisbon’s iconic Gloria funicular derails | World News

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At least 15 people have been killed and 18 are injured after the iconic Gloria funicular in Lisbon derailed and crashed, emergency services have said.

Five of the injured are in a serious condition, the National Institute for Medical Emergencies said in a statement.

Footage from the site showed the tram-like funicular, which is popular with tourists, practically destroyed and emergency workers pulling people out of the wreckage.

Authorities would not identify the victims or disclose their nationalities, but said some foreign nationals were among the dead.

The UK Foreign Office has said it is in touch with authorities in Lisbon and is ready to “provide consular assistance if there are any affected British nationals”.

Lisbon’s mayor Carlos Moedas has said there will be three days of mourning for the victims of the “tragic accident”.

He added: “I extend my heartfelt condolences to all the families and friends of the victims. Lisbon is in mourning.”

It is not immediately clear what caused the crash which happened at around 6pm – the start of evening rush hour.

Eyewitnesses told local media that the funicular careered down the hill, apparently out of control.

Images show how the yellow and white carriage fell apart as a result of the crash.

Image:
Pic: AP

The Gloria, which can carry more than 40 people, is one of three funiculars in the Portuguese capital and is classified as a national monument.

It connects downtown Lisbon with the neighbourhood of Bairro Alto and is commonly used by both residents and tourists.

Two carriages attached to the same haulage cable run parallel to each other as they shuttle up and down the hill for a few hundred metres.

The second carriage was apparently undamaged, but footage aired by CNN Portugal showed it jolting violently, with several passengers jumping out of its windows, when the other one derailed.

Emergency services at the scene. Pic: AP
Image:
Emergency services at the scene. Pic: AP

Mr Moedas told the Portuguese news site Diario de Noticia: “It is a tragedy that has never happened in our city. The moment is for action and help. I thank you all for the response in a few minutes. The only thing I can say is that it is a very tragic day.”

It comes as Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has offered his condolences to families affected by the tragedy.

Meanwhile EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has written on X: “It is with sadness that I learned of the derailment of the famous ‘Elevador da Glória’. My condolences to the families of the victims.”

Portugal’s defence minister Nuno Melo said: “The accident in Lisbon with the Gloria elevator was a tragedy that caused strong commotion and consternation in Portugal and in the world… I express all my solidarity and offer heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.”

An investigation into the cause will begin once the rescue operation is over, the Portuguese government said in a statement.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the latest version.

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This story originally appeared on Skynews

This newly identified dinosaur had spiked body armor : NPR

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Fossils of the creature Spicomellus revealed elaborate body armor used to attract mates and deter rivals.

Matt Dempsey/The Natural History Museum, London


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Matt Dempsey/The Natural History Museum, London

A dinosaur that roamed modern-day Morocco more than 165 million years ago had a neck covered in three-foot long spikes, a weapon on its tail and bony body armor, according to researchers who unearthed the curious beast’s remains.

The discovery of the animal Spicomellus in the Moroccan town of Boulemane painted a clearer picture of the bizarre, spiked ankylosaur, which was first described in 2021 based on the discovery of a single rib bone.

Researchers now understand that the four-legged herbivore, which was about the size of a small car, was much more elaborately armored than originally believed, according to research published last month in the journal Nature.

“Spicomellus had a diversity of plates and spikes extending from all over its body, including metre-long neck spikes, huge upwards-projecting spikes over the hips, and a whole range of long, blade-like spikes, pieces of armour made up of two long spikes, and plates down the shoulder,” research co-lead Susannah Maidment said in a statement to London’s Natural History Museum.

“We’ve never seen anything like this in any animal before.”

The Spicomellus‘ ribs were lined with fused spikes projecting outward — a feature never witnessed before in any other vertebrate, living or extinct.

Co-lead of the project Richard Butler, a paleobiology professor at the University of Birmingham, described seeing the fossil for the first time as “spine-tingling.”

“We just couldn’t believe how weird it was and how unlike any other dinosaur, or indeed any other animal we know of, alive or extinct,” Butler told the Natural History Museum.

“It turns much of what we thought we knew about ankylosaurs and their evolution on its head and demonstrates just how much there still is to learn about dinosaurs,” he added.

Researchers suggest that the Spicomellus‘ complex bone structure was used both to attract mates and deter rivals.

Discovering that the dinosaur had such elaborate armor that possibly prioritized form as much as function set the animal apart from its predecessors, which had less, more defensive covering on their bodies.

In addition to showy barbs along Spicomellus‘ exterior, remains of the animal’s tail also provided a stunning new detail for scientists.

Fused vertebrae going down into its tail formed a “handle,” likely leading to a club-like weapon at the end — a detail ankylosaur scientists had previously believed not to have evolved until the Cretaceous period, millions of years later.

“To find such elaborate armour in an early ankylosaur changes our understanding of how these dinosaurs evolved,” Maidment said.

“It shows just how significant Africa’s dinosaurs are, and how important it is to improve our understanding of them,” she said.



This story originally appeared on NPR

How much do you need in a SIPP to aim for a £1,750 monthly pension income?

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Image source: Getty Images

When investing in a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP), the government gives us a helping hand by topping up our contributions with generous tax relief. For a basic rate taxpayer, each £100 that goes in only costs £80.

For someone who pays tax at 40%, the £100 costs them just £60. Better still, capital gains and dividends roll up free of tax, while we can take 25% of our pot free of income tax. Further withdrawals will be added to a person’s income for that year, and potentially be subject to income tax.

Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.

FTSE 100 dividends build wealth

Let’s say someone’s aiming for a monthly income of £1,750 from their SIPP in retirement. How much do they need to invest?

This is where the classic 4% withdrawal rule can help. It suggests that if an investor takes 4% of their pot each year, the underlying capital will never run out. If the goal is £1,750 a month, or £21,000 a year, their pension pot will need to be worth around £525,000.

This is a pretty hefty chunk of money. But thanks to tax relief, and the long-term compounding advantages of FTSE 100 shares, it could be more achievable than people think.

Let’s say somebody invested £650 a month, and their portfolio generates an average return of 7% a year. In that scenario, it would take them 25 years to hit that £525k target. Of course, £650 is a lot of money to find every month, but 40% tax relief would reduce that to £390. Still a lot, but slightly less daunting.

I have a SIPP myself, and it contains around 15 to 20 different FTSE 100 stocks, combining share price growth potential with high levels of dividend income.

Persimmon shares look good value

So how do we reach our ultimate goal? There are some incredible yields on the FTSE 100 today. Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey, for example, has a trailing yield of just over 10%.

Another housebuilder, Persimmon (LSE: PSN), pays dividend income of 5.64%. A key reason for these high yields is that shares in the sector have taken a beating. High house prices and mortgage rates are stretching affordability, hitting buyer demand. The cost-of-living crisis has driven up materials and labour costs, squeezing margins.

The Persimmon share price has fallen 37% over the last 12 months as a result. Yet the sell-off may also be an opportunity for braver investors to think about getting in ahead of a potential recovery.

Persimmon looks good value, trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of just over 11 (a figure of 15 is typically seen as fair value). It’s picking up the pace of house completions, with plans to build 11,000 to 11,500 homes this year, rising to 12,000 in 2026.

What it really needs now is a few more interest rate cuts, plus some much-needed economic optimism. When that comes, sentiment could jump quite quickly. That could mean capital growth to add to the dividends paid.

We’re not there yet but I think the stock is worth considering for patient investors who understand the risks. This is just one of a number of FTSE 100 stocks worth looking at today. If this one doesn’t appeal there are plenty more out there.



This story originally appeared on Motley Fool