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Roundup: Prince of Travel Signature Event Toronto 2025

PrinceOfTravel
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Roundup: Prince of Travel Signature Event Toronto 2025


After months of anticipation, the Prince of Travel Signature Event Toronto 2025, presented by All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy, came to life this past weekend at the ever-stylish W Toronto.

With over 150 people in attendance, this was our largest and most dynamic Signature Event yet. It encompassed a full day of learning, connection, and celebration with the travellers, professionals, and enthusiasts who make up the Prince of Travel community.

Welcome to the Event

Registration began at 9:00am in the Promenade on the sixth floor. Guests checked in, received their name badges and swag, and chatted over morning coffee before taking their seats in the ballroom.

Prince of Travel Platinum Members received a Prince of Travel hoodie as well as double entries into the prize sweepstakes (more on this at the end).

Our emcee, Kajal, opened the day with a warm welcome and preview of what was to come.

She set the tone for an engaging, insight-packed program and reflected on the growing strength of the Prince of Travel community: a group of travellers united by curiosity, generosity, and the shared goal of turning points into life-changing experiences.

Kajal then invited Peter, our Managing Director, to the stage to introduce the Prince of Travel team. 

Unlike our past Signature Events, this one was more jam-packed with information than ever before, with so many dynamic session topics filling up an entire day.

Air Canada’s Spin-to-Win Trivia: A Highlight From the Moment Doors Opened

This year, we were also thrilled to welcome Air Canada as an onsite sponsor – and they brought an energy that was felt from the moment guests stepped in.

During registration, attendees were greeted with an eye-catching Aeroplan spin-the-wheel activation, where everyone had the chance to win Aeroplan points by spinning the wheel and answering a trivia question about Air Canada.

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The questions ranged from fun true and false prompts to more challenging queries – including one that stumped more than a few people:

“How much do you need to spend on a premium Aeroplan credit card next year to earn 10,000 SQCs?”

The best part was watching members subtly (and sometimes not-so-subtly) help each other answer. It was competitive, collaborative, and very on-brand for our community.

The activation continued into the morning coffee break and drew a steady crowd, thanks to some very generous prizes – including giveaways as high as 4,400 Aeroplan points.

We deeply appreciate Air Canada for not only sponsoring the event, but for creating such a fun and memorable experience for our attendees.

With energy already high from the trivia and morning conversations, we shifted into the first theme of the day: Cracking the Aeroplan Code – a deep dive into Air Canada’s loyalty ecosystem.

Cracking the Aeroplan Code

Peter and Chris opened with an inside look at Air Canada’s upcoming 2026 Elite Qualification changes, explaining what’s changing and how travellers can adapt. Their insights helped attendees understand how to navigate the evolving status landscape and get the most from every mile flown.

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Next came a lively team panel hosted by Kajal, featuring Amy, Sarah, and Chris. Each shared a unique perspective: Amy spoke about balancing family travel with mid-tier status, Sarah offered insight as an Air Canada Super Elite, and Chris shared how he uses points to book premium cabins and creative itineraries.

To round out the segment, Steve and Zach took the stage for a detailed session on maximizing Aeroplan redemptions. They walked the audience through practical examples of complex itineraries, stopovers, and partner bookings, showing just how far a single redemption can go.

Morning Break

Guests stepped out into the Promenade for the morning break, with refreshments sponsored by Autograph Collection.

Over coffee, tea, and pastries, attendees caught up with one another and shared their favourite takeaways from the morning session. I particularly enjoyed catching up with many of our Platinum Members, as this is the first time we’ve met face to face.

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Inside Our Wallets & The Cross-Border Playbook

Back in the ballroom, Kajal welcomed everyone to Inside Our Wallets, a candid team panel that explored the different ways our team members build and optimize their credit card portfolios.

Jason, Zach, and Amy compared approaches ranging from minimalist to maximizer to family-oriented setups.

The discussion underscored that there’s no single “best” strategy, only the one that fits your lifestyle, spending habits, and travel goals. Particularly, the highlights were the American Express® Cobalt® Card as well as the RBC® ION+™ Visa‡ Card.

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Following that, Rashaad and Rachel led The Cross-Border Playbook, a detailed walkthrough of how Canadians can tap into the lucrative U.S. credit card ecosystem.

They shared practical steps for getting started with Amex US, ITINs, and moving into more advanced maneuvers with Chase, Citi, and Capital One.

The session concluded with a lively Q&A that spilled naturally into the lunch hour – a testament to just how many attendees were inspired to expand their earning potential beyond Canada’s borders.

Lunch

At 12:45pm, attendees enjoyed lunch hosted by All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy in the Promenade and Atrium spaces.

Over a well-received buffet (there was no food left over), conversations flowed freely from Aeroplan sweet spots to how to score the best suite upgrades, and everything in between.

The atmosphere captured what makes these gatherings so special: a shared enthusiasm for travel that turns strangers into friends within minutes.

Our industry partners such as Nora Dunn, The Professional Hobo, and Spencer and Ashley proved to be popular at lunch tables.

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Winning in a Shifting Game

The afternoon began with Winning in a Shifting Game, a session devoted to navigating the ever-changing world of loyalty programs.

Jason and Steve opened with a look at fixed-value points programs, showing how currencies like Scene+ and CIBC Aventura can deliver steady, practical value for positioning flights, car rentals, boutique hotels, and everything else outside of premium flights.

Next, Amy and Nancy presented Hotels: Points vs. Cash, exploring how to decide between redeeming points, paying cash with hotel direct bookings, or booking through Prince Collection, our in-house luxury travel agency. 

Book Luxury Hotels with Prince Collection

They compared real-world examples where it makes sense to redeem points as well as when agency-exclusive perks such as upgrades, breakfast, and resort credits tipped the scales in favour of cash stays, especially for those seeking elevated experiences.

Finally, a short audience Q&A was held with Amy, Rachel, Chris, and Steve, who discussed how their personal travel tactics have evolved in 2025. Topics ranged from award search platforms and flight-release patterns to new U.S. program partnerships that open up broader opportunities for Canadians.

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Afternoon Break

Guests took a well-earned pause for the afternoon break, with refreshments sponsored by W Hotels.

Over Marriott cookies and other small bites, the conversation shifted from redemptions to travel memories. It was so nice to see familiar faces from our events dating back to Vancouver Signature Event 2021 as well as new faces who were just beginning their Miles & Points journey.

The buzz of connection and community continued right up until the final sessions of the day.

From Economy to Extraordinary

The last theme of the day, From Economy to Extraordinary, highlighted how travellers at any stage can unlock elevated experiences through strategy and creativity.

Rachel and Chris opened the session with an inspiring look at premium cabin redemptions, walking attendees through sweet spots and advanced booking tools that make aspirational travel attainable – from Singapore Suites to ANA First Class.

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Then Zach and Steve explored Flavours of Avios, guiding the audience through the web of British Airways, Qatar, and Finnair Avios and showing advanced tactics on positioning your Avios to unlock exceptional experiences.

To conclude, Jason and Rachel brought things full circle with practical advice on making the most of economy travel: when to redeem, when to pay cash, and how to use upgrades, seat selection, and timing to stretch comfort and value even further.

Closing Remarks & Prize Draws

As the afternoon drew to a close, Kajal returned to the stage to share final reflections and thank everyone for being part of the day. She expressed gratitude to our sponsors – All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy, Air Canada, W Hotels, Autograph Collection, and Chexy – as well as the speakers and attendees who made the event such a success.

Kajal then invited Peter back to the stage to host the Prize Draw, which featured some truly exciting rewards:

  • A W Punta Cana All-Inclusive stay with airfare, courtesy of Marriott Bonvoy
  • A night at W Toronto in the Penthouse II Suite
  • A night at St. Regis Toronto in Superior 1-Bedroom Suite, including breakfast
  • A night at Ritz-Carlton Toronto, including breakfast
  • A $250 Prince Collection hotel credit
  • 6 months of fee-free transactions from Chexy
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A fun note that every prize was won by a Prince of Travel Platinum Member or Concierge client, highlighting that double entries do make a big difference in the prize draw.

If you’ve been thinking about diving deeper into the world of miles and points, or simply want to connect with fellow travellers who share the same passion, now is the perfect time to join.

Our Black Friday promotion gives you 25% off an annual Platinum Membership, and as a member, you’ll get first access to future events, plus higher chances of winning exclusive giveaways.

Black Friday: 25% Off Platinum Membership!

VIP Experience

For a select group of guests, the celebrations continued with an elevated VIP Experience that embodied the spirit of discerning travel.

Hosted over W Toronto’s signature afternoon tea, The Discerning Traveller Roundtable brought together entrepreneurs, executives, and seasoned globetrotters for a curated conversation about travel as both craft and lifestyle. Participants exchanged ideas on how to turn time, points, and spend into exceptional journeys and lasting memories.

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The evening progressed to post-event cocktails in the W Toronto Penthouse Suite, where VIP guests connected with our Founder, Ricky Zhang, in an intimate setting before the highlight of the night: the Caviar & Champagne Mastermind Dinner at TONO by Akira Back.

This indulgent dinner offered a world-class tasting menu worthy of Ricky’s top First Class flights. It was the perfect finale to an unforgettable day of connection and inspiration.

Conclusion

The Prince of Travel Signature Event Toronto 2025 was a milestone for our growing community – our largest, most comprehensive, and most inspiring event yet.

From deep-dive presentations on Aeroplan and cross-border points strategy to afternoon discussions on adapting to a shifting loyalty landscape, every session reflected the shared curiosity and passion that define Prince of Travel.

To everyone who joined us, supported us, and helped make this day possible – thank you.

We can’t wait to see you at the next Signature Event.



This story originally appeared on princeoftravel

Apple beats out Samsung to become world’s top smartphone seller

NYPost
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Apple beats out Samsung to become world’s top smartphone seller


Apple’s smartphone shipments in 2025 are expected to top Samsung’s for the first time in over a decade and become the world’s leading seller of smartphones, according to a new report.

An analysis by Counterpoint Research found that global smartphone shipments will rise by 3.3% year over year in 2025, with much of the gain driven by Apple.

Shipments of iPhones are expected to climb 10% year over year in 2025, in part because of growing demand for the iPhone 17 series in key regions.

Counterpoint projected that Apple’s shipments will reach 19.4% in 2025, which would make Apple the world’s leading smartphone manufacturer for the first time since 2011.

Samsung’s shipments are expected to increase 4.6% year over year and reach a global share of 18.7%, slipping out of first place for the first time in over a decade.

“Beyond the highly positive market reception for the iPhone 17 series, the key driver behind the upgraded shipment outlook lies in the replacement cycle reaching its inflection point,” said senior analyst Yang Wang.

“Consumers who purchased smartphones during the COVID-19 boom are now entering their upgrade phase. Furthermore, 358 million second-hand iPhones were sold between 2023 and Q2 2025. These users are also likely to upgrade to a new iPhone in the coming years.” 

Apple has beat out Samsung in global smartphone shipments for the first time since 2011. REUTERS

That base of consumer demand is expected to help Apple retain its newly regained lead among smartphone manufacturers through 2029, according to the analysis.

Samsung’s strategic move to the A series is expected to reinforce momentum in emerging markets through its stronger specifications and competitive pricing, while, in mature markets, Samsung’s move to premium offerings is expected to help it defend market share, Counterpoint projected.

Chinese smartphone manufacturers are expected to rely further on overseas markets to fuel growth, while also moving into higher-priced segments with premium features to boost profitability. 

Counterpoint said that diversification should allow the Chinese manufacturers to strengthen their revenue, while their rankings in terms of shipments are expected to hold steady through 2029.



This story originally appeared on NYPost

Zohran Mamdani’s radical-rich transition team bodes ill for public safety

NYPost
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Zohran Mamdani’s radical-rich transition team bodes ill for public safety

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani says he no longer wants to “defund the police,” but his picks for his transition team sure send the opposite message.

Take Alex Vitale, tapped for the “community safety” committee.

The Brooklyn College prof doesn’t want to just “defund” the police; he wants to get rid of them altogether: He even wrote a book titled “The End of Policing.”

“The problem is not police training, police diversity, or police methods,” runs one description of the book. “The problem is policing itself.”

Vitale published that in 2017, three years before George Floyd’s death in police custody.

Naturally, he’s a particular peeved at broken-windows policing — the practice of cracking down on small offenses and quality-of-life violations to discourage far worse crimes, an approach that was central to the city’s quarter-century of success in boosting public safety.

And he’s slurred NYPD cops, claiming they’ve targeted minorities.

Of course, just a few years back Mamdani himself smeared them as “racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety,” not to mention “wicked & corrupt.”  

Yes, the mayor-elect apologized (sort of) for that during the campaign in a bid to assure voters.

Nor is Vitale the only anti-cop leader on Mamdani’s transition team.

He named Bill de Blasio adviser Elana Leopold as its executive director, despite (or maybe because of?) the “open letter” she co-signed in 2020 demanding a “radical change” to policing — starting with a $1 billion cut in the NYPD’s budget.

Other community-safety committee standouts:

  • Communities United for Police Reform Joo-Hyun Kang, an avid cop-defunder.
  • A CURP board member, Jose Lopez, who insists that policing fuels racism.
  • Dana Rachlin, who helped create the Brownsville Safety Alliance “police-alternative” zone.

And for his community-organizing committee, the incoming mayor tapped black nationalist Lumumba Bandele, of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, despite his ties to Black Liberation Army members convicted of killing cops.

Indeed, the 400 members of the transition braintrust include a whole host of soft-on-crime and anti-police advocates from lefty groups like the Legal Aid Society, New York Civil Liberties Union, Make the Road New York and the Democratic Socialists of America.

Not a crowd that’s likely to ask awkward questions about Mamdani’s plan to shift NYPD money to a new Department of Community Safety, scrap the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group and gang database and freeze the rank-and-file headcount — a de facto recipe for defunding NYC’s police.

Meanwhile, the transition crew’s education “experts” dependably support higher school spending and lefty indoctrination, with a conspicuous lack of voices demanding excellent outcomes or supporting increased student achievement.

Roughly one in seven New York City public-school children now attends a charter school, but you won’t find a single representative from the charter community among the 400 folks on this team.

Yes, the transition folks are simply advisers; Mamdani might have tapped many purely as a symbolic recognition.

But the signs are downright worrisome on issues as critical as policing.

NYPD boss Jessica Tisch may have a bigger problem on her hands than she imagined.

So might the whole city.



This story originally appeared on NYPost

See how £20,000 in this passive income superstar today could generate up to £13,000 a year for retirement

Motley Fool
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See how £20,000 in this passive income superstar today could generate up to £13,000 a year for retirement


Image source: Getty Images

I bought FTSE 100 passive income hero Phoenix Group Holdings (LSE: PHNX) a couple of years ago, as part of my retirement planning. I was dazzled by the income on offer, as the insurer boasts one of the highest dividends trailing yields on the blue-chip index at 7.75%. It was yielding closer to 10% when I bought it. 

The stock is up 35% over that last 12 months, so I’ve had capital growth as well as income. By the way, that rising share price explains why the yield has dipped to around 7.75%. The dividend per share hasn’t fallen, new investors are simply paying more for the shares. My total return, with reinvested dividends, is around 55% so far.

Phoenix shares offer dividends and growth

I expect the dividend to grow slowly but steadily from here. Forecasters anticipate a forward yield of 8.04% across 2025. On £20,000, that would generate income of roughly £1,608 over the next year. That income should rise in 2026, with luck, as reinvested dividends pick up more stock, while the yield’s forecast to hit 8.28%. 

Dividends are never guaranteed but Phoenix has a good track record, lifting shareholder payouts for nine years in a row, including through the pandemic. 

The dividend per share rose at an annual rate of 3.05% over that period. I’m expecting increases closer to 2% in future. Equities carry more risk than deposits, so payouts can be frozen or cut, and prices move around. Phoenix needs to keep finding new sources of revenue to fund its largesse. So it’s good news that first-half operating cash generation climbed 9% to £705m, while the capital position remains resilient with a Solvency II surplus of £3.6bn.

Laying the foundations

Let’s say an investor held £20,000 today, and the stock delivered an average yield of 8.04%. Their reinvested dividends alone would total £23,339 over 10 years.

That would increase their total holding, including the original £20k, to £43,339. Based on that 8.04% yield, their annual income should be £3,485, and that’s without dipping into the capital. In practice, it should be a fair bit higher as the yield on their original stake should rise and the share price may climb too. Although of course, it might fall.

The power of time

Stretching the example to 20 years shows how time and compounding builds worth. Keeping the same yield assumption, £20,000 would grow to £93,912 including the starting capital. At 8.04%, that could generate annual income of around £7,550.

Add even modest share price growth of 3% a year and the holding could reach £162,412, with potential income near £13,058. These are only projections, but hopefully show the attractions of long-term dividend investing. I think Phoenix shares are well worth considering for income-focused investors, with a long-term view.

I’m not relying on one stock. I hold a spread of FTSE 100 dividend shares and I’m investing a lot more than £20,000 over time. My aim is to build a steady second income stream while keeping the capital intact. With time and patience, I’m optimistic I’ll get there.



This story originally appeared on Motley Fool

Trump orders new immigration curbs as FBI probes guard shooting

Fortune
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Trump orders new immigration curbs as FBI probes guard shooting

President Donald Trump’s administration is expanding its immigration crackdown in the aftermath of the shooting of a pair of National Guard members in Washington.

The two guard members remained in critical condition on Thursday after they were shot in an ambush Wednesday near the White House. The suspect is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national who was subdued and taken into custody shortly after.

Federal authorities have launched a sprawling, nationwide terrorism investigation into what Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for DC, called a “brazen and targeted” attack. Police scoured the scene of the shooting, while authorities searched homes in Washington state and California. 

Trump, Vice President JD Vance and others in the administration quickly blamed the Biden administration for letting Lakanwal into the US and seized on the case to push for deeper immigration curbs, including halting reviews of Afghan immigration proceedings and ordering a review of those already in the US. That raises the prospect that settlement rights for Afghan allies of US forces may be curtailed.

“We must now re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden, and we must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here or add benefit to our country,” Trump said in a recorded video address published by the White House Wednesday.

On Thursday, Joseph Edlow, the head of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, said in a social media post that his agency, under Trump’s orders, is conducting “a full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern.” He didn’t name specific countries.

Even before Wednesday’s shooting, the Trump administration had moved to slash legal migration to the US. Trump’s second term has seen the administration severely lower its refugee cap, end temporary protected status for migrants from numerous countries, impose a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas heavily used by tech companies and universities to bring over high-skilled workers and revoke thousands of visas. It also plans to review the cases of all refugees resettled under the Biden administration, according to an internal Nov. 21 memo seen by Bloomberg News.

Read More: Trump to Review Refugees Admitted Under Biden in New Crackdown

The calls for further steps came swiftly after Wednesday’s shooting, even as the investigation is in its early stages. Authorities are treating it as a terror case but haven’t publicly described his specific motive. On Thursday morning, they said that interviews and search warrants were still being carried out.

Lakanwal lived in Washington state with his wife and, authorities believe, five children. They say he drove to Washington, DC — a cross-country trip of nearly 3,000 miles — with the intent of carrying out the attack. He then drew a revolver and fired at two national Guard Members from West Virginia, blocks from the White House. The two victims are Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24; both remained in critical condition Thursday. 

Lakanwal was evacuated from Afghanistan in 2021 around the time of the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal. AfghanEvac, a nonprofit group dedicated to supporting resettlement of US allies in Afghanistan, said he served in an elite Afghan counterterrorism unit operated by the CIA with direct U.S. intelligence and military support to support their fight against the Taliban.

Lakanwal arrived in the US in September of that year “due to his prior work with the U.S. government, including CIA, as a member of a partner force in Kandahar,” CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in a statement. 

Lakanwal arrived under humanitarian parole and was granted asylum earlier this year by the Trump administration, according to AfghanEvac.

But the administration’s response raises the prospect that it will seek to block or even revoke status of Afghan nationals who helped US forces fight the Taliban.

The US immediately suspended processing of immigration requests related to Afghan nationals and is reviewing all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration, according to Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary of homeland security.

Trump called for reviewing every person who came to the US from Afghanistan under the Biden administration, while Vance said they will “redouble our efforts to deport people with no right to be in our country.”

And several top aides said that Lakanwal’s work with the CIA and other American agencies should not have meant that he was afforded residency or status in the US.

Ratcliffe said “this individual — and so many others — should have never been allowed to come here” while Attorney General Pam Bondi called Lakanwal a “monster who should not have been in our country” during a Fox News interview Thursday. FBI Director Kash Patel said at the Thursday press conference that “you miss all the signs when you do absolutely zero vetting” and Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for Washington, DC, said “this is what happens in this country when people are allowed in who are not properly vetted.”

But while the Trump administration said it was a failure of vetting, the Afghan settlement rights group said there is vetting and that Lakanwal was a bad apple. 

“Afghan immigrants and wartime allies who resettle in the United States undergo some of the most extensive security vetting of any population entering the country,” AfghanEvac President Shawn VanDiver said in a written statement. 

The group supports “fully supports the perpetrator facing full accountability” and “rejects any attempt to leverage this tragedy as a political ploy to isolate or harm Afghans who have resettled in the United States,” VanDiver added.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, said the anger over the crime must be directed at the perpetrator and not every Afghan national in the US or seeking to move to the US. “Using this horrific attack as an excuse to smear and punish every Afghan, every refugee, or every immigrant rips at something very basic in our Constitution and many faiths: the idea that guilt is personal, not inherited or collective,” the group said in a written statement.

Aside from immigration reform, the political fallout from the attack could widen. Bondi also signaled that the administration may scrutinize Democrats who had criticized the deployments.

Speaking on Fox News on Thursday morning, Bondi criticized Democratic lawmakers, without naming any, and media figures who have criticized Trump’s use of the National Guard. 

“They should be praising our men and women in law enforcement. And we are looking at everything they have said, and why they said it, and if they encouraged acts of violence,” she said, without elaborating.

The administration is already seeking to court-martial Senator Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, after a video in which Democratic lawmakers told US service members that they can refuse unlawful orders. Trump has called the video “seditious” and reposted calls for the lawmakers to be killed.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, meanwhile, condemned the shooting and pledged that the suspect will be prosecuted, but also hinted at her unease with the deployment. “These young people should be at home in West Virginia with their families,” she said. She didn’t elaborate.

Pirro, separately, declined to discuss the issue. “I don’t even want to talk about whether they should have been there” she said. “We ought to kiss the ground and thank god that the president said it’s time to bring in more law enforcement.”



This story originally appeared on Fortune

Insta360 Go Ultra review: big power in tiny form

AppleInsider
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Insta360 Go Ultra review: big power in tiny form



A truly tiny action cam is proving that big features don’t require a big body.

I’ve never had any interest in action cams. I was never particularly impressed by GoPro or its kin.

It wasn’t until I got a sneak preview of the Insta360 Go Ultra that I became suddenly intrigued. It was a truly tiny camera — about the size of a smartwatch — designed to go anywhere.

So, when Insta 360 asked if I wanted to check one out for review, I was actually moderately excited. And what I found after a few weeks of testing is that Insta 360 managed to pack a lot of big features into a tiny camera.

Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums


This story originally appeared on Appleinsider

My Thanksgiving Wish For You

PoliticusUSA
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My Thanksgiving Wish For You


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When people at the highest levels of the media and other elites in places like politics talk about the challenges of life in America in 2025, they often do so with a detached and observational tone.

Because they really don’t know what it is like to open up your electric bill and wonder how you are going to afford that this month, or they don’t understand what it feels like to go get your regular prescriptions refilled and be told that, thanks to “changes” your medication is no longer, or it is now costly.

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Even though Trump keeps fantasizing about two-dollar-a-gallon gas, you may have winced as you filled up your tank to go see family and friends on the holiday.

The only reason that grocery prices on some items are lower over the holidays is that supermarkets are taking a loss in a desperate bid to get people into stores to buy other, more expensive items. Retailers are expected to raise prices immediately after the start of the new year.

With all that has to be done just to keep your head above water, it would be easy to forget about all of the things that we should be grateful for.

Trump and many in the media are failing because they can’t relate to the struggle that most people are enduring right now. When Trump talks about grocery prices, he might as well be discussing flying in space, because he has the same level of personal experience with both.

My Thanksgiving wish for you is that for one day, you can ignore politics. If you have enough or more than enough to eat, enjoy every single bite. If you are surrounded by people you love, enjoy them, laugh and smile, and understand that the moment you are in should be embraced and enjoyed. I wish that every single person who reads this feels warm, safe, and loved, because that is what really matters.

These difficult times are showing signs of coming to an end. The current administration and party in charge are failing. They are being rejected by the vast majority of Americans.

If you are one of our readers from around the world for whom today is just another Thursday, and not a holiday, I wish the same for you.

Regular stories will resume on Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.



This story originally appeared on Politicususa

Rolls-Royce’s Most Exquisite Tribute Yet

UpScaleLivingMag
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Rolls-Royce’s Most Exquisite Tribute Yet


For a century, the Rolls-Royce Phantom has stood at the top of automotive luxury. Now, to mark its 100-year milestone, the marque introduces the Phantom Centenary Private Collection. Limited to only 25 motor cars, it is the most intricate and technically ambitious Phantom project ever attempted. More importantly, it is a reminder that the Phantom still defines what true prestige looks and feels like.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary

A Century Told in Gold and Craft

Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke Collective spent years studying the Phantom’s history. They traced its influential owners, legendary engineers, and the journeys that shaped its reputation. As a result, they produced 77 hand-sketched motifs, each capturing a defining moment in Phantom’s story. These motifs appear throughout the motor car as woodwork, embroidery, marquetry, metal sculpture, and layered textiles.

Consequently, every surface carries meaning. Every detail reveals a chapter of Phantom’s life.

Outside, the tribute begins with a solid-gold Spirit of Ecstasy, inspired by the figurine first fitted to the 1925 Phantom. She stands over a two-tone Super Champagne Crystal finish, made with crushed champagne-tinted glass for a deep, shimmering glow. Meanwhile, the Phantom’s disc wheels feature 25 engraved lines each—100 in total—to honour the centenary year.

Rolls-Royce Phantom CentenaryRolls-Royce Phantom Centenary

Inside the Phantom Legend

Once inside, the storytelling continues. The cabin blends leather in the front with rich textiles in the rear, recalling early chauffeur-driven Phantoms. This contrast creates a sense of authority up front and serene comfort in the back—an idea central to Phantom’s identity.

Rear Seats: A Modern Tapestry

The rear seats form the most complex textile work Rolls-Royce has ever created. Developed with a couture atelier, the design unfolds in three layers:

  • high-resolution printed scenes from Phantom’s history

  • fine-line illustrations of significant models

  • more than 160,000 stitches of floating, sketch-like embroidery

Together, they cover 45 individually fitted panels, shaped with Savile Row-level precision. The result resembles a handwoven tapestry, yet moves with modern ease and softness.

Rolls-Royce Phantom CentenaryRolls-Royce Phantom Centenary

Front Seats: A Designer’s Sketchbook

The front seats carry laser-etched drawings created by a Rolls-Royce designer. These light, pencil-like motifs reference Phantom’s hidden stories—such as the rabbit from “Roger Rabbit,” the code name for Phantom’s 2003 revival, and the seagull from the 1923 prototype. These touches add subtle personality while honouring the marque’s roots.

Rolls-Royce Phantom CentenaryRolls-Royce Phantom Centenary

The Anthology Gallery: A Sculpture in Motion

At the centre of the dashboard sits the Anthology Gallery, a sculptural composition of 50 vertically brushed aluminium fins. They stand like the pages of a book. When illuminated, the brushed edges shimmer and reveal quotes from a century of press acclaim. As viewers move, the reflections shift, creating a gentle, kinetic effect that brings the story to life.

Rolls-Royce Phantom CentenaryRolls-Royce Phantom Centenary

Woodwork Pushed to New Heights

Rolls-Royce introduces three new techniques in the Phantom Centenary: 3D marquetry, 3D ink layering, and 24-carat gold leafing. These appear across the door panels, each one depicting a key Phantom journey.

The scenes include:

  • the coastline of Le Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer, where Henry Royce spent his winters

  • West Wittering, his summer home

  • the 4,500-mile Australian crossing of the first Goodwood-era Phantom

Each road glows with hand-laid gold leaf just 0.1 micrometres thick. Even the locations of Royce’s historic homes are marked with tiny gold dots. Many etched details measure only 0.13 mm, yet they remain crisp and expressive.

Rolls-Royce Phantom CentenaryRolls-Royce Phantom Centenary

A Starlight Headliner Rich with Symbolism

The Starlight Headliner contains 440,000 stitches, forming a soft, animated constellation. It includes the mulberry tree from Royce’s garden, the square-crowned trees of Goodwood, the honeybees from the Rolls-Royce Apiary, and motifs from great Phantoms of the past. Hidden references—like the vault door from “The Bank,” the secret design studio of the 1990s—reward careful eyes.

Rolls-Royce Phantom CentenaryRolls-Royce Phantom Centenary

A Golden Finale

The 6.75-litre V12 engine receives its own tribute. Its cover is finished in Arctic White and detailed with 24-carat gold, honouring the effortless power that defines the Phantom experience.

Rolls-Royce Phantom CentenaryRolls-Royce Phantom Centenary

A Once-in-a-Generation Rolls-Royce

Ultimately, the Phantom Centenary Private Collection is a celebration not only of the past, but of the promise ahead. It blends old-world craftsmanship with new artistic techniques, creating a rolling masterpiece that acknowledges every era of Phantom’s life.

Only 25 examples will be built. For collectors, this is not just a motor car. It is a century of Rolls-Royce distilled into one unforgettable creation—crafted with reverence, executed with devotion, and destined to be prized for generations.



This story originally appeared on Upscalelivingmag

Cleveland Browns Announce Big Boi For Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Halftime Show

CelebrityInsider
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Cleveland Browns Announce Big Boi For Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Halftime Show


Instagram/@bigboi

The Cleveland Browns have turned the halftime show for their next home game into a major event. Big Boi, the famous hip-hop duo OutKast’s one-half, will be singing live at Huntington Bank Field on Sunday as part of the team’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Game.

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The public was very pleased with the announcement which was made very soon and has now been half a year long effect. The announcement, which promised a show that the fans “will not want to miss,” came at the same time as the team’s campaign, making the action on the field more glamorous by the addition of the world-famous musicians.

Responses were full of thrill and urgency to watch the game live at the stadium, hence lots of people were impressed and able to say so. Umm, one fan simply put it, “Ima need tickets for this one!” Another supporter was in a celebratory mood and expressed, “bought my tix yesterday, perfect timing.” It really was a “can’t-miss” kind of event with one person going to the extent of talking about the struggle of being outdoors, remaining, “most probably, I would have to be under the rain and chill for this.”

In the comments, there was the cunning and merry use of lyrics from Big Boi’s own songs that were mostly the same. Several users mentioned the famous line, “cooler than a polar bear’s toenails,” quoting directly from the OutKast classic “Aquemini.” This shared use of language founded a circle of recognition and fandom that was very much present in the dialogues, with one participant making an addition about, “Smoother than a Freddy Jackson sippin a milkshake.”

Apart from the excitement, some commentators pointed the high-profile signing to the fact that the team’s rookie quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, is already a hot topic. One comment said, “This is the Sanders effect… do you think this would have happened if Dylan Gabriel was still the starting quarterback? I don’t think so.” Another one voiced, “The Shedeur effect… could have had this stuff all season,” which means that the team’s increasing popularity is starting to attract the best and most talented entertainers. Nevertheless, other commenters held the opposite view and pointed out that the event is tightly related to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which recently inducted OutKast, making the whole booking a smooth transition to the themed game.

In all the excitement, there was also a light notice of hometown pride and slight caution. One fan was saying, “OK Browns, do not make fools of yourselves while we have a guest,” combining support with a hint of playful anxiety about the team’s on-field performance with such a renowned musical guest present at the game.

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There is no doubt that this announcement has brought a change in the mood around the game turning it from just another NFL game into a cultural event of a greater scope. The Cleveland Browns are presenting a powerful mixture of sports and music by having an inductee into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame perform during halftime hence giving a rare opportunity for both devoted football fans and hip-hop aficionados to enjoy the same thing at the same time. The huge and witty response from the public indicates that this mixture is surely a winning play. This surprise collaboration and his behind-the-scenes moments with other artists highlight his ongoing influence. Following the declaration of “game over” after the induction, he continues to celebrate the OutKast legacy in memorable ways.



This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider

Up 75% in a year! The red-hot Lloyds share price is smashing Meta, Nvidia and Tesla

Motley Fool
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Up 75% in a year! The red-hot Lloyds share price is smashing Meta, Nvidia and Tesla


Image source: Getty Images

I thought the Lloyds (LSE: LLOY) share price might do well when I bought the FTSE 100 bank a couple of years ago, but this well? It’s skyrocketed 75% in the last year and 120% over two years. What on earth is going on?

Blockbuster FTSE 100 stock

It’s the type of return usually associated with US tech mega-caps such as Meta Platforms, Nvidia or Tesla. Yet over 12 months Lloyds has outstripped them all, as my table shows.

1-year growth 5-year growth
Lloyds 76% 151%
Meta 11% 128%
Nvidia 33% 1,259%
Tesla 28% 118%

It’s even beaten Meta and Tesla over five years, and the total return is better still because Lloyds has paid far more in dividends. At times it’s yielded more than 5%. Meta yields 0.33% and Tesla nothing. Only Nvidia outpaces Lloyds over five years, thanks to its enormous 1,259% surge.

Top turnaround play

Lloyds shares needed around 15 years to recover their equilibrium after being hammered by the 2008 banking crisis. Stock performance tends to be cyclical and after such a strong run the law of gravity alone suggests the bank should slow.

When I bought it, the price-to-earnings ratio was around six or seven. Today it sits near 14. That’s still below today’s FTSE 100 average of around 18, but no longer a blinding bargain. The price-to-book ratio has climbed on my watch too, from roughly 0.6 to around 1.1. Both figures suggest the bank doesn’t have the same stellar recovery potential.

Another shift is the trailing yield. It’s slipped to 3.5%, which is inevitable given the share-price growth. However, Lloyds has lifted the interim 2025 dividend by 15%, so it intends to keep income flowing. Analysts expect yields of 3.84% for 2025 and 4.44% for 2026. Meta, Nvidia and Tesla investors won’t get that.

Interest rate cut threat

After yesterday’s Budget (November 26), which some analysts call deflationary, hopes are rising for an interest-rate cut in December and possibly three more next year. If correct, that would push base rates down from 4% to 3%. It would be good for consumers and the housing market, yet would squeeze big banks’ net interest margins. Analysts watch that metric closely because it feeds through into profits and ultimately the share price. A plus is that a revived housing market would help Lloyds, the UK’s biggest mortgage lender via subsidiary Halifax.

The Budget did bring relief in one area, with no windfall tax on banks. That outcome was trailed, so the share-price reaction was small.

Running through these numbers, I think Lloyds will struggle to grow at quite the same pace. Yet I still see a decent long-term investment case. It’s a domestically-focused bank and while the slow-moving UK economy won’t make life easy, but with dividends and share buybacks the total return should be positive over time. Investors might consider buying if they want steady income and gradual growth, without the drama of big US tech.



This story originally appeared on Motley Fool

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