Great businesses rarely go on sale. But one fintech stock that I have followed for years just experienced a sudden correction. Give your portfolio an early gift by investing in this quality business before the holidays hit. Nu Holdings is a growth machine backed by Warren Buffett I've been a big fan of Nu Holdings ( NU 0.58% ) since its initial public offering in 2021. And I'm not alone in my fandom. Warren Buffett has picked up more than $1 billion in shares, a stake that he has refused to trim even as the stock price skyrocketed by more than 200% since mid-2022. What do I love most about Nu? It has developed a proven recipe for growth that should be sustained for years, if not decades to come. More than a decade ago, Nu's founders realized that Latin America's banking industry was primed for new competition. At the time, the banking industry was largely consolidated, with minimal innovation despite the advent of new technologies like the internet and smartphones. What the company decided to do was a novel break from tradition, at least for a Latin American financial services business. Instead of opening a bunch of physical branches, Nu went directly to consumers through a smartphone app. While this was fairly common at the time in more developed markets, the strategy was wholly unique in Latin America. By offering its services directly through a smartphone, Nu was able to lower costs for most conventional financial services like debit and credit cards, banking and checking accounts, and basic investment accounts. This reduction in fees, plus ease of access, allowed it to grow quickly. But there was another major advantage to this strategy: Nu could innovate far more nimbly than the competition. At the push of a button, it could activate a new product or service for millions of customers. Clearly these factors were in demand by Latin American residents. The company went from zero customers to 109 million as of the most recent quarter. And with more than 650 million residents across the entirety of Latin America, the company has plenty of room for long-term growth. The discount on this fintech stock may not last long Nu has become a growth machine, and its stock price has risen consistently due to that reality. But even growth superstars like this temporarily go on sale. Over the last few weeks, shares have fallen in value by nearly 25%. What was the cause? In mid-November, the company reported blockbuster earnings. But sales growth was below historical norms, while certain profitability metrics compressed. Then this week, an analyst from Citigroup cut his rating on Nu stock to a sell from neutral with a price target of $11, down from $14.60. While the analyst noted Nu's "impressive capacity" to grow, he thought that the latest run-up was an opportunity to take profits. There's no doubt that shares were expensive in mid-November when they set all-time highs. Nu was trading at more than 10 times sales, and more than 40 times profits. That's a steep price to pay for a bank stock. But this isn't any ordinary bank stock -- this a fintech business, capable of growing rapidly with impressive economies of scale. For example, the company just turned profitable in 2023, and already its shares trade at just 33 times earnings after the correction. On a forward basis, shares trade at less than 28 times expected earnings. NU PS ratio, data by YCharts. PS = price to sales; PE = price to earnings. Did Nu's valuation get a little out of hand last month? Perhaps. But this is a business built for the next century, not just the next few years. Getting a small discount on a fantastic business that can grow for the rest of your life is an opportunity too good to pass up. Analysts are often concerned with short-term price movements. But long-term investors should use these short-term movements to their advantage. Nu' Holdings' recent quarter wasn't up to its usual standard, but everything is still headed in the right direction from a macro perspective. While the latest correction may have been warranted on a short-term basis, don't expect the discount to last through the holidays -- this is too good a bargain to pass up for patient investors.
Readers' Favorite recognizes "Her Alibi" by Mary L Schmidt in its annual international book award contest 12-09-2024 11:30 PM CET | Leisure, Entertainment, Miscellaneous Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Kjprnews Image: https://www.getnews.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1733638126.jpeg Readers' Favorite recognizes "Her Alibi" by Mary L Schmidt in its annual international book award contest, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BCQ54H44 . The Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest featured thousands of contestants from over a dozen countries, ranging from new independent authors to NYT best-sellers and celebrities. Image: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41lNgBL6hnL._SL400_.jpg Readers' Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the "Best Websites for Authors" and "Honoring Excellence" awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies. We receive thousands of entries from all over the world. Because of these large submission numbers, we are able to break down our contest into 140+ genres, and each genre is judged separately, ensuring that books only compete against books of their same genre for a fairer and more accurate competition. We receive submissions from independent authors, small publishers, and publishing giants such as Random House, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, with contestants that range from the first-time, self-published author to New York Times bestsellers like J.A. Jance, James Rollins, and #1 best-selling author Daniel Silva, as well as celebrity authors like Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty), Henry Winkler (Happy Days), and Eriq La Salle (E.R., Coming to America). "When the right books are picked as winners we pay attention. We will be spreading the word about Readers' Favorite." - Karen A., Editor for Penguin Random House Readers' Favorite is proud to announce that "Her Alibi" by Mary L Schmidt won the Silver Medal in the Non-Fiction - Relationships category. You can learn more about Mary L Schmidt and "Her Alibi" at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/her-alibi where you can read reviews and the author's biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages. Media Contact Company Name: Readers' Favorite LLC Contact Person: Media Relations Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=readers-favorite-recognizes-her-alibi-by-mary-l-schmidt-in-its-annual-international-book-award-contest ] Phone: 800-RF-REVIEW City: Louisville State: KY 40202 Country: United States Website: https://readersfavorite.com This release was published on openPR.
Myriad Genetics to Present New Data at San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium"Hopefully, at least Assad won't be called": Zelenskyy criticizes Orban for calling Putin
The Onion's bid to buy Infowars goes before judge as Alex Jones tries stopping saleAn influencer named Dominique Brown has died aged 34 reportedly from a severe allergic reaction at an industry event. Brown was attending a BoxLunch event on December 5 when she ate food that contained ingredients she was allergic to . Other influencers were present as she suffered the reaction . Golden Bachelorette fans slam show as they claim its 'going too fast' Golden Bachelorette star Mark Anderson breaks silence as he hints what's next An X, formerly Twitter, user, who goes by @hideyagrannies, claims that Brown was reportedly allergic to peanuts. "She was my moms best friend of 10 years," they said of Brown, according to the Daily Mail . "When she instantly felt bad she asked someone to take her to the hospital... So sad," they added. Brown was known for being a Disney-inspired influencer and went by HellooDomo on Instagram. After her tragic death, Brown's brother Patrick Ramos took to her profile and shared a statement in the comments section of her latest post. "I wanted to take a a moment to say thank you to her social media fam for showing her so much love and light," the statement read. "Disney did bring her joy, but it was unparalleled that she found a community who loved her and Disney as much as she did. "I will miss my sister and best friend and that infectious smile she always had. Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart.' DON'T MISS: Golden Bachelorette Pascal branded 'obnoxious' as he admits he does nothing [LATEST] Golden Bachelorette fans fume over 'dangerous' groupdate-'orthopedic's dream' [UPDATE] Golden Bachelorette viewers fume 'Gerry has ruined everything' after encounter [INSIGHT] View this post on Instagram A post shared by HellooDomo (@dominiquebrown) Fans replied to Patrick's comment, with one writing: "we are here for you," and another adding: "praying for you and your family." A third sadly said: "sending condolences to you and your ohana," as a fourth commented: "she was so loved and I will miss her terribly. Sending you and your family my deepest condolences." Brown's last post was shared to her thousands of followers two days ago. She posed in a Disney Store while trying on a Pooh plush hat and wrote in the video's caption: "I’m just here to say, get the obnoxious plush hat." On November 27, Brown shared that she'd been invited to the premiere of Moana 2. She excited wrote: "Sailing from the horizon and into theaters, Moana 2 is here!" The influencer added: "I’m so excited that I was invited to attend the premiere at @elcapitanthtre ! "Our favorite wayfinder is back and with a crew! I enjoyed her new story and loved the message behind this film let me know your thoughts once you’ve seen #Moana2." A week before that, Brown posted a video of herself trying every Epcot country's drinks. She shared: "Drinking around the world hits different at this age. Yall know how Elmo feels about Rocco? Well that’s how I feel about Morocco at Epcot, she keeps tryna take me out!"
Court challenge over vote to extend post-Brexit trading arrangements dismissedJamiya Neal finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and four blocks to lead host Creighton over UNLV 83-65 on Saturday in Omaha, Neb. Creighton was without star Pop Isaacs, who was ruled out for the season on Saturday morning after undergoing surprise hip surgery. It was a startling turn, considering Isaacs led Creighton with 27 points in Wednesday's win over No. 1 Kansas. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. The Trace spotlights Lieutenant Valerie Martinez-Jordan, who has trained over 2,000 officers in a Louisiana program that prevents abusers from accessing firearms, even as federal laws become looser. Click for more. In a deep-red state, this lieutenant's blueprint for removing guns from abusers is spreadingWho Is Country Singer Gary Allan's Wife? All About Molly Martin — and How Their Spontaneous Elopement Unfolded
ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A president from Plains A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. And then, the world Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” ‘An epic American life’ Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners . He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. A small-town start James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian , would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. 'Jimmy Who?' His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Accomplishments, and ‘malaise’ Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. 'A wonderful life' At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Former Associated Press journalist Alex Sanz contributed to this report.No.1 Sportsground plans given tick of approval but when will it be ready?As AI rapidly transforms workplaces, employees are on edge. Roughly two years after ChatGPT's release sparked widespread interest in generative AI, it's becoming clear that most workers' jobs will fundamentally change — and some may disappear. An analysis by the International Monetary Fund published in January forecast that artificial intelligence would affect nearly 40% of jobs. But the impact of AI on employment is complex and far-reaching. Some roles may become obsolete; others may be augmented or even created by AI. Workers are simultaneously experiencing anxiety, doubt, and excitement . What new skills will I need to develop? How can I stay relevant? And importantly, is my organization prepared for this AI-driven future? Whether employees can trust their organization's leaders to navigate these opportunities is a pivotal question, said Brian Solis, the head of global innovation at ServiceNow, a cloud-based automation platform, and author of the book "Mindshift: Transform Leadership, Drive Innovation, and Reshape the Future . " He said that while many executives recognize AI's promise in increasing efficiency by automating repetitive tasks, they often fail to grasp the technology's profound potential . "Leaders talk about the new normal or the next normal, but then they natively snap back to business as usual," Solis said. "It's the leaders who explore and ask: 'What if? Who will unlock entirely new ways of working?'" Workers themselves have a responsibility to learn and grow, he added. They need to experiment with new technologies both in and outside work and challenge themselves to push beyond their comfort zones. "You need to literally rewire your brain," he said. "If you're waiting for someone to tell you what to do, you're on the wrong side of innovation." 'Workers need to be proactive' Despite the breathless headlines about AI changing everything about the way we work, the reality is more mundane. In a quarterly Gallup survey of American workers conducted in May, seven in 10 respondents said they never used AI in their jobs, and only one in 10 said they used it regularly. The survey used a random sample of 21,543 working adults. Among those who said they did use AI, the most common applications included generating ideas, consolidating information, and automating basic tasks. Still, investment in AI continues to surge. A report from IDC predicted that global spending would reach $632 billion by 2028, more than double what it is now, covering AI apps, infrastructure, and related services. Companies are investing in AI to avoid falling behind , said Mansour Javidan, an expert in digital transformation and the executive director of the Najafi Global Mindset Institute at Arizona State's Thunderbird School of Global Management. "There's a lot of hype driven by board expectations, and that's led to a herd mentality to move quickly," he said. "No CEO is going to look bad by investing in AI right now." Workers, meanwhile, are caught between uncertainty and anticipation. "There's a disconnect," Javidan said. "At the highest levels of the organization, there's a lot of excitement about AI. But among lower- and midlevel employees, there's a good deal of anxiety and ambiguity because there's no clear path." But "workers mustn't rely on senior executives and hope things will turn out rosy," he said. Javidan advises employees to seize development opportunities within their organizations and seek out online courses. Many top universities, including MIT and Stanford, provide free classes and workshops to help people build their skills. Grassroots and community-based learning groups, such as Women Defining AI , can be valuable resources. "Workers need to be proactive and educate themselves," he said. AI as a strategic collaborator Beyond formal training and coursework, getting comfortable with AI requires a fundamental mindset shift, experts say. "We were born with skills like curiosity, wonder, and imagination, but we often unlearned these in schools," Solis said. "The aim with AI should not be to generate expected answers or reinforce existing thinking but to challenge our conventions." Solis said he uses AI as a tool for perspective taking, asking it to generate responses from the personas of the Apple founder Steve Jobs and Walt Disney. This approach helps him identify blind spots, explore alternative viewpoints, and seek inspiration. "They're my personal coaches," he said. Molly Sands, the head of the teamwork lab at the software company Atlassian, which studies teamwork in the age of AI and distributed work, recommends viewing AI as a creative partner , not just a task-completion machine. "The people who are saving the most time and seeing the biggest benefits are those who see AI as a strategic collaborator," she said. This involves engaging with AI through dynamic, iterative conversations — much like working with a team of experts, she said. A new study by researchers at the MIT Sloan School of Management backed this up, finding that human-AI teams showed the most promise in creative tasks like generating content and imagery and translating software code. "A lot of people use it for one or two use cases, but the growth we're going to see in the next year or two is the people who think about it more ubiquitously," Sands said. "Agents will be a key driver of this." Her team at Atlassian, for example, has developed a custom agent designed to help employees write more clearly. Essentially, she said, workers "word-vomit" into the agent with information about their audience, context, and key details. The agent then offers up a tailored draft in the worker's voice. "Our workdays are consumed by writing emails, creating slide decks, and other routine tasks," Sands said. "If AI can take on some of this load — freeing us up for creative thinking and solving meaty problems — the better off we'll be." The value of soft skills Learning how to work with AI is imperative for most workers, but it's important to recognize that human skills remain essential . After all, said Hakan Ozcelik, a professor of management at California State University, Sacramento, the value of human workers lies in their cognitive, behavioral, and emotional abilities. "There are all sorts of skills that AI doesn't have yet, and maybe never will," he said. "Humans are inherently social beings, constantly interacting with customers, colleagues, competitors, and their physical environment," Ozcelik said. "These interpersonal skills are invaluable assets for any organization." While AI can process information and perform repetitive functions with speed and accuracy, it lacks the soft skills necessary for effective communication and strategic decision-making. A report by Cornerstone , a skills-development platform, said that while generative-AI-related job postings had risen 411% since 2023, the demand for soft skills such as leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence outpaced digital skills by 2.4 times in North America and 2.9 times in Europe. This is why Ozcelik advises employees to embark on what he calls "a process of professional soul-searching." Closely analyze your daily activities to determine your unique contributions and core competencies that cannot be outsourced, he said: "Dissect your work and look at what you offer your organization in a given day or a week." Also, identify areas where AI could offer assistance. For example, teachers may realize that while AI can handle grading for grammar and syntax, they should focus on evaluating students' ideas and nurturing creativity. Similarly, healthcare professionals can leverage AI for administrative tasks or data analysis while dedicating more quality time to patients. In an AI-driven world, the need for human skills will not change; instead, these skills will become even more vital as workers learn to collaborate effectively with technology, Ozcelik said. "It's about what you contribute and the value you bring," he said.
Jimmy Carter, 39th US president, Nobel winner, dies at 100A slide for market superstar Nvidia helped pull U.S. stock indexes down from their records. The S&P 500 fell 0.6% Monday, coming off its 57th all-time high of the year so far. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.6% from its own record. Nvidia was the market’s heaviest weight after China said it’s probing the chip giant for potential antitrust violations. Stocks in Hong Kong jumped after top Chinese leaders agreed on a “moderately loose” monetary policy. Prices for oil and gold rose following the ouster of Syrian leader Bashar Assad. On Monday: The S&P 500 fell 37.42 points, or 0.6%, to 6,052.85. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 240.59 points, or 0.5%, to 44,401.93. The Nasdaq composite fell 123.08 points, or 0.6%, to 19,736.69. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 16.16 points, or 0.7%, to 2,392.84. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,283.02 points, or 26.9%. The Dow is up 6,712.39 points, or 17.8%. The Nasdaq is up 4,725.34 points, or 31.5%. The Russell 2000 is up 365.76 points, or 18%.
ATLANTA — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. ''Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,'' the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation's highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. ''My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,'' Carter once said. A president from Plains A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon's disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. ''If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don't vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,'' Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women's rights and America's global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter's electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 ''White House Diary'' that he could be ''micromanaging'' and ''excessively autocratic,'' complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington's news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. ''It didn't take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,'' Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had ''an inherent incompatibility'' with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to ''protect our nation's security and interests peacefully'' and ''enhance human rights here and abroad'' — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. And then, the world Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. ''I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,'' Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. ''I wanted a place where we could work.'' That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter's stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors. He went ''where others are not treading,'' he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. ''I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don't,'' Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton's White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America's approach to Israel with his 2006 book ''Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.'' And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center's many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee's 2002 Peace Prize cites his ''untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.'' Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. ''The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,'' he said. ''The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.'' ‘An epic American life' Carter's globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little ''Jimmy Carters,'' so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington's National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners. He acknowledged America's historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. ''I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,'' Stuart Eizenstat, Carter's domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. ''He was not a great president'' but also not the ''hapless and weak'' caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was ''good and productive'' and ''delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.'' Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton's secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat's forward that Carter was ''consequential and successful'' and expressed hope that ''perceptions will continue to evolve'' about his presidency. ''Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,'' said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for ''an epic American life'' spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. ''He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,'' Alter told The Associated Press. A small-town start James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter's political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery's tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian, would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it ''inconceivable'' not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. ''My wife is much more political,'' Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn't long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist ''Dixiecrats'' as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as ''Cufflinks Carl.'' Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. ''I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,'' he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. 'Jimmy Who?' His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader's home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats' national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: ''Jimmy Who?'' The Carters and a ''Peanut Brigade'' of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter's ability to navigate America's complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared ''born-again Christian,'' Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he ''had looked on many women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times.'' The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC's new ''Saturday Night Live'' show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter ''Fritz'' Mondale as his running mate on a ''Grits and Fritz'' ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady's office. Mondale's governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname ''Jimmy'' even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band's ''Hail to the Chief.'' They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington's social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that ''he hated politics,'' according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Accomplishments, and ‘malaise' Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation's second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon's opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn't immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his ''malaise'' speech, although he didn't use that word. He declared the nation was suffering ''a crisis of confidence.'' By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he'd ''kick his ass,'' but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with ''make America great again'' appeals and asking voters whether they were ''better off than you were four years ago.'' Reagan further capitalized on Carter's lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: ''There you go again.'' Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages' freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. 'A wonderful life' At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with ''no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.'' Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. ''I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,'' Carter told the AP in 2021. ''But it's turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.'' Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. ''I'm perfectly at ease with whatever comes,'' he said in 2015. ''I've had a wonderful life. I've had thousands of friends, I've had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.'' ___ Former Associated Press journalist Alex Sanz contributed to this report.Remembering Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States
Intel's new Lunar Lake hardware is a reflection of modern chip design. It's tempting to call it a "processor" or "CPU" — old habits die hard, after all — but it's really a system-on-a-chip (SoC), both in terms of architecture and philosophy. The CPU cores are joined by integrated GPU cores, a neural processing unit (NPU), and even on-chip RAM. Also, unlike past Intel chips, Lunar Lake seems set on striking a balance between the three. That's keenly felt in Intel's approach to Lunar Lake's integrated graphics (iGPU). Building on the success of Intel Core Ultra, Intel's new processors also offer Intel Arc graphics — but this time around, Intel has returned to providing each iGPU a name unique to its configuration, and the best version here is the Intel Arc 140V with eight Xe Cores and a max frequency of 2.05GHz. Meanwhile, Intel's competition hasn't been spinning its wheels. AMD's latest Ryzen AI processors have their own integrated graphics updates in the form of the Radeon 880M (succeeding the well-respected Radeon 780M) and the new Radeon 890M (which clearly thumped an earlier Intel Arc iteration in our last integrated graphics test). So, how well does the iGPU in Intel's Lunar Lake chips perform? Is it a minor boost over previous incarnations? Or a major update? Spoiler alert: Lunar Lake's visual chops are good enough to let you play many modern games without paying extra for a discrete graphics card. Keep reading for our in-depth benchmark test results. Updated on November 22, 2024: This article was updated to include benchmark results from the Asus Zenbook S 14 with Intel Core Ultra 7 258V. Additional testing was conducted after initial results suggested the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition might be delivering lower-than-typical graphics performance for this configuration. Hardware specifications for our tests Our game benchmarks below were conducted on two laptops: a Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition with Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor and an Asus... Matthew S. Smith
Jamiya Neal finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and four blocks to lead host Creighton over UNLV 83-65 on Saturday in Omaha, Neb. Creighton was without star Pop Isaacs, who was ruled out for the season on Saturday morning after undergoing surprise hip surgery. It was a startling turn, considering Isaacs led Creighton with 27 points in Wednesday's win over No. 1 Kansas. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.1. A pack of oil-blotting sheets for soaking up that afternoon shine from so your face doesn't look like an oil slick come 3 p.m. Promising review: "I have an extremely oily face; I mean, minutes after wiping it, oil will collect back up there. These are so perfect! They are large enough to use on my entire face, sometimes twice, depending on how oily I am. They do not grab ahold of any makeup, smear it in any way, or make me break out. I feel comfortable enough using these in public because the packaging is so cute and also discreet if you're embarrassed to use them . They also do not become completely transparent, so I feel like I can use both sides." — D Get a pack of 100 sheets from Amazon for $6.95 (available in three scents). 2. Or a volcanic stone face roller so you can reap its grease-absorbing benefits over and over and over again. That's less money you have to spend on oil-blotting sheets and more money you can spend on literally anything else! Promising review: "This has transformed my makeup routine! My skin is so oily; every day, I dab it, rinse it off, or wipe the oil off with a tissue. It was so embarrassing to me. Now, I just go over my T-zone with this roller, and my face stays dry all day ; no more shine! Don’t hesitate to purchase this roller. It’s absolutely wonderful and gets the job done!" — GLENDA GERDES Get it from Amazon for $12.99 . 3. A powerful snail repair cream that'll help brighten dull skin, fade discoloration, and add plumpness. Snail mucin extract is a popular ingredient in K-beauty products and is rich in hyaluronic acid (hydrates) and glycolic acid (stimulates collagen production). Promising review: "I'm 55 years old, and my skin is a bit sensitive. I don't have a lot of wrinkles, but I'm definitely noticing a few more laugh lines and forehead crinkles than I had a few years ago! I've tried several moisturizers and have not been terribly impressed with any of them until now. This stuff really is great — incredibly hydrating without feeling greasy, and it absorbs quickly. It feels great on my skin. In just a few short weeks, I definitely noticed an improvement in my skin tone and fewer lines and wrinkles! I will definitely be ordering this product again. I use it in the evening and morning; no need for two different moisturizers. Very pleased!" — sbakey Get it from Amazon for $20 . 4. A bottle of professional grade callus-removing gel to dissolve hard dead skin in literal minutes and have sandal-ready heels. (Seriously, reviewers say you should only let it sit for two to three minutes!) Then, give it a good scrub with a foot file and your heels will be baby bottom smooth. Promising review: "I live in rubber sandals all summer. I have perma beach feet. They get so crusty, dry, and cracked that I scratch myself at night with my heels, and my feet snag on the sheets! So embarrassing. This stuff works! Holy cow! I applied it to my dry heels. Let sit for about four minutes. Put water in my Mr. Pumice and scrubbed away for a few minutes. My feet are so smooth! My husband might actually touch them 😜 Who needs to pay for special pedicures when this stuff is available? Truth: DO wash your hands and feet with soap really well afterward because this stuff can burn your skin if left on too long." — Another humble opinion... Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 5. A collagen-coating hair treatment because your dry, damaged, and overprocessed strands could use a little TLC. This reparative five-minute hair mask will revive your mane and leave it soft, silky, and smooth. Promising review: "My hair used to be really soft, and then I discovered hot tools and hair dye. While my hair looks good, I really missed the soft texture. This works so well. There are no instructions on the box, but I washed my hair with my usual shampoo, towel dried it, worked about two quarter-sized dollops through my hair, let it sit for 20 minutes, and then rinsed out. I went to bed with wet hair, which usually results in my hair being kind of tangled and rough-looking, but I woke up, and my hair was as soft and silky as it was before I started coloring it. I'm totally in love with this product. I have long, fine hair, but this doesn't leave it greasy or weigh it down. I'll definitely buy again." — Ellie Get it from Amazon for $7.40 . Read our Elizavecca CER-100 Collagen Coating Hair Protein Treatment review to learn more about why my colleague calls it "the miracle product I've been searching for." 6. A CeraVe salicylic acid body wash if your keratosis pilaris is flaring up. It exfoliates without the harsh microbeads, erasing rough and bumpy skin while leaving behind moisturizing hyaluronic acid and calming niacinamide. Promising review: "This product is incredible. I struggle with my 'winter skin' every year. This, used in combination with a quality moisturizer, has completely erased my dry skin bumps. 10/10 recommend this product!! I have really sensitive skin, too, and had no issues with it." — Kora Get it from Amazon for $13.99 . 7. Some acne patches for those days when a pimple pops up at the *worst* possible moment. Hydrocolloid, tea tree oil, and calendula oil are gentle on the skin while still drawing out fluids and pus from your pimple. Promising review: "These are the best patches I’ve tried. They pull out the moisture very well and protect your blemishes throughout the day/night. Helps me not pick at my skin as well. Neutral color, which blends well with skin tones. Helps decrease puffiness, size, and color of pimples." — KWitt Get 30 round patches from Amazon for $4.88 . 8. And some hydrocolloid nose patches so you can target the oily pores and slurp out the gunk in the zits around your nose and on your nose bridge. Promising review: " It's gross in the most spectacular way. The amount of disgusting gunk that came out of my face was appalling, and I instantly gagged. However, my nose has never felt so clean and smooth for consecutive days . If you have oily skin, I definitely recommend washing your face first and applying it to the nose before moisturizing the rest of your face. If I could give this 10 stars, I would. Everyone is getting this for Christmas....maybe because it's not cheap." — Justina Get 10 patches from Amazon for $16.55 . 9. A nail concealer that'll subtly hide yellowing and staining on your nails. Promising review: "As a 62-year-old woman who gardens, cleans house, etc., I needed something that improved the look of my nails without looking cheap or crappy. This was more than I wanted to spend on nail polish...but totally worth it. Two coats showed NO ridges and looked better than natural nails without looking fake or cheap. Totally worth it!" — Unbiased Independent Reviewer Get it from Amazon for $20 (available in five shades). Check out our Londontown Illuminating Nail Concealer review for more deets! 10. A skin spatula that'll help remove blackheads and de-gunk pores using high frequency vibrations. This can also help your skincare absorb better since your pores won't be blocked with debris. Promising review: "After my last pregnancy, I started developing cystic acne; my skin was congested with oil, whiteheads, blackheads, you name it. After all those years of desperately doing my own extractions, trying every mask, cleanser, and device, my skin was left scarred and discolored. I hated the texture of my skin. I impulsively bought this and tried it the day it was delivered. I was amazed at how well it extracted all the gunk I could and couldn't see lurking under my skin. I use it every night to cleanse, then apply my serum and moisturizer. I took the first set of photos on 5/27 and still didn't love how my skin looked under makeup. I could tell it was doing something, though, so I stuck with it. Three days later, I woke up in shock! Took the second set of photos wearing the same makeup (but needed much less). I am finally happy with the way my skin looks, and I posted a selfie without a filter for the first time since I can remember! Just try it! (All photos were taken in natural light. Must've gotten some cloud cover in the last one. No filters on ANY of them! I'm still in shock!)" — Marlena H. Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in three colors). 11. A tub of brightening, firming, and rejuvenating eye cream because you're tired of your mom constantly asking you, "Are you getting enough sleep?" on your weekly FaceTime even though she should darn well know that your dark circles are hereditary (thnx a lot Mom!). Promising review: "This is the second review I’ve done on Amazon. I rarely go out of my way to write a review unless I’m truly amazed by the product. I have terrible sunken-in eyes (due to genetics) that can’t really be fixed without fillers (which I’d never do). No matter how much sleep I get, I have bad dark circles, so I decided that I had to invest in an eye cream. I’m so glad I did! I used a cheap drugstore eye cream that really only made it look like I had water under my eyes, and it did nothing else. This eye cream is so hydrating and smooth! It really evens out my skin tone and wakes up my face in the morning! I feel so refreshed and dare I say...prettier. It’s boosted my confidence a ton . I’m so happy with this product!" — casie ackerman Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in three sizes and packs of two). 12. A teeth-whitening pen if you avoid smiling with your teeth so folks don't see your yellowing teeth. This brightens without the irritation of whitening strips that slip and slide all over your teeth. You can use each pen ~20 times and should expect your teeth to lighten four to eight shades. Promising review: "I have only used the two original pens that I purchased and can already see an improvement. I am older than 60 and drink coffee daily and red wine weekly." — vicki houska Get a two-pack from Amazon for $18.95 . 13. A dandruff shampoo for banishing white flakes from your scalp. If the summer heat and humidity is exacerbating your dandruff, it's time to reach for this. It's made with ketoconazole 1%, an antifungal ingredient that'll tell your dandruff it's no longer welcome here. Read more about ketoconazole shampoo at Cleveland Clinic . Promising review: "I have an extremely dry scalp in the summer and winter, and I’ve tried so many products without any improvement. This shampoo worked wonders and after only ONE wash, I was able to go about five days without any itching. It does dry my hair out, but if you have a good conditioner, you should be fine. It’s working great so far, so I’ll definitely be purchasing again." — Azia Get it from Amazon for $15.54 . 14. A natural shoe deodorizer spray so you don't have to wash your feet the minute you get home to get rid of the funk from your work flats. It's made with essential oils and smells like lemon and eucalyptus so you'll probably want to spray it around the rest of your house, too. Promising review: "This product WORKS! You won’t be disappointed. I used to get embarrassed taking off my flats in my office because they smelled so bad, but not anymore! My work flats make my feet sweaty, and this spray helps keep the awful odors away for at least four to five days (probably longer, but I was so excited I just sprayed my shoes again because I liked the smell, haha!) The lemon is strong, and I love the eucalyptus, so I would purchase it again! Although it will likely last a while! I have a little boy who gets sweaty feet also, so I'm sure I’ll soon be using this in his shoes also." — Traeannah Brown Get it from Amazon for $13.95 . 15. A cuticle oil that'll restore your shredded nails after a gel mani. A combination of sweet almond oil, vitamin E, and jojoba softens the cuticle and strengthens your claws so you'll be proud to show them off. Promising review: " This product is amazing. I've always had acrylic or dipped nails because my real nails have always been brittle and always break and peel. I decided to give my nails a break and wanted to try and grow them out. I can't even believe the outcome! They are stronger than ever and growing! I really wish I had taken a before pic to show the difference!" — JOE D. Get it from Amazon for $9.90 (also available in two other sizes). 16. A tiny toenail brace to help lift curved, ingrown nails and help relieve pain and pressure — and you may see results in just a few days. This comes with a kit containing 10 toenail braces and tools for application. Each brace lasts 3–6 weeks. Promising review: "I used to be in sports all through middle and high school, and it really messed up my left foot overall, especially my big toe. I was always embarrassed by my big toe during the summer that I’d put a bandage over it to make it seem like it was injured. Finding someone to fix your toe is expensive, and I don’t have that kind of money at the moment. I started doing research on ways to do so, and this one was the best way. It does take some practice, but once attached, it should not move. Your toes will hurt for a day. Like a dense pain. Not sharp. I saw a difference in about two weeks. I’m a month in on the most severe toe, and no more ingrown toenails !" — Sandra L. Get it from Amazon for $44.99 . 17. A pack of Schick dermaplaning razors because they're in the business of evicting unwanted stray hairs. And thanks to its precision cover, you can conquer your face-shaving fear caused by accidentally shaving off half your eyebrow in middle school. These itty bitty razors are great for stashing in your purse for touch-ups on the go. Promising review: "My cheeks, neck, forehead, and chin are covered in a fine ever-growing peach fuzz. If I cease shaving, I shall acquire a boat and thus forth be dubbed blonde beard. My mustache is darker and thicker, something I think a lot of women experience. I have been shaving for a while with a men's razor and shaving cream, but it just couldn't give me a close enough shave. ENTER SCHICK SILK TOUCH-UP! Holy wow! I've been dry-shaving my entire face and some of my neck with these, and there is no irritation. Plus, it is the closest shave I have gotten . No pulling or scraping like other 'mini razors.' So very efficient for doing your whole face, easy for detailing those brows. " — Dr. Eleanor Abernathy Get a pack of three from Amazon for $5.94 . 18. Or a facial hair trimmer if you're tired of plucking your unibrow or mustache and would rather reach for an electric option that's painless and fast. Promising review: "I’ve been shaving my face for years because of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). My hair had become coarse, and I was worried this wouldn’t work. It works just fine on the coarse hairs on my lip and chin. No more embarrassing razor burns or cuts. It also cuts just as close as a razor. I’m so happy I tried it!" — Jessica Get it from Amazon for $17+ (available in five colors). 19. A pair of exfoliating mitts for buffing away beads of dry, dead, and flaky skin (you'll literally be able to see them) to reveal buttery, baby soft skin underneath — and probably make you feel like a lizard shedding its skin. Promising review: "This summer, for the first time in years and years, I’ve been wearing shorts without feeling self-conscious. I’ve had KP on my arms since I was little, but all of a sudden started having issues with KP bumps on my legs. Shaving made it a million times worse, and even spending one summer only having my legs waxed and not touching them with a razor didn’t stop the ingrown hairs. I was really embarrassed about my legs. I can’t believe the difference in my legs. The trick is, you MUST soak whatever body part you are exfoliating in warm or hot for at least 15 minutes, I’ve found 20 or more is even more effective. I scrub pretty vigorously, and my skin is fairly sensitive. Other than a very mild little sting right after I do it, as soon as I put lotion on, the redness and sting go away. My legs are smooth, I can actually shave AGAINST the hair growth now and I don’t have legs covered with scabby red spots anymore from ingrown hairs. I wish I had known about this years ago" — summergirl098 Get them from Amazon for $12.99 (also available individually). 20. A curl-activating cream so your curls stay curls instead of turning into a ball of frizz the moment you step outside of the house. It enhances your natural curl pattern while reducing frizz — a win-win! It's also designed to add volume, bounce, and shine for days so your day one ringlets look just as good on day three. And that's a win-win-win! Promising review: "I have fine, curly/wavy hair and live in Florida, where the humidity is intense ! This product goes a long way. When you apply and let sit to dry, it creates a softer cast that you can scrunch out when dry . This product works best when you apply this to soaking wet hair then apply Cantu’s Twist and Lock gel !! Helps a ton with humidity frizz! " — Rylin Annmarie Get it from Amazon for $6.25 . 21. A box of wart-removing pads that'll help you say goodbye to your extra growth faster than it'll take you to name it. Apply it just like a bandage, and voila — see ya later! Promising review: "This stuff works! I’ve never had a wart in my life! At first, I thought it was a small callus, but as months went by, it was getting larger. I started to google and realized I had a plantar wart on my thumb! Eww, embarrassing! So I got the freeze-off and thought, 'This has to work!' Nope! I tried the freeze-off three times, and nothing! I then realized the same thing was happening on my other thumb, a small callus, but I knew that the wart had spread! Now I was desperate to get rid of them and knew I had waited too long! I bought the invisible strips, and they removed my small wart in four days and my big wart in eight!! I couldn’t believe it. I left strips on for two days, then pulled back the dead skin with a cuticle clipper and reapplied! My bigger wart was a little tougher to remove, and I had irritated my skin trying to cut it out, so I left it alone for a few days before reapplying the strip, and by the second 48-hour treatment, it was gone! I thought my skin would be damaged, but it looks like nothing was ever there!" — Audrey N. Get 14 pads from Amazon for $7.29+ (available in three styles). 22. A powerful glycolic acid peel to help improve pitted texture, reduce fine lines, and soften skin. Glycolic acid helps sort of unglue skin cells, so the softer, brighter layer underneath can emerge. But it can be a bit irritating to your skin so start slowly — especially because this peel also contains retinol, a collagen-boosting ingredient that can make your skin more sensitive. Promising review: "This stuff is absolutely incredible. In January of 2017, I finally decided to try an at-home peel in conjunction with retinoids. Take a look at the photos I posted, and you'll see how happy I am with my progress (after the photo on the right, taken June 2017). I've used this peel once a week and have had incredible results. Previously, I did three rounds of Fraxel, which only resulted in severe pain, peeling, and grossness. Oh yes, and an empty savings account. For 30 bucks every few months, I achieved better results than I got at a dermatologist's office. " — Meredith Get it from Amazon for $29.95 . 23. A fast-absorbing sunburn lotion because you totally forgot to reapply sunscreen and then took a snooze on your beach vacay. It's made to soothe, recondition, and replenish your skin after sun exposure, and reviewers have found that it can help prevent peeling so you can wear your favorite summery outfits without worrying about obnoxious tan lines or tender, sunburned skin that even the lightest fabric irritates. Promising review: "Best product ever for sunburns! No peeling or itching. Simply amazing! The photos are four days apart." — Carrie Get it from Amazon for $7.86 . 24. A nail repair pen for discolored, dry, brittle fingernails and toenails that aren't ready for manis and pedis just yet. Promising review: "I cannot believe this stuff actually worked!! I have had toenail fungus for about a decade, thanks to my beloved husband (I got it from him), and I just put toenail polish over it, but it is so gross and destroys your nails. I started using this stuff twice a day but then kept forgetting, so was only about once a day. Surprisingly, over the course of about three months, my toenails, which were getting awful, were back to my normal toenails. I hadn't seen them in 10 years!! I gave my husband a tube, and he started using it and started noticing improvements within a month also and asked me for more, but I was out. This is probably the best thing I have ever bought off Amazon. So glad I gave this a try!!" — Rebecca Smith Get four pens from Amazon for $21.99 . 25. A hairbrush cleaning tool so you're brushing your hair with clean bristles. Even if you remove shed hairs every time you brush, there's still a layer of dead skin cells, dust, dirt, lint, and residue from hair products that is accumulating. Promising review: "When I bought this, I was really skeptical. I am grossed out by my hairbrush and clean it all the time. I've soaked it in vinegar and tea tree oil, used a toothbrush, scrubbed it with shampoo, picked it clean by hand — everything you can think of. Still, it's so hard to get the little lint that forms at the base of the brush — they don't dissolve off, and you have to pick them off the bristles one by one because a toothbrush won't even break them up. This thing works amazingly. I don't know why. It just does — the particular texture of the bristles on this really grabs everything. It scraped the little lint rings right off, and now my brush is cleaner, 10 times as fast." — HeartsofHavoc Get it from Amazon for $11.95 . 26. A denture cleaner if your retainer is coated in some weird white film. These fizzing tablets will blast away odor-causing bacteria, discoloration, and plaque from your Invisalign, retainers, dentures, night guards, and more. Promising review: "I really loved this product. I am currently waiting for a new Invisalign set. My old Invisalign needed to be cleaned. I read the reviews and decided to purchase. OMG, it worked! There was a fresh taste and they were clean. I wish I had found this product sooner. I did let them soak overnight only because I had been wearing them for the last four months. Nothing happened to Invisalign; there was no weakness or anything. Just very clean and fresh. If I could have given the product 10 stars, I would have. " — Lisa R. Get 120 tablets from Amazon for $20.91 . 27. A box of pore-tightening, skin-lifting face masks that'll truly terrify you, first because you'll look like a zombie once you've applied it, and second because it's so darn effective at reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Promising review: "I have never written a review before, but I am compelled to do so now. Let’s start with what my 41-year-old face looked like. I had bumps, tiny bumps all over my skin, especially my forehead. My skin NEVER felt smooth, even with the prescriptions I was given to help with these tiny bumps. Rosacea = bad, bad, bad. So bad that it was actually causing my cheeks to have what appeared to be thickening skin. Wrinkles, some that were quite deep. My pores were friggin huge and getting bigger day by day, it seemed like. I know that it says to use this product every three days. I chose to go with every single day for the first box of eight. The results were so amazing I decided on everyday for the second box. Even more amazing results. EVERY SINGLE ISSUE LISTED ABOVE NO LONGER EXISTS!!!! I moisturize deeply after rinsing, and my face looks absolutely amazing. My face did not even look like this at 30 . I am hooked, and I will be buying no less than three packs every single payday so I can stock up on this stuff in case they ever decide to quit selling it. If I had 10 stars available to rate, I would use them and more! " — Amazon Customer Get a box of eight masks from Amazon for $25.67 . 28. A bottle of dentist-approved mouthwash to help you beat swamp breath. This one's made sans alcohol so it won't burn when you swish it around your mouth. Promising review: "Why didn't I find it before? It's very embarrassing to admit, but I had very stinky breath. It did smell like s..t and I tried many products that didn't work. Just follow instructions and 'deep throat' gargle for 30 seconds or so for best results. I can say that my breath has improved by 50%, which is a huge, huge difference. Morning breath is not as bad. I can talk to people with confidence, and that is all that counts. Thank you, Amazon!!!" — Shopper5 Get a pack of two from Amazon for $15.34 . 29. A skin-softening urea foot cream because you wanna strut your stuff in sandals. It's time to paint those piggies and shimmy into your favorite flip-flops without a second thought about calluses and dry skin. Promising review: "I have never seen a product like this ever. My feet were so soft and radiant after one application only. I usually don’t give this rating easily but this product truly made me do it. Seriously, it deserves 10 stars not 5, I would strongly recommend it to everyone. " — Nora Get it from Amazon for $15.99 . 30. An anti-chafing balm for swiping anywhere your clothes rub. It creates a moisture-repelling layer on your skin (without ever feeling greasy!) that protects against blisters, irritation, and chafing when your running, hiking, biking, or just trying to exist in the world as a sweaty person. Promising review: "I am a lifelong curvy lady whose thighs have rubbed together since the beginning of time, probably, so I’m no stranger to chafing. This morning, I applied the balm to my inner thighs under a sundress and spent a day walking around in the heat and sunshine; it was hot, and I was sweating, but miraculously, my thighs felt fine! I applied the balm at around 11:30 a.m., and as I write my review, it’s almost 7:30 p.m., but my legs are going strong. Other parts of me have definitely reacted to being out and about, but not my thighs — without this stuff, they would be pink and tender, but they feel soft and happy. I am absolutely impressed. Long story short, this stuff absolutely worked for me; I plan to buy a larger size when this smaller one runs out . Don’t be a doubter like I was!" — Gina Get it from Amazon for $8.99 . 31. A tonsil stone remover with a built-in LED light so you can easily locate the smelly calcified lump residing in your tonsil and stinking up your breath. Plus, it also comes with a syringe to help you wash out the pocket left behind by the tonsil stone. Promising review: "I'm in my early 30s and just started getting tonsil stones. Until a few months ago, I never even knew what these things were! I've been struggling with cotton swabs to fully remove the stones but couldn't get rid of them and they would just come back within the week. I received this and OMFG... best investment ever. No struggle holding my phone as a flashlight while awkwardly posing myself in front of my badly lit bathroom mirror. I sat comfortably at my vanity, used one hand, and removed the whole stone in less than a minute. Why did I not know this was a thing? Why have I been struggling? Get it! Stop struggling, suffering, and awkwardly dealing with this ridiculous condition...trust me." — Wren Get it from Amazon for $9.93+ (available in two colors and in a two-pack). 32. A magical makeup-correcting stick that'll easily clean up small messes — like smeared eyeliner or flaky mascara — so you don't have to whip out the makeup remover and start all over again. Promising review: "It’s nice and soft, it glides on gently without pulling, and mistakes easily wipe off without ruining my makeup." — H H Get it from Amazon for $10.59 . 33. A hair removal device designed to permanently reduce hair growth at home so you can skip the $$$ laser hair removal treatments. It's safe to use on your bikini line, upper lip, chin, face, armpits, back, chest, stomach, arms, and legs. Do not use it on your eyebrows or tanned or tattooed skin. Promising review: "7 out of 5 stars. After two months of using it as directed, I am impressed with the results. My face has post-menopausal coarse hair growth. In the past, I have spent thousands of dollars to have the hair on my legs and bikini area professionally removed. Rather than risking possible COVID-19 exposure due to multiple office visits at a professional salon, I chose to purchase this device to remove my facial hair. Even the medium and fine black facial hairs have disappeared. " — Prague Get it from Amazon for $69.99 (clip the $30 off coupon for this price). 34. A dry shampoo powder because it's a travel-friendly option (it's a powder, not an aerosol can) that'll help mattify your roots, absorb excess grease, and extend the life of your hairstyles between washes. Promising review: "I've always needed dry shampoo for my top roots, which get oily far before the rest of my hair. THIS is by FAR the best I've ever used. The applicator is genius — it goes on so easily. And I've NEVER had a dry shampoo last like this for DAYS! It's easy to work in with my fingers and it is a wonderful volumizer. The size is great for travel. I hope they never change the formula — it is just wonderful — even the very light, delicate fragrance is perfect. I give it 100 STARS for its safety, convenience, design AND for all the time it saves me. " — Lexi Jean Get it from Amazon for $18 (available in five shades). 35. A tube of antiperspirant hand cream to dry your hands if you suffer from hyperhidrosis (excess sweating), or if you're just nervous! Promising review: "I used this product on my 10-year-old son. He sweats A LOT on his hands. He would tell me that he was embarrassed at school and he had problems making friends. My son told me he had never shaken a hand outside of mine ever before in his life...it broke me. As a father, I knew I had to fix this. I set an appointment with his doctor and got nowhere. The doctor said it's normal and should go away in the coming years. I asked about surgery and they said it would be around $10,000, so I started saving. Couple weeks went by and I came across this product I asked my son if he was OK with trying it and he desperately said yes. We put it on, and his hands are completely dry now. When it worked, he started practicing shaking hands and high-fives with his brother. It's been two weeks now, and it is working AMAZING." — HECTOR LORENZO Get it from Amazon for $19.95 . 36. An antifungal tea tree balm for helping treat a bunch of somewhat embarrassing skin conditions: athlete's foot, ringworm, jock itch, and even just dry skin. Promising review: "I ordered this balm on a whim as a remedy for a skin rash and was very impressed with its effectiveness! After getting rid of my rash, I decided to try it elsewhere and it worked wonders on dry skin areas like elbows, knees, and feet. I was blown away by how I changed my feet entirely! As a dancer, my feet have always been a war zone: dry skin, callouses, ingrown toenails, and athlete's foot (all frequent problems over the course of many years). I was always embarrassed to wear sandals or any type of shoes that would show off parts of my feet because of all the dry skin, but sometimes, it couldn't be avoided. This balm has made my feet the loveliest they have been, and now I can choose any type of shoes I want to wear without embarrassment. " — anengstrom Get it from Amazon for $36.32 . 37. A multi-use skincare oil so you can say bye bye to uneven skin, stretch marks, and acne scars. It helps your body retain moisture (see ya later, dry skin!) and absorbs into the skin fast so you won't feel greasy. Psst! Bio-Oil contains retinol, which accelerates skin turnover but can make you more sensitive to the sun — so don't forget your sunscreen! Promising review: "I was skeptical of how amazing the reviews are, but this stuff is pure gold. I use it on stretch marks on my legs, and in just a week, they went from bright, angry red to purple. I use it twice a day, if I remember, and it's amazing. I also rub it on my face after I wash my face. It has made the acne on my cheeks go WAY down and is removing the scars. I have amazing skin now. I use this stuff EVERY day, and I've barely even put a dent in it. This size is amazing for the price — holy cow. I seriously never leave reviews, but seriously, this stuff is pure magic. I tried vitamin C serum, rosehip, witch hazel, etc., and this is the only thing that has worked for me. Good luck!! " — Jessamyne Campbell Get it from Amazon for $11.12 . The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.The Huawei Mate 70 series has experienced a strong start following its official debut last week. This new flagship lineup consists of four models: the , . A few days after the launch, the company began accepting pre-orders, and the demand has been impressive. Huawei’s CEO, He Gang, disclosed that the series has accumulated over 6.7 million reservations in China. These figures stem from non-binding sign-ups, as customers do not need to pay to reserve a unit. While the excitement is not as intense as last year’s , the level of interest remains significant. However, while the surging demand is a good thing for the company, it is facing mounting supply due to the high demand. Reports suggest the firm is pushing its limits to meet initial orders, yet a shortfall in early stock seems likely. The Kirin 9020 chipset at the core of the Mate 70 series may pose the largest hurdle. The Huawei Mate 70 series uses a domestic chip, designed to work without US parts and it has eight CPU cores and 12 threads. Its clock speed peaks at 2.5 GHz for one core, 2.15 GHz for three others, and 1.6 GHz for four more while the GPU works at 840 MHz. Though not on par with top-tier 3nm chips from global firms, it is a step up from the Kirin 9010, offering a 30% boost. Huawei’s pricing covers a broad spectrum, beginning at CNY5,499 for the Mate 70. The Pro model is priced at CNY 6,499 ($892), while the Pro+ starts at CNY 8,499 ($1,169). At the premium end, the RS Ultimate commands a remarkable starting price of CNY 11,999 ($1,650). The initial buzz surrounding the Mate 70 could significantly influence Huawei’s performance throughout the year. However, the company’s supply chain will need to rapidly expand to meet the growing demand. The Kirin 9020 represents a significant technological advancement for Huawei but might also present potential challenges in production. Ultimately, the success of the Mate 70 series will depend on Huawei’s ability to fulfil demand efficiently. The company’s response to this challenge could determine its future success in an increasingly competitive market.
B.C. football coach has both feet crushed after being hit by car in crosswalk
Cabinet ministers have been warned they must find more savings in their departments as the Chancellor said “every pound” of Government spending will be scrutinised in a major budget review. Secretaries of State are being told that any outgoings which are not contributing towards one of Labour’s “priorities” must be cut as Rachel Reeves vows to wield “an iron fist against waste.” In letters sent by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, departments will be told to brace for “difficult” spending decisions in order to restore trust in the Government’s handling of the public finances. Every pound of departmental spending will be face a “line-by-line review” involving external finance experts from banks and think tanks in order to ensure it represents value for money, the Treasury said. The Chancellor will on Tuesday launch the next round of Government spending, and is expected to warn departments that they “cannot operate in a business-as-usual way when reviewing their budgets for the coming years”. She will insist that areas focused on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s “plan for change”, which includes targets to improve living standards across the country and build 1.5 million homes, must be prioritised. Ms Reeves said: “By totally rewiring how the Government spends money we will be able to deliver our plan for change and focus on what matters for working people. “The previous government allowed millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to go to waste on poor value for money projects. We will not tolerate it; I said I would have an iron grip on the public finances and that means taking an iron fist against waste. “By reforming our public services, we will ensure they are up to scratch for modern day demands, saving money and delivering better services for people across the country. That’s why we will inspect every pound of Government spend, so that it goes to the right places and we put an end to all waste.” Under the Treasury’s plans, departments will ensure budgets are scrutinised by “challenge panels” of external experts including former senior management of Lloyd’s Banking Group, Barclays Bank and the Co-operative Group. These panels, which will also involve think tanks, academics and the private sector, will advise on which spending “is or isn’t necessary”, the ministry said. The Treasury said work has already begun, with an evaluation of the £6.5 million spent on a scheme that placed social workers in schools finding “no evidence of positive impact on social care outcomes”. “Departments will be advised that where spending is not contributing to a priority, it should be stopped,” it said. “Although some of these decisions will be difficult, the Chancellor is clear that the public must have trust in the Government that it is rooting out waste and that their taxes are being spent on their priorities.” Ms Reeves had already announced efficiency and productivity savings of 2% across departments in her autumn budget as she seeks to put the public finances on a firmer footing. In a speech in east London, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden hinted at a further squeeze. “At the Budget the Chancellor demanded efficiency and productivity savings of 2% across departments – and there will be more to come,” he said. “As we launch the next phase of the spending review at its heart must be reform of the state in order to do a better job for the public.”Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has already found a new program in Duke, while Mississippi State's Michael Van Buren Jr., Wisconsin's Braedyn Locke and Cal's Fernando Mendoza are exploring changes of their own in the transfer portal. Mensah, a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining, told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended the Blue Devils men's basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils (9-3) will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, who also entered the portal. Mensah, viewed as one of the top players in the portal, threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns and completed 65.9% of his passes. He led the Green Wave to a 9-4 record and the American Athletic Conference championship game, where they lost 35-14 to Army. Tulane will play Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl on Sunday. Van Buren, Mendoza and Locke announced on social media they had entered the portal. Van Buren started eight games as a true freshmen for the Bulldogs. He threw for 1,886 yards on 55% passing with 16 total touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Bulldogs (2-10, 0-8 Southeastern Conference). He took over as the starter when Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a 45-28 loss to Florida on Sept. 21. Shapen has said he plans to return next season. Van Buren, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound passer from St. Frances Academy in Maryland, had two 300-yard performances for the Bulldogs, including 306 yards and three touchdown passes in a 41-31 road loss against Georgia. Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards in 2024 with 16 TDs, six interceptions and a 68.7 completion percentage. "For the sake of my football future this is the decision I have reached," he posted. Locke passed for 1,936 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Wisconsin this season. He said he will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next school. ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan cornerback Will Johnson has joined defensive tackle Mason Graham in the NFL draft. Johnson declared for the draft on Wednesday, one day after Graham decided he would also skip his senior season with the Wolverines. Both preseason All-America players are expected to be first-round picks. Johnson was limited to six games this year due to an injury. He had two interceptions, returning them both for touchdowns to set a school record with three scores off interceptions. Johnson picked off nine passes in three seasons. Graham played in all 12 games this season, finishing with 3 1/2 sacks and seven tackles for losses. He had 18 tackles for losses, including nine sacks, in his three-year career. Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson is The Associated Press offensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference and South Carolina defensive lineman Kyle Kennard is the top defensive player. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was voted the top newcomer on Wednesday while the Gamecocks' Shane Beamer is coach of the year in voting by the panel of 17 media members who cover the league. Sampson led the SEC and set school records by rushing for 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns. He is tied for third nationally in rushing touchdowns, recording the league's fifth-most in a season. Sampson was chosen on all but two ballots. Mississippi wide receiver Tre Harris and his quarterback, Jaxson Dart, each got a vote. Kennard led the SEC with 11-1/2 sacks and 15-1/2 tackles for loss. He also had 10 quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles. Beamer led the Gamecocks to just their fifth nine-win season, including a school-record four wins over Top 25 opponents. They've won their last six games and ended the regular season with a win over eventual ACC champion Clemson. South Carolina plays Illinois on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl. Pavia helped lead Vandy to its first bowl game since 2018 after transferring from New Mexico State. He passed for 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions. He ran for another 716 yards and six touchdowns, directing an upset of Alabama. AMES, Iowa — Matt Campbell, who led Iowa State to its first 10-win season and became the program's all-time leader in coaching victories, has agreed to an eight-year contract that would keep him with the Cyclones through 2032. University president Wendy Wintersteen and athletic director Jamie Pollard made the announcement Wednesday, four days after the Cyclones lost to Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game. “Given all the uncertainty currently facing college athletics, it was critical that we moved quickly to solidify the future of our football program,” Pollard said. “Matt is the perfect fit for Iowa State University and I am thrilled he wants to continue to lead our program. Leadership continuity is essential to any organization’s long-term success." The Cyclones won their first seven games for their best start since 1938 and are 10-3 heading into their game against Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 28. Ohio Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Incredible PS5 Pro Black Friday sale cuts £300 from the priceNewcastle's No.1 Sportsground is one step closer to hosting top-flight sport after the council approved a planned $3.65 million upgrade of its grandstand. Login or signup to continue reading However, the upgrade is likely still some time away given City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath said the project was not yet budgeted for and the council would pursue a state or federal government grant. The council l odged plans in January for long-awaited improvements, the second stage of works designed to attract elite games. The project, which includes a new two-storey addition on the back of the grandstand to accommodate new change rooms and a glass-walled hospitality room upstairs, was given the green light at council's final meeting of the year on Tuesday night. The plans won unanimous approval from councillors. Ward once councillor Peter Gittins voiced his support of the project and highlighted the need for an upgrade to a venue which has not hosted first-class cricket since 2015. "I had a conversation two months ago with the CEO where we both expressed our desire to see Newcastle once again have a quality facility that can host cricket for all genders, rugby league, rugby union, whatever sport," councillor Gittins said. "This renovation will enable us to do that, and having played a lot of football on that sportsground many years ago, it is great to see that it's back in the limelight, that we can lay claim to a facility in the future that will enable Newcastle to host competitive sport at a regional, state and hopefully international level." An $8 million first stage of works at No.1 Sportsground completed in 2022 included improving and expanding the playing surface to the minimum size for high-level AFL and cricket fixtures as well installation of new floodlights. But it still left the inner-city venue short of meeting modern-day requirements to host elite sporting fixtures. It is hoped stage two, which Bath said would ultimately cost more than $5 million, will make it fit for purpose. The plans include new ground-level change rooms, two umpire rooms, two doctor rooms, two massage rooms, two multi-purpose spaces, three store rooms, a lift, the upstairs social room with kitchen, servery and cool room, and two team viewing rooms upstairs. The new upstairs kitchen, servery and "social room" will reduce the grandstand's seating capacity by 122 to 588. When works will begin, however, are not yet known. "This DA allows us to obviously commence construction," Bath said before approval was gained. "There is no funding in the current year's capital works program for this project. "As an organisation, we're just starting the process now of working on next year's capital works program. "I'm not in a position tonight to be able to comment that funding will be in next year's capital works program for the budget. "But, what it does do, if the council ultimately decide to approve the DA is it opens up a range of grant opportunities where the grants are conditional upon the project having an approved DA." Ward one councillor Charlotte McCabe noted a previous grant application for the proposed upgrade had been unsuccessful but said council's approval would allow the project to be "shovel-ready". "It would allow council to continue to apply for grants to the NSW government," councillor McCabe said. Renee Valentine is a sports journalist with more than 20 years of experience in Newcastle. She is passionate about increasing the visibility of sportswomen in the media. Got a sports story, email Renee at r.valentine@newcastleherald.com.au Renee Valentine is a sports journalist with more than 20 years of experience in Newcastle. 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Staff List: The 50 Best Dance Tracks of 2024Billionaire Elon Musk is calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “an insufferable tool” in a new social media post on Wednesday. “Won’t be in power for much longer,” Musk also wrote about the prime minister on “X.” Musk was responding to a video posted of Trudeau, in which the prime minister described Kamala Harris’ U.S. presidential loss as a setback for women’s progress. “We were supposed to be on a steady, if difficult sometimes, march towards progress. And yet, just a few weeks ago, the United States voted for a second time to not elect its first woman president," Trudeau said during a speech at the Equal Voice Foundation Gala in Ottawa on Tuesday night. Elon Musk called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'an insufferable tool' on social medi. (Credit: X) Trudeau also said women’s rights and women’s progress are “under attack overtly and subtlety,” and that he “always will be a proud feminist.” Musk, who founded SpaceX, has been tasked to co-chair U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency. He was also a prominent figure in Trump’s election campaign. Wednesday’s post is Musk’s latest swipe at the prime minister since Trump was re-elected in November. Responding to a user on “X” on Nov. 7 asking for Musk’s help to get rid of Trudeau, Musk wrote “He will be gone in the upcoming election.” The post also comes during at a tense time in Canada-U.S. relations. Trudeau has been facing social media jabs from Trump following the prime minister’s visit to Mar-a-Lago nearly two weeks ago to discuss Trump’s tariff threat. Last month, Trump threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports on his first day in office unless Canada addresses his border security concerns. Following that meeting, U.S. network Fox News reported Trump joked during the dinner in Florida that if the potential tariffs would harm the Canadian economy — as the prime minister conveyed to him — perhaps Canada should become America's 51st state . Days later, Trump posted an A.I.-generated image to social media that depicted him standing next to a Canadian flag and overlooking a mountain range with the caption “Oh Canada!” In an interview on Sunday with NBC’s Meet The Press, Trump made another reference to Canada becoming a state. "We're subsidizing Canada to the tune over $100 billion a year. We're subsidizing Mexico for almost $300 billion. We shouldn't be — why are we subsidizing these countries?" Trump said to NBC News. "If we're going to subsidize them, let them become a state." And just yesterday, Trump appeared to be mocking Trudeau, calling him “ Governor Justin Trudeau ” in a post on Truth Social. "It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada. I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!" Trump wrote. This week, Trudeau said Canada “will respond” if the U.S. moves ahead with a 25 per cent tariff. The federal government also says it will be adding more personnel and equipment resources, and show more visibility at the border in the wake of the tariff threat.