Must Reads

• From dorm room to your room: It’s the most wonderful time of the year for finding trash treasures​
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• How to take better selfies, sans selfie stick

Culture

Survey Crowns Paris the Food Capital of the World

There are arguably great places to eat just about anywhere in the world. But if you’re looking to go somewhere with a 10/10 meal on pretty much every street corner — Paris is the place, according to a recent survey.
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To sniff out the top 15 foodie cities in the world, Japanese rail ticket provider JR Pass surveyed 18,500 locals about the quality and affordability of their city’s dining scene. The rankings considered factors like food-based attractions, national dishes, the average meal price for two, and the number of five-star restaurants.
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While it’s no surprise the No. 1 spot went to the French capital, the home of flaky croissants, colorful macarons, and lively bistros, some more under-the-radar foodie destinations also soared to the top 10, such as Athens, Greece, and Ljubljana, Slovenia. See the full list.

Together With ConsumerDirect

This Company Saved Americans Over $3 Billion⁷

Dreams like college, a first home, or a reliable car often hinge on one thing: good credit. Yet Americans lack the tools to maximize theirs, costing them over $130 billion in fees annually.⁶ So ConsumerDirect fixed that, and in the process proved that empowering people can also power profits.
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The company’s AI-powered credit tools have already added more than 28.3 million points¹² to customer credit scores, helping save over $3 billion in loan interest.⁷ In 2024 alone, ConsumerDirect generated $102 million in gross revenue¹ — growing upward of 500% since 2019.²⁷​
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Now, after reserving the ticker symbol CNDR,²⁴ ConsumerDirect is preparing for a potential public listing. And it’s empowering the people again, this time inviting you to invest before this pivotal next step. Share in the company’s growth as an investor today.​

This is a paid advertisement for ConsumerDirect’s CF offering. Please read the offering circular at ​https://invest.consumerdirect.com/. Reserving the ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on a national securities exchange is subject to approvals. Important details available in disclosures #1, #6, #7, #12, #8, #24, #26, and #27 of the attached link: https://bit.ly/3YApFU6.

Tech

Researchers Invent a Clever Way to Give Old Smartphones New Life

Reduce, reuse, and repurpose your smartphones. That’s the goal set by a team of scientists to curb electronic waste, specifically the billions of phones that end up in landfills or collecting dust in a drawer. Their solution: Turn old devices into “micro data centers.”
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For a recent study, researchers created a working prototype by swapping the batteries of four phones with external power sources to mitigate the risk of chemical leakage. They then joined the devices together and added 3D-printed casings and holders, all for less than $10 per phone.
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So what can this “superphone” of sorts do? The study authors said the mini data center could aid in various practical tasks, such as tracking bus passengers and monitoring marine life. More broadly speaking, it’s an example of how devices can be given new life without a hefty price tag.
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As Huber Flores, one of the researchers, said in a news release: “Innovation often begins not with something new, but with a new way of thinking about the old, reimagining its role in shaping the future.” Feeling inspired? Check out some unique ways to repurpose old phones.

Humanity

Meet the First Asian Maestro of a Famed Italian Opera House

The sound of history being made is ringing through the halls of Teatro alla Scala. For the first time, the renowned Italian opera house selected an Asian maestro as its musical director: Myung-Whun Chung, a 72-year-old South Korean conductor and pianist with more than six decades of music experience under his belt.
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Chung’s family relocated to the U.S. when he was 8 years old — about a year after he made his public piano debut — and he moved to Italy in 1982. He will take on the coveted role in Milan when current director Riccardo Chailly’s contract ends late next year. Chung is the second non-Italian to take on the job, as well as “one of the most beloved artists among the Milanese public,” per a statement from the opera house.
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The feeling is mutual: “It feels like getting married after loving each other for 36 years,” Chung said at a news conference last month, per NPR. Beyond his extensive resume, the conductor is known for his passion for merging music with humanitarian work, using concerts to raise money for aid to North Korean children and to bring musicians from North and South Korea together. Watch (and hear) Chung in his element.​

In Other News

1. Always remember: The graves of some of America’s oldest veterans were found in a Pennsylvania town (read more)
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2. The High Seas Treaty is creating a “tidal wave of hope” after receiving strong international support (read more)
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3. A promising new HIV vaccine is expected to be approved by the FDA within the month (read more)
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4. New archaeological work revealed a luxe Roman villa hiding in plain sight in France (read more)
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5. This rehabbed rescue bear went from frail and hairless to furry and lively: See before and after pics (read more)

Inspiring Story

A very special pickup

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Mail carriers and dogs may not be known for always getting along, but Ian Burke, a postal worker in Texas, forged a special bond with one of the pups he regularly walked past on his route. So when he found out the dog, named Floyd, was in a shelter after his owner died, Burke showed up as soon as he could to take him home. “I think he’d be pleased to know that his former mailman is taking good care of his dog,” Burke said of Floyd’s late owner. See the duo together.​

Photo of the Day

On Monday, the first day of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, CEO Tim Cook unveiled a glossy new iPhone software design called “Liquid Glass.” The concept features see-through visuals and “makes even the simplest of interactions more fun and magical,” according to Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of Human Interface Design. Explore more of the upgrades and updates coming out of the annual conference.

Always Use the Right Credit Card With Kudos

Kudos is an AI-powered financial companion that helps you maximize your credit card rewards and earn more — without the guesswork. The app’s new Cheatsheet feature shows you which card in your wallet gets you the most points, cash back, or perks wherever you shop. Just search for a store or category to get the best recommendations instantly. The best part? It’s completely free.

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Odds & Ends

🍔 Chain restaurants are getting a Gen Z-led boost
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📖 You never know what you might find at the library
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🏞️ National parks need our support more than ever — shop Parks Project’s Defend the Parks collection to help protect the places that make us who we are*
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🌯 A new sauce for your burrito bowl

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*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate

Quote of the Day

“In the end, some of your greatest pains become your greatest strengths.”

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– DREW BARRYMORE