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Pope Francis: Update on medical condition brings infection fears among ‘respiratory crisis’ Pope Francis: Update on medical condition brings infection fears among ‘respiratory crisis’ Sepsis is now believed to be the main threat to Pope Francis as the 88-year-old Pontiff recovers in hospital from a “respiratory crisis” that put him in a critical condition on Saturday. The ******** says Francis rested well during a peaceful night following a respiratory crisis and blood transfusions. ******** spokesman Matteo Bruni’s one-line statement didn’t mention if Francis was up or eating breakfast: “The night passed quietly, the Pope rested.” The brief update came after doctors said the pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, was in critical condition. On Saturday morning, he suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection. The Pope received “high flows” of oxygen to help him breathe. He also received blood transfusions after tests showed low counts of platelets, which are needed for clotting, the ******** said in a late update. The Saturday statement said that the Pontiff “continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday”. Doctors said the prognosis was “reserved”. Doctors have said Francis’ condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease. They have warned that the main threat facing Francis would be the onset of sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia. As of Friday, there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various drugs he is taking, the Pope’s medical team said in their first in-depth update on the pope’s condition. Saturday’s blood tests showed that he had developed a low platelet count, a condition called platelopenia or thrombocytopenia. Platelets are cell-like fragments that circulate in the blood that help form blood clots to stop bleeding or help wounds heal. He has been in Rome’s Gemelli hospital since February 14 after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened. Amid his prolonged hospital stay, the ******** hierarchy has attempted to quash speculation that Francis might resign. There is no provision in canon law for what to do if a pope becomes incapacitated. Francis has said that he has written a letter of resignation that would be invoked if he were medically incapable of making such a decision. Camera IconAs of Friday, there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various drugs he is taking, the Pope’s medical team said in their first in-depth update on the pope’s condition. Credit: Antonio Masiello/Getty Images ******** secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, gave a rare interview to Corriere della Sera to respond to rumours of secret meetings with the Pope in hospital. Given the canonical requirements to make a resignation legitimate, the implications of such a meeting were significant, but the ******** flat-out denied that any such meeting occurred. Cardinal Parolin said such speculation seemed “useless” when what mattered was the health of Francis, his recovery and return to the ********. “On the other hand, I think it is quite normal that in these situations uncontrolled rumours can spread or some misplaced comment is uttered. I don’t think there is any particular movement ... I haven’t heard anything like that,” Cardinal Parolin said. Source link #Pope #Francis #Update #medical #condition #brings #infection #fears #among #respiratory #crisis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Are Runny Egg Yolks Safe to Eat? – The New York Times Are Runny Egg Yolks Safe to Eat? – The New York Times Are Runny Egg Yolks Safe to Eat? The New York TimesWhat You Need to Know About Avian Influenza Virus | News & Stories | DHMC and Clinics Dartmouth-HitchcockThe bird flu outlook has only gotten worse Bulletin of the Atomic ScientistsWhat every backyard chicken owner needs to know about bird flu KSL.com Source link #Runny #Egg #Yolks #Safe #Eat #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aussie arrested in Switzerland over alleged stabbing Aussie arrested in Switzerland over alleged stabbing An *********** man has been arrested in Zurich, according to local media reports, over an alleged stabbing, with government officials making desperate attempts to contact him. Source link #Aussie #arrested #Switzerland #alleged #stabbing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ukrainian hearts sink in Philly as Trump pivots toward Russia – The Philadelphia Inquirer Ukrainian hearts sink in Philly as Trump pivots toward Russia – The Philadelphia Inquirer Ukrainian hearts sink in Philly as Trump pivots toward Russia The Philadelphia InquirerOpinion | Who Will Stand Up to Trump on Ukraine? The New York TimesDonald Trump’s Putinization of America The New YorkerA Terrible Milestone in the American Presidency The AtlanticWhat the potential outcomes of ending the Ukraine-Russia war might look like ABC News Source link #Ukrainian #hearts #sink #Philly #Trump #pivots #Russia #Philadelphia #Inquirer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hueneme Beach dredge nears end with half of original target Hueneme Beach dredge nears end with half of original target The pipe starts as a curling tail at a dredging barge outside Channel Islands Harbor. It floats for a few hundred yards across the water. For a mile, it turns into a roller coaster, dipping below the harbor mouth, shooting below the sand of Silver Strand Beach and diving back down under the entrance to the Port of Hueneme. It ends on Hueneme Beach where, day and night, a dark torrent of sediment and water erupts onto the sand. There, it rebuilds the eroded shoreline an inch at a time. Dredging crews have until the end of the month to complete this year’s project, which harvests sand from the harbor to feed beaches down the coast. Harbor Director Michael Tripp said the barge processes between 30,000 to 40,000 cubic yards of sand each day. Crews estimate they’ll get to a total 1.2 million: the equivalent of more than 13,600 full standard shipping containers. The biennial project has been running since the 1960s, overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Without it, the mouth of Channel Islands Harbor could clog and erosion on Hueneme Beach could begin to hurt infrastructure, as it did in 2014. The final dredge total this year will be about half of the 2.5 million cubic yards of sand local officials hoped for. The project was shortened by nearly three months in the fall when the Army Corps hit permitting delays with the California State Water Resources Control Board. Dredging at Channel Islands Harbor is only allowed between October and February, when it won’t disturb shorebird nesting and migration. Michael Tripp, Channel Islands Harbor director, looks at dredging pipes on Wednesday. Since January, dredging crews have been working to remove sand from the harbor mouth and pump it to Hueneme Beach to combat erosion. The north end of the beach perpetually recedes as waves eat at the shoreline. Southbound sand flows that would naturally replenish the beach are blocked by the same deep underwater canyon that allows shipping into the Port of Hueneme. The dredging barge outside the harbor uses a massive spinning bit to dislodge collected sand from the ocean floor. A massive pump sucks the material up in a wet slurry and sends it shooting south to Hueneme Beach. Isaiah Murtaugh covers Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at *****@*****.tld or 805-437-0236 and follow him on Twitter @isaiahmurtaugh. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Hueneme Beach dredge nears end Source link #Hueneme #Beach #dredge #nears #original #target Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

As trade sinks in, Luka Doncic finally finds groove against Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets: “Luka is the problem” – The Denver Post As trade sinks in, Luka Doncic finally finds groove against Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets: “Luka is the problem” – The Denver Post As trade sinks in, Luka Doncic finally finds groove against Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets: “Luka is the problem” The Denver PostLakers get first big performance from Luka Dončić in win over Nuggets Yahoo SportsPlayer Grades: Lakers vs. Nuggets Silver Screen and Roll Luka Dončić responds to JJ Redick’s ‘killer’ challenge in delivering first signature win as a Laker CBS Sports Source link #trade #sinks #Luka #Doncic #finally #finds #groove #Nikola #Jokics #Nuggets #Luka #problem #Denver #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Yin survives Iwai surge to win LPGA Thailand Yin survives Iwai surge to win LPGA Thailand Angel Yin has shot a blemish-free final round to win the LPGA Thailand tournament by a stroke from a fast-finishing Akie Iwai and claim her second tour title. American Yin made seven birdies — and no bogeys — on Sunday for a four-round total of 28-under 260 at Siam Country Club’s Pattaya Old Course, which was enough to hold off Iwai despite her 61 being the lowest score of the day. It is the California native’s second LPGA title after winning in Shanghai in 2023. She is a two-time major runner-up — at the 2023 Chevron Championship and the 2019 US Women’s Open. Yin’s best finish in four previous appearances at LPGA Thailand was a share of third place in 2021. Her winning total bettered the previous LPGA record of 261 set by Swede Annika Sorenstam in Arizona in 2001. Yin also rewrote the tournament’s 72-hole record of 262, surpassing the previous mark held by Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Xiyu Lin of China from 2022. “I wasn’t that comfortable because Akie shot ten under the first day and this course is very gettable,” said Yin. “So I just had to keep my head down.” Despite starting the final round with a five-stroke advantage, Yin faced relentless pressure from sponsor invite Iwai, who charged up the leaderboard and momentarily shared the lead at 24 under after a birdie on the 12th. The Japanese was in stunning form as 10 birdies got the 22-year-old within one shot with two holes to play, but a lone bogey at the par-4 17th ended her challenge. The 26-year-old Yin is the fourth American to capture the LPGA Thailand title, joining Lilia Vu (2023), Jessica Korda (2018) and Lexi Thompson (2016). Thai players completed the top five with world No.2 Jeeno Thitikul, runner-up in 2021, posting a 67 to finish in third at 21 under. Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit (65) and Moriya Jutanugarn (68) were in a tie for fourth at 19 under. Steph Kyriacou was the best-placed *********** in joint-45th at three under, after her round of 67. Gabriela Ruffels (73) finished one shot further back, with Grace Kim (69) five over. The event is the first stop of the LPGA’s so-called Asian swing before the tour moves to Singapore and China over the next two weeks. With AAP. Source link #Yin #survives #Iwai #surge #win #LPGA #Thailand Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Strange Metal From Beyond Our World Found in an Ancient Treasure Stash Strange Metal From Beyond Our World Found in an Ancient Treasure Stash Amidst a cache of glittering golden treasures from the Iberian Bronze Age, a pair of corroded objects might be the most precious of all. A dull bracelet and a rusted hollow hemisphere decorated with gold are forged, researchers have found, not out of metal from beneath the ground, but with iron from meteorites that fell from the sky. The discovery, led by now-retired head of conservation at the National Archeological Museum Spain, Salvador Rovira-Llorens, was revealed in a paper published last year, and suggests that metalworking technology and techniques were far more advanced than we thought in Iberia more than 3,000 years ago. The Treasure of Villena, as the cache of 66 mostly gold objects is known, was discovered more than 60 years ago in 1963 in what is now Alicante in Spain, and has since come to be regarded as one of the most important examples of Bronze Age goldsmithing in the Iberian Peninsula, and the whole of Europe. The iron-and-gold hemisphere, which has a maximum diameter of 4.5 centimeters (1.77 inches). (Villena Museum) However, determining the age of the collection has been somewhat difficult to do, thanks to two objects: a small, hollow hemisphere, thought to be part of a scepter or sword hilt; and a single, torc-like bracelet. Both have what archaeologists have described as a “ferrous” appearance – that is, they seem to be made of iron. In the Iberian Peninsula, the Iron Age – where smelted terrestrial iron began to replace bronze – didn’t start until around 850 BCE. The problem is that the gold materials have been dated to between 1500 and 1200 BCE. So working out where the ferrous-looking artifacts sit in the context of the Treasure of Villena has been something of a puzzle. Location of the Villena Treasure (Alicante) in the Iberian Peninsula. (Rovira-Llorens et al., Trabajos de Prehistoria, 2024) But iron ore from Earth’s crust is not the only place source of malleable iron. There’s a number of pre-Iron Age iron artifacts around the world that were forged from the stuff of meteorites. Perhaps most famous is the meteoritic iron dagger of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, but there are other Bronze Age weapons made of the material, and they were very highly prized. There is a way to tell the difference: iron from meteorites has a much higher nickel content than iron dug out of Earth’s ground. So researchers obtained permission from the Municipal Archaeological Museum of Villena, which houses the collection, to carefully test the two artifacts, and determine just how much nickel they contained. The iron bracelet, which measures 8.5 centimeters (3.35 inches) across. (Villena Museum) They carefully took samples of both artifacts, and subjected the material to mass spectrometry to determine their composition. In spite of the high degree of corrosion, which alters the elemental makeup of the artifact, the results strongly suggest that both the hemisphere and the bracelet were made from meteoritic iron. This neatly solves the dilemma of how the two artifacts align with the rest of the collection: they were made around the same *******, dating back to around 1400 to 1200 BCE. “The available data suggest that the cap and bracelet from the Treasure of Villena would currently be the first two pieces attributable to meteoritic iron in the Iberian Peninsula,” the researchers explain in their paper, “which is compatible with a Late Bronze chronology, prior to the beginning of the widespread production of terrestrial iron.” Now, because the objects are so badly corroded, the results aren’t conclusive. But there are more recent, non-invasive techniques that could be applied to the objects to obtain a more detailed set of data that would help cement the findings, the team suggest. The findings were published in Trabajos de Prehistoria. An earlier version of this article was published in February 2024. Related News Source link #Strange #Metal #World #Ancient #Treasure #Stash Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ukraine Opposes US Demand For $500 Billion Fund in Minerals Deal – Bloomberg Ukraine Opposes US Demand For $500 Billion Fund in Minerals Deal – Bloomberg Ukraine Opposes US Demand For $500 Billion Fund in Minerals Deal BloombergU.S. Pressing Tough Demands in Revised Deal for Ukraine’s Minerals The New York TimesTrump says deal with Ukraine for US access to its rare earth minerals is ‘pretty close’ Fox NewsBessent says economic partnership will protect Ukrainians and US taxpayers Reuters.comPresident Zelensky is not accepting the proposed U.S. deal CNN Source link #Ukraine #Opposes #Demand #Billion #Fund #Minerals #Deal #Bloomberg Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mitch Owen cracks 48-ball ton as Tasmania beat Redbacks Mitch Owen cracks 48-ball ton as Tasmania beat Redbacks Tasmania opener Mitch Owen has thumped 14 fours and 10 sixes in a blistering knock that helped his side beat South Australia by two wickets in the One-Day Cup. Source link #Mitch #Owen #cracks #48ball #ton #Tasmania #beat #Redbacks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Delta flight from Los Angeles makes emergency landing due to smoke on board Delta flight from Los Angeles makes emergency landing due to smoke on board Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways A Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles International Airport bound for Sydney on Saturday was forced to return after smoke was detected on board. The flight, DL43, which took off shortly after 9:00 p.m., returned to LAX around 30 minutes later, according to data from FlightAware. The Airbus A350-900 aircraft landed safely and the plane proceeded to an arrival gate, Delta said in a statement to CNN. The 162 passengers on board are being reaccommodated on a different flight. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people,” the statement said. “That’s why the flight crew followed established procedures to return to Los Angeles (LAX) after smoke was detected in the galley. We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels.” Upon landing, there was no smoke in the cockpit, but pilots requested medical attention for passengers who may have been affected by smoke, according to audio from LiveATC.net. CNN has reached out to Los Angeles International Airport and the Los Angeles Fire Department for further information. CNN’s Travis Caldwell contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #Delta #flight #Los #Angeles #emergency #landing #due #smoke #board Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Flight 4819: Delta CEO interview and customer status update – Delta News Hub Flight 4819: Delta CEO interview and customer status update – Delta News Hub Flight 4819: Delta CEO interview and customer status update Delta News HubDelta releases information about crew aboard flight that crashed, flipped in Toronto CBS NewsDelta faces lawsuits over Toronto plane ****** — after offering passengers $30K New York Post Source link #Flight #Delta #CEO #interview #customer #status #update #Delta #News #Hub Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Kamala Harris Gives Rousing NAACP Image Awards Speech in First TV Appearance After Leaving Office: ‘Our Power Has Never Come From Having an Easy Path’ – Variety Kamala Harris Gives Rousing NAACP Image Awards Speech in First TV Appearance After Leaving Office: ‘Our Power Has Never Come From Having an Easy Path’ – Variety Kamala Harris Gives Rousing NAACP Image Awards Speech in First TV Appearance After Leaving Office: ‘Our Power Has Never Come From Having an Easy Path’ VarietyHow to Watch the 2025 NAACP Image Awards Online Without Cable Rolling StoneNAACP Image Awards honor former Vice President Kamala Harris CBS News Source link #Kamala #Harris #Rousing #NAACP #Image #Awards #Speech #Appearance #Leaving #Office #Power #Easy #Path #Variety Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why has the flu been so bad this year? – The Economist Why has the flu been so bad this year? – The Economist Why has the flu been so bad this year? The Economist‘Everybody is getting sick.’ Flu is on the rise in Florida — and here’s what doctors say Miami HeraldEveryone’s sick this winter. What’s up with flu, norovirus, RSV and COVID? USA TODAYWhy Are Flu And Other Viral Infection Rates So High This Year? Science Friday Source link #flu #bad #year #Economist Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Samsung US brings back free storage upgrades for the Galaxy S25 series – GSMArena.com news – GSMArena.com Samsung US brings back free storage upgrades for the Galaxy S25 series – GSMArena.com news – GSMArena.com Samsung US brings back free storage upgrades for the Galaxy S25 series – GSMArena.com news GSMArena.comOrder your new Samsung Galaxy S25 device and get up to $1,200 in savings USA TODAYThe Galaxy S25 Ultra Is Now 70% Off, Samsung Is Clearing Out Stock GizmodoSamsung Galaxy S25 review: the smallest top-tier Android left The GuardianI shot over 200 photos with the Galaxy S25 Ultra vs OnePlus 13 — here’s the winner Tom’s Guide Source link #Samsung #brings #free #storage #upgrades #Galaxy #S25 #series #GSMArena.com #news #GSMArena.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israel halts release of ************ prisoners over ‘humiliating’ hostage handovers – The Times of Israel Israel halts release of ************ prisoners over ‘humiliating’ hostage handovers – The Times of Israel Israel halts release of ************ prisoners over ‘humiliating’ hostage handovers The Times of IsraelIsrael delays ************ prisoner release after ******’ ‘humiliating’ treatment of hostages, Netanyahu says Fox NewsIsrael halts ************ prisoners’ release demanding guarantee on captives Al Jazeera EnglishShiri Bibas’ family says her remains have been returned CBS NewsHamas says Israel’s claim on hostages’ handover ceremony is pretext to evade its obligations Reuters Source link #Israel #halts #release #************ #prisoners #humiliating #hostage #handovers #Times #Israel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

India bans two drugs behind opioid crisis in West Africa India bans two drugs behind opioid crisis in West Africa BBC Eye Investigations BBC World Service BBC Mumbai-based Aveo had been selling the addictive combination in West Africa Indian authorities have banned two highly-addictive opioids in response to a BBC investigation which found they were fuelling a public health crisis in parts of West Africa. In a letter seen by the BBC from India’s Drugs Controller General, Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi said permission to manufacture and export the drugs had been withdrawn BBC Eye found one pharmaceutical company, Aveo, had been illegally exporting a harmful mix of tapentadol and carisoprodol in countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D’Ivoire. India’s Food and Drug Administration said the company’s factory in Mumbai had since been raided and its entire stock seized. The circular from Dr Raghuvanshi, dated to Friday, cited the BBC investigation in his decision to ban all combinations of tapentadol and carisoprodol, which was to be implemented with immediate effect. He said this also came after officials had looked into “the potential of drug abuse and its harmful impact on population”. Tapentadol is a powerful opioid, and carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant so addictive it is banned in Europe. Carisoprodol is approved for use in the US, but only for short periods of up to three weeks. Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, insomnia and hallucinations. The combination of the two drugs is not licensed for use anywhere in the world as they can cause breathing difficulties and seizures and an overdose can kill. Despite the risks, these opioids are popular street drugs in many West African countries, because they are so cheap and widely available. ********* authorities store ******** drugs they have seized – mostly opioids – in a warehouse in Lagos Publicly-available export data show that Aveo Pharmaceuticals, along with a sister company called Westfin International, has shipped millions of these tablets to Ghana and other West African countries. The BBC World Service also found packets of these pills with the Aveo logo for ***** on the streets of Nigeria, and in Ivoirian towns and cities. Nigeria, with a population of 225 million people, provides the biggest market for these pills. It has been estimated that about four million ********** abuse some form of opioid, according to the nation’s National Bureau of Statistics. As part of the investigation, the BBC also sent an undercover operative – posing as an African businessman looking to supply opioids to Nigeria – inside one of Aveo’s factories in India, where they filmed one of Aveo’s directors, Vinod Sharma, showing off the same dangerous products the BBC found for ***** across West Africa. Filmed secretly, Vinod Sharma said Aveo’s ********* drug was “very harmful”, adding “this is business”. In the secretly recorded footage, the operative tells Sharma that his plan is to sell the pills to teenagers in Nigeria “who all love this product”. Sharma in response replies “OK,” before explaining that if users take two or three pills at once, they can “relax” and agrees they can get “high”. Towards the end of the meeting, Sharma says: “This is very harmful for the health,” adding that “nowadays, this is business”. Sharma and Aveo Pharmaceuticals did not respond to a request for comment when the BBC’s initial investigation was published. India’s Food and Drug Administration said a sting operation saw Aveo’s entire stock seized and further production halted in a statement on Friday. Further legal action will be taken against the company, it added. The agency said it was “fully prepared” to take action against anyone involved in “******** activities that tarnish the reputation of the country”. The FDA has been instructed to carry out further inspections to prevent the supply of the drugs, it said. Source link #India #bans #drugs #opioid #crisis #West #Africa Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WA election 2025: Will Labor’s ‘underwhelming’ campaign launch score them another win? WA election 2025: Will Labor’s ‘underwhelming’ campaign launch score them another win? Voters don’t love him, like they loved Mr McGowan in 2021. But Mr Cook only needs them to like him, just enough. Source link #election #Labors #underwhelming #campaign #launch #score #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Bitcoin Will NOT Replace the US Dollar Why Bitcoin Will NOT Replace the US Dollar Some will rightfully say we are a glutton for punishment. Our previous articles on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies have been met with boos and hisses (to be kind) from laser-eyed crypto crusaders. Despite what many of our critics think, we are agnostic about cryptocurrency, but we are willing to expose details that most crypto supporters refuse to discuss or even acknowledge. We recently wrote a piece titled ? The article describes how money comes into being. Since publishing it, we have received quite a few reactions. Some of these claim that Bitcoin is money and should replace the dollar. Let’s explain why we think that is incredibly unlikely. Bitcoin Is Money is money. We bet you didn’t think we would lead with that fact. However, salt and are also money. Tea, gold, and cows are money as well. Almost anything is money. Money is any item someone is willing to accept for the payment of goods and services. Bitcoin is used in many transactions. In fact, a few sports stars and Hollywood celebrities receive Bitcoin as compensation. While Bitcoin, tea, and anything else used to satisfy transactions is money, none of them are lawful money. The is the only lawful money in the United States. While some think Bitcoin can supplant the dollar, they fail to acknowledge that it has significant flaws, which we believe are critical to understanding why Bitcoin should not be lawful money. Money Supply Growth Is Vital Before recent financial history, , , salt, wampum, and other items have been used as a primary source of money and or lawful money worldwide. For example, the graphic below, courtesy of the Atlanta Fed, highlights that some Asian economies used tea bricks as money. These various commodity monies served their purpose for many years, decades, and centuries in some cases. They all made the exchange of goods and services easier. When defined and broadly accepted, money is more practical than barter. However, the monies we mentioned, and many others, have fatal failings. For example, cows are hard to transport and difficult to subdivide. Salt dissolves but can also be found in vast quantities. Even though gold is hard to subdivide and can be cumbersome and difficult to store, it has been among the most popular forms of money throughout history. Many countries have issued legal tender backed by gold to work around its physical constraints. The primary problem, however, with gold and other historical types of money is that their supply does not align with economic growth and activity. For instance, a massive gold discovery would instantly depreciate the value of gold versus the goods and services it can be used to purchase. Such an event would create inflation. Conversely, if gold becomes more difficult to find, its supply may not keep up with its demand for money, causing it to appreciate. In that case, it would be deflationary. The key point in both examples is that non-economic or monetary events can dictate inflation rates. We think it’s irrefutable that the money supply must be regulated to support sustainable economic growth. However, what’s debatable is whether such regulation is the job of the free market or the government. Bitcoin – Limited Supply Per the Bitcoin construct, there will only be 21 million coins. The halving process ensures that creating new Bitcoin is increasingly more complex, time-consuming, and expensive. Due to exponentially decreasing rewards for mining Bitcoin, we doubt anyone will mine the 21 millionth coin. As new Bitcoin production inevitably slows and some coins are lost, its value should increase. That assumes enough people are still willing and able to hold and trade Bitcoin. Hypothetically, if Bitcoin were lawful money, its limited supply would not be sufficient for a growing economy. Thus, the value of Bitcoin would rise, and by default, the prices of goods and services in the aggregate would decline. Some may argue that deflation is a good thing. And yes, while we like cheaper things, ask yourself who would buy them. If you like a new house that costs $500,000 today, why would you buy it if you think it will be cheaper tomorrow? Similarly, why would businesses expand today if they could do so at a lower price tomorrow? The bottom line, and our not likely popular opinion, is that economic growth needs inflation. We think the limited supply of Bitcoin disqualifies it as lawful or even effective money. Crypto – Unlimited Supply While the supply of Bitcoin is limited, making it a suboptimal candidate for money, the supply of other cryptocurrencies is unlimited. Therefore, if people think Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can become lawful money, their supply will likely increase well beyond the sustainable economic growth rate. Why not “print” digital cash for free and sell it? Contrary to the Bitcoin supply problem, an unlimited supply of a currency(s) met with limited demand is inflationary. The Constitutional Problem In 2017, we wrote a primer on Bitcoin. The following paragraph from the article explains why the government is not likely to allow Bitcoin or any cryptocurrency to be lawful money. The preamble to the US Constitution states the purpose of the Federal government is to: “form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general ********, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” In other words, the government’s role is to protect the freedoms and liberties of its citizens. If the government has no ability to fund itself and is unable to provide defense and law enforcement it cannot uphold the Constitution. More precisely – the sovereignty of any nation, regardless of its form of government, rests upon the strength and integrity of its currency. Volatility Kills Another problem, at least today, is the volatility of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The graph below shows the value of a $500,000 house priced in Bitcoin. The blue line is based on the daily high, while the orange line is the daily low. In just one week between January 13th and January 20th, the house value would have been as low as $470,000 and as high as $575,000. The green bars and their average (****** dotted line) show the daily average price variance of our house is over $21,000. Buying or selling a home, or any good or service, in such a volatile currency environment is nearly impossible. Summary Like it or not, there is no viable alternative to US dollars. The government and the Federal Reserve have an indirect but consequential influence on the money supply, thus allowing them to try to regulate economic activity. The free market, via financial institutions and borrowers, also dramatically impacts the money supply. Both the free market and government alter the supply and demand for money, with inflationary or deflationary consequences. While we can easily point out the government and the Fed’s poor stewardship of the money supply, alongside unproductive motivations of the free market, it sure beats a system in which the money supply is entirely independent of the economic growth rate. Can you imagine a deflationary spiral, like the early 1930’s, occurring solely because no one was mining Bitcoin? Or an inflationary outburst due to ramped-up mining of Bitcoin? Source link #Bitcoin #Replace #Dollar Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This Chip Could Be the Massive Breakthrough We’ve Been Waiting for in Quantum Computing This Chip Could Be the Massive Breakthrough We’ve Been Waiting for in Quantum Computing “Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links.” The biggest limitation of quantum computers is that they only contain, at max, around 1,000 qubits due to disruptions caused by noise that leads to decoherence. Microsoft set out years ago to develop a topological qubit using Majorana quasiparticles—small and inherently stable, they make perfect candidates for quantum computers. This week, Microsoft announced that it had created a new quantum architecture called Majorana 1, which it believes is the first step toward building a quantum computer with 1 million topological qubits—though, some physicists remain skeptical. Quantum computers—like nuclear fusion and other hyper-advanced technologies—always seem to be just on the threshold of changing the world. And, like fusion, quantum computers have a problem with stability. While fusion experts are working on ways to stabilize the ultra-hot plasma required to sustain their reactions, so too are quantum engineers looking for ways to stabilize qubits in order to reduce errors and (hopefully) create machines that exceed today’s current threshold of around 1,000 qubits. This week, Microsoft announced that it had made a major breakthrough in achieving that goal, stating that they created a quantum architecture—known as Majorana 1—that’s capable of one day hosting one million qubits on a single chip. To achieve this technological breakthrough, the company decided years ago to, in a sense, go back to the basics. Instead of using qubits found in other quantum computers, Microsoft engineers set out to create what’s known as a “topological qubit”—a different approach to creating a qubit that theoretically should make them more stable, and therefore scalable. To do this, Microsoft uses what’s known as a Majorana quasiparticle. True to their name, Majoranas aren’t really particles, but are instead special patterns that arise under certain conditions. This new architecture—which Microsoft calls the Topological Core powered by “topoconductors”—can coax into existence (using nanowires, superconductors, and lots of fancy physics) a Majorana zero mode state that’s inherently stable. It’s also small, which is a big deal if you want to keep quantum computers from reaching warehouse-level dimensions. A new paper published in the journal Nature showed that they could measure the two different states within a qubit. “We’ve designed a chip that’s able to measure the presence of Majorana, and Majorana allows us to create a topological qubit,” Microsoft technical fellow Krysta Svore detailed in a video about Majorana 1. “A topological qubit is reliable, small, and controllable. This solves the noise problem that creates errors in qubits.” Currently, Majorana 1 holds only eight of these qubits, which isn’t nearly enough to perform world-changing calculations. But Microsoft argues that the architecture is in place to eventually scale the number of topological qubits up to one million—a feat that, if true, would surely usher in the age of quantum computing. However, some scientists remain skeptical of Microsoft’s claims. For one, a paper hasn’t yet been published about its topological qubit claims for peers in the field to analyze. And secondly, many impurities can create conditions that look like Majorana quasiparticles, but are not. “The optimism is definitely there,” Henry Legg from th University of St Andrews told MIT Technology Review, “but the science isn’t there.” It also doesn’t help that a Microsoft research team in Delft, Netherlands announced that it had created Majorana states in 2018, only to retract the paper three years later due to erroneously omitted data. However, Microsoft technical fellow Chetan Nayak remains bullish on their breakthrough, telling The New York Times that the quantum computing era could begin “as something that is years away, not decades away.” With the introduction of Majorana 1 and the resulting Nature paper, the team has definitely demonstrated that they have a qubit. Now, they need to prove its topological nature and start making some computations. If Microsoft can prove that its Topological Core is the real deal, then we very well may be on the path to one million qubits and a computational revolution. You Might Also Like Source link #Chip #Massive #Breakthrough #Weve #Waiting #Quantum #Computing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Discontented Germany votes in an election with economy, migration and far-right strength in focus – The Associated Press Discontented Germany votes in an election with economy, migration and far-right strength in focus – The Associated Press Discontented Germany votes in an election with economy, migration and far-right strength in focus The Associated PressGermans head to the polls in critical election with far-right gains expected CNBCGermany is holding a national election. Here’s what’s at stake CNNPolls open in high-stakes ******* elections, with conservatives strong favorites The Times of IsraelShocked by Trump, Europe Turns Its Hopes to Germany’s Election The New York Times Source link #Discontented #Germany #votes #election #economy #migration #farright #strength #focus #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Argenica Therapeutics’ world-first stroke drug gains attention in China amid rising mortality Argenica Therapeutics’ world-first stroke drug gains attention in China amid rising mortality The biotech says its potentially life-saving drug is drawing increasing interest from major pharmaceutical companies in China, where stroke is now the leading cause of death. Source link #Argenica #Therapeutics #worldfirst #stroke #drug #gains #attention #China #rising #mortality Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Most Common COVID Symptoms Doctors Are Seeing In Winter 2025 The Most Common COVID Symptoms Doctors Are Seeing In Winter 2025 Cough, congestion, fever and fatigue are among the most common signs of a COVID-19 infection. elenaleonova via Getty Images There are many viruses circulating this winter, including COVID-19, which is making people ill across the country. “COVID has continued to circulate year-round, and we’re starting to see patterns where there’s a clear uptick of activity in the winter,” said Dr. Graham Snyder, the medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. This isn’t surprising, Snyder said. In the colder months, we’re more likely to socialize indoors, where germs can more easily spread. Kids are back in school, where they exchange germs with each other, and cold temperatures also cause more virus spread. Nationally, “emergency department visits and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are rising,” Snyder said. You’ll likely hear of more people becoming infected with COVID this winter, and you should know the symptoms to look out for to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Below, doctors share the most common signs of a COVID infection this season. Cough, shortness of breath, congestion, runny nose, sore throat and fever are all hallmark signs of COVID. According to Dr. Dawn Nolt, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Oregon Health and Science University, many of the most common COVID symptoms are the ones we all know well at this point, like cough and shortness of breath. You may also have a fever, chills, congestion, runny nose, sore throat and body aches, Snyder said. Feeling tired is also a common sign. “Many patients report an overwhelming sense of fatigue, often severe enough to hinder their daily tasks and activities,” Dr. Janet Nwaukoni, a family physician based in Chicago, told HuffPost in an email. If you are sick, you shouldn’t push yourself to do things that you can otherwise easily complete when you’re well. Instead, you should prioritize rest, Nolt said. One symptom people aren’t really experiencing? Loss of taste and smell. “I think the one thing we’re not seeing is… that loss of smell or taste that people often talked about early in the pandemic,” Nolt explained. These symptoms haven’t been prevalent since early 2022 when the omicron variant came around, she added. If you test positive for COVID, there is antiviral medication that can help you feel better faster. Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman via Getty Images If you feel sick, you should take a COVID test. If you’re not feeling well, it’s a good idea to take a COVID test — regardless of whether you have mild symptoms or more severe troubles. A number of winter illnesses have symptoms that overlap with those of COVID-19, but there is antiviral treatment specifically for COVID that can help you feel better faster. The antiviral treatment is particularly important for folks who are more at risk of having a severe infection. That includes older people and people with underlying health conditions, Snyder said. “For the antiviral treatment to work, you have to take it earlier in the course of the disease. The longer you wait, the less likely it is to be successful,” Snyder said. In other words, it’s important to know whether you have COVID as soon as possible. You won’t necessarily have all of the symptoms mentioned above, according to Snyder. You may have one, or a few, he said, “but those are all typical symptoms of COVID-19.” For some people, their infection will result in no symptoms at all, while others get sick enough to end up in the hospital. That’s another reason it’s important to take a test. To stay healthy, get the most recent COVID shot if you haven’t yet. “We have a 2024-2025 seasonal COVID vaccine and it’s recommended for everybody six months of age and older,” Snyder said. The latest shot can help reduce the chances that you get the virus ― and if you do get sick, it can help prevent complications that might otherwise lead to hospitalization and even death. “The most important reason to get the vaccine is to keep you well, and if you get sick with COVID despite having had the vaccine, it’s a sure bet that you will not be as sick as you would have been, because the vaccine helps prepare your immune system to respond,” Snyder said. Research shows that the vaccine also reduces your risk of developing long COVID. The shots are available at pharmacies including CVS and Walgreens. You can also go to vaccines.gov to see where you can get vaccinated locally. Beyond vaccination, hand-washing is also important, Nwaukoni noted. Furthermore, wearing a mask in public can help protect you from getting sick, whether from COVID or another winter virus. Related… Source link #Common #COVID #Symptoms #Doctors #Winter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis had ‘tranquil’ night in hospital, ******** says Pope Francis had ‘tranquil’ night in hospital, ******** says FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis leads the Vespers prayer service on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in Saint Peter’s Basilica at the ********, Feb. 1, 2025. Ciro De Luca | Reuters Pope Francis, who is battling double pneumonia in hospital, had a “tranquil” night and rested, the ******** said on Sunday. The pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 after experiencing difficulty breathing for several days and subsequently had pneumonia diagnosed in both lungs. The ******** described his condition as critical for the first time on Saturday, reporting that the 88-year-old Francis had needed supplemental oxygen and blood transfusions that day. “The night was tranquil, the pope rested,” the ******** said in a one-sentence update on Sunday morning without providing further information. Double pneumonia is a serious infection that can inflame and scar both lungs, making it difficult to breathe. The ******** has described the pope’s infection as “complex”, saying it is being caused by two or more microorganisms. Francis, who has been pope since 2013, has suffered bouts of ill health in the past two years. He is particularly prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed. In a statement on Saturday evening, the ******** said the pope had suffered a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis” that had required administration of “high-flow oxygen”. It said he had also needed blood transfusions because tests showed he had a low platelet count, which is associated with anemia. Platelets are cell fragments in our blood that form clots and stop or prevent bleeding. In a briefing on Friday, two of his doctors said the pope was highly vulnerable because of his age and general frailty. Dr. Sergio Alfieri, a senior member of the Gemelli staff, said there was a risk the lung infection could spread to his bloodstream and develop into sepsis, which “could be very difficult to overcome”. Source link #Pope #Francis #tranquil #night #hospital #******** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jennifer Love Hewitt Shares Makeup-Free Selfies on 46th Birthday: ‘The World Can Be Cruel to Women as They Age’ – AOL Jennifer Love Hewitt Shares Makeup-Free Selfies on 46th Birthday: ‘The World Can Be Cruel to Women as They Age’ – AOL Jennifer Love Hewitt Shares Makeup-Free Selfies on 46th Birthday: ‘The World Can Be Cruel to Women as They Age’ AOLView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Jennifer #Love #Hewitt #Shares #MakeupFree #Selfies #46th #Birthday #World #Cruel #Women #Age #AOL Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]