Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome H. Powell acknowledged that inflation is slightly higher than expected, but emphasized that the central bank can be more cautious in cutting interest rates due to strong economic growth and sticky prices. Powell stated at The New York Times’s DealBook Summit on Wednesday that the economy is growing stronger than anticipated, … Read more
The H5N1 bird flu virus has infected 58 people in the US this year, mostly farmworkers exposed to high concentrations of the virus. Researchers found that the virus is spreading primarily through close contact with infected animals, but it’s only one mutation away from easily binding to human cells. This means that if the virus … Read more
The trend of “microdosing” weight loss medications like Ozempic is gaining popularity, with some people taking tiny amounts to avoid side effects and potentially lose weight. While some claim success, experts are divided on the effectiveness and safety of this approach. Ozempic, a medication approved for type 2 diabetes, has also been used off-label for … Read more
France’s chaotic week ended on a high note as the CAC 40 Index rose 2.8% for its best week in two months, while bond spreads narrowed and the euro found support at $1.05. Despite the collapse of the government, traders say political limbo will continue to impact French bond markets, keeping spreads wide. Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-06/france-s-chaotic-week-ends-on-high-note-as-investors-dip-back-in
The Chicago Blackhawks have let go of coach Luke Richardson after three seasons, with Anders Sorensen taking over as interim head coach. Sorensen will lead the team for the remainder of the season and has a chance to become full-time coach if he impresses the team’s management. The decision comes amid a 8-16-2 record, the … Read more
The US has seen a significant decline in overdose deaths, with a 14.5% decrease from June 2023 to June 2024 – the most significant recorded since the 21st century. While this is a positive trend, it’s not a story of universal success. Research suggests that factors beyond mass death may be contributing to the decline … Read more
A new study on human brain evolution has challenged old ideas by revealing that modern humans, Neanderthals, and other relatives developed larger brains at a faster rate than earlier species. The research, published in the journal PNAS, found that brain size increased gradually within each ancient human species over millions of years. The team assembled … Read more
Google is bringing a new feature to the Android mobile operating system that will help people who are deaf or hard of hearing better understand non-dialog audio elements in videos and other media. The Expressive Captions tool uses artificial intelligence to caption tone, nonspeech elements, and ambient sounds like applause and cheers. The new feature … Read more
Syrian rebel forces have seized control of much of the country’s northwest region, upending the long-stagnant civil war. The attack, which began last week, saw rebels capture major cities such as Aleppo and Hama, as well as military bases and several towns and villages. This marks a significant shift in the conflict, with President Bashar … Read more
After closing its last location over two decades ago, beloved Mexican restaurant chain Chi-Chi’s is making a comeback. The announcement was made by Hormel Foods, which owns the Chi-Chi’s trademark, earlier this week. Michael McDermott, the son of one of the original founders, has secured an agreement with Hormel to reopen the chain in 2025. … Read more