Author: David Miller

A new group of COVID-19 variants, known as the FLiRT variants, has emerged in the United States and is currently the dominant strain in the country. One variant, KP.2, is responsible for approximately 25% of all infections. These FLiRT variants are part of the omicron family and exhibit concerning features, including changes in the spike protein. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 continues to pose a significant public health threat, with higher rates of hospitalization among adults over 65 years old. In response to the prevalence of these new variants, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on…

Coinbase, the largest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, has reported impressive first-quarter financial results, surpassing analysts’ expectations. The company reported a first-quarter revenue of $1.6 billion, marking a 72% increase from the previous quarter. The reported net income for Coinbase was $1.18 billion, or $4.40 per share, fueled by a boost in transactions and favorable changes to crypto accounting rules. Consumer transaction revenue doubled from the previous quarter, reaching $935.2 million, with volume up over 93% to $56 billion. Institutional trading revenue also saw significant growth, up 133% to $85.4 million, with volume doubling to $256 billion. Bitcoin made up a third…

Pop star Britney Spears raised concerns for her well-being after leaving a West Hollywood hotel late at night. The singer was photographed leaving the Chateau Marmont barefoot, wrapped in a blanket, and holding a pillow. Although an ambulance was called to the hotel, it remains unclear whether it was for Spears. Spears did not get into the ambulance and was later reported to be home safe and well. She took to Instagram to address the rumors about her whereabouts, claiming that she had twisted her ankle and felt harassed by paramedics. The singer was accompanied by her former housekeeper, Paul…

The US Department of Agriculture has issued a recall of over 16,000 pounds of ground beef produced by Cargill Meat Solutions due to potential E. Coli contamination. The affected packages, with lot codes 117 and 118 and establishment number “EST. 86P”, were produced between April 26 and 27 and shipped to Walmart stores nationwide. The strain of E. Coli found in the beef is O157:H7, the same strain that prompted a public health alert last month when it was discovered in packages of Greater Omaha Packing Co. beef. While there have been no reported illnesses linked to the contaminated ground…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s recent actions at the company have raised eyebrows among industry insiders. Sources familiar with the matter have described Musk’s recent behavior as an attempt to solidify his leadership status at Tesla after being mostly absent over the last year. Musk’s increased presence and involvement at Tesla in recent weeks have coincided with ongoing layoffs at the company. Layoffs have reportedly taken place in multiple departments, including the charging organization and cathode material manufacturing team in Texas. Rumors suggest that Tesla’s vehicle engineering and design departments may be next for layoffs. While Musk has stated that the…

Law enforcement arrested around 35 people at Cal Poly Humboldt campus in Northern California early Tuesday morning, bringing an end to escalating pro-Palestinian protests that had disrupted campus activities. The protesters had occupied two buildings, Siemens Hall and Nelson Hall East, leading to a shelter-in-place order for students and advising off-campus residents to avoid the area. The arrested individuals are facing various charges such as unlawful assembly, vandalism, conspiracy, and assault of police officers. Additionally, students involved may face disciplinary consequences, while employees could also be subject to disciplinary actions as a result of the incident. Due to the ongoing…

NASA and SpaceX are making significant progress in their efforts to return to the Moon, with plans to link two Starships in orbit for a refueling demonstration next year. SpaceX, under contract with NASA for the Artemis program, is aiming to return to the Moon by 2026 with the help of their human-rated Starships. In a recent development, Blue Origin has also been awarded a contract for a human-rated lunar lander, providing NASA with two options for their mission. Both the Starship and Blue Moon designs allow for in-space refueling, enabling reusability and resource utilization in space. SpaceX has been…

Columbia University Students Defy Orders to Vacate Protest Encampment In a bold display of solidarity, Columbia University students continued their protest encampment on campus despite facing the threat of suspension. The university’s president, Minouche Shafik, recently stated that they will not divest from Israel, leading to protests erupting on campuses nationwide. The protesters, part of the Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) coalition, were ordered to vacate their encampment by 2 p.m. on Monday or risk suspension and being barred from completing the semester. Despite these warnings, participants in the encampment defiantly chose to stay and continue their demonstration. After the…

Title: Ukraine’s Troops Fall Back to New Positions as Russian Forces Advance In a recent statement, Ukraine’s top commander, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskii, announced that Kyiv’s troops have retreated to new positions west of three villages on the eastern front, where Russia has concentrated significant forces. The situation at the front has worsened, especially in areas west of occupied Maryinka and northwest of Avdiivka. Despite facing certain tactical successes from the enemy, Ukraine’s troops have not allowed them to gain operational advantages. The troops have been forced to take up new positions to replace units that suffered losses. Russian forces,…

West Virginia Reports First Case of Measles Since 2009 West Virginia has recently reported its first case of measles since 2009, with a patient in Morgantown testing positive for the highly contagious and serious respiratory illness. According to the West Virginia Department of Health (WVDOH), the patient was under-vaccinated and had recently traveled internationally, leading to potential exposure for 152 individuals. Of those potentially exposed, 62 lack adequate immunization documentation and are considered to be at high risk for contracting the illness. The counties where these individuals reside include Berkeley, Braxton, Brooke, Doddridge, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Kanawha, Logan,…