As COVID-19 fades from daily headlines, another infectious disease—bird flu—has taken its place this spring, causing concern as it spreads to poultry in 48 states, dairy cows in nine states, and even affecting two individuals in Texas and Colorado.Thankfully, experts believe this outbreak of avian influenza won’t escalate to the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with its reach into both wild and domestic animal populations, there’s understandable worry about its potential impact on human health.What exactly is bird flu?The current strain of bird flu circulating is a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which poses a significant threat to both…
Author: The Business Outlook
Kintetsu World Express (Benelux) B.V. (KWE Benelux), a subsidiary of Kintetsu World Express, Inc. in the Benelux region, plans to construct and commence operations at a new air cargo terminal in 2024, with the goal of boosting future air cargo handling capacity.Currently, KWE Benelux’s Amsterdam Branch manages two facilities situated in the Westpoort industrial estate. Warehouse 1 spans 10,811 square meters, while Warehouse 2 covers 4,423 square meters, both approximately 10 kilometers away from Schiphol Airport. The consolidation of logistics operations from Warehouse 2 into Warehouse 1 and the new Cargo Freight Station (CFS) presents an opportunity to streamline operations…
Noelia Voigt has tendered her resignation as Miss USA 2023. She shared the heartfelt news on her Instagram post this Monday, emphasizing the significance of making choices that prioritize mental well-being.Aged 24, Voigt is both a model and a licensed esthetician, and she has previously been vocal about raising awareness for mental health. In 2021, she authored a children’s book titled “Maddie the BRAVE,” aimed at combating bullying, inspired by the tragic story of Madison “Maddie” Whittsett, a 9-year-old who took her own life in 2018 due to bullying. Voigt disclosed to Business Insider in 2023 her own experiences of…
Equinox Fitness is renowned for its luxurious wellness offerings and premium pricing. This week, it’s amplifying both aspects with the introduction of Optimize by Equinox, a new personalized longevity program priced at $40,000 per year. This program provides members with comprehensive assessments and tailored guidance.Julia Klim, Equinox’s Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Business Development, explains that the initiative stemmed from observing members who sought personalized adjustments to their workouts and nutrition based on blood-test results. Recognizing this trend, Equinox partnered with Function Health, a leading personal health-management platform co-founded by renowned physician Dr. Mark Hyman, to offer over 100…
According to a new metric co-developed by Visa Inc., over 90% of stablecoin transaction volumes are not attributed to genuine users, indicating that these crypto tokens may have a long way to go before becoming widely adopted for payments.Visa and Allium Labs have introduced a dashboard to filter out transactions initiated by bots and large-scale traders, revealing that out of a total of $2.2 trillion in transactions in April, only $149 billion came from “organic payments activity,” as per Visa’s data.This finding contradicts the argument made by proponents of stablecoins, who claim that these tokens, tied to assets like the…
An investigation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services revealed safety deficiencies at the Oregon State Hospital, the state’s most secure psychiatric facility, contributing to recent patient-on-patient assaults. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, the federal report highlighted lapses in staff supervision and inadequate investigations into aggressive incidents.Prompted by four complaints, the federal agency conducted an unannounced onsite survey earlier this year. One significant incident outlined in the report occurred on February 10, where one patient rendered another unconscious through a chokehold, necessitating extensive medical treatment.Furthermore, investigators found that the hospital failed to prevent instances of sexual assault and inappropriate…
The Federal Trade Commission granted clearance for Exxon Mobil’s $60 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources on Thursday. However, the former CEO of Pioneer, Scott Sheffield, was prohibited from joining the new company’s board of directors.The FTC stated on Thursday that Sheffield, who established Pioneer in 1997, engaged in collusion with OPEC and OPEC+ to potentially increase crude oil prices. Despite retiring from the company in 2016 and then returning as president and CEO in 2019, serving as CEO until 2023, and continuing to be on the board, Sheffield was accused of attempting to coordinate oil production across the Permian…
New research suggests that sleep disorders should be approached differently based on biological sex, as men and women exhibit distinct sleep patterns. A recent literature review, conducted by researchers from Harvard University, Stanford University, and the University of Southampton in the U.K. and published in April in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews, found that men are more prone to obstructive sleep apnea, while women are more likely to suffer from insomnia and report poorer sleep quality.Coauthor Renske Lok, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences, describes this research as focusing on both precision medicine…
Despite PayPal’s recent earnings report being relatively quiet about cryptocurrency, CEO Alex Chriss mentioned during a call with analysts on Tuesday morning that utilizing the company’s stablecoin, PYUSD, for international payments is an area where they see promising economic potential and market growth.Chriss’s remarks followed PayPal’s announcement earlier this month that its cross-border money transfer service, Xoom, would permit customers to send PYUSD abroad without fees.Although PayPal became the first major financial services firm to introduce its own stablecoin last August, it did not specifically break down earnings related to cryptocurrency in its Q1 8-K filing. However, the company experienced…
Domino’s Pizza has just announced its first-quarter earnings, and they’re sizzling hot. The Ann Arbor-based pizza giant reported a 5.6% year-over-year surge in same-store sales (excluding new stores) for the quarter, surpassing analysts’ sales projections for the second consecutive quarter.CEO Russell Weiner attributes this robust performance to the company’s revamped loyalty program and a focus on promotional offers rather than consistently low prices.Last fall, Domino’s overhauled its loyalty program, attracting 2 million new members by year-end. Changes included halving the minimum spending threshold to earn rewards points from $10 to $5, offering more menu items for fewer points, and expanding…