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Trump is looking to create a bitcoin strategic reserve. How would that work? – USA TODAY

Bitcoin prices have been climbing this year thanks in part to President-elect Donald Trump‘s messaging on creating a crypto-friendly administration ‒ including plans to stockpile the volatile digital currency.
At a July conference, Trump said hanging onto the country’s bitcoin holdings would create “a permanent national asset to benefit all Americans” and help make the United States a leader in the global cryptocurrency space. Some are pushing the upcoming administration to go a step further by creating a bitcoin strategic reserve, arguing that building up the country’s cryptocurrency assets would help the government pay down its debt.
Here’s what we know so far of Trump’s plans for a crypto stockpile, and what it might mean for taxpayers.
The United States already owns nearly $20 billion worth of bitcoin obtained through legal seizures, according to crypto tracking firm Arkham Intelligence.
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Federal officials will occasionally sell off the cryptocurrency, but Trump has expressed interest in halting future sales to create a “core” stockpile of bitcoin.
“For too long, our government has violated the cardinal rule that every bitcoiner knows by heart: Never sell your bitcoin,“ Trump said in July. 
So far this year, bitcoin’s price is up more than 100%. By avoiding future selloffs, the U.S. could help keep bitcoin prices elevated, benefitting current investors.
“If you constrain supply in the overall, real-time market, then it does help to not suppress the price,” said Seoyoung Kim, author of “DeFi For Dummies” and associate professor of finance at Santa Clara University. 
But some believe the government needs to do more than simply hold onto its current crypto and are pushing for a bitcoin strategic reserve similar to the reserves of gold and oil held by the U.S. government.
Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming earlier this year introduced a bill that would have the country acquire, over time, 1 million bitcoin, or about 5% of outstanding tokens, to hold for at least 20 years. To fund the purchase, the government would revalue about $11 billion worth of gold certificates on the Federal Reserve’s balance sheets.
Lummis said establishing a bitcoin reserve could help the U.S. chip away at its $36 trillion national debt and strengthen the U.S. dollar.
“While there may be short-term volatility, over the long term a bitcoin reserve like this will serve as an important and stable store of value,” Lummis wrote in a letter published in the Wall Street Journal.  
Trump has suggested a bitcoin reserve would help the U.S. compete with other countries in the cryptocurrency space. 
“We’re going to do something great with crypto because we don’t want China or anybody else − and not just China, but others are embracing it − and we want to be the head,” Trump told CNBC earlier this month
Other countries with significant bitcoin holdings as of Thursday afternoon include China ($18.5 billion), the United Kingdom ($6 billion), Ukraine ($4.5 billion), Bhutan ($1 billion) and El Salvador ($582 million), according to data site BitcoinTreasuries
But some cryptocurrency experts say the U.S. doesn’t need a strategic reserve to remain competitive.
“I would rather see regulatory clarity around all digital assets moving forward. To me, that benefits the United States economy even more than possibly holding a volatile asset in reserve,” said Michele Neitz, visiting professor at the University of San Francisco and founding director of the Center for Law, Tech, and Social Good.  
Bitcoin reserve:Bitcoin drops after Powell says Federal Reserve ‘not allowed’ to own the cryptocurrency
Owen Lau, a senior analyst at Oppenheimer & Co., said creating a stockpile would be easy for the president; the government would simply stop selling off its bitcoin. Funding a strategic reserve, however, would likely require Congress’ approval – and he believes the probability of that happening is low.  
“I just have not heard enough support for creating something like that,” he said. “Taking (the idea of a stockpile) a step further to actively buy and sell bitcoin would be quite risky and harder to justify to the public.” 
There are concerns over crypto wallets being vulnerable to cyber attacks and bitcoin’s price falling. While the digital currency is hovering near record highs, it has taken dramatic tumbles in the past, for instance falling more than 70% between November 2021 and November 2022.
“If bitcoin goes up, you benefit from it. If bitcoin goes down, the taxpayer will lose value on that trade,” Lau said.  
A Barclays analysis said funding a bitcoin strategic reserve would likely require the issuance of new Treasury debt, according to Reuters. The bank suspects such a plan to “face stiff resistance from the Fed.”
When asked about a potential bitcoin reserve at a Wednesday press conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday said the central bank is not looking to hold bitcoin. 
“We’re not allowed to own bitcoin. The Federal Reserve Act says what we can own, and we’re not looking for a law change,” Powell said. “That’s the kind of thing for Congress to consider, but we are not looking for a law change at the Fed.”   

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Beware, this herbal mixture can’t heal all women’s health challenges – Africa Check

IN SHORT: Several Facebook posts claim that a herbal remedy can heal a wide range of women’s health challenges. But a medical expert says a herbal mixture cannot cure many diseases as treatments vary. 
A Facebook post advertises a herbal remedy that it claims can heal women’s fertility problems ranging from recurring infections, fibroids, hormonal imbalances, ovulation issues, and painful or irregular periods. 
The 13 December post reads: “After 5 years of meticulous research, Madam Oby has revealed a 100% natural, safe, and NAFDAC-approved remedy that’s already changing lives. Thousands of women are sharing heartfelt testimonials about how this breakthrough has restored their confidence, health, and happiness. This isn’t just another remedy—it’s a lifeline.”
The post features a video of a woman speaking in Pidgin, a language widely spoken in Nigeria. It translates to: “If you are a lady experiencing vagina dryness during sexual intercourse or finding it difficult to conceive, this female libido booster tea is for you.”
The woman further notes that interested buyers get a “lady’s care immune booster and infection flusher tea” for free when they order the female libido booster tea. 
“This immune booster tea helps to melt early stages of fibroids, breast lumps, heals chronic infections and breast cancer,” the woman says. 
Interested users are directed to click a link to make their purchase.
The video has been viewed over 58,000 times, liked 200 times, and has 40 comments. 
Posts making the same claim can be found here and here. (Note: More examples are listed at the end of this report.)
But could this herbal remedy cure the many illnesses listed? We checked.
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Fibroids are common growths of the uterus. They often appear during a woman’s fertile years, when she is usually able to get pregnant and give birth.
A hormonal imbalance happens when there is too much or too little of one or more hormones – the body’s chemical messengers. It’s a broad term that can represent many different hormone-related conditions.
A breast lump is a mass or growth that develops in the breast. While a breast lump can be a sign of breast cancer, it’s usually benign, or not cancerous. 
Breast cancer occurs when cancerous cells in a woman’s breasts multiply and become tumours. About 80% of breast cancer cases are invasive, meaning the tumour may spread from the breasts to other areas of the body.
The link attached to the post directed us to a website that asked users to choose their age range to continue their purchase. The advertising copy on this page was unprofessionally written and this was a red flag. 
When we clicked on the first age range, we were directed to another page that featured a full description of symptoms and testimonies from previous users.
Users are then directed to another page to place their order and input personal information such as full name, phone number and desired delivery address. Customers are not informed of how much the drugs cost – apparently until a sales representative calls them. This is an unusual and suspicious sales tactic.
“Your information and order details are very safe & secured with us. Once you’ve placed your order, You will get a confirmation call from our professional sales representative,” the website copy reads. 
This may be a form of phishing, a form of cyberattack where scammers try to fool people into giving them sensitive information.
According to Cleveland Clinic, fibroids can be left alone when small and without symptoms. However, patients with symptoms may undergo a surgical process called a myomectomy, a procedure that allows a gynaecologist to remove the fibroids.
Treatment for hormonal imbalances depends on the underlying cause. While medicine, surgery, and radiation therapy may be required to address higher-than-normal hormone levels, hormone replacement therapy is used to cure lower-than-normal hormone levels.
In most cases, breast lumps disappear without treatments. Surgery is only needed in unusual circumstances. 
The main treatment for breast cancer is usually surgery. Other common treatments include chemotherapy and radiotherapy
None of the standard treatments for these common female health concerns include a tea or herbal mixture that targets a wide range of diseases, as advertised on social media.  
Aziken Michael, a professor of gynaecology and obstetrics at the University of Benin in Nigeria, told Africa Check that most herbal mixtures are not specifically tailored to any specific condition. 
“Some of these herbal mixtures contain vitamins that can only improve your appetite, not to cure your illnesses.”
Aziken noted that most of the people who advertised herbal mixtures were frauds, who only “collect orthodox medicine, grind it, put it in water, and add bitter leaves” to make it seem authentic. 
Other instances of the false claim can be found here, here and here.
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The top five F1 2024 races – Racingnews365.com

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The 2024 F1 season was like no other with four teams winning at least three times during the campaign – but what were the best grands prix of the year?
Max Verstappen won his fourth F1 title in 2024 while McLaren ended its championship drought as it topped the constructors’ standings for the first time in 26 years.
However, the route to both titles was a challenging one as various drivers were in contention throughout the year.
There were races of heartbreak and races of joy – but which grands prix stand out above the rest?
In the order they played out during the year, RacingNews365 delivers the top five races of the season.
The Canadian Grand Prix commenced in wet conditions with George Russell leading Max Verstappen off the line. The opening laps saw a mighty surge from both Haas drivers, who were the only two to start on the wet compound.
As the track dried up, Lando Norris sped past Verstappen and Russell across back-to-back laps to take the lead of the race.
Verstappen took the lead amid pit stops under a safety car that was deployed following a spin for Logan Sargeant. 
Later in the race, Norris briefly took the lead following the next round of pit stops but low tyre temperature on a wet surface allowed Verstappen to pull ahead for the lead and eventual race win.
A late battle commenced between McLaren and Mercedes for the podium places, but up front, Verstappen held on for his 60th career win.
By the time F1 ventured to Austria, the F1 title fight was in full swing. While Verstappen still had a healthy lead, it was clear McLaren had the car to challenge.
Verstappen was in control for much of the race around the Red Bull Ring but in the closing stages, he came under pressure from Norris.
A lock-up at Turn 4 for Verstappen allowed Norris to close the gap even further and on lap 55, the Briton began his attack.
Verstappen, however, would not yield and the battle raged for several laps with Norris complaining about the Red Bull driver’s tactics in the braking zone.
It would all come to blows on lap 64 when the pair collided at Turn 3. Norris dropped to the back of the field, Verstappen was demoted to fifth while George Russell picked up the pieces to win for Mercedes.
Silverstone has produced great races in the past and 2024 was no different. Mercedes was in control in the opening stages as Russell led team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
But as the rain began to tip down, Hamilton had more confidence inside the car and overtook Russell on lap 18. 
The field stayed out for several laps on dry tyres, with McLaren able to fire up their cars in the conditions and overtake the Mercedes pair.
Later in the race, McLaren was late to call Norris into the pit lane for dry tyres and when he made the stop, Hamilton pulled ahead having pitted earlier.
The seven-time world champion then held on to take his first win in well over two years, doing so in front of his home crowd.
Norris’ chances of the F1 title were looking slim but the gap had been significantly closed compared to earlier in the season as the paddock descended on Mexico.
Verstappen took the lead of the race on the opening lap from pole-sitter Carlos Sainz while a dramatic crash occurred on the run to the first corner between Yuki Tsunoda and Alex Albon.
After the restart, Sainz retook the lead from Verstappen, who then came under pressure from Norris. Norris was forced wide on two occasions by his title rival, resulting in a duo of 10-second time penalties for the Red Bull driver.
Their brawl allowed Leclerc to slip through for second place and Ferrari looked to be on for a one-two finish before a mistake at the final corner gifted the runner-up spot to Norris.
Up front, it was all joy for Sainz who took what would be his final race win for Ferrari.
Heavy rainfall before the Sao Paulo Grand Prix plunged the afternoon into chaos – an aborted race start due to a formation lap spin for Lance Stroll caused a delay as Norris pulled off the line before a green light was shown.
Russell jumped Norris into the first corner when the race got underway, while further back, Verstappen was quick to make progress from 17th on the grid.
By the end of the second lap, Verstappen was already in the points. The rain intensified later on causing a red flag, with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, as well as Verstappen, not pitting.
At the restart, the trio led the way with Verstappen making quick work of Ocon. He then pulled out a near-20-second lead to the pack in a dominating drive to victory, putting one hand on the drivers’ championship in the process.
It marked a seismic result for ALpine who ended the race in second and third following a season full of horrors.
Join RacingNews365’s Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding, as they review the remarkable 2024 F1 season! How Max Verstappen secured a fourth drivers’ title is discussed, as is Lewis Hamilton’s disappointing performance in his final season with Mercedes.

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Starting in January, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will no longer accept cash – Florida Today

In our ever-evolving world, local attraction, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, is making the transition away from accepting cash.
Beginning January 6, the visitor complex will no longer be taking cash at registers throughout the park. This move is said to allow for “a smoother, more secure guest experience.”
For guests who do not use credit and debit cards, there will be an option to convert cash to a Visa prepaid debit card via kiosks placed through the visitor complex, including at the Apollo/Saturn V Center. This swap will be free of charge to guests.
“This cashless transition makes payments faster, safer and more convenient for all guests, creating a streamlined and secure experience,” the statement said.
The visitor complex states that visitors can use credit cards, debit cards, and Apple Pay for purchases.
When is the next Florida rocket launch?Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Blue Origin, ULA rocket launch schedule in Florida
 Current ticket prices to the Visitor Complex for 1-day are $75 per adult ($70 for those age 55+) and $65 per child.
U.S. military member tickets are $70 per adult and $60 per child. Valid military ID must be presented in order to receive the discount.
Those who live in Florida can take advantage of the annual pass, which starts at $145 per adult and $120 per child. An annual family pass (two adults and up to four children) is available for $432.10.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.

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Bioengineered Yeast Turning Herbal Medicine into Mainstream Medicine – SynBioBeta

Let’s talk about herbal medicine. The stuff that’s supposedly loaded with beneficial compounds yet stubbornly resists mass production. Normally, the medicine aisle is flooded with "natural" products that can't be scaled up—largely because plants are not factories. But in a notable twist, Kobe University’s bioengineers have cracked part of the code, using yeast to produce artepillin C, a plant-derived compound with enough health benefits to pique anyone’s interest. Findings from this new study were published recently in ACS Synthetic Biology.
Artepillin C itself is a rare molecule. It’s antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and even has anticancer potential—like a wonder molecule in a wellness influencer’s dream come true. But there’s a catch: naturally, you get it from bees that gather it from a particular plant. That’s neither efficient nor scalable. Enter the lab of Kobe University’s bioengineering expert, Hasunuma Tomohisa. His team has developed a way to produce artepillin C using bioengineered yeast, essentially turning it into a fermentation marvel.
But let's break down what that means. Producing plant compounds in a lab isn't like throwing ingredients in a blender. It’s high-stakes molecular engineering. To make this work, Hasunuma’s team needed to pinpoint the enzyme plants use to produce artepillin C. They got a helping hand from Kazufumi Yazaki at Kyoto University, who recently mapped this elusive enzyme. Once they had the code, Hasunuma’s team inserted it into the yeast Komagataella phaffii. Why this yeast? Well, unlike your garden-variety brewer’s yeast, K. phaffii doesn’t churn out alcohol that kills cells; instead, it quietly reproduces at high density—a much friendlier environment for chemical production.
So, what did they find? The modified yeast churned out artepillin C at ten times the previously recorded levels. That’s huge. But here’s where it gets fascinating: artepillin C isn’t the easiest thing to harvest. It tends to accumulate inside the yeast cells instead of floating freely in the growth medium, complicating the extraction process. Hasunuma’s team had to strip out certain mutations from the yeast to allow for denser cell growth. By essentially beefing up the cells' resilience, they turned their yeast into mini artepillin C factories.
And there’s more up their sleeves. The Kobe researchers have ideas for further boosting yields, such as tweaking the enzyme responsible for the final production step and even creating a molecular "transporter." Imagine this transporter as a kind of molecular bouncer—letting artepillin C leave the cell while keeping valuable precursor compounds locked inside, ready to crank out even more of the good stuff.
Beyond artepillin C, this breakthrough holds promise for a range of plant-derived compounds. You see, the universe of herbal medicine isn’t limited to one “miracle” molecule—there are thousands of similar compounds hiding out in plants. Theoretically, Hasunuma’s engineered yeast could be adapted to produce any number of these, shifting us closer to a world where herbal medicine is scalable, reliable, and affordable.
So, here’s where we are: Kobe University has taken a stubbornly natural process and bent it to the will of science, making herbal medicine one step closer to mainstream medicine. And as fascinating as that is for researchers, it’s even more exciting for anyone waiting for evidence-based medicine to deliver plant-based benefits without the folklore.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adip elit. Donec posuere dolor massa, pellentesque aliquam nisl facilisis sed.
Let’s talk about herbal medicine. The stuff that’s supposedly loaded with beneficial compounds yet stubbornly resists mass production. Normally, the medicine aisle is flooded with "natural" products that can't be scaled up—largely because plants are not factories. But in a notable twist, Kobe University’s bioengineers have cracked part of the code, using yeast to produce artepillin C, a plant-derived compound with enough health benefits to pique anyone’s interest. Findings from this new study were published recently in ACS Synthetic Biology.
Artepillin C itself is a rare molecule. It’s antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and even has anticancer potential—like a wonder molecule in a wellness influencer’s dream come true. But there’s a catch: naturally, you get it from bees that gather it from a particular plant. That’s neither efficient nor scalable. Enter the lab of Kobe University’s bioengineering expert, Hasunuma Tomohisa. His team has developed a way to produce artepillin C using bioengineered yeast, essentially turning it into a fermentation marvel.
But let's break down what that means. Producing plant compounds in a lab isn't like throwing ingredients in a blender. It’s high-stakes molecular engineering. To make this work, Hasunuma’s team needed to pinpoint the enzyme plants use to produce artepillin C. They got a helping hand from Kazufumi Yazaki at Kyoto University, who recently mapped this elusive enzyme. Once they had the code, Hasunuma’s team inserted it into the yeast Komagataella phaffii. Why this yeast? Well, unlike your garden-variety brewer’s yeast, K. phaffii doesn’t churn out alcohol that kills cells; instead, it quietly reproduces at high density—a much friendlier environment for chemical production.
So, what did they find? The modified yeast churned out artepillin C at ten times the previously recorded levels. That’s huge. But here’s where it gets fascinating: artepillin C isn’t the easiest thing to harvest. It tends to accumulate inside the yeast cells instead of floating freely in the growth medium, complicating the extraction process. Hasunuma’s team had to strip out certain mutations from the yeast to allow for denser cell growth. By essentially beefing up the cells' resilience, they turned their yeast into mini artepillin C factories.
And there’s more up their sleeves. The Kobe researchers have ideas for further boosting yields, such as tweaking the enzyme responsible for the final production step and even creating a molecular "transporter." Imagine this transporter as a kind of molecular bouncer—letting artepillin C leave the cell while keeping valuable precursor compounds locked inside, ready to crank out even more of the good stuff.
Beyond artepillin C, this breakthrough holds promise for a range of plant-derived compounds. You see, the universe of herbal medicine isn’t limited to one “miracle” molecule—there are thousands of similar compounds hiding out in plants. Theoretically, Hasunuma’s engineered yeast could be adapted to produce any number of these, shifting us closer to a world where herbal medicine is scalable, reliable, and affordable.
So, here’s where we are: Kobe University has taken a stubbornly natural process and bent it to the will of science, making herbal medicine one step closer to mainstream medicine. And as fascinating as that is for researchers, it’s even more exciting for anyone waiting for evidence-based medicine to deliver plant-based benefits without the folklore.
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How to watch, stream Ravens-Steelers NFL football game today. Start time, how to watch, schedule – Courier Journal

The 2024 NFL season continues with the Week 16 schedule as the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to M&T Bank Stadium to take on the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.
Here’s what you need to know about how to watch the Steelers at the Ravens, the NFL Week 16 TV schedule and more.
Steelers-Ravens NFL predictions:Picks, odds for NFL Week 16 game
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens will play at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens will air on FOX at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens will stream on Fox Sports at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. The app is available in the Apple App Store or on Google Play. Fans can also download NFL+ in the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
Here is the NFL schedule for Week 16. All times are Eastern:
Here is the NFL schedule for Week 15. All times are Eastern:
Chris Sims is a digital content producer at Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.
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