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Jerusalem CNN  —  Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, cuts an unmistakable figure in the dark corridors of the ancient, stone patriarchate in this troubled corner of the world. He moves quickly, in long, deliberate strides, the seams of his black cassock billowing like a swimmer’s stroke ahead of his arrival. He was born in Bergamo, northern Italy, but after 35 years immersed in the concerns of his flock here, he says, “I have no idea what people in Italy are talking about most of the time.” His elderly mother still ties him to the land of his…

Bitcoin has reclaimed $98,000 for the first time in almost three months after the US Federal Reserve said it would keep interest rates the same for another month.The Fed’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged comes despite mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump, who just weeks ago threatened to fire Fed chair Jerome Powell for being “too late” in cutting rates.Fed cites higher unemployment, inflation riskPowell said on May 7 that the Federal Reserve rate-setting committee held rates in the 4.25% to 4.50% range due to the rising risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation.He added inflation has “come…

Bitcoin has reclaimed $98,000 for the first time in almost three months after the US Federal Reserve said it would keep interest rates the same for another month.The Fed’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged comes despite mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump, who just weeks ago threatened to fire Fed chair Jerome Powell for being “too late” in cutting rates.Fed cites higher unemployment, inflation riskPowell said on May 7 that the Federal Reserve rate-setting committee held rates in the 4.25% to 4.50% range due to the rising risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation.He added inflation has “come…

Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin mining firm Core Scientific Inc. posted a net profit of $580 million with its first quarter results, but missed analyst revenue estimates after a drop in its mining profits.Core Scientific’s Q1 2025 results, published on May 7, saw it more than double its $210 million net income from the year-ago quarter, while its total revenue reached $79.5 million, missing Zacks analysts’ estimates by 8.11%, and falling from its $179.3 million in revenues for Q1 2024. The firm’s primary source of revenue came from $67.2 million in self-mining revenue, $3.8 million in hosted mining revenue, and $8.6 million in colocation,…

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has signed a bill into law allowing the US state to keep unclaimed crypto and establish a “Bitcoin Reserve Fund” that won’t use any taxpayer money or state funds.Hobbs signed House Bill 2749 into law on May 7, which allows Arizona to claim ownership of abandoned digital assets if the owner fails to respond to communications within three years.The state’s custodians can stake the crypto to earn rewards or receive airdrops, which can then be deposited into what Arizona has called a Bitcoin and Digital Asset Reserve Fund.“This law ensures Arizona doesn’t leave value sitting on…

BOSTON — Maybe the Knicks need to spot the Celtics 20 points at tipoff. Because for whatever reason, they don’t start playing their best basketball until the lights are about to go out. They did it in Game 1, clawing back from 20 down to steal the Eastern Conference semifinal opener. Then they ran it back in Game 2 on Wednesday — trailing by 20 in the third quarter at TD Garden before storming back for a 91-90 win and a 2-0 series lead over the reigning champs. “I would prefer not to [dig a 20-point hole], but we need…

CNN  —  Nearly 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live without access to electricity, creating huge barriers to development. Not only does it stifle industrial growth and agricultural efficiency, but it also has implications on health and education: students often have little lighting by which to study, vaccinations cannot be refrigerated, and a lack of access to clean cooking technologies has led to severe household air pollution – causing 700,000 premature deaths a year. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), energy investment in Africa has fallen in recent years, although recent programs such as Mission 300, launched by the…

Summary In Japan, a charming Growlithe train is covered in Pokemon-themed decorations inside and out. The Okinawa Prefecture received Growlithe as its representative Pokemon to boost tourism. Growlithe isn’t the only Pokemon celebrated in Japan, with Oshawott trains and other tie-ins across different prefectures. A Pokemon fan has spotted an incredible Growlithe train that’s covered in representations of the Pokemon both inside and out. The train would be a charming sight for any fans of the Gen 1 Pokemon, but for those who can’t see it in-person, this Pokemon fan’s detailed photography is the next-best thing. Since Pokemon originated in…

Binance founder and convicted felon Changpeng Zhao says that he applied for a pardon from US President Donald Trump shortly after denying reports that he was seeking one.Zhao, also known as CZ, said on a Farokh Radio podcast episode aired May 6 that he “wouldn’t mind” a pardon and that his lawyers have already filed the paperwork on his behalf“I got lawyers applying,” Zhao said, adding that he submitted the request after Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal reported in March that he was seeking a pardon from Trump amid discussions of a business deal between the Trump family and…

Stripe, a global payments platform, has introduced stablecoin-based accounts to clients in over 100 countries. According to a May 7 announcement, the new feature will allow the platform’s clients “to send, receive, and hold US-dollar stablecoin account balances, similar to how a traditional fiat bank account works.”The product’s technical page shows that the new account feature will support Circle’s USDC (USDC) and Bridge’s USDB (USDB) stablecoins. Stripe acquired the Bridge platform in October 2024.The product will be available to clients in more than 100 countries, including Argentina, Chilé, Turkey, Colombia, and Peru, among others.Stripe’s newly launched product comes at a…