The Horn News

Proudly American, Fiercely Independent

Hong Kong’s COVID spike leads some to eco-friendlier coffins

Hong Kong’s deadliest coronavirus outbreak has cost about 6,000 lives this year – and the city is now running out of coffins. Authorities have scrambled to order more, with the government saying 1,200 coffins had reached the city last week with more to come. Space constraints make cremation a common… Read More

Another White House aide tests positive for COVID-19

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said she tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday after returning from Europe with President Joe Biden, in the latest infiltration of the coronavirus into the West Wing’s protective bubble around Biden. Jean-Pierre, the principal deputy press secretary, said she last saw Biden “during a socially… Read More

Scientists make breakthrough on blood-drinking bats

Scientists have figured out why vampire bats are the only mammals that can survive on a diet of just blood. They compared the genome of common vampire bats to 26 other bat species and identified 13 genes that are missing or no longer work in vampire bats. Over the years,… Read More

Supreme Court finally gives update on Clarence Thomas’ health

Justice Clarence Thomas was discharged from the hospital Friday after a stay of nearly a week, the Supreme Court said. Thomas, 73, had entered the hospital last Friday evening after experiencing “flu-like symptoms.” He was treated for an infection with intravenous antibiotics, the court said Sunday in announcing his hospitalization…. Read More

Poland to abolish nearly all COVID-19 restrictions

Poland is abolishing practically all of its COVID-19 restrictions next week, a government official said Thursday. People will no longer be required to wear masks in indoor public spaces starting Monday, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said. The only exception will be in medical facilities, where staff and patients will still… Read More

Under pressure, FDA reviews ALS drug with modest data

When patients are battling a terminal illness and want access to an experimental drug, how much evidence that it works should regulators require before approval? That’s the question behind many of the Food and Drug Administration’s toughest decisions, including last year’s controversial approval of Aduhelm. Many experts — including the… Read More

Top-notch hospital in Qatar fills up… with falcons

At first glance, the Souq Waqif clinic in the historic center of Doha could be any other state-of-the-art hospital. Nurses in blue scrubs move briskly through the bright wards, conducting rounds. Radiology and operating rooms whir with the beeps and blinks of monitors. Specialists squint at X-rays and masked doctors… Read More

New York City to let unvaccinated athletes play home games

New York City’s mayor will announce Thursday that he’s exempting athletes and performers from the city’s vaccine mandate for private workers, a move that will allow Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving to play home games and unvaccinated baseball players to take the field when their season begins. Mayor Eric Adams… Read More

California’s Gov. Newsom to make abortions cheaper

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law on Tuesday to make abortions cheaper for people on private insurance plans, the first of more than a dozen bills the state’s Democratic leaders plan to pass this year to prepare for a potential U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could overturn Roe… Read More

Army lowers standards on fitness test so more women pass

After three years of complaints and debate, the Army has scrapped its move to have a physical fitness test that is gender- and age-neutral, and will now allow women and older soldiers to pass while meeting some reduced standards. The decision comes after a study by the RAND research organization… Read More