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A new dangerous trend taking over TikTok is now making headlines as parents across the globe warn of the severe harm it can cause.

The skull breaker challenge originated in Spain when two students began to film themselves executing the seemingly harmless move with an unsuspecting third participant. The trend captures three individuals standing in a row before jumping straight up. While the middle person is in the air, the two on the sides kick inwards to knock them off of their feet and onto their head.

However, its dangers quickly became evident as the middle participant continued to become the victim of injuries to the head, neck and wrist. At least two children in the United States have been hospitalized after attempting the challenge.

One viral video out of Venezuela, in particular, demonstrated how a person can sustain an injury from the stunt dubbed Rompecrneos in Spanish, meaning skull cracker when the student fell onto the back of his head on the ground outside of his school. Although the video has since been removed from social media, the video is archived on Twitter. Administrators of the school where it took place also took to social media to condemn it.

Recently, a video has been made viral on social networks, in which some baccalaureate students of our institution are exposed, making a game where the ... physical integrity of one of the young people would allegedly be put at risk. In the aforementioned video, the badge of the College is clearly distinguished, whose symbol represents the institutions, one of the schools tweets, translated in English, reads.

Despite the injuries that some international outlets reported, the school did not address any serious harm caused by the stunt, other than the alarm that the events occurred may cause. Still, the statement goes on to say, the parties involved (the students with their respective representatives) were summoned to the Directorate of the College to initiate the corresponding procedures, attached to the relevant legal provisions.

The Feb. 4 statement didnt prevent the trend from spreading, as it became popular in India, the United Arab Emirates and the U.S. Now, parents in the U.S. are doing their part to shed light on the severity of the stunt by posting warnings attached to photos of their injured children on Facebook.

I really contemplated posting this, but I feel there needs to be awareness of this malicious cruel viral prank, Arizona mother Valerie Hodson wrote on Facebook about her young son who was tricked in the stunt by two friends. He landed hard flat on his back and head, as he struggled to get up he lost consciousness, he fell forward landing on his face. The school monitor ran to his side, all the while the 2 boys were snickering and laughing as his stiff unconscious body lay on the asphalt. Fast forward at the hospital, he has a head injury, stiches [sic] in his face, severe cuts inside his mouth and 2 front teeth I have to keep on eye on. This apparently is a Tik Tok viral prank being filmed and gaining likes on social media.

Days later, a mom in Alabama posted a similar warning, this time asking for prayers for her son who had to get surgery on his wrist as a result of the TikTok prank.

The safety and well-being of our users is a top priority at TikTok, a TikTok spokesperson tells Yahoo Lifestyle. As we make clear in our Community Guidelines, we do not allow content that encourages, promotes, or glorifies dangerous challenges that might lead to injury, and we remove reported behavior or activity that violates our guidelines. To help keep our platform safe, we have introduced a slate of safety features geared towards enhancing our users experience, including tools for reporting inappropriate content and for managing privacy settings.

Videos of the skull breaker challenge on TikTok have been replaced by skull saver challenges, in which users are reenacting the challenge without the hazardous kick, as well as public service announcements about the dangerous stunt.

According to Nathan Richards, MD, a physician who specializes in internal medicine and pediatrics at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, both outcomes were better than the irreversible damage that can occur. The skull breaker challenge, he tells Yahoo Lifestyle, can even be fatal.

The skull breaker challenge is an emerging prank being propagated on social media that results in forceful trauma to the head and neck area. It can be associated with a variety of serious and even life-threatening injuries including, but not limited to, bruising, hematoma, skull fracture, neck strain, neck fracture, concussion and long term complications of concussion, bleeding in or around the brain, loss of consciousness, paralysis, and death, Richards explains. Although it can seem like a harmless prank to children and adolescents, they should be educated on the potential serious consequences of doing the skull breaker challenge.

Denise Klinkner, MD, a pediatric surgeon at the Mayo Clinic Childrens Center in Rochester, Minnesota adds that the person in the middle of the stunt will likely become injured even if prepared for what it entails. In spite of knowing this is the intent, the falling teen rapidly lands without blocking the fall, leading to at minimum a concussion, she says. If one is able, an outstretched hand to block the fall may lead to a broken wrist or arm.

As for why children and teens continue to take part in these challenges despite knowing the potential danger, Sabrina Sykes, PhD, a psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center writes that its all about the wow factor.

New online challenges routinely spring up and rapidly spread over social media, particularly among adolescents and young adults, Sykes explained in a blog post about the appeal of online challenges. Social media, in turn, offers instant popularity among peers in the form of likes and followers, providing peer acceptance, buoying the teens self-concept and, therefore, enhancing the draw to participate in these challenges.

She went on to credit the still-developing prefrontal cortex for an adolescents inability to manage their impulses or make responsible decisions, working in tandem with the very real fear of missing out. This means teens are highly motivated to engage in socially rewarding behavior and gravitate toward thrill-seeking, without focusing on potential risks or consequences, she wrote.

Still, parents and adults can intervene in their teens online behavior, according to Sykes, and take part in productive conversations that can improve a childs judgment.

Parents should familiarize themselves with social media platforms and engage their teen in conversations about online challenges, Sykes post reads. Remember that while teens continue to grow and navigate social relationships, through these conversations parents can foster the development of thoughtful and rational thinking skills, while also maintaining connection.

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The 'skull breaker challenge' is trending on TikTok. Why doctors say it could be fatal. - Yahoo Food

By Philip Pullella

BARI, Italy (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday warned against "inequitable solutions" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying they would only be a prelude to new crises, in an apparent reference to U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East peace proposal.

Francis made his comments in the southern Italian port city of Bari, where he traveled to conclude a meeting of bishops from all countries in the Mediterranean basin.

"The Mediterranean region is currently threatened by outbreaks of instability and conflict, both in the Middle East and different countries of North Africa, as well as between various ethnic, religious or confessional groups," Francis said.

"Nor can we overlook the still unresolved conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, with the danger of inequitable solutions and, hence, a prelude to new crises," he said.

The participants included Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the head of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, whose jurisdiction includes Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan.

It was believed to be the first time the pope, who has often defended both Palestinian rights and Israel's need for security, has spoken in public about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since Trump announced the plan on Jan. 28.

The plan would recognize Israel's authority over West Bank Jewish settlements and require Palestinians meet a series of conditions for a state, with its capital in a West Bank village east of Jerusalem.

Although Trump's stated aim was to end decades of conflict, his plan favored Israel, underlined by the Palestinians' absence from his White House announcement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side.

The Palestinians and Arab League foreign ministers have rejected the plan and the Palestinian Authority has cut all ties with the United States and Israel.

Palestinians, with broad international backing, want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state, while Israel views the whole city its "united and eternal" capital.

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The pope expressed concern in 2018 when the United States announced the moving of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, saying the city's "status quo" should be respected. Francis has called for all to honor U.N. resolutions on the city.

"There is no reasonable alternative to peace, because every attempt at exploitation or supremacy demeans both its author and its target. It shows a myopic grasp of reality, since it can offer no future to either of the two," Francis said, speaking in general about the Middle East.

Francis again warned against populist politicians who he said used "demagogic terms" such as "invasion" when talking of migration.

"To be sure, acceptance and a dignified integration are stages in a process that is not easy. Yet it is unthinkable that we can address the problem by putting up walls," he said.

(Reporting By Philip Pullella. Editing by Jane Merriman)

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A court full of elite athletes from two of the NBAs premier franchises, and it was all decided by a pinkie. As well as a beautiful fadeaway by LeBron James.

The Los Angeles Lakers pulled out a 114-112 win over a Boston Celtics team missing Kemba Walker on Sunday, prevailing in a game in which neither team was ever up by double digits. The win avenged one of the Lakers worst losses of the season, a 139-107 drubbing in Boston on Jan. 20.

LeBron James was his typical self, posting 29 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

As usual, 61 combined points from James and Anthony Davis led the way for the Lakers, but the games final minute hinged on a scramble for a free throw. With less than a minute remaining and down 110-109, James missed the second of two free throws. The ball fell to Bostons Jaylen Brown, but Davis aggressively reached for the ball, which was eventually knocked out of bounds.

The out-of-bounds was called on the Celtics, but a replay showed the ball seeming to last touch Davis pinkie. Or not. The officials eventually decided to let the call stand.

On the next play, James squared off against Brown, tried to push the Celtics star into the post, then hit a beautiful fadeaway to give his team the 111-110 lead.

In the middle of it all, the Lakers superstar smirked as he figured out what to do.

Jaylen Brown had been playing me toward the baseline because I had been drop-stepping all game, James said after the game. I knew if I just gave him a little shimmy shake to the baseline, I could come back middle and get my shot off. Through the grace of God and a lot of hard work, I was able to knock it down.

The Lakers would never relinquish that lead, with the game ending on an attempted game-winner from Jayson Tatum was called off by an offensive foul.

Had Tatum received those points, it would have capped a masterful day for the 21-year-old as he filled in for Walkers absence on offense. Tatum finished with 41 points on 12-of-20 shooting, the first player to top 40 points in a Lakers-Celtics game since Kobe Bryant in 2011.

Despite the loss, the Celtics should definitely feel heartened they took the Lakers to the final minute on the road and without their All-Star point guard. The team looked like a legitimate Finals contender (though the Milwaukee Bucks remain an enormous obstacle), and should be at full strength soon once Walker has recovered from a minor knee procedure.

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Lakers eke out win over Celtics by a pinkie - Yahoo Sports

If were to believe recent reports, Kate Middleton hasnt taken Prince Harry and Meghan Markles decision to step back from the royal family lightly.

According to various outlets, the Duchess of Cambridge has been worried about staying close with Harry and concerned that her children wont get to see enough of their cousin, Archie. But if theres one silver lining to all of this, its that Kate is reportedly so happy to have a more prominent voice in royal charity work and the goals of the Royal Foundation, an organization she can play a bigger role in now that Harry and Meghan have moved to Canada.

Insiders spoke to The Sunso take it with a grain of saltand said that the Duchess of Cambridge is jumping into her duties with tons of enthusiasm. Shes been on a tour of the U.K., promoting early childhood development, and even opened up about her experiences as a parent, which give insight into how she might steer other initiatives the Royal Foundation tackles.

Kate is extremely passionate about the work the foundation does, and she has ideas and plans for how she believes it can be used to help some of the causes which she is particularly passionate about, a source told *The Sun.* In recent weeks Kate has visited a lot of organizations and spoke to lots of experts and has soaked a lot of information. She wants to use that to go out and bring about change to many of those who need support.

Previously, the Royal Foundation was a joint effort between William and Harry, and it represented causes they both felt strongly about. Kate joined when she married William, and Meghan became a part of the organization a few years later, which meant there were a lot of interests to balance.

For years the foundations work was a bit of a tug-of-war between what William and Harry wanted, the source said. Harry was very much focused on the military and his work with the Invictus Games. Now it is purely in the shape of how William and Kate want it to be.

Kates expanding work at the Royal Foundation is reflective of how shes come into her own in recent yearssomething even Queen Elizabeth is said to be proud of. It all shows how she is preparing to take the lead in the monarchy one day.

She is an adoring mother, and she is contributing publicly in the way we would want her to, a source told *People* last September. You see it more and more. The young student has turned into our future queen.

Originally Appeared on Glamour

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NFL Free Agency kicks off on March 18th, which means we are inching closer to one of the most impactful days on the leagues calendar. Transactions are on the horizon!

Few players are likely going to draw as much attention on the open market as New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. With Drew Brees announcing he will return for another season, it seems likely that Bridgewater will test free agency.

There are definitely some teams that could use his talents.

When Brees went down with a thumb injury during the 2019 NFL regular season, Bridgewater filled in admirably for the 13-time Pro Bowler, leading the Saints to a 5-0 record in the games he started. He finished the season with a 67.9% completion percentage, an impressive 7.1 yards per attempt, nine touchdowns and two interceptions.

So which teams exactly should make a play for the 27-year-old?

T.Y. Hilton would benefit from the addition of Teddy Bridgewater. (Getty Images)

Jacoby Brissett, Frank Reich and the Indianapolis Colts handled the 2019 NFL season about as well as anybody, considering their elite QB Andrew Luck decided to retire weeks before the start of the year, finishing with a 7-9 record.

It was made apparent, however, that Brissett is limited in what he can do as a passer. In Indys seven wins Brissett threw for over 205 yards just twice. In his 15 starts, he surpassed the 205-yard mark just six times a fairly low bar to clear for NFL quarterbacks.

The Colts also have a good defense when healthy which it rarely was in 2019 as players like CB Kenny Moore, CB Quincy Wilson and DB Malik Hooker all missed periods of time with injuries.

Couple that with an offense that has playmakers in WR T.Y. Hilton and RB Marlon Mack, and you get a team that with Bridgewater at the helm could easily compete in a wide-open AFC South if they make good use of their $81 million+ in cap space this off-season.

Khalil Mack and the Chicago Bears could use some help at QB. (Getty Images)

Now, remember, this is a list of teams that should try to sign Bridgewater, not teams that are likely going to.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace must dread watching NFL highlights every Sunday. After all, he traded a kings ransom to move up one spot in the draft to select Mitch Trubisky, passing on both Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes.

Yeah.

In 2019, Trubisky took a step back in the following statistical categories from the previous year: Passing yards, touchdown passes, rushing yards, yards per attempt and QB rating. However, the team seems set on having him start in 2020.

The Bears dont need a top-5 player at QB, they have enough talent surrounding the position to be a contender. The team needs someone who can manage a game and make plays when needed and judging him by his first three seasons in the league - its hard to label Trubisky as someone who can do that.

The Los Angeles Chargers aren't known for spending in free agency, but Anthony Lynn is coaching a talented squad in need of a quarterback. (Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Chargers havent built up a reputation of being heavy spenders, but with Philip Rivers departing theres a hole to be filled at quarterback for the first time in 16 years.

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Owners of the sixth-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Oregon QB Justin Herbert could be available, but putting your faith in a rookie QB right away on a roster that is seemingly ready to win now may not work.

Sure, Tyrod Taylor is a viable backup option, but with nearly $52-million in cap space to spend this spring, the club can afford to bring in Bridgewater.

The defense, when DB Derwin James is healthy, is a solid unit. The offense has some serious playmakers in the passing game with WR Keenan Allen, WR Mike Williams and TE Hunter Henry leading the way.

With a competent quarterback in his prime like Bridgewater, this club can compete in the AFC West. Will they spend up to make that happen? That is the better question.

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At least prior to the coronavirus outbreak in China midway through January, Walmarts businesses in the country were on fire.

Now that key source of growth for the worlds largest retailer could be poised to completely fall off the map in the first quarter as the countrys economic activity has come to a standstill. Walmart (WMT) which operates 433 locations in China (407 under the Walmart banner, 26 Sams Club) reported Tuesday that fourth quarter (ended Jan. 31) net sales in China rose a solid 3.5%. That outpaced Walmart internationals overall sales growth rate of 2.3% and the U.S. sales gain of 1.9%. E-commerce sales in China surged 100%, way better than the U.S. growth rate of 35%.

People walk past a Walmart store in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Sams Club continuing to benefit from Chinese consumers enjoying the fun of buying bulk goods (see Costco opening last year) saw same-store sales increase double-digit in the quarter. That, too, was the best showing by far of any Walmart segment to cap off the year.

A Walmart spokesperson tells Yahoo Finance the companys stores and warehouse clubs are open in the country.

But the caution on the outlook for China which could also badly hurt a Walmart supply chain that is overly reliant on the country for items such as apparel and toys could be felt in the retailers first crack at guidance for 2020 even if it says otherwise.

Walmart set 2020 earnings per share guidance in the range of $5.00 to $5.15, below Wall Street analyst estimates of $5.22. Shares fell slightly in pre-market trading.

The company continues to monitor the events in Chile and the Coronavirus outbreak and has not included any potential financial effects in its assumptions, the retailer said.

Walmart CFO Brett Biggs, however, said during the companys investor day presentation the situation in China certainly tempers the near-term outlook in the country. Biggs added Walmart hasnt yet seen any impact to its supply chain from the coronavirus.

Brian Sozzi is an editor-at-large and co-anchor of The First Trade at Yahoo Finance. Watch The First Trade each day here at 9:00 a.m. ET or on Verizon FIOS channel 604. Follow Sozzi on Twitter @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn.

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Coronavirus in China may have severely stunted one of Walmart's hottest businesses - Yahoo Finance

The 10 richest Americans have a combined wealth of well over half a trillion dollars.

And we might only be beginning to feel the influence of all that buying power in the 2020 campaign.

Michael Bloomberg sits at No. 6 on this elite list and of course is running for president himself. Hes already spent hundreds of millions and is promising to spend over a billion before its all over (more on that below).

Oracle (ORCL) co-founder Larry Ellison sits at No. 4 on Forbess list with an estimated fortune of $62.5 billion. He is set to jump into the 2020 fray in a big way with a fundraiser on Wednesday featuring President Donald Trump at the Oracle founders estate in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

According to a copy of the invitation, the golf outing this Wednesday will cost donors either $100,000 or $250,000 with funds being disbursed among Trump's primary and general election accounts, the Republican National Committee, GOP state parties, and the Republican National Convention.

Here are the different ways the 10 members of the 0.000003% are publicly engaging in the 2020 campaign.

Ellison is the first top billionaire (and one of the only tech leaders) to go all in on Trump.

The Oracle co-founder only recently joined the Trump train. During the 2016 campaign, he gave millions to Marco Rubio and to super PACS that supported the Florida senator. Over the years, Ellison has given money to both parties with a focus on Republicans.

In years past, he gave money to Democrats like Joseph Crowley, the New York City Congressman who was unseated in 2018 by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Ellison has also given money to Senators Harry Reid of Nevada and Ron Wyden of Oregon.

Oracle chairman of the board and chief technology officer Larry Ellison delivers a keynote address during the 2019 Oracle OpenWorld on September 16, 2019. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Through the end of 2019, based on Federal Election Commission data, Ellison has never given a cent to Trump.

Charles Koch, CEO of the conglomerate Koch Industries, is another top billionaire in the top 10. His wealth, according to Forbes, is estimated at $50.5 billion. Along with his late brother David, the Kochs have directed hundreds of millions of dollars towards a range of Republican and Libertarian causes over the years.

The Kochs have had a complicated relationship with Trump and clashed with the president over issues like trade.

This time around, Charles Koch has still not directly indicated whether he'll support Trump, and if so, how much money he'll send the president's way. So far in the 2020 race, the Koch largesse has often been directed towards Senate races.

Jim Walton (the youngest son of Walmart [WMT] founder Sam Walton) has a personal fortune of $44.6 billion and is the 10th richest American in the country. He generally stays quiet on political topics but appears to have personally given money to a range of Republican groups over the years, including Trump.

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Two billionaires on the list have been linked to Democratic campaigns.

Mark Zuckerberg (No. 5, $62.3 billion) has reportedly recommended several potential hires to former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigiegs campaign. Zuckerberg visited South Bend in 2017 and appeared in a Facebook Live with then-Mayor Buttigieg.

Zuckerberg has also railed against other Democratic candidates, saying during a leaked meeting last July that an Elizabeth Warren presidency would be an existential threat to Facebook. Zuckberg met with Trump for what Facebook called a constructive conversation last year.

According to the FEC, Zuckerbergs last personal political donation outside of contributions to Facebooks own PAC was $10,000 to the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee in 2015. In 2014, he gave money to both Democrat Nancy Pelosi and Republican Paul Ryan.

Google (GOOG, GOOGL) co-founder Sergey Brin (No. 10 on the list, $49.8 billion) has also been linked to the Buttigieg campaign. His wife Nicole Shanahan reportedly hosted a fundraiser for Buttigieg last year. According to FEC data, Shanahan gave $2,800 to Mayor Pete last November and has contributed to a range of other Democratic politicians over the years. Brin himself gave to a get out the vote group in 2016 and to Barack Obama during the 2012 campaign.

Larry Page (L) and Sergey Brin (R), are the co-founders of Google. (Photo by James Leynse/Corbis via Getty Images)

The other co-founder of Google, Larry Page, has a fortune of $50.8 billion and hes stayed a bit quieter on the 2020 race. In the past, hes indicated hed rather give his money to people like Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

The richest of the rich among the billionaire class have declined (or are still waiting) to weigh in.

Amazon (AMZN) CEO Jeff Bezos is the richest person in the world. Hes given to Democrats and Republicans over the years but nothing so far in 2020. The Amazon founder reportedly did ask Mike Bloomberg if he would consider running for president. Bezos thanks largely to his ownership of the Washington Post has not been on the friendliest of terms with Trump.

On Monday, Bezos pledged $10 billion to fight climate change.

Microsoft (MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates, the second richest person in the world, has also tended to spend his money outside of the electoral process. Hes used his fortune to make the Gates Foundation the largest private foundation in the world.

Gates has offered only limited commentary on the 2020 field: criticizing a proposal for a wealth tax from Warren and saying he wouldnt rule out supporting Donald Trump. In 2016, he told Stat news that he would approach any administration with an open mind but mentioned that Hillary Clinton had more experience with global health.

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A, BRK-B) CEO Warren Buffett (#3) backed Clinton in 2016 and harshly criticized Donald Trump during that race. He hasnt endorsed a candidate in 2020 but has indicated a fondness for Michael Bloomberg in the past.

The multi-billionaire with the biggest 2020 footprint is, of course, Michael Bloomberg.

The sixth richest American has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on his candidacy. Hes said hes open to spending billions whether he wins or loses.

Through an ad campaign that has blanketed the country, he has surged in polls and hell appear for the first time on a presidential debate stage on Wednesday night.

Democratic presidential candidate former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg during a campaign rally in Nashville. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Bloomberg has also repeatedly trolled Trump for not being as rich as him. The president is ranked No. 715 in the Forbes list of the worlds billionaires with a fortune estimated at $3.1 billion. Bloomberg has questioned the president repeatedly about his qualifications and even whether hes actually a billionaire.

A recent speech in Texas was just one example. Do we really want a general election between two New York billionaires? Bloomberg asked the crowd before delivering the punchline: To which I say, whos the other one?!

Ben Werschkul is a producer for Yahoo Finance in Washington, DC.

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Presidential campaigns are paying millions to Big Tech companies (while also bashing them)

Bloomberg's new plan to crack down on Wall Street includes a financial transaction tax

Trump to attend fundraiser at Oracle chairman Larry Ellison's estate

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This post has been updated as of 10:55 AM E.T. on Feb. 14.

Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, 64,460 people have fallen ill worldwide.

China is the epicenter of the outbreak. On Thursday, the country confirmed 15,152 additional cases of the coronavirus and 254 deaths in a press conference on Thursday. Chinas total number of cases is 63,866 and the death toll has now risen to 1,384.

More than 1,700 medical workers have been infected by the virus, China said, according to CNN. Six have died.

China is facing an unprecedented health crisis, SecretaryofHealthand Human Services Alex Azar told Yahoo Finance in an interview. Some of this may simply be the chaos involved in quarantining over 60 million people and trying to contain a an unknown, rapidly evolving, unknown virus spreading in your country.

Azar added: But we must ensure that the response is transparent and vigorous, and that's something the World Health Organization has got to ensure that China is held to account for transparency and cooperation by the same standards that they would require of the United States or any other country.

Even though the coronavirus outbreak remains contained largely in mainland China and its immediate regions, other parts of the world are also being affected.

There are currently 15 confirmed cases in the U.S. The latest case was discovered in Texas, at the Lackland Air Force Base, according to the CDC. Japan has announced that one person has died due to the virus.

The virus has taken more lives than the deadly Severe Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002, and several industries like travel and hospitality are scaling back operations in China, while others like Boeing sound off on concerns their difficulties operating in China.

Masked people shoot propaganda footage of the fight against Covid-19 in Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang province Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. (Photo: Feature China/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

The outbreak began in Wuhan, which is the capital of Chinas central provide of Hubei. The virus strain was previously unknown and is speculated to have emerged late last year from illegally traded wildlife at a market in Wuhan, according to Reuters.

A very similar version of the coronavirus today had actually caused SARS almost a decade ago, and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), The Guardian reported.

Stats from China indicate that around 2% of those infected with the new virus have died, but many of them were elderly or had prior medical conditions, Reuters reported. The mortality rate for SARS was similar when it first began, but peaked at almost 10%.

Over 1,000 people have died from the coronavirus outbreak. (Graphic: David Foster)

While the outbreak has spread globally, Hubei province in China remains the epicenter. On Feb. 6, the whistleblower doctor, who had been punished for revealing the deadly respiratory virus, died.

Chinas senior medical advisor said earlier this week on Tuesday that the number of new infections are slowing, and that the outbreak may be over in April.

But during a press conference on Thursday, it revised the number of new cases and the number of deaths.

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A WHO spokesperson told Yahoo Finance the spike in cases is not abnormal.

"As is normal in a newly emerging infectious disease, case definitions adapt to improved understanding and the 13,332 clinically diagnosed cases are not newly identified in the last 24 hours only, the spokesperson stated. They include retrospectively identified cases from earlier in the epidemic; it is not uncommon for surveillance data to be updated as new definitions are adopted."

In the meantime, several countries have imposed travel restrictions from Singapore (travel ban) to the U.S.(travel restrictions).

Azar added that the U.S. has also launched a surveillance system in five cities Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and New York to monitor people with potential flu-like symptoms.

The uncertainty is worrying health care experts.

I think now that its in more countries even Singapore, which is really good at tracing cases, has found some cases that arent linked to previous known cases its clear that there are probably many cases in countries where we havent yet found them, Marc Lipsitch, professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told theHarvard Gazette earlier this week.

The World Health Organization (WHO) echoed that sentiment on Friday.

How big is the iceberg? Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHOs emergencies program, said at a news conference. The question is how much is happening outside what we see?

Anjalee Khemlani is a reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter:@AnjKhem

Aarthi Swaminathan is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. She can be reached at aarthi@yahoofinance.com. Follow her on Twitter @aarthiswami.

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Cannabis beverages and aluminum cans have a problematic relationship that could prove costly for licenced producers with drink production lines built for the ubiquitous metal containers. The devil is in the molecular details.

Scientists have determined that liners inside aluminum cans can cause cannabis drinks to lose their potency. That means by the time a pot drink is put in a can, shipped, stored in a warehouse, displayed in a store, and finally consumed, the buzz promised on the label may have diminished or disappeared.

Can manufacturers add the liners to prevent drinks from taking on a metallic taste, to reduce corrosion of the can, and to improve shelf stability. But when pot drinks are under pressure, the liner can attract tiny emulsified droplets of active cannabis ingredients like THC.

Our theory is the cannabis material, the droplets, will stick to the liner and cling on it. When you open the can to take a drink, it will lose its potency, Vertosa founder and chief science officer Harold Han told Yahoo Finance Canada in an interview.

Han holds a Ph.D in chemistry from NYU, and has authored two patents in emulsion chemistry. His California-based company works with cannabis-infused beverage makers to develop emulsion solutions to mitigate the effect of can liners leeching away cannabis compounds.

Oil, cannabis or otherwise, does not mix with water. Nanoemulsion helps solve that problem by breaking down oily compounds to a microscopic level so they can be suspended in a drink.

Cannabis beverages that use the technology have a faster effect compared to edibles. They also have high bioavailability, meaning the body will absorb a higher amount of the THC or CBD. However, pot drinks have yet to emerge as a major category, even though theyve been available in U.S. states with legal recreational cannabis sales for some time.

Last year, Cowen cannabis and alcoholic beverage analyst Viven Azer told Yahoo Finance Canada the U.S. market for cannabis drinks is small, fragmented, and without a clear leader. Thats the case, she said, because early products in the United States got people stoned for too long, and lacked consistent intensity, onset, and offset for the high users feel.

In Canada, drinks were part of the swath of new Cannabis 2.0 products authorized for sale last fall. So far, only a limited selection of items like infused tea bags have hit stores.

Deloitte estimates the Canadian market for cannabis-infused beverages will be worth $529 million annually, with one-in-three consumers viewing the category as an alternative to alcohol.

Han said the problem of aluminum cans draining the potency out of pot drinks first came to his attention early last year when Lagunitas, a craft beer subsidiary of Heineken (HEIA.AS), shifted its Hi-Fi Hops cannabis drinks from cans to glass bottles.

Then we thought, lets get some can liners. Lets test our emulsions. We had two at the time, he said. The loss was horrible.

Vertosa has partnered with can manufactures including Ball (BLL), Ardagh Group (ARD) and Gamer Packaging to test solutions.

Han said its difficult for the can industry to alter linings to accommodate the relatively small cannabis drinks category, and pot drink producers prefer cans over bottles due to lower costs.

Its up to us to find the solution, he said, admitting some active ingredients will always be absorbed by aluminum cans. You will always see some percentage of loss. But as long as you can manage this loss and let it plateau, that is the goal.

Canopy Growth (WEED.TO)(CGC) has been the most active in the drinks category among Canadian licenced producers, previewing an extensive line of THC and CBD drinks in late October, the vast majority packaged in cans.

Canopy Growth's cannabis drinks are expected to be ready for retail in mid-December 2019. (Yahoo Finance)

A number of other cannabis players have struck deals or formed joint ventures to produce beverages, including HEXO (HEXO.TO)(HEXO) and Tilray (TLRY). Canopys 125,000-square-foot beverage facility was constructed with a helping hand from its largest shareholder, beer and wine giant Constellation Brands (STZ).

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The Smiths Falls, Ont.-based company said in December that its first drinks would hit the market in early January. On Jan. 17, it abruptly delayed the launch, offering few details.

In order to deliver products that meet our customers high standards we are electing to revise the launch date while we work through the final details, CEO David Klein stated in a news release.

Klein, a transplanted executive from Constellation, officially began leading the worlds largest cannabis company only days earlier on Jan. 14. The company is expected to provide an update on its beverages when it reports fiscal third quarter 2020 financial results before the markets open on Feb. 14.

Craig Wiggins of the industry research group TheCannalysts told Yahoo Finance Canada that sources tell him the delay was due in part to issues with cans.

We're hearing that there is a problem with the can linings. That THC is leaching into the can linings and making shelf stability drop, and a host of other problems, he said.

Yahoo Finance Canada repeatedly attempted to reach Canopy Growth for comment. Calls and emails were not returned by the company.

Jeff Maser, CEO of the California-based cannabis beverage company Tinley (TNY.CN)(TNYBF), said he was shocked last fall when he saw photos of Canopys hotly anticipated beverage portfolio packaged in cans.

His products are sold in glass bottles.

We tried forever to try to find a solution. We worked with everybody that came along, and we spoke directly to the can manufacturers. We even spoke directly with the Hi-Fi hops guys, Maser told Yahoo Finance Canada in an October interview.

When I say there is less cannabis, there is no cannabis left. It's literally 97 per cent absorption into the can after a few months. Guys are saying they solved that problem. Nobody really has.

Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jefflagerquist.

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Cans suck the THC buzz out of pot drinks. Where does that leave Canopy Growth? - Yahoo Sports

Key Point:No fighter is completely invincible. Here's what we know about the F-35's downsides.

Amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, in part resulting from U.S. President Donald Trumps decision unilaterally to withdraw the United States from the 2015 deal limiting Irans nuclear program, the U.S. armed forces have deployed a wide array of ships, planes and other weapons to the Middle East.

The American arsenal in the region includes F-35 stealth fighters. If tensions turn into warfare, the factory-fresh F-35s could face an Iranian air force operating some of the oldest active fighters in the world.

The Iranians with their four-decade-old F-4s, F-5s and F-14s might not seem to have a chance against the Americans flying arguably the worlds most advanced fighter aircraft. But history, and recent testing show how Iranian pilots flying old planes could defeat Americans flying brand-new ones.

For one, the F-35, while new, isnt necessarily a stellar aerial performer. In 2015 someone associated with the F-35 test effort leaked an official report explaining the stealth fighters limitations in air-to-air maneuvers with an F-16.

The F-35 was at a distinct energy disadvantage, an unnamed F-35 test pilot wrote in a scathing five-page brief. Insufficient pitch rate, he added. Energy deficit to the bandit would increase over time.

The complaints continued. The flying qualities in the blended region (20 to 26 degrees [angle of attack]) were not intuitive or favorable, the pilot wrote, adding that theres no point for an F-35 pilot to get into a sustained, close turning battle with an enemy pilot. There were not compelling reasons to fight in this region.

The pilots revelations underscore what many observers long have suspected about the F-35. While its radar-evading qualities and high-end sensors might allow it to gain a favorable position for long-range missile shots, in a close fight the F-35 hardly excels.

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If an Iranian pilot can survive a merge with an F-35 and engage the stealth fighter in a turning dogfight, the Iranian might just bag himself a stealth fighter. Its worth noting that the Iranian air force flies scores of fighters that excel precisely in that regime.

American-made F-5 Tigers, for instance. Former U.S. Navy pilot Francesco Chierici who flew F-5s in the adversary role, sang the planes praise in a 2019 article for The War Zone. The Tiger was clean, just an AIM-9 and a telemetry pod on the wingtips, and occasionally a centerline fuel tank, Chierici wrote. She slipped through the number (Mach 1) easily. The F-5 was a pair of engines and wings. It was so simple

Aerodynamically, the F-5 will always be what we call a category-three fighter, where the F-35 and F-22 are now category-five fighters. Compared to modern jets, it is underpowered, slow and bleeds airspeed badly in a sustained turn, not to mention it has no stealth other than its tiny size.

But with just a few modifications, the F-5 is being turned into a threat plane with a legitimate sting. The newest upgrades include an [electronically-scanned] radar, good [radar-warning] gear, chaff and flares, a jamming pod and a helmet-mounted cueing system for a high off-boresight IR (infrared-guided) missiles.

A Tiger so outfitted can provide Super Hornets and F-35s a legitimate threat, especially in the training environment.

Iran indeed has been upgrading its F-5 fleet, although the modifications likely will not include the latest sensors and helmet sights.

Still, all things being equal the F-5 despite its age might still possesses the agility to gain the advantage over an F-35. Again, provided the F-5 pilot survives the merge to a close-in fight.

Thats a big assumption. F-35 pilots understand the limitations of their aircraft and certainly would do their best to avoid a dogfight. The Iranians might have to ambush the Americans in order to force the fight to close range. Its unclear how the Iranians might do so, given the Americans huge advantage in sensors and situational awareness.

David Axe serves as Defense Editor of the National Interest. He is theauthor of the graphic novelsWar Fix,War Is BoringandMachete Squad.

This article was first published earlier in 2019and is being republished due to reader interest.

Image: Reuters.

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Did Iran Manage to Find a Weak Spot in the F-35's Stealth? - Yahoo News