Research engineer

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky Rochelle Walensky Overnight Health Care: FDA panel endorses Johnson & Johnson vaccine | CDC director warns decline in cases 'may be stalling' | Biden administration buys 100,000 doses of Lilly antibody drug FDA panel endorses Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine CDC director warns decline in COVID-19 cases 'may be stalling' in 'concerning shift' MORE warned Friday that recent declines in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths "may be stalling," calling the trends a "very concerning shift." CDC data shows the number of new cases has declined dramatically in recent weeks, from a peak of about 250,000 per day in mid-January to about 60,000 per day. But now after weeks of falling, the number of new cases has started ticking back up in recent days, and are still at a very high level overall, at about 66,000 new cases per day. ADVERTISEMENT "The latest data suggest that … [Read more...] about CDC director warns decline in COVID-19 cases ‘may be stalling’ in ‘concerning shift’

A majority of Americans have confidence in President Biden Joe Biden House Democrats pass sweeping .9T COVID-19 relief bill with minimum wage hike Biden to hold virtual bilateral meeting with Mexican president More than 300 charged in connection to Capitol riot MORE ’s ability to handle foreign policy, but more are confident in his ability to improve relations with U.S. allies than they are in his ability to deal effectively with China, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Sixty percent of Americans have confidence in Biden’s handling of foreign policy issues, according to the Pew Research report released on Wednesday, less than the 74 percent who expressed confidence in former President Obama’s ability to handle foreign policy issues when he came into office. The figure is higher, however, than the 46 percent who held confidence in former President Trump Donald Trump Biden to hold virtual bilateral meeting with Mexican president More than … [Read more...] about Survey finds majority confident in Biden on foreign policy

SYDNEY - New research has revealed that environmental damage caused by Australia’s 5,600-kilometer dingo fence is so vast it can be seen from space. Satellite images have documented changes on both sides of one of the world's longest human-made structures, which stretches across three Australian states. Dingoes are descended from south Asian wolves. They are thought to have arrived in Australia with Asian seafarers about 3,500 years ago. A study of the 5,600-kilometer dingo fence in the red sand dunes of the Strzelecki Desert in central Australia has revealed what happens when a key predator is removed. “Using 32 years of satellite images, we saw that the dynamics of the vegetation cover was different on either side of the fence,” said Adrian Fisher, a lecturer in remote sensing at the University of New South Wales. “On the side where dingoes are rare, we found many more kangaroos whose grazing lowered the grass cover across the landscape.” Fisher said that overgrazing damages … [Read more...] about Damage from Australia’s Dingo Fence Can be Seen from Space

The U.S. Peace Corps turns 60 Monday. Since its establishment through executive order by President John F. Kennedy on March 1, 1961, the Peace Corps has sent more than 240,000 volunteers to 141 countries. The organization quickly became an icon of the idealistic 1960s. The goal was to foster peace and understanding by sending mostly young, college-educated or otherwise experienced Americans to developing countries for two-year stints, helping with education, health, community economic development, agriculture, the environment and youth development. The idea for the Peace Corps came during the 1960 presidential campaign when Kennedy gave an impromptu speech on the steps of the University of Michigan’s student union on Oct. 14. During the speech, he asked students if they would be willing to serve their country and the cause of peace by volunteering to work in the developing world. "How many of you who are going to be doctors, are willing to spend your days in Ghana? Technicians … [Read more...] about Peace Corps Marks 60 Years of Global Volunteerism

WASHINGTON - When U.S. President Barack Obama visits Vietnam later this month, he will find it has been making reforms that have transformed the communist economy, turning the country into one of the world's fastest-growing nations. A report from the International Monetary Fund said Vietnam has achieved "commendable" economic outcomes, with strong growth, low inflation and robust foreign direct investment. “Vietnam is a remarkable development success story. In a short time, the country has charted a course of rapid, inclusive growth, delivering higher living standards for the majority of its people," World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said recently in Hanoi. Kim said less government involvement in the economy helped growth. He said Vietnam is relying instead on "markets to allocate resources, and active engagement with the world on trade, investment and knowledge flows." However, many analysts, and Vietnam's government, said more work is needed to cut corruption and improve … [Read more...] about Vietnam Sees Strong Economic Growth Despite Incomplete Reforms