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Opinion: U.S. faces biggest COVID wave since omicron. Why are we ignoring?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:54 GMT

The pandemic is far from over, as evidenced by the rapid rise to global dominance of the JN.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2. This variant is a derivative of BA.2.86, the only other strain that has carried more than 30 new mutations in the spike protein since omicron first came on the scene more than two years ago. This should have warranted designation by the World Health Organization as a variant of concern with a Greek letter, such as pi.By wastewater levels, JN.1 is now associated with the second-biggest wave of infections in the United States in the pandemic, after omicron. We have lost the ability to track the actual number of infections since most people either test at home or don’t even test at all, but the very high wastewater levels of the virus indicate about 2 million Americans are getting infected each day.In several countries in Europe, wastewater levels reached unprecedented levels, exceeding omicron. Clearly this virus variant, with its plethora of new mutations, has continue...

Cowen: Want to be wealthy? You might consider therapy

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:54 GMT

Economists are used to the idea that intervening in concrete ways — spending on development projects, for example, or on social services — can improve outcomes. But what about psychological interventions?Is it possible to make people wealthier simply by helping them feel better? What is the connection between psychotherapy, or pharmaceutical treatments, and wealth accumulation?This is a new branch of economic research, and the results are by no means definitive. Yet these investigations are especially important for development economics. In poor countries, people may be especially likely to suffer from trauma, given circumstances of war and violence, food scarcity or natural disasters. And purely psychological interventions have promise as modest tools for economic self-improvement.One study of Ethiopia looked at the psychological impact of raising aspirations. The researchers created a randomized control trial, showing one group of people short films about business and ...

Cómo Japón pasó más de un siglo protegiendo su arquitectura de los terremotos

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:54 GMT

(CNN) — Escenas de edificios reducidos a escombros dieron la vuelta al mundo esta semana tras el terremoto de magnitud 7,5 que sacudió el lunes la prefectura de Ishikawa, en la costa occidental de Japón.Aún se desconoce el alcance total de los daños. Según las autoridades, al menos 270 viviendas de la región quedaron destruidas, aunque es probable que la cifra final sea mucho mayor. Esta cifra no incluye, por ejemplo, Suzu o Wajima, una ciudad de más de 27.000 habitantes situada a solo 32 kilómetros del epicentro del sismo, donde los bomberos dijeron que se habían quemado unos 200 edificios, según la cadena pública NHK.Estos informes hablan de las tragedias personales a las que se enfrentan muchos de los residentes de la región. Sin embargo, aunque no hay dos sismos directamente comparables, terremotos de fuerza similar en otras partes del mundo —como el de magnitud 7,6 que provocó el derrumbe de más de 30.000 edificios en Cachemira en 2005, por ejemplo— han causado a menudo u...

Japanese safety experts search for voice data as workers clear plane debris from runway collision

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:54 GMT

Transport safety officials searched for a voice recorder from the severely burned fuselage of a Japan Airlines plane, seeking crucial information on what caused a collision with a small coast guard plane on the runway at Tokyo’s Haneda airport.On Saturday, heavy machinery worked for a second day to remove debris of the burned Airbus A350 for storage in a hangar to allow the runway to reopen. Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito said officials were aiming to reopen the runway Monday. Wreckage of the Japan Coast Guard plane had been cleared.Saito said the airport’s traffic control operation would create a new position for monitoring aircraft movement on runways beginning Saturday. There has been speculation traffic controllers might not have paid attention to the coast guard plane’s presence on the runway when they gave the JAL plane permission to land.Six experts from the Japan Transport Safety Board on Friday walked through the mangled debris of the Airbus A350-900 that...

Sabalenka sets up a Brisbane final vs Rybakina. It’s a rematch of the 2023 Australian Open decider

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:54 GMT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Almost a year after contesting the Australian Open final, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will meet in the title match of a key tune-up event for the first major of 2024.Top-seeded Sabalenka overpowered her compatriot and two-time champion Victoria Azarenka in a 6-2, 6-4 win Saturday that earned her a spot in the Brisbane International final against Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner.The win extended top-seeded Sabalenka’s streak to 15 on Australian soil, including a title run in Adelaide last year before her Grand Slam breakthrough at Melbourne Park.That 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory in the Australian Open final last January was the highlight of Sabalenka’s five wins over Rybakina in their seven career meetings.“Let’s just say it’s going to be great battle as always,” Sabalenka said, looking forward to Sunday’s final. “Always great matches against Elena.“We both play really super aggressive tennis. That’s why all the matches are pretty tight — we both p...

Winter’s first blast: What Saturday’s storm has in store for the DC area

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:54 GMT

Winter is taking its first shot at the D.C. area on Saturday. It’s expected to be a mixed bag that will bring messy weather around sunrise.Here’s what you need to know.WTOP meteorologist Mike Stinneford said to expect a little snow and a lot of rain.He said a new computer model is bringing a whole lot of warm air and a whole lot of moisture “at the upper levels.”“That’s going to change over any snow or sleet that moves in to rain fairly quickly,” Stinneford said.A Winter Storm Warning remains for Washington, Frederick and Carroll counties from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. And there is also a Winter Weather Advisory till 4 p.m. along and west of Interstate 95, including Prince William County in Virginia, but it does not include D.C.Stinneford said those could change overnight and into the morning “as some of the new guidance is really knocking down the snow levels across the region.”But, he cautioned, it’s possible the region ...

Woburn firefighters battle roaring 2-alarm house fire

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:54 GMT

Firefighters in Woburn battled a raging house fire late Friday night. Video from the scene showed flames shooting out of the roof of the home on Richard Circle. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Preparations underway for season’s first snowstorm

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:54 GMT

Road crews are out in force Saturday pre-treating roads and preparing for the season’s first major snowstorm.Some communities are bracing for up to a foot of snow before the storm moves out of the region.Residents who spoke with 7NEWS said they were making the necessary preparations, including filling their gas tanks and buying last-minute food items. Stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest on the winter storm.

Chicago Bears decisions: What to know about upcoming evaluations of coach Matt Eberflus, QB Justin Fields and No. 1 pick

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:54 GMT

The Chicago Bears don’t have a playoff berth at stake when they play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field. The Bears (7-9) officially were eliminated in Week 17.But there’s plenty to keep the Bears motivated in the season finale — and not just playing spoiler to the Packers playoff hopes.When time runs out Sunday, the Bears will be on the clock to make major decisions in a crucial offseason.Here’s a look at the decisions ahead.General manager Ryan PolesNot all of Poles’ moves since joining the Bears in January 2022 have worked out, but the way he has gone about building the roster is looking better and better.His trade of the 2023 No. 1 draft pick to the Carolina Panthers last offseason netted him not only the No. 1 draft pick this year, but also top wide receiver DJ Moore, promising rookies in right tackle Darnell Wright and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and a 2025 second-round pick.His acquisition of defensive end Montez Sweat from the Wash...

Patriots mailbag: How would offense look if Bill Belichick got his way?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:54 GMT

The Patriots still have one more game left to play, and it could be an entertaining one if snow forecasts come true.But fans are already focused on 2024 and beyond.So, who are the Patriots’ general manager candidates, what should the team do in the 2024 NFL Draft, and why should extending defensive tackle Christian Barmore be a priority?Those are the questions in this week’s mailbag.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Four Patriots players who deserve a longer look in season finale New England Patriots | Patriots-Jets preview: What to watch for in Belichick’s possible last NE game New England Patriots | NFL notes: How Matthew Slater’s passionate speeches helped keep the Patriots together New England Patriots | Patriots-Jets injury report: Hunter Henry out, 12 other Patriots questionable New England Patriots | Last day of school vibes as Patriots wait for snow day in season finale ...