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Canadian Prime Minister

Canadian Prime Minister Says Europe Will Not Submit To ‘An Insular And Brutal World’

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A recent meeting of the European Political Community took place over renewed doubts about the United States’ commitment to Nato. Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, became the first representative of a non-European country to participate in the meeting. 

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olympics

US Earns Most Gold Medals In Nation’s Winter Olympics History

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The United States took home a total of 33 medals at this year’s Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Of those medals, 12 were gold, the most gold the US had ever taken in a Winter Olympic Game. 

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When US athletes initially arrived in Italy, they faced a multitude of protests and questions regarding the nation’s politics and rising tensions. However, as the Games progressed, the focus was on what truly mattered, pure athletic ability and talent representing the pride these competitors have for their sports. 

Some of the most talked about moments were on the ice, with the solo and team performances by US figure skaters as well as the US men’s and women’s hockey teams. 

“The men of USA hockey are GOLDEN at the Winter Olympics for the first time since 1980,” the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee said.

The US became the only country outside of Europe to get into the top five nations with most medals at this year’s Winter Games. 

Elena Meyers Taylor from Georgia won gold in the “monobob” bobsled event, and said: 

“I don’t think I’m going to process this for a while. There were so many moments during this entire season, during these past four years, that we just thought that was impossible.”

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At these Winter Games, the US sent over its largest roster of athletes ever, 232 men and women, with 18 states sending no Olympians at all, according to the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s official tally of athletes and their “recognized hometowns.”

Colorado itself accounted for five medals, including three gold, while Vermont and Wyoming accounted for one gold and six silver medals. This is an incredible feat considering how small of a population both states have. 

“It’s been a tough road, but sometimes you just have to keep going because that’s the only option. And sometimes when you keep going, maybe you’ll make it back to the top. It’s really special,” said Alpine skier Breezy Johnson from Wyoming, who won gold in women’s downhill. 

Norway took home more gold and the most medals overall with 25 of the 41 medals being won within two disciplines: cross-country skiing and biathlon. The US, in comparison, medaled in eleven different sports disciplines, shining in figure skating, hockey, bobsledding, and speedskating. 

“It [the gold medal win] means a lot to me,” said Stolz, from Wisconsin, who picked up two gold and a silver.

“It’s every four years that you get the chance to win Olympic gold, so I’m super happy.”

dementia

Dementia Cases in the U.S. Will Double by 2060, New Study Predicts

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Cases of dementia in the United States are projected to double in the next 30 years, according to a new study published in the journal Natural Medicine. The study’s results project annual dementia cases will surge from 500,000 in 2020 to nearly 1 million by 2060.

The study was carried out by researchers from Johns Hopkins University, Mayo Clinic and New York University. It focused on three decades worth of data from more than 15,000 people, estimating their lifetime risk of developing dementia between the ages of 55 and 95.

Research indicates that individuals over the age of 55 face a 42% risk of developing dementia, a figure that more than doubles the risk reported in previous studies. After reaching the age of 75, the lifetime risk rises to over 50%. The figures are partially due to an aging U.S. population and longer lifespans.

Dr. Josef Coresh, a study senior investigator, epidemiologist and founding director of the Optimal Aging Institute at NYU Langone, said in a press release that the study results forecast a “dramatic rise in the burden from dementia in the United States over the coming decades, with one in two Americans expected to experience cognitive difficulties after age 55.”

“The pending population boom in dementia cases poses significant challenges for health policymakers in particular, who must refocus their efforts on strategies to minimize the severity of dementia cases, as well as plans to provide more healthcare services for those with dementia.”

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Research indicates that women, Black Americans, and individuals with the APOE4 gene face a heightened risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Women have a higher risk because they typically have longer lifespans.

“Their risk of getting dementia by the time their 95th birthday would arrive is higher because more of them will make it closer to their 95th birthday.”

The authors of the study projected that the number of cases among White Americans is set to nearly double, whereas the figures for Black Americans could see a staggering tripling.

“These results highlight the urgent need for policies that enhance healthy aging, with a focus on health equity. The lifetime risk of dementia can inform public health planning and improve patient engagement in prevention.”

Dr. Alexa Beiser, a professor of biostatistics at Boston University School of Public Health, who was not affiliated with the new study but reviewed it independently for the journal, told The New York Times, “One needs to see the huge magnitude of the issue. It’s enormous, and it’s not equally distributed among people,” Dr. Beiser said.

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Dementia encompasses a range of symptoms characterized by a decline in cognitive functions, such as memory loss and difficulties with concentration. These issues can profoundly impact daily life and an individual’s ability to function independently.

Currently, there is no designated test to diagnose dementia in individuals. Doctors diagnose Alzheimer’s and various forms of dementia through a meticulous process that includes a thorough medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and the monitoring of changes in cognition and daily functioning.

Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia and vascular dementia can all be grouped under dementia. However, Alzheimer’s is the most common disease that causes dementia.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 10% of individuals aged 65 and older in the United States have dementia.

Aging stands out as the primary contributor to the onset of dementia; however, various genetic predispositions, lifestyle choices, and underlying health conditions can significantly increase this risk. These include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, an unhealthy diet, insufficient exercise, and poor mental health.

The study underscores the importance of preventative measures to slow the onset of dementia. The recommendations of the authors and other experts include improving cardiovascular health through medication and lifestyle changes, preventing and treating strokes, and encouraging people to wear hearing aids, which allow people to be more socially and cognitively engaged.

The US Leading The World In Developing Artificial Intelligence Technologies

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The United States is currently leading the world in developing artificial intelligence technology, according to a new index released by Stanford University.

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US To Ease Travel Restrictions For Fully Vaccinated International Visitors

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Jeff Zients, White House Covid-19 response coordinator, said the new rules will take effect in November to give agencies and airlines enough time to prepare for the influx of travel that will likely come from these new standards.

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Experts Claim Americans ‘Don’t Realize How Lucky We Are’ In Terms Of Covid-19 Vaccines

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About 53% of all Americans are currently inoculated with at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine while about 44% of the population is now fully vaccinated, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“We have a long way to go as a globe. The United States — we don’t even realize how lucky we are here because we’ve had access to the vaccine early on. We basically have people turning the vaccine away. We think the whole world behaves that way, but that’s not the case,” Dr. Suzanne Judd, an epidemiologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, said.

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All adults in America are currently eligible to receive one of the three vaccine options approved in the country; Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. However, many other countries around the world only have one vaccine option available for their large populations of unvaccinated individuals. 

“There are whole countries where only 1% of the population has had access to the vaccine. That means the coronavirus will continue to spread in those countries and will be problematic in those countries.”

“It means travel restrictions could happen. It means that it may impact Americans in terms of how they interact through work with people from those countries. It definitely will continue to impact us, so we have to be aware that it’s a good 18 months away before there’s enough vaccine to really stop the spread of the virus worldwide,” Judd explained.

The CDC revealed that at least 13 states have hit their goals of getting 70% of their residents partially vaccinated, which has led to many governors lifting restrictions and mask mandates. However, there is still a large group of Americans who are refusing to get the vaccine. 

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According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, “7% of those who are unvaccinated said they will only get the shot if they are required, while 13% are still definitely not getting a vaccine.”

“The problem, though, is that mutant variants of the virus are able to form as the virus circulates for longer. So even with at least 70% vaccinated, there is still a risk.”

“That 30% that winds up in another state, say that the state makes it to 70% and there are 30% unvaccinated. It poses a risk to that 30%. We really want to get to the 70% target in all states. That’s what will make this virus go away and not stay with us. If we don’t, we’re going to wind up battling outbreaks basically,” Judd said. 

Vaccines are showing that they’re effective against fighting the new strains, but not as strongly as it fights the regular virus. 

“The initial variants, we were looking at 90% effective and maybe it’s more like 70% with the Delta variant, but that’s great. Honestly, that’s a public health win. 70% is not something to throw away and say ‘that’s not good enough.’ That’s so much better than 10, 15, 20%. Again, if we can get people vaccinated, we don’t have to worry about the Delta variant,” Judd claimed.

“It’s not just the United States that’s in this fight. It’s really a global fight, a global struggle, a global effort.”

Experts Are Warning The US Could Face Another Surge Of Covid-19

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With multiple governors easing up on health and safety procedures before a proper herd immunity is met, many healthcare experts are worried the US might face another severe outbreak of the virus.

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Texas Storm Exposes Just How Unprepared US Energy Grids Are For Climate Change

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Electric grid regulators throughout the US are claiming that the nation must develop new and vast supplies of energy storage to cope with future climate change related incidents.

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Coronavirus Vaccination

4.2 Million Americans Have Been Vaccinated For Covid-19

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Although more than 4 million Americans have now been vaccinated with their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, health experts are saying the country needs to start moving a lot quicker. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, spoke to the media this past Sunday regarding the current rate that America is getting its citizens vaccinated. 

“No excuses, we’re not where we want to be, but hopefully we’ll pick up some momentum and get back to where we want to be in terms of getting people vaccinated.” 

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than 13 million doses have already been distributed throughout the nation, however, the federal government had repeatedly promised that 20 million individuals would have received their initial dose by the end of 2020. While they may be behind with their original predictions, the rate of distribution is still increasing.

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According to Fauci 1.5 million doses were administered within 72 hours this past week, which means the rate is continuously increasing as well. Moncef Slaoui is the chief adviser for Operation Warp Speed, who recently told the media that 17.5 million doses have now been shipped and the government is confident that this will help that rate increase even further. 

Currently vaccines are only being administered to healthcare workers and long-term care patients who are much more susceptible to getting infected with Covid-19. While America continues to wait for vaccinations to be distributed, our current administration is still battling the results of the 2020 election, meaning no further health and safety guidelines are being enforced throughout the nation, and hundreds of thousands of Americans are still being infected. 

The US has reported over 100,000 new Covid-19-related hospitalizations every day for 33 consecutive days, and a majority of the states are still relatively open in terms of businesses and public settings. With holiday travel restrictions being practically non-existent this past month, even more Americans are expected to become infected in the coming weeks. 

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“There’s no running away from the numbers. It’s something that we have absolutely got to grasp and get our arms around and turn that inflection down by very intensive adherence to the public health measures, uniformly throughout the country, with no exceptions.”

Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for coronavirus response, recently claimed, however, that there is still hope for the US and other countries currently enduring massive surges in new cases and deaths, but only if these countries adopt federally enforced measures such as mass-testing, isolation, contact tracing, and quarantining. President-elect Joe Biden has made multiple claims in the past that it’s likely he would be placing America under another lockdown once he’s inaugurated to alleviate all the pressure currently being placed on the nation’s hospitals. 

US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams urged Americans, especially those who gathered over the holidays, to “self-quarantine, get tested, wear a mask, wash their hands and watch their distance. The projections are pretty scary, but they’re projections, and what we do now matters. I want people to understand that if we get over this current surge, then things will start to get better, but it depends on the actions that we all take right now.”

Covid-19 vaccines are expected to continue to be distributed throughout the nation to all vulnerable parties first. Fauci has claimed that it is likely most Americans will be vaccinated by the summer, however, that will also be dependent on what happens with this pandemic in the meantime in terms of new infections.

Boeing 737 Max Returns To US Skies With First Commercial Flights After Crashes

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American Airlines announced last week that they were set to operate the first US commercial flight of Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft’s since the two deadly crashes that occurred in 2019, prompting a worldwide grounding of all Boeing 737 Max’s in March of the same year. 

The flight at this point has already departed, and was scheduled as American Airlines Flight 718, which departed from Miami International Airport at 10:30 a.m. ET for New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Fort Worth is the Texas-based carrier of the aircraft’s that will be operating daily round-trip flights between Miami and New York, and then will begin increasing services to other cities in the coming weeks of the new year. 

United Airlines plans to begin flights using the 737 Max’s on February 11th out of its Denver and Houston hubs. Southwest Airlines agreed to begin flying the planes in the second quarter of 2021. Gol is a Brazilian carrier of strictly Boeing 737 Max planes that actually performed the first relaunch of the jets earlier this month. 

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The planes in general are much more fuel-efficient when compared to traditional commercial planes, which makes them central to a lot of airlines plans around the world. More than 3,000 of the jets are currently on order internationally. 

When all Boeing 737 Max jets were forced to ground in March of 2019, it was quickly recognized as the largest grounding in US history. The Federal Aviation Administration just recently cleared the 737 Max for commercial flight again after Boeing made several safety-related changes to the aircraft. 

Lion Air flight 610 in Indonesia in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in Ethiopia in March 2019 were the two flights that resulted in deadly crashes. Pilots on both flights claimed to have battled an automated flight-control system that was incorrectly activated somehow. All 346 individuals on both flights were killed.

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Changes made to the jets include “making the flight-control system less aggressive, providing more redundancy and implementing more robust pilot training that includes time in a flight simulator,” according to news reports. Investigations into both crashes found that there were a multitude of problems with each plane’s development, design, and certification by US regulators.

American Airlines and other carriers of the jets have said that if customers booked a flight on the 737 Max without knowing and didn’t feel comfortable flying on that model, they could switch their flight for free. FAA Administrator Steve Dickson spoke with the media last month, claiming he is “100% confident in the jets and a repeat of the scenarios that led to the two crashes is impossible.”

“In a way, the best thing for the 737 Max has been that it is has taken them 20 months to get the planes ready to going back into service and for almost a year we have had news of the coronavirus that has consumed more attention related to travel than the 737 Max,” said Henry Harteveldt, a former airline executive and president of Atmosphere Research Group, a travel consulting firm.

American Airlines has ordered 76 of the planes and originally had 24 in its fleet when the original grounding occurred in 2019, proving their confidence in the jets as well.