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In January 2020 employees met at a local Maryland bar to find out how they might salvage their careers in a 33 year old company that had failed to develop an approved vaccine, says this story in WSJ. Only months later following the coronavirus pandemic everything changed as in a miracle for Novavax. The company had to sell manufacturing assets at one point, and had enough cash for another 6 months just months before. By Feb. 2021 shares which had dropped to $4 were up to $229 and valuation which had declined to $127 million went up to 15 billion. Coronavirus has turned things upside down where newcomers are using previously unproven technologies and making them work in this pandemic. The persistence, perseverance and confidence of Novavax even in the most difficult situations shows how the right attitude can lead to remarkable results. Novavax vaccine can be kept in refrigerators for 3 months, and do not require very low freezing temperatures like Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. This is considered a potent weapon in the fight against coronavirus. Novavax says it can produce a couple of billion doses over the next 12 months beginning in April. Novavax has released data showing its vaccine is effective for protection against coronavirus. Results of late stage US trials are expected in March. ...

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German foreign policy is seen as too dependent on China and too China focused, in this conversation of DW.com with experts at German Council on Foreign Affairs (DGAP), European Council on Foreign Relations. Germany had little focus on India and no clear policy to expand ties under Merkel. German foreign policy should take the example of France and other Scandinavian nations in building strong ties with India, says this report. Relations with China of the US and EU countries are strained following trade and technological competition. Merkel continued old policies from 2000-2010 in 2010-2020 even as the EU was losing its technological edge with China. This report says a new German federal government after the upcoming election has to decide what relations it wants to build with India, following the example of France, and Scandinavian nations. And what role the EU will play in India's rapid development in industry,  technology, shipping, transportation, renewable energy, other fields, and opportunities for co-operaton in many fields in 2020-2030. This is also about "Whats at stake for Germany?" in new foreign policy under a new chancellor from SPD or Greens, or some other coalition. And what role Germany will play in the rapid modernization transformation that is now likely to take place in India in the next 10 years. ...

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Mr. McDonnell, says to loud applause at the annual Britain's Labor Party conference in Liverpool- "the greater the mess we inherit, the more radical we have to be." Mr. McDonnell told the Labor Party that the power balance had shifted against labor and workers in the last decade. The Brexit Secretary of the Labor Party left the option open for a second referendum on Brexit with the option "remain." Serious divisions have emerged within the ruling Conservative Party in Britain on the issue of withdrawal from the European Union. For the first time the Labor party conference endorsed the idea of nationalizing utilities, postal and rail companies and setting up a fund that would finance a $650 annual dividend for workers, with 10% of stock reserved for workers in companies with more than 250 employees. About a third of the seats will also be reserved for labor on company Board of Directors so that worker interests are better represented. Stagnating wages and low productivity is a major issue for the Labor Party in Britain. Mr. John McDonnell, as economic leader of the Labor Party, cited the words of the Archbishop of Canterbury, critical of the current situation with stagnation and low wages, lack of upward mobility. ...

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The new head of India's Space Agency ISRO, Kailasavadivoo Sivan, talks to DW.com about the Space Agency's plans for the future. ISRO launched a mission to Mars which went into Mars orbit, at a very low cost.  The Mars Orbiter Mission vehicle is orbiting the planet Mars since 2014. In 2008 ISRO sent an unmanned spacecraft to orbit the moon. The future missions include a second mission to the moon, and a mission to the Sun. The solar mission Aditya-L1 will study the properties of the Sun. Mr. Sivan says his focus includes use of High Throughput Satellites(HTS) for providing high data-rate transmission. This is now available in cities, and the HTS will enable this for remote regions of India. Other focus is in agriculture with information on crops increased from 8 to 15 crops so that farmers have more information on fertility of soil, crop yields. Sivan says progress can be made with more international cooperation and sharing of technology, particularly with India leading the way with low cost high tech applications that benefit education, agriculture, and bringing space applications to people it never reached before. Sivan comes from one of India's villages, which are now experiencing change through India's rapid modernization efforts. ...

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A hydropower dam in the Stiegler Gorge in Tanzania is being built at a cost of $4 billion. With an output of 2.1 gigawatts it will double Tanzania's electricity production. More electricity should result in less felling of trees to burn for charcoal to do cooking. According to UNDP only 10% in rural areas have electricity in Tanzania. At a practical level this means a child cannot have a light bulb at night to create the light in which to read. Darkness descends on villages in rural areas with bita and fragments of light - solar and lamps. German aid for the project was debated in parliament because of the work on the Rufiji river and disruption for the Selous Game Reserve used by tourists. The area for work to be done is 1000 square kilometres and the Game Reserve is covering 50,000 square kilometres so that efforts can be made to meet electricity goals and maintain the Reserve in its new form. President Magufuli is moving forward with the project with Tanzania's pressing needs for electricity. In recent years, Brazil, China and India have also placed these concerns as a priority in developing their hydropower resources. This also reduces the need to burn coal because of its effects on health.   ...

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China's domestic debt has surged to levels that precede a crisis, to 216% of GDP and heading for 271% by 2017 according to Fitch Ratings. As a result president Jinping has taken over control of economic policy and controlling debt, especially local government debt, is now a top priority for 2014. Jinping will head the "leading group" for overall top down reforms, reflecting the new urgency. Local government debt went up 67% from 10.7 trillion yuan to 17.9 trillion yuan ($2.95 trillion) in just 3 years from 2010 to 2013, according to the National Audit Office. About half of this debt is due by the end of 2014, according to Standard Chartered Bank economist Stephen Green. Another risk is that shadow banking with interest rates of 10% are now about 11% of new lending. The option adopted by the government to use central government funds and regulation to restrict lending could make local governments turn increasingly to the shadow bank lenders (trust companies, and informal lenders) making things worse. The other option of tackling it aggressively by letting some companies default has the risk of other lenders raising rates on loans and bonds. This makes solutions tricky and prone to problems of increasing severity. ...

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With his 106 runs in the second innings and five wickets in the second Test match against England, Ravichandran Ashwin ranks among cricket's greatest all rounders. Here he is compared with the likes of Garfield Sobers and Vinoo Mankad. The Times provides detailed numbers on the greatest all rounders in the game.

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The story of one Guatemalan immigrant. About 1.35 million Guatemalan immigrants or 10% of the population live in the USA according to the Central American Institute of Social and Dvelopment Studies, a think tank in Guatemala. Remittances at $4.2 billion in 2007 are ahead of coffee, sugar and other exports.

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Joachim Gauck is the first of 11 presidents of the Federal Republic of Germany who is not from a political party. His work in the German citizens movement, as a pastor in the former East Germany, and his guidance in difficult times lends authenticity and a sense of restoring Germany's place in the world. He stood for values- engagement, a balanced wise approach, courage when freedom was under attack, candor. During the 10 years after reunification he headed the authority investigating former files of the Stasi, secret police network of East Germany. His role in recent years also remained relevant and his words worth listening to. Early on in the refugee crisis, when he visited a refugee camp at the Turkey-Syria border in June 2014, he cautioned for a wiser middle approach that took into account both the humanitarian crisis and what was politically possible, and the need for a wider European solution- "a honest, pragmatic, and sober debate." Germany would have been well served says DW.com if his words were taken into account. Gauck also told Germans to take a more active role in defense, and adopt a posture of confidence in foreign policy, which is happening today.   ...

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The Takata airbag recall increases by 35 million to about 63 million, about one in 4 cars in the U.S. by May 2016. The issue is connected to Takata's use of ammonium nitrate which poses a safety risk leading to explosions. The findings by 3 separate investigations from Honda Motor, Takata, and 10 automaker consortium have led to the massive recalls. A Takata engineer raised questions about the use of ammonium nitrate in the 1990's, and the company has fumbled in its response to the safety concerns.

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This Nov. 2015 assessment by Economist magazine of Angela Merkel's 10 years as leader of Germany gives a rare glowing account of her leadership. Some failings including the slowness in tackling the early period of the eurozone economic crisis, but recovering through boldness as the crisis developed, and showing boldness in providing leadership for Europe both in the Ukraine crisis and the refugee crisis. It finds Cameron, Renzi and Hollande lacking in leadership qualities needed for Europe to thrive, and looks to Merkel's leadership for Europe's future progress.

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Intel is expecting 8-10% growth in its forecast for unit PC shipments for 2011. For the second quarter 2011 revenue of the Intel PC unit increased by 11% from the prior year. Two factors are enabling this growth. PC shipments in emerging markets are growing fast, with increases of 70% in Turkey and Indonesia in the second quarter. Profit margin is at 60.6%. Third quarter revenue growth was given by CEO Otellini at $14 billion, and the total revenue for 2011 is expected to show growth at the mid-20% range.

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Both parties were given poor ratings by respondents for the way they conducted the debt ceiling negotiations- a 72% disapproval rating for Republicans in Congress and a 66% disapproval rating for Democrats in Congress. On the spending cuts the views are ambivalent. On one hand showing Americans 2 to 1 favoring job creation over spending cuts. On the other hand 44% of those polled saying the cuts in the debt ceiling were not enough, 29% that the cuts were about right, only 15% saying they went too far.

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The effects of the eurozone crisis on the everyday lives of ordinary Hungarians in Budapest. The impact is particularly severe on retirees and other people with home loans that were taken out in swiss francs or euros because of the depreciation of the Hungarian currency, the forint. There is a loss of confidence in politicians, and the government of prime minister Orban is seen as having worsened the crisis by losing international credibility and confidence . Hungary's debt is denominated mostly in euros which make repayment difficult. Yields on its bonds are over 10%.

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According to an ABC News poll Toyota's recalls for faulty gas pedals has resulted in a 15 point drop in favorable opinions of Toyota. Now only 63% of Americans polled still rate Toyota favorably overall. 21% think the issue reflects broader problems with quality and 22% say it makes them less likely to buy a Toyota vehicle. In a PEW poll in 2007 Toyota had a 78% favorable rating. This is reflected in the surge of Ford sales by 24% in January and in GM sales up by 14% in January 2010 over January 2009.

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Gome's share price fell 21% on March 27, 2012. The company is facing strong competition from online sellers. Its profits declined by 6% in 2011. China is seeing an upsurge for online retailers such as 360Buy.com and Taobao. Gome's internal estimates are for internet sales of home appliances to be 1 in 3 by 2016, up from 1 in 10 in 2010. Gome is in a similiar position as Best Buy in the U.S. which competes with Amazon.com and other online sellers. To compete Gome is promoting its own online shopping operations.

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Foreign direct investment in Indonesia surged 30% to 51.5 trillion rupiah ($5.6 billion) for the first quarter of 2012. Indonesia's Investment Board says the mining sector gained $1.1 billion of FDI, telecom $800 million and plantations $500 millon. Singapore invested $1.2 billion, Japan $600 million, and S. Korea $500 million. Meanwhile S&P retained the BB+ credit rating for Indonesia because of concern about the government's decision not to raise subsidized fuel prices by 33% to cut a fuel subsidy bill of $15 billion, and other "policy slippages."

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Chernobyl nuclear disaster area in Ukraine as it is today. Cesium's half-life is 30 years and strontium's half-life is 29 years. Scientific estimates show that it takes about 10-13 half-lives, or about 300 years, for the radioactive effects to disappear and for life to return to the area. The contaminated area around the Chernobyl reactor is about 15,000 square miles or about the size of Switzerland. This place gives some idea of what can be expected for the area around the Fukushima nuclear reactor in Japan. A reporter visits this area.

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On May 10, 2011, prime minister Naoto Kan of Japan says the plan for nuclear energy to account for half of Japan's energy needs will be rewritten from scratch. This will mean Japan will have to look at renewable energy and other sources seriously to complement a tightly regulated nuclear power energy source. In the past Japan has not given the emphasis to renewable energy that it has received in countries like Germany. The pro-nuclear lobby has also worked against the development of other renewable energy sources.

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About 14.5% of U.S. households went through some form of food insecurity in 2013, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.The problem is acute on some campuses. In the 10 campus system of the University of California about 40% of the student undergraduates now come from households with yearly income of less than $50,000. Many students with full tution aid come from a low income household, and have to reduce meals or use a food pantry. About 183 schools are now part of the College and University Food Bank Alliance.

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Anne Lowrey looks at the situation facing the 7.4 million Americans working parttime in March 2014 because they cannot find full time jobs. She cites Alan Krueger, former chairman of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisors, for research that shows only 1 of 10 workers who were counted as long-term jobless betwen 2008 and 2012 had a full time job a year later. In Nov 2013 7.2 million worked parttime because they could not find full time work showing an increase of 0.2 million by March 2014.

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Oxfam reports that about half of the people showing up at soup kitchens in the U.S. are people with one person in the family working at a minimum or low wage job. About 3.3 million American are affected at the $7 federal minimum wage. The White House proposes a $10 minimum wage that it say would affect 28 million Americans. For most of these people working mostly in low wage retail jobs this can mean having more food and often having the money to take a bus instead of having to walk to work.