Category Archives: Progress

GENEVA - The World Health Organization reports the COVID-19 pandemic has set back years of gains made in efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases, a diverse group of 20 illnesses that disproportionately affect impoverished communities in tropical areas.

Neglected tropical diseases affect 1.7 billion people globally. Forty percent are in Africa, a continent that encompasses most of the 10 high burden countries in the world.

Over the past decade, the World Health Organization reports great progress has been made in the treatment of many of these life-threatening and debilitating diseases. It notes 42 countries around the world have eliminated at least one disease.

However, Mwelecele Malecela, director of WHOs department of control of neglected tropical diseases says she fears a lot of this good work could be undone because of the negative impact of COVID-19.

UN Calls for Action to Achieve a Malaria-Free World

This years commemoration of World Malaria Day celebrates progress being made in eliminating disease

She says the pandemic has caused disruptions and delays in NTD services. She says mass treatment campaigns, surveys of affected areas, and the transport and delivery of medicines have been interrupted.

"All the efforts that have been done to control neglected tropical diseases, to bring about elimination in most of the affected countries, will be reversed if the focus is not kept, a good focus on surveillance, a good focus on continued interventions in some of the countries which are nearing elimination," said Malecela.

WHO reports Guinea Worm disease is on the cusp of eradication, with only 27 human cases reported in six African countries last year. In 1986, about 3.5 million human cases occurred annually in 21 countries in Africa and Asia.

WHO says Yaws, a chronic skin infection is a disease that can be eradicated in the Indian sub-continent. Malecela cites several other success stories.

"In terms of elimination of trachoma, we have Morocco, we have Ghana and more recently, we have Gambia," said Malecela. "We have the elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Togo and in MalawiIn Yemen, which is outside Africa in the middle east, we have eliminated lymphatic filariasis under very difficult conditions. But they have managed to do it and that has been a very impressive feat.

At the end of January, WHO formally launched a new road map aimed at driving progress towards a world free of NTDs by 2030. Health officials consider the road map a key piece in ensuring countries build back better after COVID-19 by focusing on resilience and strengthening health systems.

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COVID-19 Sets Back Progress in Effort to Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases - Voice of America

BROOKLYN -- Five months ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers opened the season with a stunning -- and exciting -- three-game winning streak, carrying momentum from a strong J.B. Bickerstaff-led finish to 2019-20.

On Sunday night, the Cavs ended the season, wrapping a difficult 72-game slog with another double-digit loss and leaving the Barclays Center with countless questions heading into a critical summer.

The Cavs went 22-50. Its the leagues fourth-worst record, tied with Oklahoma City.

The Thunder won just their second game since the start of April on Sunday, beating the unmotivated Los Angeles Clippers in what was essentially a Tank Off -- the Clippers trying to finish on the opposite side of the Lakers bracket and the Thunder wanting better lottery odds.

Cleveland also had the third-worst point differential, net rating and offensive rating. It lost 13 of the final 14 games, many of which were non-competitive laughers.

All those statements are true. But do they provide an accurate picture? Perhaps a better question is this: Does the final record or late-season collapse even matter?

This year was never supposed to be defined by a win-loss record. The Cavs werent ready for that level of judgment, which measures the collective as opposed to the parts. Thats why outside expectations were so low. And despite the team repeatedly crowing about the Play-In Tournament, those dreams unofficially died on April 25, when a loss to the Washington Wizards pushed the Cavs further back in the race and left them limping to the finish line.

That was the undercurrent of 2020-21.

Injuries stopped a lot of things for us this season, Collin Sexton said following Sundays 123-109 loss to the Nets -- a game in which he was ejected following a flagrant foul 2.

Injuries (were) most difficult part, Dean Wade explained. We had so many different lineups. Its been really crazy, especially with people being in and out of lineups, it has been just tough. We never knew other than like three or four games what we look like full strength.

I think the roster shifting was probably the most difficult thing, trying to figure out how to gain some continuity with so many guys being in and out for so many games, Bickerstaff said. You feel like you would start to find something, then youd either add a guy or youd have to subtract another guy. That was probably the most difficult thing. What we did, and I give the guys the credit, they stayed with it no matter the circumstances. I give the guys a ton of credit for helping us get through this, even though it was some adversity and difficult times.

These arent excuses. Its called perspective. We still live in a universe where the how and why matter, right? How could anyone begin to tell the story of this season without starting there?

Kevin Love missed 47 games, bringing his total to 94 out of a possible 219 since signing that lucrative four-year contract extension to be the sturdy veteran charged with anchoring the rebuild.

Larry Nance Jr. was lost for three separate extended stretches, finishing with just 35 games played, the lowest number of his career. Matthew Dellavedova, one of two natural point guards on the roster, played just 13 games. Darius Garland sat out 18, with the Cavs going just 4-14. Isaiah Hartenstein missed 10 of the last 12. Jarrett Allens concussion kept him out of eight games in late March/early April. Even Sexton, an ironman in his first two seasons, was inactive for 13.

That forced Bickerstaff to use around 30 different starting lineups. The expected post-deadline starting quintet -- Garland, Sexton, Isaac Okoro, Love and Allen -- logged just 85 minutes together. The most commonly used grouping was Garland, Sexton, Okoro, Nance and Allen. That fivesome played 141 minutes.

Late Saturday night, as the sun set on a gorgeous New York spring day and building lit up the Manhattan skyline across the river, the Cavs gathered for a final team dinner atop The William Vale in Brooklyn. They werent even full strength for that, with Dellavedova, Hartenstein and Stevens unable to travel due to injury. That helps highlight one of the many obstacles in a season unlike any other.

Injuries werent only a Cleveland issue. It was a leaguewide one. Only some teams are better equipped to deal with them. The Cavs, in Year 3 of a rebuild, arent.

In the end, it all played part in Cleveland tumbling toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Again. It was also the primary reason for that ugly three-week struggle.

But, again, who cares? The final 13 games are not an accurate depiction of who -- or what -- the Cavs were this season; or of who -- or what -- they can be in the future.

What new information was learned while bottom-of-the-roster guys Brodric Thomas, Mfiondu Kabengele, Anderson Varejao and Jeremiah Martin were the primary reserves? None were on the roster at the start. All of them were supposed to be somewhere between 15-18 on the depth chart, not 7-10. So, should a bunch of clunkers with nearly half the roster missing sully well anything the rebuilding Cavs accomplished this season?

The front office made mistakes. Chairman Dan Gilbert will put general manager Koby Altmans resume under the microscope this offseason: Not getting anything for Andre Drummond, dealing away Kevin Porter Jr. and Loves extension. Those are mentioned most frequently -- even though theres logic behind each. Gilbert must determine if changes are required.

Bickerstaff, in his first full season as head coach, has been far from perfect. His lack of third-quarter adjustments came under fire along with some of his substitution patterns and predictable offense.

But there were also steps in the right direction, making it seem like anger is being manufactured.

Let me get this straight: Anger is stemming from a woefully undermanned team getting knocked around at the end of the most bizarre regular season ever, in the third year of a rebuild, with less practice time because of a compressed schedule? Theres disappointment that one of the leagues youngest teams, which had very little on-court veteran support throughout the season, couldnt figure out how to consistently win? In what way was this late stretch unexpected, especially after the Wizards loss that saw Dellavedova, Hartenstein, Nance and Lamar Stevens added to a lengthy injury report that already included Taurean Prince, the teams most consistent reserve, among others?

I guess the overall view depends on ones definition of progress. Isnt three more wins, you know, progress? Digging deeper, what about the individual improvements?

The plan we had in place to help guys get better worked, Bickerstaff said. I think there were some things as a team, through no fault of an individual, we missed out on. But I do think on some individual levels we saw a lot of improvement. Just the lack of consistency in the group, who was on the floor, hurt us and was a lot to overcome.

Should the late-season plummet -- and 22-win season -- take away from Garland morphing into one of the best players from the 2019 draft, rebounding from a rough rookie season?

Should it discount Sextons terrific third year, as he finished with career-bests in points (24.3) and assists (4.4) while ranking 22nd in scoring? There were only 11 other players who averaged 20 or more points and shot better than 50% on 2s and at least 37% on 3s: Jaylen Brown, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, Nikola Jokic, Zach LaVine, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum and Karl-Anthony Towns. Thats the company Sexton keeps as a scorer. His Year 3 numbers are better than Jamal Murrays and in line with Donovan Mitchells.

Collin Sexton this season put up numbers comparable to some of the league's best players.John Kuntz, cleveland.com

Should it overshadow Okoros late push for an All-Rookie spot, averaging 16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in May, plowing through the proverbial rookie wall?

Should it take away from Jarrett Allen, who is far from a finished product at 23 years old, averaging a double-double for the first time in his career? He also had the highest field goal percentage (61%) in franchise history.

Or 24-year-old Wade evolving into a capable rotation piece and fill-in starter, seizing an opportunity because of the rash of injuries? Or Hartenstein looking like keeper? Or Nance shooting the best 3-point percentage of his career, ranking among the league leaders in steals and making the Cavs a respectable defensive team before injuries derailed his season?

Isnt that success?

With Garland, Sexton, Okoro and Allen, the Cavs have a compelling young core. They could always break it up, unloading some of those pieces in search of a help-now blockbuster deal that expedites this process. Or they could keep the four together, believing more time, experience and health will spark a turnaround.

It really was a pleasure to coach this group, Bickerstaff said. We talked about all the ups and downs that weve seen this year and we never had a bad day at work. The guys were always coachable, they were always together, they were always bought in, so I just wanted to thank em. And then also put on their mind how important this summer is. This has to be a summer of grinding, and thats from all levels. Everybody thats involved in this has got to work to be better next year. Thats on me, thats on the front office, thats on the players, thats everybody involved in this thing. Theres no doubt in my mind that the work will get done.

This season had it all. Craziness. Drama. Excitement. Promise. There were times Cleveland flashed its potential. Others when it looked years away. Some hits. Some misses. Steps forward. Steps back. It was, for lack of a better term, very rebuild-y. The wins didnt come. Not yet anyway. There are painful steps. This was a year to take small ones forward and lay a foundation. The Cavs did that. Next year, the expectations rise and the level of evaluation changes.

The offseason is here. There are tough decisions coming. The real work is just getting started.

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New Cavs face masks for sale: Heres where you can buy Cleveland Cavaliers-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All NBA proceeds donated to charity.

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Did the Cleveland Cavaliers make progress this season? Depends how you choose to define it: Chris Fedor - cleveland.com

LITTLE EGG TWP., Pa. - The Little Egg Township, New Jersey fire that was burning out of control Sunday night is 75% contained as of 6 p.m. Monday.

The fire started around 4 p.m. in a wildland urban interface, meaning hundreds of acres of woods with homes mixed in. The good news is the fire is contained to the deep woods and no one was injured or had to flee their homes.

What looked catastrophic overnight was curtailed early afternoon Monday. This as crews put out hot spots of the 617-acre fire in New Jersey's Bass River State Forest.

"The fire occurred later in the day. Allowed us to take benefit of the nighttime operations with cooler temperatures, lower winds, higher humidity," saidRob Gill of the New Jersey State Fire Services.

Gill adds the aerial views from their helicopter showed the fire was contained to the deepest part of the forest away from neighboring homes.

Not the case Sunday night.

"A little nerve-wracking. Asked us to put the gas cans and motorcycle into the front lawn," said homeowner Randy Campoli.

Campoli moved in only a month ago and his backyard came already face-to-face with flames.

"There were five to six fire trucks in our street which gave us a little comfort," he said.

100 homes were threatened but none was damaged, and no one was evacuated.

Gill credits the bulldozed plow line or trenches, and then bordering brush lit on fire, as the key method in saving area homes.

"The fire will burn progressively in the main body and come together and burn out because there is no more fuel," he said.

Fire crews are continuing to work the scene.

The cause is still not known.

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New Jersey fire crews making progress in fighting massive wildfire - 69News WFMZ-TV

The Blue Jays' pitching prospect receiving the most buzz these days is Alek Manoah, a recent addition to MLB Pipelines Top 100 prospects class -- at No. 100. As with any prospect that reaches Triple-A and finds success there, which Manoah has so far, one obvious question looms: When might he make the ascent to MLB?

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins conducted a wide-ranging media session on Sunday, and this was the first question he received.

As it relates to the timing and how were making that decision, obviously his effectiveness is a huge piece of that equation, Atkins said of Manoah, who has 17 strikeouts in 12 scoreless innings so far with Triple-A Buffalo. Its just not as simple as, OK, hes had two starts. Now lets just see if it works in [the Majors].

Atkins identified a few areas he hopes Manoah can improve upon in the Minors: better command, smarter changeup usage and willingness to use breaking balls in more varied situations (i.e. while working from behind in counts).

His fastball is such an effective weapon that he has to challenge himself against certain hitters to use his entire arsenal, Atkins said.

Theres a bit of a what-if with Manoah, who the Blue Jays selected 11th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft, because of how the 2020 season was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the shutdown of the Minor League season, Manoah missed out on what wouldve been his first full season as a pro.

He did participate at the alternate training site, but due to contracting COVID-19 he wasnt able to participate as much as others. As far as his development goes, that lost time is being factored in, Atkins said.

[Manoah] missed an opportunity there, Atkins said. However, he absolutely maximized his offseason and maximized Spring Training, and is getting absolutely every ounce out of Triple-A baseball right now.

Whether Manoah stays in the Minors all season or not, his workload will be something to follow. Between college and Low-A Vancouver in 2019, Manoah tossed 125 1/3 innings, which Atkins identified as an important marker for how he can be used moving forward.

Hes checking a lot of boxes as it relates to thinking about workload, Atkins said. Its not something that we feel like we need to be restricting him by any means in development.

Here are two additional takeaways from Atkinss session.

Biggest need? A steady rotationDue to injuries and a general lack of consistency from about 40% of the rotation, the Blue Jays have had to get creative in eating innings from the starting spot. By May 9, theyd already deployed a league-high 12 starters.

If we were to write it up and describe what we feel is ideal, it would not be just mixing and matching, Atkins said. Sustainable to get by and be competitive? I think so.

But is that the blueprint theyre targeting? No.

Our goal is to have five effective starters and a rotation where were getting five, six, seven innings deep, he said. To have a bullpen thats giving us three-to-four innings every night.

So far, the bullpen has been asked to do quite a bit more than that. At 159 2/3 innings, Torontos relief corps ranks fourth in the Majors in usage. The group has responded admirably, though, with a 2.99 ERA (also fourth in MLB).

Wall, Moreno among prospects to watchWith as much talk as the Manoahs and the Nate Pearsons of the world receive, Atkins made sure to shower some praise on a couple of lesser-discussed prospects: catcher Gabriel Moreno (Double-A New Hampshire) and outfielder Forrest Wall (Triple-A).

Moreno, the No. 7 prospect in the Blue Jays system, is off to a white-hot start with the Fisher Cats, slashing .455/.526/.636 in his first eight games this season. Atkins noted Morenos approach, "and just how consistent and mature that has been, as the 21-year-old takes on his highest level of pro ball so far.

In Walls case, Atkins called the Rockies former first-round pick (2014) an incredible off-roster prospect. Wall has gone 16-for-49 (.327) so far for Buffalo, with the type of speed that makes him an elite defender in Atkins eyes.

I would imagine [hell] be on our roster at some point, Atkins said. And probably this year. I hope that, for him. [I'm] really exceptionally encouraged by Forrest.

See more here:

Notes: Manoah making progress in Triple-A - MLB.com

Californians are gearing up for what could be another dangerous wildfire season, particularly in light of significant drought conditions. Grasses, shrubs, and forests are drying out early due to a lack of precipitation, providing potential fuel for wildfires. Red flag warningswhen high winds and low humidity increase fire riskhave already been issued this year across broad swaths of the state. Small spring wildfires have put firefighters and communities on edge.

Is the state prepared for another bad wildfire season? And how much progress has been made to improve the resilience of vulnerable communities and headwater forests?

Californias wildfire problem is multi-faceted and complex, and is expected to accelerate in a warming climate. The governor and legislaturehave pushed for reformsto improve the states resilience to wildfire. High-priority reforms include:

Over the past few years, wildfires have caused huge damage to communities and infrastructure, from the mountainous headwater forests to coastal metropolitan areas. State leadership is scrambling to address these challenges with both short- and long-term solutions. Actions taken now can help the state adapt to living with fire.

Continue reading here:

PPIC: State Makes Progress on Wildfire and Forest Health Policy - YubaNet

OTTAWA, UNCEDED ALGONQUIN TERRITORY, ON, May 17, 2021 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada and First Nations are working in partnership to improve access to clean drinking water and lift all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves as soon as possible.

Today, Indigenous Services Canada provided an update on progress toward clean drinking water in all First Nations communities. As of May 17, 2021, 106 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted. In other words, reliable access to safe drinking water has been restored for 5920 homes and 447 buildings in 77 communities since November 2015.

Much work remains and projects are underway to address the remaining 53 long-term drinking water advisories in effect in 34 First Nations communities.

Our commitment to improving access to clean drinking water on reserves now and into the future goes beyond lifting long-term drinking water advisories. The Government of Canada recognizes that increased support for operations and maintenance (O&M) is essential to long-term sustainability of water infrastructure and preventing the reoccurrence of drinking water advisories in the future. Investments announced as part of Budget 2019 and the 2020 Fall Economic Statement mean that Indigenous Services Canada will be increasing the annual funding it provides First Nations to support the operations and maintenance of water and wastewater systems on a permanent basis by almost four times.

With these investments, one hundred percent of water and wastewater operations and maintenance costs will be covered based on the O&M funding formula, up from the 80 percent previously covered.

First Nations communities across the country have now received additional O&M funding for fiscal year 2020-2021. For this fiscal year, the majority of O&M funding has been allocated to First Nations enabling the planning of O&M activities. Additional funding amounts will be communicated as early as possible to put communities in the best position possible for future planning of operations and maintenance.

Story continues

The Government continues to make significant investments in long-term water-related infrastructure projects to support reliable access to clean drinking water and prevent drinking water advisories from becoming long-term. Since November 2015, the Government has invested in 694 water and wastewater projects in 581 First Nations communities. Sixty new water and wastewater treatment plants and lagoons have been built and 39 more are underway.

Progress on eliminating all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves

Since our last progress update on March 31, 2021, First Nations, with support from Indigenous Services Canada, lifted 1 long-term drinking water advisory.

Wahta Mohawks as of March 31, 2021

Wahta Mohawks lifted a long-term drinking water advisory affecting the Wahta Administration/Community Centre water system. The advisory, in place since September 2013, was lifted on March 31, 2021, following the construction of a new well and installation of a point-of-entry treatment unit. The water meets all applicable requirements. Indigenous Services Canada continues to work with Wahta Mohawk on a community-wide solution for sustainable access to clean water.

Additionally, since April 1, 2021, three short-term drinking water advisories, lasting between two and 12 months, were lifted before becoming long-term.

Quotes

"We know progress cannot come quickly enough and one long-term advisory is one too many. One hundred and six long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted to date, and projects are in place to address each of the remaining advisories. Our commitment to improving access to clean water on reserves does not come with a deadline, nor is it limited to our work to lift all long-term drinking water advisories. First Nations communities have now received the first installment of increased operations and maintenance funding. These improvements will provide First Nations a predictable funding stream, which will assist them in making strategic plans for their communities. We will not stop until every First Nation has clean water and we will continue to build the foundation for predictable, lasting solutions that support the unique needs of First Nations communities."

The Honourable Marc MillerMinister of Indigenous Services

Quick facts

A drinking water advisory becomes long-term when it has been in place for more than a year. Between November 2015 and May 17, 2021, 106 long-term advisories affecting public systems on reserves were lifted. 53 remain in effect in 34 First Nations.

As of December 31, 2020, more than $1.82 billion of targeted funds has been allocated to support 694 water and wastewater projects in 581 First Nations communities, serving approximately 463,000 people. A total of 393 of these projects are complete.

In December 2020, the Government of Canada announced an additional $1.5 billion to help accelerate the work being done to end all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves, to better support the operation and maintenance of systems, and to continue program investments in water and wastewater infrastructure. This funding includes $616.3 million over six years, and $114.1 million ongoing, to increase the support provided for operations and maintenance of water and wastewater infrastructure on reserves.

With the increases in funding for operations and maintenance for water systems in recent years, it means that by 2025-26, over $400 million per year in permanent funding will be provided to First Nations, compared to $109 million in 2018-19.

For this fiscal year, the majority of O&M funding has been allocated to First Nations according to the base amount provided last year, enabling the planning of O&M activities. The balance of O&M funding will be distributed according to an updated O&M formula to better account for O&M costs in fiscal years 2021-2022 and beyond. Allocations will continue to cover 100% of formula-based O&M costs for water and wastewater systems.

Through the Investing in Canada Plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.

Associated links

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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada

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View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2021/17/c1573.html

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Government of Canada progress update on improving access to clean water in First Nations communities - Yahoo Finance

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Over a wire is the most energy efficient way to transfer data. In a Digital Waste survey, when we asked people if they tried to transfer data (particularly large quantities of data) using wired cable instead of using Wi-Fi, or 3G, 4G or 5G, 62% said no.

A German study found that video streaming for one hour:

Some studies indicate that transferring data over 5G can be 90% more energy efficient than 4G. However, other studies state that 5G base stations will require at least twice the amount of energy to run as 4G stations, and that these costs can be even higher depending on the type of processing that occurs. Because of its need for speed, 5G will require dozens of times more base stations than 4G, adding to the overall energy bill. Other studies estimate that 5G will drive a 160% increase in overall energy consumption over 10 years because so much more data will be sent using 5G. Indications from China, which has one of the most advanced 5G rollouts, are that energy costs are higher than expected, with some carriers looking for government subsidies.

Lets assume for a moment that sending one gigabyte of data over 5G will be more efficient than sending it over 4G. This will not cause the overall data energy costs to go down because there will be an explosion in the amount of data sent. And its hard to imagine how 5G could ever be more energy efficient than fiber optic cable.

What is this thing called progress? Progress in consumption? Progress in the extraction of raw materials? Progress in destruction of the conditions for life on this planet?

If you make a phone call for one hour using one of those ancient phones connected to a landline, about 3.5 MB of data will be produced. If you make the exact same audio call using Skype or Zoom, about 27 MB will be produced. Is that progress? Wow, a technologist said to me when I showed him these figures, you should have seen what it used to be like making a call over the internet. Its got much more efficient. He said it with pride in his voice. As if in 2021, creating 10 times more pollution to make an audio call with your new technology that replaced an old technology was something to be proud of.

One of the defining characteristics of most modern-day technologists and developers is their almost total lack of concern if not disdain for energy-conscious thinking. They treat digital as this limitless, boundless, costless space. I heard one developer sneer about how he wasnt going to lose any sleep over whether his app was wasting energy or not.

How do we change this horrible, destructive culture that has led us into this climate emergency? One practical step is to focus on conserving energy. If youre transferring data:

Gerry McGovern is the founder and CEO of Customer Carewords. He is widely regarded as the worldwide authority on increasing web satisfaction by managing customer tasks.

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What Is This Thing Called Progress? - CMSWire

The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIVs media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.

Before you start reading todays edition of the Capitals, feel free to have a look at the article Race to succeed Merkel wide open as German election nears, by EURACTIV Germany.

Also read the article EUs dismissal of crop-based biofuels will impede transport decarbonisation: industry by Sean Goulding Carroll.

The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.

In todays news from the Capitals:

BERLIN

The construction of two kilometres of the hotly contested Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in German waters which had been halted due to environmental concerns was ordered by the German maritime authority (BSH) on Monday to allow safe continuation of works in Danish waters. The entire German side of the project was green-lit in April. Read more.

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EU PRESIDENCY

Portugal to proceed against Poland, Hungary for violation of European values. Portugals minister of foreign affairs reaffirmed on Monday the intention of the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU to move forward with the proceedings against Poland and Hungary for suspected violations of European values. More

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VIENNA

Divides deepen within Austrias Conservative-Green coalition. Dissatisfaction among the Greens with conservative coalition partner VP is growing after the party of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz got hit by a series of political scandals which has stirred up a circle of escalation that could end in a snap election, one of Austrias leading political analysts, Peter Filzmaier, told ORF in an interview. Read more.

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PARIS

Fake EU jobs controversy puts Le Pens party back in the spotlight. French weekly Journal du Dimanche (JDD) published on Sunday (16 May) extracts from the report of the French anti-corruption office in its probe of Marine Le Pens National Front (FN), now Rassemblement National, finding that the far-right party had set up an organised system of fraud to misappropriate EU funds to pay party members. Read more.

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LUXEMBOURG

Luxembourg finds EU prosecutor candidates. Three Luxembourg magistrates have applied to fill two positions as prosecutors who will work with the EUs new fraud-fighting agency, a spokesman for the justice ministry said on Monday. The country will propose two of the names as delegated prosecutors at the Luxembourg-based European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO), which is led by Laura Kvesi from Romania. The institution has earlier rejected national candidates, for instance from Bulgaria, France and Malta.(Anne Damani | EURACTIV.fr)

UK AND IRELAND

BELFAST

Doug Beattie elected leader of Ulster Unionist Party. Upper Bann MLA Doug Beattie has been elected to be the new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. He was the only candidate to run for the position. Read more.

NORDICS AND BALTICS

STOCKHOLM

2,800 radioactive waste barrels found near Baltic Sea, stored carelessly. A stock control inspection has revealed that about 2,800 barrels of radioactive waste partly originating from the healthcare and defence industries may have been handled carelessly, Swedish Television (SVT) reported. Read more.

EUROPES SOUTH

Italy announces loosening of curfew measures. Italys coronavirus curfew will be moved back from 10 pm to 11 pm as of Wednesday, the government has decreed. From 7 June, curfew will start at midnight, and will be finally lifted from 21 June. From 1 June, bars and restaurants will be allowed to resume indoor service.

We decided to proceed gradually to monitor the effects of the reopening on infections, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said during the meeting where the new rules were decided.

In other news, PM Draghi spoke with Chinese Prime Minister Li Kequiang in a call to affirm Italys desire to strengthen bilateral economic-trade relations, make them more equitable and deal effectively the issues on which differences of opinion still remain. During the talks, Li said he hoped instead that relations between China and the EU would continue in the right direction and asked for cooperation so that the investment agreement signed in December 2020 enters into force as soon as possible, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported. (Daniele Lettig | EURACTIV.it)

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MADRID

Pro-independence parties form regional government in Catalonia. After five months of tough negotiations, pro-independence parties in Catalonia have announced they have formed a new coalition government in the northeastern region that staves off the need for fresh regional elections. Read the full story.

VISEGRAD

BUDAPEST

Budapest rejects Chinese university building site plans. Budapests green mayor Gergely Karcsony, who recently announced his run for the prime ministerial post in the opposition primaries, has rejected the construction of the Fudan university on its planned site after talks with Innovation and Technology Minister Lszl Palkovics on Monday. Read more.

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WARSAW

Polands Civic Platform party continues to lose members. Polish MEP Ra Thun announced on Monday she was leaving Polands main opposition party Civic Platform after diverging from the party line over the vote on the EU recovery fund. Thuns departure comes after lawmakers Pawe Zalewski and Ireneusz Ra were removed from the party last week for acting to the partys detriment. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Czech government approves national recovery plan. The Czech government approved on Monday a national recovery plan with investments worth 7.9 billion, mostly funded by the EU recovery fund. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakias ageing population to drastically increase public spending. Slovakia will increase public spending to deal with the challenges of its aging population to a level not seen in any other EU country by 2070, the Slovak Institute of Financial Policy has claimed. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

BELGRADE | ZAGREB

NATO chief confirms KFOR to remain in Kosovo. All 30 NATO members, including the US, will remain committed to the KFOR mission in Kosovo and there will be no changes to KFORs mandate, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels on Monday, refuting rumours that some powers were asking for KFOR to withdraw. Read more.

In other news, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabi will replace President Vui at a working dinner for West Balkan leaders hosted by EU High Representative Josep Borrell on Tuesday, the European External Action Service in Brussels and the Serbian PMs office confirmed to Serbian media on Monday. The Serbian presidents office issued a press release earlier stating that Vui would be in the Czech Republic on an official visit from Tuesday to Wednesday.

North Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev, Albanian PM Edi Rama, Kosovo Premier Albin Kurti, Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Chairman Milorad Dodik and Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovi have confirmed their attendance at the dinner. According to earlier announcements, the topics of conversation will include the overall political situation in the Western Balkans and the EU integration process of the regions countries. (EURACTIV.rs | betabriefing.com)

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SOFIA

Bulgarian secret services take leave until September. The heads of Bulgarias security services have gone on unpaid leave until September, Acting Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov revealed on Monday, with the move taking effect immediately after the caretaker government took office. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Romania plans reform of freight transport taxation. The Romanian government has proposed a reform of the taxation of road freight transport on highways in a bid to reduce pollution in the long term. Read more.

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LJUBLJANA

Slovenian parliament session aborted amid lack of clear majority. The gridlock in the Slovenian parliament, where neither the centre-right coalition nor the centre-left opposition has a clear majority, has derailed a key multi-day plenary at which a motion to impeach Prime Minister Janez Jana was on the agenda. More

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ZAGREB

Croatian Archbishop apologises to gay community. Mate Uzini, the Archbishop Coadjutor of the Rijeka diocese who is known for his liberal views, voiced regret on Tuesday at the fact that the gay community is still being discriminated against in the Church and asked them for forgiveness.

It is our duty to respect every person, regardless of their sexual orientation, and accept them with respect, but also avoid any kind of discrimination, aggression or violence, said Uzini in comments to mark the International Day Against Homophobia.It is our duty to provide such people and their families with considerate pastoral guidance I am sorry that there are still Catholics who disagree with this [] and I am asking for forgiveness from homosexual people for feeling abandoned by the Church, he added. (eljko Trkanjec | EURACTIV.hr)

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SARAJEVO

BiH accuses Serbia of infringing on its sovereignty. Bosnia and Herzegovinas Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovi criticised Serbia on Monday for undermining good relations between the two countries with its investment in the construction of a hydropower plant on the Drina River without prior approval from Sarajevo. Read more.

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SKOPJE

North Macedonia PM: Bulgaria should show magnanimity. North Macedonias Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said he believes the country will manage to solve the dispute with Bulgaria and urged Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and his caretaker government to show magnanimity and give the country a chance to resume the EU accession process. (eljko Trkanjec | EURACTIV.hr)

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TIRANA

Albanias opposition Democratic Party to elect new leader. The members of the Democratic Party of Albania will elect their new party chairman on 13 June, exit.al reported. Read more.

Agenda:

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Paula Kenny, Josie Le Blond]

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Nord Stream 2 pipeline cleared to make more progress - EURACTIV

Physicalfitnessof the human body can be equated with fine-tuning of a machine. Unless we are physically fit and sound, we cannot utilize our maximum potential.

If you are into a regularworkout, it is also important to consider the differentways to track fitness progress to analyze what works the best for your body.

A goodworkoutplan coupled with a properdietcan help to improve your cardiovascular and respiratory health, eliminate the risk of type-2 diabetes, and promote strong bones and muscles. It also increases the life expectancy of an individual. Therefore, being physically fit rewards you with the energy to indulge in a few extra hours of physical activity that you would not be able to do otherwise.

9 Effective Ways to Track Your Fitness Progress

When you start working out, you set some goals for yourself. While someone might be aiming forweight gain, the other might be trying to shed a few extra pounds. Some people also put themselves under strenuous training forstrength trainingormuscle building. Alongside your physical training, your diet also plays an important role in determining your progress.

The choice and frequency of meals in onesdietvary based on an individuals requirement of energy intake. For instance, the carb intake should be high for anyone focusing onmuscle buildingand low for someone looking forward toweight loss.

With the kind of hectic lives that people live today, they are very likely to lose track of their progress. This article mentions severaltracking methodsin which you can measure yourfitness progress:

Measure the Body

Before you start with your fitness regime, measure your body. You will have to measure your body composition, which refers to your bodys muscle versus fat percentage. As you work out, you may be gaining muscles and shedding excess fat, which will cause your body weight to remain the same. Therefore, simply measuring the weight wont give you an idea about your real-time progress.

You should also measure your chest, hips, waist, and all other body parts where you wish to see a change.

Make a Workout Journal

A workout journal is not only fun to maintain but is also a great way to track your bodys progress. There is no universal workout plan for all kinds of bodies. The journal of a person trying totrack weight losswill be different from someone who aspiresstrength gain. It is important to jot down all the nitty-gritty details of your workout for a proper assessment of yourfitness progress.

You can either write down a workout template on a book or simply adhere to a more convenient digital mode such as an excel sheet. If you are unsure of how to write your journal, go through some workout templates and customize a suitable one based on your fitness goals.

Take Progression Photos

Click post-workout photos every now and then. Compare your latest pictures with the ones you clicked when you had first started working out. After all, pictures never lie! This is ideally suited to check the visiblemuscle growthone experiences over time.

Test your Rep Max

Rep Max is the shortened form of Repetition Maximum. It refers to the maximum weight that one can lift for a specific number of reps. Rep Max or RM is a measure that is used to determine the strength level of an individual. Measuring your RM from time to time will help you understand yourstrength gains.

Measure Body Weight

If you are on aweight gainor loss spree, the easiest way to do so is by measuring your body weight periodically and keeping a record in your workout journal. As you start totrack weight lossor gain, mention your diet and your workout plan alongside. Consult your trainer and your dietician and learn about the periodic changes you need to make in your nutrition plan and exercise.

Track Your Workouts

This is one of the most obvioustracking methods. You can measure this by calculating training volume (workout volume = set x reps x weight)

Jot down the gradual progress you have made by measuring how the weights you lifted per exercise each week kept increasing, how you grew more and more comfortable with doing more reps, and so on.

To track your cardioworkoutprogress, you need to assess your amelioration from low (having heart rate below 50% of the maximum heart rate) to moderate (50-70% of the maximum heart rate) and then to high intensity (more than 70% of the maximum heart rate) cardio workout.

Mirror

This is an easy and accessible way to measure your fitness progress without having to go through the hassle of calculating numbers. It can give you a rough guesstimate whether you are coming closer to achieving your goal. The visiblemuscle growthor the beautifully toned body afterweight losswill motivate you to push yourself further.

Consistency

For any work you do, consistency is the key to success. You can easily measure this by quantifying consistency.

Just calculate the number of workout days/week. And plot a 4 period moving average and 8 period moving average on a spreadsheet and look for their divergence. It would be best if you keep them close and steady.

Be itstrength trainingor a weight loss program, make sure that you remain consistent with your workout plan. Also, be consistent with the equipment and the conditions under which you measure your progress.

Set a Reward for Each Milestone

What might seem to be an unachievable task, if taken all together, will appear much easier when you break it down into smaller goals. Divide your plan for the dream body into multiple small parts and set a reward for each time you achieve it. Treat yourself to the cheese burst pizza that you have been craving for long!

These are some of the best ways in which you can track yourworkout progress.

Final Words

Being physically fit does not always mean having a buff or muscular body. There are certain activities that require immense physicalfitnessand, once accomplished, can instill a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in you. Physical inactivity exposes you to the risk of several health hazards like cardiac diseases, mental health, and many more.

Exercising regularly and good intake ofnutritioncan enhance the strength of your muscles, improve bone density and stability, and reduce the risk of accidental injuries. With the different ways to fitness progress, you can get visible results, feel motivated, and strive to stay in the pink of health!

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9 Effective Ways to Track Fitness Progress - SpaceCoastDaily.com

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