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Category Archives: Progress

Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac Continue to Make Progress in Their Rehab – OrlandoMagic.com

Posted: November 28, 2021 at 10:06 pm

ORLANDO Two of the Orlando Magics foundational pieces continue to make strides as they hit milestones in their rehab.

Fans eager for updates to the conditions of Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac were provided additional insight on Friday morning as both Fultz and Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman spoke to the media after shootaround.

As they have their occasional checkups with doctors, and they have imaging, I can just tell you theyre both moving forward and theyre doing great, Weltman explained. I can tell you that Markelle, we just sent him down this week to start practicing with Lakeland because theyll have more live-action situations than well have in the middle of an NBA season. So, hes starting to ramp up to that phase where hes actually starting to get involved in some live action. Jonathan isnt at that point yet, but he continues to make great, steady progress and theyre both doing really well.

As the Magics President of Basketball Operations indicated, in addition to going through on-court work in Orlando, Fultz has also been practicing in Lakeland with the teams G League squad when the Magic are on the road. Prior to stepping over to speak with the media, the physical point guard engaged in two-on-two drills that also included teammates Moe Wagner and Ignas Brazdeikis, who spent time after shootaround working with Orlandos floor general.

Im very excited with where I am at and where I am going, Fultz explained. Its the next step in the process. When I first got injured, it was all about steps. Knowing its going to be a long journey but taking it one step at a time. Right now, Im in the process of getting back into things, bumping, and getting up and down. Getting my conditioning right. Like I said, I feel really good.

Fultzs injury on Jan. 6, 2021 disrupted a breakout season for the 6-foot-4 guard. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft was averaging career bests in points (14.3) and assists (6.1) in the seven games prior to suffering a devastating ACL injury in his left knee in the eighth contest of Orlandos 2020-21 campaign.

The Magic jumped out to a 6-2 start to that season, but then lost six straight games after Fultz suffered his knee injury.

I felt like I was just getting started into a real good groove with a full summer under my belt after coming back for a full season, Fultz said. Just building mentally. Where I took the big step in the summer was watching a lot of film and understanding the game and slowing it down even more.

Isaac, meanwhile, continues to look to build strength in his knee after an ACL injury disrupted an amazing comeback story.

After suffering a knee injury on New Years Day of 2020, it appeared that Isaacs season was over. However, with the season being interrupted due to COVID-19 and not resuming until late in the summer, the 6-foot-10 forward was able to make a stunning return in the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World.

Isaac scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds in just seven minutes of playing time during his first game back in a scrimmage against the Denver Nuggets. He tallied 16 points in 16 minutes during Orlandos win over the Brooklyn Nets in the Magics first seeding game, and then had four points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals against the Kings on Aug. 2, 2020 before the injury.

Now, despite his eagerness to get back on the court, the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft remains focused on strengthening his knee and staying patient as he relentlessly continues to ramp up his rehab and prepare for in-game action.

Its everything. Theres a right way to do this and the most important thing for Jonathan is not just that we address the injury, but his whole body, Weltman said. Hes missed essentially two years of action and theres a lot that comes with that. So, making sure that his body is balanced, that its strengthened everywhere, that his core is tight. In the meantime, hes using the time very productively. His body is filling out, his shot looks way improved from the last time he was on the court, and hes in a really good place.

While some fans may desire exact timelines for the Magics two young standouts, the team remained steadfast in its policy of instead focusing on conducting the rehab process the right way rather than stamping unnecessary deadlines on returns.

I know our fans can get frustrated with some of this, but we always want to put our fans first and be as transparent as possible, Weltman said. That said, the way that we manage our injuries has to be done with the benefit of our players which is theyre showing up every day, theyre doing their work, and they have to know that the timetables are going to be in accordance with the results of their work. So, no injuries are the same, no two bodies are the same.

Its a process thats appreciated by Fultz, who came to the team in a trade deadline deal in Feb. 2019 in the midst of rehabbing his shoulder. Its something he noticed and valued from day one of his arrival.

Its amazing, ever since I first came over here, dealing with the shoulder injury, Fultz said. Thats the one thing, I always felt like they had open arms, there was no rush (and) I didnt feel any pressure. But at the same time, were all about getting work done. Theyve done a great job of just comforting me and making sure that Im okay, but also doing the things I need to do to make sure Im ready. I love the game, so I dont want to be out any longer than I have to be. Its all about being smart. They do a great job of making sure that we understand that theyre not putting any (unnecessary) pressure on us.

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Letter to the editor: Anger is a cancer on democracy, progress – Bluffton Today

Posted: at 10:06 pm

Societys current anger is a cancer on our democracy and progress in our country. Stephen Websters book American Rage describes anger as the central emotion governing U.S. politics, lowering trust in government and weakening democratic values while forging partisan loyalty.

The Age Of Rage in The Guardian on May 11, 2019, states that we have built a world that is extremely good at generating causes for anger but extremely bad at offering constructive solutions. A Gallup poll found 22% of respondents around the world felt angry, a record.

Americans Are Living In A Big Anger Incubator,a Washington Post headline from June 29, 2020, confirms that systematic forces threaten our well-being, led by automation, globalization, climate change, immigration, racism, a pandemic and conspiracies, while using social and news media as a catalyst.

Duke University School of Medicine professor Damon Tweedybelieves anger is inevitable and becomes a sustaining problem without the use of off-setting, coping tools.

Here are some anger management suggestions to counteract ones anger, thus contributing to a kinder, gentler world, from Psychology Today: Look at things from a third-person perspective. Refuse to react to aggressive acts. Understand where anger is coming from. Listen; take other persons point of view. Count to 10; take deep breaths.

Above all, particularly in the Lowcountry, smile and forgive; life is too short!

Earle Everett, Moss Creek

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Europe is Tested by Waves of Cases that Threaten its Progress Against Pandemic – The New York Times

Posted: at 10:06 pm

Nearly 20 months after pandemic lockdowns first began, governments across Europe are beginning to tighten restrictions again amid the latest wave of new coronavirus cases, threatening the gains that the region has made against the pandemic.

France is racing to offer booster shots to all adults and will not renew health passes for those who refuse. Deaths are rising in Germany, with its 68 percent vaccination rate, a worrying trend for a highly inoculated country. Austria has been in a nationwide lockdown since Monday, and made vaccinations mandatory.

In Eastern Europe, where far-right and populist groups have fueled vaccine skepticism, vaccination rates are lower than the rest of the continent. Bulgaria, where a quarter of the population is fully vaccinated, is turning back to shutdowns or other restrictive measures.

The quickly deteriorating situation in Europe is worrisome for the United States, where the seven-day average of new cases has risen 24 percent in the past two weeks. (The number of new deaths reported in the United States is down 6 percent.) Trends in new cases in the United States have tended to follow Europe by a few weeks.

Time and again, weve seen how the infection dynamics in Europe are mirrored here several weeks later, Carissa F. Etienne, director of the Pan American Health Organization, told reporters on Wednesday. The future is unfolding before us, and it must be a wake-up call for our region because we are even more vulnerable.

The White House insists that while new infections are on the rise, the United States can avoid European-style lockdowns.

We are not headed in that direction, Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, said this week. We have the tools to accelerate the path out of this pandemic: widely available vaccinations, booster shots, kids shots, therapeutics.

But the chief of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that some countries had lapsed into a false sense of security.

He issued a warning during a news briefing on Wednesday: While Europe is again the epicenter of the pandemic, no country or region is out of the woods.

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NY Jets Robert Saleh has complete faith in the team’s plan, but must show progress – NorthJersey.com

Posted: at 10:06 pm

HOUSTON Robert Saleh didnt exactly end up in the easiest landing spot for a first- time head coach when he took the New York Jets job back in January.

OK, thats like saying Mark Sanchez probably wishes that one play against the Patriots back in 2012 had worked out a little differently. Saleh could have scoured the earth for a more challenging entry into the top level of his profession and he might have never found it.

He joined a franchise that over the past decade has been defined by its spectacular failures above all else. (Its unfortunate and unfair to Sanchez, who just happened to have the most spectacular of the many that have come before and since.)

Saleh inherited a roster that is in the middle of such a deep rebuild that it was devoid of proven talent and depth at many key positions and that was before a devastating run of injuries.

And he was tasked with navigating all of that in the biggest media market on the planet, while trying to please a passionate fan base that also happens to be extremely angry and impatient for obvious reasons.

Saleh, of course, didnt get to where he is by believing a massive challenge cant be overcome. From the very beginning, Saleh has been waging a quiet war against that riptide of negativity with his relentless optimism and consistent message of hope for his players and fans.

Back in April, when asked how he felt about free agents saying they wanted to sign with the Jets because of him, Saleh even said three words that previously were treated like Voldemorts name at 1 Jets Drive.

You can always beat the narrative of same old Jets, Saleh said. But its not.

Salehs point was unmistakable and valid: What happened in the past has nothing with what happens right now and every day moving forward, unless you let it.

And then the regular season started.

To his credit, Saleh remains as optimistic as ever. Earlier this month, immediately after the Jets gave up 175 points in a four-game stretch only one NFL team has allowed more since 1970 Saleh made a promise to Jets fans.

Im frustrated, Saleh said. But I am not lost in the big picture in that this thing is going to turn, and when it does, its going to be freakin awesome.

But Saleh has not been able to hide that frustration, especially in the immediate aftermath of the losses. We saw some anger and heard a few bad words after the 41- point point loss to the Patriots, understandably.

Saleh looked downtrodden after the lopsided losses to the Colts and Bills. And he was clearly annoyed after his team threw away a winnable game last week against the Dolphins.

No one should fault him for that because of his previous positivity. Its exactly how a coach should look and talk after losses like those. But its a jarring contrast from what we saw for all these months, so its fair to wonder if maybe this challenge is a little harder than he expected?

No, Saleh said when asked that directly this week. Its the same thing, like knock on wood, Ive been very fortunate in my NFL career. This is the fifth team that weve attempted to rebuild.

The Texans went 2-14 in 2005, when Saleh started his pro coaching career as a defensive intern. He left in 2010 and Houston won the division the next two years and made the playoffs in four of the next six.

The Jaguars lost 37 of 48 games with Saleh as their linebackers coach from 2014-16. They went to the AFC Championship game the next year.

And the 49ers went 6-10 and 4-12 in Salehs first two years as defensive coordinator before they finished 13-3 and went to the Super Bowl in year three.

But the most meaningful turnaround came in Seattle. In 2011 he joined the Seahawks as a defensive quality control coach and they went 7-9, finishing under .500 for the fourth straight season. Saleh won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks two years later. Of course, Russell Wilson had a lot to do with that. Further hammering home the point player is more important to the Jets future than rookie quarterback Zach Wilson.

So when Saleh says that none of this is a surprise and that this is what it should feel like, even though its not easy, its actually believable.

In all those cases, the key part of the plan was the same: the teams were loaded with young players who had to learn some really tough lessons before becoming key contributors to the turnaround.

He sees the same thing happening on the Jets roster.

This is exactly what it looks like and were not the only ones, Saleh said. You look at Arizona, theyre in year three and doing a heck of a job.

But he also seemed to hint that going through those kinds of struggles in this particular situation is more of a challenge.

I started joking around with somebody that one year in New York is like [aging in] dog years, Saleh said. It is euphoria or disaster, there is no in between. We embrace the expectation. We want to win. Even now, were trying to win football games and were trying to teach this young group and these young men how to win these games.

Salehs main message to Jets fans is that this rebuild is different than the ones before, because general manager Joe Douglas didnt hit the panic button this offseason. So instead of having overpaid veterans on the field which might have helped the Jets look more respectable, theyre developing young players and evaluating which ones can be a part of their future.

I respect the heck out of the urgency from the fans and the wanting to flip this thing, Saleh said. But in fairness, this is the first time this fan base is actually experiencing something like this. Usually its been a quick fix, followed by a scramble. This is an actual plan.

Saleh is right on that point. But that wont make the next seven weeks any easier if the Jets dont show some progress.

Andy Vasquezis the Jetsbeat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Jets analysis, news, trades and more, pleasesubscribe todayanddownload our app.

Email:vasqueza@northjersey.com

Twitter:@andy_vasquez

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This Thanksgiving, let’s be grateful for human progress | TheHill – The Hill

Posted: at 10:06 pm

When Americans areasked what they are thankful for on Thanksgiving, family is the most common response. They also tend to be grateful for their friends and health.

This Thanksgiving, we encourage Americans to also be thankful for human progress. Past progress is not only something we should be grateful for but understanding it may also play a crucial role in cultivating the type of mindset needed to promote future progress. Unfortunately, many of the young Americans who will become the political, business and cultural leaders of tomorrow do not appear to be learning about the progress our world has achieved in recent decades.

When it comes to human progress, there is much to celebrate.

Extreme poverty dropped from 43 percent of the worlds population in 1981 to around nine percent today. Global life expectancy increased from 57.9 years in 1972 to about 72 years today. The percentage of undernourished people in developing countries declined from 23 percent in 1990 to about 13 percent today. The percentage of 15 to 24-year-olds who areunable to read worldwide dropped from 24 percent to less than 10 percent over a 50-year period.

In the United States, over thelast five decades, life expectancy has increased 11 percent, infant survival has increased 70 percent, income per person has increased 130 percent and the average number of years of schooling has increased 26 percent. And there are many, many more examples.

In order to be grateful for human progress, people need to know about it. What better place to spread the word about human progress than our colleges and universities? These are the institutions tasked with training tomorrows leaders, helping them to figure out their mission in life and the best ways for them to apply their talents and interests.

However, that knowledge is absent in many corners. In asurvey conducted by the Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth at North Dakota State University, in collaboration with College Pulse, we asked 1,000 students at 71 four-year American colleges and universities a range of questions about the state of human progress and their attitudes about the future, based on what they have learned in college. Only half of current college and university students indicated that, based on what they have learned in college, the world has improved over the last 50 years, in terms of extreme poverty, life expectancy, hunger and literacy.

Why does this matter? In order to solve big problems and make societal advancements, people benefit from maintaining an optimistic outlook about the future of the world and their own lives. Indeed, a large body of research indicates that optimism promotes persistence in pursuing goals, goal-achievement, creativity, innovation, social trust and civic engagement.

Yet our survey finds that only a quarter of college students are optimistic about the future of the world and the United States, only half are optimistic about their own futures, and only 44 percent are optimistic about their ability to make a difference in the world, based on what they have learned in college. Moreover, using statistical analyses that allow us to account for a number of variables that may influence optimism, such as socioeconomic status and psychological wellbeing, we find that knowledge of human progress is a unique and strong predictor of optimism. The students who report that their college experience suggests the world has been getting better over the last 50 years are the students who are most likely to also report that their college experience has made them optimistic about the future of the world, the United States, their own future and their ability to make a difference in the world.

These results are correlational, so we are not able to say with certainty that learning about progress causes students to become more optimistic, but there is reason to believe that the more a college education helps students appreciate human progress, the more it will help them approach the future with optimism and agency. Indeed, other research shows that teaching young people to be grateful inspiresoptimism and the motivation to contribute positively to society.

Despite the major challenges facing society, we have much to be grateful for this holiday season. Lets not forget human progress. By appreciating it and spreading the message to future generations, we can help inspire the mindset needed to build a better tomorrow.

Clay Routledge is the Arden & Donna Hetland Distinguished Professor of Business at North Dakota State University, a faculty scholar at the Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth, and a senior research fellow at the Archbridge Institute. John Bitzan is the Menard Family Director of the Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth.

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Bidens confirmations progress at the 300-day mark – Brookings Institution

Posted: at 10:06 pm

The Biden administrations effort to staff the federal government is proceeding at a snails pace compared to previous administrations. Such a leadership vacuum inhibits the administrations ability to implement their agenda, and while the Senate plays a key role in the process and pace, it is the president who suffers most from this incredibly slow pace.

At day 300, the Biden administration has much to be proud ofpassage of the infrastructure bill, the declining unemployment rate, and the record number of federal judges that have been confirmed, among earlier legislative achievements like the American Rescue Plan. According to my Brookings colleague, Russell Wheeler, as of November 17, (Bidens 300th day in office), the Senate has confirmed 28 federal judges (nine on the court of appeals and 19 on the district courts), surpassing his most recent Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, who had six judges confirmed by this point and President Trump, who had 13. But while the administration can hail its record-setting appointments to the bench, it is worth noting that confirmed appointees to the executive branch are trickling in at an alarmingly slow pace.

This report marks this projects third and final opportunity to track the pace of executive branch confirmations and the gender and ethnic diversity of these appointees during President Bidens first year in office. When I reported on the progress at the 100 and 200-day marks, the Biden confirmation pace lagged behind his three predecessors, while the commitment to nominating large numbers of women and nonwhites represented a historic breakthrough. This studys data on executive branch confirmations, drawn from Congress.gov, includes comparisons to Bidens three predecessors and focuses on the fifteen major departments (excluding U.S. Attorneys at the Department of Justice). In addition, there is data on gender and race/ethnicity for each confirmed individual; the categories for the latter are the same as the U.S. Census.

After 300 days, the Senate has confirmed 140 of President Bidens nominees to the 15 major executive departments. The chart below demonstrates that while the Biden administration outpaced President Trump at the start and surpassed the Obama administration in days 200-300, overall President Biden lags behind his predecessorsa troubling, but perhaps not unexpected trendline. Terry Sullivan, a political scientist with the White House Transition Project, shows that the pace of confirmations has been declining for every president since Ronald Reagan, suggesting that even Bidens successor will have fewer confirmations after 300 days.

Since we began tracking President Bidens Cabinet and appointees, we have broken them down by department. This enables one to move beyond the aggregate figures and examine confirmations within each of the 15 departments. Such an examination reveals that the Biden administration has the fewest number of confirmed appointees in seven of the 15 departments including Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, State, Transportation, and Treasury. Of these, the performance in the State Department is weakest; an unsurprising predicament given the emergence of a Republican blockade by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and more recently, Marco Rubio (R-Fla). Working together, they have stalled the confirmations of many senior State Department officials. To provide a clearer sense of just how many appointees are being held up, the Partnership for Public Service indicated that as of November 22, there were 85 pending State Department nominees, 47 of which were awaiting a full vote. This GOP blockade has clearly succeeded as demonstrated by the confirmation records of President Biden compared to his three predecessors on day 300: Biden 27, Trump 55, Obama 92, and Bush 133.

Why does this slow pace matter? Apart from a leadership vacuum that hampers long-term planning and adversely affects morale, the slow pace of confirmation affects government performance. More than 17 years ago, the bipartisan 9-11 Commission released a report that addressed the dangers of delayed confirmations. One of their key recommendations was expeditious confirmation of those appointees working in the national security realm. According to a study by the Partnership for Public Service: The commission found that George W. Bush lacked key deputy Cabinet and subcabinet officials until the spring and summer of 2001, noting that the new administrationlike others before itdid not have its team on the job until at least six months after it took office, or less than two months before 9/11. We are now 10 months into a new administration and are well behind the confirmation rate of the Bush administration. In short, the situation is far more dire than when the 9-11 Commission issued its report. I suspect the commission would be most disappointed by the Biden administrations lag in filling top positions at Defense, Homeland Security, and State given the national security implications.

Aside from the slow pace of confirmations, it is important to point out the historic levels of gender and racial/ethnic diversity among the Biden confirmed appointees. From the start, the administration has demonstrated a high level of commitment to the appointment of women and nonwhites. At the 300-day mark, women represent half of the 140 confirmed appointees, exceeding his three predecessors by a sizeable amount (President Obama was closest with 29% of his appointments going to women).

Similarly, the Biden administration demonstrated a major commitment to appointing nonwhites. After 300 days, 39% of the Biden administration confirmed nominees are nonwhite; representing a stark change from the Trump administration that reached 14% in the first 300 days.

As of November 22, the Partnership for Public Service indicated that there are 175 nominees (to the 15 major departments) languishing somewhere in the Senate confirmation process. This large number suggests that the Biden administration has fulfilled its obligation. Given no choice but to work within the limitations of a slow-moving and sometimes recalcitrant Senate, the Biden administration has made its mark where it canby appointing the most diverse set of presidential nominees.

Twenty years ago, political scientist Burdett Loomis wrote an article for the Brookings Institution noting the lengthening Senate confirmation process indicates that a problem does exist If only the Senate operated at the same pace as it did back in 2001, President Biden might have about 326 confirmed nominees instead of well less than half of that number (140). While the slow confirmation pace is not a new phenomenon, it has reached a new low. In prior publications, I tried to account for the slow pace: the 50-50 split in the Senate, the heavy legislative agenda, the frequency and length of Senate recesses, the apparent prioritization of judicial appointments, and the frequency of Republican holds. In the end, the source of the delay is irrelevant. The Senate has a responsibility to vote on the presidents nominees in a timely fashion and I contend that this role is most important at the start of a new administration.

The Biden administration has made history on two fronts and in two starkly different waysthe most diverse set of confirmed appointees and the fewest nominees in place at the 300-day mark. Frustrated by this pace, Majority Leader Schumer (D-N.Y.) recently threatened to keep the chamber in session longer than anticipated so that they could confirm more nominees. If cutting recess or working on weekends motivates Senators to vote on the nominees languishing in the Senate, I am all for it. Leadership matters, particularly at the start of an administration, and giving a president the tools (in this case personnel) he or she needs to govern is good for everyoneRepublicans and Democrats alike.

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RFID: Progress, Trends and Prospect – IDTechEx.com

Posted: at 10:06 pm

Despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, the crisis has accelerated technology adoption, pushing companies to adopt technology-driven strategies to survive and thrive. Since the beginning of 2021, strong growth in several RFID businesses has been observed. As we near the end of 2021, the growing trend continues throughout the RFID industry. Nonetheless, the pandemic has created additional obstacles, including supply chain disruptions and chip shortages, which are constraining growth.

In this webinar, Dr. Yu-Han Chang will present IDTechEx's latest data and prospects for the RFID industry, which will include research from IDTechEx's latest RFID market research study "RFID Forecasts, Players, and Opportunities 2022-2032". IDTechEx has been studying RFID for over 20 years and our leading RFID market research report is built on our expertise, covering the latest RFID development trend, key player analysis, and market outlook.

This webinar will provide an overview of the current state of the RFID industry and the content include:

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Pandemic progress: How far have we come and where are we going? – KXAN.com

Posted: at 10:06 pm

AUSTIN (Nexstar) Warnings from infectious disease experts about an anticipated spike in COVID-19 cases after the holidays might feel like dj vu from last year. Thats because it is.

However, significant strides have been made since Thanksgiving 2020. A game changing vaccine has been approved for everyone five and older in the United States. Eligibility for booster shots has been expanded to all adults 18 and older.

With those strides also came serious tribulations a deadlier, more contagious delta variant that pushed hospitals and ICU beds in Texas to their limits this summer, paired with the rampant spread of misinformation about the vaccines safety and efficacy.

About 54.5% of Texans are fully vaccinated, not too far behind the nations percentage of Americans who are fully vaccinated, about 59%.

COVID-19 cases are on the rise nationwide, and while Texas is doing better than many other states for now, the rolling seven-day average of new infections is slowly climbing again, according to state data.

Whether the case surges will continue on a seasonal basis is still uncertain.

Ithink its too early to tell what the endemic phases will look like, said Dr. Gerry Parker, director of pandemic and biosecurity policy at Texas A&M University. I dont think its going to be quite like the flu, I mean the flu is very seasonal.

It raises concern for infectious disease experts, including the states chief epidemiologist, Dr. Jennifer Shuford of Texas DSHS.

We could still have a lot of transmission of COVID-19 through the holiday season and into 2022, she said. So its something that were worried about because we think there are vulnerable Texans out there that really could get a bad infection over the next few months.

Parker said the one thing that is better this year versus last (aside from vaccines) is the increasing treatment options.

The monoclonal antibodies and the antiviral specifically are important tools because if you do test positive and youre high risk of contracting severe disease, the monoclonal antibodies can be very important if you have not been immunized, Parker said. The antivirals also are would be much easier to administer compared to the monoclonal antibody. So these are all important tools in our toolkit, but vaccines are the number one tool to prevent.

Doctors like Parker and Shuford emphasize that those treatment options are an additional tool, and should not be seen as a substitute for getting vaccinated.

The vaccines are fantastic vaccines and way exceeded our expectations in their effectiveness, Shuford said. Now there are two oral therapies that are under consideration by the FDA for emergency use authorization. And so its giving us a little more hope that maybe well have more therapeutics, or more medicines available to us for COVID-19 in the near future. Vaccines are still our best option though, for really controlling COVID-19 Across Texas.

The FDA is expected to approve Merck and Pfizers COVID-19 antiviral pill soon.

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As Focus Intensifies On Rising U.S, Cricket In China Remains A Work In Progress – Forbes

Posted: at 10:06 pm

Cricket in China needs a spark. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Getty Images)

In the aftermath of the International Cricket Councils (ICC) recent era-defining board meeting, the U.S. cemented its status as the bearer of the sports global aspirations.

Cricket, a British sport traditionally confined mostly to Commonwealth countries, has for some time been trying to enter new terrain and unsurprisingly administrators have been besotted with the worlds biggest sports market much to the chagrin of some neglected Associate nations.

The U.S, long-viewed as thesleeping giantof cricket, will co-host the 2024 T20 World Cup along with the West Indies an accelerated timetable due to the ICCs much-hyped bid for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

It all means the U.S. will become something of an epi-centre on and off field this decade in a remarkable transformation after being viewed as a laughingstock for years.

There was a time, however, when China a mostly forgotten cricket nation - was embraced with almost as much gusto by the sports decision makers.

From a strategic point of view, U.S. and China were the two target markets. U.S. was No.1 and China was No.2, Tim Anderson, the ICCs head of global development from 2010-16, told me.

We needed to demonstrate return on investment. Having more competitive teams on the stage which we're seeing now - but equally it was about how the emerging cricket market could impact the economics globally of the sport.

Tim Anderson visited China to promote and develop cricket. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Getty Images)

In the mid-2000s, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) which is effectively the ICCs Asian office but has its own revenue streams - had deemed China a special project according to Aminul Islam, who at the time was an ACC development officer heavily focused onChina. With foresight and resources, cricket was included at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou and deemed a success marked by Chinas womens team finishing fourth.

It was hoped to be a game-changer for a country with no cricket tradition, relatively modest numbers of expats from Commonwealth nations and infamous bureaucratic hurdles negating the ICCs plans to have staff members based there permanently.

"China was different to the U.S. on those levels, said Anderson, who runs a sports consultancy business these days. But China also is a big market and has huge global power. There were some geopolitical opportunities between China and India, Pakistan and Australia that could be explored through cricket.

"There had been a push to get international cricket between Full Members there.

The ACC created 200 level 1 coaches and targeted universities to fuel crickets popularity. Women, in particular, took to cricket faster and with pathways easier for a quick rise up the rankings, there was hope a successful national team could inspire a generation.

The womens team has always been pretty good. They could become something like Thailand, Anderson said noting Thailands remarkable rise in womens cricket which has just recently seemingly been stunted by ICC red tape.

Meg Lanning, Captain of Australia Cricket Team (l) talks to the Chinese National Teamin Shanghai. ... [+] (Photo by Marcio Machado/Getty Images)

Even though the national womens team is still ranked 26thin T20, there are no grandiose talks of cricket in China right now. Forget visions of being a global power, Chinese cricket barely has visibility. The Chinese Cricket Association, which has been a member of the ICC since 2004, doesnt even have a website and seemingly shrouded in mystery like some type of shadowy organization.

Its led to observers on the ground fearing cricket in China has stalled and that the ICC has lost interest in its once pet project.

They point to the mens team being ranked 86 of 90 in the T20 rankings and the unused cricket ground in Guangzhou the showpiece at the 2010 Asian Games as confirmation of its sad slide and wasted potential.

However, Islam, who is now the ICC Asia regional development manager, admitted that cricket in China had grown slowly but said development was occurring through 21 universities, where it is recognized as an official sport under the curriculum.

A million students know the game and play at least once a week, said Islam, the former Bangladesh captain who speaks fluent Mandarin. There are about 2000 higher performance players coming from high schools and universities. Nine regions have been introduced to cricket.

China women's team still has a respectable ranking. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Getty Images)

With cricket returning to the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, a $20 million beautiful stadium is being built in Zhejian provinces capital which in the future can legitimately attract top end international cricket, according to Islam. But Shanghai the glitzy global financial hub is earmarked to be crickets home base in China.

Shanghai has the highest number of cricket players, Islam said. Its an international city and makes sense for crickets base to be there. Shanghai to Hangzhou is only one-hour away. Eventually we will look for land and build an (internationally accredited) ground in Shanghai.

It all sounds promising at the grassroots, but cricket undoubtedly needs more exposure amid a competitive sports landscape as rivals swarm into the lucrative Chinese market. In this tough environment, support from the Chinese government is crucial and thus far has not been forthcoming towards cricket but that could all change amid the sports $3 million Olympic bid.

Administrators hoping for crickets expansion into places such as China had long pushed for Olympic inclusion only to be rebuffed by reticent powers India and England. But with the board finally on the same page, cricket could be unlocked in a country like China where Olympic sports are granted priority.

If cricket got into the Olympics that would change the dynamics for the sport in China, Anderson said. China qualifying for a World Cup or cricket being part of the Olympics would be a thing.

As soon as it is in the Olympics, the whole face ofChinacricket will change, Islam concurred. Olympics would unlock a lot of resources from Chineseauthorities towards cricket.

With momentum building towards crickets Olympic bid, private promoters are eyeing China with renewed interest.

If the Olympics is happening then franchise cricket leagues could take place in China, said Haroon Lorgat, the former ICC chief executive turned T10 cricket advocate.

The experienced South African administrator is spearheading the growth and development of T10 - an unofficial 10-over per side format through global leagues such as the ongoing tournament in Abu Dhabi.

But gaining a foothold in Hong Kong, which has a cricket tradition and regarded as a top Associate nation, could be the first step towards China.

Cricket has a strong tradition in Hong Kong. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images)

"A T10 league is easier to establish in Hong Kong, which has grounds and facilities, but that could spark interest in China and perhaps places like Guangzhou, Lorgat said. Arguably T10 is a better vehicle to get started in new markets as it is easier to run multiple games per day. It might attract interest in youngsters in China.

Cricket has made great strides in conquering its American dream, but China looms as a far greater obstacle to legitimize the ICCs goal of unshackling this sport far beyond its Commonwealth origins.

China is growing and can help crickets perception worldwide, Islam said. WithoutChina, you can't say this is a global game.

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As Focus Intensifies On Rising U.S, Cricket In China Remains A Work In Progress - Forbes

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MEPC 77: For climate progress, shipping needs action from IMO member states on concrete initiatives – Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Posted: at 10:06 pm

During COP26 it was encouraging to see the maritime sector being included in the discussion between governments. International liner shipping companies, who for some time have been taking the lead when it comes to commitments as well as investments in actual technology development, were at the fore in Glasgow calling for government action. Some promising coalitions and declarations were launched and going into the IMO MEPC 77 this week there was a positive undercurrent.

It is then all the more disappointing to watch the same governments that were making lofty statements at COP26 just days ago, again fail to walk the talk when it comes to real action at the IMO.

The goal for liner shipping is clear: move away from fossil fuels as quickly as possible. The people of the world depend on trade, and we must make efficient trade possible without the climate impact of today the sooner the better. It is a moral imperative, keenly felt by us working in the industry, as much as it is what our customers and investors demand.

Our challenge as a hard-to-abate sector is that the technology and fuels needed for a transition to zero are not yet available. We see the direction, and now need to drive progress towards a tipping point where the technologies for zero-GHG shipping can be applied and a clear demand picture can drive availability of and infrastructure for alternative fuels. That is why IMO member countries inexplicable stalling around the IMRB/IMRF is so dangerous. We can talk all we want about the ambitions for 2050, but unless we put initiatives to drive real progress in place, we are not going to get there, says John Butler, President & CEO of World Shipping Council (WSC).

WSC members are among the carriers exploring and investing in alternative technologies and solutions, but this will not be enough to change the entire industry. It also risks leaving some countries, sectors, and companies behind. A global industry is dependent on global infrastructures and global market-based measures to drive change.

Our appeal to political leaders and regulators is to not get stuck in a cycle of ambition bidding, but to take action for inclusive change in the shipping industry. Whilst we are disappointed there was no decision, the MEPC 77 saw a notable increase in the number of nations supporting the establishment of an industry-financed research fund, pushing USD 5 billion into R&D towards zero-GHG technologies that will be available to all nations. The initiative is ready to launch, has support from the Green Climate Fund, and we will keep supporting member nations working for a positive resolution at MEPC 78, continues John Butler.

With the IMRB/IMRF established zero-GHG vessels can be on the water by the early 2030s. With technologies in place, progress has the potential to be quick, especially with market-based measures to help the adoption of zero-GHG technologies and ensure the availability of well-to-wake zero-GHG alternative fuels.

Debating ambitious targets for far-away deadlines avoids the more difficult discussions on discrete actions to be undertaken and should not be mistaken for actual progress. We need the political establishment to move from targets to action, John Butler concludes.Source: World Shipping Council

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MEPC 77: For climate progress, shipping needs action from IMO member states on concrete initiatives - Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

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