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Tag: action

  • Turning the Lifestyle Test Results into Meaningful Action

    Turning the Lifestyle Test Results into Meaningful Action

    How can tailored insights transform industries, shape policy, advance research, and enhance community engagement? This question was at the heart of the recent PSLifestyle workshop series, where stakeholders from various sectors gathered to explore actionable solutions for a sustainable lifestyle.

    The Lifestyle Test, developed as part of the PSLifestyle project, has emerged as a powerful tool that identifies key sustainability hotspots and consumer behaviour patterns across Europe. Since its launch in 2023 in eight European countries, over 300,000 tests have been taken, resulting in more than 27,000 personalised plans aimed at reducing individual footprints.

    In October and November 2024, the project team conducted targeted workshops with industry leaders, policymakers, academics, and civil society organizations (CSOs) using the input from the Lifestyle Test as a starting point. Each session focused on topics relevant to the participants, showcasing the Lifestyle Test’s potential applications across diverse contexts.

    Key Insights from the Workshops:

    • Food and Circular Economy: Food emerged as one the most relevant topics for participants of the industry-focused workshop, alongside Circular Economy and product repair services. They discussed the possibility of using the tool for employee engagement or paring it with demographic data to gather further insights into specific consumer segments for sustainable product development and communication.
    • Policy Development: The Lifestyle Test was recognised as a valuable tool for understanding citizens’ motivations, identifying barriers, and supporting the creation of informed policies. Participants also explored its potential as a tool for policy makers to communicate sustainability goals and serve as role models for change.
    • Advancing Research: Academics highlighted research gaps in sustainable lifestyles and proposed new ideas, noting the Lifestyle Test’s practicality and ease for data collection. Suggestions included expanding insights into specific behaviours and barriers to change, addressing targeted research questions, and increasing engagement with less environmentally inclined individuals to broaden the perspective.
    • Community Engagement: CSOs focused on strategies to bridge the gap between people and sustainability. Suggestions included embedding the Lifestyle Test into school curriculums, training programs, and community initiatives to foster broader engagement. The participants also emphasised the importance of shared responsibility for sustainability, highlighting the potential of the Lifestyle Test to proactively share data with decision-makers and promote balanced accountability.

    A Shared Vision for Sustainability

    “The workshops underscored the interconnectedness of various actors, highlighting the need for a coordinated effort to achieve successful outcomes in sustainability,” says Arlind Xhelili, Project Manager at the CSCP, responsible for overseeing our efforts in the PSLifestyle project. “By considering consumer needs and the practicality of real-world applications, we can develop solutions that are easier to be accepted and integrated into daily life.”

    For additional information about the PSLifestyle project and upcoming events and initiatives, please contact Arlind Xhelili.

    Image source ideogram.ai

     

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  • Action Pack Sports Weekend in Football, Basketball and Cycling

    Action Pack Sports Weekend in Football, Basketball and Cycling

    Good evening, sports fans! Welcome to another exciting edition of Sports Monday. I’m your host, Paul Lopez. Tonight, we’re diving straight into the action at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex, the heart of the Belize District Football Association’s First Division Opening Season for 2024-2025. We’ve got a thrilling season ahead with thirty-two games lined up, taking us all the way to mid-January 2025. We’ll be bringing you coverage of most, if not all, of the eight teams battling it out on the field.

     

    Paul Lopez, Reporting

    Tonight, we’ve got highlights from the second match of Saturday afternoon, featuring Caesar Ridge FC in their striking black and white jerseys, going head-to-head with Tut Bay FC, who sported green and black. Throw in for Tut Bay in the eighth minute. The ball intercepted by number six for Caesar Ridge, he passes it off down the field. It gets a bit physical there for him. Number seventeen in hot pursuit inside the penalty box. He was able to get the ball in front of the goal. Right place, right time for Antwane Baptist who gave Caesar Ridge a one-to-nothing lead. Here in the thirty-fourth minute, there was a goal kick for Caesar Ridge. Excellent header from Tut Bay to change direction. Tut Bay’s strikers in position, hunting the ball. A high kick sent the ball flying over the defensive line. Calvin Thurton in hot pursuit. He is intercepted but gets a second chance and makes good on it. The game is tied at one a piece.

     

    The first half ended with each team scoring one goal. But, early in the second half, Tut Bay FC gains possession. A kick to the goal goes off target, but Zebolon Leslie came sprinting in from the left wing and launched a bullet towards goal. That’s two goals for Tut Bay FC. Only four minutes later, Tut Bay once again in possession. Caesar Ridge’s defenders were outnumbered, as Leslie got the pass and was able to make space at the top of the penalty box. He launched another rocket towards the goal and that counts. Tut Bay has the lead with three goals to their opponents one goal. The referee called a handball inside the penalty box against Tut Bay sixty-five minutes into the game. Caesar Ridge’s Ken Galvez took the penalty kick and scored. Tut Bay scored the game’s final goal right before the final whistle was blown, putting this game to rest, and as goal scorer Esmond Sanker signaled, putting Caesar Ridge FC to bed for the evening.

     

    And so, as things heat up with that first division tournament, high schoolers are facing off in the Belize District Basketball Tournament to decide which team will represent this region in National High School Basketball Championship. Saint John’s College played against Sadie Vernon High School in this one. SJC’s Thompson with the steal and he makes it to the other end for the layup. Augustine for Sadie Vernon wide open from the three-point line and he banks the shot. SJC’s Daniel Musa gets the pass, drives and pulls up. That’s good.

     

    The first quarter finished eight to seven points in favor of SJC. And, it was mostly downhill from there for Sadie Vernon. They scored one point in the second quarter and only two points in the third, while SJC was able to score eighteen points in those two quarters combined. Sadie Vernon came back in the fourth quarter with a last-minute dash to the finish line, outscoring SJC by two points, with thirteen points. But, ultimately it was not enough to bring down SJC, led by captain Daniel Musa. Both Thompson and Musa led the game in points scored.

     

    And now for some more football action, we bring you our weekly coverage of the Anthony Mahler Under-Thirteen Mundialito Tournament. We covered two games. The first was between Reality Youths and Tut Bay FC. After three periods of solid defending and well-executed offensive plays on both ends, neither team was able to score against the other. And so, this one ended nil, nil. In the second match, Berger United took on Sampson Brown. Berger United made their debut earlier this year with a bang and they are back to see if they got what it takes to win it all.  In this one, Breylin Middleton wasted no time, scoring the first goal for Berger in the third minute. Middleton again, four minutes later, goes in to recover the ball and touches it gently into the goal. Good football knowledge on display for such a young player.

     

    Middleton was not quite done just yet. At the eleventh minute, he speeds past a defender while maintaining possession, fires and it goes into the goal. That’s a hat trick for Middleton.  Berger United defeated Sampson/Brown, four goals to zero.

     

    And finally, for tonight, here are some highlights from the Women’s Road Race 2024 courtesy Ordonez Bike Shop. This one went from Belize City to Hattieville and back. These cyclists competed in three different categories, Junior, Elite and Over-Thirty-Eight. Nearing mile four, two riders are leading the race, sixteen-year-old Chelsea Gillett and Francine Gigli. They pried open the gap, creating a chase group behind them. Some twenty-six minutes later, the two lead riders saw their lead cut down significantly. Kaya Cattouse went in and picked up the pace to bridge the gap, pulling the chase group behind her. At the Hattieville roundabout, sixteen riders were together in the lead group, headed into Belize City. Kaya Cattouse with the attack at mile thirteen, pumping energy into the lead group of riders. She did not get too far before being reigned in.

     

    With the finish line in sight, Gigli is driving the pace, but Kaya Cattouse was right on her. And, with a final burst of energy Cattouse was first to cross the finish line. She secured first place in the elite category. Chelsea Gillett came in first in the junior category. Fiona Humes secured first place in the over-thirty-eight category. Well folks, that is all we have for you in this week’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.


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  • Class action lawsuit on AI-related discrimination reaches final settlement

    Class action lawsuit on AI-related discrimination reaches final settlement

    Mary Louis’ excitement to move into an apartment in Massachusetts in the spring of 2021 turned to dismay when Louis, a Black woman, received an email saying that a “third-party service” had denied her tenancy.

    That third-party service included an algorithm designed to score rental applicants, which became the subject of a class action lawsuit, with Louis at the helm, alleging that the algorithm discriminated on the basis of race and income.

    A federal judge approved a settlement in the lawsuit, one of the first of it’s kind, on Wednesday, with the company behind the algorithm agreeing to pay over $2.2 million and roll back certain parts of it’s screening products that the lawsuit alleged were discriminatory.

    The settlement does not include any admissions of fault by the company SafeRent Solutions, which said in a statement that while it “continues to believe the SRS Scores comply with all applicable laws, litigation is time-consuming and expensive.”

    While such lawsuits might be relatively new, the use of algorithms or artificial intelligence programs to screen or score Americans isn’t. For years, AI has been furtively helping make consequential decisions for U.S. residents.

    When a person submits a job application, applies for a home loan or even seeks certain medical care, there’s a chance that an AI system or algorithm is scoring or assessing them like it did Louis. Those AI systems, however, are largely unregulated, even though some have been found to discriminate.

    “Management companies and landlords need to know that they’re now on notice, that these systems that they are assuming are reliable and good are going to be challenged,” said Todd Kaplan, one of Louis’ attorneys.

    The lawsuit alleged SafeRent’s algorithm didn’t take into account the benefits of housing vouchers, which they said was an important detail for a renter’s ability to pay the monthly bill, and it therefore discriminated against low-income applicants who qualified for the aid.

    The suit also accused SafeRent’s algorithm of relying too much on credit information. They argued that it fails to give a full picture of an applicant’s ability to pay rent on time and unfairly dings applicants with housing vouchers who are Black and Hispanic partly because they have lower median credit scores, attributable to historical inequities.

    Christine Webber, one of the plaintiff’s attorneys, said that just because an algorithm or AI is not programmed to discriminate, the data an algorithm uses or weights could have “the same effect as if you told it to discriminate intentionally.”

    When Louis’ application was denied, she tried appealing the decision, sending two landlords’ references to show she’d paid rent early or on time for 16 years, even if she didn’t have a strong credit history.

    Louis, who had a housing voucher, was scrambling, having already given notice to her previous landlord that she was moving out, and she was charged with taking care of her granddaughter.

    The response from the management company, which used SafeRent’s screening service, read, “We do not accept appeals and cannot override the outcome of the Tenant Screening.”

    Louis felt defeated; the algorithm didn’t know her, she said.

    “Everything is based on numbers. You don’t get the individual empathy from them,” said Louis. “There is no beating the system. The system is always going to beat us.”

    While state lawmakers have proposed aggressive regulations for these types of AI systems, the proposals have largely failed to get enough support. That means lawsuits like Louis’ are starting to lay the groundwork for AI accountability.

    SafeRent’s defense attorneys argued in a motion to dismiss that the company shouldn’t be held liable for discrimination because SafeRent wasn’t making the final decision on whether to accept or deny a tenant. The service would screen applicants, score them and submit a report, but leave it to landlords or management companies to accept or deny a tenant.

    Louis’ attorneys, along with the U.S. Department of Justice, which submitted a statement of interest in the case, argued that SafeRent’s algorithm could be held accountable because it still plays a role in access to housing. The judge denied SafeRent’s motion to dismiss on those counts.

    The settlement stipulates that SafeRent can’t include its score feature on its tenant screening reports in certain cases, including if the applicant is using a housing voucher. It also requires that if SafeRent develops another screening score it plans to use, it must be validated by a third-party that the plaintiffs agree to.

    Louis’ son found an affordable apartment for her on Facebook Marketplace that she has since moved into, though it was $200 more expensive and in a less desirable area.

    “I’m not optimistic that I’m going to catch a break, but I have to keep on keeping, that’s it,” said Louis. “I have too many people who rely on me.”

    ___

    Jesse Bedayn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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  • Supreme Court seems likely to allow class action to proceed against tech company Nvidia

    Supreme Court seems likely to allow class action to proceed against tech company Nvidia

    WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to keep alive a class-action lawsuit accusing Nvidia of misleading investors about its dependence on selling computer chips for the mining of volatile cryptocurrency.

    The justices heard arguments in the tech company’s appeal of a lower-court ruling allowing a 2018 suit led by a Swedish investment management firm to continue.

    It’s one of two high court cases involving class-action lawsuits against tech companies. Last week, the justices wrestled with whether to shut down a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit against Facebook parent Meta stemming from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm.

    On Wednesday, a majority of the court that included liberal and conservative justices appeared to reject the arguments advanced by Neal Katyal, the lawyer for Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia.

    “It’s less and less clear why we took this case and why you should win it,” Justice Elena Kagan said.

    The lawsuit followed a dip in the profitability of cryptocurrency, which caused Nvidia’s revenues to fall short of projections and led to a 28% drop in the company’s stock price.

    In 2022, Nvidia paid a $5.5 million fine to settle charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission that it failed to disclose that cryptomining was a significant source of revenue growth from the sale of graphics processing units that were produced and marketed for gaming. The company did not admit to any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

    Nvidia has led the artificial intelligence sector to become one of the stock market’s biggest companies, as tech giants continue to spend heavily on the company’s chips and data centers needed to train and operate their AI systems.

    That chipmaking dominance has cemented Nvidia’s place as the poster child of the artificial intelligence boom — what CEO Jensen Huang has dubbed “the next industrial revolution.” Demand for generative AI products that can compose documents, make images and serve as personal assistants has fueled sales of Nvidia’s specialized chips over the last year.

    Nvidia is among the most valuable companies in the S&P 500, worth over $3 trillion. The company is set to report its third quarter earnings next week.

    In the Supreme Court case, the company is arguing that the investors’ lawsuit should be thrown out because it does not measure up to a 1995 law, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, that is intended to bar frivolous complaints.

    A district court judge had dismissed the complaint before the federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled that it could go forward. The Biden administration is backing the investors.

    A decision is expected by early summer.

    ___

    Associated Press writer Sarah Parvini in Los Angeles contributed to this report

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  • Carabins, Thunderbirds among those in action as U Sports football playoffs continue on Saturday

    Carabins, Thunderbirds among those in action as U Sports football playoffs continue on Saturday

    RSEQ semi-finals

    Concordia at No. 3 Laval, 12 p.m.

    Stade Telus-Universite Laval, Quebec City

    The Rouge-et-Or (7-1) look to advance to their 21st straight Dunsmore Cup final when they host the Stingers (2-6). Laval opened the season with a 36-11 win at Concordia, then beat the Stingers 34-10 in a rematch at Laval. The Rouge-et-Or’s only loss of the season was 32-31 overtime defeat to top-ranked Montreal, and it’s probable that the two rivals will meet in the RSEQ final for the 11th straight year. Laval quarterback Arnaud Desjardins led the conference in passing yards (2,373) and touchdowns (17).

    McGill at No. 1 Montreal, 3 p.m.

    CEPSUM, Montreal

    The defending Vanier Cup champion Carabins (7-1) take the nation’s top ranking into the RSEQ semifinal against the Redbirds (3-5). Montreal had little trouble with McGill during the regular season, winning 47-8 at Percival Molson Stadium and 38-28 at CEPSUM. Montreal’s only loss of the season was a 23-22 loss at No. 3 Laval. Montreal will lean heavily on an offence that scored a conference-best 273 points this season.

    OUA semi-finals

    No. 5 Guelph at No. 4 Western, 1 p.m.

    Western Alumni Stadium, London, Ont.

    The first meeting of the year between the host Mustangs (7-1) and the Gryphons (6-2) is a crucial one. Both teams come into the game on a roll. Western won four straight to end the season before thumping McMaster 46-10 in the OUA quarter-finals, while Guelph ended the campaign with three straight wins before defeating Ottawa 26-15 last week. Western has advanced to the Yates Cup in eight straight seasons and has won the last three. Guelph is looking for its first conference title since it defeated the Mustangs 23-17 in 2015.

    No. 8 Queens at No. 2 Laurier, 1 p.m.

    Laurier Athletic Complex, Waterloo, Ont.

    The Golden Hawks (8-0) are one of two undefeated teams heading into Saturday’s action after steamrolling through the regular season and earning a bye to the semi-finals. Laurier’s most lopsided win of the season was a 51-21 rout of Queen’s. The Gaels (5-3) were 1-3 on the road this season, but rebounded for a 22-19 win at Windsor in the quarter-finals. Laurier lost 29-14 to Western in last year’s Yates Cup, while the Gaels fell to the Mustangs in the previous two finals. The Golden Hawks are led by quarterback Taylor Elgersma, who led the OUA in passing yards (2,643) and touchdowns (20).

    AUS semi-finals

    Saint Mary’s at STFX, 1 p.m.

    STFX Stadium, Antigonish, N.S.

    The X-Men (5-3) enter the AUS semi-finals as the three-time defending Jewett Trophy winners. STFX swept the season series with St. Mary’s (4-4), beating the Huskies 19-17 on the road on a last-minute field goal before winning 26-19 at home to end the season. X-Men running back Caleb Fogarty led the AUS with 781 rushing yards.

    Acadia at No. 6 Bishop’s, 1 p.m.

    Coulter Field, Lennoxville, Que.

    The Gaiters (8-0) dominated the AUS regular season, posting a point differential of 200 over their eight games. STFX was next with 85. That differential was fed heavily by a 70-7 round of Acadia (2-6) on Sept. 14. The Axemen put up more of a fight when hosting the rematch but still fell 29-18. Bishop’s can get it done on both sides of the ball, with quarterback Justin Quirion leading the conference with 2,307 passing yards and 18 touchdowns and the defence putting up an AUS-best 27 sacks.

    Canada West semi-finals

    Regina at No. 7 Manitoba, 3 p.m.

    University Stadium, Winnipeg

    The host Bisons led Canada West with a 7-1 record and defeated the Rams (3-5) 22-13 in their only regular-season meeting of the year. Manitoba’s offence is led by Breydon Stubbs, who put up more than 1,000 all-purpose yards (937 rushing, 67 receiving) and ran in a Bisons-record 14 touchdowns. The Bisons are looking for their first Hardy Trophy win as Canada West champion since 2014. They say they are inspired to go even further and win the Vanier Cup for long-time coach Brian Dobie, who is retiring after this season. Kenton Appel is a special-teams threat for Regina after leading Canada West with 286 punt return yards.

    No. 10 Saskatchewan at No. 9 UBC, 4 p.m.

    Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver

    UBC’s road to a second straight Vanier Cup appearance begins against a familiar rival in Saskatchewan. Both teams finished the regular season with 5-3 records, but UBC scored five rushing touchdowns in a 38-24 win over the Huskies Sept. 20 at Thunderbird Stadium. However, the Huskies are 11-2 against UBC in the playoffs all-time. The last Hardy Trophy final to feature neither Saskatchewan nor UBC was in 2014.

    (All times Eastern)

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  • A Call to Action » The Mirror

    A Call to Action » The Mirror

    CATHERINE MUROMBEDZI

    HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

    Every year on October 29th, World Stroke Day raises awareness about stroke prevention, treatment, and support. Stroke affects millions globally, emphasizing the need for comprehensive care and lifestyle changes. In recognition of this critical health issue, we bring together expert insights and advocacy. Two people spoke to us, Dr. Mandy Chigwedere and a stroke survivor and Team leader of the Zimbabwe NCDs Action Network Team Leader, Jacob Ngwenya.

    Stroke cases are indeed on the rise in Zimbabwe, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimating that stroke was responsible for 4 percent of deaths in the country as of 2018. Unfortunately, the exact number of stroke cases in Zimbabwe is not readily available due to a lack of records and limited research in the field of non-communicable diseases. However, it is believed that one in every six Zimbabweans will experience a stroke in their lifetime. Dr. Mandy Chigwedere emphasizes the importance of lifestyle changes in maintaining a healthy weight and preventing chronic diseases. She also spoke on the need for treatment adherence for anyone on life treatment.

    “As we navigate the complexities of modern life, prioritising our health and well-being is crucial. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of various health problems, including diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases. To tackle this issue, it is essential to identify the underlying causes and adopt a comprehensive lifestyle change. Everyone should be able to recognise weight gain or loss. Check your Body Mass Index (BMI): 25 kg/m2 or above. Noticeable weight gain, clothes becoming 1-2 sizes smaller is an indication of weight gain,” said Dr Chigwedere.“The common causes of overweight and obesityare poor diet high in sugar, fat and salt, lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle. Medical conditions (hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, all these are factors,” said Dr. Chigwedere.

    “Everyone should take good care of their mental health to avoid depression, anxiety, or comfort eating, which results in binging. These are risk factors to stroke.The spiritual and emotional being should be taken care of. Be at peace with your belief,” said Dr. Chigwedere.“However, when one happens to experience the mentioned issues above, there are corrective measures to be taken.One can have lifestyle changes for sustainable weight loss. It’s a process, not an event.”Correct your diet to high fiber meals. Take regular exercise starting with 30 minutes most days of the week.

    Increase the movement to 10,000 steps daily. For most people, this is manageable as walking is part of daily life. For people who also do manual work, this is already covered. House chores also serve as exercises. Manage stress through meditation and yoga. Keep in touch with family, friends, church, or social groups for mental health support. It is important to do so,” advised Dr Chigwedere.”Unmanaged diabetes is a significant risk factor for stroke, as well as renal failure, amputations, and blindness. Undiagnosed hypertension is a major cause of strokes. Missing doses in life treatment is a risk factor to stroke. Have a treatment buddy who reminds you to take your medication if you are on lifelong treatment,” said Dr. Chigwedere.

    “Prioritise your health by recognising unusual symptoms. Visit your clinic or doctor if you experience these warning signs. Weakness, confusion, severe headache persistent even after taking painkillers.“Persistent pain and unexplained weight changes with sadness, mood changes. Early detection and treatment can prevent serious complications. Don’t delay! Seek medical attention immediately. Stay vigilant, prioritise your health, and encourage others to do the same. Health is wealth,” said Dr. Chigwedere.

    However, adopting healthy lifestyle changes is only half the battle. Supporting individuals affected by chronic conditions, such as stroke, is equally vital. Supporting stroke survivors is a call to action.Jacob Ngwenya, a stroke survivor and team leader of the Zimbabwe Non Communicable Diseases Action Network, advocates for comprehensive treatment, care, and support for stroke survivors Speaking on World Stroke Day, he called for correct accessible facilities.”On World Stroke Day, we urge policymakers to ensure a full continuum of treatment, care, and support for stroke survivors. These services must be accessible, affordable, and available to all who need them.

    Comprehensive treatment, care, and support for stroke survivors is a must,” Ngwenya emphasized.Ngwenya highlighted the need for enhanced stroke rehabilitation services, citing the current shortcomings that lead to avoidable disabilities and deaths.”Furthermore, we must prioritize the mental health of both stroke survivors and their caregivers. The devastating changes they face require continuous mental health support and treatment,” Ngwenya stressed. Improved accessibility and affordability of stroke services. Enhanced stroke rehabilitation services. Mental health support for stroke survivors and caregivers. We can create a more compassionate and inclusive community by supporting stroke survivors and caregivers,” said Ngwenya.To address the growing concern of stroke cases, initiatives like Zimbabwe Non Communicable Diseases Action Network, led by Ngwenya and the Stroke Organization Zimbabwe (SOZ) are working to raise awareness and provide support for stroke survivors and their caregivers.We all have a role to play a role for better outcomes.

    ● Feedback: [email protected]


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  • Parents whose kids attend one of Australia’s most exclusive schools take drastic action after Aussie sporting legend was banned from speaking to students

    Parents whose kids attend one of Australia’s most exclusive schools take drastic action after Aussie sporting legend was banned from speaking to students

    • Prestigious Sydney Grammar School called off speech by star
    • LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday

    Parents of children attending Sydney Grammar School have found a way around the institution’s ban on former Socceroos captain Craig Foster giving a lecture to students.

    Foster was scheduled to give a guest lecture to students at Sydney Grammar, but the $45,000-a-year institution decided to can the football great turned human rights activist.

    Exactly why he was cancelled isn’t clear, but there is speculation the move was prompted by Foster’s strident criticism of Israel and his recent snubbing of an invitation to meet King Charles.

    ‘We are very mindful that our Ithaka Lecture series must also acknowledge and be respectful of the impact it may have on the wellbeing of members of our community,’ said headmaster Richard Malpass in an email to parents.

    ‘We believe it is not in the best interests of our community at this time for the lecture scheduled for 23 October to proceed.’

    But it seems Grammar students will get to hear from Foster after parents organised a room at the State Library for the lecture. 

    ‘In light of the cancellation of last week’s Sydney Grammar lecture, which was full, parents of the boys, particularly mothers, asked if I would still take the time to speak to their sons,’ Foster announced on social media.

    The event has proved very popular, with organisers having to double the capacity of the space and now offering a live-stream option to those who can’t attend in person.

    Craig Foster was recently blocked from giving a lecture to Sydney Grammar School students

    Craig Foster was recently blocked from giving a lecture to Sydney Grammar School students

    Parents of students from Sydney Grammar (pictured) organised another venue for Foster to give his talk to their sons

    Parents of students from Sydney Grammar (pictured) organised another venue for Foster to give his talk to their sons

    Foster made headlines in May when he stepped down as co-chair of the ARM along with Aussie Olympics great Nova Peris.

    Ms Peris said her decision to step down was due to her belief Mr Foster’s decision to write to Football Australia, the International Federation of Association Football and the West Asian Football Federation asking them asking them to suspend Israel from an upcoming FIFA conference ‘had created division’.

    The former Socceroos star published his letter online, which explained that the International Court of Justice had deemed Israel’s actions as ‘plausible genocide’.

    ‘Every member of the football community and your governing body, Football Australia has a duty of care to do everything possible to stop genocide wherever, and whenever it occurs,’ he said.

    But Ms Peris said his comments had created division within not only ARM but also across the country.

    Foster has made headlines for his strident criticism of Israel and his recent snubbing of an invitation to meet King Charles III

    Foster has made headlines for his strident criticism of Israel and his recent snubbing of an invitation to meet King Charles III

    Forster also made waves earlier in October for the way he turned down an opportunity to meet King Charles and Queen Camilla on their tour of Australia.

    The former co-chair of the Australian Republican Movement recently received an invite from NSW Premier Chris Minns and his wife Anna to attend a function where he would be ‘in the presence of’ the royal couple, who begin their journey down under on October 18.

    Foster took to X to reply: ‘Thanks Anna and @ChrisMinnsMP. But, no thanks. I look forward to being ‘in the presence of’ our first Aussie Head of State. When we put our big pants on, as a country.’

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  • World on pace for significantly more warming without immediate climate action, report warns

    World on pace for significantly more warming without immediate climate action, report warns

    The world is on a path to get 1.8 degrees Celsius (3.2 Fahrenheit) warmer than it is now, but could trim half a degree of that projected future heating if countries do everything they promise to fight climate change, a United Nations report said Thursday.

    But it still won’t be near enough to curb warming’s worst impacts such as nastier heat waves, wildfires, storms and droughts, the report said.

    Under every scenario but the “most optimistic” with the biggest cuts in fossil fuels burning, the chance of curbing warming so it stays within the internationally agreed-upon limit “would be virtually zero,” the United Nations Environment Programme’s annual Emissions Gap Report said. The goal, set in the 2015 Paris Agreement, is to limit human-caused warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times. The report said that since the mid-1800s, the world has already heated up by 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit), up from previous estimates of 1.1 or 1.2 degrees because it includes the record heat last year.

    Instead the world is on pace to hit 3.1 degrees Celsius (5.6 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times. But if nations somehow do all of what they promised in targets they submitted to the United Nations that warming could be limited to 2.6 degrees Celsius (4.7 degrees Fahrenheit), the report said.

    In that super-stringent cuts scenario where nations have zero net carbon emissions after mid-century, there’s a 23% chance of keeping warming at or below the 1.5 degrees goal. It’s far more likely that even that optimistic scenario will keep warming to 1.9 degrees above pre-industrial times, the report said.

    “The main message is that action right now and right here before 2030 is critical if we want to lower the temperature,” said report main editor Anne Olhoff, an economist and chief climate advisor to the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre. “It is now or never really if we want to keep 1.5 alive.”

    Without swift and dramatic emission cuts “on a scale and pace never seen before,” UNEP Director Inger Andersen said “the 1.5 degree C goal will soon be dead and (the less stringent Paris goal of) well below 2 degrees C will take its place in the intensive care unit.”

    Olhoff said Earth’s on a trajectory to slam the door on 1.5 sometime in 2029.

    “Winning slowly is the same as losing when it comes to climate change,” said author Neil Grant of Climate Analytics. “And so I think we are at risk of a lost decade.”

    One of the problems is that even though nations pledged climate action in their targets submitted as part of the Paris Agreement, there’s a big gap between what they said they will do and what they are doing based on their existing policies, report authors said.

    The world’s 20 richest countries — which are responsible for 77% of the carbon pollution in the air — are falling short of their stated emission-cutting goals, with only 11 meeting their individual targets, the report said.

    Emission cuts strong enough to limit warming to the 1.5 degree goal are more than technically and economically possible, the report found. They just aren’t being proposed or done.

    The report ”shows that yet again governments are sleepwalking towards climate chaos,” said climate scientist Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, who wasn’t part of the report.

    Another outside scientist, Johan Rockstrom, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said the report confirms his worst concerns: “We are not making progress and are now following a 3.1 degree path, which is, with next to zero uncertainty, a path to disaster.”

    Both the 3.1 degree and 2.6 degree calculations are a tenth of a degree Celsius warmer than last year’s version of the UN report, which experts said is within the margin of uncertainty.

    Mostly the problem is “there’s one year less time to cut emissions and avoid climate catastrophe,” said MIT’s John Sterman, who models different warming scenarios based on emissions and countries policies. “Catastrophe is a strong word and I don’t use it lightly,” he said, citing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report saying 3 degrees of warming would trigger severe and irreversible damage.

    The report focuses on what’s called an emissions gap. It calculates a budget of how many billions of tons of greenhouse gases — mostly carbon dioxide and methane — the world can spew and stay under 1.5 degrees, 1.8 degrees and 2 degrees of warming since pre-industrial times. It then figures how much annual emissions have to be slashed by 2030 to keep at those levels.

    To keep at or below 1.5 degrees, the world must slash emissions by 42%, and to keep at or below 2 degrees, the cut has to be 28%, the report, named, “No more hot air… please !” said.

    In 2023, the world spewed 57.1 billion metric tons (62.9 billion U.S. tons) of greenhouse gases, the report said. That’s 1,810 metric tons (1,995 U.S. tons) of heat-trapping gases a second.

    “There is a direct link between increasing emissions and increasingly frequent and intense climate disasters,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a video messaged released with the report. “We’re playing with fire, but there can be no more playing for time. We’re out of time.”

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    Read more of AP’s climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment

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    Follow Seth Borenstein on X at @borenbears

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    The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.



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  • Libya threatens legal action after Nigeria pulls out of football qualifier

    Libya threatens legal action after Nigeria pulls out of football qualifier

    The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) is criticizing Nigeria’s decision to withdraw from the 2025 AFCON qualifier in Libya and is threatening to take legal action.

    On Monday, Nigeria’s national football team the Super Eagles walked off the fixture citing safety concerns after being stranded at a local airport in Libya without food and internet access for more than 16 hours.

    Tuesday’s statement by the LFF accused its Nigerian counterpart, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) of not cooperating with local organizers.

    LFF said the flight diversion was possibly caused by routine aircraft protocols, security checks or logistical problems beyond their control, adding that Libyan players faced similar challenges in last week’s reverse fixture in Nigeria.

    LFF said it will “take all legal measures to preserve the interests of the Libyan national football team.”

    The Nigerian Super Eagles had been scheduled to take on the Mediterranean Knights of Libya on Tuesday to seal their qualification for the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco.

    However, the Nigerian men’s team pulled out of its Confederation of African Football, or CAF, qualifier in Libya and returned home in protest at being abandoned at an airport after their plane was diverted.

    The NFF said the team was taken to Al-Abraq International Airport three hours away from the venue of the match and that local authorities did not make alternative travel plans for the team.

    “It is consistent with their … hostile attitude toward other Africans,” said Ademola Olajire, spokesperson of the NFF. “We have filed a formal letter, the whole world is aware of what happened and how everything went, and we expect a reasonable and justifiable decision from CAF.”

    Libyan authorities also have rejected allegations of foul play or willful attempt to dampen the morale of the Nigerian players ahead of Tuesday’s match.

    However, Nigerian sports analyst Daniel Aderiye said Libya has faltered many times in the past.

    “Historical antecedents have put them in a very bad spot,” Aderiye said. “It’s the most hostile environment anybody can play football in. They should go ahead and threaten because as far as we’re concerned, we will not be dimwitted. CAF has said they’re going to intervene — a disciplinary board has been set up to that effect.”

    On Monday, the CAF said it was talking to both Nigeria and Libya and would take action if a member violated its rules.

    Local football club coach Fred Tebit said Nigeria’s diminishing positive public image is to blame.

    “We should not forget where we belong in the ranks of Africa — a national team of such caliber with players playing all over the top clubs in Europe will be treated as such, and I think CAF should take a tough stance on this,” he said. “Our government is not helping matters, our country is full of corruption, embezzlement, so that’s why the Libyans [think] they can measure shoulders with us.”

    Last Friday, Nigeria defeated Libya 1-0, securing seven points over three games in their group. The top two teams in each group will advance to the 24-team finals.

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  • Mbappé’s lawyer says footballer to take legal action for libel over rape claims

    Mbappé’s lawyer says footballer to take legal action for libel over rape claims

    Kylian Mbappé was “shocked” to see his name linked to a Swedish rape investigation, his lawyer told Agence Frane-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday, October 15. The France captain, however, is “at ease” because “he has done nothing wrong,” lawyer Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard said.

    A Swedish prosecutor said Tuesday that a rape investigation had been opened without mentioning Mbappé, following media reports that the Real Madrid and France star was the suspect following a visit with friends to Stockholm.

    Swedish newspapers Aftonbladet and Expressen, and public broadcaster SVT all reported that 25-year-old Mbappé was the target of the investigation, following his two-day visit to the Nordic capital last week.

    Mbappé’s lawyer Canu-Bernard said on Tuesday the player was “not aware of the extent of the media frenzy, but is completely calm and does not understand what he could be accused of.” “He is stunned to hear that it could concern him. He preferred to go to training and asked my office not to leave things as they are because it is impossible to let yourself be slandered and defamed in this way. This is the reason why we are going to file a complaint for libel.”

    Sweden’s Prosecution Authority said that the alleged rape had occurred at a hotel on October 10 but did not name a suspect and said no further information could be shared for the moment. “In response to media reports about a suspected rape in Stockholm, the prosecutor can confirm that a criminal report has been submitted to the police,” a statement said.

    Expressen on Monday identified Mbappé as the suspect, citing anonymous sources, while Aftonbladet and SVT said Tuesday they had also obtained information confirming Mbappé was the suspect. Expressen said Mbappé was “reasonably suspected” of rape and sexual assault, the lower of two degrees of suspicion in the Swedish legal system. According to the Prosecution Authority, the higher degree of suspicion, “probable cause,” is usually a prerequisite for a suspect to be remanded in custody prior to a formal charge.

    Mbappé’s lawyer said she could neither confirm nor deny claims that her client was the suspect. “We read the press,” Canu-Bernard said. “The Stockholm prosecutor’s office issued a statement, but it does not allow us to know whether Kylian Mbappe is the target. I therefore have no information allowing me to confirm whether this is indeed a complaint filed against him.”

    Mbappé denounces ‘fake news’

    The French star was not selected for his country’s latest round of UEFA Nations League matches, and so visited the Swedish capital with a group of people from last Wednesday. According to Aftonbladet, they dined at a restaurant before going to a nightclub. Mbappe and the group left Sweden on Friday.

    Aftonbladet said the complaint was filed on Saturday after the alleged victim had sought medical attention. Expressen reported Tuesday that police had seized some clothing as evidence, saying it consisted of women’s underwear, a pair of black trousers and a black top. Photographs showed police officers leaving the Bank Hotel, where Mbappé and his entourage stayed, with brown bags on Monday.

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    Mbappé claimed in a post on X on Monday there was a link between the report and the hearing before a French league committee on Tuesday over his bitter dispute with his former club Paris Saint-Germain over what he says is €55 million ($60 million) in unpaid wages. “FAKE NEWS !!!!. It’s becoming so predictable, on the eve of the hearing, as if by chance,” he wrote. After the hearing, a source close to Qatari-owned PSG said the league would give its decision on October 25.

    Le Monde with AFP

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