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NonePH roster for Asean football championship announced, minus a number of key starsFossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists together accounted for the largest delegation at this week’s plastics treaty negotiations in Busan, in South Korea, new analysis has found. The findings, which the Center for International Environmental Law (Ciel) released on Wednesday, revealed that 221 fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists are registered to attend INC-5 — the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on plastic pollution. This is the highest number at any negotiation for the plastics treaty that Ciel has analysed so far. The previous high of 196 lobbyists was identified at INC-4 in Ottawa in April. The analysis, based on the UN Environment Programme’s provisional list of INC-5 participants, comes midway in the final negotiations, during which a global plastics treaty is expected to be finalised. In 2022, the UN Environment Assembly launched a two-year process to establish a first-of-its-kind, legally binding global treaty that would address the full life cycle of plastics from production to disposal. INC-5 marks the fifth and final round of negotiations. The figure of 221 lobbyists is likely to be conservative because the methodology relies on delegates at the talks disclosing their ties to fossil fuel or chemical industry interests, and some lobbyists “may choose not to disclose their connection”, the non-profit environmental law organisation said. For its analysis, Ciel collaborated with Greenpeace, the Break Free From Plastic movement, the International Pollutants Elimination Network, the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, the Environmental Investigation Agency and the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty, among other civil society groups. ‘Industry influence’ They called on the assembly “to safeguard the negotiating process from industry influence ” and to implement strong conflict of interest policies “so that the plastics treaty negotiations do not become the same kind of stalemate” seen in climate negotiations. Ciel’s analysis showed fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists, taken together, would be the “largest single delegation” at INC-5, significantly outnumbering the 140 representatives from host South Korea. Lobbyists also outnumber the delegations from the EU and all of its member states combined (191) as well as the 89 delegation representatives from the Pacific Small Island Developing States and the 165 from Latin American and Caribbean countries. The analysis identified 16 lobbyists in national delegations, including those from China, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, Iran, Kazakhstan and Malaysia. Dow (5) and ExxonMobil (4) were among the “best-represented fossil fuel and chemical companies with numerous lobbyists” attending the talks. Similarly, chemical and fossil fuel industry lobbyists outnumber the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty by three to one and the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus by almost nine to one. “With each INC, we have seen an increase in the number of fossil fuel and petrochemical industry lobbyists but the efforts to effect the future treaty extend well beyond the negotiations themselves,” the groups said. “Reports of intimidation and interference have surfaced, including allegations of industry representatives intimidating independent scientists participating in the negotiations and pressure on country delegations by industry to replace technical experts with industry-friendly representatives.” ‘Undue influence’ The Mail & Guardian has reported on concerns raised by a civil society coalition composed of, among others, WWF South Africa, groundWork South Africa and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, that the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment has given undue influence to the plastics and chemical industries in its global plastic pollution treaty delegation and in national policy work. According to the coalition, Plastics SA, which describes itself as the mouthpiece of South Africa’s plastic industry , “continues to have increased access and visibility” with the government. The coalition said that it is important for the plastics industry to participate in the national consultation for the treaty, “however, their influence over the South African position should be limited”. It cited “conflict of interest given the industry’s vested interests and their profits ”, which are directly linked to the plastic pollution crisis. This limited influence has “not been kept in check”, with recent changes and new appointments in South Africa’s delegation to INC-5. “There is growing concern that previously progressive technical experts have been replaced with experts more aligned with the petrochemical industry position,” the coalition said. It has also emerged that Thokozani Masilela, the director of plastics at the department of trade, industry and competition — who is also the deputy chairperson of Plastics SA — was on the country’s delegation to INC-3, INC-4 and is now, for INC-5. Both Plastics SA and the department strongly denied allegations of improper behaviour or conflict of interest and said that neither Plastics SA nor the broader industry has had preferential access to the SA INC delegation or to government officials. “[Masilela] participates in the South Africa INC delegation as a government official,” said Peter Mbelengwa, the department’s spokesperson. “Both civil society groups and plastics industry/business have equal access to engage the South African delegation prior and during the INC sessions.” How stakeholders view the treaty does not automatically translate into South Africa’s negotiating position, he said. The Constitution, National Environment Management Act and other pieces of legislation “guide the interest and inform the position”. “The role of the department and other government departments is to listen and consider all the views of all stakeholders in informing the South African position. “In areas where the department does not agree with any of the stakeholders, the department always makes it clear through explanation and robust engagement. The department represents all sectors of the society, including the vulnerable.” Toxic impacts Plastic’s toxic impact permeates every stage of its life cycle, Andrés Del Castillo , a senior attorney at the Ciel, wrote last week. With plastic recycling rates below 10%, downstream measures are “wholly inadequate” to address this crisis. “The solution must begin at the source. We need a treaty that caps plastic production ... A treaty that fails to limit plastic production at its source will not only fall short of its mandate to end plastic pollution, it will fail humanity at a critical juncture. To meaningfully address this crisis, a global reduction target must be paired with ambitious, binding national commitments.” Ahead of INC-5, the World Plastics Council and Global Plastics Alliance members called on the South African government “to help secure a treaty to end plastics pollution”. The final agreement shaped in Busan “should strike the right balance” between global obligations and national measures. “It should require countries to develop national action plans so they can deploy tailored solutions most effective for their circumstances.” They are pushing for an “ambitious and implementable agreement that dramatically scales up waste management and recycling”. “Countries face very different challenges and require different solutions,” World Plastics Council chairperson Benny Mermans, who is the vice president of sustainability at Chevron Phillips Chemical, which provides polymers and petrochemical products, said in a statement. “A one-size-fits-all global approach to policy and regulation cannot work. The treaty should therefore provide each country and region with the flexibility to meet the objectives of the agreement in ways which make most sense for them.” Anton Hanekom, the executive director of Plastics SA, said: “Building circularity into the entire life cycle of plastics — from design to recycling to responsible end-of-life —and developing fit-for-purpose waste management systems, should be the cornerstone of the agreement.” The most effective way to achieve the objectives of the agreement, while maintaining the utility that plastics offer, is “to make plastic waste a commodity with real value”. ‘Obstruction, distraction, misinformation’ Delphine Levi Alvares, the global petrochemical campaign coordinator at the Ciel, said: “From the moment the gavel came down at Unea-5.2 to now, we have watched industry lobbyists surrounding the negotiations with sadly well-known tactics of obstruction, distraction, intimidation and misinformation.” This strategy, “ lifted straight from the climate negotiations playbook ”, is designed to preserve the financial interests of countries and companies who are “putting their fossil-fuelled profits above human health, human rights and the future of the planet, she said. The mandate for the plastics treaty is very clear — ending plastic pollution, she said. “Ever-growing evidence from independent scientists, frontline communities and indigenous peoples clearly shows that this won’t be achieved without reducing plastic production.” Recent research conducted by the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency identified four themes employed by the industry lobby vis-à-vis the plastics treaty. These were an “outsized presence” at the global plastics treaty negotiations; the promotion of false solutions and unproven technologies ; the promotion of industry-funded scientific research and studies and lobbying of domestic governments. “The corporate lobbying playbook is being deployed in full force to undermine an effective instrument and we urge greater scrutiny on the participation of industry in this process and a restriction on the access of major polluters to decision-makers,” it said. On the plastic industry’s focus on downstream measures, such as waste management and recycling, and not capping plastic production, Alvarez added: “... As we are nearing the end of negotiations there is more at stake, it’s becoming more serious. It’s clear there is an even bigger temptation to really keep the focus on what seems easy and is not going to come in contradiction with any commercial interests.”
How to Watch the NBA Today, December 7
Jayden Daniels and Michael Penix Jr. trained and went through the NFL draft process together on the way to becoming two of the five quarterbacks taken in the top 10. After going off the board earlier with the second pick by the Washington Commanders, Daniels has been their starter all season and one of football's breakout stars . Penix, taken eighth in a move coach Raheem Morris joked “shocked the world," waited behind Kirk Cousins until usurping the veteran and making his first pro start last week. On Sunday night, they'll face off in the league's first prime-time showdown of rookie QBs selected in the first round, and the spotlight is bright with significant playoff implications at stake. “I'm happy for him — he waited his time,” Daniels said of Penix. “He's a phenomenal player in my eyes, and I'm excited to be able to match up against him.” Daniels and the Commanders (10-5) are in the playoffs with a win. They might already be in before kickoff if Tampa Bay loses at home to Carolina, though the Buccaneers are 8-point favorites on BetMGM Sportsbook. Washington is favored by 4 against the Falcons (8-7), who are vying with the Bucs for the NFC South title and a home playoff game and also in contention with the Commanders and others for the conference's wild-card spots. “The reality is that you fight, you fight, you fight and you put yourself in a position to go out there and win your division,” Penix said. "You put yourself in a chance to get yourself to qualify for extra play. We’re right in the mix of doing that, and we’ve got to go do it and finish.” Daniels, who threw five touchdown passes to beat Philadelphia last week and end the Eagles’ winning streak at 10 games, is the prohibitive favorite to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Penix completed 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards in a rout of the New York Giants that included two touchdowns by Atlanta's defense and two on the ground from running back Bijan Robinson. “I was really pleased with his composure, his poise, his ability to click through progressions,” Morris said. "Realistically, it was a pretty clean game at the quarterback position. I’m very pleased with what he did and how he did it and the support that he had around him.” Washington's Dan Quinn is facing the Falcons as a head coach for the first time since they fired him in 2020. He was replaced then on an interim basis by Morris, who was an assistant on his staff in Atlanta the entire time Quinn was in charge, including the run to the Super Bowl in the 2016 season. “It’s always fun to play against your friends, your confidants, your mentors — whatever you want to look at it as — that we’ve been able to grow up with throughout this whole process,” said Morris, who was an assistant in Washington from 2012-14 under Mike Shanahan and interviewed for the Commanders job last winter. “Dan coaching me in college," Morris added, "and then having a chance to work together and then having a chance to really follow the same path to the National Football League and then to now being in a fortunate position to be head coaches in this awesome league and having a chance to compete against each other at a very high level with high stakes on the line in prime time and all of those things — I just enjoy those moments of being able to go against guys that you care about.” Morris said conversations from their close working relationship, which dates to their time together at Hofstra, are on a break right now. “Obviously you swap texts on normal weeks,” Morris said. “I won’t talk to him this week. I’ll ban him. I’ll block him on the phone.” Penix's results would have been even more impressive if not for some drops by receivers. Ray-Ray McCloud and Drake London had miscues on Atlanta’s opening drive. Tight end Kyle Pitts bobbled a pass later that led to Penix's interception. Serving as scout-team QB while Cousins was the starter , Penix had little practice time with the first-string offense before last week. As a left-hander, Penix gives receivers a different look, but perhaps the biggest adjustment was the added zip on his passes when compared with Cousins. “We kind of talked about that,” Morris said. “We figured that would happen. ... We talked about the reps with these guys, not having as many. So, things like that are going to happen. But I do like the fact that we’re able to keep playing and pushing and watch the guys get better and better as we went. The Commanders are expected to get two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen back after surgery in October to repair a torn pectoral muscle initially looked to be season-ending . “We know the caliber of Jon and what he can bring,” Quinn said. “He’s strong. He’s tough. So when that does happen, that’ll be something that will definitely bring energy to our defense.” Allen had 15 tackles and two sacks in five-plus games before getting injured at Baltimore on Oct. 13. After ranking last in the league with 10 sacks through the first 11 games, Atlanta’s long-struggling pass rush has enjoyed a dramatic surge. The Falcons have at least three in four consecutive games, the longest active streak in the league, with 16 total over this stretch. Arnold Ebiketie recorded his fifth sack and recovered a fumble against the Giants, and Kaden Elliss had a strip sack. Elliss also has five sacks and has dropped opposing QBs in four consecutive games: the longest streak by a Falcons defender since Patrick Kerney's five in a row in 2001. AP Sports Writer Charles Odum contributed. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLInterface Inc VP David Foshee sells $398,647 in common stock
'Landlord kicked my family out 5 days before Christmas and served my child the eviction notice'None
SANTA CLARA — Jake Moody missed another goal attempt in Week 17, setting social media and talk radio ablaze. Time for the 49ers to get a new kicker, or at the very least some competition during training camp in 2025. Not necessarily, even if Shanahan threw his tablet on the sidelines in frustration after missing a 41-yard attempt in a 29-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. “I believe we’ve got the right guy,” Shanahan said Thursday as the 49ers (6-9) began preparations to host the Detroit Lions (13-2). He’s showed that at times. I thought he showed that at times in his rookie year.I thought he showed that in being 12 of 13 to start the year and I think he’ll show that in the future.” But rest assured that Moody will be watched closely to see how he performs in the final two weeks of the season, beginning with a spotlight game on Monday night in a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship Game won 34-31 by the 49ers. Since the game is at Levi’s Stadium, Moody should enter with some confidence. He’s 23-for-30 on field goal attempts a 76.7 rate that’s unacceptable in today’s NFL, let alone for a kicker who was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. But all seven of his misses have been on the road — one in Miami, two in Buffalo in the snow, three in Tampa Bay in the sunshine and one in Los Angeles. Which apparently came as news to Moody. “I actually didn’t know that,” Moody said. “That’s pretty interesting. I don’t think that necessarily has anything to do with it, being home or away. It’s just the misses, I’ve got to hit better kicks. It’s not any specific reason why I miss. I’ve just got to make sure I’m dialed in on my form.” Moody is 15-for-15 in field goal attempts at home, starting off 6-for-6 in the opener against the New York Jets. But Moody sustained a high ankle sprain on his right kicking foot in Week 5 against Arizona, missing three games as the 49ers cycled through Matthew Wright (also injured on a kick return) and Anders Carlson. “Since he’s come back, he hasn’t been as consistent, obviously,” Shanahan said. “I think a lot of it probably has to do with (the injury), just common-sense wise. Hopefully he can get to this offseason, heal up and find a stroke again.” Having a midseason injury was a “learning experience,” according to Moody. “Whether or not that was an issue, I don’t know. I’m still doing the best I can trying to keep everything that it was prior to the injury,” Moody said. “It’s not like you can really blame something.” Whether or not that was an issue, I don’t know. I’m still doing the best I can trying to keep everything that it was prior to the injury. It’s not like you can really blame something. While tempted to alter his approach and preparation, Moody thought better of it. He considers kicking similar to golf, and said it can take years for golfers to master a swing change. “In this business you don’t have that much time to try and dial something in and do big changes like that,” Moody said.”You’ve got to be consistent and not be changing too many things or you’ll be overwhelmed by everything.” While the 49ers may bring another kicker into camp just for an extra leg, Shanahan didn’t sound as if he was looking to set up a competition for No. 1. “I think you’ve got the wrong guy if you have to,” Shanahan said. “You do that when you don’t think you’re going to have a guy, but when those guys miss too much you go get a new one usually. And that’s what’s tough about the kicker position.” GREENLAW DONE FOR THE YEAR Shanahan hinted strongly Monday that linebacker Dre Greenlaw wouldn’t play in the last two games, saying he’d wait until talking to him before making it official. “He’s not going to play in these two games,” Shanahan said. “He understood.” Left tackle Spencer Burford (calf) did not practice and Shanahan thought there was a chance he’d be ready to face Detroit with Trent Williams and Jaylon Moore both on injured reserve. Left guard Aaron Banks (knee), who hasn’t yet been placed on I.R., did not practice and neither did edge rusher Robert Beal Jr. Those who were limited were safety Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle), running back Isaac Guerendo (foot/ankle). Nick Bosa (hip/oblique) was off the injury list. Veteran offensive lineman Matt Hennessey was added to the roster with Williams going on injured reserve, with Sebastian Gutierrez joining the practice squad. Shanahan will try to piecemeal an offensive line heading into Detroit, with newcomer Charlie Heck also in the mix. “We’ve got to mix and match a number of guys,” Shanahan said. The 49ers activated the practice clock on rookie linebacker Tatum Bethune, who has been out with a knee injury in hopes of getting him back before the end of the regular season. LIONS EXPECT 49ERS BEST SHOT Detroit Dan Campbell thinks last year’s loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game helped prepare them for taking another run at this season. “I think we’re really more mature,” Campbell told the Detroit media. “Every year you learn something about winning and losing. And when you take an `L’ like we did last year you learn from that . . . I think we’re much more prepared than at that time. You feel like you’re (prepared) but you get into that with a heavyweight that’s been there numerous times, you don’t always know. I think that as an experience has served us well moving into this year.” The Lions have also taken notice of what happened to the 49ers in 2022 when Brock Purdy tore the UCL in his throwing elbow in the NFC title game against Philadelphia and didn’t have a viable quarterback. Veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was signed to the roster, giving the Lions three quarterbacks along with starter Jared Goff and backup Hendon Hooker. STAT WATCH — Tight end George Kittle (68 receptions, 967 yards) needs 33 yards receiving to reach 1,000 for the fourth time in his career and second in succession. With eight touchdown receptions, he his three shy of his career high of 11 in 2022. — Wide receiver Jauan Jennings (63 receptions, 856 yards) needs 144 yards in his last two games to reach 1,000 for the first time in his career. HIs six touchdown receptions are a career high. — Defensive end Nick Bosa has has seven sacks and needs three over the last two games for his fourth consecutive season in double figures. Bosa had 15 1/2 in 2021, 18 1/2 in 2022 (winning NFC Defensive Player of the Year) and 10 1/2 last season. First, Bosa is thinking about his eighth sack. “Just trying to get to the next one,” Bosa said. “But it would be cool.” — Defensive end Leonard Floyd has 8 1/2 sacks and needs 1 1/2 over the last two games to reach double figures for the second consecutive season and for the fourth time in his career. — Middle linebacker Fred Warner (117 tackles) needs 21 in his last two games to exceed his career high of 137 in 2021. Warner has exceeded 100 tackles in each of his seven seasons. — Quarterback Brock Purdy has 31 rushing first downs, three more than Colin Kaepernick had in 2013 and 2014.
