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Trump’s Paris Agreement Exit: A Risky Bet for Global Stability

Once again, former President Donald Trump has pulled the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement, a move that has sparked concern among global leaders, financial markets, and environmental advocates. This decision not only weakens international climate efforts but also threatens America’s economic standing in a rapidly shifting energy landscape.A Step Back with Economic ConsequencesTrump originally withdrew from the accord in 2017, branding it an “unfair deal.” Now, he is reaffirming hi...

ChatGPT: Quenching its thirst at the planet’s expense

ChatGPT — efficient, quick, and can answer almost every question under the sun. While it’s amazing, it’s also a massive water guzzler. Did you know that ChatGPT uses 500ml of water to generate 5–50 responses or uses up to ten times the electricity of a Google search? As users, we are probably generating thousands of responses a day, unaware of the significant amount of energy and water consumption it takes.The vast server farms powering ChatGPT need substantial cooling to prevent overheating, co...

From Gaza to COP29: The hidden carbon cost of genocide and the climate crisis - Honi Soit

One year of conflict. Over 41,800 lives lost. 281,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted within the first 60 days. The war and genocide in Gaza is not just a humanitarian disaster: it is a climate catastrophe.


Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s attack on Gaza has displaced thousands of Palestinians, leaving them without essential resources such as food, water, and shelter. While the humanitarian impact is severe, the environmental consequences are equally alarming. This crisis not only high...

Jess Yates, Jessica Sergis Discuss Women’s Empowerment for NRL 2023 - Ministry of Sport

Fox League launched the 2023 National Rugby League’s (NRL) last month with an all-star event and talent line-up ahead of the NRL Telstra Premiership Season covered on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
In an exclusive interview with Ministry of Sport, Fox Sports host, Jess Yates and NRLW athlete, Jessica Sergis, discussed the significance of women empowerment in a male dominated industry and what’s more to come for future programs.
Women In Sports Media:
As the landscape of women in sports media has change...

Fox League Launches 2023 NRL Season Coverage With Kayo - Ministry of Sport

Fox League launched the 2023 National Rugby League’s (NRL) season with a blast yesterday, with an all-star event and talent line-up ahead of the NRL Telstra Premiership Season covered on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
Fox league talent included Mal Meninga and Matty Johns, hosted by Yvonne Sampson to witness Braith Anasta and Michael Ennis kick off the season on water-powered jet-packs.
In an exclusive interview with Ministry of Sport, executive director of Kayo Sports, Cate Hefele discussed the future...
Photo by Khoa Võ on Pexels

The Houston Ballet celebrates Black History Month

In honor of celebrating Black History Month, the Houston Ballet held its fifth discussion of the Breaking Boundaries series in partnership with ABC13 on Feb.10 from 7:30 p.m. The event was hosted by ABC 13’s news anchor Melanie Lawson, with co-hosts Lauren Anderson and Harper Watters, including other well-known dancers, such as Sandra Organ and Caleb Mitchell.Multiple generations of dancers came together to celebrate their love for ballet, share their dancing experiences as young men and women i...

Ministry of Sport

Wrote and edited breaking news stories and press releases on major sporting events across Australia and internationally, eg. NFL, NCAA and NRL.

Premier League, BeIN Sports Renew TV Rights - Ministry of Sport

The Premier League has announced they will continue to be broadcast in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) via BeIN Sports in a $500m deal.
The reported deal has been agreed in principle and is expected to begin from the 2025-26 season onwards, expected to be completed in the next few weeks.
Premier League clubs are believed to have given the greenlight for the deal to commence at last week’s shareholders meeting.
BeIN Sports has been the home of the Premier League for the MENA region...

NWSL Awards Bay Area Expansion Team for 2024 Season - Ministry of Sport

A new professional women’s soccer team has announced they will be joining the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the Bay Area for the 2024 season.
The league announced on Tuesday that the expansion rights for the 14th franchise have been awarded to an investment group representing the region.
The ownership group, which includes Sixth Street as the majority investor, has partnered with four former U.S. Women’s National Team players, who are Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton,...

NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Breaks Viewership Figures - Ministry of Sport

The NCAA women’s basketball tournament final between eventual champions LSU Tigers and runners-up Iowa Hawkeyes has broken a 20-year record as 9.9 million people tuned in to ESPN to watch the final showdown.
The LSU Tigers won 102-85 over the Iowa Hawkeyes for Louisiana’s first-ever basketball title in college history.
Viewership figures for Friday’s NCAA final broke the previous record for a women’s basketball final, which occurred in 2002 when 5.7 million people watched WNBA legend Sue Bird st...

FIFA criticised over tournament expansion - Ministry of Sport

FIFA has been criticised over plans for the expansion of the international and club World Cups, following concerns over an already congested fixture list for top flight clubs.
The plans for the upcoming tournament across Canada, US and Mexico mean there will be 48 teams, rising from 32 in the previous competition.
As a result, there will be an additional knockout game before teams reach the quarter finals, the governing body underlines its ambitions to spread football globally to a wider audienc...

University of Houston

Wrote and edited news and feature stories for the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, spotlighting students, faculty, and alumni for achievements and contributions within the community.

Valenti student Victoria Castillo wins AAF’s Most Promising Minority Student

Those who are selected for MAIP can receive paid internships and have the opportunity to collaborate with top-rated advertising agencies in New York, Chicago and Boston.

The MPMS is an immersive program in New York where students receive an all-expense-paid five-day trip. We are exposed to many big agencies in New York (McCANN, WarnerMedia, sparks & honey, 72andsunny, IPG, FCB, UM and Wieden+Kennedy) and are able to get your faces seen. "We receive our awards at an award luncheon where we prese...

Kelli Gifford Spotlight

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Thank you Ms. Gifford for taking time to chat. Could you please begin by introducing yourself? 
Of course! My name is Kelli Gifford. I am a lecturer at the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, and I have been teaching Writing for Print and Digital Media for the past decade. I graduated from college in 1999, and I’m currently getting my master’s degree in healthcare administration from Colorado State University. 
That is so interes...

Valenti professor volunteers with Houston Chinese Alliance, helps get PPE to hospitals

As the coronavirus pandemic threatens the fabric of our society, community organizations are offering support where it is needed most: the healthcare industry.

Lan Ni, associate professor at the Valenti School of Communication, has been volunteering with the Houston Chinese Alliance (HCA) to equip hospitals and similar institutions with personal protective equipment (PPE).

“I’ve worked with others in the organization searching for suppliers of PPE, verifying products, making purchases, and con...

Despite pandemic, Valenti students take on climate change at internship

For months, Jordan Matranga, Bianca Ibarra, and Autumn Johnson interned at the Citizens Environmental Coalition (CEC), a non-profit organization which partners with more than 100 organizations to support environmental advocacy. Through their various roles, these Valenti students have collaborated with local organizations – such as Keep Houston Beautiful, Houston Public Works and the Houston Film Commission –  supporting events, advertising campaigns and other programs focused on building an envi...

What are the CDC’s guidelines for vaccinated people?

On March 8, 2021 the CDC announced a new guidance for vaccinated people and claimed that they could gather with other vaccinated people, without wearing a mask or social distancing indoors. The CDC classified these individuals as low-risk for contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to others.“We know that people want to get vaccinated so that they can get back to doing the things they enjoy with the people they love,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky in the press release by the CDC. “There are...

Valenti School, Career Services job fair goes virtual - The Cougar

The career and graduate school fair from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the Valenti School of Communication happened virtually this week through Cougar Pathway.
University Career Services with the Valenti school had employers from companies such as NASA, Yes Prep and State Farm attend the fair.
“Up to date, we had more than 200 students registered to attend the fair to virtually connect with the 53 registered employers and graduate programs,” said career counselor Adalia Esp...