To evaluate the pros and cons of green spaces, researchers looked at nine existing studies, involving over eight million people across seven countries. The authors of the study published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health felt this was an important line of inquiry, as half of our planet’s population lives in urban environments. Past research overwhelmingly shows such spaces are positive, by appearing to encourage people to exercise, as well as boosting mental and physical health....

The environmental organization said that soccer’s governing body has been “greenwashing” with its statements about the tournament, which starts next month, will deliver an environmentally friendly World Cup that includes offsetting all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated throughout the tournament. The term “greenwashing” is when a company or organization purports to be environmentally conscious for marketing purposes but actually isn’t making any notable sustainability efforts. Doug Parr, Greenpeace U.K. Policy Director, told Newsweek: “The 2022 World Cup, and all the outrage it has received over its environmental impact and human rights abuses, should be a wake-up call for both Qatar and FIFA to begin real transformational work towards a more renewable and peaceful world....

26 years and over 1,300 wins later, Popovich has passed Hall of Famer Don Nelson on the NBA’s all-time wins list. Nelson tallied 1,335 wins over 2,398 regular season games. Following Friday’s win over the Jazz, Popovich sits on 1,336 wins in 2,030 regular season games. Popovich needed fewer than 300 games to reach Nelson’s win total, which speaks volumes of his success as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history....

This is the Spurs coach ahead of Game 4 against Memphis. MORE: The most hated NBA players of all time | Pop loves Craig Sager Twenty-one words on the quote sheet. Sixteen, if you don’t count the ones he repeated. Not bad at all. It’s not his 15-word opus from earlier this season, nor is there anything on the “(Shakes head)” level, but it’s still a strong effort. Meanwhile, Popovich is trying to take sole control of the all-time record for coaching sweeps....

Team USA lost to Nigeria on Saturday night in the first of its five exhibition games. The Mike Brown-coached squad earned the 90-87 victory by dropping a barrage of 3-pointers — 20, to be exact — on its supposedly superior opponent, which was favored by 29.5 points. Team USA coach Gregg Popovich thinks the defeat could be a good thing, however. “In a way, I’m kind of glad it happened,” he said, per NBC Sports Washington’s Chase Hughes....

Last Thursday, Mahuad sought to defuse the crisis by scaling back gas prices to $2 per gallon and lifting the state of emergency he had imposed. In return, his political opponents vowed to approve a plan to raise money through higher taxes. That eased tension on the streets. But it also highlighted the gravity of Ecuador’s economic ills. The Andean nation, with a $5 billion annual budget, has a $1....

The aide, Alyssa Farah Griffin, appeared on CNN’s State of the Union and discussed the ongoing revelations about January 6 and former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. When host Dana Bash asked her about rumors her former boss destroyed papers following a meeting with Representative Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican, about election challenges, she said she had heard of such actions “firsthand....

Grimes was the latest to explain how to say “X Æ A-12,” in a comment on her Instagram. In response, the “Oblivion” singer said it simply sounds like “X, A, I.” “It’s just X, like the letter X,” she responded to a curious Instagram follower. “Then A.I. Like how you said the letter A then I.” Fans inquired about the “A-12” in further comments, but Grimes has yet to respond....

Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert J. Pera offered up a million dollars to charity for the opportunity to take on MJ. Pitting the Grizzlies' 35-year-old billionaire owner against one of the greatest basketball players of all-time in Jordan doesn't quite seem fair -- even at 50 years old. But Pera, who works out with former San Jose State player Terry Cannon, isn't one to back down from a challenge. He even showed off a rather impressive body of work at the Grizzlies practice facility earlier this week....

The fire occurred at the Countdown supermarket in Henderson, West Auckland, earlier this week. It was set in the chips aisle and young people were involved, according to the Herald. Around 60 firefighters were called to the scene and staff members were evacuated. The supermarket, set inside a mall, has been closed, and photos taken through the gate show the chips aisle burned black. Although police have not said that they believe the incident was related to a TikTok prank, a staff member told the Herald that he believes the fire was set as part of a social media trend....

Despite that, purchases are expected to increase since widespread bar and restaurant closures have kept consumers visiting grocery stores and stocking their pantries to eat at home. Among the companies who have pledged to stop offering discounts are Mondelez International Inc., one of the world’s largest snack companies; Kellogg Co., a major producer of cereal and breakfast items and J.M. Smucker Co., a maker of numerous home and pet food products....

Any rapidly growing, paradigm-shifting industry is bound to engender both enthusiasm and resistance in roughly equal amounts. And the prospect of using grains, which have generally been cheap in this country, as a replacement for fossil fuels, was bound to excite hope and ruffle feathers. After all, while farmers and ethanol-plant investors will profit, companies and industries that rely on cheap grains, or that produce and distribute fossil fuels, face serious disruption....

Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program occurs every year during the holiday season. The organization partners with churches and volunteer groups to deliver Christmas gifts to children whose parents are incarcerated. It was founded in the 1980s by former bank robber Mary Kay Beard, who noticed that inmates would give their children anything they could give them from their cells, such as toothpaste and socks. “She realized that if she could find some volunteers on the outside who would purchase and deliver Christmas gifts to her children and the children of her colleagues in prison, that she could create a very wonderful experience,” Prison Fellowship president and CEO James Ackerman said....

The Republican Accountability Project has launched a billboard campaign against GOP politicians who backed former President Donald Trump’s push against the election outcome. Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) have been targets, as has Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). Republican figureheads who backed Trump’s claims have faced a backlash following the Capitol riot and continued calls to quit their positions. Bill Kristol, director of The Republican Accountability Project, said such politicians should apologize even if they feel their comments were made in “good faith....

The same is true of Nixon himself Critics within the press and academia who viewed him as a crook and a war criminal will increasingly give way to more balanced analysts. Even before his latest illness, old bitterness seemed to ebb, worn away by time and grit. At Nixon’s death, nothing about him was perfectly clear anymore. Like children standing at the grave of a deeply flawed father, Americans began to construct a more complex picture of his strengths and weaknesses....

Goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and a late double from Raheem Sterling carried the Premier League leaders to a 17th win from 18 games this season, continuing their dominance of the title race. Yet Guardiola had harsh words for two of their opponents’ star players as he accused both Alli and Kane of challenges that might have injured De Bruyne and Sterling respectively. “It was a dangerous action, like the one with Harry Kane and Raheem,” Guardiola said after being questioned about Alli’s challenge....

Alexis will not start contract talks until summer “We have to remember that not so many weeks ago, Palace destroyed Arsenal so I know their qualities," he said. “To score five against this team is very good and it is an important result for the mini-league fight that we are in for places in the top four.” Back in November, City beat Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park. The three points won on Saturday are worth just as much as the ones taken in London in winter but chances are Guardiola will be more pleased with these ones....

The Manchester City manager believes players’ best interests are being forgotten about when governing bodies schedule competitions, whether high-profile international tournaments or lucrative pre-season tours. Reports this week have suggested FIFA president Gianni Infantino is open to the idea of expanding the World Cup from 32 teams to 48, while this year’s European Championship consisted of 24 teams, rather than 16, for the first time. But Guardiola is against the larger competitions and says that teams should at least be able to make more substitutions during games if their players are asked to play all year round....

Are these the top 25 players in the world? Guardiola had said earlier this season that Toure would not feature in his plans until he makes a public apology for comments made in the press by his agent, Dimitri Seluk. Toure finally posted that apology to Guardiola via his Facebook page on Friday morning, just hours before the City boss was due to give his weekly pre-match press conference....

Guardiola has long lamented that City are “not strong enough in the boxes” - that they do not score their chances and concede too easily. Alexis: I fear becoming a nobody It has been a common complaint throughout the season and has resulted in them dropping out of the title race before Christmas and crashing out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage. City won their first 10 games of the season but then drew three and lost three of their next six games, drawing three consecutive home league games 1-1 against Everton, Middlesbrough and Southampton....