News
Northern Ireland to participate in trial assessing puberty blocker use
A forthcoming trial aims to evaluate the potential risks and benefits associated with the use of these medications in minors experiencing gender dysphoria.
A clinical trial assessing the effects of puberty-blocking drugs on children questioning their gender is set to include Northern Ireland as a participating site.
This development comes after a review of Northern Ireland's gender identity services, led by Dr. Hilary Cass, which examined the current state of these services.
Dr. Cass emphasized the importance of thorough assessments for children and young people before they are placed on any medical pathway for gender transition, considering their overall well-being.
The review was commissioned by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, who tasked Dr. Cass with evaluating the existing gender services in Northern Ireland.
Dr. Cass, a consultant in pediatric disability and former president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, brings extensive expertise to the review.
Previously, she conducted a similar review for NHS England, examining the gender services available to young people.
The NHS England review highlighted significant gaps in research and a lack of robust evidence supporting medical interventions in gender care for children.
Specifically, Dr. Cass's review found insufficient evidence to confirm the safety and effectiveness of puberty blockers, which temporarily pause puberty.
Researchers at King's College London are currently undertaking a clinical trial involving approximately 220 children under 16, exploring the impact of these drugs on their overall development.
The trial aims to investigate the physical, social, and emotional effects of the medication on the participating children.
However, the trial has sparked controversy, with some campaigners expressing concerns about its potential risks and ethics.
According to Dr. Cass's review, Northern Ireland is poised to participate in this trial as a research site.
To facilitate this, Dr. Cass noted that significant staff training, changes to clinical processes, and establishment of research infrastructure would be necessary.
She also stressed the need for comprehensive training on all aspects of the research protocol, including preparatory work with young people being considered for puberty blockers.
Dr. Cass underscored the urgency of engaging with the King's College London team leading the trial.
The Belfast Health Trust operates the Brackenburn Clinic, which provides services for adults with gender dysphoria and a separate service, Knowing Our Identity (KOI), for young people.
The clinic currently supports around 150 adults, with 25 new patients each month, and approximately 60-80 children and young people referred to the KOI service annually.
Plans are underway to merge under-18 and adult services into a single "Lifespan Gender Identity Service" to address the growing waiting list for gender services in Northern Ireland.
Dr. Cass was asked to assess whether the proposed changes to services for young people in Northern Ireland align with the recommendations from her previous review in England.
Her review involved meetings with staff and users of gender identity services in Northern Ireland, gathering insights into the current state of these services.
Dr. Cass observed that standardizing services in Northern Ireland with those in England would be beneficial, given the complexities and controversies surrounding this area of medicine.
She emphasized the importance of establishing a safe, standardized clinical pathway from assessment to treatment.
The review called for more research into the characteristics of children seeking treatment and the outcomes for each young person.
Dr. Cass noted that referrals from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) have helped facilitate early mental health treatment for young people in Northern Ireland.
However, some CAMHS staff expressed frustration about delays in accessing the KOI service for children and young people on their caseload.
The review highlighted the need for comprehensive assessments that capture the individual needs of young people, enabling tailored interventions before any medical pathway is considered.
The review acknowledged that a small subgroup of children may experience persistent gender incongruence and require ongoing support, possibly including medical interventions.
Dr. Cass stressed the importance of supporting parents in keeping options open and managing distress to avoid premature or inappropriate social transitions.
The review included several recommendations, with a key suggestion being that clinical practice in Northern Ireland should align with that in England.
Dr. Cass noted that the proposed Lifespan model should facilitate a smoother transition from children's to adult services for 17-25 year olds.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt expressed gratitude to Dr. Cass and her team for conducting the review during their visit to Northern Ireland in November.
Nesbitt hoped the report would provide assurance that the new Lifespan Gender Service complies with Dr. Cass's 2024 review and that investing in additional psychological and psychiatric support is the right approach.
In July, Nesbitt faced criticism from some unionist politicians after allocating over £800,000 to gender identity provision in Northern Ireland.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
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