Jordan Sears scores 25 points, Jalen Reed has double-double and LSU outlasts UCF 109-102 in 3OT
Sezzle Inc. ( NASDAQ:SEZL – Get Free Report ) shares rose 5.3% on Thursday . The company traded as high as $269.30 and last traded at $269.30. Approximately 8,252 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 91% from the average daily volume of 92,538 shares. The stock had previously closed at $255.74. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have recently issued reports on SEZL. B. Riley reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $372.00 price objective (up from $353.00) on shares of Sezzle in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Northland Securities increased their price target on Sezzle from $300.00 to $360.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Read Our Latest Stock Report on SEZL Sezzle Trading Down 2.7 % Insiders Place Their Bets In other Sezzle news, Director Kyle M. Brehm purchased 110 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 5th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $360.00 per share, with a total value of $39,600.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 3,718 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,338,480. The trade was a 3.05 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, Director Paul Martin Purcell sold 7,824 shares of Sezzle stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.86, for a total transaction of $1,289,864.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 82,776 shares in the company, valued at $13,646,451.36. This represents a 8.64 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 28,339 shares of company stock worth $6,760,504 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 57.65% of the company’s stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sezzle A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SEZL. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new position in shares of Sezzle in the 2nd quarter worth $611,000. Rhumbline Advisers purchased a new position in Sezzle in the 2nd quarter worth about $203,000. XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new stake in Sezzle during the 2nd quarter worth about $544,000. Divisadero Street Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Sezzle during the second quarter valued at about $356,000. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new position in shares of Sezzle in the third quarter worth about $165,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.02% of the company’s stock. Sezzle Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Sezzle Inc operates as a technology-enabled payments company primarily in the United States and Canada. The company provides payment solution in-store and at online retail stores; and through proprietary payments solution that connects consumers with merchants. It also offers Sezzle Platform that provides a payments solution for consumers that extends credit at the point-of-sale allowing consumers to purchase and receive the ordered merchandise at the time of sale while paying in installments over time; Pay-in-Four, which allows consumers to pay a fourth of the purchase price up front and then another fourth of the purchase price every two weeks thereafter over a total of six weeks; Pay-in-Full that allows consumers to pay for the full value of their order up-front through the Sezzle Platform without the extension of credit; and Pay-in-Two and other alternative installment options, which allow consumer to pay half of the value of their order up-front and the second half in two weeks. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Sezzle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sezzle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picks
Yolo County announced its participation as the first pilot jurisdiction in the Bridge initiative, a new program launched by the Institute for Local Government. This initiative aims to strengthen California’s local government workforce by creating Registered Apprenticeship Programs in nontraditional fields, including human resources, accounting, information technology, health and human services and more. “I’m thrilled that Yolo County will serve as an inaugural participant in ILG’s Bridge Public Sector Registered Apprenticeship program,” said Yolo County Board of Supervisors Chair Lucas Frerichs. “Apprenticeships have a long history of success in the construction trades, and I’m excited to bring this innovative model to support our broader local government workforce in Yolo County.” Like many local governments across the state, Yolo County is facing significant workforce challenges, with recruitment and retention issues affecting nearly 70% of California’s cities, counties, and special districts. These challenges can lead to vacancies in essential roles, potentially disrupting services such as social services, permitting, and more. The Bridge initiative is designed to address this issue by providing innovative, community-based solutions to hire for high-demand, difficult-to-fill positions, while expanding career opportunities for underserved and underrepresented populations. As the first confirmed pilot jurisdiction for the Bridge initiative, Yolo County will help test and implement non-traditional RAPs over the next year. The program will focus on training and hiring individuals for a wide range of roles in local government, including positions in IT, human resources, and health services. ILG will provide crucial support to Yolo County, including capacity building, grant writing, marketing assistance, and technical guidance throughout the program’s development. Through this pilot, Yolo County will work closely with local education agencies, community-based organizations and other partners to ensure the successful implementation of apprenticeship programs that align with the county’s workforce needs. Yolo County’s participation in the Bridge initiative is a crucial step toward building a sustainable, skilled workforce capable of meeting the challenges of the future. As part of the pilot program, the county will lead the way in developing a scalable model for apprenticeships that can be adopted by other local governments across California. “Apprenticeships are a proven strategy to develop a resilient workforce while opening doors for underserved communities,” states Erica Manuel, CEO and Executive Director of the Institute for Local Government. “The Bridge initiative brings this model to the public sector, ensuring local governments have the talent they need to meet the challenges of tomorrow. With Yolo County leading the way, we’re building a blueprint for other jurisdictions across California to follow.” The Institute for Local Government is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that supports local governments with tackling their most pressing and evolving issues related to workforce development, climate action, leadership, ethics, and public engagement. Since 1955, ILG has provided conscious counsel, training, resources, and technical assistance to empower and educate local agency leaders and deliver real-world expertise to help them navigate complex issues, increase their capacity, and build trust in their communities. As the nonprofit affiliate of the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties, and the California Special Districts Association, ILG proudly serves municipalities large and small, urban and rural throughout California. Find out more at www.CA-ILG.org .Javon Leake is staying put. A CFL source said Friday the veteran running back-returner has agreed to terms on a two-year extension with the Edmonton Elks. Leake was slated to become a free agent in February. The source added the deal — which was negotiated by Kenny Kim of Summit Athletes — was worth more than $270,000 in hard money. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity as the Elks hadn't formally announced the move. The six-foot, 205-pound Leake ran for a career-high 661 yards on 102 carries (6.5-yard average) with six TDs in 15 games this past season, his first with Edmonton. Leake also had two 100-yard rushing contests in 2024 while adding 34 catches for 301 yards and a touchdown. Leake also had 23 punt returns for 214 yards and 25 kickoff returns for 539 yards. Leake joined the Elks as a free agent after spending two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, winning a Grey Cup with the club in 2022. Leake was used predominantly as a returner with Toronto and was the CFL's top special-teams player in 2023 after registering 81 punt returns for 1,216 yards and four TDs. He had 38 kickoff returns for 793 yards. Leake had 15 carries for 52 yards over his two seasons with the Argos. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. The Canadian Press
Key Medical Coatings Market Trend 2024-2033: Introduction of Advanced Coating Solutions for Sustainability
Jordan Sears scores 25 points, Jalen Reed has double-double and LSU outlasts UCF 109-102 in 3OTSouth Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law marks a new warning for the worldwide fragility of democracy, even in a country hailed as a model of political transformation. Yoon's overnight attempt to shut down political activity, censor media and lock out opposition lawmakers stunned South Korea's longtime ally, the United States, which said it had no advance warning and issued a statement of concern.Holiday gift ideas for the movie lover, from bios and books to a status tote
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Bitcoin, no longer a game for bored nerds. It's the Trumponomics, stupidVANCOUVER — Vince Dunn scored his second goal of the game 2:15 into overtime as the Seattle Kraken rallied from a three-goal, third-period deficit to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 5-4 on Saturday afternoon. Jaden Schwartz's second goal of the game tied it 4-4 with just 49 seconds left in the third period with Seattle's goaltender on the bench for an extra attacker. Matty Beniers also scored for the Kraken (16-19-2), who ended a five-game losing skid. Brock Boeser scored two goals, one on the power play, for the Canucks (17-11-7), who were playing without two star players. Conor Garland also scored his first goal in 13 games for Vancouver. Jake DeBrusk celebrated his 500th NHL game with his team-leading 16th goal and added an assist. Carson Soucy and J.T. Miller each had two assists. Canuck goaltender Thatcher Demko stopped 16 shots. Seattle goalie Philipp Grubauer made 25 saves. Vancouver defenceman Quinn Hughes and centre Elias Pettersson missed the game with undisclosed injuries. Pettersson broke out of a seven-game scoring drought with a pair of goals in Vancouver’s 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks on Monday. He left that game in the third period. Hughes had two assists in the win over San Jose. Last year’s Norris Trophy winner as the league’s top defenceman leads the Canucks with 42 points and 34 assists. TAKEAWAYS Canucks: Vancouver has just one win in its last five games (1-2-2). The Canucks outhit the Kraken 14-3 in the first period. With Hughes out, Soucy and Tyler Myers logged over 22 minutes of ice time each. Kraken: Seattle has been outscored 27-11 during the last six games. The Kraken power play was 0 for 3 against Vancouver and has scored three times in 17 attempts the last six games. KEY MOMENT With their goaltender pulled the Kraken scored goals 1:22 apart of force the overtime. KEY STAT Boeser has five goals in his last three games. He managed just one in 13 after missing seven games with a concussion. UP NEXT Canucks: Play the Flames in Calgary on New Year’s Eve. Kraken: Return home to play Utah on Monday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024. Jim Morris, The Canadian Press
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. — Jordan Sears scored 25 points and Jalen Reed had 21 points plus 13 rebounds as LSU defeated UCF 109-102 in triple overtime on Sunday to take third place at the Greenbrier Tip-Off. LSU trailed by 18 points early in the second half, then failed to hold a lead at the end of regulation and each of the first two overtime periods. The Tigers went up by five with a minute to go in the third overtime. UCF cut it to three, then Vyctorius Miller made a driving layup, Sears followed with a dunk and the Tigers were able to hold on when leading by seven. Cam Carter scored 20 points, Miller had 16 and Dji Bailey 14 for LSU (5-1). Darius Johnson had 25 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds for UCF (4-2). Keyshawn Hall had 21 points and 10 rebounds while Jordan Ivy-Curry scored 20. UCF led by 15 points at halftime and maintained a double-digit lead for all but a few possessions in the first 11 1/2 minutes of the second half. The Knights led 62-48 with 8 1/2 minutes remaining but Sears hit three 3-pointers and LSU drew to within 64-59 with 6 minutes to go. The Tigers scored the last six points of regulation to force overtime. In the first half, LSU led 15-13 about eight minutes into the game but the Tigers missed 15 of 16 shots while being outscored 25-3 over the next 10 minutes. UCF led 40-25 at halftime after shooting 46% to 25% for LSU.Arkansas WR Andrew Armstrong declares for NFL draft, skipping bowl
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces a critical vote of no confidence tomorrow (Dec. 4) after invoking Article 49.3 to pass a controversial 2025 austerity budget without parliamentary approval . The move, designed to address France's soaring deficit with $42 billion in spending cuts and $21 billion in tax hikes, has polarized the fractured National Assembly. Marine Le Pen 's National Rally and the leftist New Popular Front have united in opposition, calling for Barnier's ouster. In on interview on TV today, Barnier warned that if the motion succeeds, millions of French citizens could face economic instability, including rising interest rates and tax hikes, per the Guardian. A failure to secure support would result in Barnier's government being the shortest-lived in modern French history, he only took office in September, further destabilizing the eurozone. President Emmanuel Macron would then need to appoint a new prime minister to navigate the deeply divided parliament . France has often been a volatile market for foreign companies, but its size, manpower, favorable geographical position, and pole position in global tourism have made it a lucrative economy. The following publicly listed companies have exposure to the French economy. McDonald's MCD has been operating in France since 1972. Since then, it has grown into a network of 1,485 restaurants — the most in Europe — generating billions in revenue. However, the franchise got caught evading taxes after a trade union asked the company to raise wages and introduce profit-sharing bonuses. Eventually, the firm paid a $1.3 billion fine . Walt Disney Co. DIS opened its resort in Paris in 1992, growing it into one of the top attractions in Europe. Around 16.1 million tourists visited the park in 2023, generating $343 million in profits. The park is the largest single-site employer in the country, with 17,000 workers — making it prone to strikes that last occurred in 2023. Despite its popularity, the park has been a problematic part of Disney's portfolio and is often a drain on its resources. IBM IBM has a long-standing relationship with France as one of the IT pioneers that expanded overseas seeking foreign talent. Nowadays, IBM has over 7,000 employees in the country, working on technology services, cloud computing, AI and digital transformation solutions for businesses. Carmaker Stellantis NV STLA has a vital presence in the country, owing to its origins in the French PSA Group. It is the fourth largest automotive firm by sales, managing established brands like Citroen , Peugeot and DS Automobiles . Stellantis currently has five operating factories in different regions, producing at least 14 different models. For investors monitoring broad exposure to domestically incorporated French companies there is iShares MSCI France ETF EWQ . It holds 60 largest French companies, including market leaders such as LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE LVMUY , Schneider Electric , TotalEnergies SE TTE and Airbus SE EADSY . Read Next: • South Korea ETFs, Won Pare Losses As Yoon Makes U-Turn On Martial Law Declaration Photo: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.The Los Angeles Lakers have been cropping up all over the NBA trade rumors as they attempt to shore up their team beyond LeBron James and Anthony Davis to ensure a positive push into the playoffs. The Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas has been one of the biggest targets for the Lakers. The 32-year-old was acquired by the Wizards to help mentor their second overall pick, Alex Sarr, helping him develop on both ends of the court. Additionally, Valanciunas has provided much-needed support in the frontcourt, allowing Sarr to ease into his role as a rookie. Can The Los Angeles Lakers Land Jonas Valanciunas? In his recent, NBA Trade Rumor Round Up for Hoops Hype, Michael Scotto described a trade scenario that may unmoor the 6 foot 11 inch Lithuanian out of Washington to southern California. Keep an eye on Los Angeles potentially dangling [Gabe] Vincent and future second-round picks to try and land Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas , a coveted Lakers target. Vincent has been a disappointment for the Lakers since signing a three-year, $33 million deal due to injuries and inefficient shooting. Los Angeles will look to include him as a salary filler with draft pick compensation in trade talks. The Lakers have been trying to unload Vincent since last season, even before the coaching change. Valanciunas has averaged 20 minutes off the bench and in that time he averages 12 points, 2.2 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game. He also adds 5.3 defensive rebounds per game while on the court. The defensive rebounding fills a large gulf that exists between Davis (9) and James (7.1) and the next best rebounder, Rui Hachimura (3.3). The two-win Wizards would benefit from landing more picks, either to use or package for a big trade themselves. This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission.
A nonprofit leader who supports at-risk New Orleans youth. A social worker who fosters animals. A postdoctoral researcher. They are among the roughly 1,540 people whose sentences were commuted or who were pardoned by President Joe Biden on Thursday in what was the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. But not everyone was pleased by Biden’s decisions. A Republican state senator said a commutation for a woman who stole $54 million from a small town in Illinois was “a slap in the face” to residents. The Democratic governor of Pennsylvania said Biden "got it absolutely wrong” when he commuted the sentence of a judge who orchestrated a scheme to send children to for-profit jails in exchange for kickbacks. Here are some of their stories: TRYNITHA FULTON, 46, OF NEW ORLEANS Fulton was pardoned after pleading guilty to participating in a payroll fraud scheme while serving as a New Orleans middle school teacher in the early 2000s. She was convicted of a felony and sentenced to three years of probation in 2008. Fulton, who has two children and works as an elementary school teacher, said that for years she had lived with “a sense of embarrassment and shame” about the felony conviction. Even though she completed a master’s degree in educational leadership in 2017, Fulton felt that her criminal record disqualified her from applying for principal positions she felt she could handle. “The conviction has served as a mental barrier for me, limiting my ability to live a full life,” Fulton said. Nearly a decade after she first applied for a presidential pardon, Fulton this week received a phone call informing her that it had been granted. “It was astonishing for me, I wasn’t expecting a call,” Fulton said, adding that the pardon will enable her to explore more career opportunities. A White House news release commended Fulton as “someone who goes above and beyond for her community.” For years, Fulton has helped lead a nonprofit supporting at-risk New Orleans youth with hot meals, clothing and shelter and mental health referrals. STEVONI DOYLE, 47, OF SANTAQUIN, UTAH Doyle applied for a pardon six years ago. It had been so long that she had all but forgotten about it — until Wednesday. “I was in shock,” Doyle said of the call she received from a Justice Department pardon attorney. “And honored.” Doyle, who was once addicted to meth, had pleaded guilty to drug possession and check forging charges when she was 24. She served more than two years in state and federal prison. Released in 2006, Doyle resolved to stay clean. She started a family, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and now works as a social worker with a behavioral health center. Doyle applied for a pardon in 2018 and heard nothing until 2020, when the FBI reached out — and the vetting began. “They talked to my boss, my boss’ boss, they talked to my mother’s boss, they called my doctors," Doyle said. “Just pretty much anybody that had any type of relationship with me in the past 20 years they contacted.” After the vetting was over, she would have to wait some more: four years, it turned out. “I just want people to know that are in the throes of addiction, or families to know that when they have somebody in their family that is addicted, that there is hope,” Doyle said Thursday. “This has just brought so much joy to me and my family and is just the continuation of my recovery.” She has five children and three grandchildren, volunteers in her community, fosters animals and competes in roller derby. RITA CRUNDWELL, 71, OF DIXON, ILLINOIS Crundwell was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison in 2013 for stealing about $54 million over two decades when she was in charge of finances for Dixon, Illinois. She was released to a halfway house program in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic before moving to home confinement. Biden’s commutation releases Crundwell from any restrictions. Paul Gaziano, a lawyer who represented Crundwell in federal court, declined to comment Thursday. Dixon Mayor Glen Hughes said he believes most of the town is probably stunned, and maybe even angry, that Biden would provide clemency to Crundwell. Republican state Sen. Andrew Chesney called Biden’s act “nothing short of a slap in the face to the people of Dixon.” Dixon, best known as the childhood home of President Ronald Reagan, sued auditors and a bank after Crundwell’s theft was revealed and recovered $40 million in settlements. Crundwell, who was a horse breeder, told a judge in 2020 that more than $15 million was repaid from the sale of her horses and other assets. “I am going to do everything possible to make up for my mistakes," she told the judge in a handwritten letter that described various health problems. “I have taken responsibility for my actions since the first day.” MICHAEL CONAHAN, 72, OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA Conahan was sentenced to 17 years in prison for helping orchestrate one of the worst judicial scandals in U.S. history: a scheme to send children to for-profit jails in exchange for kickbacks . Biden’s decision to commute his sentence angered many in northeastern Pennsylvania, from the governor to the families whose children were victimized by the disgraced former judge. Conahan had already served the vast majority of his sentence, which was handed down in 2011. “I do feel strongly that President Biden got it absolutely wrong and created a lot of pain here in northeastern Pennsylvania,” Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said Friday. A message seeking comment was sent to an attorney who recently represented Conahan, the former judge of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. In what came to be known as the kids-for-cash scandal, Conahan and Judge Mark Ciavarella shut down a county-run juvenile detention center and accepted $2.8 million in illegal payments from a friend of Conahan’s who built and co-owned two for-profit lockups. Sandy Fonzo, whose son killed himself at age 23 after Ciavarella locked him up as a teen, called Conahan’s commutation an “injustice.” “I am shocked and I am hurt,” Fonzo said in a statement provided to The Citizens’ Voice of Wilkes-Barre. “Conahan‘s actions destroyed families, including mine, and my son‘s death is a tragic reminder of the consequences of his abuse of power." The Juvenile Law Center, which represented plaintiffs in a $200 million civil judgment against Conahan and Ciavarella, said it “supported President Biden’s actions” but wants to see the “same kind of compassion and mercy” extended to juvenile defendants around the country. When he pleaded guilty in 2010, Conahan apologized to the youths he had hurt. “The system is not corrupt,” Conahan said at the time. “I was corrupt.” KELSIE LYNN BECKLIN, 38, of NEW BRIGHTON, MINNESOTA Becklin was 21 when she got into trouble, which she said was due to trying to get money to support her drug addiction. She pleaded guilty to a nonviolent felony charge for failing to provide information to police about a 2007 bank robbery. She served four months in a halfway house, four months of home confinement and three years of probation. She found out she was pregnant after she’d been out of custody for about a year. She said she had her “aha moment” when her son was 1 year old. “And I was living at home with my parents. I had, like, no job, no education, no future,” Becklin said. “Had a felony on my record. I had substance use history, you know, all these things. And he was 1. And I just remember, like looking at him and realizing that his whole life was, like, really dependent on what I did with mine.” Within days, she said, she enrolled at a community college. She recently earned her doctoral degree in comparative molecular biosciences at the University of Minnesota. For her doctorate, she used stem cell biology and genetic engineering to better understand how pediatric cancers grow and develop. She’s still working in the cell and gene therapy space, now as a postdoctoral researcher at the university. The White House noted in its announcement that Becklin also mentors currently and previously incarcerated people who are seeking to pursue higher education. She said she does it as part of a program called Prison to Professionals. They help guide people on the unique issues they’ll face in higher education and provide them with a support network. She said she still doesn’t know exactly how being pardoned and having her record cleared will affect her future. “I think there was a point in my life where it really mattered if I, like, had a certain career path or if I did that. But I have found that, kind of wherever I am, I find my purpose and my need there. And, you know, it’s kind of a beautiful way to live,” she said. Associated Press writers Jack Brook in New Orleans, Ed White in Detroit, Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyo., Michael Rubinkam in Pennsylvania; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; and Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Wash., contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
As the newly-named host of the 2034 World Cup in men's soccer , Saudi Arabia says it will construct or renovate 15 stadiums, create a futuristic city and expand airports in a massive buildout to accommodate millions of athletes, coaches and spectators. That will emit tons of planet-warming greenhouse gases as concrete and steel are manufactured and transported, diesel-powered excavators and trucks move material and new buildings are powered and cooled. When all the emissions associated with the world's buildings are grouped together, they are the largest contributor to climate change . Constructing so many new venues is “environmentally wasteful in the extreme” because so much carbon will be emitted and scarce resources used, said Andrew Zimbalist, an economics professor at Smith College in Massachusetts who has written several books about the economics of mega sporting events. Zimbalist said the World Cup should be held in countries with a developed soccer culture and industry. Seth Warren Rose, founding director of the research organization Eneref Institute, said the world will be even hotter a decade from now, and can’t afford this added warming. “I’m sorry, but we’re living in a different planet. We have to prepare for that,” Rose said. “By 2034, we’ll be living in a different climate and that’s not a metaphor." Rose said his message to organizers is: Make a genuine effort to reduce emissions or don't host at all. Saudi Arabia’s plans will rely heavily on concrete, which is responsible for about 8% of worldwide emissions that warm the planet, with iron and steel accounting for another 7% . Human rights groups are concerned that giving the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia will endanger migrant workers . In a bid book detailing its plans for development across five cities ahead of the World Cup, Saudi Arabia said three new stadiums are currently under construction and eight more are planned, to accommodate 2034's first-ever 48-team games. Buildings constructed for international sporting events often end up becoming “white elephant” venues that sit idle once games are over. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation did not respond to request for comment. Saudi Arabia has proposed 134 accommodations for teams and referees, new hotels, several fan festival locations, transportation expansions, including high-speed rail and further investment in its futuristic city of Neom . Much of what the nation included in its bid book relates to its Vision 2030 strategic plan, which the government calls a plan to diversify its economy and unlock new business opportunities. The bid does include sustainability initiatives, said Karim Elgendy, a fellow at London’s Chatham House think tank. Among them are running stadiums on clean electricity such as solar, using energy-efficient natural ventilation and shading and mandating green building standards. But Elgendy said the sheer scale of Saudi Arabia's apparent plans for the event, plus the distances between host cities suggest this could become the most carbon-intensive World Cup in history. Elgendy said how they mitigate this undertaking will determine the environmental impact and without measures, the event could have a carbon footprint that is almost twice the record set in 2022. In contrast, organizers of this summer’s Paris Olympics said this week they met their goal of cutting the games’ carbon footprint by half compared to 2012 and 2016. They did this using renewable energy, recycled materials, plant-based food options that are less carbon-intensive than meat and even powering the famous Olympic cauldron with electricity and lights rather than burning gas. To critics who suggest FIFA ought to have chosen a different host country, like the United Kingdom which has dozens of stadiums, Walker Ross, a researcher of sport ecology and sustainability at the University of Edinburgh points out the Saudi bid was the only one in a fast-tracked process. The next World Cup, in 2026, will span 16 cities across North America. Ross said that could have a significant carbon footprint, too, as teams and fans travel across an entire continent. The same could be said for the 2030 World Cup to be played across six countries. If anyone is at fault, it's FIFA, he said, because it's their bid process. Ross said he thinks locations shouldn’t be ruled out because they are hot or there aren’t a lot of stadiums. “People kind of throw their hands up in the air and act like there are certain countries that should and shouldn’t host when it comes to these events,” he said. “But if this sport is truly for the world, then we have to be open to everyone hosting.” Qatar went on a $200 billion construction spree , building seven stadiums, a new metro system, highways, high-rise buildings and a new city ahead of the 2022 event there. Organizers and FIFA projected it would produce some 3.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over the decade spent preparing for the tournament, or about 3% of Qatar’s total emissions in 2019, according to World Bank data. Experts say the Qatar event had the highest carbon emissions to date. Skeptics and outside experts said Qatar’s accounting that it hosted a ‘carbon neutral’ World Cup didn't encompass the event’s full carbon footprint . FIFA accepted Saudi Arabia’s sustainability and climate promises in an evaluation released in November , noting that “whilst the extent of construction would have a material environmental impact, the bid provides a good foundation for delivering mitigation measures to address some of the environment-related challenges.” FIFA directed The Associated Press to the evaluation Thursday when asked for additional comment. Saudi Arabia's emissions have been growing; it emitted 533 metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2022 , or 1.6% of global emissions, according to the International Energy Agency, and its fossil fuel production is skyrocketing. Renewable energy remains nearly nonexistent. The country has a goal to source at least half of its power from renewables by 2030 . “It appears that FIFA has learnt very little from the debacle with the World Cup in Qatar," said Khaled Diab, a spokesperson at Carbon Market Watch. Read more of AP’s climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment 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 .Mthuli Ncube’s budget under-fire for prioritising defence over people
Elon Musk started his career back in the '90s by founding major tech companies, including X.com, which eventually became PayPal. Decades later, the South African now owns X (formerly Twitter ), SpaceX , Tesla , and more, making him the richest man in the world with a net worth of $343 billion, according to Forbes . Throughout Musk's financial rise, he has been no stranger to controversy . However, he still has maintained a few solid friendships over the years. Here is everything to know about Elon Musk 's inner circle. Donald Trump Musk has been seen a lot more with Donald Trump in late 2024, as Trump plans to give Musk a position on his cabinet after winning the presidential election. Musk will be leading the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Vivek Ramaswamy , which is intended to "dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies," according to a social media statement from Trump (via BBC ). The publication also points out that Musk referred to the new agency as "the only path to extending life beyond Earth." On August 13, 2024, Musk invited Trump to have a live discussion on X (formerly Twitter), where the president elect called Tesla a "great" company, according to BBC . Most recently, Musk joined Trump's Thanksgiving dinner, where the two sat next to each other and performed "YMCA" in a viral moment. Peter Thiel Given Musk's power and origins in Silicon Valley, along with the eventual PayPal/X.com merger, it's no surprise that he's close friends with the original co-founder, Peter Thiel . The businessman would also co-found Palantir Technologies, a data analysis firm, and Thiel still serves as the chairman. Thiel has also supported other prominent tech companies over the years, including as Facebook 's first outside investor in 2004, according to The Washington Post . After the election, Thiel discussed on the Honestly podcast that Musk's alignment with Trump is encouraging other Silicon Valley leaders to be open about their right-wing views, pointing out, "There was some degree to which it was safer for people to speak out when other people were speaking out." Thiel had donated to the Trump campaign in 2016, according to Business Insider . Talulah Riley A post shared by Talulah Riley (@talulahrm) Pride and Prejudice actress Talulah Riley first married Musk in 2010, but the couple would go on to divorce in 2012. However, the two would try again and remarry in 2013. Although they eventually divorced again in 2016 and Riley went on to marry actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster, it seems things are still amicable between the two exes. "Well, you know more than anyone how what we read in the mainstream media is not necessarily an absolute truth," Riley told The Times in August 2024. "I loved/love the guy, so I'm incredibly subjective in my opinion, cannot be unbiased and shouldn't be expected to be either. I'm sure, well... You know what being in love is, right?" Joe Rogan Podcast host Joe Rogan has been a close orbiter of Musk as well. Musk appeared on a November 2024 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast and has been a rotational guest over the years, joining for five episodes in total. During the November episode, the duo discussed the death of Peanut the squirrel , who was euthanized by New York state officials.
