ZURICH — Saudi Arabia was officially confirmed Wednesday by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men's soccer, giving the oil-rich kingdom its biggest prize yet for massive spending on global sports driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi bid was the only candidate and was acclaimed by the applause of more than 200 FIFA member federations. They took part remotely in an online meeting hosted in Zurich by the soccer body's president Gianni Infantino. "The vote of the congress is loud and clear," said Infantino, who had asked officials on a bank of screens to clap their hands at head level to show their support. The decision was combined with approving the only candidate to host the 2030 World Cup. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host in a six-nation project, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay each getting one of the 104 games. The South American connection will mark the centenary of Uruguay hosting the first World Cup in 1930. The decisions complete a mostly opaque 15-month bid process which Infantino helped steer toward Saudi Arabia without a rival candidate, without taking questions, and which human rights groups warn will put the lives of migrant workers at risk. "We look forward to hosting an exceptional and unprecedented edition of the FIFA World Cup by harnessing our strengths and capabilities to bring joy to football fans around the world," Prince Mohammed said in a statement. FIFA and Saudi officials have said hosting the 2034 tournament can accelerate change, including more freedoms and rights for women, with Infantino on Wednesday calling the World Cup a "unique catalyst for positive social change and unity." "I fully trust our hosts to address all open points in this process, and deliver a World Cup that meets the world's expectations," the FIFA president said. An international collective of rights groups said FIFA made a "reckless decision" to approve Saudi Arabia without getting public assurances, and the Football Supporters Europe group said it was "the day football truly lost its mind." A fast-track path to victory was cleared last year by FIFA accepting the three-continent hosting plan for the 2030 World Cup. It meant only soccer federations in Asia and Oceania were eligible for the 2034 contest, and FIFA gave countries less than four weeks to declare a bid. Only Saudi Arabia did. The win will kick off a decade of scrutiny on Saudi labor laws and treatment of workers mostly from South Asia needed to help build and upgrade 15 stadiums, plus hotels and transport networks ahead of the 104-game tournament. Amnesty International said awarding the tournament to Saudi Arabia represents "a moment of great danger" for human rights. "FIFA's reckless decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without ensuring adequate human rights protections are in place will put many lives at risk," said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International's Head of Labor Rights and Sport." One of the stadiums is planned to be 350 meters (yards) above the ground in Neom — a futuristic city that does not yet exist — and another named for the crown prince is designed to be atop a 200-meter cliff near Riyadh. During the bid campaign, FIFA has accepted limited scrutiny of Saudi Arabia's human rights record that was widely criticized this year at the United Nations. Saudi and international rights groups and activists warned FIFA it has not learned the lessons of Qatar's much-criticized preparations to host the 2022 World Cup. "At every stage of this bidding process, FIFA has shown its commitment to human rights to be a sham," Cockburn said. The kingdom plans to spend tens of billion of dollars on projects related to the World Cup as part of the crown prince's sweeping Vision 2030 project that aims to modernize Saudi society and economy. At its core is spending on sports by the $900 billion sovereign wealth operation, the Public Investment Fund, which he oversees. "It's amazing. The infrastructure, the stadiums, the conditions for the fans and everything. After what I see, I'm more convinced that 2034 will be the best World Cup ever," Cristiano Ronaldo said in a recorded package posted on X. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been part of Saudi Arabia's lavish spending on soccer — stunning the sport when agreeing to sign for Al Nassr in 2022 for a record-breaking salary reportedly worth up to $200 million a year. Critics have accused Saudi Arabia of "sportswashing" the kingdom's reputation. The prince, known as MBS, has built close working ties to Infantino since 2017 — aligning with the organizer of sport's most-watched event rather than directly confronting the established system as it did with the disruptive LIV Golf project. The result for Saudi Arabia and FIFA has been smooth progress toward the win Wednesday with limited pushback from soccer officials, though some from women international players. The steady flow of Saudi cash into international soccer is set to increase. FIFA created a new and higher World Cup sponsor category for state oil firm Aramco, and Saudi funding is set to underwrite the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States that is a pet project for Infantino. North American soccer body CONCACAF signed a multi-year deal with PIF, Saudi stadiums host Super Cup games for Italy and Spain, and nearly 50 FIFA member federations have signed working agreements with Saudi counterparts. Lavish spending by PIF-owned Saudi clubs in the past two years buying and paying players – including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mané – put hundreds of millions of dollars into European soccer. That influence could be key in talks to agree which months to play the 2034 World Cup. The November-December slot taken by Qatar in 2022 to avoid extreme midsummer heat is complicated in 2034 by the holy month of Ramadan through mid-December and Riyadh hosting the multi-sport Asian Games. Still, January 2034 could be an option — and likely better for European clubs and leagues —after the International Olympic Committee said it saw few issues in clashing with the Salt Lake Winter Games opening Feb. 10, 2034. The IOC also has a major commercial deal with Saudi Arabia, to host the new Esports Olympics. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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American foreign policy may have fallen victim to excessive political correctness, to the “woke” culture. Let me explain: During the Cold War, Washington did not choose its friends and allies based on who upheld human rights and protected minorities; its priorities were devoid of such concerns, driven purely by geopolitical expediency. This is why the US had such close ties with the Greek dictatorship, disregarding its brutal suppression of democratic rights. Washington viewed the Middle East and its powerful dictators through exactly the same prism for several decades. Then the Cold War ended and with it, for many, came the end of history. There was no rival anymore. The Americans believed they had secured their ideological hegemony forever. They started to look at the rest of the world as a well-tended “garden” that would grow according to US values and economic and geopolitical demands. Globalization strengthened this belief and for a while at least, there was just one pole. American embassies became more interested in soft politics and multiculturalism. The intervention in Kosovo was the product of a way of thinking that saw America in the role of an armed peacekeeping force that would protect minorities and prevent a humanitarian crisis. In Iraq, it labored under the delusion that some utopian Middle Eastern version of democracy could emerge after the invasion. Such delusions prevailed when the Arab Spring began, leading Washington to throw its old and close ally Hosni Mubarak under the bus. Barack Obama realized that he could not keep drawing red lines and Mubarak fell – but democracy did not really come to Egypt, just as it will not come to Syria. In the meantime, the “garden” America had been dreaming of was starting to look like a jungle, as American historian Robert Kagan has described it. The rest of the planet, and the South especially, kept shouting at America to stop shaking its finger at others and only the narrow core of the West saw the US as a beacon and protector of Western values. Now even America doesn’t want this role anymore. Donald Trump pulled down all the veils. From now on, American foreign policy will be unabashed and brutally transactional. Its diplomatic representatives will only be interested in who is buying what. We are returning to a past state of affairs – from the hegemony of a single pole to a planet in a state of anarchy, where right is determined by might, and might alone.Warning labels for social media gained swift bipartisan support from dozens of attorneys general after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to establish the requirements earlier this year.
If you are a resident of California , you may be eligible to get paid from a $27.5 million settlement from Thomson Reuters. But move quickly, as you only have until Friday to opt in. Thomson Reuters is a Canadian media and technology conglomerate best known as the parent company of the British news outlet, Reuters. In October, the company reached a settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit that alleged that it had used its own AI program, Clear, to collect personal information from people without their consent and then sold this information to various entities. The company was accused of doing this all across the US, but this specific suit pertains only to California residents. Survey results published by the International Association of Privacy Professionals in a 2023 consumer trust report found significant concerns among respondents globally about the impact of AI technology on their privacy . Around 57% of consumers surveyed by IAPP said that "AI poses a significant threat to their privacy." The group also cited a 2023 study from KPMG and the University of Queensland which found that 53% of respondents believed "AI will make it harder for people to keep their personal information private." If you believe you might be eligible for this Thomson Reuters settlement, read on for all the details. For more on other class-action settlements, find out if you're eligible for 23andMe's data breach settlement . Why is the Thomson Reuters class action settlement? Thomson Reuters was initially sued in 2020 by California-based activist Cat Brooks and journalist Rasheed Shabazz. The pair accused the company of using Clear to harvest "a vast quantity of photos, identifying information, and personal data of American consumers, including Californians, without their consent." This information, the suit further alleged, was then sold off to "corporations, law enforcement, and government agencies." Who qualifies for this class-action settlement? This settlement is open to anyone who was an adult resident of California from Dec. 3, 2016, to Oct. 31, 2024. The payout for each claimant is estimated to be between $19 and $48. You can opt into this settlement by filling out this online form . When is the deadline to opt-in for this class-action settlement? Eligible claimants have until the end of Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, to opt into the Thomson Reuters settlement. This deadline was initially set for Dec. 6 but was later extended. For more, see why Apple claims that AI will enhance its privacy offerings while Microsoft's AI tools have been hit with delays over privacy concerns.PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Get ready for the ultimate fan experience! The Flyers are preparing to host the 46th annual Flyers Charities Carnival. The event turns the Wells Fargo Center into an all-out amusement park. Fans will get a chance to interact with players while enjoying rides, games, and other attractions. That is happening on February 26th. Ahead of the big event, the first wave of player "Sign & Snaps" go on sale today. They include a picture and two autographs with the Flyers player of your choice. Ordering them ahead ensures fans that they will be able to meet their favorite team member at the carnival. Also on sale today, people can take home a piece of everyone's favorite monster, Gritty. The Gritty Calendar is back, with proceeds benefitting Flyers Charities. The orange fluff-ball is here to tell us all about it.Stock market today: Wall Street rallies ahead of ChristmasGeorge Kresge Jr., who wowed talk show audiences as the The Amazing Kreskin, dies
Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich explains the latest on President-elect Donald Trump publicly supporting his nomination of Pete Hegseth for defense secretary on Truth Social and more on 'Special Report.' Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate and a member of the Armed Services Committee, has signaled toward supporting President-elect Trump's nominee for defense secretary. After meeting on Monday for a second time with Pete Hegseth, Ernst wrote in a statement that "as I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources." An Army National Guard officer who deployed to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and who until last month was a longtime Fox News host, Hegseth has been the focus of a slew of reports spotlighting a series of drinking and sexual misconduct allegations. Hegseth has denied allegations that he mistreated women and has vowed that he won't drink "a drop of alcohol" if confirmed as defense secretary. A separate report showcased allegations Hegseth mismanaged a veterans nonprofit organization that he once led. TRUMP RALLIES BEHIND HEGSETH BUT INVITES DESANTIS TO ARMY-NAVY GAME Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's nominee for defense secretary, walks with his wife, Jennifer Rauchet, left, to meet with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, of the Armed Services Committee at the Capitol on Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Ernst, a conservative lawmaker first elected to the Senate in 2014, is considered a pivotal vote in the confirmation battle over Hegseth, who in the past has questioned the role of women in combat. The senator is also a survivor of sexual assault who has a strong legislative record of addressing sexual assault and harassment in the military. She said in her statement that "following our encouraging conversations, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women – based on quality and standards, not quotas – and who will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks." TRUMP ORBIT RAMPS UP CRITICISM OF ERNST OVER HEGSETH NOMINATION Ernst's office told Fox News on Monday that "the senator has consistently followed the process, which she has said since the beginning, and doing her job as a United States senator." After meeting with Hegseth last week, Ernst said in a social media post that she and Trump's defense secretary nominee had a "frank and thorough" conversation. A day later, when asked in an interview on Fox News' "America's Newsroom" if she wasn't ready to vote to confirm Hegseth, the senator replied, "I think you are right." Ahead of his second meeting with the senator, Hegseth told Fox News' Aishah Hasnie, "I'm really looking forward to meeting with Sen. Ernst. I appreciate her. I respect her background and her service. She's incredible. And the ongoing conversation has been very fruitful." Over the past few days, a high-profile Trump ally has threatened to fuel a primary challenge against Ernst when she's up for re-election in 2026. "This is the red line. This is not a joke. ... The funding is already being put together. Donors are calling like crazy. Primaries are going to be launched," said Charlie Kirk, an influential conservative activist and radio and TV host who co-founded and steers Turning Point USA. GET TO KNOW DONALD TRUMP'S CABINET: WHO HAS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT PICKED SO FAR? Kirk, on his radio program, warned that "if you support the president’s agenda, you’re good. You’re marked safe from a primary. You go up against Pete Hegseth, the president repeatedly, then don’t be surprised, Joni Ernst, if all of a sudden you have a primary challenge in Iowa." In Iowa, conservative commentator and media personality Steve Deace took to social media and used his radio program to highlight that he would consider launching a primary challenge against Ernst. "Defeating an incumbent US Senator takes high name ID, connections, and funding potential," Deace wrote. "I'm one of the few people in Iowa with all three." Deace, who supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in this year's Iowa GOP presidential caucus, said, "I don't want to be a Senator, but I am willing to primary her for the good of the cause if I'm assured I have Trump's support going in. Or I am willing to throw my support and network behind someone else President Trump prefers to primary Joni Ernst instead." Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, a top Trump supporter in the Iowa caucuses, wrote a column on Breitbart urging Hegseth's confirmation. While she didn't mention Ernst by name, Bird took aim at "D.C. politicians" who "think they can ignore the voices of their constituents and entertain smears from the same outlets that have pushed out lies for years." Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa (Drew Angerer/Getty Images/File) David Kochel, a veteran GOP consultant who was a key strategist and early backer of Ernst during her successful 2014 Senate campaign, told Fox News that "Joni Ernst is doing what the Constitution says what her job is, which is advise and consent." "I think that everybody should just give her the space to do her job, and making threats to a combat veteran usually doesn't work out great," Kochel said. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump has praised Hegseth in the past few days. "Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News," the president-elect wrote on Friday. But Fox News and other news organizations have reported that Trump is potentially considering nominating DeSantis as defense secretary as a possible replacement should Hegseth's nomination falter. Ernst's name has also come up as a possible replacement. But the senator said last week in an interview with RealClearPolitics that "I am not seeking to be secretary of defense." Fox News' Chad Pergram, Tyler Olson and Julia Johnson contributed to this report.AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:24 p.m. EST
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"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
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