Is Enron back? If it’s a joke, some former employees aren’t laughingFrom wealth and success to murder suspect, the life of Luigi Mangione took a hard turnFootball has never seen a stadium as audacious and outlandish before. A futuristic cliff-top venue will be built 350m above ground when the $1.5trn NEOM megaproject springs up from the Saudi Arabian desert. There are no limits on ambition or spending to bring the World Cup to the kingdom in 2034 - and no need to win a bidding contest. After flattering and funding FIFA , Saudi Arabia will today be confirmed as hosts of the 2034 World Cup by acclamation of football nations rather than a vote. Read more: FIFA awarding World Cups 'without transparency' FIFA has 'not changed its decision-making' It is the rapid conclusion to a 14-month process engineered to secure their victory but a strategic success for the kingdom in avoiding a protracted contest. And scrutiny of the fast-tracked process - ending at a virtual FIFA Congress - has diminished the spotlight on discriminatory laws, human rights violations and working conditions as 15 stadiums are built for its biggest sporting spectacle. More on Fifa Premier League joins new legal action against FIFA over packed international schedule Professional Footballers' Association takes legal action over FIFA plans for Club World Cup Real Madrid insist they will take part in FIFA's expanded Club World Cup - after Ancelotti interview Related Topics: FIFA Saudi Arabia But FIFA endorses the Saudi view that a World Cup can be a catalyst for change by introducing labour reforms and providing more rights for women. Bid leader Hammad Albalawi insists: "We are a young nation seizing this opportunity." An opportunity that has been facilitated by Gianni Infantino; the Saudis knowing the touch-points to pander to the globe-trotting FIFA president who collects photos for Instagram alongside the powerful and wealthy. No country - where FIFA does not have offices - has been visited more by him in recent years. By contrast, he never seemed to visit Australia before it hosted the Women's World Cup in 2023 to check on preparations. Even in the midst of Switzerland's pandemic restrictions, when non-essential travel was advised against from FIFA's base, Mr Infantino went to Saudi in early 2021 to be filmed talking up the oil-rich country in a government PR video, in a ceremonial sword dance around palaces of Diriyah. It was clear where his priorities were as the Saudis proved savvy at winning over the governing body holding the keys to the World Cup hosting. Mr Infantino skipped FIFA's own large video gaming tournament in Liverpool this August to launch Saudi's Esports World Cup in Riyadh alongside Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. That was before FIFA officially launched the 2034 bidding process. And Mr Infantino has not held a single open news conference in the year since being accused of rigging the bidding process to help the Saudis - denying journalists the chance to put the claims to him directly. On the face of it, Mr Infantino can claim to have introduced a more open and transparent bidding process than his predecessors oversaw with published inspection reports and scoring. There was also the ability for any country to enter - as long as you were from the Asia or Oceania regions. And only if you could decide in less than four weeks whether your country could handle and fund a 48-team tournament with 104 matches - beyond nations with an electorate to consider and budgets to balance. It was all assisted by a behind-the-scenes secret deal that knocked Europe, Africa and South America out of contention - combining their six countries bidding for the 2030 World Cup into a single, unprecedented mammoth tournament plan. Read more: Club World Cup: FIFA threatened with legal action by players and leagues Gianni Infantino: 33% pay rise for FIFA boss who told women they must 'force change' Those regions then became ineligible to try to host the 2034 tournament. So all paths - like so many in sport - now lead to Riyadh in 2034. For Mark Pieth, who advised Sepp Blatter's FIFA on anti-corruption and governance changes, it is all a "turn for the worse". The Swiss law professor told Sky News: "We tried to reform FIFA. What we're now seeing is quite abominable. "You have FIFA trying to break all the rules that they've given themselves, starting with deciding on two World Cups at the same time, no competition, manipulated reports and finally acclamation instead of a vote." The rigging claim would be disputed by FIFA, which yesterday said auditors BDO "concluded that both evaluation processes were executed with objectivity, integrity and transparency". There has been little dissent across world football - even countries like Germany that took a vocal stand against Qatar while insisting they would not "gloss over" Saudi issues. The English Football Association has been deliberating over whether to provide a public position on Saudi - a delicate balancing act while considering a future Women's World Cup bid and needing FIFA on side. And the FA speaking out on Saudi - if not the FIFA process - would put it at odds with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who was in Riyadh this week for talks with the crown prince. But one country that has led the charge against FIFA is Norway. Their football association head, Lise Klaveness, first broke ranks to tell Sky News: "When decisions are made in closed rooms, it's the opposite of what the reforms were promising us." And on Tuesday she confirmed Norway would attempt to abstain - although FIFA is set to avoid a vote. She said: "The lack of predictability and open processes challenges trust in FIFA as the global custodian of football." It was Mr Infantino who was swept to power after the discredited Blatter reign ended in a wave of convictions of football officials after raids in 2015. And the former general secretary at European governing body UEFA even sat on the reform committee that attempted to curb the powers of FIFA presidents before he ascended to that position himself and adjusted term limits to remain in post longer. Miguel Maduro , who was forced out as governance chief by Mr Infantino, told Sky News: "They promised a much higher degree of transparency on how the bidding was going to take place. We saw nothing of that type in this process. "Basically, it is something that was cooked internally, within what I usually call the political cartel that dominates FIFA." The pick cannot be reversed. But there can be moves to protect the conditions of the migrant workforce - already said by Human Rights Watch to exceed 13 million in Saudi - as 15 stadiums and vast wider infrastructure is built up. Despite none of the stadiums being complete yet, FIFA still gave the Saudis the highest scoring since the inspection process was introduced for World Cup bidding by Mr Infantino. FIFA's inspection report did express concerns about "indecent working conditions" and found gaps complying with "international standards" that "contradict Islamic law". There are assurances fans will face no discrimination but anti-LGBTQ+ laws remain - a red line the conservative nation cannot cross and unmentioned in the mandatory human rights risk assessment. But football is far from the first sport to be seduced by the Saudi riches - helping them cleanse the country's image and distract from rights issues. Boxing's biggest bouts are now there, there has been an attempted takeover of golf by launching the rebel LIV series and a $1m golden ball was added to allow the kingdom to put its lavish imprint on snooker. Much is bankrolled by the $900bn Public Investment Fund which has owned Newcastle United for three years. And the sovereign wealth fund has a stake in state oil firm Aramco which became a FIFA sponsor in April. Streaming platform DAZN, which has close ties to Saudi, seems to have bailed out FIFA's new 32-team Club World Cup with a reported $1bn global broadcasting deal announced last week without a clear ability to recoup the cash as games air free. No wonder dissent has been brushed aside by FIFA - even from the US where the Club World Cup will be staged next year followed by the main men's World Cup in 2026. Democrat senators Ron Wyden and Dick Durbin wrote to Mr Infantino in October: "The kingdom continues to torture dissidents, engage in extrajudicial killings, discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community, oppress women and religious minorities, exploit and abuse foreign workers, and restrict almost all political rights and civil liberties." For many in football - particularly domestic leagues - the bigger concern will be the impact on the calendar. Read more: Football's complex relationship with conflict and tragedy FIFA considering lifting blanket ban on Russia There are no commitments to stage the tournament in the typical June-July slot, with January-February 2034 looking more likely to avoid clashing with Ramadan and the Hajj. Qatar 2022's November-December slot showed how football can accommodate a switch without long-term damage to the club game. But the message from within Saudi is they are a very different proposition to the first Middle East hosts - even if this World Cup pick is as controversial. Where Qatar still lacks a vibrant local football culture, Saudi is home to Asia's most successful team - Al Hilal. Be the first to get Breaking News Install the Sky News app for free Follow our channel and never miss an update Esteve Calzada, the CEO of Al Hilal, told Sky News: "Qatar World Cup even with so much criticism, I think there is a general consensus it was ultimately a very successful World Cup. "In our case I'm sure it will be the same. It's a proper-sized country with passionate fans." Now there is a decade to convince the world's football fans to descend on Saudi Arabia. FIFA has delivered the sporting prize the crown prince craved in the easiest of football matches to win - one without any opponent.There was big news on Sunday regarding a left-handed outfielder. Yep, you guessed it, Michael Conforto signed a one year, $17 million deal with the Dodgers. Here, I’m going to talk about who Conforto is as a player, what the Dodgers might see in him, and how the move impacts his outlook for fantasy baseball. How Good is Michael Conforto? Conforto has always been a solid hitter. The former first round pick burst on the scene with nine home runs and a 133 wRC+ in 2015 during the Mets’ unexpected World Series run. He hit two more home runs in the Series, too and it felt like a star was being born. After a sophomore slump, he was beginning to assert himself as one of baseball’s best young players in 2017 with 27 home runs and a .279/.384/.555 slash line through 109 games. That is, until a scary left shoulder injury ended his season and sent his career off the tracks a bit. He was still quite good in 2018 and 2019, just never back to the same level he was before the shoulder surgery. Then, hamstring injuries began to pile up. Conforto missed some time at the end of the shortened 2020 season with a hamstring strain. He re-injured his hamstring at the beginning of 2021 – his contract year – and wound up scuffling to a .232/.309/.450 slash line. His free agency was further complicated by the lockout that winter. Later, agent Scott Boras revealed Conforto had injured his right shoulder in an offseason workout. He underwent surgery and never wound up signing with a team. Without many suitors the following winter, Conforto signed a two year, $36 million deal with the Giants and spent time on the injured list with three more hamstring strains as well as a calf, heel, and oblique injury over those two seasons. When on the field, he was barely above average with a 105 wRC+ while with San Francisco. That came with nearly four times as many plate appearances against right-handed pitchers than left-handed pitchers, but Conforto’s production against each was practically (and surprisingly) identical. How Good Can Conforto Be? The Dodgers’ definitely see something in Conforto two straight lackluster seasons and his poor health record. For starters, his bat speed progressively improved as last year wore on. This is one of the true benefits of having the new bat tracking data on Baseball Savant. Shoutout Jacob here for gathering it as it pertains to Conforto’s upside. Michael Conforto is a great under-the-radar bat this offseason. Here are his xwOBAcon and 90th% bat speeds by month: Apr: .370 (78.3) May: .442 (77.1) Jun: .386 (77.0) Jul: .322 (77.9) Aug: .520 (79.8) Sep: .499 (80.6) Had a 137 wRC+ in those final two months. pic.twitter.com/REC6TF7dEP Correlation does not equal causation, but you could see Conforto’s quality of contact improve as his bat speed increased. That makes sense from a logical perspective, too, and it’s exciting that we’re about to get a second season of bat tracking data. With this, Conforto’s power got back to a spot it hadn’t been at in years. His max exit velocity was 113.6 MPH, harder than he’d hit a ball since 2020. Also, he hit 11 balls harder than 110 MPH after not reaching that mark in 2023 and only doing so three times in 2021. And in line with the bat speed data, eight of his nine hardest hit balls came in August and September. Conforto’s shoulder injury in 2022 was likely more serious that Boras let on and it wouldn’t be surprising if it took him a full season to rediscover his power stroke. If so, he could have huge home run and RBI upside in the Dodgers’ lineup. How Does Conforto Fit on the Dodgers? For as incredible as the Dodgers’ roster is, they’re severely lacking in corner outfielders. Mookie Betts is preparing to play shortstop next season, so right now their outfielders besides Conforto are Andy Pages, Tommy Edman, James Outman, and Chris Taylor. That means Conforto likely starts the season as their every day left fielder, only missing time against left-handed pitchers. Of course, the Dodgers are never done adding players and have already been linked with Teoscar Hernández for a possible reunion. Even still, Hernández being a righty and Conforto a lefty means their playing time wouldn’t intersect much and it would most likely push the triumvirate of Pages, Outman, and Taylor to bench roles. Conclusions I probably like Conforto and this move more than I should at this point. The combination of his power gains and the Dodgers prominence with major league development makes me think this can be a slam dunk considering Conforto’s lowly draft cost. He’s barely being taken as a top-500 player right now, in the same range as Johnny DeLuca, Bryan De La Cruz, and Ryan O’Hearn. Sure, there’s ample injury risk, no stolen base upside, and an obvious platoon candidate, but I could easily see him being 20-30% better than league average with solid counting stats and a true weapon in leagues with daily lineup changes a la Joc Pederson and Matt Wallner.ephilid verifier 。

CMC Publishes 2024 Sustainability ReportPresident-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money convictionWest Brom boss Carlos Corberan in line to move to La Liga club?The 49ers shored up their suddenly thin running back corps on Tuesday by claiming Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets. In a corresponding move, the Niners placed Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve after he suffered a right knee injury in Sunday night’s 35-10 loss to the Bills . Coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday said backup running back Jordan Mason would “most likely” join McCaffrey on IR, but the 49ers did not place him on that list just yet after he sprained his ankle Sunday. Abanikanda, 22, is in his second year as a pro after the Jets picked him in the fifth round of the 2023 draft out of Pittsburgh. He was waived Monday to make room for Kene Nwangwu, who had a 99-yard kick return touchdown and forced a fumble as a practice-squad elevation in New York’s loss Sunday to the Seahawks. Abanikanda has been inactive for all 12 of the Jets’ games this season. Last year, he had 22 carries for 70 yards in six games, adding seven catches for 43 yards. The 49ers also signed maligned wide receiver Ronnie Bell to the practice squad. Bell, whom the 49ers waived last week, was drafted by San Francisco last year in the seventh round out of Michigan and has eight catches for 90 yards in 26 career games.

President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction

Many columnists have considered writing about transgender bathrooms and wisely decided, “Nah.” Some topics aren’t worth the crazy. But this week, I was feeling a little zany and thought, “Oh, why not?” Republicans’ recent obsession with the who and where of restroom business took me back to my first and, as far as I know, only transgender bathroom break about 20 years ago. I was in the ladies’ room (still my preferred term) of a downtown Washington office building. She and I were both washing our hands at sinks a safe distance apart. Otherwise alone in the spacious room, we glanced toward each other, smiled, rinsed our hands, hit the hand dryer for a deafening several seconds, and left the room. Alive! How did I know she was a trans woman (male-to-female, for those just tuning in)? I didn’t, at first. I did notice that she was well over 6 feet tall, which is rare in a ladies’ room. She also had broad shoulders for a girl. And she wore a little more makeup than is common in newsrooms. Like me, she was partial to pearls. Only later did someone in the office inform me that “she” was a former “he” and was a well-known trans person who had written openly about her transition. I also learned she had served in the military before transitioning and was an admired asset for her knowledgeable coverage of military matters for Knight Ridder newspapers. I was prompted to write this column in part because of an online photo I came across that was said to show several trans men (female-to-male) who would have to use the women’s restroom in a world designed by South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace. (The photo seems to have been taken down.) The once-sensible Republican, initially taking a stand against just one trans woman who will join the House of Representatives in January, Democrat Sarah McBride of Delaware, struck her own best Washington-crossing-the-Delaware pose and vowed to protect women in federal public restrooms. Of course, all members of Congress have their own private restrooms, but Mace was looking out for the powerless, voiceless women who traverse the marble halls of the Capitol and must on occasion, at least theoretically, relieve themselves in the company of a transgender person. Not on Mace’s watch. The hysteria over transgender restroom usage stems from the fear that a man claiming female identity could throw on a dress and go to a women’s restroom and assault little girls. This fear is usually dusted off around elections or when a legislative body is considering antidiscrimination laws that would protect members of the LGBTQ community. But contrary to myth, PolitiFact (in 2016) found no correlation between increases in public restroom crimes and liberal laws related to transgender restroom use. In the interest of full disclosure, I’m not sanguine about restroom protocols. I dislike unisex bathrooms for the exceedingly sane reason that I wear cute shoes. Standing in a puddle of urine in footwear intended for polite spaces can only be viewed as irrational. When I ask menfolk to remove their shoes before entering my house, I’m not worried about vegetative detritus. But I assume that trans women who have gone though the rather grueling process of transitioning must also prefer to sit. Would that all men would. So looking at the online photo of grinning guys I saw, all I could think was: Don’t you dare come into my bathroom. They’re men, you ninnies. Let them go to the men’s room. Ask yourself: What woman on the planet would prefer to use a men’s bathroom? Exceptions to the obvious answer reflect urgent need, not a hankering for urinals and puddled floors. If you want to see a herd of women run shrieking from the ladies’ loo, it will be because one of those guys in the photograph was forced to go where he isn’t welcome. And just think of the reverse. Born-male women now must go to the men’s room? What could go wrong? We just had an election, and nothing gets the Republican base frothing like The Transgender Issue. Few people in strictly heterosexual circles raise an eyebrow when someone such as Mace targets the tiny minority of people who are surely living some of the hardest lives imaginable. I liked her better when she was protecting monkeys. If we really must “go there,” why not change restrooms from male/female to stand/sit? That ought to shake things out. Or, cutting the comedy, why not try to help people understand that transgender people are not interested in raping and pillaging, but would like to use the bathroom like anybody else? People who erase their maleness usually don’t behave like men, which is a good thing, right? And females who become males, well, all I can say is, “Honey, be brave.” Parker writes for The Washington Post. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Analysts' ratings for Bruker BRKR over the last quarter vary from bullish to bearish, as provided by 7 analysts. The following table summarizes their recent ratings, shedding light on the changing sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months. Bullish Somewhat Bullish Indifferent Somewhat Bearish Bearish Total Ratings 1 3 3 0 0 Last 30D 0 0 1 0 0 1M Ago 0 0 1 0 0 2M Ago 1 3 1 0 0 3M Ago 0 0 0 0 0 The 12-month price targets assessed by analysts reveal further insights, featuring an average target of $70.0, a high estimate of $75.00, and a low estimate of $60.00. Highlighting a 10.06% decrease, the current average has fallen from the previous average price target of $77.83. Breaking Down Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Examination An in-depth analysis of recent analyst actions unveils how financial experts perceive Bruker. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets. Analyst Analyst Firm Action Taken Rating Current Price Target Prior Price Target Dan Leonard UBS Lowers Neutral $66.00 $102.00 Matthew Sykes Goldman Sachs Maintains Neutral $60.00 $60.00 Patrick Donnelly Citigroup Lowers Buy $75.00 $80.00 Dan Brennan TD Cowen Lowers Hold $70.00 $72.00 Brandon Couillard Wells Fargo Lowers Overweight $75.00 $78.00 Terence Malone Barclays Lowers Overweight $69.00 $75.00 Terence Malone Barclays Announces Overweight $75.00 - Key Insights: Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to Bruker. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company. Rating: Offering a comprehensive view, analysts assess stocks qualitatively, spanning from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Bruker compared to the broader market. Price Targets: Understanding forecasts, analysts offer estimates for Bruker's future value. Examining the current and prior targets provides insight into analysts' changing expectations. Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of Bruker's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table. Stay up to date on Bruker analyst ratings. Unveiling the Story Behind Bruker Bruker Corp manufactures scientific instruments and diagnostic tests for customers in the life sciences, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. It operates in four operating segments: Bruker Scientific Instruments (BSI) BioSpin, BSI CALID, BSI Nano, and Bruker Energy and Supercon Technologies (BEST). The company generates maximum revenue from the BSI CALID segment. Geographically, it derives the maximum of its revenue from Asia Pacific. A Deep Dive into Bruker's Financials Market Capitalization: Indicating a reduced size compared to industry averages, the company's market capitalization poses unique challenges. Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, Bruker showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 16.37% as of 30 September, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Health Care sector, the company excelled with a growth rate higher than the average among peers. Net Margin: Bruker's net margin is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in maintaining strong profitability. With a net margin of 4.73%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management. Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 2.27%, the company showcases effective utilization of equity capital. Return on Assets (ROA): Bruker's ROA lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maximizing returns from its assets. With an ROA of 0.68%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial performance. Debt Management: Bruker's debt-to-equity ratio surpasses industry norms, standing at 1.34 . This suggests the company carries a substantial amount of debt, posing potential financial challenges. Analyst Ratings: What Are They? Experts in banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their comprehensive research involves attending company conference calls and meetings, analyzing financial statements, and engaging with insiders to generate what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts assess and rate each stock once per quarter. Analysts may supplement their ratings with predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, offering investors a more comprehensive outlook. However, investors should be mindful that analysts, like any human, can have subjective perspectives influencing their forecasts. Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. Click here for urgent details . This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a Leading Securities Fraud Law Firm, Announces Investigation of Applied Therapeutics, Inc. (APLT) on Behalf of Investors

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