Editorial: Winding down 526 won't be easy, but it should be fair4 easy, comforting bean dishes for fall

ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners . He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian , would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” ----- By Bill Barrow for the Associated Press Associated Press journalist Alex Sanz contributed to this report.

Calling all beauty fans. Boots has kicked off one of its biggest sales of the year, offering up to 60% off bestselling products. If you fancy bagging popular buys for less or want to stock up on future gifts for loved ones, the Big Boots Sale includes thousands of items from brands like Estee Lauder, Sol de Janeiro, No7, Dyson and Oral-B. The deals can be found both in stores and online , while stocks last. The high street retailer is usually extremely generous with its offers and there are now plenty of savings to be had on beauty sets. This includes 50% off the No7 Ultimate Beauty 9 Piece Collection - now £42.50, was £85. The set is worth a whopping £136, containing 9 No7 must-haves. Read more: Victoria Beckham's 'amazing' concealer that 'doesn’t settle into fine lines' Read more: 'I'm a beauty writer and my curls last for days using this Remington hair tool now £17' The Ultimate Beauty Collection features a whole host of much-loved favourites, including a full-size No7 Protect and Perfect Day Cream. There's also a mini Future Renew serum to help reverse visible signs of skin damage. Need to upgrade your toothbrush? A huge price drop sees the Oral-B Pro 3 3500 down from £100 to just £35 - an incredible saving of £65. With built-in gum pressure control, this toothbrush claims to help you brush for two minutes with a timer and notifies you every 30 seconds to change the area you are brushing. Boots has also majorly reduced the price of Remington's Shine Therapy Hair Straightener S8500 . Normally retailing at £79, this top-rated hair tool is down to £21.45 as part of Boots' epic sale event, which is an amazing saving of more than £57. With a 4.6 average star-rating, the Remington straightener is already a hit among shoppers, with many saying they are "better" than pricier ghd versions. A delighted customer raved: "These are the best straighteners I’ve ever had! I’ve been buying ghds for around 20 years and these are better, they were a bargain when they were on offer so I've bought another pair to keep as a spare." But despite the glowing reviews, some beauty fans weren't pleased with their results, with comments such as: "Does not add any shine, just another basic iron. Does not do what it's supposed to." If you're after a bargain, this Dove Pamper Bodywash Collection Gift Set is now £5, down from £10. It includes two bottles of body wash in shea butter and vanilla scents and a luxury shower puff. You can check out all deals in the Big Boots Sale online , where prices start from as little as 50p. Elsewhere, LookFantastic has major offers available on beauty products - including Benefit Cosmetics . While Sephora is also running a huge sale with up to 30% off items.Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picks

Alibaba: Nothing Is Over YetHanwha Power Systems signs MOU with TC Energy to accelerate commercialization of sCO2 power generation SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Hanwha Power Systems Co., Ltd. (CEO: Justin (Koo Yung) Lee) today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with TC Energy for business cooperation in developing an sCO2 WHR (Waste Heat Recovery) project which will utilize the heat stream at a natural gas pipeline compressor station. The MOU outlines the installation of an sCO2 power generation system at a compressor station owned and operated by TC Energy in the state of West Virginia. The system will recover the unused waste heat exhaust from a gas turbine compressor set, and provide a lower cost, carbon free renewable generation solution. Hanwha Power Systems plans to secure this sCO2 commercialization project as a foundation for expanding its sCO2 power generation business in the North American pipeline market. This project is a significant advancement towards proving commercial viability and opening the door to large scale deployment in the industry. , CEO of Hanwha Power Systems, stated, “We will continue to contribute to carbon reduction in the oil and gas market by successfully expanding the application of sCO2 power generation systems across a wide range of compressor stations.” Hanwha is excited moving forward as this partnership shall accelerate Hanwha Power Systems’ progress towards becoming a global leader in clean power generation solutions. Hanwha Power Systems is Korea’s leading industrial compressor supplier and a provider of sCO2 power generation systems and hydrogen/ammonia gas turbine solutions. The company is actively expanding its clean power generation and energy solutions business to lead the carbon-neutral era. sCO2 (Supercritical CO2) is a fluid that, under conditions exceeding 31°C temperature and 74 bar pressure, exhibits both the properties of a liquid and a gas. The sCO2 power generation system combines this characteristic of supercritical CO2 with Hanwha Power Systems’ integrally geared turboma chinery technology, maintaining the sCO2 in a closed-loop system and enabling a highly efficient, compact, modular, and 100% water-free power generation system using waste heat without burning additional fossil fuels. the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hanwha Power Systems signs MOU with TC Energy to accelerate commercialization of sCO2 power generation, Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive worth $2 per kilogram of renewable hydrogen – Production tax incentives to help build a Future Made in Australia Joint media release with Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Minister for... Australia introduces tax incentive to drive investment in renewable hydrogen The Australian Government has introduced the Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Bill 2024. This Bill would... Wolftank Group further strengthens hydrogen positioning with new orders totaling EUR 10 million Hydrogen filling stations for public buses in Carinthia and South Tyrol Strategic step into new market segment: hydrogen...Marvel Rivals is here, and while it may draw a lot of inspiration from other team shooters, namely Overwatch , the Support role is still here. If you’re a player interested in playing this way, here are all the Support characters currently in Marvel Rivals . All Support characters in Marvel Rivals The following characters are also selectable at launch. We will list them based on the comic they originate from along with a quick rundown of what they do and who they are most like from Overwatch . Adam Warlock plays a healer role in this game. He can dish out decent damage with his offensive abilities, so he can make a big difference in a push. If you were a fan of Mercy in Overwatch , Adam Warlock will be right up your alley. He can revive downed teammates, which is going to always be a huge point of contention for many. He’s also capable of burst-healing himself or teammates, so he’ll definitely have a pocket role if desired. Cloak and Dagger are an interesting duo here. You can swap between them, altering what kind of role you want to have. If you combine Ana with Ramattra’s stance switching, this is the outcome. Cloak’s abilities are more supportive, providing healing for her teammates. Even her primary fire is quite literally Ana’s Biotic Rifle. Shoot enemies to kill or allies to heal. As for Dagger, he provides more of a buffing and debuffing role. He can blind enemies, make them susceptible to more damage, and provide decent damage over time (DoT). As a support, he can increase his teammates’ movement speed, turn them invisible, and even make them untargetable. Jeff the Land Shark is an interesting pick for a Support role. He’ll be a nuisance for the enemy team because he’s resistant to Critical Hits, and his many traversal abilities make him hard to hit. He’s a mix between Lucio and Venture. The Lucio part comes into play because Jeff can give himself a speed boost and move on walls. A good Lucio in Overwatch can distract the enemy team while still providing decent team healing. In Marvel Rivals , Jeff is looking to do the same, while being able to submerge himself for sneak attacks, breaking formations, and giving his team a proper push into an objective. Loki takes all the annoying aspects of Sombra and Echo into a Support role. Like other Support heroes, his basic attack can either damage enemies or heal teammates. Nothing out of the ordinary here. Where things start to get wild is when he assumes the role of another character. with copycat abilities. It gets even more interesting when he can make decoys of himself, providing such a good distraction. It pairs even better with his cloaking ability. Yup, he can go invisible, get behind enemy lines, and perform his Backstab to potentially pick someone off from your back line. If Jeff didn’t sell you as a Lucio alternative, Luna Snow may be a better pick. She has abilities that synergize with each other for better solo healing, but she can definitely provide a lot for her team as well. Instead of a speed boost, she can increase her team’s damage output with her “Fate of Both Worlds” ability. She’s literally skating around, making her a hard target to hit. If you still want that kind of movement style, Luna is gonna be your girl. Mantis is similar to Zenyatta because of her Orbs, but they are based on her criticals rather than cooldowns. They are no Discord Orbs; they give a damage boost to the holder instead of painting a target to take extra damage. She can be played like Baptiste because you have to target your allies for healing while also assuming more of a DPS role. Mantis is definitely going to be a hero where you can tell what a good one looks like versus one who’s learning the ropes. Rocket has the verticality of someone like Hanzo, with the floatiness and rez potential of Mercy, with pack providing off of Brigitte, but the damage amplification of someone like Baptiste. If you like a character with variety, Rocket Raccoon can get the job done in most instances.Runner's World: Top RBs take flight when Ravens entertain Eagles

Situated on a lane at the edge of Church Enstone, Easter Cottage was built in 1889, one of a pair of workers cottages for Heythrop village about two miles from Chipping Norton. It is now on the market for a guided price of £1,350,000. The five-bedroom property covering 2,445 square foot is not Listed - the deceptively spacious property was extended in 2009 and more recently in 2012. An entrance porch opens to the hallway itself looking through into the snug, with French doors to the terraces beyond. The 22ft sitting room with a fireplace and a wood burning stove has sash windows and decorative shelving and alcoves. With under floor heating, the open plan kitchen has a bright floral inspired dining area. Appliances in the kitchen include a Sandyford range cooker, also providing heating and hot water, an integrated dish washer and a separate gas rings. There is also useful utility/boot room with an electric oven/microwave, as well as a study with a door to the garden. On the first floor are three double bedrooms, including an ensuite, a single bedroom and a family bathroom. On the second floor there is a further double bedroom with dressing area and ensuite bathroom. Outside, there is off street parking to the front of the property. The gardens, designed by the current owners, are planted with a "spectacular" array of shrubs and perennials, and a terrace outside the kitchen is described as a suntrap all year round. A flower filled pathway with green house and raised vegetable beds leads to a pretty lawned area, with fruit trees, wildlife pond and west facing pergola ideal for al fresco dining. Nicky Quentel, a director for Savills residential team in Oxford, said: "Easter Cottage is a charming and much-loved period home, with enchanting, well stocked gardens. "Inside, the property provides excellent accommodation over three floors. "With a pub in the village and so many wonderful walks, it is a great home for enjoying the best of the Cotswolds." Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get: Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our appThe cryptocurrency officially to rose six figures Wednesday night, just hours after the president-elect said he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bitcoin has soared since Trump won the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5. The asset climbed from $69,374 on Election Day, hitting as high as $103,713 Wednesday, according to CoinDesk. And the latest all-time high arrives just two years after bitcoin dropped below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX . Bitcoin fell back below the $100,000 by Thursday afternoon, sitting above $99,000 by 4 p.m. ET. Even amid a massive rally that has more than doubled the value of bitcoin this year, some experts continue to warn of investment risks around the asset, which has quite a volatile history. Here’s what you need to know. Back up. What is cryptocurrency again? Cryptocurrency has been around for a while now. But chances are you’ve heard about it more and more over the last few years. In basic terms, cryptocurrency is digital money. This kind of currency is designed to work through an online network without a central authority — meaning it’s typically not backed by any government or banking institution — and transactions get recorded with technology called a blockchain. Bitcoin is the largest and oldest cryptocurrency, although other assets like ethereum, XRP, tether and dogecoin have also gained popularity over the years. Some investors see cryptocurrency as a “digital alternative” to traditional money, but most daily financial transactions are still conducted using fiat currencies such as the dollar. Also, bitcoin can be very volatile, with its price reliant on larger market conditions. Why is bitcoin soaring? A lot of the recent action has to do with the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Trump, who was once a crypto skeptic, has pledged to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies. On Thursday morning, hours after bitcoin surpassed the $100,000 mark, Trump congratulated “BITCOINERS” on his social media platform Truth Social. He also appeared to take credit for the recent rally, writing, “YOU’RE WELCOME!!!” Top crypto players welcomed Trump’s election victory last month, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for — which, generally speaking, aim for an increased sense of legitimacy without too much red tape. And the industry has made sizeable investments along the way. Back in August, Public Citizen, a left-leaning consumer rights advocacy nonprofit, reported finding that crypto-sector corporations spent more than $119 million in 2024 to back pro-crypto candidates across federal elections. Trump made his latest pro-crypto move when he announced his plans Wednesday to nominate Atkins to chair the SEC. Atkins was an SEC commissioner during the presidency of George W. Bush. In the years since leaving the agency, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. He joined the Token Alliance, a cryptocurrency advocacy organization, in 2017. Under current chair Gary Gensler, who will step down when Trump takes office, the SEC has cracked down on the crypto industry — penalizing a number of companies for violating securities laws. Gensler has also faced ample criticism from industry players in the process. One crypto-friendly move the SEC did make under Gensler was the approval in January of spot bitcoin ETFs, or exchange trade funds, which allow investors to have a stake in bitcoin without directly buying it. The spot ETFs were the dominant driver of bitcoin's price before Trump's win — but, like much of the crypto’s recent momentum, saw record inflows postelection. What does bitcoin hitting the $100k mark mean? Could it keep climbing? Bitcoin surpassing the coveted $100,000 mark has left much of the crypto world buzzing. “What we’re seeing isn’t just a rally — it’s a fundamental transformation of bitcoin’s place in the financial system,” Nathan McCauley, CEO and co-founder of crypto custodian Anchorage Digital, said in a statement — while pointing to the growth of who's entering the market, particularly with rising institutional adoption. Still, others note that the new heights of bitcoin's price don't necessarily mean the asset is going mainstream. The $100,000 level is “merely a psychological factor and ultimately just a number,” Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at British investment company AJ Bell, wrote in a Thursday commentary . That being said, bitcoin could keep climbing to more and more all-time highs, particularly if Trump makes good on his promises for more crypto-friendly regulation once in office. If Trump actually makes a bitcoin reserve, for example, supply changes could also propel the price forward. “It is hard to overstate the magnitude of the change in Washington’s attitude towards crypto post-election,” Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise Asset Management, said via email Thursday, reiterating that prices could keep rising if trends persist. “There is a lot more demand than there is supply, and that’s usually a pretty good recipe for success.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is never promised. Worldwide regulatory uncertainties and environmental concerns around bitcoin “mining" — the creation of new bitcoin, which consumes a lot of energy — are among factors that analysts like Coatsworth note could hamper future growth. And, as still a relatively young asset with a history of volatility, longer-term adoption has yet to be seen through. Is it too late to invest? What are the risks? Today’s excitement around bitcoin may make many who aren’t already in the space want to get in on the action. For those in a position to invest, Hougan says it's not too late — noting that bitcoin is still early in its development and most institutional investors “still have zero exposure.” At the same time, Hougan and others maintain that it's important to tread cautiously and not bite off more than you can chew. Experts continue to stress caution around getting carried away with crypto “FOMO,” or the fear of missing out, especially for small-pocketed investors. “A lot of people have got rich from the cryptocurrency soaring in value this year, but this high-risk asset isn’t suitable for everyone,” Coatsworth noted Thursday. “It’s volatile, unpredictable and is driven by speculation, none of which makes for a sleep-at-night investment.” In short, history shows you can lose money in crypto as quickly as you’ve made it. Long-term price behavior relies on larger market conditions. Trading continues at all hours, every day. Coatsworth points to recent research from the Bank for International Settlements, a Switzerland-based global organization of central banks, which found that about three-quarters of retail buyers on crypto exchange apps likely lost money on their bitcoin investments between 2015 and 2022. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, bitcoin stood at just over $5,000. Its price climbed to nearly $69,000 by November 2021, during high demand for technology assets, but later crashed during an aggressive series of rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. And the late-2022 collapse of FTX significantly undermined confidence in crypto overall, with bitcoin falling below $17,000. Investors began returning in large numbers as inflation started to cool — and gains skyrocketed on the anticipation and then early success of spot ETFs, and again, now the post-election frenzy. But lighter regulation from the coming Trump administration could also mean less guardrails. This story has been corrected to refer to Anchorage Digital as a crypto custodian, not a crypto asset manager.

Colorado stars Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders take Big 12 player of year honorsNo matter where you look, there are stars on the field for the Lions offense. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams highlight the wide receiver room, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are the 1-2 punch in the backfield, Sam LaPorta is holding things down at tight end, and Jared Goff is responsible for distributing the ball to these stars. Simply looking at the names on this offensive roster, it shouldn't be shocking that the Lions have the league's No. 1 scoring offense, averaging 32.7 points per game. Combine that with No. 2 scoring defense, and you have a team that many consider the Super Bowl favorite. The Lions may have to overcome some adversity in order to find their 11th win of the season and end their Thanksgiving losing streak. Both Amon-Ra St. Brown and David Montgomery are dealing with injuries ahead of their early-Thursday matchup with the Bears. Let's check in on the latest updates regarding both players' statuses. WEEK 13 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers Will Amon-Ra St. Brown and David Montgomery play this week? Injury update on Lions' WR and RB Both St. Brown and Montgomery have followed the same trend with their practice participation this week. They both missed practice on Monday, participated in a limited fashion on Tuesday, and fully practiced on Wednesday. Both have since been listed as "questionable" for Thursday's game. #CHIvsDET injury report presented by Henry Ford Health. pic.twitter.com/1UdPbZz9hh Considering both participated in full on Wednesday, it seems likely that both will be able to take the field against the Bears, meaning their "questionable" designations are merely a formality. Specifically pertaining to Montgomery, head coach Dan Campbell has expressed optimism that Montgomery will take the field, so it would be a surprise to see him sidelined. St. Brown provided confirmation himself that he plans to play, so expect to see him on the field. Lions' WR Depth Chart: Who is Amon-Ra St. Brown's Backup? The Lions' WR1 has been the picture of health over the last two years, missing just one game since the start of the 2023 season. This has been great for Lions fans and fantasy managers, but it has prevented us from getting a glimpse at this WR room without St. Brown in the picture. If St. Brown is a surprise inactive, expect Jameson Williams to take on a large role in the passing game. Tim Patrick, who has flashed this season, would assume WR2. Allen Robinson would be third on the depth chart. Lions' RB Depth Chart: Who is David Montgomery's Backup? If Montgomery suffers a setback and doesn't play on Thursday, it's safe to say that the Lions will turn to Jahmyr Gibbs to fill his shoes. Gibbs has proven to have an every-down skill set and could reasonably play 90 percent of snaps without Montgomery by his side. If another back were to mix in alongside Gibbs, it would be Craig Reynolds. The six-year veteran has 12 carries this season, most of which have come in blowouts. He would likely play here and there to spell Gibbs, but he wouldn't be a significant factor in the offense. WEEK 13 FANTASY ROSTER MANAGEMENT ADVICE Stock Watch | Start 'Em, Sit 'Em | Sleepers | Busts | Usage Report | Flex Finder | Weather David Montgomery fantasy outlook Week 13 Montgomery has been about as steady of a fantasy producer as they come. He's averaging 16.3 PPR points per game and comes in as the per-game RB13. The quality of the Lions' offensive line allows him to be highly efficient, and he has been provided with 12 goal-line carries this season thanks to the quality of the Detroit offense. He's a talented back in a perfect situation, and he's an every-week fantasy starter. The situation is no different in Week 13, as he comes in as the RB16 in the Sporting News' RB rankings . He can be started with confidence this week despite the knee injury. Amon-Ra St. Brown fantasy outlook Week 13 St. Brown has been very similar to Montgomery in the sense that he is among fantasy's most consistent producers. A year after finishing as the WR3, St. Brown has been the WR2 through 12 weeks. St. Brown is a weekly threat for a 30-percent target share, and he is a regular recipient of short-yardage touchdowns. There are few receivers you'd rather have on fantasy rosters this season. Much like Montgomery, St. Brown is a shoo-in starter every week, and he shouldn't be viewed any differently in this Thanksgiving matchup. He's the WR8 in our rankings and belongs in lineups everywhere against the Bears this week.

With the Murree Tourist Glass Train project's feasibility study due for completion by April 30, 2025, it's being speculated that the scheme has gained strategic importance, given the possibility of it being expanded to Muzaffarabad. According to former Pakistan Railways general manager and the current CEO of the Centre of Excellence in Transportation and Railway Engineering, Ashfaq Khattak, the project holds strategic importance beyond tourism. The feasibility study for the first phase is being conducted by the National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) and is scheduled for completion by April 30, 2025. Following its approval by relevant forums, the project will proceed to international tendering. It will be implemented through a public-private partnership model. According to sources, the feasibility study for the second phase was already completed during former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's third tenure, under the Kashmir Railway initiative. The project will draw parallels to India's operational Jammu-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link. The initial phase of the project includes constructing a 55-kilometre railway track from Islamabad's Margalla Railway Station to Bhara Kahu, Phurwaha Mor, Ghora Gali, Jhika Gali, and Bhurban. In this regard, Ishfaq Khattak has provided technical input for the project to Nespak. Collaborating with the Pak-Austria Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, Khattak emphasised the project's significance, citing its potential to boost tourism along the Islamabad-Murree route. "The use of advanced safety features will ensure the train's operation even during snowfall, enhancing its reliability," he said. The track will utilise a broad gauge or standard gauge system with a cog-and-pinion rack for enhanced safety, Khattak said adding that a single track will be laid between the dual tracks to serve as a safety gear mechanism, allowing for an elevation increase of one foot every 12 feet. It is being seen as a response to India's already operational tourist train service in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir region, which connects Jammu, Srinagar, and Baramulla via a high-speed railway link. This ambitious initiative is expected to not only bolster tourism but also contribute to regional connectivity and strategic positioning. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see ourNew Mexico man awarded $412 million medical malpractice payout for botched injections ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Jurors in New Mexico have awarded a man more than $412 million in a medical malpractice case that involved a men’s health clinic that operates in several states. Canadian Press Nov 27, 2024 1:30 PM Nov 27, 2024 1:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Jurors in New Mexico have awarded a man more than $412 million in a medical malpractice case that involved a men’s health clinic that operates in several states. The man’s attorneys celebrated Monday’s verdict, saying they are hopeful it will prevent other men from falling victim to a scheme that involved fraud and what they described as dangerous penile injections. They said the jury award for punitive and compensatory damages is likely the largest in history for a medical malpractice case. The award follows a trial held in Albuquerque earlier this month that centered on allegations outlined in a lawsuit filed by the man's attorneys in 2020. NuMale Medical Center and company officials were named as defendants. According to the complaint, the man was 66 when he visited the clinic in 2017 in search of treatment for fatigue and weight loss. The clinic is accused of misdiagnosing him and unnecessarily treating him with “invasive erectile dysfunction shots” that caused irreversible damage. “This out of state medical corporation set up a fraudulent scheme to make millions off of conning old men by scaring them with a fake test,” Nick Rowley, the man's attorney, wrote in a social media post that detailed the verdict. Rowley went on to say that the scheme involved clinic workers telling patients they would have irreversible damage if they didn't agree to injections three times a week. NuMale Medical Center President Brad Palubicki said in a statement issued Tuesday that the company is committed to high-quality and safe patient care. He said NuMale disagrees with the verdict and intend to pursue all available legal remedies, including an appeal. A message seeking additional comment was left Wednesday with the company and its attorney. NuMale also has clinics in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, Nebraska, North Carolina and Wisconsin. According to court records, jurors found that fraudulent and negligent conduct by the defendants resulted in damages to the plaintiff. They also found that unconscionable conduct by the defendants violated the Unfair Practices Act. The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Health Canadian non-profit that facilitates abortion pill access sees surge in U.S. requests Nov 27, 2024 1:29 PM Canada didn't live up to its values on immigration in recent years, Carney says Nov 27, 2024 1:16 PM 988 suicide helpline takes more than 300K calls, texts in its first year Nov 27, 2024 12:56 PM

Sylvamo Co. ( NYSE:SLVM – Get Free Report ) saw unusually-high trading volume on Friday . Approximately 1,072,707 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 235% from the previous session’s volume of 320,276 shares.The stock last traded at $78.92 and had previously closed at $81.79. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Sidoti initiated coverage on Sylvamo in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. They set a “buy” rating and a $100.00 target price on the stock. Bank of America reaffirmed an “underperform” rating and issued a $96.00 price target on shares of Sylvamo in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Get Our Latest Analysis on Sylvamo Sylvamo Stock Performance Sylvamo ( NYSE:SLVM – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 12th. The company reported $2.44 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.18 by $0.26. Sylvamo had a return on equity of 30.60% and a net margin of 7.13%. The firm had revenue of $965.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $960.47 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.70 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Sylvamo Co. will post 7.15 earnings per share for the current year. Sylvamo Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, January 6th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.27%. Sylvamo’s payout ratio is presently 27.99%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sylvamo A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of SLVM. Tidal Investments LLC increased its stake in Sylvamo by 150.9% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 22,469 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,929,000 after purchasing an additional 13,512 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Sylvamo by 80.4% during the second quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 23,181 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,590,000 after acquiring an additional 10,332 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Sylvamo by 473.5% in the 3rd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 18,467 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,587,000 after acquiring an additional 15,247 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. lifted its position in Sylvamo by 67.0% in the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 46,518 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,994,000 after acquiring an additional 18,657 shares in the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Sylvamo by 6,693.0% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 69,085 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,931,000 after purchasing an additional 68,068 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.16% of the company’s stock. Sylvamo Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Sylvamo Corporation produces and markets uncoated freesheet for cutsize, offset paper, and pulp in Latin America, Europe, and North America. The company operates through Europe, Latin America, and North America segments. The Europe segment offers copy, tinted, and colored laser printing paper under REY Adagio and Pro-Design brands; and graphic and high-speed inkjet printing papers under the brand Jetstar; as well as produces uncoated freesheet papers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Sylvamo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sylvamo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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