Quebec police arrest man, 51, in connection with death in Val-des-MontsHegseth still seeking support from senators, even as Trump reportedly searches for replacement President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, is still trying to garner support on Capitol Hill even as past allegations of misconduct threaten to sink his bid for the job. Sources tell CBS News that Trump is weighing options for replacing Hegseth. CBS News political reporters Jake Rosen and Taurean Small have more on Hegseth and the tense hearing held Thursday by the task force investigating the assassination attempts against Trump.Welcome to Briefly, Colorado Politics' daily news briefing. Here's what's happening today: Polis, Owens host "Disagree Better" event Gov. Jared Polis hosted an event alongside former Colorado Gov. Bill Owens and Tim Shriver, CEO of the Special Olympics and co-creator of the Dignity Index, a scoring system for ranking the civility and divisiveness of political discourse. The event, "Repairing the Breach in a Time of Political Polarization," included a discussion on how individuals with differing views can communicate respectfully and was part of Polis' Disagree Better initiative through the National Governor's Association. "As public leaders, we have a responsibility to lead with dignity and respect," said Polis. " Research shows that when political leaders stand together publicly and commit to constructively addressing our differences, we can have a depolarizing impact." Other attendees included Paul Edwards of Brigham Young University's Wheatley Institute and a panel of religious leaders. Disagree Better was created by Polis and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. The initiative aims to show that Americans how to work through political differences and have productive, thoughtful conversations. Polis speaks at Ed Commission meeting, visits Denver Indian Health and Family Services Gov. Polis spoke at the Education Commission of the State's Winter commissioners meeting, which brings the states educators together to discuss trends, share initiatives, and collaborate to address challenges. "Helping all students get a high-quality education and secure good jobs in our innovative economy is critical for their future and Colorado’s future," said Polis. "I was excited to discuss my National Governor’s Association Chair Initiative 'Let's Get Ready' at today's meeting and the importance of creating opportunities that lead students to successful careers through many different education paths." Let's Get Ready is Polis' initiative as chair of the National Governor's Association and focuses on how to make sure young people are prepared for the workforce. Polis then visited Denver Indian Health and Family Services, the city's only Indian health clinic. In 2022, Polis signed House Bill 1190 , which appropriated funds to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to address healthcare challenges among Indigenous people living in urban areas. "Providing all Coloradans culturally appropriate care is critical to creating a Colorado For All," Polis said. "I am thankful to Denver Indian Health and Family Services for helping our Native communities receive the care and services needed to thrive." Bennet, Hickenlooper praise federal funding for Springs-based semiconductor company Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper praised the U.S. Department of Commerce's announcement of a $77 million investment from the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, which authorized nearly $300 billion in funding for research and manufacturing of semiconductors in the United States. The newest investment will help semiconductor manufacturer Entegris expand its facility in Colorado Springs, creating about 900 new jobs. "Thanks to the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, we're bringing the semiconductor industry back to America – and more economic opportunity to Colorado," said Bennet. "This historic funding for Entegris will create good-paying jobs and help our state continue to lead the way in advanced manufacturing."How to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Friday, December 6

Eye on state election, Assam CM expands cabinet with 4 new minsKey Takeaways In 2021, Joanna Smith-Griffin, the founder of an education-technology startup, was featured on the Forbes "30 Under 30" list . Last month, she was charged with fraud. Prosecutors allege that she lied to investors for years about her startup, AllHere Education, and the company received $10 million under false pretenses, according to the indictment. Related: An AI Startup CEO on a Forbes '30 Under 30' List Has Been Charged With Defrauding Investors Out of $10 Million Smith-Griffin has joined the infamous group of "30 Under 30" honorees praised by the public and media for their early success — before authorities discovered the illicit shortcuts that got them there. Since 2011, Forbes has used the annual list to celebrate and honor entrepreneurs who have excelled in their fields early in their careers. The company says it thoroughly vets each of the nearly 100,000 nominees annually. As the Guardian's Betsy Reed notes , "The problem here isn't Forbes, the problem is the vision of success that we've been sold and the fetishizing of youth. 30 Under 30 isn't just a list, it's a mentality: a pressure to achieve great things before youth slips away from you." So, next time you feel discouraged about not reaching goals by a certain age, remember these "30 Under 30" recipients who were honored for their accomplishments in their youth—but had to cut corners and cross legal lines to get there. Sam Bankman-Fried Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, was named to the list in 2021 for Finance. Bankman-Fried started Alameda Research in 2017, and later founded FTX in 2019, which was valued at $32 billion in 2022. But in November of that year, FTX filed for bankruptcy after struggling to raise funds and facing a liquidity crisis, and U.S. prosecutors accused him of fraud. He was arrested in the Bahamas in December 2022 and charged with defrauding investors in a scheme that led to the bankruptcy of his company. In February, four additional charges were added to his docket for conspiring to make over 300 illegal political donations. Currently, Bankman-Fried is out on bail, living at his parents' house, and awaiting trial (which is scheduled for October). Related: Who Is FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried? Everything to Know About the Disgraced Crypto King Elizabeth Holmes Elizabeth Holmes founded Theranos in 2003, a company that promised a revolutionary blood testing technology, and was once hailed as the world's "youngest self-made female billionaire." The company caught the attention of high-profile investors and companies (many of which never even saw the technology before investing) and raked up partnerships with big-name brands like Safeway and Walgreens. Holmes was never officially on the "30 Under 30" list, however, she did headline the "Under 30 Summit" in 2015, where she also accepted the "Under 30 Doers Award" for her work in the healthcare industry and the potential impact of her company's technology. However, just weeks after accepting her Doers Award, Holmes became the subject of an investigation by The Wall Street Journal , raising questions about the legitimacy of her technology. What ensued was nothing short of one mishap after another: failed lab inspections, a slew of lawsuits, and the not-to-be-forgotten net worth dip of $4.5 billion to $0 in 2016. Finally, in 2018, it was revealed that the technology simply didn't work, the company collapsed, and Holmes was charged by the SEC with "massive fraud," alleging Holmes knowingly misled investors and the public. Elizabeth Holmes in 2015. David Paul Morris | Getty Images. After nearly a year of delays due to the pandemic, Holmes' trial began in 2021, and she was ultimately convicted on four counts of fraud in 2022 and sentenced to 11 years in prison. After a request for a new trial was denied in November 2022, Holmes began her sentence in May 2023. Through it all, Holmes has maintained her innocence. She is currently serving time in prison in Bryan, Texas. Holmes' story of deceit has been the subject of widespread media coverage, including a 2019 HBO documentary, The Inventor, and 2022 Hulu miniseries, The Dropout ( for which Amanda Seyfried won an Emmy for her portrayal of the disgraced founder). Related: I Worked Side By Side With Elizabeth Holmes. She Seemed Like a Visionary, but We Were All Duped — and It's a Comfort to See Justice Served. Charlie Javice Charlie Javice, known for her college financial planning startup Frank, was indicted in May 2023 for wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy charges. Javice's alleged crimes center on exaggerating the value of her startup during its acquisition by JPMorgan Chase in 2021. Javice was named to the list in 2019 in the category of Finance after founding her company Frank, which aimed to help students apply for loans more efficiently. Prosecutors claim that she misled the bank by fabricating data and inflating the number of Frank customers. Javice allegedly asked her director of engineering to create fake data, but when he refused, she hired a data scientist to generate a spreadsheet with millions of false user accounts for the $175 million acquisition , and JPMorgan ultimately acquired the app. However, in November 2022, an internal investigation led to her termination, followed by her arrest in April. In January 2023, JP Morgan sued Javice for defrauding the company. Javice now faces charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy. She is currently out on bail and has maintained her plea of not guilty . Martin Skrekli Martin Shkreli was named to the list in 2012 for Finance. At the time, he was recognized for his work as a hedge fund manager and entrepreneur. Shkreli had gained attention for his success in the biotech industry, particularly his involvement with Retrophin, a pharmaceutical company he founded. Shkreli went on to co-founded several hedge funds and pharmaceutical companies, including Turing Pharmaceuticals, which notoriously acquired the life-saving antiparasitic and antimalarial drug, Daraprim and then raised its price by 5,455% in 2015. The move earned Shkreli, then called "Pharma Bro," another title: "the most hated man in America ." In December 2015, he was arrested on charges of securities fraud and conspiracy. The charges stemmed from his involvement with two hedge funds, MSMB Capital Management and MSMB Healthcare, as well as Retrophin. Shkreli was accused of mismanaging funds, using assets from one of his companies to pay off debts from another, and defrauding investors. The allegations included a scheme in which he illegally used Retrophin's assets to repay investors who had lost money in his hedge funds. Peter Foley | Getty Images In 2017, he was convicted of securities fraud and conspiracy, resulting in a seven-year prison sentence and significant fines. In 2022, Shkreli was released from prison (about four months early) and is now consulting for a law firm and living with his sister in Queens, New York, according to the U.S. Probation Office. Related: 'The Most Hated Man in America' Where Is Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli Now? Shkreli also gained notoriety in 2015 when he purchased the sole copy of the Wu-Tang Clan album, "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin," for $2 million at an auction. Fans and the music industry vets criticized the lack of accessibility to such a culturally significant work, exacerbated by Shkreli's decision to keep it as a rare collectible without plans for a public release. Following his conviction, the album was seized by the government (along with his other assets) and ultimately sold in 2021 as part of the forfeiture process. The sale of the album completes Shkreli's payment of the forfeiture, and the buyer and price remain confidential. Obinwanne Okeke Obinwanne Okeke, a Nigerian-born entrepreneur, was revered for his achievements in construction, agriculture, and real estate. But in 2021, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a computer-based fraud scheme that caused approximately $11 million in losses to his victims. Okeke operated a group of companies — including the Invictus Group, which was the center of Okeke's 2016 "30 Under 30" title — but ultimately conducted various computer-based frauds from 2015 to 2019. Okeke's scheme involved obtaining credentials from hundreds of victims and engaging in "email compromise." Through fraudulent wire transfer requests and fake invoices, Okeke and his conspirators transferred nearly $11 million overseas. He also carried out other forms of cyber fraud, including phishing emails and creating fraudulent web pages. Okeke is serving his sentence and will be released in 2028. Nate Paul In June 2023, Nate Paul, an investor once regarded as a "real estate prodigy," was indicted on eight felony charges for allegedly making false statements on loan applications, which ultimately led to banks loaning the investor over $170 million. According to the indictment , in one application, Paul claimed to have an account with $31.6 million in cash, when in reality the account in question had less than $500,000. Paul's alleged violations took place between March 2017 and April 2018. In 2016, Paul was named to the "30 Under 30" list for founding his real estate investment firm. In November, Paul served a 10-day jail sentence after being held in contempt of court after accusations of financial mismanagement. Paul is still facing federal criminal charges for bank fraud.SYDNEY, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vast Renewables Limited (“Vast”) (Nasdaq: VSTE), a leading Australian green energy technology company, held its Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) on November 27, updating shareholders on progress towards deploying its next generation concentrated solar power (“CSP”) solution to deliver clean, continuous dispatchable power and heat. The AGM saw Vast’s Chairman, Peter Botten, and CEO, Craig Wood, provide updates on the company’s achievements throughout 2024 and the outlook for the year ahead. All resolutions were successfully passed at the AGM, with Craig Wood, Colin Richardson and William Restrepo all re-elected as Directors. The AGM follows Vast’s recent announcement that it has signed an updated funding agreement to access up to $30 million of its existing $65 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (“ARENA”). The funding and Vast’s progress throughout 2024 pave the way for another successful year ahead. Vast’s technology is set to be deployed at utility-scale in Port Augusta, South Australia at the Vast Solar 1 (“VS1”) project to deliver green, reliable and affordable energy for South Australia’s grid. The technology will also power a world-first co-located renewable methanol production facility, Solar Methanol 1 (“SM1”). A real world, in-demand application for hydrogen, renewable methanol has the potential to decarbonise shipping and is already being used to power major container vessels. Leveraging Australia’s natural resources, the projects are set to be a catalyst for a domestic Australian CSP industry, creating highly skilled green manufacturing and operational jobs, and helping Australia become an export powerhouse by supplying Australian green technology to clean energy projects around the world. Vast is attracting significant interest from major investors, industry and international governments. Along with funding from ARENA, Vast is backed by EDF and Nabors Industries, and Vast’s renewable methanol project is supported by Mabanaft and the German Government. The following addresses were made by Vast’s Chairman Peter Botten and CEO Craig Wood during Vast’s Annual General Meeting on November 27, 2024. Chairman’s Address from Peter Botten 2024 has been a pivotal year in the growth of Vast since the business combination with Nabors Energy Transition Corp was completed in December last year. Significant progress has been made this year towards Vast’s vision of delivering continuous, carbon free energy to the world, leveraging our next generation CSP technology As announced earlier this week, Vast has secured up to $30m of funding from ARENA. This is an important signal of confidence from ARENA in the potential of Vast’s technology to power Australia’s energy transition, and we’re grateful for their ongoing support. Vast continues to progress towards final investment decision on our utility-scale CSP reference project in Port Augusta, South Australia (VS1). The project paves the way for Vast’s pipeline of utility-scale projects in Australia and internationally. Alongside generating green electricity for the grid, we believe Vast’s technology will have a key role to play in reducing the cost of sustainable fuels production. Vast is also progressing a co-located renewable methanol production facility (SM1) at the Port Augusta site, partnering with German fuels giant Mabanaft on that project. During the year, Vast also expanded its presence in the US market, signing a project development partnership with Houston-based renewables developer GGS Energy. As Vast looks to 2025, the key focus will be on: We continue to see growing demand for the continuous, affordable electricity and heat our CSP technology can deliver. We believe it will be a critical solution to decarbonise the grid and phase out coal in sunny countries. We also see continued demand for our technology to power sustainable fuels production as well as off-grid use cases, including mining, industrial processes and data centres. CEO’s Address from Craig Wood As Peter mentioned, our utility-scale CSP reference project in Port Augusta, VS1, is progressing well. The plant will have 30MW capacity and 8 hours of thermal storage, providing dispatchable overnight power critical to stabilising South Australia’s grid. We recently finalised the FEED stage and we’re working diligently with our partners towards achieving Final Investment Decision in Q1 2025 with construction to commence shortly thereafter. The project has received support from the Australian Government, including from ARENA and the Department for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water. The co-located renewable methanol plant, SM1, is also progressing well through the pre-FEED stage. The project will produce 7,500 tonnes of renewable methanol per annum, which will help decarbonise the local maritime industry. As a world-first project, we’re thrilled to be partnering with German company Mabanaft on this effort. Financial close is currently targeted for 2025. Vast continues to strengthen our market-leading proprietary CSP technology, and to build out our manufacturing capability ahead of delivering Vast equipment into the VS1 project. Our solution leverages the abundant sunshine in sunbelt countries like Australia to power homes, industry and transport with green, reliable and affordable energy. We continue to improve the cost and performance of our modular, scalable technology, and to de-risk its manufacture and operation. Vast equipment is currently being produced at our facility in Queensland, Australia, and we’ll be scaling up our manufacturing capability to deliver to the Port Augusta projects starting in 2025. Throughout 2024, we’ve also invested in our business systems and capabilities to set ourselves up for success. Vast has had a strong emphasis on safety during 2024, and we are focused on improving our safety performance as we head towards construction on site next year. We are investing in a new ERP to replace legacy systems as our requirements continue to evolve. We are also developing the quality and project control systems necessary to deliver the Port Augusta projects. All of this activity means Vast’s team has continued to grow throughout the year, both in Australia and the US. This growth will continue early into 2025, and then accelerate as we move into construction of the VS1 and SM1 projects. As Peter mentioned, we were delighted to announce earlier this week that Vast continues to enjoy strong support from ARENA as evidenced by up to $30m of funding being made available to the business, subject to certain milestones being achieved. This funding is important as it creates a runway to support Vast in completing the necessary activities to achieve financial close on VS1 and SM1, and to continue the build out of our Australian green technology manufacturing business. As part of that release, we also updated the estimated capital cost for VS1 to AUD360-390million. We look forward to another successful year in 2025 as we move into construction on VS1 and SM1, deliver Vast technology through our manufacturing business, and expand our project development pipeline in Australia, the US and other global markets. We thank you, our shareholders, all of our partners and our employees for their ongoing support. About Vast Vast is a renewable energy company that has CSP systems to generate, store, and dispatch carbon-free, utility-scale electricity, industrial heat, or a combination to enable the production of sustainable fuels. Vast’s CSP v3.0 approach utilises a proprietary, modular sodium loop to efficiently capture and convert solar heat into these end products. On December 19, 2023, Vast listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “VSTE”, while remaining headquartered in Australia. Visit www.vast.energy for more information. Contacts For Investors: Caldwell Bailey ICR, Inc. VastIR@icrinc.com For US media: Matt Dallas ICR, Inc. VastPR@icrinc.com For Australian media: Nick Albrow Wilkinson Butler nick@wilkinsonbutler.com ‍Forward Looking Statements The information included herein and in any oral statements made in connection herewith include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included herein, regarding the Port Augusta project, Vast's future financial performance, Vast's strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used herein, including any oral statements made in connection herewith, the words "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "project," "should," "will," the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on Vast management's current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Vast disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Vast cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Vast. These risks include, but are not limited to, general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; Vast's ability to obtain financing on commercially acceptable terms or at all; Vast’s ability to manage growth; Vast's ability to execute its business plan, including the completion of the Port Augusta project , at all or in a timely manner and meet its projections; potential litigation, governmental or regulatory proceedings, investigations or inquiries involving Vast, including in relation to Vast's recent business combination; the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of Vast's recent business combination; costs related to that business combination; changes in applicable laws or regulations and general economic and market conditions impacting demand for Vast's products and services. Additional risks are set forth in the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended June 30, 2024, dated September 9, 2024, as amended on November 7, 2024, and other documents filed, or to be filed with the SEC by Vast. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described herein and in any oral statements made in connection therewith occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact Vast's expectations can be found in Vast's periodic filings with the SEC. Vast's SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov

Magnitude 7 earthquake strikes off California coastINDIANAPOLIS (AP) — There's more than just school pride and bragging rights to all that bellyaching over who might be in and who might be out of college football 's first 12-team playoff. Try the more than $115 million that will be spread across the conferences at the end of the season, all depending on who gets in and which teams go the farthest. According to the College Football Playoff website , the 12 teams simply making the bracket earn their conferences $4 million each. Another $4 million goes to conferences whose teams get into the quarterfinals. Then, there's $6 million more for teams that make the semifinals and another $6 million for those who play for the title. Most of this bonanza comes courtesy of ESPN, which is forking over $1.3 billion a year to televise the new postseason. A lot of that money is already earmarked — more goes to the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference than the Big 12 or Atlantic Coast — but a lot is up for grabs in the 11 games that will play out between the opening round on Dec. 20 and the final on Jan. 20. In all, the teams that make the title game will bring $20 million to their conferences, all of which distribute that money, along with billions in TV revenue and other sources, in different ways. In fiscal 2022-23, the Big Ten, for instance, reported revenue of nearly $880 million and distributed about $60.5 million to most of its members. The massive stakes might help explain the unabashed lobbying coming from some corners of the football world, as the tension grows in advance of Sunday's final rankings, which will set the bracket. Earlier this week, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark lit into the selection committee, which doesn't have a single team higher than 15 in the rankings. That does two things: It positions the Big 12 as a one-bid league, and also threatens to makes its champion — either Arizona State or Iowa State — the fifth-best among conference titlists that get automatic bids. Only the top four of those get byes, which could cost the Big 12 a spot in the quarterfinals — or $4 million. “The committee continues to show time and time again that they are paying attention to logos versus resumes,” Yormark said this week, while slamming the idea of teams with two losses in his conference being ranked worse than teams with three in the SEC. The ACC is also staring at a one-bid season with only No. 8 SMU inside the cut line of this week's projected bracket. Miami's loss last week all but bumped the Hurricanes out of the playoffs, a snub that ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said left him “incredibly shocked and disappointed." “As we look ahead to the final rankings, we hope the committee will reconsider and put a deserving Miami in the field," Phillips said in a statement. The lobbying and bickering filters down to the campuses that feel the impact. And, of course, to social media. One of the most entertaining episodes came earlier this week when athletic directors at Iowa State and SMU went back and forth about whose team was more deserving. There are a few stray millions that the selection committee cannot really influence, including a $3 million payment to conferences that make the playoff. In a reminder that all these kids are going to school, after all, the conferences get $300,000 per football team that meets academic requirements to participate in the postseason. (That's basically everyone). Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it notches a winning week and another Dow record

Misbranded and counterfeit rice seeds: Panel directs FSC&RD to take action

NoneHealth centre gets ₹25L new machineThe claim: Image shows armored vehicles in Seoul, South Korea, after martial law declaration A Dec. 3 Instagram post ( direct link , archive link ) shows a convoy of military vehicles driving down a street with signs written in Korean. "Troop movement in Seoul, South Korea after the declaration of martial law!" reads text written across the top of the picture. The post garnered more than 100 likes in two days. Other versions of the claim were shared on Facebook , Instagram , Threads and X . More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page Our rating: False The image predates the martial law declaration by nearly a year. It was captured during a military training exercise in January. Convoy image captured in January South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked many on Dec. 3 by suddenly declaring martial law , a move that grants the military authority over civilians in times of emergency and can include the suspension of civil rights. The action was instantly met with vocal political opposition and protests in Seoul, leading Yoon to reverse the declaration within hours. Though armed troops were photographed near the National Assembly building in Seoul, the image shared on Instagram predates the incident by months. Fact check : An Israeli jet shooting down a Hezbollah drone? No, video is digital creation The picture was included in an article published by the South Korean outlet Seoul Shinmun on Jan. 27, nearly 11 months before Yoon's martial law declaration. The photo was taken from a Korean Forces Network video posted to YouTube Jan. 25. Several similar photos and videos of the vehicles were featured in the article as well. The Defense Media Agency explained at the time that the photo showed the 1st Security Brigade of the Capital Defense Command of the Army conducting a military training exercise in downtown Seoul. The outlet reported the exercise was performed "to understand the operational environment of Seoul and strengthen the readiness posture." The Maeil Business Newspaper published an article the same day with a similar photo and video of the convoy, reiterating a nearly identical explanation provided by the National Defense Information Service. USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Snopes and Lead Stories also debunked the claim. Our fact-check sources Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here . USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta .

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NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin topped $100,000 for the first time this week as a massive rally in the world's most popular cryptocurrency, largely accelerated by the election of Donald Trump, rolls on. The 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.Elon Musk, the world's richest person and one of Donald Trump's closest allies, met with US lawmakers Thursday on his plans for overseeing radical government spending cuts under the incoming administration. President-elect Trump rewarded the Tesla, X and SpaceX chief for his support during the White House campaign by naming him head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, along with another wealthy ally, Vivek Ramaswamy. Although the office, dubbed DOGE, has a purely advisory role, Musk's star power and intense influence in Trump's inner circle bring political clout. As Musk and Ramaswamy strode into the Capitol for meetings with lawmakers, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson touted "a new day in America." "There's an enormous amount of waste, fraud and abuse," he told reporters. "Government is too big, it does too many things, and it does almost nothing well." Musk and Ramaswamy have said they can identify billions of dollars of cuts in spending, sparking questions about whether Republicans will even try to slash politically popular social security programs. Writing in the Wall Street Journal last month, the two businessmen laid out plans for the White House to cut staff, trim government programs and reduce federal regulations, even if it means bypassing Congress, which holds budgetary power. "The entrenched and ever-growing bureaucracy represents an existential threat to our republic, and politicians have abetted it for too long," Musk and Ramaswamy wrote. "We're doing things differently. We are entrepreneurs, not politicians. During Trump's election campaign, Musk vowed to reduce federal spending by $2 trillion. This would represent cutting total US spending by a third, almost certainly meaning devastation of social support programs -- something that has never garnered strong political backing. Musk's emphasis on firing large numbers of government employees, however, echoes Republican talking points about the need to take on an overbearing state and may garner more support. Musk says he is seeking "mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy." Musk suggested banning government employees from working at home as an opening tactic. "Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome." Cuts will also target subsidies to public broadcasters and groups such as Planned Parenthood, which campaigns for abortion access and offers an array of reproductive health services. But DOGE is unlikely, at least initially, to go after welfare programs such as Social Security or health insurance for the poor and seniors, Ramaswamy said in an interview with Axios on Wednesday. Such cuts should be "a policy decision that belongs to the voters" and their representatives in Congress, Ramaswamy said. A reduction in military spending, which climbed to $820 billion in 2023, is also unlikely to be on the table. Musk's new role raises the question of potential conflicts of interest, since he could be issuing policy recommendations that impact directly on his own business empire. Underlining the close connection to DOGE, Musk's favorite cryptocurrency is called Dogecoin. rle/ev/md/sms/md

Guwahati: A lower court in Assam’s Jorhat district ordered a reinvestigation by a different investigating officer into the case of the alleged death by suicide of Dipankar Gogoi, allegedly after mental and physical torture by police. The court of the sub-divisional judicial magistrate (M) in Titabor said: “For ensuring public confidence, accountability and transparency, this case must be reinvestigated by a senior police personnel, who will be selected by the present superintendent of police of Jorhat and who shall investigate the case without fear and favour, following the constitutional morality and oath taken at the time of joining the service.” In the case, the prime accused is IPS officer Mohan Lal Meena , who was then Jorhat SP. Rimly Gogoi Saikia, in her protest petition filed in objection to the final report submitted by the police, alleged that her brother Dipankar was picked up by the police on Dec 22 last year without any reason. The then SP Meena pointed his service pistol at Dipankar’s head and forced him to confess and take responsibility for a bomb blast that occurred in Lichubari on Dec 14. Saikia alleged that Dipankar was brutally tortured by the police when he did not take responsibility and pleaded his innocence. However, on Dec 26, Dipankar’s body was found hanging from a tree in the back garden of their house. Saikia alleged that her brother took the extreme step due to police torture. During the hearing on Tuesday, the court noted that the post-mortem report mentioned marks and bruises on the body of the deceased, but the IO didn’t take cognisance of the report, didn’t take statements from witnesses and closed the case. Taking cognisance of the final report, post-mortem and protest petition filed by Saikia, the court held that only a fair investigation can ensure a fair trial. We also published the following articles recently Court orders reinvestigation into suicide of Dipankar after police torture A Jorhat court has ordered a fresh investigation into the alleged suicide of Dipankar Gogoi, purportedly following police torture. Gogoi's sister claims police, including then-SP Mohan Lal Meena, subjected him to brutal interrogation and threats regarding a bomb blast. Despite post-mortem findings indicating injuries, the initial investigation was deemed inadequate. Court case ordered against five cops for alleged custodial torture A Vadodara court ordered a complaint against five policemen, including a senior officer, for allegedly assaulting a Bhavnagar computer engineer. Ashish Chauhan accused the officers of assaulting him in custody after being picked up for questioning in a vehicle theft case in 2020. The court summoned the officers, including then-DCP Karanrajsinh Vaghela, to appear on December 18th. Biker killed in Jorhat accident A tragic late-night collision in Jorhat district, Assam, claimed the life of a 50-year-old motorcyclist, Raj Saikia. An 18-wheeler lorry, travelling on NH-37 towards Sivasagar, struck Saikia, who was attempting to avoid an oncoming truck. The lorry driver fled the scene, and police are currently reviewing CCTV footage to identify the vehicle. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .