EC: Bluesky Breaches Rules by Not Disclosing Number of UsersROCHESTER – Right now, Ryan Johnson, the defenseman who played 41 games for the Buffalo Sabres as a rookie last season, ranks eighth or ninth on their depth chart. Last month, Johnson, 23, returned to Rochester, where he has quietly been gobbling up minutes alongside Jack Rathbone on the Americans’ top defense tandem. If the Sabres lose another defenseman to injury – after beginning the season with eight, Mattias Samuelsson recently went down – the youngster could be recalled. So as he patiently waits for his next opportunity, Johnson has developed into a stronger prospect, improving his consistency and defending. “His game has just grown so much and ... he’s just knocking on the door,” said Amerks assistant coach Nathan Paetsch, who’s in charge of the defense. Paetsch has coached him for the last two seasons in Rochester and visited him at the University of Minnesota for two years as a development coach. He knows him as well as anyone. “It’s the best hockey I’ve ever seen him play,” Paetsch said following Tuesday’s practice in Blue Cross Arena. “I think he’s taken it like a true pro and got better. I mean, he’s been so consistent. I’ve never seen his game this consistent. He has been just outstanding.” Paetsch said the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Johnson’s “defensive game has really taken a jump.” “He has just been a stalwart for us defensively,” he said. So Johnson, the 31st overall pick in 2019, and Rathbone, a free agent the Sabres signed during the offseason, are regularly awarded the difficult assignment of shutting down the opposition’s top line. “He and Rathbone have been a true shutdown D pair, even using their athleticism and just compete,” Paetsch said. Paetsch said their speed helps them reach pucks first. In 50-50 battles, they come hard and often win. “And it’s out of their zone,” he said. “They haven’t had to defend a lot, because either they’ve shut it down in the neutral zone or they’ve broken out pucks really fast out of the D-zone.” As a first-round pick, Johnson receives more attention. But Rathbone, 25, possesses notable talent. He played 17 games for the Vancouver Canucks over his first three pro seasons after leaving Harvard following his sophomore campaign. “He’s a really fun player to play with,” Johnson said. “I just love his game, love how explosive he is. It’s just very skilled and powerful.” Johnson, of course, knew he would likely return to the AHL, where he started and finished last season. The Sabres, having traded for Bowen Byram last season, signed Dennis Gilbert and brought back Jacob Bryson, have a surfeit of defenders. Kale Clague, who was also re-signed, accompanied the Sabres overseas to start the season before joining Rochester. He could be summoned ahead of Johnson. “It’s going to be another challenge, for sure,” Johnson said in September of the defense depth. “It’s going to be another hard situation where there’s a lot of guys, amazing players ahead of me right now in the lineup, so I guess how can I make the most of each day?” Paetsch believes Johnson has seized his opportunity with the Amerks and morphed into one of their “go-to guys.” The only thing that might be missing from Johnson’s game is a goal. In 83 total pro appearances between Buffalo and Rochester, he hasn’t scored yet. Johnson, who has registered 20 assists, including three in 15 outings this season, believes he can add more offense to his game. “It’s definitely inside of me,” he said. Paetsch said Johnson has put himself in perfect places to score that elusive goal. “It’s got to come,” he said. “I might jump on the ice and celebrate, because he deserves it. He’s had so many scoring chances every game, and one of those is just bound to go in. It’s inevitable.”ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan gave athletic director Warde Manuel a five-year contract extension Thursday on the heels of the Wolverines' upset over rival Ohio State and a strong start to the basketball season. Manuel, who has held the position since 2016, signed through June 30, 2030, the school announced. Manuel is also chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee. “During Warde’s tenure as director, Athletics has put a structure in place where our student-athletes compete for Big Ten and national championships, excel in the classroom, and proudly graduate with their University of Michigan degrees,” university President Santa J. Ono said in the announcement. Michigan had a disappointing football season, finishing 7-5 (5-4 Big Ten), but a 13-10 win over then-No. 2 Ohio State took some pressure off of the program. The Buckeyes were favored by 21 points, the widest point spread for the rivalry since 1978, according to ESPN Stats and Info. The Wolverines won the national championship last year in their final season led by coach Jim Harbaugh, whose tenure at the school involved multiple NCAA investigations for recruiting and sign-stealing allegations. Manuel supported Harbaugh through those processes. In basketball, the women's team made its season debut (No. 23) in the AP Top 25 this week. The men are 7-1 a season after firing coach Juwan Howard, who lost a school-record 24 games in 2023-24 as Michigan plummeted to a last-place finish in the Big Ten for the first time since 1967. Michigan has won 52 Big Ten championships since 2020. “Every day, I am thankful to work at this great institution and to represent Michigan Athletics," Manuel said in a statement. "I especially want to thank the student-athletes, coaches and staff who compete for each of our teams and who have helped us achieve unparalleled success athletically and academically. I am excited to continue giving back to a university that has provided me with so much over my career.” 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
BEIJING , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheche Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CCG ) ("Cheche" or the "Company"), China's leading auto insurance technology platform, today announced that it received a notification letter dated November 15, 2024 (the "Notification Letter "), from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. (the "Nasdaq"), indicating that the Company is no longer in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement set forth in Rule 5550(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules as the Company's closing bid price per Class A ordinary share, par value US$0.00001 per share, has been below US$1.00 for a period of 30 consecutive business days. The Notification Letter does not result in the immediate delisting of the Company's securities. The Company would like to clarify that the Notification Letter has no current effect on the listing or trading of the Company's securities on Nasdaq. Pursuant to Rule 5810(c)(3)(A) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the Company has a compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until May 14, 2025 (the "Compliance Period"), to regain compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price requirement. If at any time during the Compliance Period, the closing bid price per Class A ordinary share is at least US$1.00 for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days, Nasdaq will provide the Company a written confirmation of compliance and the matter will be closed. In the event that the Company does not regain compliance by May 14, 2025 , subject to the determination by the staff of Nasdaq, it may be eligible for an additional 180 calendar days compliance period if it meets the continued listing requirements for market value of publicly held shares and all other initial listing standards, with the exception of the bid price requirement of the Nasdaq, and provides written notice to Nasdaq of its intention to cure for the minimum bid price requirement. The Company intends to monitor the closing bid price of its Class A ordinary shares between now and May 14, 2025 , and is considering its options to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The Company is currently in compliance with all other Nasdaq continued listing standards. The Notification Letter does not affect the Company's business operations, its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements or contractual obligations. Safe Harbor Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements also include, but are not limited to, statements regarding existing and new partnerships and customer relationships, projections, estimation, and forecasts of revenue and other financial and performance metrics, projections of market opportunity and expectations, the Company's ability to scale and grow its business, the Company's advantages and expected growth, and its ability to source and retain talent, as applicable. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of the Company's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties, or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that it has a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, the Company cautions you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known and projections of the future, which are inherently uncertain. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent the views of the Company as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements. About Cheche Group Inc. Established in 2014 and headquartered in Beijing, China , Cheche is a leading auto insurance technology platform with a nationwide network of around 108 branches licensed to distribute insurance policies across 25 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China . Capitalizing on its leading position in auto insurance transaction services, Cheche has evolved into a comprehensive, data-driven technology platform that offers a full suite of services and products for digital insurance transactions and insurance SaaS solutions in China . Learn more at https://www.chechegroup.com/en . Cheche Group Inc.: [email protected] Crocker Coulson [email protected] (646) 652-7185 SOURCE Cheche Group Inc.LAS VEGAS — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. “Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.” Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. “The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team,” Michael Andretti posted on social media. “I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!” The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti’s dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA . The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1’s current grid. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1."
Richland Parish, an idyllic rural area in northeast Louisiana, USA, is set to host a gigantic new Meta datacenter. But instead of being powered by one of the on-site nuclear power plants Zuckercorp has previously advocated for, the facility is opting to drive its AI computing workload by burning more fossil fuels. The 4 million square foot, $10 billion facility, hailed by Louisiana governor Jeff Landry as "a game changer," is one of the largest private capital investments in the history of the bayou state and will be Meta's largest-ever datacenter, the Facebook parent said . As the governor's announcement noted, construction on the facility will "continue through 2030" despite groundbreaking planned for this month - in other words, right in line with Meta's plans to ramp up nuclear power for its next generation of AI datacenters as shared in a request for proposals (RFP) yesterday. Meta has decided to jump the atomic gun with this project by partnering with Entergy instead. The power generation company plans to construct three combined-cycle combustion turbine (CCCT) plants with a total energy generation capacity of 2,262 megawatts. CCCT plants burn natural gas, but are configured (and marketed) as less pollutive than traditional natural gas power plants. Along with burning natural gas to spin a gas turbine, combined cycle plants use waste heat to spin a secondary steam turbine, thus creating more watts for their carbon buck. They're still burning natural gas to do so, of course, thus releasing more of the greenhouse gases - an issue Meta has pledged to address (with the purchase of offsets, naturally) by the end of the decade. According to Entergy, the three CCCT plants being constructed for the project, two of which will be housed on-site at the Franklin Farm mega site with one located elsewhere, are being built with the ability to be 30 percent hydrogen co-fired to reduce emissions. Entergy said that the plants will also be able to someday transition to 100 percent hydrogen fired "through future upgrades," though the company didn't answer questions from The Register about the timeline or feasibility of improvements to make that transition. SREA is concerned about the large amount of greenhouse gas emissions these three new gas plants will produce, and the unproven nature of the technology Entergy is proposing to install 'in the future' to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions that will be produced by these gas power plants Per a US Energy Information Administration report on hydrogen co-firing from September, only a handful of natural gas plants in the US have "taken early steps to integrate hydrogen into their fuel streams," with a few of those just reaching the point of testing co-firing. "Natural gas is the single-largest source of energy used to generate electricity in the United States, making up 43% of electricity generation in 2023, but hydrogen use is not currently widespread or used regularly in the plants where it has been tested," The EIA said. Additionally, as Southern Renewable Energy Association (SREA) regulatory director Whit Cox said in a statement [PDF] his association put out about the project before it was clear that Meta was behind the matter, 2,262 MW of energy from natural gas is a lot. The power that'll be generated at the Richland Parish datacenter is more than three times the power of a plant Entergy is building for a new Amazon datacenter in Mississippi, and more than 20 times the size of Entergy's Bayou Power Station, which was recently canceled due to cost concerns. "SREA is concerned about the large amount of greenhouse gas emissions these three new gas plants will produce, and the unproven nature of the technology Entergy is proposing to install 'in the future' to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions that will be produced by these gas power plants," Cox said. Andy Kowalczyk, SREA's transmission director, further explained that hydrogen power isn't necessarily emissions free: Sure, burning it doesn't emit greenhouse gases, but there's the matter of its creation that isn't addressed in Entergy's or Meta's statements on the project. "Another question on hydrogen is where it comes from, and if it's grey hydrogen , or even blue hydrogen from gas, what is the point," Kowalczyk told us. Both grey and blue hydrogen production involve the use of natural gas processed using steam methane reformation, which releases greenhouse gasses as a byproduct. Blue hydrogen is only different in that it utilizes carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to mitigate CO2 emissions. Both, otherwise, are a source of pollution. "I just don't think it's meaningful to tack on 'hydrogen co-fired' without a performance or fuel standard attached to it," Kowalczyk added. Beyond the uncertainty of fuel sources and the capability of Entergy to fulfill its co-firing promises, Union of Concerned Scientists energy analyst Paul Arbaje told us in an email that the co-firing percentage at the Richland Parish datacenter won't actually translate into that much greenhouse gas reduction. "The proposed turbines are designed to be able to co-fire up to 30 percent hydrogen before requiring upgrades, which even with low-carbon hydrogen would only yield about an 11 percent reduction in combustion-related carbon dioxide emissions," Arbaje said. "Burning hydrogen can also increase the level of NOx emissions from the plant smokestack, resulting in greater public health harms." Meta and Entergy's statements about its evaluation of deploying greener power at the site didn't pass the sniff test for SREA either, with Cox telling us the pair didn't seem to comprehensively evaluate options beyond the gas power they decided on. Per Entergy's own testimony [PDF] to the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) on the proposal to build the gas-fired plants, "they only evaluated solar and (very expensive) 18 hour batteries as a 'hypothetical' alternative," Cox said, "rather than considering any wind plus storage option to serve the customer's load at night." Cox said that the discussion of storage-only battery solutions is likely just an attempt at deflection "given no utility is currently modeling 18 hour batteries in [integrated resource plans]" for new energy projects. We've asked both Meta and Entergy for additional details about its co-firing plans, hydrogen sourcing for energy at the datacenter, and renewable energy considerations, and Entergy didn't respond to those questions. Meta, on the other hand, only told us it's "working with Entergy now to identify potential clean and renewable energy projects." It's worth pointing out that the CCCT plants have yet to be approved, per the LPSC's docket for the project. Entergy said the facilities are expected to come online between 2028 and 2029 - just before when Meta said it wanted to start deploying all those new nuclear reactors. Great investment, guys. "Building with sustainability in mind is important to us," Meta said in its statement about the project. "Together with our energy partner, Entergy, we are adding enough clean and renewable energy to the grid to cover 100% of the electricity use of our Richland Parish Data Center." That renewable energy will come in the form of at least 1,500 megawatts of new solar generation and storage, but specifics weren't provided, either in statement form or in response to our questions. Along with the unspecified solar project, Entergy noted that Meta has also committed to helping it install CCS technology at one of its power plants in Lake Charles, Louisiana, near the state's southern coast, and the pair have "committed to exploring nuclear energy as a future power supply option alongside renewable sources like solar and wind." "We are committed to matching our global operations with 100 percent clean and renewable energy," Meta told us when asked about why it's rushing to install natural gas at the site instead of waiting for more nuclear power. "Our nuclear RFP announcement earlier this week and our partnership with Entergy to explore nuclear options is part of that." Aside from that, no specific plans were provided. Datacenters in rural communities tend to attract lots of detractors. Out east in Virginia, where datacenter construction is reaching a fever pitch , projects have spilled into rural areas where residents were none too happy about the noise, mess and environmental damage such projects inevitably cause, leading to some messy local politics . We reached out to a number of local sources to get more information about what Richland Parish residents think about the project, but weren't able to get a response. That said, you don't need to go any further than Meta's own press release on the matter to get a taste for what Richland County residents think: There was some optimism in comments on Meta's announcement, but worry was expressed, too. A Facebook user identified as Josh Smith on Meta's press release commented to express concerns about the project, citing loss of cropland, stress on local resources as thousands of temporary construction workers pour in to build the facility, and plain-old worry about whether the community would end up being taken advantage of. "Seems to be a lot of interest from outside cities and parishes that have never cared about anything in Richland parish before this," Smith said, noting that while the project could do a lot of good for the community, as Meta and Entergy have promised, that's far from certain. "There has been a lot of loss for some individuals for the opportunity of growth ... at the end of the day it will all be for nothing if Richland Parish and the residents here are not put first," Smith added. We sent those concerns to Meta, which told us it is "deeply committed to our datacenter communities, and that includes Richland Parish." "We're excited to partner with schools and local organizations in Richland Parish on programs and resources that help build skills and increase the use of technology," Meta spokesperson Stacey Yip told us. "On the environmental side ... we plan to restore over 1,000 acres of prairie, forest, wetlands, and streams at the Richland Parish Data Center. "And on the resources side, we are working together with the community to help support the area's growth," Yip added. She also noted that Meta was working on projects in the area to improve water quality and support restoration of cattle grazing fields near a bayou on the other side of the state, which doesn't exactly support the Richland Parish community. Beyond the environmental issues, there's yet another concern that locals had raised before Meta's involvement in the project was even known: That they could end up being stuck with the bill for new gas-fired power plants and the cost to run them. "The region is already very overly reliant on gas plants, which has not only hit consumers' wallets due to gas price spikes, but has also weakened power grid reliability due to severe plant performance issues during extreme weather events," the UCS' Arbaje said. In addition, Arbaje explained that, according [PDF] to yet more Entergy testimony to the LPSC, Meta would only be paying for a substantial portion of the plants' costs if it signed a second 15-year electricity supply deal. Given Meta's professed plans to go all-in on nuclear energy, that might not happen. "We're wary about the very real risk of Meta not re-signing, or even possibly terminating the initial 15-year contract early," Arbaje said. "That would leave Louisianans on the hook for three large and costly power plants, which could quickly become burdensome stranded assets in a future market environment where they will face significant competition from more affordable renewable power." You might not realize those concerns exist given the fanfare and positive messaging from the Louisiana government, naturally. "Meta's investment establishes the region as an anchor in Louisiana's rapidly expanding tech sector, revitalizes one of our state's beautiful rural areas, and creates opportunities for Louisiana workers to fill high-paying jobs of the future," Governor Landry said. It'll take a few years to see if those hopes come to fruition, but this is looking suspiciously like a rush job to take advantage of new tax incentives signed into law by Landry in June that provide state and local sales and use tax rebates on the purchase or leasing of datacenter equipment. After all, building your largest-ever datacenter in the humid, hot Louisiana countryside isn't exactly a natural choice - especially with Canada beckoning . ®Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel gets 5-year contract extensionSecret Service director touts changes as Congress presses him on Trump assassination attempt
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The price of bitcoin surpassed $100,000 for the first time on Wednesday, soaring to a fresh high as the world's largest cryptocurrency extended a rally set off by the election of former President Donald Trump. Bitcoin has climbed more than 40% since Election Day, when voters opted for a candidate viewed as friendly toward digital currency. Those gains have far outpaced the stock market. The S &P 500 has increased about 2.4% over that period, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq has jumped 2.6%. On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to bolster the cryptocurrency sector and ease regulations enforced by the Biden administration. Trump also promised to establish the federal government's first National Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Trump said he would replace Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, whom many crypto proponents dislike for what they perceive as a robust approach to crypto regulation. Gensler announced that he plans to resign on Jan. 20, 2025, the date of Trump's inauguration. The post-election euphoria has lifted other parts of the crypto sector. Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, has climbed 27%. Lesser-known dogecoin has skyrocketed about 140%, while litecoin has surged 35%. Shares of Coinbase, a top crypto trading platform, have increased more than 70% since Trump's reelection. The growth in recent weeks extends a remarkable turnabout for the once-beleaguered crypto industry. The sector entered this year bruised after a series of high-profile collapses and company scandals. FTX, a multibillion-dollar cryptocurrency exchange co-founded by Sam Bankman-Fried, collapsed in November 2022. The implosion set off a 17-month legal saga that resulted in the conviction of Bankman-Fried for fraud. In April, Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Changpeng Zhao, the founder and former CEO of major cryptocurrency exchange Binance, was sentenced to four months in prison in April after pleading guilty to charges that his platform had enabled illicit financial activity. The reelection of Trump marks the latest in a series of positive developments that have buoyed cryptocurrency this year. Those gains have been propelled, in part, by U.S. approval in January of bitcoin ETFs, or exchange-traded funds. Bitcoin ETFs allow investors to buy into an asset that tracks the price movement of bitcoin, while avoiding the inconvenience and risk of purchasing the crypto coin itself. Last month, options on BlackRock's popular iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) were made available for trading on the Nasdaq. The options, which provide a new avenue for bitcoin investors, allow individuals to commit to buy or sell the ETF at a given price by a specific date. While such investments typically come with additional risk, they can also make large payouts. IBIT inched upward 1% on Friday, reaching a record high of about $56. Bryan Armour, the director of passive strategies research at financial firm Morningstar, attributed the recent crypto surge to investors' anticipation of friendly policy under Trump, as well as the newly available options trading for bitcoin ETFs. Still, the performance of cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, has proven volatile, Armour added. The price of bitcoin could fall, especially if Trump encounters difficulty following through on his campaign commitments, he said. "As long as the narrative stays positive, there's always room to grow," Armour told ABC News before bitcoin reached $100,000. "I also think campaign promises don't always come to fruition." "It's still a highly volatile asset," Armour added.
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Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from “significant widespread misinformation” about the policy. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.Four nights removed from another rough performance, the New York Rangers hope a few days of extra rest and practice can get them trending upward Friday night when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are on a season-high four-game winning streak. The Rangers are 1-6-0 in their past seven games while getting outscored 26-11 in those losses, including 9-2 in the first period. New York stopped a five-game losing streak Saturday when Kaapo Kakko scored with 24 seconds left in a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens, but there was little carryover Monday night. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Stacker analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify drops in HIV-related deaths and look at the causes and impacts. Click for more. HIV isn't the death sentence it once was: How related deaths are dropping in the US
North Carolina has interviewed former New England Patriots coach and six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick for its head coaching position, two people with knowledge of the situation said Thursday. Both people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school isn’t commenting publicly on its search. Belichick’s interview, first reported by Inside Carolina, comes a week after the school fired its winningest coach in College Football Hall of Famer Mack Brown. The school announced Nov. 26 that Brown in his second stint at the school, with Brown to N.C. State. Former Cleveland Browns coach Freddie Kitchens is working as the interim coach for an upcoming bowl game as UNC conducts it search. Moving on from the 73-year-old Brown to hire the 72-year-old Belichick would mean UNC is turning to a coach who has never worked at the college level, yet had incredible NFL success alongside quarterback Tom Brady throughout most of his 24-year tenure with the Patriots . In the time since, he , notably the Atlanta Falcons in January. UNC’s opening comes at a time of rapid changes in college athletics with free player movement through the transfer portal and players able to cash in on their athletic fame with endorsement opportunities. There’s also the impending arrival of revenue sharing, part of a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement proposal that by a judge in October. “I think it’s a great time for me to get out,” Brown said after Saturday’s loss to the Wolfpack. “This isn’t the game that I signed up for. It’s changed so much.” In an earlier this week, athletic director Bubba Cunningham said all the coaches the school is talking with about its job “are playing,” with college football having reached its conference title games before unveiling the 12-team College Football Playoff and bowl assignments. Cunningham said then that “fit” was the most important thing in finding Brown’s successor. “There’s a certain person that’s best suited at the right time, at the right place,” he said. “And right now, that’s we’re looking for: Where are we today, who can lead us in the next three, five, 10 years?” ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: and