Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is set to make his Saints debut. The Saints announced that Edwards-Helaire has been elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Raiders. The Saints signed Edwards-Helaire after he was released by the Chiefs earlier this month. Edwards-Helaire spent the first couple of months of the season on the non-football injury list and did not appear in any games for the Chiefs this season. The Saints ruled out Alvin Kamara, so Edwards-Helaire, who played at LSU before being drafted in the 2020 first round, could see action in his return to Louisiana. The Saints also elevated tackle Austin Deculus for Sunday’s game and they signed guard Kyle Hergel and linebacker Isaiah Stalbird to the active roster. They placed center Erik McCoy and and offensive lineman Lucas Patrick on injured reserve in corresponding moves. They also announced that wide receiver Chris Olave will not be activated from injured reserve.EXCLUSIVE I own more than 100 homes in Australia. If you're a renter, this is why it's time to say THANK YOU to your landlord Investor Sam Gordon believes all Aussies should turn to investment READ MORE: Video of glamorous guests enjoying a luxury boat party enrages Aussies By MAX ALDRED FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 20:57 AEDT, 8 December 2024 | Updated: 20:57 AEDT, 8 December 2024 e-mail 4 View comments A landlord with 108 properties has a message for renters - the country needs more people like him and and he's part of the solution to the housing crisis. Sam Gordon, 34, built an investment empire worth an estimated $48million after 15 years of dealing in Australian property . A recent clip shared on his social media sparked a furore as employees of his investment buyers' firm revealed the size of their property portfolios while they were on a lavish yacht for their Christmas party. Viewers blasted the partygoers as out of touch and 'the whole reason Australia is in a rental crisis'. But Mr Gordon told Daily Mail Australia that many Aussies don't understand the work it took to get to his position. 'You get some people that have taken massive inspiration from (the party video), and then other people who want to throw stones and try and pull you down,' he said. 'People see the end picture now and - I've done very well for myself in 15 years - but I've been doing this for almost half the time that I've been alive. 'I think people just need to realise that it is literally accessible for anyone to do it (invest in property).' Investor Sam Gordon (above) has 108 properties worth an estimated $48million and believes Australia needs more people like him The 34-year-old said investors like himself weren't part of the housing crisis in Australia, instead, they form part of the solution. He argued the Hawke government's shift to favour private acquisitions over government owned public housing meant investors had been left to pick up the slack in the rental market. 'If it weren't for private investors like myself, the government wouldn't be able to afford to supply all the rental properties that Australians need,' Mr Gordon said. 'We're filling a gap that the government can't, and taking pressure off the public housing system. 'The Australian government holds less than one per cent of property in Australia, and 30 per cent of all properties are rental properties.' In the 70s and 80s, public housing made up about 10 per cent of residential dwellings built but over the past decade, it's barely scratched three per cent. 'If someone's willing to put the work in and go down the avenue of building a portfolio, it's literally what the government wants for people to replace their own incomes, or do that as close as possible, or even more,' Mr Gordon said. 'Then, when they get to retirement, they're not relying on the government for the pension.' Sam Gordon has built an expansive empire from humble beginnings in regional NSW Be the first to comment Be one of the first to comment Comments Now have YOUR say! Share your thoughts in the comments. Comment now Mr Gordon's portfolio includes commercial properties and decommissioned public housing stock that he has renovated and put back on the market. 'I buy a lot of stuff that almost 95 per cent of people couldn't buy, and 99 per cent people wouldn't buy, and do a lot of renovations (on the properties) to bring them back,' Mr Gordon said. 'I bought dilapidated, run-down, unliveable (homes) direct from banks, like repossessions. 'And then we renovate and bring that up to standard, and then a lot of the time we'll build a secondary dwelling, which is actually additional rental stock into the marketplace. Read More Aussie woman calls out real estate agent after 'inappropriate' email 'The simple fact is that we're obviously not going to do that for free, it's not a charity. 'We're doing it as a business, but we're also providing on that end as well.' Many have criticised the country's move to privatised housing stock, with detractors arguing discounts provided by social housing are a life-support for those in urgent need of a home. The gap between subsidised government rent and the private market sits at about $15,000 per rental home per year as according to the most recent estimates. The Albanese government has been called upon to provide more social and affordable housing for Australians in the current inflationary market. However, when it comes to personal investments, Mr Gordon said he didn't believe in limiting Aussies' investments and encouraged investors to take advantage of current market conditions. 'I 100 per cent do not agree with with capping people on what they're willing and able to do (to get ahead). 'It is open and available to anyone, but it is a sacrifice. Is everyone willing to do the same amount of sacrifice? One per cent of people will achieve what the 99 per cent of all people won't work to do. 'I think people need to realise that it is literally accessible to anyone to do it, if you're willing to want to educate yourself around how to do it properly.' When he was 19, Mr Gordon put $30,000 of savings he'd accrued for a Toyota Supra into his first investment property in Wollongong after his father suggested it. He said he then researched investment information and didn't worry about a university education, instead pursuing his dream of property ownership. He's since grown his portfolio to an estimated $48million as well as founding his investors' buyers' agency and related podcast, Australian Property Scout. 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NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes reached more records after tech companies talked up how much artificial intelligence is boosting their results. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% Wednesday to add to what looks to be one of its best years of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite added 1.3% to its own record. Salesforce pulled the market higher after highlighting its artificial-intelligence offering for customers. Marvell Technology jumped even more after saying it’s seeing strong demand from AI. Treasury yields eased, while bitcoin climbed after President-elect Donald Trump nominated a crypto advocate to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Peter Dutton (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch) NUCLEAR COSTINGS DAY The day has finally arrived. Some said it would never happen but here we are — today we get the much-promised, long-awaited nuclear power costings from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton . While nothing says “please pay real close attention to my policy’s details” like an announcement on a Friday 12 days before Christmas, unfortunately for Dutton people have been waiting a mighty long time to hear more information on his plans to build seven nuclear power stations around the country and previews of his big reveal are leading the agenda most places this morning. The Nine papers report Dutton “will ask Australians to support hundreds of billions of dollars in new spending on nuclear energy, including a controversial move to use taxpayer subsidies to build the industry while promising to bring down household electricity bills”. The papers say a key part of the Coalition leader’s plans will be an assumption coal-fired power stations will continue to operate as the nuclear plants are built, despite energy companies planning to stop using coal in the near future. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) reckons 90% of coal-fired plants will be shut down before 2035, with complete closure five years later. Disagreeing analysis over the cost of the nuclear plans compared to Labor’s renewable pledges has filled many column inches recently. A rough summary of The Sydney Morning Herald’s reporting goes a bit like: the Coalition handily cites analysis which claims Labor’s renewables rollout will cost $642 billion while its nuclear plan will come in less than $400 billion. The government rejects those figures and cites other analysis that claims its plan will cost $122 billion. Defending the nuclear plans, the Coalition reckons there will be less renewable energy added to the electricity grid than Labor predicts by 2030 and claims renewables will risk blackouts and raise bills. Meanwhile, the CSIRO says the first potential nuclear plant would be completed by 2040 at the earliest (the coalition says 2035) and “a fully operational fleet of nuclear reactors cannot be expected before 2050”. The Nine papers also say the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis believes power bills would rise by $665 a year to repay the cost of building the nuclear plants, while (as previously flagged ) the CSIRO projects nuclear will cost twice as much as renewable energy. So... a whole load of disagreeing over something that potentially isn’t due to provide any help to people’s power bills for decades — something the ABC has picked up and is leading with this morning. The broadcaster points out “senior Coalition sources” have expressed reservations over the nuclear plans, highlighting the fact they will “not map out an energy future in which households would get any immediate or even long-term relief”. A member of the Coalition is quoted as saying: “The fundamental problem is that whichever way you cost it, nuclear power is not hugely cheap. Nuclear will keep the lights on, but it’s hardly going to bring prices back down to where they were 10 years ago.” The ABC reports Coalition strategists are frustrated at the amount of scrutiny Dutton’s plans are getting, complaining Energy Minister Chris Bowen didn’t receive as much over his target of 82% renewable energy by 2030. One could argue perhaps if they’re annoyed over all the attention, maybe they should have considered telling the country a bit earlier about how they planned to fund their eye-catching plan... Anthony Albanese ( see Wednesday’s Worm ) will be shocked to learn The Australian is keen to sell the opposition’s costings vs Labor’s, claiming “wind and solar will still dominate the grid under the Coalition’s model”. RATES CUT HOPES SLIDE There was significant excitement at the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) more dovish interest rates statement earlier this week (even though they were held at 4.35% yet again) but it appears to have already faded. The AAP reports the “drastically stronger than predicted” labour market data yesterday caused economists and traders to scale back their previous predictions of a rate cut finally coming in February. The previous excitement was cut short by the unexpected drop in unemployment to 3.9%. The newswire flags ANZ, Westpac and NAB now reckon the RBA will start its monetary easing cycle in May “given the central bank’s concerns inflation remains too high and unemployment too low”. (Reminder: there’s an election due by May.) Commonwealth Bank still reckons a cut could come in February. For that to happen CBA economist Gareth Aird says trimmed mean inflation (released on January 29) would need to come in below 0.6% (it was 0.8% in September) and the labour market would also need to show signs of softening. The Australian Financial Review says yesterday’s figures cemented Australia’s jobs market “as among the strongest in the developed world”. The paper quotes economists as saying the slowing private sector and employment gains meant “the bulk of the jobs created last month were likely in government-funded industries such as public service, healthcare and education”. Betashares chief economist David Bassanese is quoted as saying: “A low unemployment rate alone should not stand in the way of lower official interest rates next year if inflation continues to decline. Instead, falling inflation and still-low unemployment — were that to occur — should force the RBA to reconsider what it deems to be the non-inflationary rate of unemployment — from its current assumption of 4.5%.” Treasurer Jim Chalmers tried to maintain the enthusiasm at the start of the week by saying: “More jobs and better pay are key parts of our plan to help ease cost of living pressures.” Elsewhere, the AFR provides a few more details on yesterday’s announcement about the payments facing tech firms if they don’t agree to deals to pay news publishers. The paper reports: “Apple and Microsoft could also be caught by the new policy with their Apple News and LinkedIn products respectively if they meet the threshold of having Australian revenue greater than $250 million a year.” The paper also flags AMP has invested $27 million in bitcoin, becoming the first major superannuation fund to buy into cryptocurrency. Finally, The Wall Street Journal flags Meta has donated US$1 million to Donald Trump’s inaugural fund. The Guardian says the donation “appears to be the latest effort by the social media company and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg , to improve relations with the incoming president, and comes just weeks after Zuckerberg dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago”. ON A LIGHTER NOTE... If you’ve ever wanted diamante-encrusted spectacles in the shape of the Sydney Opera House, have we got the auction for you! In February next year, Christie’s in London will auction 250 items from the personal collection of the late Barry Humphries. As well as the pair of glasses from his infamous Dame Edna Everage character, paintings by artist Charles Conder and a first edition copy of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest are also being sold at the auction, the Press Association reports. Benedict Winter , associate director of private and iconic collections at Christie’s, said: “ Barry Humphries is best remembered for his comedic genius, but behind his famous figure was a true polymath and connoisseur. “This refined and engaging collection provides compelling insights into the private world of this very public performer.” Say What? I will not touch bread if it is moist. Kemi Badenoch The Conservative Party leader claimed this week “lunch is for wimps”, sandwiches are not real food and she sometimes has steak brought to her while she works. The UK Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said in response that the PM enjoyed a sandwich lunch (tuna, in case you were wondering) “and occasionally a cheese toastie”. The row continues. CRIKEY RECAP Australia’s media movers and shakers on the biggest threats to journalism DAANYAL SAEED Joe Aston, Kate McClymont, Waleed Aly, Janine Perrett and Sue Chrysanthou (Image: Private Media) It has been a dire, unpredictable year for the Australian media. Jobs have been cut en masse , outlets grappled with ideals of objectivity, newspapers prosecuted campaigns that could see wholesale changes to how audiences interact with news, new outlets formed , others died , there were landmark defamation decisions and investigations into newsroom culture, and an executive allegedly shoulder-charged a reporter. After a year of volatility, job cuts, uncertainty and brilliance, Crikey chased down Australia’s biggest media figures — from journalists to editors to defamation lawyers to academics — to pick their brains about our industry. What they shared has formed the backbone of a multi-part Crikey series, Movers and Shakers , holding a mirror up to the industry and asking it to reflect on itself. Labor elevates early childhood education as Coalition tells regions: less childcare for you BERNARD KEANE It’s hard to know whether the Coalition’s support for retaining the activity test is driven by fiscal discipline — difficult to believe given the hundreds of billions it plans to waste on nuclear power — or by hostility to low-income families. It is, after all, the Dutton style to prefer identifying people to demonise rather than make policy work better. But the Coalition’s formal position is now that children — and, in the long-term, the community — should be deprived of the benefits of early childhood education because their parents are assessed as not worthy. The fact that the Coalition will go to the election telling outer suburban and regional communities that it will be withdrawing funding for more childcare services is likely to be something Labor will constantly draw attention to. Indeed, the Coalition will go to the election as the first party in decades actively promising to cut childcare and childcare funding. On the other hand, Labor, backed by the Productivity Commission and even the business community, is investing in “long-term economic benefits” and “maximising the human talent pipeline of our nation”. Even this shambolic outfit can’t mess that up... surely? Nicolette Boele ‘gave up’ on politics over Labor’s climate inaction. Now she wants to win a Liberal seat RACHEL WITHERS Did the backlash to the speech contribute to Fletcher throwing in the towel? “I don’t know what was in Mr Fletcher’s mind,” Boele tells me. “If you can see your main opponent, and it’s a two-horse race, has been in the field for that long ... Maybe the 12 letters to The Sydney Morning Herald as soon as he insulted everybody was a feedback loop that he needed.” Boele has been critical of the speech, arguing it showed little respect for Fletcher’s constituents. Her statement about it was titled , “Bradfield voters aren’t dopes, Paul”. When I ask how it made her feel, she gives a very teal answer. “It was disappointing, but it wasn’t a surprise. I get very protective, kind of a mum instinct, with the constituents. Like, hang on a second, what do you mean we’re dim-witted? Obviously there were some overtones about the gendered part of it, too, which I didn’t take very nicely to.” READ ALL ABOUT IT John Pesutto defies calls to resign after being ordered to pay $300,000 for defaming Moira Deeming ( Guardian Australia ) Sydney street artist revealed as man found not guilty of two counts of rape ( The Sydney Morning Herald ) ($) Donald Trump 2024 TIME Person of the Year ( TIME ) Biden commutes roughly 1,500 sentences and pardons 39 people in biggest single-day act of clemency (Associated Press) Trump’s Middle East adviser pick is a small-time truck salesman ( The New York Times ) ($) Mystery New Jersey drones not from Iranian ‘mothership’ — Pentagon (BBC) THE COMMENTARIAT Peter Dutton’s nuclear policy would have coal-fired power stations operating for a lot longer — Michelle Grattan (ABC): The release of the costings unleashes a tsunami of claims and counterclaims about numbers. That debate will be eye-glazing for many voters. Not to worry. We are talking the span of a generation. Numbers that stretch out to 2050 don’t mean a great deal. Hundreds of things — in technology and politics, for starters — can and will change as the years pass. Moreover, numbers from modelling have an extra layer of complexity and uncertainty. They depend heavily on assumptions that are, in many cases, necessarily arbitrary. Anyone inclined to take modelling at face value should reflect on the Labor experience. Before the 2022 election, it released modelling that gave it the basis to promise a $275 reduction in household power bills by next year. We all know what happened to that. Regardless of the problems in attempting to be precise, the broad debate about nuclear’s cost will be intense. Social media gorged itself on a free lunch of news. The buffet could be over — James Massola ( The Sydney Morning Herald ): In an age when hot-takes and “feelpinions” abound, the federal government’s levy on social media giants is designed to shore up the future of news outlets across the country. In regional areas in particular, where local newspapers are part of the fabric of small communities, the measure could slow or halt their retreat. At their press conference announcing the policy, Rowland and Jones argued it was vital that Australians who accessed news through social media had access to “fact-checked information”. One need only look at the spread of dis- and misinformation about vaccines during the pandemic to see why. In the dispute between social and legacy media, it’s clear the government has picked a winner. Now the ball is in Meta’s court to respond.High Court rejects petition demanding PM recuse himself during testimony in trial
Will New Year’s Eve be loud or quiet? What are the top 2025 resolutions? AP-NORC poll has answersNorth Korean nationals indicted in scheme using IT workers to funnel money for weapons programsMcap of 6 of top-10 most valued firms jump Rs 2 lakh crore; TCS, HDFC Bank lead gainers PTI Updated: December 8th, 2024, 15:26 IST in Business 0 Pic Credit: Deccan Herald Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Share on Linkedin New Delhi: The combined market valuation of six of the top-10 most-valued firms jumped Rs 2,03,116.81 crore last week, with Tata Consultancy Services and HDFC Bank emerging the biggest gainers, in-line with an optimistic trend at the Dalal Street. Last week, the BSE benchmark jumped 1,906.33 points, or 2.38 per cent, and the NSE Nifty climbed 546.7 points, or 2.26 per cent. Also Read Mahindra & Mahindra to strongly contest for ‘BE 6e’ trademark; renames new EV brand BE 6 22 hours ago Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US 2 days ago While Reliance Industries, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Infosys, and State Bank of India were the winners from the pack, Bharti Airtel, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), ITC, and Hindustan Unilever emerged the laggards. The market valuation of TCS surged Rs 62,574.82 crore to Rs 16,08,782.61 crore. HDFC Bank added Rs 45,338.17 crore taking its market valuation to Rs 14,19,270.28 crore. The valuation of Infosys jumped Rs 26,885.8 crore to Rs 7,98,560.13 crore and that of Reliance Industries soared Rs 26,185.14 crore to Rs 17,75,176.68 crore. State Bank of India’s market capitalisation (mcap) climbed Rs 22,311.55 crore to Rs 7,71,087.17 crore and that of ICICI Bank rallied Rs 19,821.33 crore to Rs 9,37,545.57 crore. However, Bharti Airtel’s valuation eroded Rs 16,720.1 crore to Rs 9,10,005.80 crore. The mcap of ITC declined Rs 7,256.27 crore to Rs 5,89,572.01 crore. Th market valuation of Hindustan Unilever went lower by Rs 2,843.01 crore to Rs 5,83,673.71 crore. The mcap of LIC dipped Rs 1,265 crore to Rs 6,21,937.02 crore. Reliance Industries remained the most valuable firm, followed by TCS, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, Infosys, State Bank of India, LIC, ITC, and Hindustan Unilever. PTI Tags: BSE India mcap NSE Stock market Share Tweet Send Share Suggest A Correction Enter your email to get our daily news in your inbox. Leave this field empty if you're human:Austin, TX, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital Brands Group, Inc. (“DBG”) (NASDAQ: DBGI), a curated collection of luxury lifestyle brands, today announces the first 45 day results since it entered into a marketing partnership on October 21, 2024, with VAYNERCOMMERCE, https://vaynercommerce.com/ . VAYNERCOMMERCE is a full service digital growth agency created by Gary Vaynerchuk, also known as GARYVEE. VAYNERCOMMERCE’s services aim to help digital companies scale their online presence and revenues. This partnership has already led to a 224% increase in daily digital revenues during the 45 day period (October 22 nd , 2024 to December 5th, 2024) after VAYNERCOMMERCE began providing DBG with digital marketing services versus the prior 45 day period from September 6th nd to October 21 st . “We made the decision to outsource digital marketing services to VAYNERCOMMERCE based on their reputation in the industry. We felt that we could benefit from an outside performance driven marketing solution team that can focus its efforts on improving our marketing campaigns. We have just begun this journey with them and are already experiencing an increase in our results,” said Hil Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Brands Group. Forward-looking Statements Certain statements included in this release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting DBG and therefore involve several risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as “will,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “should,” and “may” and other words and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates, however, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. All statements regarding DBG’s plans, objectives, projections and expectations relating to DBG’s operations or financial performance, and assumptions related thereto are forward-looking statements. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. DBG undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Potential risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results of operations or financial condition of DBG to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: risks arising from the widespread outbreak of an illness or any other communicable disease, or any other public health crisis, including the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic; the level of consumer demand for apparel and accessories; disruption to DBGs distribution system; the financial strength of DBG’s customers; fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials and contracted products; disruption and volatility in the global capital and credit markets; DBG’s response to changing fashion trends, evolving consumer preferences and changing patterns of consumer behavior; intense competition from online retailers; manufacturing and product innovation; increasing pressure on margins; DBG’s ability to implement its business strategy; DBG’s ability to grow its wholesale and direct-to-consumer businesses; retail industry changes and challenges; DBG’s and its vendors’ ability to maintain the strength and security of information technology systems; the risk that DBG’s facilities and systems and those of our third-party service providers may be vulnerable to and unable to anticipate or detect data security breaches and data or financial loss; DBG’s ability to properly collect, use, manage and secure consumer and employee data; stability of DBG’s manufacturing facilities and foreign suppliers; continued use by DBG’s suppliers of ethical business practices; DBG’s ability to accurately forecast demand for products; continuity of members of DBG’s management; DBG’s ability to protect trademarks and other intellectual property rights; possible goodwill and other asset impairment; DBG’s ability to execute and integrate acquisitions; changes in tax laws and liabilities; legal, regulatory, political and economic risks; adverse or unexpected weather conditions; DBG's indebtedness and its ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, if needed, could prevent DBG from fulfilling its financial obligations; and climate change and increased focus on sustainability issues. More information on potential factors that could affect DBG’s financial results is included from time to time in DBG’s public reports filed with the SEC, including DBG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Forms 8-K filed or furnished with the SEC. About Digital Brands Group We offer a wide variety of apparel through numerous brands on a both direct-to-consumer and wholesale basis. We have created a business model derived from our founding as a digitally native-first vertical brand. We focus on owning the customer's "closet share" by leveraging their data and purchase history to create personalized targeted content and looks for that specific customer cohort. Digital Brands Group, Inc. Company Contact Hil Davis , CEO Email: invest@digitalbrandsgroup.co Phone: (800) 593-1047 SOURCE Digital Brands Group, Inc. Related Links https://ir.digitalbrandsgroup.co
President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Trump, once a crypto skeptic, had pledged to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. Money has poured into crypto assets since he won . Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, is now above $95,000. And shares in crypto platform Coinbase have surged more than 70% since the election. Paul Grewal, chief legal officer of Coinbase, congratulated Atkins in a post on X. “We appreciate his commitment to balance in regulating U.S. securities markets and look forward to his fresh leadership at (the SEC),” Grewal wrote. “It’s sorely needed and cannot come a day too soon.” Congressman Brad Sherman, a California Democrat and a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, said he worries Atkins would not sufficiently regulate cryptocurrencies as SEC chair. “He’d probably take the position that no cryptocurrency currency is a security, and hence no exchange that deals with crypto is a securities exchange,” Sherman said. “The opportunity to defraud investors would be there in a very significant way.” Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. His work as an SEC commissioner started in 2002, a time when the fallout from corporate scandals at Enron and WorldCom had turned up the heat on Wall Street and its government regulators. Atkins was widely considered the most conservative member of the SEC during his tenure at the agency and known to have a strong free-market bent. As a commissioner, he called for greater transparency in and analysis of the costs and benefits of new SEC rules. He also emphasized investor education and increased enforcement efforts against those who steal from investors over the internet, manipulate markets, engage in Ponzi schemes and other types of fraud. At the same time, Atkins objected to stiff penalties imposed on companies accused of fraudulent conduct, contending that they did not deter crime. He caused a stir in the summer of 2006 when he said the practice of granting stock options to executives before the disclosure of news that was certain to increase the share price did not constitute insider trading. U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a North Carolina Republican and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said Atkins has the experience needed to “restore faith in the SEC.” “I’m confident his leadership will lead to clarity for the digital asset ecosystem and ensure U.S. capital markets remain the envy of the world,” McHenry posted on X. Atkins already has some experience working for Trump. During Trump's first term, Atkins was a member of the President’s Strategic and Policy Forum , an advisory group of more than a dozen CEOs and business leaders who offered input on how to create jobs and speed economic growth. In 2017, Atkins joined the Token Alliance, a cryptocurrency advocacy organization. Crypto industry players welcomed Trump’s victory in the hopes that he would push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for. Trump himself has launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies. Best trending stories from the week. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. You may occasionally receive promotions exclusive discounted subscription offers from the Roswell Daily Record. Feel free to cancel any time via the unsubscribe link in the newsletter you received. You can also control your newsletter options via your user dashboard by signing in.On 28 December 2024, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had a telephone conversation with Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan reported. The sides exchanged warm congratulations and best wishes on the upcoming New Year, and confirmed their mutual commitment to strengthening and expanding strategic partnership relations between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation. During the conversation, the importance and relevance of the political dialogue was noted, which proved its effectiveness and compliance with the interests of peace, stability and sustainable development. One of the topics of the conversation was the discussion of the prospects for cooperation in 2025, which, at the initiative of Turkmenistan, was declared the International Year of Peace and Trust by the UN General Assembly. In this regard, the urgency to unite and consolidate the efforts of the international community in returning to the global policy of a culture of dialogue, respect and tolerance was highlighted. Women have a crucial role to play in this endeavor, with their high responsibility and perception of their humanistic mission to present and future generations. In this context, the National Leader of the Turkmen people noted the successful holding of the first Women’s Dialogue of Central Asian states and Russia in Turkmenistan in 2022. It was emphasized that the forum demonstrated the stabilizing and creative role of women in international life, and gave an important impetus to their active engagement in the processes of intensifying interstate relations. In this regard, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proposed to Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko to consider hosting the Second Dialogue of Women of Central Asian states and Russia in May of the following year in the Avaza national tourist zone on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea. This event would hold particular significance as it would reaffirm the Caspian Sea’s role and historical destiny as a sea of peace, harmony, good-neighborliness and effective international cooperation, a meeting place, dialogue and mutual understanding. This is especially important in the context of the current complex global political landscape. The Second Dialogue on the Caspian Sea should also serve as a testament to the region’s growing prominence as a hub for responsible international diplomacy, fostering creative impulses of cooperation and mutual understanding that extend far beyond its borders.///nCa, 28 December 2024 (in cooperation with MFA Turkmenistan)