is xbet legit

is xbet legit Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here's the latest: As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is remembering Carter as a man steeped “in devotion to public service and peace.” The California Democrat said in a statement Sunday that Carter was committed to “honoring the spark of divinity within every person,” something she said manifested in “teaching Sunday school in his beloved Marantha Baptist Church, brokering the landmark Camp David Accords to pave the way to peace or building homes with Habitat for Humanity.” Pelosi also said Carter led “perhaps the most impactful post-presidency in history.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted in a post on X the special contribution Carter made by brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt and through his work with the Carter Center. “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad,” Starmer said. To commemorate Carter’s death, officials with the Empire State Building said in a post on social media that the iconic New York City landmark would be lit in red, white and blue on Sunday night, “to honor the life and legacy” of the late former president. In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church “will be a little quieter on Sunday,s” but added that the late former president “will never be far away -- buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.” Noting the “hundreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews” to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did “for most of his adult life,” the Obamas listed Carter’s accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. “Many people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.” The longest-lived American president died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter Center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry.” A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world. Former Vice President Al Gore praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.” Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes. Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.” During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter. Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others. “Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end." The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David." After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said.Blockchain technology forms the core of the digital economy, transforming the management of data and transactions. Layer-0 blockchains act as the base, supporting interoperability and scalability among networks, while layer-1 blockchains emphasize decentralization and security for handling transactions directly. Polkadot Network, a notable layer-0 blockchain, has proven robust, with over 2,400 active developers enhancing its ecosystem in the third quarter of 2024. On the other hand, BlockDAG (BDAG), an emerging layer-1 blockchain, prioritizes unmatched scalability and strong security with its revolutionary DAG-based structure. The excitement around BlockDAG (BDAG) is evident—it has raised over $158 million in its current presale over 26 batches, and analysts believe it is poised to reach its $600 million target. Polkadot Network: Enhancing Interoperability Across Chains The Polkadot network is a layer-0 blockchain aimed at boosting interoperability between diverse blockchains. It facilitates this through its relay chain, which ensures seamless communication and secure data exchange. Recently, Polkadot saw more than 2,400 active developers monthly in Q3 2024. Its Decentralized Futures program, supported by $20 million, has funded initiatives such as AirLyft and DotPlay. However, it faces hurdles as daily XCM transfers decreased by 34% and active addresses by 26%, averaging 6,200. The market performance has been fluctuating, with DOT’s market cap rising to $13 billion in early 2024 but falling to $6.3 billion, marking a 27% quarterly decrease. Despite low transaction fees of $84,000, indicating affordability, they also reflect diminished activity. The decline in daily operations and market cap raises concerns about Polkadot’s capacity to maintain engagement. These issues suggest that Polkadot may find it challenging to reclaim its status in the competitive blockchain market. Record-Breaking Success for BlockDAG’s Early Presale Phase BlockDAG, a layer-1 blockchain project, has dramatically surpassed previous records by accumulating over $158 million in only 26 batches. Those who participated early in the crypto presale coin process saw a remarkable 2240% growth in value, with BDAG's price increasing from $0.001 to $0.0234. This rapid presale success in a short span has led market experts to predict that BDAG will achieve its $600 million target soon. With over 16.9 billion BDAG coins sold, the project has attracted more than 170,000 unique holders globally. This impressive presale performance is largely attributed to its distinctive technology. BlockDAG utilizes Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) technology alongside Proof-of-Work consensus, enhancing scalability and security significantly. This architecture avoids the common bottlenecks seen in traditional blockchains, facilitating speedy and efficient transactions and positioning it as a top-tier layer-1 blockchain. These advancements make BDAG coins highly sought after in the crypto community, making this a prime time to engage with BDAG, anticipating future valuation akin to BTC and other major cryptocurrencies. Polkadot and BlockDAG's Technological Capabilities While Polkadot focuses on enhancing interoperability across its layer-0 blockchain using a relay chain, it faces challenges in scalability due to its shared resources. In contrast, BlockDAG's layer-1 blockchain, built on a DAG-based framework, completely removes scalability bottlenecks, resulting in faster and more efficient transactions. In assessing growth potential, Polkadot’s initiatives seem stable, but a declining market cap has tempered enthusiasm. Meanwhile, BlockDAG has impressively raised over $158 million in its ongoing presale, with a significant rise in BDAG prices. Additionally, Polkadot’s dwindling activity metrics have caused concern. On the other hand, BlockDAG’s strong base of over 170,000 holders, robust presale achievements, and advanced technology continue to attract attention, making it an appealing option for those looking for a robust and high-potential blockchain platform. Final Thoughts on Polkadot and BlockDAG's Market Positions As Polkadot strives to facilitate interoperability through its layer-0 structure, its decreasing daily activities and a 27% reduction in market cap signal potential challenges in maintaining momentum. Conversely, BlockDAG’s layer-1 blockchain has quickly advanced, raising $158 million thus far in its presale. With its DAG architecture delivering unmatched scalability and security, BlockDAG is expected to reach its $600 million presale goal ahead of schedule. For those evaluating the top crypto for 2024, BlockDAG stands out as the most promising option, offering cutting-edge technology and substantial growth prospects. Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network Website: https://blockdag.network Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.Mark Wahlberg’s decades-long dedication to his body is well known. He’s letting everyone in on his secret for staying ripped into his fifties. The actor recently announced plans to open an expansive Las Vegas fitness facility combining serious conditioning and high-end luxury. According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, Wahlberg will partner with EoS Fitness for his new Municipal Gym, signing the lease on Nov. 1 for the 32,064-square-foot space previously occupied by Bed, Bath and Beyond. The facility is planned to open in 2026. It will take a year to prepare the space because the finished product promises to be unlike any other fitness facility, featuring cryotherapy and cold plunges, compression therapy, infrared saunas, eucalyptus steam rooms and red light therapy, among other luxury offerings. In addition, there will be retail and apparel stores, juice bars and cafes and vitamins and supplements available for purchase. Don't Miss: These five entrepreneurs are worth $223 billion – they all believe in one platform that offers a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today. “Together, with Mark, we’re building a first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-art facility,” said Municipal Gym Co-Chairman, President and CEO Manzo Hodge. “With the best equipment in the world, created with a singular mission: to inspire and equip people to be unstoppable.” A $400 Million Fortune Wahlberg, who, according to Celebrity Net Worth, has a $400 million fortune, moved to Vegas in 2022 and wasted no time in putting his business footprint on the city, opening a new restaurant in Town Square, Flecha Cantina and reportedly being a driving force behind the proposed Sony Entertainment film studio in Summerlin . Wahlberg also flipped a personal residence in Vegas, which, according to People, he purchased for $14.5 million to enable his children to attend school after leaving Los Angeles and sold it for $16.6 million barely a year later, moving into another Vegas home. That, however, is a small change compared to the other deals Wahlberg has done. See Also: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." These high-yield real estate notes that pay 7.5% – 9% make earning passive income easier than ever. $40+ Million Real Estate Profit In 2009, Wahlberg purchased a parcel of land in North Beverly Park, an exclusive gated Los Angeles community, for $8.25 million. Five years later, he completed construction on his chateau-style dream home and sold it in 2023 for $55 million. Before that, he lived in a home in Beverly Hills, which he purchased for $5 million in 2001 and sold for $13 million in 2013. Wahlberg has consistently been one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood with hit movies, including the Transformers franchise, Ted and Planet of the Apes. He also has his own production and distribution company, Closest to the Hole Productions, which has produced many of his films, such as Deepwater Horizon, Patriots Day, Spenser Confidential and Mile 22. He has also executive produced TV shows such as HBO’s Ballers, Boardwalk Empire and Entourage. Wahlberg has leveraged his star power in many different business ventures outside the movie industry. These include: Trending: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." These high-yield real estate notes that pay 7.5% – 9% make earning passive income easier than ever. Fitness and Nutrition Municipal isn’t the actor’s only foray into fitness . According to a 2022 Reuters article, he is a 1.73% investor in the F45 Training chain of gyms, which had 1,700 studios and 3,300 franchises in 67 countries and went public in 2021 with a valuation of about $1.4 billion. Since then, the brand has been through a few ups and downs, closed some locations and opened others, got a new CEO, Tom Dowd and, according to athletechnews.com, plans to move into HIIT training, Pilates and ancillary services like recovery, nutrition and weight loss, including some of the sectors that Wahlberg is targeting with his Municipal Gym in Vegas such as infrared sauna and cold plunge stations. Wahlberg also invested in Aquahydrate, a brand of electrolyte water, with the currently embattled Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2019. According to Forbes, they both invested $20 million. There is no word on whether the actor is still associated with the brand. He has also been associated with the sports nutrition company Performance Inspired and still appears on the company website as a cofounder. The company sells products such as protein powders and supplements. Trending: This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, with minimum investments as low as $100 for properties like the Byer House from Stranger Things. Car Dealership Wahlberg owns several car dealerships under the moniker Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet in Ohio with business partner/car dealer Jay Feldman. “I’ve had a love for all makes of cars, especially American-made cars,” Wahlberg, who worked in an auto body shop as a teen, told autobodynews.com of his Chevrolet endorsements. Fast Food Mark owns the Wahlburgers fast food chain with his brothers, actor/singer Donnie and chef Paul. The chain currently has 90 branches worldwide. Clothing Wahlberg founded the clothing line Municipal in 2020 alongside his manager, Stephen Levinson and golf industry guru Harry Arnett. The name also ties in with the name of his Vegas gym. When the brand was launched, he told Rolling Stone, “We wanted to create stuff that looked cool, that fit and felt great, stuff that you could wear to work, you could wear to work out and wear out at night. We wanted to create something that was a great value proposition to the every guy and gal who’s out there working hard to be the best version of themselves, you know?” It’s a wonder Wahlberg still gets time to make movies, given all his business ventures. However, according to screenrant.com, he has a full slate of upcoming releases in 2025, including Flight Risk, Play Dirty, The Six Billion Dollar Man, Balls Up and Unchartered 2. Read Next: Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, and this platform allows individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000 offering a 12% target yield with a bonus 1% return boost today! During market downturns, investors are learning that unlike equities, these high-yield real estate notes that pay 7.5% – 9% are protected by resilient assets, buffering against losses. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

None

In 1979, brothers Jeff and Steven McDonald, who were not yet old enough to drive, started a band, Redd Kross . Now, 45 years later, the Year of Redd Kross kicked off in June with the release of a double album in June. A memoir, “Now You Are One of Us: The Incredible Story of Redd Kross,” followed, with the McDonalds writing their own individual sections and coauthor Dan Epstein adding context between chapters. This month, a documentary, “Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story,” begins a round of special screenings, some with the band in attendance. Jeff McDonald, left, and Steven McDonald, right, share a look during an interview about their band, Redd Kross, in the new documentary, “Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story,” which opens in Dec. 2024. (Film still courtesy of ‘Born Innocent’) Brothers Jeff and Steve McDonald formed the band Redd Kross in Hawthorne when Jeff was 15 and Steven was 11. “Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story” is a new documentary that traces Redd Kross from its birth in Hawthorne in 1979 to its 45th anniversary as cult heroes of Southern California punk and power pop. (Film poster courtesy of ‘Born Innocent’) Redd Kross formed in the late ’70s when brothers Jeff McDonald, left, and Steven McDonald, right, were still to young to drive. They celebrate their 45th anniversary as a band in 2024 with the release of a new documentary, “Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story,” as well as a memoir and a self-titled double album. (Photo by Al Flipside) Jeff McDonald, left, and Steven McDonald, right, laugh during an interview about their band, Redd Kross,” in the new documentary, “Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story,” which opens in Dec. 2024. (Film still courtesy of ‘Born Innocent’) Southern California cult heroes Redd Kross, founded by Jeff McDonald, center, and Steven McDonald, right, are the subjects of the new documentary, “Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story,” which opens in Dec. 2024. (Film still courtesy of ‘Born Innocent’) Jeff McDonald, left, and Steven McDonald, right, check out the copy of the Beatles’ “White Album” that inspired them as boys growing up in Hawthorne. The new documentary “Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story” opens in Dec. 2024. (Film still courtesy of ‘Born Innocent’) Redd Kross celebrates its 45th anniversary this year with a new documentary, “Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story,” as well as a memoir and a self-titled double album. Seen here in a still from the film are brothers Jeff McDonald, left, and Steven McDonald, right, performing on the Santa Monica Pier early in their career. (Film still courtesy of ‘Born Innocent.’) Southern California cult heroes Redd Kross, founded by Jeff McDonald, center, and Steven McDonald, right, perform at the Observatory in Santa Ana, where they were touring with the Melvins, the Seattle band for which Steven McDonald is also the bass player. The new documentary, “Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story,” opens in Dec. 2024. (Photo by Steve Appleford) Redd Kross celebrates its 45th anniversary this year with the new documentary “Born Innocent,” the memoir “Now You’re One of Us,” and a self-titled double album. Seen here are the brothers who founded the band in the late ’70s, Jeff McDonald, left, and Steven McDonald, right. (Photo by Tony Molina Filmworks) Jeff McDonald, left, and Steven McDonald, right, share a look during an interview about their band, Redd Kross, in the new documentary, “Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story,” which opens in Dec. 2024. (Film still courtesy of ‘Born Innocent’) It’s a ton of terrific material about Redd Kross , a band that deserves every bit of acclaim that the album, book and film might bring. Still, Steven McDonald had one more thing in mind. “The one we didn’t get to do – which, whatever, we’ve done too much as it is – I was hoping there would be an audiobook,” Steven McDonald says on a recent video call with his brother. This launches the McDonalds into enthusiastic riffing about all the possibilities, like brothers who have long known how to take a wild dream and talk it into being. “Omni Books saw that Jack Black , who I’ve known for a long time, liked a post about the book,” Steven says. The publisher asked him to send Black a book, so he called to let the actor and cofounder of the comedic rock band Tenacious D know. “He’s like, ‘I want the audiobook,’” Steven continues. “I said, ‘So do I! But no one would produce it.’ “He said, ‘Well, come and give me the book. Come over and read it to me,’” he continues. “I said, ‘OK, great, I’ll do my part, you can do Jeff’s.’” “Wow,” Jeff says, nodding his approval of this obvious solution. “There you have it.” “That would be a good audiobook too, if we just record that,” Steven says, and then shifts into the serious intonation of a “Masterpiece Theatre” narrator: “The role of Jeff McDonald will be played by Jack Black.” And so it goes, in the interview as in the film and memoir, and even, at times, the album. A brotherly banter that is often entertaining, occasionally endearing, and always true to the dynamic these closest of siblings have shared their entire lives. In an interview edited for length and clarity, Jeff and Steven McDonald talked about everything from making the movie, book and album to forming Redd Kross in the relative isolation of the South Bay in the ’70s, that time when Steven was kidnapped at 13 by an older fan for several months (yes, you read that right), and more. Q: The documentary is so much fun. How did you get connected with director Andrew Reich [an Emmy winner as executive producer of “Friends.”] Steven McDonald: Andrew and I had mutual friends, and he pursued us through mutual friends. He started the film project, like eight years ago, the better part of a decade. Q: Was it a quick yes? Something you wanted to do right away? Jeff McDonald: I know, with a good documentary, it’s the filmmaker telling their version of your story. Which is great. Because I knew if it was us telling our version, entirely us, it would just go on forever. So it was important that we liked and trusted Andrew. And I instantly liked him, instantly just clicked. So it got the OK early on. We had no idea how long the movie would take, He just said, ‘Oh, it’s going to take a couple of years.’ But those couple of years turned into eight years. It was really insane. Q: And the memoir? When did that begin? SM: I thought the book was going to come out in 2025, actually. The book was also a bait and switch. [laughs] The literary agent Lee Sobel reached out to me through Facebook and asked if I was interested in a Steve McDonald book. Of course, I am! [laughs] Then about 10 minutes later he switched it to a Redd Kross book. Q: So Steven, why were you thinking it was going to come out next year? SM: Because that’s the only thing my blood pressure would allow. I had no idea that all three deadlines were all going to hit at the same time. Not only did we do the record, we’ve completed two pretty extensive tours. That has been a lot of heavy lifting. Which is great. I mean, that’s what it’s about for me and Jeff. More than any of it, it’s to go out and play live. But it’s just, in this age of the independent artist, it’s hard. And even though we’re celebrating our 45th year as a band, there’s still so much to learn. JM: It’s non-stop. SM: It never stops being a challenge but, you know, it’s one I’m grateful for. JM: I think if you’re a band that’s still growing you always feel you have something to prove. You never get to that spot where it’s like, ‘Oh, I’ve arrived.’ When that feeling’s gone, that’s when you put it down. SM: But yeah, so it’s great to have this opportunity to show what we can do. That’s kind of what 2024 has been about. Q: Did all the different projects create any crossover moments or influence each other? SM: We did the book before and while were making the record, which I think added another interesting quality. But also just the process of being interviewed by Andrew for eight years. There was a lot of reflection going on. Jeff and I wrote the lion’s share of this in 2023 in the midst of all this. I’m sure it informed some of the more reminiscing moments on the record. Also, I will often reference the Beatles ‘Get Back’ doc that came out, too. That’s the other thing that really inspired our record. Just seeing a unique collaboration. Not to compare us to Lennon and McCartney but to see how much they valued that creative partnership in real time. The demystifying things were fascinating, and it was super freeing and inspiring, and got me hungry to get into that room with Jeff and see what we were capable of. Especially after all that reflection. Q: One thing that struck me in the book and in the movie was the isolation you felt in Hawthorne at the time. You got yourselves to Hollywood and into Black Flag’s circle – but didn’t become a hardcore punk band like them. JM: The four bands [in the area] when we met Black Flag and became part of that whole tiny scene, it was us, a very early version of the Descendents , who were extremely poppy, almost like the original surf punk band. The Last, who were like our version of the Flamin’ Groovies , and Black Flag. So everyone had their own identity, and even we did at our young age. SM: And we played all of our first shows with Black Flag. The first one was an eighth-grade graduation party, and we got Black Flag the gig. We just had all these sort of extraordinary experiences in a very condensed amount of time. And it shaped us in many ways, but it didn’t keep us from being who we were. Or when we did feel any constraint coming down we just kind of distanced ourselves and went our own way. And in reference to what it was like to be in Hawthorne, we detail that on the song ‘Born Innocent,’ which is the closing credit title for the film. [And also the closing track on the new album.] Andrew asked us to write an origin story song. Q: One surprising part of your story is the kidnapping of Steven when he was very young by a woman in her 20s who had started an inappropriate relationship with him before taking him to Las Vegas for three months. SM: I’ve talked about it a little bit, and when you’re asking about doing the movie and how we felt talking about our lives, I don’t know. During lockdown, I found myself revisiting that moment because it turned out to be like the 40th anniversary of that time. And I’m a dad too, and it just so happened that I had, my son was 12 or 13, the same age I was 40 years later. So I found myself just sort of investigating where my head was at that time. For our family, it was traumatizing, and we did our best to process it, but much of it was left unprocessed. As you can see, my parents, it’s still a very raw topic for them, as is detailed in the film with their beautiful interview. I’ve always been fine with talking about it. But whatever, it was a real moment, and it happened within the context of our rock and roll experience. Had I not been in a band it would have never happened. So it’s somewhat of a cautionary tale as well. Q: I want to ask about the mixture of influences you talk about in the film and book. You didn’t censor yourselves over what was cool or popular. You loved the Beatles but you also loved the Partridge Family equally. JM: Through reading about rock and roll music and biographies, I learned, oh, you know, the Beatles did Shirelles covers. They were doing like girl bubblegum covers and were inspired by that type of stuff. It made me realize that anything that moves you is valid and it doesn’t matter what social baggage it may have. It’s like when we were in the punk movement, just saying, ‘I love the Partridge Family’ was kind of like a little bit of a troll to people who took themselves very seriously. SM: I think we also have not been afraid to infuse a nice dose of humor into what we do. I think that’s also something that sometimes people find hard to take on board, because it might imply that you’re not serious on some level, or there’s missing some substance or something. And it’s not just music, you know, it’s movies, it’s television. It’s all sorts of cultural things we took on board. We were hanging out with people that were much older than us and had very sophisticated interests. JM: Yeah, we have been inspired by movies, like Russ Myers and John Waters and all that stuff. And there’s always a bit of humor in what we do. You know, like I may not be taken as seriously as a singer as like, say, Perry Farrell [of Jane’s Addiction], who’s not very funny at all. But comedians are some of the heaviest entertainers there are. So you just can’t judge a book by its cover. Q: This year has been busy. How do you take advantage of that and go forward next year? JM: We haven’t been to South America yet. SM: We have done a lot to get the momentum going. It’s true. I have a day job. I’m also in the Melvins , who have a very busy schedule next year. So it’s a conflict in my life to have had this moment and create so much momentum for us. You don’t want it to dissipate. But at the same time, it’s been a long career. I mean, hopefully there’s enough for people to snack on for a while, and they’ll be hungry for us the next time we’re available, which hopefully will be sometime next year.

Mark Wahlberg's Luxury Vegas Gym To Open in 2026: The 32,000-Square-Foot Space Is The Latest Addition To His Business EmpireThree of these images are fake. Can you spot the real image? Some images generated by artificial intelligence have become so convincingly real that there is no surefire way to spot the fakes. But experts say there are still things we can try to detect fakes. "Media literacy is super awesome," said Matt Groh, assistant professor at Northwestern University. "But it needs to extend to AI literacy. Like the classic kind of things that you want to teach in media literacy, we still need to teach those same things. We just need to add the AI portion to it now." RELATED STORY | Nobel Prize in physics awarded to 2 scientists for discoveries that enabled artificial intelligence Groh's team at Northwestern released a guide on how to spot AI generated images. The full preprint paper was released in June. "So what we've done is we've articulated 5 different categories of artifacts, implausibilities," Groh said. "Ways to tell AI-generated image apart from a real photograph." The academic preprint guide offers detailed tips, tricks and examples on spotting AI-generated images. It also teaches important questions to consider when consuming media. Anatomical implausibilities The first and easiest telltale signs: anatomical implausibilities. Ask yourself: Are the fingers, eyes, and bodies off? Are there extra limbs or do they bend strangely? Are there too many teeth? Stylistic implausibilities Ask yourself: Do images seem plastic, glossy, shiny or cartoonish? Are there overly dramatic or cinematic? Functional implausibilities Ask yourself: Is text garbled? Is clothing strange? Are objects not physically correct, like how this backpack strap merges into clothing? Violation of physics Ask yourself: Are light and shadows off? Are there impossible reflections? Sociocultural implausibilities Ask yourself: Are there images that are just too unbelievable or historically inaccurate? RELATED STORY | AI voice cloning: How programs are learning to pick up on pitch and tone "What we're trying to do is give you a snapshot of what it looks like in 2024 and how we can help people move their attention as effectively as possible," Groh said. "Education is really the biggest thing. There's education on the tools," said Cole Whitecotton, senior professional research associate at the National Center for Media Forensics. Whitecotton encourages the public to educate themselves and try AI tools to know their capabilities and limits. "I think everybody should go out and use it. And look at how these things do what they do and understand a bit of it," he said. "Everyone should interact with ChatGPT. In some way. Everyone should interact with Midjourney. And look at how these things do what they do and understand a bit of it." Whitecotton suggests being inquisitive and curious when scrolling through social media. "If you interacted with every piece of content in that way, then there you would be a lot less likely to be duped and to be sort of sucked into that sort of stuff, right?" he said. "How do you interact with Facebook and with Twitter and all these things? How do you consume the media?" Whitecotton added. RELATED STORY | Biden's AI advisor speaks on AI policy, deepfakes, and the use of AI in war While AI-generated images and videos continue to evolve, Groh and his team offer a realistic approach to a changing technological landscape where tips and tricks may become outdated quickly. "I think a real, good, useful thing is we build this. We update this every year. Okay, some of these things work. Some of these things don't. And I think once we have a base, we're able to update it," Groh said. "I think one of the problems is we didn't have a base. And so one of the things we're really excited about is even sharing our framework, because I think our framework is going to help people just navigate that conversation." So were you able to guess which image is real? If you guessed the image of the girl in the bottom left corner, you are correct! "It sucks that there's this misinformation in the world. But it's also possible to navigate this new problem," Groh said. If you want to test yourself even more, the Northwestern University research team has released this site that gives you a series of real and AI-generated images to differentiate.

PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — Newly married and sworn as a Naval officer, Jimmy Carter left his tiny hometown in 1946 hoping to climb the ranks and see the world. Less than a decade later, the death of his father and namesake, a merchant farmer and local politician who went by “Mr. Earl,” prompted the submariner and his wife, Rosalynn, to return to the rural life of Plains, Georgia, they thought they’d escaped. The lieutenant never would be an admiral. Instead, he became commander in chief. Years after his presidency ended in humbling defeat, he would add a Nobel Peace Prize, awarded not for his White House accomplishments but “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” The life of James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, ended Sunday at the age of 100 where it began: Plains, the town of 600 that fueled his political rise, welcomed him after his fall and sustained him during 40 years of service that redefined what it means to be a former president. With the stubborn confidence of an engineer and an optimism rooted in his Baptist faith, Carter described his motivations in politics and beyond in the same way: an almost missionary zeal to solve problems and improve lives. Carter was raised amid racism, abject poverty and hard rural living — realities that shaped both his deliberate politics and emphasis on human rights. “He always felt a responsibility to help people,” said Jill Stuckey, a longtime friend of Carter's in Plains. “And when he couldn’t make change wherever he was, he decided he had to go higher.” Carter's path, a mix of happenstance and calculation , pitted moral imperatives against political pragmatism; and it defied typical labels of American politics, especially caricatures of one-term presidents as failures. “We shouldn’t judge presidents by how popular they are in their day. That's a very narrow way of assessing them," Carter biographer Jonathan Alter told the Associated Press. “We should judge them by how they changed the country and the world for the better. On that score, Jimmy Carter is not in the first rank of American presidents, but he stands up quite well.” Later in life, Carter conceded that many Americans, even those too young to remember his tenure, judged him ineffective for failing to contain inflation or interest rates, end the energy crisis or quickly bring home American hostages in Iran. He gained admirers instead for his work at The Carter Center — advocating globally for public health, human rights and democracy since 1982 — and the decades he and Rosalynn wore hardhats and swung hammers with Habitat for Humanity. Yet the common view that he was better after the Oval Office than in it annoyed Carter, and his allies relished him living long enough to see historians reassess his presidency. “He doesn’t quite fit in today’s terms” of a left-right, red-blue scoreboard, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited the former president multiple times during his own White House bid. At various points in his political career, Carter labeled himself “progressive” or “conservative” — sometimes both at once. His most ambitious health care bill failed — perhaps one of his biggest legislative disappointments — because it didn’t go far enough to suit liberals. Republicans, especially after his 1980 defeat, cast him as a left-wing cartoon. It would be easiest to classify Carter as a centrist, Buttigieg said, “but there’s also something radical about the depth of his commitment to looking after those who are left out of society and out of the economy.” Indeed, Carter’s legacy is stitched with complexities, contradictions and evolutions — personal and political. The self-styled peacemaker was a war-trained Naval Academy graduate who promised Democratic challenger Ted Kennedy that he’d “kick his ass.” But he campaigned with a call to treat everyone with “respect and compassion and with love.” Carter vowed to restore America’s virtue after the shame of Vietnam and Watergate, and his technocratic, good-government approach didn't suit Republicans who tagged government itself as the problem. It also sometimes put Carter at odds with fellow Democrats. The result still was a notable legislative record, with wins on the environment, education, and mental health care. He dramatically expanded federally protected lands, began deregulating air travel, railroads and trucking, and he put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy. As a fiscal hawk, Carter added a relative pittance to the national debt, unlike successors from both parties. Carter nonetheless struggled to make his achievements resonate with the electorate he charmed in 1976. Quoting Bob Dylan and grinning enthusiastically, he had promised voters he would “never tell a lie.” Once in Washington, though, he led like a joyless engineer, insisting his ideas would become reality and he'd be rewarded politically if only he could convince enough people with facts and logic. This served him well at Camp David, where he brokered peace between Israel’s Menachem Begin and Epypt’s Anwar Sadat, an experience that later sparked the idea of The Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter's tenacity helped the center grow to a global force that monitored elections across five continents, enabled his freelance diplomacy and sent public health experts across the developing world. The center’s wins were personal for Carter, who hoped to outlive the last Guinea worm parasite, and nearly did. As president, though, the approach fell short when he urged consumers beleaguered by energy costs to turn down their thermostats. Or when he tried to be the nation’s cheerleader, beseeching Americans to overcome a collective “crisis of confidence.” Republican Ronald Reagan exploited Carter's lecturing tone with a belittling quip in their lone 1980 debate. “There you go again,” the former Hollywood actor said in response to a wonky answer from the sitting president. “The Great Communicator” outpaced Carter in all but six states. Carter later suggested he “tried to do too much, too soon” and mused that he was incompatible with Washington culture: media figures, lobbyists and Georgetown social elites who looked down on the Georgians and their inner circle as “country come to town.” Carter carefully navigated divides on race and class on his way to the Oval Office. Born Oct. 1, 1924 , Carter was raised in the mostly Black community of Archery, just outside Plains, by a progressive mother and white supremacist father. Their home had no running water or electricity but the future president still grew up with the relative advantages of a locally prominent, land-owning family in a system of Jim Crow segregation. He wrote of President Franklin Roosevelt’s towering presence and his family’s Democratic Party roots, but his father soured on FDR, and Jimmy Carter never campaigned or governed as a New Deal liberal. He offered himself as a small-town peanut farmer with an understated style, carrying his own luggage, bunking with supporters during his first presidential campaign and always using his nickname. And he began his political career in a whites-only Democratic Party. As private citizens, he and Rosalynn supported integration as early as the 1950s and believed it inevitable. Carter refused to join the White Citizens Council in Plains and spoke out in his Baptist church against denying Black people access to worship services. “This is not my house; this is not your house,” he said in a churchwide meeting, reminding fellow parishioners their sanctuary belonged to God. Yet as the appointed chairman of Sumter County schools he never pushed to desegregate, thinking it impractical after the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board decision. And while presidential candidate Carter would hail the 1965 Voting Rights Act, signed by fellow Democrat Lyndon Johnson when Carter was a state senator, there is no record of Carter publicly supporting it at the time. Carter overcame a ballot-stuffing opponent to win his legislative seat, then lost the 1966 governor's race to an arch-segregationist. He won four years later by avoiding explicit mentions of race and campaigning to the right of his rival, who he mocked as “Cufflinks Carl” — the insult of an ascendant politician who never saw himself as part the establishment. Carter’s rural and small-town coalition in 1970 would match any victorious Republican electoral map in 2024. Once elected, though, Carter shocked his white conservative supporters — and landed on the cover of Time magazine — by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Before making the jump to Washington, Carter befriended the family of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., whom he’d never sought out as he eyed the governor’s office. Carter lamented his foot-dragging on school integration as a “mistake.” But he also met, conspicuously, with Alabama's segregationist Gov. George Wallace to accept his primary rival's endorsement ahead of the 1976 Democratic convention. “He very shrewdly took advantage of his own Southerness,” said Amber Roessner, a University of Tennessee professor and expert on Carter’s campaigns. A coalition of Black voters and white moderate Democrats ultimately made Carter the last Democratic presidential nominee to sweep the Deep South. Then, just as he did in Georgia, he used his power in office to appoint more non-whites than all his predecessors had, combined. He once acknowledged “the secret shame” of white Americans who didn’t fight segregation. But he also told Alter that doing more would have sacrificed his political viability – and thus everything he accomplished in office and after. King's daughter, Bernice King, described Carter as wisely “strategic” in winning higher offices to enact change. “He was a leader of conscience,” she said in an interview. Rosalynn Carter, who died on Nov. 19 at the age of 96, was identified by both husband and wife as the “more political” of the pair; she sat in on Cabinet meetings and urged him to postpone certain priorities, like pressing the Senate to relinquish control of the Panama Canal. “Let that go until the second term,” she would sometimes say. The president, recalled her former aide Kathy Cade, retorted that he was “going to do what’s right” even if “it might cut short the time I have.” Rosalynn held firm, Cade said: “She’d remind him you have to win to govern.” Carter also was the first president to appoint multiple women as Cabinet officers. Yet by his own telling, his career sprouted from chauvinism in the Carters' early marriage: He did not consult Rosalynn when deciding to move back to Plains in 1953 or before launching his state Senate bid a decade later. Many years later, he called it “inconceivable” that he didn’t confer with the woman he described as his “full partner,” at home, in government and at The Carter Center. “We developed a partnership when we were working in the farm supply business, and it continued when Jimmy got involved in politics,” Rosalynn Carter told AP in 2021. So deep was their trust that when Carter remained tethered to the White House in 1980 as 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran, it was Rosalynn who campaigned on her husband’s behalf. “I just loved it,” she said, despite the bitterness of defeat. Fair or not, the label of a disastrous presidency had leading Democrats keep their distance, at least publicly, for many years, but Carter managed to remain relevant, writing books and weighing in on societal challenges. He lamented widening wealth gaps and the influence of money in politics. He voted for democratic socialist Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in 2016, and later declared that America had devolved from fully functioning democracy to “oligarchy.” Yet looking ahead to 2020, with Sanders running again, Carter warned Democrats not to “move to a very liberal program,” lest they help re-elect President Donald Trump. Carter scolded the Republican for his serial lies and threats to democracy, and chided the U.S. establishment for misunderstanding Trump’s populist appeal. He delighted in yearly convocations with Emory University freshmen, often asking them to guess how much he’d raised in his two general election campaigns. “Zero,” he’d gesture with a smile, explaining the public financing system candidates now avoid so they can raise billions. Carter still remained quite practical in partnering with wealthy corporations and foundations to advance Carter Center programs. Carter recognized that economic woes and the Iran crisis doomed his presidency, but offered no apologies for appointing Paul Volcker as the Federal Reserve chairman whose interest rate hikes would not curb inflation until Reagan's presidency. He was proud of getting all the hostages home without starting a shooting war, even though Tehran would not free them until Reagan's Inauguration Day. “Carter didn’t look at it” as a failure, Alter emphasized. “He said, ‘They came home safely.’ And that’s what he wanted.” Well into their 90s, the Carters greeted visitors at Plains’ Maranatha Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and where he will have his last funeral before being buried on family property alongside Rosalynn . Carter, who made the congregation’s collection plates in his woodworking shop, still garnered headlines there, calling for women’s rights within religious institutions, many of which, he said, “subjugate” women in church and society. Carter was not one to dwell on regrets. “I am at peace with the accomplishments, regret the unrealized goals and utilize my former political position to enhance everything we do,” he wrote around his 90th birthday. The politician who had supposedly hated Washington politics also enjoyed hosting Democratic presidential contenders as public pilgrimages to Plains became advantageous again. Carter sat with Buttigieg for the final time March 1, 2020, hours before the Indiana mayor ended his campaign and endorsed eventual winner Joe Biden. “He asked me how I thought the campaign was going,” Buttigieg said, recalling that Carter flashed his signature grin and nodded along as the young candidate, born a year after Carter left office, “put the best face” on the walloping he endured the day before in South Carolina. Never breaking his smile, the 95-year-old host fired back, “I think you ought to drop out.” “So matter of fact,” Buttigieg said with a laugh. “It was somehow encouraging.” Carter had lived enough, won plenty and lost enough to take the long view. “He talked a lot about coming from nowhere,” Buttigieg said, not just to attain the presidency but to leverage “all of the instruments you have in life” and “make the world more peaceful.” In his farewell address as president, Carter said as much to the country that had embraced and rejected him. “The struggle for human rights overrides all differences of color, nation or language,” he declared. “Those who hunger for freedom, who thirst for human dignity and who suffer for the sake of justice — they are the patriots of this cause.” Carter pledged to remain engaged with and for them as he returned “home to the South where I was born and raised,” home to Plains, where that young lieutenant had indeed become “a fellow citizen of the world.” —- Bill Barrow, based in Atlanta, has covered national politics including multiple presidential campaigns for the AP since 2012.

The Boxing Day Test match between India and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has set a new attendance record, surpassing a milestone that stood since 1936/37. From Thursday's opening day to the final session, spectators gathered in droves to experience the thrilling encounter between these cricketing powerhouses. On the Test's final day, MCG officials took to social media platform 'X' to confirm that the 1936/37 attendance record had been officially eclipsed. Back then, Australia took on England in a memorable six-day affair, setting a benchmark that stood the test of time. Cricket Australia revealed staggering numbers with 51,371 fans attending the opening session on Monday alone. By day's end, the attendance numbers had broken the record from the 1937 Test between a Don Bradman-led Australia and England team. Fans have consistently turned out in remarkable numbers, with daily figures recorded at 87,242, 85,147, 83,073, 43,867, and still rising past 51,371 on the final day. In a nod to public enthusiasm, MCG opened Yarra Park to fans, a move not commonly seen. The match itself hangs in the balance. India lost pivotal batsmen Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli during a critical phase of the opening session. However, an 88-run stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant helped stabilize the innings until Pant was dismissed by a spectacular catch from Mitchell Marsh. Ravindra Jadeja's brief stint at the crease brought little respite as Australia's victory hangs on claiming the remaining five Indian wickets. The final session is poised to be a thrilling conclusion to this record-breaking Test match. (ANI) (With inputs from agencies.)Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister withdraws as Trump's nominee to lead DEAProspera Financial Services Inc lifted its position in shares of ARK Genomic Revolution ETF ( BATS:ARKG – Free Report ) by 18.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 33,607 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,180 shares during the period. Prospera Financial Services Inc owned 0.06% of ARK Genomic Revolution ETF worth $860,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in ARK Genomic Revolution ETF in the 1st quarter valued at about $49,000. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in ARK Genomic Revolution ETF by 290.7% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 140,897 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,052,000 after buying an additional 104,831 shares during the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its stake in ARK Genomic Revolution ETF by 14.2% in the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 8,425 shares of the company’s stock valued at $242,000 after buying an additional 1,045 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its stake in ARK Genomic Revolution ETF by 7.7% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 48,260 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,133,000 after buying an additional 3,432 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in ARK Genomic Revolution ETF by 10.7% in the 2nd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 44,424 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,043,000 after buying an additional 4,305 shares during the last quarter. ARK Genomic Revolution ETF Trading Up 2.6 % Shares of ARKG opened at $23.83 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $24.69 and a 200-day moving average of $25.12. ARK Genomic Revolution ETF Company Profile The ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (ARKG) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in stocks based on a particular theme. The fund is an actively managed fund that targets companies involved in the genomics industry. ARKG was launched on Oct 31, 2014 and is managed by ARK. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ARKG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for ARK Genomic Revolution ETF ( BATS:ARKG – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for ARK Genomic Revolution ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ARK Genomic Revolution ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Shoppers ‘fall in love’ with Dollar Tree’s viral beauty item – it’s identical to Sephora but 94% cheaperThe Dallas Cowboys ruled out right guard Zack Martin and cornerback Trevon Diggs with injuries on Saturday, one day prior to a road game against the Washington Commanders. Martin has been dealing with ankle and shoulder injuries and didn't practice at all this week before initially being listed as doubtful to play on Friday. He also physically struggled during Monday night's loss to the Houston Texans. Martin, who turned 34 on Wednesday, has started all 162 games played in 11 seasons with the Cowboys. He's a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a seven-time first-team All-Pro. Diggs has been dealing with groin and knee injuries. He was listed as questionable on Friday before being downgraded Saturday. Diggs, 26, has 37 tackles and two interceptions in 10 games this season. The two-time Pro Bowl pick led the NFL with 11 picks in 2021 and has 20 in 57 games. The Cowboys elected not to activate receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) for the game. He returned to practice earlier this week and he was listed as questionable on Friday. Dallas activated offensive tackle Chuma Edoga (toe) and defensive end Marshawn Kneeland (knee) off injured reserve Saturday, placed safety Markquese Bell (shoulder) on IR and released defensive end KJ Henry. Tight end Jake Ferguson (concussion) was previously ruled out. Tight end Princeton Fant was elevated from the practice squad to replace him. Cornerback Kemon Hall also was elevated from the practice squad. --Field Level Media

Despite falling up to 41 per cent from their 52-week high levels, a dozen railway stocks are ending Calendar 2024 on a strong note. In 2025, all eyes would be on increased government spending, clearing of stalled railway tenders and expectations of higher budgetary allocation for the sector in the upcoming Union Budget. Be selective as many railway-linked stocks are still not reasonably valued, analysts warned in a BTMarkets year-end survey. Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd ( ) shares surged 134 per cent year-to-date while those of Kernex Microsystems (India) Ltd advanced 131 per cent during the same period. Stocks such as Jupiter Wagons Ltd (up 58 per cent), (47 per cent), BEML Ltd (44 per cent), Oriental Rail Infrastructure Ltd (38 per cent), Ircon International Ltd (22 per cent) and Railtel Corporation Of India Ltd (18 per cent) advanced up to 58 per cent for the year. Texmaco Rail & Engineering Ltd and Titagarh Railsystems Ltd added 17 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively. Indian Railway Catering And Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) remained an exception, falling 12 per cent for the year. Surjitt Singh Arora, Portfolio Manager - PMS at PGIM India AMC said ordering in railways has picked up during the December quarter. A steady state demand of 1,500 locomotives is expected from the railways over the next few years, Singh said. Ajit Mishra - SVP, Research, Religare Broking said railway stocks exhibited strong growth potential, driven by the government's focus on infrastructure development and the rising demand for efficient transportation solutions. "Among them, BEML Ltd, a leading manufacturer of railway coaches and wagons is well-positioned to benefit from government initiatives and increased infrastructure investments, which enhance the sector's growth outlook. Other notable railway stocks to consider include Container Corporation of India Ltd, Jupiter Wagons Ltd, and Titagarh Rail Systems, all of which are poised to capitalise on the expanding opportunities in India's railway and transportation sector," Mishra said. Mishra, however, believes investors should conduct thorough research and carefully evaluate various factors before making investment decisions in railway stocks. Jathin Kaithavalappil Assistant Vice President at Choice Broking said the performance of the railway sector depends on consistent expenditure by the government. Selective opportunities like IRCTC and RVNL warrant monitoring due to their strategic importance and potential policy backings, even though growth will be modest in the near term, he said. Narendra Solanki, Head Fundamental Research - Investment Services, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers said after going through a phase of steep correction in the July-October period, railway stocks are back in light, rebounding sharply over the past few weeks. "With general and state elections now behind, focus has been increased on government spending, clearing of stalled railway tenders, anticipation of the upcoming Union Budget. However, we believe that the stocks in the industry are still not cheap and ahead of fundamentals and investors may buy the stocks in a staggered manner," he said.Who Is David Bakhtiari’s Wife, Franki Shebby & What Is Their Relationship History?

Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100 ATLANTA (AP) — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent roughly 22 months in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife Rosalynn then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said he died peacefully Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family. Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’ PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — The 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, James Earl Carter Jr., died Sunday at the age of 100. His life ended where it began, in Plains, Georgia. He left and returned to the tiny town many times as he climbed to the nation’s highest office and lost it after four tumultuous years. Carter spent the next 40 years setting new standards for what a former president can do. Carter wrote nearly a decade ago that he found all the phases of his life challenging but also successful and enjoyable. The Democrat's principled but pragmatic approach defied American political labels, especially the idea that one-term presidents are failures. What we know about the deadly passenger jet crash in South Korea SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean officials are investigating the crash landing of a passenger jet that's one of the deadliest disasters in that nation's aviation history. Transport Ministry officials said the airport control tower issued a bird strike warning to the plane shortly before it intended to land and gave its pilot permission to land in a different area on Sunday. The Boeing 737-800 skidded off the runway, crashed into a barrier and burst into flames. All but two of the 181 people on board died. The Jeju Air passenger plane was flying from Bangkok to the town of Muan, about 180 miles south of Seoul, when the crash happened. South Korean authorities seek warrant to detain impeached President Yoon in martial law probe SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean law enforcement officials have requested a court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol as they investigate whether his short-lived martial law decree this month amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant on Monday. Investigators plan to question Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. In Gaza's crowded tent camps, women wrestle with a life stripped of privacy DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza City (AP) — For Gaza’s women, the hardships of life in the territory’s sprawling tent camps are compounded by the daily humiliation of never having privacy. Women struggle with how to dress modestly while crowded into a tent with extended family and in-laws, including men, and with strangers only steps away in neighboring tents. Access to period products is limited, so women and girls cut up sheets or old clothes to use as pads. They have to navigate sharing makeshift toilets, usually only a hole in the sand surrounded by sheets dangling from a line, with dozens of other people. Syria's de facto leader says it could take up to 4 years to hold elections BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s de facto leader has said it could take up to four years to hold elections in Syria, and that he plans on dissolving his Islamist group that led the country’s insurgency at an anticipated national dialogue summit for the country. Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group leading the new authority in Syria, made the remarks in an interview Sunday. That's according to the Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya. It comes almost a month after a lightning insurgency led by HTS overthrew President Bashar Assad’s decades-long rule, ending the country’s uprising-turned civil war that started back in 2011. Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east HOUSTON (AP) — A strong storm system is threatening to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi. Strong storms moving eastward Sunday are expected to continue producing gusty, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes through Sunday. That is according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira. So far, the line of severe weather has led to about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, Pereira said, but those reports remain unconfirmed until surveys of damage are completed. Azerbaijan's president says crashed jetliner was shot down by Russia unintentionally Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev says the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally. Aliyev told Azerbaijani state television on Sunday that the aircraft was hit by fire from the ground over Russia and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare. He accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the issue for several days. The crash on Wednesday killed 38 of 67 people on board. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Aliyev on Saturday for what he called a “tragic incident” but stopped short of acknowledging Moscow’s responsibility. Brace for turbulence: Lessons from a bumpy 'super year' of global elections LONDON (AP) — Some 70 countries that are home to half the world’s population held elections in 2024, and voters' message was often: “You’re fired.” From India and the United States to Japan, France and Britain, voters tired of economic disruption and global instability rejected sitting governments. Adding to a year of democratic turmoil were mass protests in Mozambique and Georgia, an election annulled in Romania and an attempt to impose martial law in South Korea. Cas Mudde, a professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia, summed up 2024 as “a great year for the far right, a terrible year for incumbents and a troublesome year for democracy around the world.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s false claims linking autism to childhood vaccinations are receiving new scrutiny now that President-elect Donald Trump has selected him to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, a sprawling agency with a budget of $1.7 trillion that oversees research into both autism and vaccines. The myth that autism is caused by childhood vaccines — proposed in 1998 by a British doctor who was later banned from practicing medicine in the United Kingdom — has been thoroughly debunked . Hundreds of studies have found vaccines to be safe . The World Health Organization estimates that over the past 50 years, immunizations have saved 154 million lives around the world. Kennedy, who espouses a number of health-related conspiracy theories , has pointed to vaccines to explain the substantial rise in autism diagnoses in recent decades, which have ballooned from an estimated 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 36 today. Research suggests that much of that increase is due to increasing awareness and screening for the condition; changing definitions of autism to include milder conditions on the spectrum that weren’t recognized in previous years; as well as advances in diagnostic technology. “For a very long time, the anti-vaccine movement has been exploiting families of autistic people, promoting a market for pseudo-scientific treatments that don’t provide the answers they’re looking for and that can expose autistic people to real harm,” said Ari Ne’eman, co-founder of the nonprofit Autistic Self Advocacy Network and an assistant professor of health policy and management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “More discredited conspiracy theories linking autism and vaccines are not the answer.” Timothy Caulfield, research director at the University of Alberta’s Health Law Institute in Canada, who studies health misinformation, said that people often are more willing to believe conspiracy theories about conditions such as autism, whose causes are complex and not fully understood, than diseases with clear causes. People seem less inclined to speculate, for example, about alternative explanations for Down syndrome, which causes intellectual disabilities and has long been known to be caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. “It’s really a shame because there are vulnerable families [of people with autism] who need our support,” said Judith Miller, a clinical psychologist and senior scientist and training director at the Center for Autism Research at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Every dollar and hour spent trying to debunk a conspiracy theory is a dollar and an hour lost that could have been spent trying to understand how to help families.” Finding the causes of autism is complicated, because it’s not a single disorder, said Manish Arora, a professor of environmental medical and climate science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. “Autism is a spectrum, not a single narrow disease,” Arora said. “It’s many, many things under one umbrella.” Although people diagnosed with autism often have similar strengths and challenges, “there are many paths to autism and many presentations of autism,” Miller said. Scientists have found a variety of risk factors for autism — most of which exist before birth — but there is no single cause for a neurological and developmental condition that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave. A number of the traits sometimes seen in people with autism — such as being sensitive to loud noises, for example, or finding it difficult to interpret social cues — are also found in people who have not been diagnosed with autism. Doctors diagnose autism based on a person’s behavior, noting that there is no simple test for the condition, as there is for Covid or diabetes, said Arora, founder and CEO of a start-up company that researches biomarkers for autism and other neurological conditions. Finding the cause of an infectious disease — such as influenza, which is caused by the flu virus — is much more straightforward. While researchers continue to study the factors that influence the development of autistic traits, “the one thing we know doesn’t cause autism is vaccines,” said Catherine Lord, a psychologist and researcher at the Center for Autism Research and Treatment at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Doctors have long known that genes play a large role in autism, simply by noting that autism can run in families. For example, in identical twins — who share all of their DNA — if one twin has autism, the other usually does, as well. In the case of fraternal twins — who share about half their DNA — if one fraternal twin has autism, the chance that the other will have autism ranges from 53% to 67%, according to an analysis of research studies. Scientists have identified more than 100 genes related to autism, Miller said, and genes are believed to play a role in 60% to 80% of cases. “The genetics of autism have never been better understood,” said Dr. Gregory Cejas, medical director of the Autism Clinical Center and Fragile X Clinic at the Washington University School of Medicine. “We’re making leaps and bounds about known genetic causes of autism.” Yet genes clearly don’t explain every case of autism. Autism is very different from conditions like sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis, which are caused by a single gene. Scientists believe that people develop autistic traits due to a combination of genetic vulnerability and environmental exposures, Lord said. “People have found many, many different genetic patterns associated with autism, but none of them are only associated with autism and none of them are always associated with autism,” Lord said. For example, fragile X syndrome — caused by a mutated gene on the X chromosome — is the most common known cause of autism. But only a fraction of children with the genetic mutation actually develop autism, Miller said. It’s possible that this mutation leaves some people more vulnerable to developing autistic characteristics, while others with the same mutations don’t develop autistic traits, because they are shielded by protective factors that have not yet been identified. Some people blamed the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine with autism because symptoms of the condition often occur at around 12 to 15 months of age, the same time toddlers get that immunization. But Miller notes that “most of the genetic conditions that affect our life and health aren’t apparent at birth. Symptoms or characteristics won’t show up until later, but the genetic code will have been with us the whole time.” Many of the known risk factors for autistic characteristics occur before birth or at the time of delivery, Arora said. Babies who experience complications at birth , such as their umbilical cord becoming wrapped around their neck, have a higher risk of autism. So do babies born prematurely , perhaps because of something that happened in the womb. Children are also slightly more likely to be diagnosed with autism if they have older fathers and possibly if they have older mothers, Miller said. It’s not clear if something in the biology of older parents causes a child to have a higher risk of autism, or if socioeconomic issues could play a role. It’s possible that older parents have better access to health care, making it more likely for their child to receive an autism diagnosis. A mother’s health influences her child’s autism risk in several ways, according to multiple studies: Children have a greater chance of being diagnosed with autism if their mothers were exposed to high levels of air pollution or developed a serious infection , such as the flu or pneumonia, while pregnant. While Ne’eman, of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, said he’s not opposed to basic biological research on autism or its causes, he said those studies do little to help people with autism overcome the barriers they face in their everyday lives. He notes that only 8.4% of the $419 million spent on autism research in the United States is devoted to support and services for people with autism. “We need an autism research agenda,” he said, “that reflects the true priorities of autistic people and our families: supports across the lifespan and inclusion in the community.” This article first appeared on NBCNews.com . Read more from NBC News here:

No. 17 Cincinnati kicks off Big 12 play vs. struggling Kansas StateMounties in Richmond, B.C., say a man has been arrested for allegedly uttering threats against police while livestreaming on a social media platform. RCMP say they received the complaint about the man on Friday morning as he stood outside Richmond City Hall. Police say officers flooded the area and made an arrest without any incident. Insp. Michael Cohee, with RCMP investigative services, says they commend the person who recognized the potential risk and called police. He says they take public safety and threats of violence “very seriously,” whether they are online or in person. Police haven’t said what charges are being considered but say the investigation is ongoing.

Family of Hamas hostage Edan Alexander celebrates his 21st birthday in NYC's Central ParkRipple (XRP) solidifies its position among top-tier digital assets with its price rallies and legal victories in the ever-changing cryptocurrency sector. Rexas Finance (RXS), a game-changing under-$0.50 coin, is quietly taking the spotlight as XRP gains momentum. Rexas Finance is reinventing blockchain by turning illiquid assets into tradable tokens with exceptional utility. Smart investors who see exponential riches in the next bull market are drawn to this unique technique. XRP is leading, but Rexas Finance is setting the pace, making it an investment you can take advantage of. Ripple (XRP) Becoming A Fast-Rising Token Recently, Ripple has raced up above $2, and there are signs that the token is not meeting its stops at any moment now. Ripple (XRP) is rising due to market dynamics and investor trust. XRP currently stands at $2.61, having increased 7.34% in the last 24 hours, thus raising its total market capitalization to $149.10 billion. XRP’s liquidity and the demand for it are still too high, with the 24-hour volume standing at $44.93 billion, or 30.38% of its market capital. These indicators, in addition to the fact that 57.05 billion XRP is in circulation and a total of over 100 billion, indicate strong market activity. Analysts note XRP's bullish pennant, which generally signals breakouts, its 200-day moving average, and its bullish ADX trend. Ripple's revolutionary USD-pegged stablecoin (RLUSD) ideas and better legal outlook boost investor sentiment. XRP may outperform in the crypto bull run, securing its market leadership. Rexas Finance (RXS): An Exceptional Investment Rexas Finance (RXS) is revolutionizing cryptocurrency investing by connecting real-world assets to blockchain technology. Rexas Finance makes it easy for investors to tokenize real estate, commodities, and collectibles for full or fractional ownership. Rexas Finance's novel claim is that Asian investors can purchase a stake in a European restaurant with a click. The groundbreaking Rexas Token Builder lets anyone tokenize their assets, democratizing wealth creation and streamlining asset sales via secure and transparent digital tokens. The Rexas Launchpad helps entrepreneurs finance tokenized ventures, unleashing new liquidity. The QuickMint Bot and AI-powered solutions simplify the tokenization process for both experienced investors and beginners, improving its usability. As decentralized finance (DeFi) transforms global markets, Rexas Finance's creative strategy makes it more than just a token—it's a portal to revolutionizing asset ownership, trading, and leverage in the blockchain era. RXS is an unmissable investment for individuals seeking real-world impact and boundless possibilities. The Best Match For XRP Rexas Finance (RXS) may be a better investment than Ripple (XRP), which has garnered notice with its strong rise. Unlike most venture capital projects, Rexas Finance launched a public presale, allowing common investors to join its transformative journey. With stages 1-9 selling out quickly and raising over $20 million, the presale has exhibited amazing progress. The continuing Stage 9, priced at $0.125 per token, has already more than $ 21.6 million, demonstrating the confidence and interest in this hidden gem. Early adopters in Stage 9 can earn 1.6x upon debut, so savvy investors are rushing to buy before the presale ends. This grassroots success story shows investors' faith in Rexas Finance's novel approach to real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, which will revolutionize asset ownership and liquidity. Rexas Finance's strategic roadmap and transparency set it unique. The project is preparing to list on three top ten exchanges to increase visibility and liquidity for its growing membership. CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko listings have increased visibility, luring investors who see its tremendous growth potential. Rexas Finance also completed a CertiK assessment, ensuring the security and reliability of its smart contracts and boosting investor confidence. The project has launched a $1 million giveaway to connect and reward its audience, with 20 winners receiving $50,000 in RXS tokens each. Rexas Finance's community-driven presale, targeted exchange listings, and inventive giveaways support sustainable growth, unlike XRP's reliance on external triggers like court victories and stablecoin launches. With Rexas Finance value at less than $0.5, it has a high-growth potential that could exceed XRP despite its remarkable momentum, giving it a compelling portfolio fit for discerning investors. Conclusion Ripple (XRP) dominates headlines with its bullish momentum, legal victories, and innovative developments, but Rexas Finance (RXS) disrupts the crypto market. Rexas Finance redefines investing options by combining blockchain technology with real-world asset tokenization. Strategic strategy, strong presale, and unique tools like the Rexas Token Builder pave the groundwork for unprecedented growth. Rexas Finance's under$0.50 value promises unparalleled exponential returns as XRP climbs toward $5. RXS, a token positioned to surpass even the most established companies in the next market cycle, should be considered for a balanced portfolio with high-growth assets. Website: https://rexas.com Win $1 Million Giveaway: https://bit.ly/Rexas1M Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinance Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.