Bitcoin has topped the $100,000 mark as a massive rally in the world’s most popular cryptocurrency sparked by the election of Donald Trump rolls on. The milestone comes just hours after the President-elect signaled a lighter regulatory approach to the crypto industry when he said he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bitcoin has soared to unprecedented heights since Trump won the election Nov. 5. The cryptocurrency has climbed dramatically from $69,374 on Election Day and rose as high as $103,713 Wednesday, according to CoinDesk. Just two years ago, bitcoin dropped below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX. How long bitcoin will stay above the $100,000 mark is uncertain.

Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the Federal Reserve’s ability to set interest rates free of political interference is necessary for it to make decisions to serve “all Americans” rather than a political party or political outcome. Speaking at the New York Times’ DealBook summit, Powell addressed a question about President-elect Donald Trump’s numerous public criticisms of the Fed and of Powell himself. During the election campaign, Trump had insisted that as president, he should have a “say” in the Fed’s interest rate policies.

Two children were wounded Wednesday in a shooting at a tiny religious K-8 school in Northern California and deputies arrived to find the gunman on the ground near the playground, dead after apparently shooting himself, sheriff’s officials said. The children, boys aged 5 and 6, were hospitalized in “extremely critical condition,” officials said. The shooting occurred shortly after 1 p.m. at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, a private school in Palermo with fewer than three dozen students. Palermo has about 5,500 people and is about 65 miles (104 km) north of Sacramento. It was the the latest among dozens of school shootings across the U.S. in recent years, including especially deadly ones in Newtown, Connecticut; Parkland, Florida; and Uvalde, Texas.

Jurors asked Wednesday to review police and bystander video at the heart of the chokehold manslaughter case against Daniel Penny as his lawyers complained that an aggressive protester was harassing the Marine veteran outside the New York City courthouse. Within about an hour of starting a second day of deliberations, the anonymous jury sought a second look at videos captured by the body cameras of officers who responded to the subway car where Penny grabbed hold of Jordan Neely, an agitated man whose behavior and words were frightening passengers. Jurors also wanted to revisit video shot by a Mexican journalist who was on the train that depicts much of the roughly six-minute restraint, and police video of Penny’s station house interview with detectives.

A California farm expanded a recall of raw milk sold in stores and halted production after state health and agriculture officials found bird flu virus in more milk samples. Raw Farm, of Fresno, voluntarily recalled all whole milk and cream products from stores late Tuesday after tests found bird flu virus in “multiple” retail samples and dairy storage and bottling sites. The recall covers all Raw Farm milk and cream produced between Nov. 9 and Nov. 27. The California Department of Food and Agriculture quarantined the farm and suspended distribution of raw milk, cream, kefir, butter and cheese products produced on or after Nov. 27.

In light of the investigations against senior officials in the Israel Prison Service (IPS) and the police by Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara and the State Prosecutor’s Office, Likud MK Moshe Saada, who served for a year as acting head of the Police Investigations Department and for about seven years as deputy head of the department, claims that ministers from Likud are afraid to vote for the dismissal of the Attorney-General due to concerns that an investigation will be opened against them. Speaking on Radio Galey Israel, Saada said: “I’m telling you from personal knowledge – following the investigation of Israel Prison Service Chief Kobi Yaakobi yesterday, the investigators told him that he must not return to the IPS right now, but why?

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning martial law declaration lasted just hours, but experts say it raised serious questions about his ability to govern for the remaining 2 1/2 years of his term and whether he will abide by democratic principles. The opposition-controlled parliament overturned the edict, and his rivals on Wednesday took steps to impeach him. One analyst called his action “political suicide.” Yoon’s political fate may depend on whether a large number of people in coming days take to the streets to push for his ouster. Here’s a look at the political firestorm caused by the martial law declaration, the first of its kind in more than 40 years. Why did Yoon impose martial law?

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.” “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.

Let’s face it: Joe Biden has been a figurehead president, nothing more. The man is clearly suffering from cognitive decline, likely advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s. Anyone who has seen him struggle to form coherent sentences or confuse basic facts can tell something is seriously wrong. Yet, we’ve been told to ignore the obvious and pretend he’s leading the free world. The truth? Biden was not capable of being president. Everything done during his so-called administration was actually carried out by unelected operatives working in the shadows. This sham presidency is unprecedented and should not be allowed to stand. Every law, executive order, and decision from the past four years must be rolled back.

President Joe Biden, 82, fell asleep during a meeting with African leaders in Angola, closing his eyes multiple times during a speech by Tanzanian Vice President Philip Mpango. The incident occurred during the final day of a three-day summit attended by the presidents of Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While listening to Mpango, Biden rested his hand on his face and passed out, despite wearing an earpiece for translation. However, all speakers at the time were addressing the panel in English. The summit marked Biden’s first official bilateral trip to Africa since assuming office in 2021. His visible fatigue and hoarse voice have drawn criticism, particularly from those questioning his age and fitness for office.