North Korea’s Kim vows toughest anti-U.S. policy before Trump takes officeThe College Football Playoff was changing how fans, players and coaches viewed bowl season even before it expanded to 12 teams. There have been dips in ratings. Last season, an Alamo Bowl featuring Arizona and Oklahoma averaged 3.93 million viewers — an 18% decline from the 4.78 million who watched Washington and Texas in the same bowl game a year earlier. But don’t tell Kalani Sitake and Deion Sanders that the non-Playoff bowl games are meaningless. Not after the Buffaloes and Cougars were picked to finish 11th and 13th, respectively, in the Big 12 Conference. “We were supposed to be in the crib right now, focused on recruiting, improving our rosters. Nevertheless, we’re here,” Sanders told reporters this week. “We’re taking it serious because we were predicted not to be here by some of you wonderful folks.” The man they call Coach Prime added: “Do you know how many people wish they could be in our situations? We’re going to take full advantage of it. All our kids are playing. We’re going to play our toughest, our hardest. This is a game, not just routine. This is a game that both of us wants to win.” (BYU Athletics) The BYU football team participates in a rally in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, ahead of the Alamo Bowl against Colorado on Saturday. How to watch No. 17 BYU vs. No. 23 Colorado Venue: The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas Kickoff: Saturday, 5:30 p.m. MT TV: ABC Pregame reading BYU QUARTERBACK JAKE RETZLAFF surely riled up some Sun Devil and Cyclone fans when he gave this game his own nickname. “I think it’s the people’s Big 12 championship,” he said. COUGARS ATHLETICS DIRECTOR TOM HOLMOE says the year he spent with Deion Sanders changed the trajectory of Holmoe’s career. (Joseph R. Villarin | AP) Deion Sanders walks out of the San Francisco 49ers' practice facility on Sept. 15, 1994. The free-agent defensive back signed a one-year $1.1 million contract with the 49ers, where he first met future BYU athletics director Tom Holmoe. COLORADO QB SHEDEUR SANDERS gave his take on BYU’s defense. HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER TRAVIS HUNTER is motivating the Cougars. Here’s how. HE WAS SELLING PLASMA and sleeping in his van. Now, this BYU lineman is playing in the Alamo Bowl.Govt ‘insulted’ ex-PM Singh by holding last rites at Nigambodh Ghat, not at dedicated place: Congress PTI Updated: December 28th, 2024, 21:30 IST in Home News , National 0 Pic- PTI Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Share on Linkedin New Delhi: The Congress Saturday accused the Centre of insulting Manmohan Singh, the country’s first Sikh Prime Minister, by carrying out his last rites at the Nigambodh Ghat instead of a designated spot that could later become his memorial. The Opposition party had written to the Centre to identify a designated place for Singh’s last rites, where a memorial could be set up for him. Also Read Putin apologises to Azerbaijani leader for ‘tragic incident’ involving crashed Azerbaijani plane 3 hours ago Govt ‘insulted’ Manmohan Singh by performing his last rites at Nigambodh Ghat: Rahul Gandhi 5 hours ago As politics over the matter erupted, the Centre said a decision to set up a memorial has already been taken and a trust would be formed to identify the place soon. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the great son of Mother India and the first Prime Minister from the Sikh community has been “totally insulted” by the BJP-led Centre by performing his last rites at the Nigambodh Ghat Saturday. He said Singh was the Prime Minister for 10 years, the country became an economic superpower during his tenure and his policies are still the support system for the poor and backward classes. “Till date, respecting the dignity of all former Prime Ministers, their last rites were performed at authorised burial sites so that every person could have a last darshan and pay homage without any inconvenience. “Dr Manmohan Singh deserves our highest respect and a memorial. The government should have shown respect to this great son of the country and his proud community,” Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said by not providing an appropriate place for the former prime minister’s cremation, the Centre has not done justice to the dignity of the post, his personality, legacy and the self-respecting Sikh community. She said earlier, all former Prime Ministers were given the highest honour and respect. “Dr Manmohan Singhji deserves this honour and a Samadhi Sthal. Today, the whole world is remembering his contributions. The government should have thought beyond politics and narrow-mindedness in this matter,” she said in a post in Hindi on X. “This morning, I felt this when I saw Dr Manmohan Singhji’s family members struggling for a place at the funeral site, trying to find a place in the crowd, and the general public getting troubled due to the lack of space and paying tributes from the road outside,” Priyanka Gandhi added. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also took to X to say that he attended Singh’s funeral at the Nigambodh Ghat. “It was difficult to see very much, beyond the backs of the heads of assorted dignitaries and close relatives of the departed soul, so it became more of an occasion to reflect on the life and legacy of the late great PM,” Tharoor said, adding that he found himself seated next to Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was a memorable companion during the proceedings. “We shared a great regard for the late Prime Minister and agreed that a fitting memorial must be established by the government for Dr MMS without delay,” he said, while sharing pictures of the funeral. Former Indian Youth Congress chief B V Srinivas said when former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away August 16, 2018, his funeral took place at the National Memorial, the designated place for the cremation of former Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Prime Ministers. He referred to Vajpayee’s memorial, “Sadbhav Atal”, which is spread over seven acres and “where memories related to Atalji are present”, and shared pictures of the memorial on X. “But during the tenure of the same Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the last rites of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were performed at the public Nigambodh Ghat instead of the National Memorial. Because he was a Congress leader, not a BJP leader?” he asked in a post in Hindi on X. After the matter of a memorial for Singh took a political colour, the Centre clarified that a decision to build one was already conveyed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge by Union Home Minister Amit Shah after Friday’s Cabinet meeting. A government statement also said the funeral could be held as the process of setting up a trust and allotting land for the memorial could take a while. Kharge had written to Modi Friday seeking a memorial for Singh. Several sections of the society have also urged the government to confer Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour of the country, on the late economist-Prime Minister. PTI Tags: BJP Congress Manmohan Singh 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:

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Nimbus and Toshiba Announce Joint Development of Next-Generation Pure Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stack

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan meets MS Dhoni at recent eventBIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Bradley Ezewiro scored 19 points off of the bench to help lead UAB past Alcorn State 91-74 on Sunday night. Ezewiro shot 5 of 5 from the field and 9 for 9 from the line for the Blazers (7-6). Christian Coleman scored 15 points while shooting 6 of 8 from the field and 3 for 4 from the line. Alejandro had 15 points and went 5 of 10 from the field (3 for 6 from 3-point range). The Braves (0-13) were led in scoring by Keionte Cornelius, who finished with 22 points. Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt added 14 points for Alcorn State. Marcus Tankersley finished with 10 points. UAB took the lead with 11:35 remaining in the first half and never looked back. Coleman led their team in scoring with 11 points in the first half to help put them up 50-31 at the break. Ezewiro scored 15 points in the second half to help lead the way as UAB went on to secure a victory, despite being outscored by Alcorn State in the second half by a two-point margin. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

In the latest edition of the Power On newsletter , Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman laid out a couple updates on Apple’s developments on health features for AirPods . We’ve heard reports on this matter in the past, but this provides a little more insight. According to the newsletter, Apple is working on a wide variety of health features, including a heart-rate monitor, a temperature sensor, and new sensors that’ll track “a slew of physiological measures.” Apple’s primarily focused on developing the heart rate sensor at the moment. In internal testing, Apple is noticing more accurate heart-rate info off of the Apple Watch , but Gurman reports that AirPods aren’t too far off. We don’t have details on the other health features, nor a precise timeline, though Gurman says we’ll see it roll out “over the coming years.” The features may debut in AirPods Pro 3. Apple is also working on cameras for AirPods. This project was previously cancelled, but got revived with Apple’s sudden interest in developing products for the era of AI. Gurman notes that this is a priority project for both AI teams and AirPods teams, but it’s still a couple years away: In fact, it’s now seen as a priority for the teams within Apple’s AI and AirPods hardware development groups. That said, I wouldn’t expect the technology to hit the market for a couple more years — assuming it doesn’t get canceled again. Apple released a new firmware update for AirPods Pro 2 earlier this year, enabling hearing health features and the ability to use AirPods as an FDA-certified hearing aid. With the release of these features, it’s obvious that Apple is moving in a more health-oriented direction, so introducing AirPods health features for users without an Apple Watch is a probable move. Follow Michael: X/Twitter , Bluesky , Instagram

Toy Story 5 star teases “brilliant” sequel after first recording session

UConn head coach Dan Hurley insists he's not overvaluing Wednesday night's game between his 25th-ranked Huskies and No. 15 Baylor in Storrs, Conn. Sure, it comes on the heels of the two-time reigning national champion Huskies (5-3) responding to losing all three games during the Maui Invitational with a blowout victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Stock market 12-02-24: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another record

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The New York Yankees have agreed to sign left-handed pitcher Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million dollar contract -- the largest ever for a left-handed hurler, MLB.com reported Tuesday. The reported deal would be the fourth-largest for any pitcher, a list led by the Los Angeles Dodgers' 10-year, $700 million contract with Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. Fried would join right-hander Gerrit Cole in a formidable Yankees rotation. He had an 11-10 record with the Atlanta Braves last season with a 3.25 earned run average in 29 starts. Fried gave up 146 hits and 57 walks with 166 strikeouts for the Braves and tied the Major League Baseball lead with two complete games. The Yankees' reported signing of Fried comes after the club missed out on Dominican superstar Juan Soto, who entered free agency after playing for the Yankees last year but is reportedly headed to the New York Mets on a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal. bb/js © Agence France-Presse1% Club fans were left shocked after all EIGHT final contestants walked away empty handed after failing to answer the last question correctly. Eight men were the last players standing out of 100 in Tuesday night's show after successfully making it to the 1% question. 5 Lee Mack returned for another episode of The 1% Club on Tuesday evening Credit: ITV 5 But the final players were left stumped by the 1% question Credit: ITV But after being asked the big-money earner by The 1% Club's host Lee Mack , they all got it wrong and missed out on a share of the £97,000 prize pot. The question, which in theory only one per cent of the UK population will be able to answer, was based on a graphic. Lee asked: "What word is represented by this picture?" The graphic showed the number eight in the middle of an ice cube. READ MORE ON THE 1% CLUB BAD START 'What muppets' cry 1% Club fans as 20 players are immediately wiped out Comeback ITV confirms return of The 1% Club after six months off air - but there's a twist The final constants had just 30 seconds to figure it out before locking in their answers. Lee then announced: "Your time is up. Let's see who got it right." After a tense pause, the entire studio was illuminated in red - indicating that no one answered correctly. "I'm afraid you all got it wrong," Lee told the disappointed players. Most read in Reality NO A-POLL-OGIES MAFS UK's Polly reveals truth behind fiery off camera feud with co-star Star Power Coleen and Wayne Rooney at centre of bidding war for reality show Cameras Off This Morning's Cat Deeley and Alison Hammond party at boozy Christmas bash Strictly Snub Toyah Willcox reveals the TWO Strictly pros she refused to dance with The TV funnyman then revealed the answer: Incubate (in-cube-eight). There was a loud groan from the audience as they realised none of the eight players had joined the 1% Club. What muppets' cry 1% Club fans as 20 players are immediately wiped out on 'simple' first question Only one contestant walked away with any money - a chap called Jonathan, who was awarded £1,000 for not using his 'pass' card to skip any earlier questions. "Commiserations," Lee told the group. "You didn't make it into the 1% Club but you can at least walk away knowing you did better than everyone else tonight." Fans at home who had been playing along shared their surprise at the final eight's fall. One wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Not one person got it..!" Another added: "The wheels on the brain bus well & truly fell off." And a third said: "Oh what a pity. None of them got it right, meaning that everyone leaves with absolutely nothing...apart from Jonathan, who keeps his £1k." Other fans shared their own guesses, including 'infinite', 'eight squared' and 'eight cubed'. The 1% Club has returned to ITV this week for a special four-episode run, airing each night from Monday (December 9) to Thursday (December 12). Two 1% Club Christmas specials will also air this month, while Lee is also due to front another episode in support of Soccer Aid. The 1% Club first hit screens in 2022 and has fast become one of TV's most popular game shows. Read more on the Scottish Sun SCOT MY FIRST RODEO! Popular music festival coming to three Scots cities for first time CHILL OUT Scots to be gripped by grim -10C freeze as weather map reveals temperature plunge In September, it won Best Quiz Game Show at the National Television Awards for the third year in a row. It faced stiff competition but still beat The Wheel, Beat The Chasers, Richard Osman’s House of Games, and Ant and Dec’s Limitless Win. 5 None of the eight finalists could work out what the graphic represented Credit: ITV 5 The number 8 in the ice cube symbolised the world 'incubate' Credit: ITV 5 Only one player - Jonathan - won any money and it was not using his free pass earlier in the show Credit: ITV

Share Tweet Share Share Email Blockchain has emerged as a transformative force across various industries. One of its most promising applications is property deed verification, which plays a crucial role in securing ownership records. Property ownership verification ensures transparency, reduces fraud, and streamlines real estate transactions. Traditionally, people have verified property deeds using manual, paper-based systems. These systems are often time-consuming, prone to errors, and vulnerable to fraud. However, blockchain technology provides a secure, immutable, and efficient alternative, transforming the way people record and validate property ownership. Understanding Blockchain Technology Blockchain operates as a decentralized, distributed ledger technology that enables secure and transparent record-keeping. It stores information across a network of computers, ensuring that no single entity controls the data. Each piece of information, or “block,” links to the previous one, forming a continuous chain. Once someone records data on a blockchain , it cannot be altered or tampered with without the consensus of the network participants, making blockchain highly secure and resistant to fraud. The key features of blockchain technology include: Decentralization: No central authority controls the blockchain, reducing the risk of manipulation and fraud. Immutability: Once data is recorded, it cannot be changed or deleted, ensuring the integrity of property records. Transparency: All participants in the blockchain network can access and verify the data, fostering trust and accountability. These characteristics make blockchain an ideal solution for property deed verification, offering a new way to secure ownership records while minimizing the risks associated with traditional methods. The Challenges of Traditional Property Deed Verification Before diving into how blockchain can revolutionize property deed verification, it’s essential to understand the challenges of traditional systems. Real estate transactions have long been plagued by issues such as: Fraud and Forgery: Property deed fraud is a significant concern. Fraudulent activities, such as forging signatures or falsifying property titles, can result in legal disputes and financial losses. Inefficiency: Manual, paper-based systems are slow and prone to errors. Property records are often stored in multiple locations, leading to delays in verifying ownership and transferring properties. Lack of Transparency: Traditional systems can be opaque, making it difficult for buyers, sellers, and other stakeholders to verify the authenticity of property deeds and ownership records. Data Security Risks: Physical property records are vulnerable to theft, natural disasters, and other unforeseen events that can result in the loss or destruction of vital ownership documents. Blockchain addresses these challenges by providing a digital, secure, and transparent method for verifying property deeds. How Blockchain Revolutionizes Property Deed Verification Blockchain technology has the potential to completely overhaul the property deed verification process. By digitizing and decentralizing ownership records, blockchain ensures that property deeds are secure, tamper-proof, and easily accessible. Here’s how it works: Digitization of Property Deeds In a blockchain-based property deed verification system, property deeds are digitized and stored as electronic records on the blockchain. These digital records contain essential details such as the property’s legal description, the owner’s information, and the transaction history. Each deed is associated with a unique identifier, making it easy to track and verify. Immutable Records Once a property deed is recorded on the blockchain, it becomes immutable. This means that no one can alter or delete the information without the consensus of the network participants. This feature eliminates the possibility of forgery or tampering, ensuring that ownership records are accurate and reliable. Decentralized Ownership Verification Blockchain’s decentralized nature ensures that property ownership is verified by a distributed network of participants, rather than relying on a central authority. This reduces the risk of fraud and manipulation by providing an additional layer of security. Each participant in the network has access to the same data, which enhances transparency and trust. Smart Contracts for Property Transactions Smart contracts are self-executing agreements with the terms written directly into code. They can streamline the property transaction process by automating various aspects, such as transferring ownership and releasing payments. In a blockchain-based system, smart contracts remove the need for intermediaries and ensure that transactions complete securely and on time . Real-Time Access to Ownership Records One of the biggest advantages of blockchain for property deed verification is its ability to provide real-time access to ownership records. In a blockchain-based system, everyone involved in the transaction—whether a buyer, seller, or legal professional—can access the most up-to-date and accurate information about the property. This feature eliminates delays caused by waiting for physical records or manual verification. Benefits of Blockchain for Property Deed Verification Enhanced Security Blockchain’s encryption and decentralization make it highly secure. Storing property deeds on a blockchain significantly reduces the risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, or alterations. The immutability of blockchain records guarantees that once someone records a property deed, no one can tamper with it, providing an added layer of protection against fraud. Increased Transparency With blockchain, all participants in the network can access the same information, ensuring that property ownership records are transparent and easily verifiable. Buyers can check the history of a property, confirming its ownership and any past transactions, without relying on third parties or intermediaries. This fosters trust and confidence in the real estate market. Faster Transactions Traditional property transactions can take weeks or even months to complete, primarily due to the time it takes to verify ownership records and transfer documents. Blockchain speeds up this process by automating many aspects of the transaction, including deed verification and transfer of ownership. This significantly reduces the time and cost involved in property deals. Cost Savings By eliminating the need for paper-based records, manual verification, and intermediaries, blockchain can reduce transaction costs. Property buyers and sellers no longer need to pay for title searches, notary fees, or other administrative costs associated with traditional deed verification processes. Smart contracts further reduce the need for middlemen, such as lawyers and real estate agents, allowing parties to conduct transactions directly with one another. Reduced Risk of Fraud Property fraud is a significant issue in real estate, with fraudulent deeds and forged signatures causing major problems for buyers and sellers alike. Blockchain’s immutability and decentralized nature make it nearly impossible for anyone to alter property records or create false deeds. The Future of Blockchain in Property Deed Verification While blockchain is still in the early stages of adoption in the real estate sector, its potential to transform property deed verification is undeniable. Governments and private companies around the world are exploring ways to implement blockchain solutions for land registries and property transactions. Several countries, including Sweden, Georgia, and the United Arab Emirates, have already begun testing blockchain-based property registries, paving the way for broader adoption. As blockchain technology continues to mature, it is likely that more jurisdictions will embrace it as a means of securing property deeds and streamlining real estate transactions. In the future, blockchain could become the standard for property deed verification, offering a faster, more secure, and more efficient alternative to traditional systems. Conclusion Blockchain technology is revolutionizing the way property deeds are verified, offering a secure, transparent, and efficient solution to the challenges of traditional real estate systems. By digitizing ownership records, providing immutable verification, and automating transactions through smart contracts, blockchain has the potential to significantly reduce fraud, enhance security, and speed up property transactions. As the technology continues to gain traction, it could transform the real estate industry , making property ownership verification more accessible and trustworthy than ever before. 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