J.K. Dobbins and Alohi Gilman are placed on injured reserve by ChargersTokenization Philippines is integrating cryptocurrencies to streamline its $36 billion remittance industry A visual representation of the digital cryptocurrency Bitcoin. — AFP/File As our national debate remains fixated on containers, dharnas, civil-disobedience and other zero-sum political theatrics, the world around us is rapidly transitioning to a new era defined by tokenization. While we are caught up in cyclical political crises of our own making, nations around us are leveraging tokenization to unlock new economic opportunities and attract billions in investments. President-elect Trump is positioning America to be the global crypto capital. Dubai has attracted $35 billion in crypto assets. Nigeria is piloting the e-Naira to promote financial inclusion. Kenya is utilising blockchain in its land registry system. The Philippines is integrating cryptocurrencies to streamline its $36 billion remittance industry. El Salvador has made Bitcoin legal tender, while Bhutan holds $1 billion in Bitcoin, equivalent to one-third of its annual GDP. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); Trump's vision relies on tokenization. Dubai’s ability to attract billions hinges on tokenization. Nigeria’s e-Naira is built on tokenization. Kenya is leveraging tokenization for its land registry. El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption is all about tokenization, and Bhutan’s Bitcoin success wouldn’t have been possible without tokenization. Tokenization is the digitisation of physical assets. Tokenization is the process of converting real-world assets into digital tokens on a blockchain. These tokens then represent ownership or a claim to the underlying asset. Government functions are being tokenized. Health records are being tokenized. Indonesia is looking at tokenizing infrastructure projects as a means of attracting foreign investment. India is looking at tokenizing supply chain assets, such as inventory and invoices to unlock liquidity. Vietnam, Thailand, Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana, Cambodia and Honduras are all into tokenizing land titles to secure and immutable land titles, reducing land disputes and facilitating property transactions. Real estate, gold, silver, oil, stocks, bonds, education credentials, cars, boats, renewable energy certificates and even voting rights are all being tokenized. Tokenization is reshaping the global economy. Tokenization is democratising access to assets. Tokenization is enhancing financial inclusion. Tokenization is fostering innovation. Tokenization is unlocking new opportunities and tokenization is driving global growth. Tokenization is becoming the backbone of the global economy. The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) must develop clear and concise regulations that outline the legal framework for tokenization activities, including issuance of digital assets, token sales and offerings and consumer protection measures. The SECP must create a conducive regulatory environment. The SECP must foster innovation. The SECP must facilitate foreign investment. On a related note, President-elect Donald Trump recently criticised SEC Chairman Gary Gensler's regulatory approach, particularly towards tokenization, and stated that he would fire Gensler on his first day in office. Tokenization is shaping a future where assets such as real estate, gold, silver, oil, stocks, bonds, education credentials, cars, boats, renewable energy certificates and even voting rights will be converted into digital tokens, enabling seamless trading and ownership transfers across borders. The question remains: will Pakistan seize this opportunity to become a player in the tokenized economy, or remain fixated on containers, dharnas, civil-disobedience and other zero-sum political theatrics? The writer is a columnist based in Islamabad. He tweets/posts @saleemfarrukh and can be reached at: farrukh15@hotmail.comHarriers edge past Leamington test at Aggborough

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By . By Joshua Ocheja As I sit at my desk, fingers poised over the keyboard, I am reminded of the restless spirit that drives writers like me. Writers are restless beings, forever in turmoil, driven to express themselves. This inner conflict yields writing, a cathartic release from the burden of thoughts and emotions. Most writers will attest to this phenomenon. Writing stems from a deep-seated urge to inform, educate, or take a stance on issues that shape our daily lives. I discovered this truth when I began writing actively in 2008. Since then, I’ve known no peace, much like my fellow writers. The compulsion to make a statement is ever-present. As a young writer, I devoured the works of notable authors and was privileged to learn from some of the best in the country. This period was challenging, with memories of being tasked with analyzing articles from the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. I was baffled, my mind reeling with questions. One particular lesson stands out: the power of concise sentences and the art of suspenseful storytelling. These techniques have become essential tools in my writing arsenal. Several writers have influenced my writing. They come with unique writing styles for their audience. The interesting thing for me is their ability to hold their audience in suspense. Consequently, I attempted to describe the writing style of these writers, even though I knew I couldn’t do sufficient justice to the enterprise. It remains an attempt. I have listed them below in no particular order. Mahmud Jega: I liken him to a professor of social history. I wonder who would not read Mahmud Jega religiously. He is a storyteller. His writings are rich in content and informative. There is hardly any piece of his that does not come with a personal experience. When he writes, he takes you down history in a simplified way. His writings make you curious. You wonder how he gets his information. And his style of expression is brilliant. Simon Kolawole: Simon Kolawole is a witty writer. His writings make no distinction between friend and foe. He converts his audience easily with his style of writing. He is not afraid to be sarcastic but not lose the plot. He is not a critic. On an occasion when he criticises, he gets overwhelmed. He is one of the few writers in Nigeria who writes jokingly. Simple, yet effective. When you read his articles, a paragraph or sentence must give you reason to laugh. The “Four Other Things” segment of his column is where he jabs subtly. If you are fortunate enough to feature there, it means that he spared you. Little wonder the logo of his column is Simon Kolawole Live! Olusegun Adeniyi: Olusegun Adeniyi is a blitzing writer. His writings reflect an agitation and want to quickly put issues in proper perspective. That is The Verdict. He is sublime in his analysis. Most times, he concludes his writings with food for thought. You don’t want to find yourself on his wrong side. He won’t spare you, no matter how highly placed. He throws jabs easily. You can’t fault him most times because he writes with facts. Waziri Adio: Waziri Adio is a methodological writer. He is very conscious of his audience. He rarely banters in his writings or leaves any paragraph to the interpretation of the reader. He sounds like the title of his column Postscripts. He writes technically and mainly on policy and governance. He is not a storyteller, and if you are not intellectually minded, you might find his writing unappealing. His writings are well-researched and straight to the point. He remains one of the few writers who have been consistent in style and delivery. Monday Philips Ekpe: Monday Philips Ekpe is a reflective writer. He describes situations in a manner that makes the audience reflect. He is not hard in his analysis, an attribute that makes his writings unique. His standpoints are hinged on burning issues, often reflecting the reality on the ground. He advocates good governance and attempts to ignite a reflection on accountability. His titles give him away easily. You could easily tell his position from the title and the opening paragraph. Sunday Dare: Sunday Dare is a restless writer. He is bullish in his writings. His arguments are strong. You can sense the excitement in his writings. He takes a position and sustains it, not minding whose ox is gored. He writes very well and is also conscious of feedback. He writes mostly on appraisal of a policy or government position, and his verdict is mostly positive. His titles are usually long and less catchy. Tunde Olusunle: Tunde Olusunle is a lyrical writer. He romances words in his writings by giving them a meaning that resonates. His writings are lengthy, and he navigates them easily, often professorially. He can hold the audience for an extended period. He utilizes anecdotes and builds on them to a conclusion. His titles are sensational, and the enthusiasm resonates in his writings. He is a wordsmith, and his writings read like a novel. The above-mentioned writers are some of my favourites. Their writings give me insights into the dynamic world of writing. It also reminds me that there are no fixed rules in writing. Telling a great story varies among writers. The writing journey is a restless one, fueled by an insatiable urge to express ourselves. As writers, we must embrace this restlessness, harnessing it to create work that informs, educates, and inspires. Ocheja is an alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You. NEWS UPDATE: Nigerians have been finally approved to earn Dollars from home, acquire premium domains for as low as $1500, profit as much as $22,000 (₦37million+). Click here to start.

Abacus Life Announces Closing of Public Offering of 12,500,000 Shares of Common StockNorth America’s top professional sports leagues have issued warnings to their players about a growing threat from high-tech, organized burglary rings, whose tools of choice are passports, cutting-edge technology and a 90-day calendar. The NBA memo, citing FBI intelligence, specifically linked the crimes to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that target “professional athletes and other high-net-worth individuals.” These groups are known for using “advanced techniques” such as pre-surveillance, drones, signal-jamming devices and other cutting-edge technology. The NFL highlighted the risks posed by what it called “organized and skilled groups” of burglars targeting wealthy athletes. While the warnings did not name victims, they were issued after the homes of athletes including Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce and Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis were recently burglarized. The tactics described in the memos bear a striking resemblance to a wave of break-ins targeting affluent residents in Southern California . Federal and local officials from Los Angeles and Orange County have reported a spike in break-ins by what they call “burglary tourists” — criminals from Central and South America who legally enter the U.S. on 90-day tourist visas under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). But instead of packing swimsuits and sunscreen, police said these individuals are armed with disguises, video equipment, trail cameras and Wi-Fi jammers. They target wealthy neighborhoods and gated communities before moving on to avoid detection. These “burglary tourists” have been at work for at least five years, but their operations have intensified in recent times as information about addresses and even pictures of properties have become increasingly accessible. “Transnational gangs might not know everything about the house that they are breaking into,” LAPD Chief of Detectives Alan Hamilton told NBC News on Friday. “But there’s always a possibility these suspects know who they are and monitor the athletes’ social media and movements.” Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley’s home was also burglarized in September while he was attending an NFL game, The Minnesota Star Tribune reported . Portis posted on Instagram on Nov. 3 saying his “prized possessions” were stolen from his home during his team’s game the previous day. Kelce’s and Mahomes’ homes in Kansas City were broken into hours apart in October. The burglars made off with $20,000 in cash and caused $1,000 in damage to Kelce’s home, according to a police report obtained by NBC affiliate KSHB of Kansas City . Mahomes has called the ordeal “frustrating” and “disappointing.” This trend has spread to other cities including Chicago, Houston and Dallas. “Law enforcement has long recognized this pattern of crimes across the Midwest,” Hamilton said. “It’s not something they have been immune to.” Law enforcement from coast to coast, including the FBI, has been tracking these criminal networks for years, with suspects linked to South American gangs appearing in nearly every state, Hamilton said. “It’s totally military”-level technology, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told NBC News over the summer. “People we’ve arrested here in Orange County have criminal records coming from the country of Chile.” If Southern California law enforcement has made progress in reducing these crimes, it may be driving more of these operations to other regions of the country. The NBA and NFL urged players to take preventive measures, such as activating alarm systems and surveillance cameras, securing valuables in safes and avoid oversharing on social media. “The FBI reported that, in most of the incidents, the homes were equipped with alarm systems that were not activated,” reads the NBA memo obtained by NBC News on Friday. “The FBI also reported that the homes were all unoccupied and, in most cases, no dogs were present.” This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News: Hyundai announces recall of over 42,000 vehicles due to wiring issue that can cause them to roll away How ‘Wicked’ the movie compares to ‘Wicked’ the musical Matthew Perry recalls 'scary' confrontation with Jennifer Aniston: 'She was the one'More Nigerian banks upgrade systems; customers lament

Soccer-Milan did well in breaking through Empoli’s aggressive defence, says FonsecaThe Vancouver Canucks got some coal in their stocking over the holiday break. Two of the team's biggest stars, Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson, were missing from Friday's practice and, according to head coach Rick Tocchet, will not play in Saturday afternoon's game against the Seattle Kraken. While the full scope of their injuries isn't yet known, with Tocchet saying he wasn't sure if they were day-to-day or week-to-week, but they want to play it safe. "Especially with a guy like Hughes, I don't think you want to put him in situations where he could really get hurt," said Tocchet. "I don't think you want to do that with any player. You've got to be careful of that." You definitely want to be careful to avoid turning a short-term injury into a long-term injury but it's hard to take Tocchet entirely seriously when he says the team wants to avoid putting players institutions where they could really get hurt because they already have. Hughes was questionable for December 23's game against the Sharks — a game-time decision. He not only played but also led the Canucks in ice time with 24:45. After the game, Hughes admitted that he needed the holiday break. "I think that the break's coming at a fortunate time," said Hughes. "I've got three days here just to recover and regroup and we'll see what's going on after that." If whatever injury he's dealing with is significant enough for him to miss Saturday's game perhaps it was serious enough that he should have missed the game against the Sharks as well. Was that not Hughes being in a position to get "really hurt?" Tocchet even praised Hughes for playing through his injury. "Obviously, our captain, dealing with some stuff, to play and get two points for us, I'm really proud of him," said Tocchet after the game. "He sucked it up tonight." As for Pettersson, he got “banged up” in the second period of that game against the Sharks according to Tocchet but then came back for the third period and played a shift before finally leaving the game. Should he have returned to the game? Did the medical staff miss something? Was that not a situation where he could have been further injured? Here’s the thing: I don’t even blame Tocchet or the Canucks’ medical staff for Hughes and Pettersson playing through injuries. Often, they can only go off what the players self-report in terms of how their body is feeling and how much pain is too much. Fundamentally, hockey players want to play and they'll push themselves through all sorts of pain to do it. For Pettersson in particular, he might not have even known the extent of what he was dealing with until he took the ice for the third period and pushed himself. It’s also part and parcel of hockey culture that players play through pain and injury. In fact, most players in the NHL are playing through something, whether it’s minor bumps and bruises that are merely uncomfortable or long-term issues that can’t really be fixed but can be managed. In all honesty, every time a player steps on the ice, they’re entering a situation where they could get "really hurt." That's a fundamental risk of a fast, physical sport like hockey. Playing through pain isn't unique to hockey either. All sports lionize athletes who grit their teeth and bear through the pain to accomplish something great. But you do have to wonder if playing through pain and injuries is really worth it in late December. It’s one thing to battle through pain in the playoffs in the quest for the Stanley Cup when every game is of the utmost importance; it’s quite another to risk causing a bigger issue for one of 82 games in the regular season. Perhaps it would have been wiser for Hughes to sit out against the Sharks to get a bit more rest for whatever injury is bothering him. Maybe Pettersson shouldn’t have pushed it by returning for the third period. And if the Canucks couldn’t beat the basement-dwelling Sharks without Hughes, maybe that says a lot about how the team is currently constructed. Vancouver Canucks projected lines Without Hughes and Pettersson at practice on Friday, the Canucks had to shake up the forward lines and defence pairings. Here are the Canucks' projected lines: Just as Pettersson had to step up when J.T. Miller stepped away from the team for personal reasons, Miller will have to step up in Pettersson's absence. He'll centre the Canucks' two best wingers in Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser. Pius Suter filled in admirably as a second-line centre when Miller was gone, so he'll be back on the second line with Nils Höglander and Conor Garland, with hopes of creating some secondary offence behind Miller. The one forward line that remains intact is the fourth line — now third line — of Danton Heinen, Teddy Blueger, and Kiefer Sherwood. Finally, Max Sasson returns to the lineup, this time at centre between Dakota Joshua and Phil Di Giuseppe. The bigger question, of course, is how the Canucks will handle being without Hughes, especially with Filip Hronek already out long-term. At practice, the top pairing consisted of Derek Forbort and Tyler Myers, which is sobering. Erik Brännström will draw back into the lineup alongside Vincent Desharnais. Brännström will also quarterback the top power play unit and could play some bigger minutes as the only true puck-mover on the Canucks' blue line with Hughes out. The Canucks' starting goaltender will be Thatcher Demko. He has an .889 save percentage in five starts since returning from his popliteus injury but has helped the Canucks earn at least a point in four of those five starts with a 2-1-2 record. Seattle Kraken projected lines The Seattle Kraken are struggling this season, sitting just barely above the Anaheim Ducks in the Pacific Division with a 15-19-2 record. They lost five straight heading into the holiday break. Don't be surprised, then, if the Kraken shake up their lines and try something different against the Canucks on Saturday. Until they show us anything different, however, these are the projected lines: Jaden Schwartz - Matty Beniers - Kaapo Kakko Eeli Tolvanen - Chandler Stephenson - Oliver Bjorkstrand Jared McCann - Shane Wright - Yanni Gourde Tye Kartye - Ben Meyers - Daniel Sprong Vince Dunn - Adam Larsson Jamie Oleksiak - Brandon Montour Ryker Evans - Josh Mahura Philipp Grubauer Ales Stejka With the injured Joey Daccord not making the trip to Vancouver, expect the Kraken's starting goaltender to be Philipp Grubauer. He has an .877 save percentage this season and has picked up a win in just three of his 13 starts.

AP News Summary at 9:54 a.m. EST

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MARSHALL, Mo. — The Hastings College men's soccer team was on the other end Thursday of the shutouts it had recently been recording down the stretch of the season. The Broncos were the ones without a goal on the scoreboard in a 1-0 loss to Louisiana Christian in the first round of the NAIA men's soccer national tournament in Marshall, Missouri. Adrian Amoros Navarro's goal in the 54th minute stood for Louisiana Christian, which recorded its second-ever national tournament victory. Navarro was assisted by Lucas Lima. Hastings (11-8-2) lacked on the attack as a whole in its return trip to nationals after snapping a seven-year streak a season ago. The Broncos, who reached the tourney by winning the Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament championship, were outshot 15-6 (5-1 on goal). HC didn't have its first try on net until there were 13 seconds left in the game. Louisiana Christian (15-4-3) entered the game 23rd in the NAIA with its 0.94 goals against average. HC was dominant in the physicality aspect, evident in the Broncos receiving 20 fouls and four yellow cards. Each team took five corners. Hastings keeper Pablo Arce-Salinas made four saves.Boys Town Nebraska, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boys Town today announced the filing of patents for two groundbreaking AI-integrated innovations in virtual training & mixed reality technology. Boys Town is a leader in changing the lives of children and families across the country. Boys Town’s success comes with teaching caregivers researched-based strategies to effectively change the behaviors of at-risk children. Boys Town is also a leader in helping children with hearing loss and communication disorders. This new AI model will help to effectively teach more caregivers across the country and aid those using American Sign Language (ASL). “Boys Town is known for its groundbreaking research informed care that serves children and families nationwide,” said Rod Kempkes, CEO. “This new technology will help us share the Boys Town mission with even wider audiences across the world and sets Boys Town apart as a thought leader in the nonprofit sector.” The first system is an AI-driven training application designed to instruct individuals on effectively implementing the Boys Town Model for teaching social skills to children. This new technology can help train caregivers how to respond when working with children. The system features AI-powered characters designed to simulate children’s behavior, enabling realistic and dynamic interactions. Users can engage with these AI characters through natural language while the system leverages computer vision to interpret and respond to user cues. These teachings can then be used when dealing with real world scenarios and provide AI-driven feedback on how the interactions were handled. The second technology facilitates seamless communication between individuals using American Sign Language (ASL) and those communicating verbally. It translates ASL into speech and converts spoken language into text, which is displayed as captions on smart eyewear, allowing both parties to communicate effortlessly. Boys Town is a leader in communication disorders research along with treating those with hearing loss. This technology will be an asset to helping children and families navigate communication barriers. About Boys Town: ​​​​​For over a century, Boys Town has been a beacon of hope, transforming the lives of America's children and families through innovative youth, research, and healthcare programs. Boys Town provides compassionate, research-proven education, prevention, training, and treatment for behavioral and physical problems in multiple locations throughout the United States, with a comprehensive array of services. In 2023, more than 715,000 children and families across the United States were impacted by Boys Town programs. You can find more information about Boys Town online at www.boystown.org . Attachments Artificial Intelligence in Training Boys Town Reality CoachKosovo arrested several suspects on Saturday after an explosion at a key canal feeding two of its main power plants, while neighbouring Serbia rejected accusations of staging the blast. The explosion on Friday near the town of Zubin Potok, which sits in an ethnic Serb-dominated area in Kosovo's troubled north, damaged a canal that supplies water to hundreds of thousands of people and cooling systems at two coal-fired power plants that generate most of Kosovo's electricity. As security forces swarmed the area around the canal, whose concrete walls were left with a gaping hole gushing water, Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited the site and announced that authorities had arrested several people. Law enforcement "carried out searches" and "collected testimony and evidence, and the criminals and terrorists will have to face justice and the law", he said. Calling it "the most serious attack on critical infrastructure in Kosovo since the end of the war", Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla told the press that police had detained eight suspects. Police chief Gazmend Hoxha said that his office had seized "200 military uniforms, six grenade launchers, two rifles, a pistol, masks, knives" in the operation. "This is not a trivial attack, it was an act prepared by professional terrorist organisations," Svecla added. The arrests follow a security meeting late on Friday, when Kurti pointed the finger at Serbia. "The attack was carried out by professionals. We believe it comes from gangs directed by Serbia," he told a press conference, without providing evidence. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic hit back on Saturday, denying the "irresponsible" and "baseless accusations". "Such unfounded claims are aimed to tarnish Serbia's reputation, as well as to undermine efforts to promote peace and stability in the region," he said in a statement to AFP. Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric had earlier suggested on X that the Kosovar "regime" could itself be behind the blast, calling for an international investigation. The main political party representing Serbs in Kosovo, Serb List, also condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms". AFP journalists at the scene saw water leaking heavily from one side of the reinforced canal, which runs from the Serb-majority north of Kosovo to the capital, Pristina. However, electricity supplies to consumers were running smoothly on Saturday morning, with authorities having found an alternative method to cool the plants, said Kosovo's Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli. Repair work was ongoing, authorities said, while Kurti confirmed workers had managed to restore water flows to 25 percent capacity. The European Union denounced the explosion as a "terrorist attack". "It is a despicable act of sabotage on Kosovo's critical civilian infrastructure, which provides drinking water for (a) considerable part of Kosovo's population and is a vital component of Kosovo's energy system," the bloc's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said in a statement. The United States, France and Turkey joined the international condemnation of the attack. "We call on all parties to exercise restraint to avoid escalation in the region," Turkey's foreign ministry said. The NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping mission for Kosovo likewise called for restraint. "It is important that facts are established and that those responsible are held accountable and brought to justice," it said in a statement. The force is providing security in the surrounding area and has offered logistical, explosives removal and engineering support to the Kosovo authorities, it added. Animosity between ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo and Serbia has persisted since the end of the war between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian insurgents in the late 1990s. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a move that Serbia has refused to acknowledge. Kurti's government has for months sought to dismantle a parallel system of social services and political offices backed by Belgrade to serve Kosovo's Serbs. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Saturday denounced "the act of sabotage on the critical water supply infrastructure in the Iber-Lepenc Canal" in comments on X, calling it "a serious crime that endangers the lives of Kosovo's citizens and undermines the process of normalising relations in our region". Friday's attack came after a series of violent incidents in northern Kosovo, including the hurling of hand grenades at a municipal building and a police station earlier this week. Kosovo is due to hold parliamentary elections on February 9.

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