TAPACHULA, Mexico -- Eleven clandestine graves with the bodies of 15 men were located in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, where a dispute between the Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generación drug cartels is taking place, local authorities said Sunday. Chiapas Gov. Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar said on his social media channels that the findings came as the result of a raid in the city of La Concordia, near Mexico 's border with Guatemala . He said four people connected to the case had been arrested with weapons and drugs. The state prosecutor’s office said in a statement that the raid took place in two different properties. The first site had three bodies in three graves and in the second, eight graves with 12 bodies. “It is worth mentioning that for these operations technological tools such as drones and geo-radars were used, in addition to aerial overflight, ground search, field forensics, back-excavation and drills,” it said. Chiapas Prosecutor General Jorge Luis Llaven Abarca said last week that another clandestine grave with charred bodies was found in Emiliano Zapata, neighboring La Concordia, but did not give more details because of the poor state of the bodies for identification. The dispute over drug routes, migrant trafficking and weapons has left more than 10,000 people displaced in recent years, including Mexicans fleeing to Guatemala, according to reports from humanitarian organizations.Wealth manager St James's Place to cut 500 jobs as part of a £200m cost-cutting drive By DAILY MAIL CITY & FINANCE REPORTER Updated: 22:00 GMT, 2 December 2024 e-mail 1 View comments St James’s Place is making around 500 staff redundant as part of a £200million savings drive. The wealth management company plans to cut about one-sixth of its 3,200 corporate staff, it revealed in an internal memo first reported by the trade outlet Citywire. Earlier this year, St James’s Place said it would make £100million in cost cuts per year for the next two years, and that it expected to have made £500million in savings by 2030. The plans were announced as part of a strategy shake-up under chief executive Mark FitzPatrick, who joined last year. The layoffs will not affect the London-listed company’s stable of roughly 4,800 financial advisers across the country, who run their own smaller firms under the St James’s Place umbrella. Instead, the 3,200 corporate staff will be targeted by the cuts, a source familiar with the matter confirmed. Cost cuts: St James's Place plans to cut about one-sixth of its 3,200 corporate staff, it revealed in an internal memo first reported by the trade outlet Citywire RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Neglect imperils Royal Mail: Government should have learned... Political turmoil in France sends euro tumbling and... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account A spokesman for St James’s Place said: ‘At our half-year results in July, we committed to saving £100million per year from the addressable cost base by 2027. Our cost reduction plans are focused on simplification and standardisation of processes within the business, but a programme of this size and scale will inevitably impact colleagues. ‘We have now begun consulting with colleagues to share our proposal for how this might impact roles, the outcome of which will not be known until next year.’ DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS AJ Bell AJ Bell Easy investing and ready-made portfolios Learn More Learn More Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Free fund dealing and investment ideas Learn More Learn More interactive investor interactive investor Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month Learn More Learn More Saxo Saxo Get £200 back in trading fees Learn More Learn More Trading 212 Trading 212 Free dealing and no account fee Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence. Compare the best investing account for you Share or comment on this article: Wealth manager St James's Place to cut 500 jobs as part of a £200m cost-cutting drive e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence. More top stories
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The United States ambassador to the UK is to host a special reception to mark the work of a charity founded by former prime minister Gordon Brown . Jane D Hartley will praise the work of the Multibank, which helps to distribute clothes, bedding, baby, hygiene, toy and furniture through a network of local charities and care professionals. Ms Hartley says the Multibank is “one of the best tools we have to provide essential goods to the people who need them the most”. At the reception in London on Tuesday, she will urge more companies to get involved in the charity. The Multibank was launched three years ago by Mr Brown, with help from Amazon, redistributing surplus stock from the online giant’s returns centre in Fife, to families supported by The Cottage Family Centre, in nearby Kirkcaldy , where Mr Brown is a long-time patron. There are now five Multibank charity centres across Britain , which have distributed five million products to half a million families. Support professionals report getting Multibank goods to the families who need them is preventing them from falling into crisis, and stopping children from being taken into care. Ms Hartley and Mr Brown will be joined at the reception by Amazon UK country manager John Boumphrey and Comic Relief chief executive Samir Patel. Amazon UK and Comic Relief announced a £6 million commitment over the next four years to the Multibank Comic Relief Fund to help expand Multibanks across the UK. Ms Hartley said: “We must lift up the most vulnerable when they are down and equip young people with resources as they grow. “In both the UK and the United States, there are still too many families living in poverty, but we can make a difference when we combine the reach of government with the innovation of the private sector. “This game-changing new commitment will boost the reach and the sustainability of the Multibank programme, one of the best tools we have to provide essential goods to the people who need them the most. I have always believed that companies have a responsibility to give back to the world; to do good, not just to do well.” Mr Brown said: “I’m delighted US Ambassador Jane Hartley is joining our Multibank Coalition of Compassion. She joins football, rugby and sports clubs, celebrities from film, theatre and music – including David Tennant, Peter Capaldi, Michael Sheen and Simon Cowell – in calling on suppliers and funders to donate goods to Britain’s Multibank so we can put a smile on thousands of children’s faces this Christmas and show them we care. “The Multibank model is simple: businesses have household good surpluses, and via our community-based charity partners we can get them straight to the people who need them. No product ever needs be wasted whilst we have families in need of them.” Mr Boumphrey said: “Our goal is to help as many families as possible by connecting surplus goods from Amazon and other businesses, with those who need it most.” Mr Patel said: “The Multibank is an invaluable lifeline to people and their families in being able to access essential goods and keep themselves and their children warm and healthy. “Whether it’s clothes, bedding, essential hygiene products or school uniforms, the power of this innovative cross-organisation partnership provides critical help within communities across the UK.”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. Related Items: Blockchain Technology , Property Deed Verification , Securing Ownership Records Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Digital Brokers & Marketplaces: Simplifying Insurance Choices for Consumers Tokenized Commodities: Investing in Oil, Gold, Natural Gas, and More Tokenization of Real-World Assets: Bringing Physical Assets to the Blockchain Comments
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Netflix will have one of its biggest days Wednesday since the site launched in 1998 when it airs two NFL games for the first time. "NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix" begins with a two-hour pregame show at 11 a.m., before Pittsburgh hosts Kansas City. Baltimore faces Houston in the second game. The streaming giant agreed to a three-year contract in May to carry Christmas Day games. Where will the games be available? Netflix's 282.3 million subscribers in over 190 countries will be able to stream the games, marking the first time one outlet has distributed an NFL game globally. Netflix will have the games available in five languages — English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. The games will also air on CBS affiliates in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Houston. NFL policy dictates that games on cable or being exclusively streamed must also be on an over-the-air station in the competing teams' markets. It will also be available on mobile devices in the U.S. for those who have NFL+. People are also reading... Why is the NFL putting Christmas Day games on a streaming platform? The biggest reason is money. The league is getting $150 million from Netflix for the two games this season. It also continues the NFL's moves into streaming — Thursday night games are in their third season on Amazon Prime Video and the "Sunday Ticket" package moved to YouTube TV last year. But Christmas is on a Wednesday when games usually aren't played. That's true, but the league wasn't about to give up Christmas after seeing the ratings. Last year's three games averaged 28.68 million viewers. The early afternoon contest between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chiefs led the way, averaging 29.48 million. The Chiefs, Steelers, Ravens and Texans played on Saturday, giving them the same turnaround they would have if they played on Sunday and then Thursday. What is at stake for the teams playing? All four have clinched playoff spots in the AFC, but seeding remains up for grabs. Kansas City (14-1) can clinch the top seed — which would mean a first-round bye and home field throughout the playoffs — with a win over the Steelers. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are tied atop the AFC North at 10-5, with the Steelers holding the tiebreaker due to a better conference record. Houston (9-6) has wrapped up the AFC South and holds the fourth seed. Has Netflix fixed its streaming problems from the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight? Netflix hopes so. Brandon Riegg, Netflix's vice president of nonfiction series and sports, said the system was stress tested, and then some, during the Nov. 14 bout, along with internet service providers reporting they were also overwhelmed by the surge that occurred before and during the fight. The bout peaked at 65 million concurrent streams, including 38 million concurrent streams in the United States. According to the website Down Detector, nearly 85,000 viewers logged problems with outages or streaming leading up to and during the fight. Could there be the same number streaming the games that there were during the fight? Possible? Yes. Likely? No. The largest audience for a streamed-exclusive NFL game was 23 million on Peacock for last season's AFC wild-card game between the Miami Dolphins and Chiefs. Nielsen will measure the ratings for the Christmas Day games, with early numbers expected late afternoon on Thursday. When could there be surge in demand on Wednesday? It will probably be at kickoff for both games, but especially around 5:45 p.m. EST. That would be near halftime of the Ravens-Texans game, and when Beyoncé will be performing. What other celebrities will appear? Mariah Carey will kick off the day with a taped performance of "All I Want for Christmas is You." There is no word if Taylor Swift will make the trip to Pittsburgh to watch her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Swift has been spending time in Kansas City since she wrapped up her Eras Tour two weeks ago. How many Christmas games will Netflix carry in the next two seasons? The NFL will have at least two games on Dec. 25 in 2025 and '26, with Netflix slated to have at least one each year. Amazon Prime Video will have a night game with Christmas on a Thursday next year. Does Netflix have an interest in other sports? Netflix's worldwide partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment will begin on Jan. 6 when "Monday Night Raw" moves to the streaming service. On Friday, Netflix secured the U.S. rights for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. Be the first to know
After Trump's win, Black women are rethinking their role as America's reliable political organizers
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Singapore companies ‘slightly optimistic’ about next 6 months, after exiting sales contraction phase in Q3: surveyNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks climbed after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 pulled 0.5% higher Thursday after flipping between modest gains and losses several times in the morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite edged up less than 0.1%. Banks, smaller companies and other areas of the stock market that tend to do best when the economy is strong helped lead the way, while bitcoin briefly broke above $99,000. Crude oil, meanwhile, continued to rise. Treasury yields edged higher in the bond market. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are climbing Thursday after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 was pulling 0.7% higher, as of 2:45 p.m. Eastern time, after flipping between modest gains and losses several times in the morning. Banks, smaller companies and other areas of the stock market that tend do best when the economy is strong helped lead the way, while bitcoin briefly broke above $99,000. Crude oil, meanwhile, continued to rise. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 532 points, or 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.2%. Nvidia's rise of 1.4% was the strongest force pushing the S&P 500 upward after yet again beating analysts’ estimates for profit and revenue. It also gave a forecast for revenue in the current quarter that topped most analysts’ expectations thanks to voracious demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Its stock initially sank in afterhours trading Wednesday following the release of the results. Some investors said the market might have been looking for Nvidia's revenue forecast to surpass expectations by even more. But its stock recovered in premarket trading Thursday, and Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said it was another “flawless” profit report provided by Nvidia and CEO Jensen Huang, whom Ives calls “the Godfather of AI.” How Nvidia’s stock performs has tremendous impact because it’s quickly grown into Wall Street’s most valuable company at roughly $3.6 trillion. Its meandering up and down through the day dragged the S&P 500 and other indexes back and forth. The frenzy around AI is sweeping up other stocks, and Snowflake jumped 32.3% after reporting stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company, whose platform helps customers get a better view of all their silos of data and use AI, also reported stronger revenue growth than expected. BJ’S Wholesale Club rose 9.1% after likewise delivering a bigger profit than expected. That may help calm worries about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain, given high prices across the economy and still-high interest rates. A day earlier, Target tumbled after reporting sluggish sales in the latest quarter and giving a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season. It followed Walmart , which gave a much more encouraging outlook. Nearly 90% of the stocks in the S&P 500 were also rising, and the gains were even bigger among smaller companies. The Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks jumped a market-leading 1.9%. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, helped keep indexes in check. It fell 5.5% after U.S. regulators asked a judge to break up the tech giant by forcing it to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser. In a 23-page document filed late Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice called for sweeping punishments that would include restrictions preventing Android from favoring its own search engine. Regulators stopped short of demanding Google sell Android but left the door open to it if the company’s oversight committee continues to see evidence of misconduct. Drops for other Big Tech stocks also weighed on the market, including a 2.4% slide for Amazon. In stock markets abroad, shares of India’s Adani Enterprises plunged 22.6% Thursday after the U.S. charged founder Gautam Adani, 62, in a federal indictment with securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud. The businessman and one of the world’s richest people is accused of duping investors by concealing that his company’s huge solar energy project on the subcontinent was being facilitated by an alleged bribery scheme. Indexes elsewhere in Asia and Europe were mixed. In the crypto market, bitcoin eclipsed $99,000 for the first time before easing back to roughly $98,250, according to CoinDesk. It’s more than doubled so far this year, and its climb has accelerated since Election Day. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to make the country “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. Bitcoin also got a boost after Gary Gensler, the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission who has pushed for more protection for crypto investors, said he would step down in January . Bitcoin and related investments, of course, have a notorious history of big price swings in both directions. MicroStrategy, a company that's been raising cash expressly to buy bitcoin, saw an early gain of 14.6% for its stock on Thursday quickly disappear. It was most recently down 10.7%. In the oil market, a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 2% to bring its gain for the week to 4.8%. Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 1.8%. Oil has been rising amid escalations in the Russia-Ukraine war. In the bond market, Treasury yields edged higher following some mixed reports on the U.S. economy. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.43% from 4.41% late Wednesday. One report said fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week in the latest signal that the job market remains solid. Another report, though, said manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic region unexpectedly shrank. Sales of previously occupied homes, meanwhile, strengthened last month by more than expected. ___ AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Yuri Kageyama contributed. Stan Choe, The Associated Press