Packers fail yet again to produce a premier performance against a top NFC team in loss to VikingsDUP minister rejected suggestion licensing laws could be relaxed for jubileeNew York prosecutors on Monday charged Ivy League grad Luigi Mangione with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , court records show. The charge came hours after Mangione, 26, was arraigned in a Pennsylvania courtroom on gun and other charges related to his arrest earlier Monday at a McDonald 's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a worker there told police he was acting suspiciously. Mangione was charged by the Manhattan district attorney's office with second-degree murder, criminal possession of a loaded firearm, possession of a silencer and possession of a forged instrument in state court in Manhattan on Monday night, according to a court record. He is accused of fatally shooting Thompson early Wednesday morning outside the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan. Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two, was headed to an investor meeting for UnitedHealth Group , which owns his company when he was shot by a masked gunman with a pistol that appeared to have a silencer attached. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has said the shooter lay in wait for several minutes for Thompson before executing what she called a "premeditated, preplanned targeted attack." Shell casings found at the scene had the words "delay," "deny" and "depose" written on them. The first two of those words are sometimes used to describe the tactics of health insurers, such as Thompson's, to limit the amount of benefits paid out to customers. UnitedHealthcare is the largest private health insurer in the United States, with more than $200 billion in annual revenue. The U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in October released a report that found UnitedHealthcare, Humana and CVS "each denied prior authorization requests for post-acute care at far higher rates than they did for other types of care, resulting in diminished access to post-acute care for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries." Medicare Advantage offers health benefits under the federal Medicare program that are managed by private insurance companies. Mangione, whose sister is a doctor, reportedly has suffered from chronic back pain for years. The profile of his account on the social media account X contains an x-ray image of a person's back with screws in it. Thompson's family held a private funeral for him in Minnesota earlier Monday, as Mangione was being taken into custody and questioned by Altoona police. Police said that a backpack with Mangione when he was confronted at the McDonald's was found to contain a gun, silencer and multiple rounds of 9 mm ammunition. Altoona police said that when Mangione removed his face mask at the McDonald's at their request they immediately recognized him as the person sought by New York authorities in connection with Thompson's killing. He was taken into custody after giving officers a fake New Jersey ID that is believed to be the same one he used to check into a Manhattan hostel in late November. Mangione, who comes from a wealthy Baltimore-area family, is being held without bond at a jail in Pennsylvania on the charges in that state relating to the gun and phony IDs he was carrying. The suspect, who graduated in 2020 with both bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, at the time of his arrest was carrying a handwritten manifesto that referenced the health-care industry. In a statement released after his arrest in Pennsylvania, Mangione's family said, "Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest." "We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved," the statement said. "We are devastated by this news." Before his arrest Monday, police in New York did not know Mangione's identity even as they sought a "person of interest" who was seen on surveillance images traveling to and from the scene of Thompson's slaying. Those images were widely publicized and had been seen by the officers who apprehended Mangione in Altoona. Most of the images showed a person wearing a mask or gaiter over their face. But two images showed the man believed to be Mangione when he was at the hostel, and a female worker there asked him to show her his face. Authorities believe the gunman fled New York within hours of that shooting, possibly on a bus from the Port Authority terminal in Washington Heights, in northern Manhattan.t1 slot vip 。

Trimble and Mallon sanctioned DUP ministers over rotation planUS stocks experience mixed fortunes on quiet day of trading

Stormont minister Maurice Morrow told an official he would not raise the issue with the Northern Ireland Executive, despite similar measures being considered in England and Wales. A file on planning arrangements for the jubilee celebrations reveals a series of civil service correspondences on how Northern Ireland would mark the occasion. It includes a letter sent on January 11 2001 from an official in the Office of the First Minister/Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) to the Department of Social Development, advising that a committee had been set up in London to consider a programme of celebrations. The correspondence says: “One of the issues the committee is currently considering is the possibility of deregulating liquor licensing laws during the golden jubilee celebrations on the same lines as the arrangements made for the millennium. “It is felt that the golden jubilee bank holiday on Monday 3 June 2002 is likely to be an occasion on which many public houses and similar licensed premises would wish to stay open beyond normal closing time.” The letter said a paper had been prepared on the issue of extending opening hours. It adds: “You will note that paragraph seven of the paper indicates that the devolved administrations ‘would need to consider deregulation separately within their own jurisdictions’. “I thought that you would wish to be aware that this issue is receiving active consideration for England and Wales and to consider whether anything needs to be done for Northern Ireland.” Some months later a “progress report” was sent between officials in OFMDFM, which again raised the issue of licensing laws. It says: “I spoke to Gordon Gibson, DSD, about Terry Smith’s letter of 12 January 2001 about licensing laws: the matter was put to their minister Maurice Morrow (DUP) who indicated that he would not be asking the NIE (Northern Ireland Executive) to approve any change to current licensing laws in NI to allow for either 24 hour opening (as at the millennium) nor a blanket approval for extended opening hours as is being considered in GB. “In both cases, primary legislation would be required here and would necessitate consultation and the minister has ruled out any consultation process.” The correspondence says individual licensees could still apply for an extension to opening hours on an ad hoc basis, adding “there the matter rests”. It goes on: “DSD await further pronouncements from the Home Office and Gibson and I have agreed to notify each other of any developments we become aware of and he will copy me to any (existing) relevant papers. “Ministers may well come under pressure in due course for a relaxation and/or parity with GB.” The document concludes “That’s it so far...making haste slowly?” Emails sent between officials in the department the same month said that lord lieutenants in Northern Ireland had been approached about local events to mark the jubilee. One message says: “Lord lieutenants have not shown any enthusiasm for encouraging GJ celebrations at a local level. “Lady Carswell in particular believes that it would be difficult for LLs to encourage such activities without appearing political.”

The S&P 500 fell less than 0.1% after spending the day wavering between small gains and losses. The tiny loss ended the benchmark index’s three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1% and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as US markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.7%, and Amazon and Netflix each fell 0.9%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, finishing 1.8% lower. Some tech companies fared better. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.4%, Micron Technology added 0.6% and Adobe gained 0.5%. Health care stocks were a bright spot. CVS Health rose 1.5% and Walgreens Boots Alliance added 5.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 3%, Ross Stores added 2.3%, Best Buy rose 2.9% and Dollar Tree gained 3.8%. Traders are watching to see whether retailers have a strong holiday season. The day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. US-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 16.4% respectively. The Japanese car makers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. All told, the S&P 500 fell 2.45 points to 6,037.59. The Dow added 28.77 points to 43,325.80. The Nasdaq fell 10.77 points to close at 20,020.36. Wall Street also got a labour market update. US applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labour Department reported. Treasury yields mostly fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.58% from 4.59% late on Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar.By TRÂN NGUYỄN SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California, home to some of the largest technology companies in the world, would be the first U.S. state to require mental health warning labels on social media sites if lawmakers pass a bill introduced Monday. The legislation sponsored by state Attorney General Rob Bonta is necessary to bolster safety for children online, supporters say, but industry officials vow to fight the measure and others like it under the First Amendment. Warning labels for social media gained swift bipartisan support from dozens of attorneys general, including Bonta, after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to establish the requirements earlier this year, saying social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. “These companies know the harmful impact their products can have on our children, and they refuse to take meaningful steps to make them safer,” Bonta said at a news conference Monday. “Time is up. It’s time we stepped in and demanded change.” State officials haven’t provided details on the bill, but Bonta said the warning labels could pop up once weekly. Up to 95% of youth ages 13 to 17 say they use a social media platform, and more than a third say that they use social media “almost constantly,” according to 2022 data from the Pew Research Center. Parents’ concerns prompted Australia to pass the world’s first law banning social media for children under 16 in November. “The promise of social media, although real, has turned into a situation where they’re turning our children’s attention into a commodity,” Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, who authored the California bill, said Monday. “The attention economy is using our children and their well-being to make money for these California companies.” Lawmakers instead should focus on online safety education and mental health resources, not warning label bills that are “constitutionally unsound,” said Todd O’Boyle, a vice president of the tech industry policy group Chamber of Progress. “We strongly suspect that the courts will set them aside as compelled speech,” O’Boyle told The Associated Press. Victoria Hinks’ 16-year-old daughter, Alexandra, died by suicide four months ago after being “led down dark rabbit holes” on social media that glamorized eating disorders and self-harm. Hinks said the labels would help protect children from companies that turn a blind eye to the harm caused to children’s mental health when they become addicted to social media platforms. “There’s not a bone in my body that doubts social media played a role in leading her to that final, irreversible decision,” Hinks said. “This could be your story.” Related Articles National News | Numerous drone sightings in N.J. don’t pose safety concern, governor says National News | Biden creates Native American boarding school national monument to mark era of forced assimilation National News | How should the opioid settlements be spent? Those hit hardest often don’t have a say National News | ‘Polarization’ is Merriam-Webster’s 2024 word of the year National News | Supreme Court rejects appeal challenging Hawaii gun licensing requirements under Second Amendment Common Sense Media, a sponsor of the bill, said it plans to lobby for similar proposals in other states. California in the past decade has positioned itself as a leader in regulating and fighting the tech industry to bolster online safety for children. The state was the first in 2022 to bar online platforms from using users’ personal information in ways that could harm children. It was one of the states that sued Meta in 2023 and TikTok in October for deliberately designing addictive features that keep kids hooked on their platforms. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, also signed several bills in September to help curb the effects of social media on children, including one to prohibit social media platforms from knowingly providing addictive feeds to children without parental consent and one to limit or ban students from using smartphones on school campus. Federal lawmakers have held hearings on child online safety and legislation is in the works to force companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. The legislation has the support of X owner Elon Musk and the President-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr . Still, the last federal law aimed at protecting children online was enacted in 1998, six years before Facebook’s founding.Gophers football adds Nebraska wideout Malachi Coleman via portal

DUP minister rejected suggestion licensing laws could be relaxed for jubileeA DUP minister rebuffed a suggestion that there could be an extension of pub opening hours in Northern Ireland to celebrate the golden jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, declassified files show. Stormont minister Maurice Morrow told an official he would not raise the issue with the Northern Ireland Executive, despite similar measures being considered in England and Wales. A file on planning arrangements for the jubilee celebrations reveals a series of civil service correspondences on how Northern Ireland would mark the occasion. It includes a letter sent on January 11 2001 from an official in the Office of the First Minister/Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) to the Department of Social Development, advising that a committee had been set up in London to consider a programme of celebrations. The correspondence says: “One of the issues the committee is currently considering is the possibility of deregulating liquor licensing laws during the golden jubilee celebrations on the same lines as the arrangements made for the millennium. “It is felt that the golden jubilee bank holiday on Monday 3 June 2002 is likely to be an occasion on which many public houses and similar licensed premises would wish to stay open beyond normal closing time.” The letter said a paper had been prepared on the issue of extending opening hours. It adds: “You will note that paragraph seven of the paper indicates that the devolved administrations ‘would need to consider deregulation separately within their own jurisdictions’. “I thought that you would wish to be aware that this issue is receiving active consideration for England and Wales and to consider whether anything needs to be done for Northern Ireland.” Some months later a “progress report” was sent between officials in OFMDFM, which again raised the issue of licensing laws. It says: “I spoke to Gordon Gibson, DSD, about Terry Smith’s letter of 12 January 2001 about licensing laws: the matter was put to their minister Maurice Morrow (DUP) who indicated that he would not be asking the NIE (Northern Ireland Executive) to approve any change to current licensing laws in NI to allow for either 24 hour opening (as at the millennium) nor a blanket approval for extended opening hours as is being considered in GB. “In both cases, primary legislation would be required here and would necessitate consultation and the minister has ruled out any consultation process.” The correspondence says individual licensees could still apply for an extension to opening hours on an ad hoc basis, adding “there the matter rests”. It goes on: “DSD await further pronouncements from the Home Office and Gibson and I have agreed to notify each other of any developments we become aware of and he will copy me to any (existing) relevant papers. “Ministers may well come under pressure in due course for a relaxation and/or parity with GB.” The document concludes “That’s it so far...making haste slowly?” Emails sent between officials in the department the same month said that lord lieutenants in Northern Ireland had been approached about local events to mark the jubilee. One message says: “Lord lieutenants have not shown any enthusiasm for encouraging GJ celebrations at a local level. “Lady Carswell in particular believes that it would be difficult for LLs to encourage such activities without appearing political.”

This news release constitutes a “designated news release” for the purposes of the Company’s amended and restated prospectus supplement dated October 4, 2024, to its short form base shelf prospectus dated November 10, 2023. TORONTO, Ontario and BROSSARD, Québec , Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitfarms Ltd. (Nasdaq/TSX: BITF) (“Bitfarms” or the “Company”), a global vertically integrated Bitcoin data center company, today announced that, in connection with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) review of its annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “SEC Review”), and in consultation with its Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and management, the Company has determined that its previously issued consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the related management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, as well as the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 (such interim periods together with the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the “Restatement Periods”) and the related management’s discussion and analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, should be restated to correct a material error in the classification of proceeds derived from the sale of digital assets. Shareholders and users of Bitfarms’ financial statements should note that the restatements are not a result of any change to its operations, business or financial operating performance for the periods being restated. For any and all of the Restatement Periods, there is no impact on the Company’s overall cash position or net cash flows. Bitfarms previously categorized proceeds derived from the sale of digital assets as a cash flow from operating activities. In conjunction with the SEC review, it was determined that proceeds from the sale of digital assets should be classified as cash flow from investing activities. Due to the materiality of the error in classification, the Company is restating the financial statements for the Restatement Periods. In addition to the correction to the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company is also restating its financials to adjust for an error in the accounting for the redemption of warrants in 2023. A summary of the restatements is described in further detail in the tables set forth below (expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars). More details may be found in the revised financial statements and related revised management’s discussion and analyses, which are available on the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar. Adjustments to consolidated statements of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2022* - Restatement Adjustments to consolidated statements of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2023* - Restatement Adjustments to consolidated statements of financial position as of December 31, 2023* - Restatement Adjustments to consolidated statements of profit or loss and comprehensive profit or loss for the year ended December 31, 2023* - Restatement Adjustments to interim consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2024* - Restatement Adjustments to consolidated statements of financial position as of September 30, 2024* - Restatement *U.S. $ in thousands The Company’s management has previously concluded that the Company had a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting during the Restatement Periods. Management is in the process of implementing remediation measures to address the material weakness in respect of the errors described above. About Bitfarms Ltd. Founded in 2017, Bitfarms is a global Bitcoin data center company that contributes its computational power to one or more mining pools from which it receives payment in Bitcoin. Bitfarms develops, owns, and operates vertically integrated mining farms with in-house management and company-owned electrical engineering, installation service, and multiple onsite technical repair centers. The Company’s proprietary data analytics system delivers best-in-class operational performance and uptime. Bitfarms currently has 12 operating Bitcoin data centers and two under development, and two under Hosting agreements, situated in four countries: Canada, the United States, Paraguay, and Argentina. Powered predominantly by environmentally friendly hydro-electric and long-term power contracts, Bitfarms is committed to using sustainable and often underutilized energy infrastructure. To learn more about Bitfarms’ events, developments, and online communities: www.bitfarms.com https://www.facebook.com/bitfarms/ https://twitter.com/Bitfarms_io https://www.instagram.com/bitfarms/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitfarms/ Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release and are covered by safe harbors under Canadian and United States securities laws. The statements and information in this release regarding the impact of the Restatement, the filing of the Restated Financials and Restated MD&A, the Company’s plans to remediate the material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting and other statements regarding future growth, plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking information. Any statements that involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “prospects”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on assumptions and estimates of management of Bitfarms at the time they were made, and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Bitfarms to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors, risks and uncertainties include, among others: the pending SEC Review; the potential that additional restatements of the financial statements will be required; the potential that the Company identifies additional material weaknesses in its control over financial reporting; the ability of the Company to remediate known material weaknesses; the acquisition, construction and operation of new facilities may not occur as currently planned, or at all; expansion of existing facilities may not materialize as currently anticipated, or at all; new miners may not perform up to expectations; revenue may not increase as currently anticipated, or at all; the ongoing ability to successfully mine Bitcoin is not assured; failure of the equipment upgrades to be installed and operated as planned; the availability of additional power may not occur as currently planned, or at all; expansion may not materialize as currently anticipated, or at all; the power purchase agreements and economics thereof may not be as advantageous as expected; For further information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to Bitfarms’ filings on www.sedarplus.ca (which are also available on the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC") at www.sec.gov), including the restated MD&A for the year-ended December 31, 2023, filed on December 9, 2024 and the restated MD&A for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 filed on December 9, 2024. Although Bitfarms has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including factors that are currently unknown to or deemed immaterial by Bitfarms. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Bitfarms undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information other than as required by law. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, nor any other securities exchange or regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Investor Relations Contacts: Bitfarms Tracy Krumme SVP, Head of IR & Corp. Comms. +1 786-671-5638 tkrumme@bitfarms.com Media Contacts: Québec: Tact Louis-Martin Leclerc +1 418-693-2425 lmleclerc@tactconseil.ca

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:34 p.m. ESTStock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street on Thursday as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 fell less than 0.1% after spending the day wavering between small gains and losses. The tiny loss ended the benchmark index’s three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1% and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as US markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.7%, and Amazon and Netflix each fell 0.9%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, finishing 1.8% lower. Some tech companies fared better. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.4%, Micron Technology added 0.6% and Adobe gained 0.5%. Health care stocks were a bright spot. CVS Health rose 1.5% and Walgreens Boots Alliance added 5.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 3%, Ross Stores added 2.3%, Best Buy rose 2.9% and Dollar Tree gained 3.8%. Traders are watching to see whether retailers have a strong holiday season. The day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. US-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 16.4% respectively. The Japanese car makers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. All told, the S&P 500 fell 2.45 points to 6,037.59. The Dow added 28.77 points to 43,325.80. The Nasdaq fell 10.77 points to close at 20,020.36. Wall Street also got a labour market update. US applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labour Department reported. Treasury yields mostly fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.58% from 4.59% late on Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar.

California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites

Former President Jimmy Carter died Sunday after over a year in hospice care. The Georgia native passed in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, at the age of 100. President-elect Donald Trump shared a message on Truth Social in honor of Carter’s memory shortly following the news. “I just heard of the news about the passing of President Jimmy Carter. Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History,” Trump wrote. “The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. “Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers.” Carter served a single term as president from 1977 to 1981, surprising the nation with an unlikely campaign to obtain the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination and a victory over incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford. Carter’s presidency featured a mass pardon for Americans who fled the Vietnam-era draft, as well as the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt. Carter presided over high inflation and a hostage crisis involving Iran’s Islamist regime in the final years of his tenure — problems that brought about his re-election defeat at the hands of Ronald Reagan. Some consider Carter’s legacy following his presidency as just as significant as his time in the White House. Carter personally negotiated an agreement with in 1994, a development that may have prevented the authoritarian regime from seeking a nuclear weapon. Carter’s series of post-presidency negotiations ultimately merited him a in 2002, with the prize’s administrators hailing his peacemaking legacy. The former president’s also worked to reduce the tolls of disease in poor countries. The Navy veteran and former governor of Georgia passed former to for the longest-living former president. Carter was a devout Christian who to his faith in Christ throughout his life. He Sunday school at his church, Maranatha Baptist Church, for decades. “It’s incompatible for any Christian not to believe in life after death,” Carter had said of a 2015 cancer diagnosis. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. .

Google CEO Sundar Pichai Reveals Why 2025 Is Critical For The Company

The gaming world is abuzz with anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6), Rockstar Games’ next installment in the iconic open-world crime franchise. Rumors, leaks, and speculation have been swirling for years, and the hype is reaching a fever pitch. But while all eyes are on Rockstar, a silent storm is brewing. GTA 6 might be facing some unexpected competition in 2025, and it’s not from the usual suspects like Saints Row or Watch Dogs. We’re talking about a new breed of games that could redefine open-world gaming as we know it. Forget about another “GTA clone” trying to steal Rockstar’s thunder. The real contenders are games pushing the boundaries of technology, storytelling, and player freedom in ways we haven’t seen before. Think massive, dynamic worlds with unprecedented levels of interaction, AI that adapts to your playstyle, and stories that blur the lines between single-player and multiplayer experiences. These are the games that could give GTA 6 a run for its money in 2025. The Rise of Immersive Sims One of the biggest threats to GTA 6’s dominance comes from the resurgence of immersive sims. Games like System Shock (remake) and Arkane’s Redfall are leading the charge, offering players intricate levels, emergent gameplay, and unparalleled player agency. These games emphasize player choice and creativity, allowing you to tackle objectives in a multitude of ways. Want to go in guns blazing? Sure. Prefer a stealthy approach? Go for it. Or maybe you’d rather hack the environment and let the enemies take each other out. The possibilities are endless. This focus on freedom and player expression is something that GTA has always excelled at, but these new immersive sims are taking it to a whole new level. They’re creating worlds that feel truly reactive and alive, where your actions have real consequences. Imagine a GTA game where your choices affect the city’s economy, the political landscape, and even the behavior of individual NPCs . That’s the kind of experience these games are aiming for. Personally, I’ve always been drawn to games that give me the freedom to experiment and find my own solutions. I spent countless hours in the original Deus Ex, meticulously planning my approach to each mission, and I can’t wait to see how these new immersive sims push the genre forward. If GTA 6 wants to stay ahead of the curve, it needs to offer a similar level of player agency and emergent gameplay. The Metaverse Menace Another potential challenger comes from the burgeoning metaverse. While still in its early stages, the metaverse promises persistent online worlds where players can live, work, and play together. Games like Fortnite and Roblox are already laying the groundwork, offering social hubs, creative tools, and a constantly evolving array of experiences. Imagine a GTA-style game set in a persistent online world where players can build their own criminal empires, form gangs, and engage in turf wars with other players. This is the kind of experience the metaverse could enable, and it could be incredibly compelling. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “The metaverse is just a fad.” And you might be right. But it’s a fad with a lot of money and talent behind it, and it has the potential to disrupt the gaming industry in a big way. If GTA 6 wants to remain relevant in the long term, it needs to find a way to embrace the metaverse and its possibilities. AI Revolution Perhaps the most significant challenge comes from advancements in artificial intelligence. AI is rapidly changing the way games are designed and played, and it could have a profound impact on the open-world genre. Imagine a GTA game with NPCs that have their own unique personalities, motivations, and relationships. Imagine a world that truly feels alive, where every encounter is unique and unpredictable. This is the kind of experience that AI could enable, and it’s something that traditional game design techniques simply can’t replicate. Games like This War of Mine and RimWorld have already shown us the potential of AI to create dynamic and emergent narratives. In This War of Mine, you manage a group of civilians trying to survive in a war-torn city, and the AI controls the behavior of both your survivors and the NPCs you encounter. Each playthrough is unique, and the stories that emerge can be incredibly powerful. I recently played RimWorld, a colony sim with incredibly deep AI, and I was amazed by how the game created its own stories. My colonists formed relationships, had mental breakdowns, and even staged rebellions. It was like watching a soap opera unfold in real-time, and it was far more engaging than any scripted narrative I’ve experienced in a game. If GTA 6 wants to truly immerse players in its world, it needs to embrace the power of AI. It needs to create characters that feel real, with their own unique stories and motivations. It needs to create a world that is constantly evolving and changing, even when the player isn’t around. The Indie Underdogs While AAA studios are busy chasing the metaverse and AI, a new wave of indie developers is quietly creating some of the most innovative and exciting open-world games we’ve seen in years. Games like Teardown and Cloudpunk are pushing the boundaries of the genre, offering unique gameplay mechanics, compelling stories, and stunning visuals. Teardown, for example, is a voxel-based heist game where you can destroy literally anything in the environment. This creates a level of freedom and emergent gameplay that is rarely seen in AAA games. Cloudpunk, on the other hand, is a narrative-driven adventure set in a cyberpunk city. You play as a delivery driver who gets caught up in a web of intrigue and conspiracy. The game’s atmospheric world and compelling characters make it a truly unforgettable experience. These indie games might not have the marketing budgets or brand recognition of GTA, but they have something far more important: creative freedom. They’re not afraid to experiment and take risks, and that’s what makes them so exciting. GTA 6 needs to watch out for these indie underdogs, because they could be the ones who truly revolutionize the open-world genre. What Does This Mean for GTA 6? So, what does all this mean for GTA 6? Does it mean that Rockstar’s next blockbuster is doomed to fail? Of course not. GTA is one of the biggest franchises in gaming history, and GTA 6 is almost guaranteed to be a massive commercial success. But it does mean that Rockstar can’t afford to rest on its laurels. To stay ahead of the curve, GTA 6 needs to be more than just another open-world crime game. It needs to be a groundbreaking experience that pushes the boundaries of technology, storytelling, and player freedom. It needs to embrace the power of AI, the potential of the metaverse, and the creativity of the indie scene.

The NBA got viewers for Christmas, even while going up against NFL games. The NBA's five-game Christmas lineup was the league's most-watched in five years, with the games averaging about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, the league said Thursday based on Nielsen's preliminary numbers. It's an 84% rise over the NBA's Christmas numbers from 2023. The Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-113 victory over the Golden State Warriors — a game pitting Olympic teammates LeBron James and Stephen Curry — averaged 7.76 million viewers and peaked with about 8.32 million viewers toward the end of the contest, the league said. Those numbers represent the most-watched NBA regular season game in five years. “I love the NFL,” James said in his televised postgame interview Wednesday night. “But Christmas is our day.” The NBA said all five Christmas games on its schedule — San Antonio at New York in Victor Wembanyama's holiday debut, Minnesota at Dallas, Philadelphia at Boston, Denver at Phoenix and Lakers-Warriors — saw year-over-year viewership increases. Wednesday's numbers pushed NBA viewership for the season across ESPN platforms to up 4% over last season. The league also saw more than 500 million video views on its social media platforms Wednesday, a new record. For the NBA, those are all good signs amid cries that NBA viewership is hurting. “Ratings are down a bit at beginning of the season. But cable television viewership is down double digits so far this year versus last year," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month. “You know, we’re almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programing on streaming than they are on traditional television. And it’s a reason why for our new television deals, which we enter into next year, every game is going to be available on a streaming service.” Part of that new package of television deals that the NBA is entering into next season also increases the number of regular season games broadcast on television from 15 to 75. AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA