best no deposit casino sites Maybe it’s because there are so many games, or maybe it’s because the rise of digital distribution and subscriptions means there are more sub-groups of game-players and fewer massive mainstream hits, but it feels like this year the “best games” lists are more diverse and individual than ever. Even as someone who tries to play broadly across all platforms, there are some games cropping up on end-of-year lists that I didn’t play, and some of the best ones I did play draw blank looks when I discuss them with others. So, while it’s impossible to make anything approaching an objective list of the best, I’ve attempted it anyway. Here they are in no particular order. I didn’t have ‘help a rapping tree’ on my 2024 bingo card, but I’m glad it happened. Astro Bot PS5 At once a celebration of PlayStation’s 30-year history and a whimsical Nintendo-style platformer the likes of which the brand has never seen before, Astro Bot is a beautiful theme park of running and jumping, filled with hidden depth, incredible gimmicks and great music. I’m not a huge fan of the emotionless robot protagonist or the Sony branding, but the combination of flawless gameplay design, hilarious environments, oodles of nostalgia and cutting-edge tech puts this on par with some of Mario’s most memorable outings. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Side-scrolling platform adventure games are ubiquitous and there were heaps of good ones this year, but the best was also a return to relevance for a beloved franchise. The fictional Mount Qaf is a wonderful setting that blends Iranian history and Arabian mythology with the series’ penchant for vicious traps and time distortion, while new protagonist Sargon brings a fresh and edgy vibe that marries the acrobatic focus of the Sands of Time trilogy with the methodical platforming of older Prince adventures. By invoking familiar poker hands, Balatro brings the satisfying hook of a rougelite game to a wider pool of players who have no idea what that is. Balatro Android, Apple Arcade, iOS, PC, PS5, Switch Xbox In an industry plagued by gambling disguised as play, it’s gratifying that one of this year’s most successful games employs the aesthetic of cards and casinos with no gambling to be found. Upgrade and augment your deck with special powers and tarot effects, stack up game-changing jokers to synergise with your favourite cards, and try to break the game with impossibly powerful poker hands. The work of one individual developer, it’s incredible, and arguably addictive, but you’ll pay no more than the purchase price. Super Mario Party Jamboree Switch Mario Party is a dependable choice for casual group play or a family game night. But, unexpectedly, Jamboree is the absolute height of the series. There are heaps of playable characters, more than 100 great new minigames, seven unusually interesting and diverse game boards and extra modes for playing on your own or online with randos. But the icing on the cake is the ability to enforce “pro mode” to make the winner less chance-based, opening up the possibility of truly competitive play, and it’s so much fun. It may take its broad structure from one third of a decades-old game, but Rebirth has plenty original to say. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth PS5 I was expecting a middle chapter for Square’s epic three-part remake of a 1997 classic, but this turned out to be so much more. From the layered character customisation and combat systems that feed seamlessly into one another, to the completely optional collectible card game that I quickly became obsessed with, this is unexpectedly a much broader, deeper and more open game than its predecessor. An astonishing RPG that more than stands on its own merits, and even overshadows part one for ambition and creativity, it’s a remarkable achievement. Star Wars Outlaws PC, PS5, Xbox A streamlined and multi-planet take on Ubisoft’s familiar open-world action, paired with an original-trilogy-era Star Wars tale that follows an up-and-coming scoundrel rather than a Jedi or Imperial, Outlaws has everything a long-suffering franchise fan could hope for in a sandbox scum and villainy game. The overarching story is a bit of a letdown, but the main appeal here is simply being able to exist in this rich and incredibly well-realised universe, being a dirtbag and pulling off heists. Fans of Monty Python or The Mighty Boosh will find a lot to love exploring Barnsworth. Thank Goodness You’re Here PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox A cartoony and hilariously vulgar adventure set in a small northern England town, this is a point-and-punch exploration game that’s fondly reminiscent of classic daft British sketch comedy, with heaps of funny visuals and sound effects plus the voice talents of Matt Berry and others. Mechanically it couldn’t be simpler, but the writing and timing are masterful. From an unexpected exposed penis in a seagull-gathering side-mission to a prolonged sequence combining fish and cigarettes, it’s crassly artful and unforgettable. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Switch Despite her name being in the titles, Princess Zelda has had few starring roles in Nintendo’s beloved adventure epics. This game marks a change in that regard, and introduces a brilliant new approach to items and combat where Zelda can copy and paste objects and enemies to fight and solve puzzles, but it’s otherwise business as usual for the series; this is a beautiful, joyful and surprising fantasy world to explore, with just the right mix of nostalgia and innovation. Eventually you’ll be filling out pages of details before you can even grasp the nature of the crime you’re supposed to be solving. And you’ll be loving it. The Rise of the Golden Idol Netflix, PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox The first Golden Idol was a wonderfully epic tale of paranormal serial murder, and Rise is even better. Set 200 years later, you’re tasked with solving 20 crimes, each painted as a beautifully grotesque painted moment. You analyse the scene to collect clues, words and names, then use those to fill in the blanks and uncover the truth. It’s like a multidimensional murder sudoku, which only gets more complex and tells a compelling alternate history detective story. Dragon Age: The Veilguard PC, PS5, Xbox Bioware is responsible for some of the greatest role-playing games ever, but this is their best in more than a decade. The narrative and fantasy settings are incredible, and the action-focused combat feels great, but the true strength is in the constant choice-making that affects your friendships in real and unexpected ways. Early on, the game makes you choose between two companions, the consequence of which leaves one with permanent visible bruises and scars for the rest of the game. This is Dragon Age telling you how it’s going to be. Unicorn Overlord has the familiar Vanillaware look, but it may be the studio’s deepest game yet. Unicorn Overlord PS5, Switch, Xbox Vanillaware has spent two decades crafting interesting and complex games with astounding hand-drawn art. The studio has a cult following but I think Unicorn Overlord might be its first true breakout hit. It’s a twist on the traditional turn-based tactical RPG, where instead of just skirmishing you define the parameters of each unit’s actions and priorities ahead of time, and then watch as they play out in battle. And, of course, it’s gorgeous. Sonic x Shadow Generations PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Since 2011’s excellent Sonic Generations was already a reimagining of the series’ high points, half of this new package is arguably remaking remakes. But the other half — an all-new campaign featuring Shadow the Hedgehog — contains some of the most excellent 3D Sonic gameplay ever made. It serves as a great introduction to the character alongside his big-screen debut, but it also presents his tortured backstory and most memorable game moments in a surprisingly cohesive and enjoyable manner. No combat, no explanations, just a blob in a cursed VHS tape of ghostly animals. Animal Well PC, PS5, PS Plus, Switch, Xbox Animal Well , another amazing work from a solo developer, is on the surface a stunning CRT-filtered Metroid-like with a spooky animal theme. But dig a little deeper past the cursed herons and sleepy capybara and you’ll find a complex latticework of puzzles combined with interesting power-ups, a focus on physics play and a near total lack of combat. Some secrets require specific power-ups from around the world (a yo-yo, a slinky, a frisbee), while others need lateral thinking or knowledge gleaned from other areas. UFO 50 PC A package of 50 new games, styled and presented as a library of retro titles by a fictional company for their fictional home computer, this compilation evokes the feeling of finding a dusty 1980s machine and a box full of disks, and putting them in to see what you find. The games are all surprisingly full in scope, and they run the genre gamut from beat-em-ups to top-down driving games to narrative horror. Best of all are the two-player options, which offer a peerlessly strange retro bonding experience. The Great Circle takes Indy to many cultural epicentres around the globe, from Italy to Egypt to the Himalayas and more. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Game Pass, PC, Xbox Games based on movie franchises can go very wrong, but MachineGames (the Swedish studio known for the Nazi-hunting 2010s Wolfenstein series), had a clear vision for the world’s most famous archeologist . Each level is an exploratory puzzle with dozens of smaller riddles within, filled with fascists to sneak around and artefacts to recover. Combat is slapstick, gunplay is scarce, the iconic whip gets plenty of creative use and voice actor Troy Baker puts in an astonishing Harrison Ford impersonation. The narrative overall (concerning a trek across the globe to stop the Nazis achieving a mystical power) is the best the franchise has seen since 1989. 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Flanagan locks in Hunt replacement, Bunnies take punt on prop as Tigers tie up rising star - The RoarM. Jodi Rell, who became Connecticut governor after her predecessor resigned, dies at 78

South Carolina State wins 72-62 over IU Indianapolis

RIMOUSKI, Québec, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Puma Exploration Inc. (TSXV: PUMA, OTCQB: PUMXF) (the "Company” or "Puma”) is pleased to announce the execution of definitive agreements with NB Gold Inc. ("NB Gold”), a private company, and Comet Lithium Corporation (TSXV: CLIC) ("Comet”) on December 23, 2024 to acquire the McKenzie Gold Project as described previously on November 18, 2024 . On the heels of its Williams Brook Project ("Williams Brook”) Option agreement with Kinross Gold ( see Oct. 24, 2024 News Release ), Puma aimed to secure and gain control over a second large and highly prospective mining exploration project. The Mackenzie Gold Project, located only 7 km west of Williams Brook, shares many of its characteristics and hosts many high-grade gold occurrences (up to 1,315 g/t Au) on the extensive property package. The project is easily accessible from the Company's field operations and core shack, only 10 km away in St-Quentin and is ideally located to benefit from Puma's proven low-cost exploration method. TRANSACTION DETAILS To secure an initial 70% interest in the McKenzie Gold Project, Puma will: Figure 1. Claims blocks of the McKenzie Gold Project A preliminary exploration program for the MacKenzie Gold Project, with a budget of $500,000, is scheduled for 2025. This program is fully funded by the closing of an unbrokered private placement announced today (details below). Preliminary fieldwork began in October 2024 and includes mapping, prospecting, and trenching. Assay results are pending and will be announced upon receipt. Qualified Person The content of this press release was prepared by Marcel Robillard, President and Dominique Gagné, P.Geo., qualified persons as defined by NI 43-101, who supervised the preparation of the technical information that forms part of this news release. About Puma's Assets in New Brunswick Puma has accumulated an impressive portfolio of prospective gold landholdings strategically located close to roads and infrastructure in Northern New Brunswick - the Williams Brook Project and the new Mckenzie Gold Project. Both are located near the Rocky Brook Millstream Fault ("RBMF”), a major regional structure formed during the Appalachian Orogeny and a significant control for gold deposition in the region. Puma's work to date has focused on the Williams Brook property, but prospecting and surface exploration work on its other properties have confirmed their potential for significant gold mineralization. About Puma Exploration Puma Exploration is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on finding and growing a pipeline of precious metals projects in New Brunswick, near Canada's Famous Bathurst Mining Camp. Puma has a long history in Northern New Brunswick, having worked on regional projects for over 15 years. Puma's successful exploration methodology, which combines old prospecting methods with detailed trenching and up-to-date technology such as Artificial Intelligence, has been instrumental in facilitating an understanding of the region's geology and associated mineralized systems. Armed with geophysical surveys, geochemical data and consultants' expertise, Puma has developed a perfect low-cost exploration tool to discover gold at shallow depths and maximize drilling results. The Company is committed to its DEAR business model of D iscovery, E xploration, A cquisition and R oyalties to generate maximum value for shareholders with low share dilution. Connect with us on Facebook / X / LinkedIn . Visit www.explorationpuma.com for more information or contact: Marcel Robillard , President and CEO. (418) 750-8510; [email protected] Mia Boiridy , Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Development. (250) 575-3305; [email protected] Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve several known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Puma to be materially different from actual future results and achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made, except as required by law. Puma undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. The quarterly and annual reports and the documents submitted to the securities administration describe these risks and uncertainties. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1c42ff7e-9362-4486-99af-7cfc0dd36b0b

Detroit Lions show Chicago Bears what they’re lacking in handing them 9th straight lossGarrett's comments about his future add wrinkle to Browns' worst season since 0-16 in 2017

Winners, losers as Packers shutout Saints 34-0 on Monday Night Football

Non-Surgical Skin Tightening Market to Hit $1.62 Billion by 2029, North America & APAC Emerges as the Top Investment Regions - AriztonSenator Eric Schmitt, R-Mo, joins 'Faulkner Focus' to discuss Biden's decision to commute death sentences of 37 inmates and considering extending migrant protections. Social media erupted on Monday after President Biden announced he would commute the sentences of nearly all the inmates on federal death row. Of the 40 inmates on federal death row, according to DeathPenaltyInfo.org, Biden is commuting 37 individuals sentenced to death, reclassifying their sentences to life without the possibility of parole. "Why did Biden commute the sentences of m*rderers and r*pists? Why?" Florida's Voice assistant news director Eric Daugherty asked on X . "Typical of whoever is actually president right now, the alleged Biden administration decided that the death penalty is immoral except when it's not. He didn't commute all the sentences but instead leaves a few leftist killer favorites standing. What a disgrace," Townhall senior columnist Kurt Schlicter tweeted . BIDEN SETS RECORD WITH FIRST-TERM CLEMENCY GRANTS, HERE'S HOW OTHER PRESIDENTS RANK Social media erupted on Monday after President Biden announced he would commute the sentences of nearly all the inmates on federal death row. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo) Schlicter then suggested the decision would give President-elect Trump more "political standing" to pardon January 6 prisoners, calling it "possible good news" resulting from Biden's "moral idiocy." Author Miranda Devine urged others not to let Biden "off the hook" by blaming the move on his administration and close allies. "As a Catholic, I recognize performative Catholicism. Pure Biden. His 'conscience' requires him to commute death sentences for child killers but allows him to promote child killing in abortion. Makes sense in a macabre way," she added. 'SQUAD' DEM APPLAUDS BIDEN FOR SPARING MURDERERS FROM 'RACIST' DEATH PENALTY IN 11TH-HOUR CLEMENCY MOVE Republican lawmakers were unsurprisingly outraged by the news. "Once again, Democrats side with depraved criminals over their victims, public order, and common decency," Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., wrote on x. "Democrats can't even defend Biden's outrageous decision as some kind of principled, across-the-board opposition to the death penalty since he didn't commute the three most politically toxic cases. Democrats are the party of politically convenient justice." Pennsylvania Congressman Dan Meuser called the decision an "outrageous" example of the Biden administration's "upside down and backward ideology." The three inmates not included in Biden's commuting spree are Robert Bowers, who is responsible for the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018, Dylann Roof, a White supremacist who killed nine Black parishioners at Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina, in 2015 and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who worked with his now-deceased brother to perpetuate the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people and injured hundreds. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Biden, who only supports the death penalty at the federal level for "terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder," said this move will prevent President-elect Donald Trump's administration from "carrying out the execution sentences that would not be handed down under current policy and practice," according to the White House statement. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) "One just knew Biden was gonna do this: Commute the sentences of 37 murderers, including several multiple killers (one sentenced for involvement in 12 murders), but skip the three that would have caused a political problem," Fox News contributor and Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York tweeted in response to the news. Biden, who only supports the death penalty at the federal level for "terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder," said this move will prevent President-elect Donald Trump's administration from "carrying out the execution sentences that would not be handed down under current policy and practice," according to the White House statement. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Among the list are convicted murderers who will now escape execution, including Marcivicci Barnette, who killed a man in a carjacking and his ex-girlfriend; co-defendants Brandon Basham and Chadrick Fulks, who kidnapped and killed a woman after escaping prison; Anthony Battle, who killed a prison guard; Jason Brown, who stabbed a postal worker to death; Thomas Hager, who committed a drug-related killing; David Runyon, who participated in the murder-for-hire plot of a Naval officer; Thomas Sanders, who kidnapped and killed a 12-year-old girl; Rejon Taylor, who carjacked, kidnapped and killed a restaurant owner; and Alejandro Umana, who killed two brothers inside a restaurant. Fox News' Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report. Nikolas Lanum is an associate editor for Fox News Digital.With Christmas almost here, and shoppers dashing for their last minute gifts, new research has revealed the UK areas most at risk of cybercrime. This review finds Bedfordshire coming out on top. Bedfordshire is a county located in the East of England. The study coes from Web3 platform Freename , who analysed the latest data from the National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre to see which UK police forces reported the highest levels of cybercrime as a percentage of all cybercrime and fraud reporting in the past 12 months. The UK areas most at risk of cybercrime the review found that the Bedfordshire area is most at risk of cybercrime. Of the total 6,901 cases reported to Bedfordshire Police, an impressive 2,918 were cybercrimes, or 42.28 percent. Cleveland takes second place on the list, with Cleveland Police reporting 2,527 fraud and cybercrimes in the past 12 months, with 456, or 18.05 percent, being cybercrimes. Coming in third place is Staffordshire . Staffordshire Police data shows that of the 6,332 total fraud and cyber-crimes reported in the past 12 months, 1,025, or 16.19 percent, were cybercrimes. Taking fourth place in the top ten is Greater Manchester . The study found that 2,675, or 15.81 percent, of the 2,675 total fraud and cybercrime cases reported by Greater Manchester Police in the past 12 months were exclusively from cybercrimes. Rounding out the top five is Warwickshire . Warwickshire Police reported 3,197 fraud and cybercrimes in the past 12 months, and of this total, 501, or 15.67 percent, were just from cybercrimes. Commenting on the findings, Davide Vicini, CEO at Freename, tells Digital Journal: “Scams in general are getting a lot more sophisticated these days, with many attempting to manipulate victims by disguising themselves as platforms we use every day. This, alongside some scammers even beginning to use AI to trick people, is an important reason to stay vigilant online, and this can be done by doing things like double-checking links you click, keeping strong passwords, and always attempting to find as much information as possible about who is using your data.” Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

Betting for (by) dummies: Betting with Lions, against Bengals despite Burrow's heroics

John Pearce /The Conversation In the amphitheatre of Gladiator II , Ridley Scott trains his lens on fighters and emperors – but no account of ancient gladiators is complete without including its devotees. Eclipsing the modern superfan in adulation for their heroes, fans massed in the amphitheater to see their favorites fight, taking on a mania that created a potential for disaster. According to the Roman historian Tacitus , in AD27 a poorly built arena at Fidenae, just outside Rome, collapsed under the spectators’ weight. The incident left 50,000 dead or injured. But gladiator fandom extended well beyond the arena. In the summer of 2019, archaeologists uncovered a tavern in Pompeii that had been decorated to show the bloody outcome of a gladiator fight. This hints at the way “sports talk” pervaded life in that city. There’s more evidence in Roman author Petronius’s mid-first-century BC satire The Satyricon . His fictional freedmen banter about the merits of various fighters over dinner. The ubiquitous gladiator motifs found on Roman wine cups show that this kind of convivial exchange over food and drinks was common. 5 Celebrity Gladiators of Bloodthirsty Ancient Rome World’s Oldest Surviving Amphitheater Preserved at Pompeii Their passion could, however, turn fans from drinkers into fighters. At Pollentia (modern day Majorca), Emperor Tiberius needed soldiers to quell riots borne of frustration at the absence of gladiators from a local bigwig’s funeral. Much like modern-day football hooliganism, gladiator fandom could be weaponized in intercommunal violence. In a 59 BC gladiatorial show, Pompeians murderously assaulted their neighbors from Nuceria (modern day Nocera, near Naples), causing games to be banned at Pompeii and leading to exile for the instigator. A fresco depicting the AD59 riot between Pompeiians and Nucerians in the Pompeii amphitheater that took place following a gladiatorial show, from the National Archaeological Museum Naples. (Chappsnet/ CC BY-SA 4.0 ). Fan Favorites Fans were drawn to Roman gladiators for more than just their fighting skills. Stage names could emphasise their good looks, lent by physique, coiffure and armor. Pearl and Emerald, for example, sparkled with jewel-like luster. Callimorphus flaunted his peerless body and Chrysomallos and Xanthos their blonde locks. The Philosopher-King of Ancient Rome: Marcus Aurelius' Imperium First Hard Evidence for Julius Caesar's Invasion of Britain Discovered It was common for Romans to illustrate the erotic appeal of a gladiator by naming the Roman women who, metaphorically, lost their heads to fighters. The Roman poet Juvenal wrote of the fictional, or perhaps fictionalized, wife of a Roman senator, Eppia, who allegedly preferred the battered arena veteran Sergius to her husband. Meanwhile Faustina, wife of Marcus Aurelius , is said in a 4th century biography of the emperor to have confessed a passion for gladiators to her husband. But these examples more reliably testify to elite male misogyny than to ancient reality. Seating regulations may have confined them to the higher tiers of the amphitheatres, but many women likely also had an interest in combat itself. Some were perhaps authors of the gladiatorial graffiti still legible on Pompeii’s walls. Tombstones tell a less sensational story of gladiators’ sex lives, where their partnerships are described by the language of respectable matrimony. Who Were the Gladiator Superfans? Gladiator fans could be found in all strata of Roman society. But the voices of elite fans are loudest today, as they were preserved in literary texts. Members of powerful families and emperors well knew that they must put on gladiatorial and other games, since presiding at them was central to effective political theater. Roman Terrocota lamp from first century AD featuring engraved image of Roman gladiator. Metropolitan Museum of Art/ CC0 1.0 ). Wary of Julius Caesar’s reputation for having obvious disdain for gladiatorial combat, Emperor Augustus was instead a visibly enthused spectator . The crowd’s acclaim for his generosity and its appreciation of his sharing common pleasures helped to bolster the emperor’s authority. At the Colosseum, senators could see how the political land lay as the emperor was applauded (or not) by the public. Some emperors appreciated fighting technique close up. Titus was a fan of the parmularius (the “small shield” men), while his brother Domitian preferred the heavier-armed murmillones , named after the fish-like crest on their helmets. But when they addressed the subject of gladiators directly, most elite men were ambivalent. Pagan and Christian authors, including Seneca and St Augustine , had no qualms over the shedding of gladiatorial blood. But they did regret the loss of reason among their peers as spectators, heady with emotion at the sight of the slaughter. The genre in which these authors wrote also dictated what they said. Seneca , like Cicero , turned gladiators into philosophical examples, persevering in combat despite the vagaries of fortune. Statue of Roman gladiator from Roman Europe. (Gary Todd/ CC0 1.0 ) But incidental literary references suggest that Roman elite males were closely acquainted with real gladiatorial nitty-gritty. Instructing would-be lawyers, for example, the Roman educator Quintilian reached for a gladiator’s fencing steps as a metaphor for a well-rehearsed argument. Exceptionally well-preserved graffiti discovered on houses and tombs in Pompeii has brought us closer to understanding the ordinary fans of gladiators. In particular, the drawings of armored combatants, which are captioned with their names, types and schools. Thoroughly versed in performer biographies, fans counted fights, wins and reprieves. This affinity went beyond individuals – men of the same status, neighborhood or town crowded the stepped seating of the amphitheatres together, vociferously unified by ecstasy at a favorite’s success, or anguish at their defeat and death. Yet while cinema foregrounds gladiators in our modern consciousness, ancient fans likely reserved greater passion for other performers – above all those who starred in theater and chariot racing. When Roman authors, such as Pliny , decried the triviality of popular obsessions, it was chariot racing that came first to mind. And factions linked to chariot teams threatened political order on a scale never equaled by what happened in the amphitheater. No known gladiator aficionado came close, for example, to the devoted fan who threw himself onto the burning pyre of his favorite chariot driver. Top image: Interior of the Roman Colosseum, the most famous stadium to host gladiator games. Source: Fubar Obfusco/ Public Domain . This article was originally published under the title ‘ Dedicated Roman Gladiator Superfans Were the Football Hooligans of Their Day ’ by John Pearce on The Conversation , and has been republished under a Creative Commons license. News Ancient Places History rome gladiators Roman elites During the Severan Dynasty, women from the Julian family of Emesa (modern-day Homs) in Syria, who were married to the Severan men, exerted enormous and often crucial influence over Roman government... Theatrics and excesses seem to run in the family of Nero, the emperor of Rome – that is, according to ancient authors such as Tacitus and Suetonius. Nero’s grandfather, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus,... The Battle of Alesia, fought in 52 BC, was a defining moment in Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul. This clash pitted Caesar's Roman legions against the Gallic tribes united under the leadership of... In all of history, few figures have reshaped the world as profoundly as Constantine the Great. Born amidst the chaos of a divided Roman Empire, Constantine emerged not only as a formidable warrior... Almost a decade into a project examining the late Republican city of Fregellae, 100 kilometers (62.13 miles) from Rome, archaeologists have firmly pieced together the assault and devastation of the... The year 476 AD marked one of the most pivotal moments in Western history. It was the year that Odoacer, a Germanic chieftain, deposed Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Roman Emperor. This major...

A pair of teams with minimal rest will face off in Nassau, Bahamas, on Sunday when No. 22 St. John takes on Georgia. St. John's (5-1), which will play its third game in four days, began the stretch in the Bahamas Championship on Thursday, dropping a heartbreaker to No. 13 Baylor. The Red Storm led by 18 in the first half before Baylor forced overtime. From there, St. John's rallied from five down with 1:47 left to send the game to a second overtime, where it saw Baylor knock down a pair of 3-pointers in the final seven seconds -- including Jeremy Roach's buzzer-beater -- to knock off the Red Storm 99-98. In the third-place game on Friday, St. John's breezed past Virginia 80-55. RJ Luis Jr. led the way with 18 points and four steals, followed by Kadary Richmond's 12 points, as the Red Storm took a one-point lead with 15:21 left in the first half and didn't trail again. "I'm really impressed with our guys, coming off a double-overtime, extremely emotional loss," St. John's head coach Rick Pitino said. "To respond that way was extremely impressive, both offensively and defensively." Pitino, in his second year with the Red Storm, was moved by something off the court on Friday, involving captain Zuby Ejiofor, who chipped in eight points, nine boards, two steals and two blocks. Ejiofor was serenaded by St. John's fans during the win, following his two missed free throws at the end of double overtime against Baylor. "When you've only been in a job for a year, you search for things you love about a place," Pitino said. "Tonight I found out what I love about St. John's. Our fans chanted Zuby's name the whole game, which doesn't happen anywhere else in America. I was really impressed with our fans and I thank them for making Zuby feel good, because he gives you all the energy." Luis leads the Red Storm with 17.3 points per game, followed by Ejiofor (10.7), Aaron Scott (10.5), Deivon Smith (10.3) and Richmond (10.2). Georgia enters Sunday's matchup looking to rebound from its first loss after falling to No. 15 Marquette 80-69 on Saturday. Georgia (5-1) battled back from a 15-point, second-half deficit, but was held to just three points over the final 4:57 in Saturday's loss. Blue Cain led the Bulldogs with a season-high 17 points, including five 3-pointers. "It's a process. It's a journey with this team," Bulldogs head coach Mike White said. "It's about continuing to make strides, continuing to protect our culture. ... At the end of the day, wins and losses are going to take care of themselves. We just have to embrace the process and enjoy it." Five-star freshman recruit Asa Newell was held to a season-low nine points but leads the team with 15.5 points per game. Silas Demary Jr. is second with 13.8. --Field Level Media

Donald Trump has threatened to seize the Panama Canal, revived calls to buy Greenland and joked about annexing Canada -- leaving the world guessing once again whether he is serious or not. By challenging the sovereignty of some of Washington's closest allies four weeks before he even returns to the Oval Office, the US-president elect has underscored his credentials as global disruptor-in-chief. His comments have renewed fears from his first term that Trump will end up being harsher on US friends than he is on adversaries like Russia and China. But there are also suspicions that billionaire tycoon Trump is looking for leverage as part of the "art of the deal" -- and that the former reality television star is grabbing headlines to look strong at home and abroad. "It's hard to tell how much of this he really wants, and how much is the latest soundbite that will be heard around the world," said Frank Sesno, a professor at George Washington University and former White House correspondent. "He puts other leaders in position of having to figure out what is literal and what is not," he told AFP. The idea of buying Greenland is not a new one for Trump. He also raised the prospect of purchasing the vast strategic island, a Danish territory, during his first term in office. He revived his push over the weekend when naming his ambassador to Copenhagen, saying the "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity" for US national security. But he received the same answer this time as he did then, with Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede saying on Monday that the resource-rich island was "not for sale." Yet his most headline-grabbing remarks have been on Panama, as he slammed what he called unfair fees for US ships passing through and threatened to demand control of the Panama Canal be returned to Washington. Trump said on Sunday that if Panama did not agree "then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America -- in full, quickly and without question." He also hinted at China's growing influence around the canal, which was built by the United States in 1914 to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was returned to Panama under a 1977 deal. Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino dismissed Trump's threats, saying that "every square meter" of the canal would remain in Panamanian hands. Trump responded on TruthSocial: "We'll see about that!" Trump also teased neighboring Canada last week that it would be a "great idea" to become the 51st US state -- but against a dark backdrop of threatened tariffs. Sesno said it was hard for other countries to know how to deal with Trump's comments. "Well, it's clearly a joke. Or is it? said Sesno. "Imagine if you're the President of Panama, how do you react to something like that? You can't ignore it and your country will not let you. So the ripple effect of these comments is extraordinary." Trump's harsh treatment of US allies also stands in stark contrast to his repeated praise for the leaders of US foes -- including Russia's Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine in 2022 in a bid for a land-grab. But there is still likely to be method behind Trump's rhetoric. "Maybe the message is for China" when Trump talks about buying Greenland, said Stephanie Pezard, senior political scientist with the Rand Corporation. Just as Trump expressed concern about Beijing's influence in Panama, China's growing presence in the Arctic and its ties with Russia were "something that the US is really worried about," Pezard told AFP. But there could also be a signal to Denmark that 'If you're too friendly with China, you'll find us in your way" -- even though Denmark and Greenland had been "very good NATO allies." And perhaps Trump knows the reality. Any US plan to "buy" Greenland would be unfeasible "not just in international law but more broadly in the global order that the US has been trying to uphold," she said. dk/bgsPrawit confidant refutes iCon rumours

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