234 player games offline NoneOne of the key changes that have been implemented in the public beta version is the expansion of the main characters' backstories. By delving deeper into the motivations and personalities of the protagonists, players can develop a stronger emotional connection with them. For example, the enigmatic protagonist, Lin Xifeng, now has a more complex and compelling backstory that sheds light on his mysterious past and inner struggles. This added depth to the characters not only makes them more relatable but also adds layers of intrigue to the overall narrative.Female Indiana school bus driver, 38, is arrested for ridiculous act

The US tech giant said it now supported 550,000 jobs in the UK (James Manning/PA) Apple’s investment in the UK over the last five years has now surpassed £18 billion, with the technology giant’s engineering teams in the country doubling in that time, the iPhone maker has said. The US tech giant said it now supported 550,000 jobs in the UK through direct employment, its supply chain and the economy around its App Store – with app developers having earned nearly £9 billion since it launched in 2008.“I would just encourage everybody to be as politically incorrect as their heart desires" Sean Penn has taken aim at the “extraordinary cowardice” of Hollywood, claiming it is “limiting the imagination”. The actor took exception with Oscar voters in particular, despite the fact that he has picked up two gongs himself, for his performances in Mystic River and Milk . Speaking at the Marrakech Film Festival, where he received the lifetime achievement award, he said (via Variety ): “The Academy have exercised really extraordinary cowardice when it comes to being part of the bigger world of expression, and in fact, have largely been part of limiting the imagination and very limiting of different cultural expressions.” “So I don’t get very excited about what we’ll call the Academy Awards [except for] when a film like The Florida Project , or I’m Still Here [are nominated], or, you know, Emilia Perez , of the things that are likely to happen this year.” Sean Penn with his Best Actor Oscar for ‘Milk’ at the 2009 Academy Awards. Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic. Penn added that the industry is “afraid” of addressing controversial political topics, referencing the recent Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice , which is expected to miss out in the coming awards season. “It’s jaw-dropping how afraid this business of mavericks is of a great film like that, one with great, great acting,” Penn said. “[It’s amazing] that they too can be as afraid as a piddly little Republican congressman.” “Around the world [there is] this demand for diversity – but not diversity of behavior and not diversity of opinion or language,” he continued. “I would just encourage everybody to be as politically incorrect as their heart desires and to engage diversity and to keep telling those stories.” Among the films expected to be in the running at the Oscars early next year are Sean Baker’s independent drama Anora , Netflix’s experimental musical Emilia Perez and A24’s historical epic The Brutalist , as well as more mainstream fare such as Wicked , Gladiator II and Dune: Part Two . Penn, meanwhile, spoke earlier this year about the rumours that he hit Madonna with a baseball bat during their marriage in the 1980s. He said: “I didn’t know what the hell she was talking about. Now, I think it’s fair to say that I’m not the biggest guy in the world. But if I hit Mike Tyson in the head with a baseball bat, he’s going to the hospital.” Related Topics Oscars Sean Penn

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Dylan Hayman and Davion Bailey scored 18 points apiece to help Incarnate Word beat Texas Lutheran 99-48 on Sunday. Hayman also contributed six rebounds for the Cardinals (8-5). Bailey shot 6 for 13, including 4 for 10 from beyond the arc. Jordan Pyke scored 15 on 7-for-8 shooting. Mason Wallace led the Bulldogs with 12 points. Kevin Juarez added eight points and six rebounds. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Sandra Richardson: Working 'on purpose' for the new year

His decision to step into a leadership role within the football association reflects his desire to give back to the sport that has given him so much. Klavan's vision for the future of Estonian football includes promoting grassroots initiatives, enhancing youth development programs, and fostering a culture of inclusivity and diversity within the sport.

Kendrick Lamar dropped surprise album GNX on Friday, where he addresses being chosen for the Super Bowl Halftime show in New Orleans over hometown rapper Lil Wayne . And it appears Lil Wayne has responded. On the song “Wacced Out Murals,” Lamar’s lyrics include: “Used to bump Tha Carter III , I held my Rollie chain proud/Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down.” Early in the morning on Saturday, Lil Wayne took to X, formerly Twitter, and appeared to respond , writing in part: “Man wtf I do?!” In September, shortly after Lamar was chosen to headline the Super Bowl LIX Halftime show, Lil Wayne expressed his disappointment, saying it “ hurt a whole lot ” that he wasn’t the pick for February’s big game (although he did not specifically mention the show by name, he had previously said he hoped to be asked) and that “it broke me.” Several others in his camp, including Nicki Minaj and Birdman , also felt Wayne should’ve been chosen. As with the last time he addressed the Super Bowl, Wayne did not refer to it or Lamar in his post early Saturday morning and Lamar’s lyrics don’t appear to diss Wayne so much as reflect on the situation. Moreover, Wayne seems to be putting the blame on himself on the missed opportunity, writing it’s “on me,” while warning folks to leave this alone rather than escalate it. “I just be chillin & dey still kome 4 my head. Let’s not take kindness for weakness. Let this giant sleep. I beg u all,” he continued in his post. “No one really wants destruction, not even me but I shall destroy if disturbed. On me. Love.” Lamar also mentions the Super Bowl directly in another line in the same verse from “Wacced Out Murals.” “Won the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulate me,” Lamar raps. Nas threw support his way again, taking to Instagram to write, “Always inspired by my brother KL. Keeping the essence of this shit alive and at the forefront. Salute King!” As for Snoop Dogg , Lamar mentions him during the same verse, in the context of Drake’s Lamar diss track, “ Taylor Made Freestyle .” That song features AI vocals from Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur (Drake later pulled the song from his social media after the threat of legal action from Shakur’s estate). “Snoop posted ‘Taylor Made,’ I prayed it was the edibles/I couldn’t believe it, it was only right for me to let it go,” Lamar raps. Snoop’s response to GNX included several fire emojis and an admission: “It was the edibles,” he posted on X. “west west king.”

Tweet Facebook Mail Australians will be paying more for a new passport from January 1, as application prices rise by 3.5 per cent in line with standard indexation. A new 10-year adult passport will cost $412 after the changes are applied in the new year, up from $398. A five-year children's passport will cost $208 from January 1, while a replacement passport will set Australians back $259. READ MORE: Where the two sole survivors of South Korea's plane crash were sitting Australian passports will get more expensive from January 1. (iStock) The changes come after a 15 per cent tax was added to the price of new passports in July last year, which made Australian passports the most expensive in the world. Before the July hike, Mexico's passports were the most expensive at $346. The Coalition's foreign affairs spokesperson Simon Birmingham said the extra costs were a "backdoor tax grab". "It's unsurprising the Albanese government is ringing in the new year with another tax grab from Australians," Birmingham said. "Labor are on track to be raking in nearly $1 billion annually from taxpayers just through their past three blatant price rises on Australian passports. "Many Australians scrimp and save to afford a special holiday to Bali or Fiji, only to find the cost of a passport is similar to the cost of an airfare." A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said the cost of passports was indexed annually in line with the Consumer Price Index. "The Australian passport is respected internationally as a high-quality travel document," the department said. "It has a high level of technological sophistication, backed by rigorous anti-fraud measures, which ensures its integrity. "This is a key reason why Australian passport holders receive visa-free access to over 180 countries."Blame it on the food and drink?As part of its commitment to ensuring the continuity of transportation services, the Gansu Transport Department has also prioritized the maintenance of public transit systems, railways, and airports to minimize disruptions and delays. By conducting regular inspections, repairs, and upgrades, the department aims to enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure assets and promote smooth operations during adverse weather conditions.As the final whistle blew, the fans applauded both teams for their efforts in what had been a highly entertaining and competitive match. The clash between the Bundesliga and Serie A champions had lived up to its billing, showcasing the best of European football and leaving the fans eagerly anticipating the next encounter between these two giants of the game.

Dune: Prophecy‘s Toxic Siblings Are the Best Part of the SisterhoodThe most recent encounter between Real Madrid and Atalanta took place in a pre-season friendly match, serving as a warm-up for the upcoming campaign. Despite the friendly nature of the match, both teams approached the game with intensity and determination. Real Madrid once again emerged victorious, this time with a 2-1 win, with goals from Rodrygo and Nacho Fernandez. Atalanta fought valiantly and managed to pull one back through a goal from Alejandro Gomez, but it was not enough to overcome Real Madrid's superior quality.