Month: January 2025

December 30, 2024 08:30 ET  | Source: MemeHain MemeHain
Berlin, Germany, Dec. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MemeHain is happy to share the exciting news of its upcoming token airdrop. With plans to list on Uniswap, MemeHain is set to make a big splash in the crypto community.
MemeHain has a unique and innovative concept that puts its users at the forefront of decision-making. This strong community engagement sets MemeHain apart from other projects and promises to be an exciting journey for all involved.
An Appealing Airdrop within a Community-Driven Ecosystem
There are several important announcements to be made regarding the token launch of MemeHain on Uniswap. One of the most exciting highlights is the massive airdrop that will take place. This airdrop will involve a whopping 500 million tokens, making it one of the largest in the entire year.
Additionally, token holders will have the opportunity to enter an exclusive giveaway. This event will give everyone the chance to win guest list spots at Berghain in Berlin.
But that’s not all. Investors and early adopters of MemeHain have a chance to join this project before it reaches mass adoption.
Another unique aspect of MemeHain is its strong focus on community engagement. Through the team’s Telegram channel, members will have a voice in important decisions through voting. This creates a truly democratic and inclusive environment where everyone has a say in shaping the future of MemeHain.
It’s also worth mentioning that MemeHain has passed a smart contract audit, ensuring its safety and security for potential investors.
Building a Strong Foundation with Tokenomics and Team Plans
MemeHain’s tokenomics is clear and transparent. Specifically, here is what users can expect in terms of token allocation:
But token allocation is just one piece of the puzzle. The MemeHain team has also carefully planned out a roadmap to guide the project’s growth and success.
The roadmap counts four phases, the first called “Entrance.” Here, the team focused on developing the concept and the online presence of MemeHain with branding and community-building activities. This moment laid a firm foundation for subsequent development.
The second phase, “Dance Floor,” involves the very moment of the ICO launch and promotional activities. This stage is considered the most important regarding hype and momentum building for the project.
In the 3rd phase (“Dark Room”), the team included the presale and ICO conclusions. The phase also mentions listing MemeHain on exchanges, giving once more great room for uptick and exposure.
Finally, the “Afterhour” phase is reserved for further marketing, global reach, and listing on tier 1 exchanges. It will also be the time of the token’s highly anticipated airdrop, allowing more community members to join MemeHain.
About MemeHain
MemeHain is a new and exciting community that is breaking the internet—one meme at a time. This exclusive virtual realm is fueled by the Memehain Token, a unique cryptocurrency designed specifically for the MemeHain community.
With a supply of 3 billion tokens, Memehain has ambitious plans for the future. The upcoming launch on Uniswap and a large airdrop are just a taste of what’s to come. But it’s not just about impressive numbers: this project is putting its community first.
The project will launch on January 1, 2025  its own presale phase, giving everyone an opportunity to become an early MemeHain adopter. Anyone curious about this project can visit MemeHain’s official website. The social media pages below will keep everyone up-to-date on the latest news, events, and developments.
X (Twitter) | Telegram

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

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(ANALYSIS) Syria’s 54-year dictatorship under Hafez al-Assad and his son Bashar, now exiled in Russia, was one of the world’s most despised regimes.
For good reason.
A Dec. 20 accounting from the Syrian Network for Human Rights, based in The Hague, said it has documented the following during a ruinous civil war that began in 2011:
“Some 202,000 civilians killed by Assad’s forces without judicial warrant of whom 15,102 died from torture, 96,321 cases of “disappearance,” 217 chemical weapons attacks that killed 1,514 civilians, and barrel and cluster bomb attacks that killed 11,922. An estimated 6.8 million persons in Syria have been forced from their homes, while another 7 million have left for refuge in other nations.”  
The instant collapse of Assad’s rule last month will reshape the geopolitics of the Mideast for years to come. Within Syria itself, the challenge is how to replace the bloodthirsty past and current revolutionary turbulence with effective government capable of restoring and unifying a nation that currently copes with regional occupations by Turkey, Israel, Kurds backed by 2,000 American troops to control an Islamic State remnant, and a Druze enclave.
Religion will be central in that task. 
Syria’s awkward faith landscape, with inherent potential for instability, is unique among the 57 member nations in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Three-quarters of Syrians are Sunni Muslims, adhering to the larger of the faith’s two main branches, alongside followers of the smaller Shi’a branch. But the Assads were Alawites, part of a sharply disputed ethno-religious breakaway from Shi’ism that claims roughly a tenth of Syria’s population.
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, meaning “Committee for the Liberation of the Levant”), led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, is an Islamist faction whose troops overthrew the Assad regime. It controls the capital of Damascus and other territory, and appears in position to exercise nationwide leadership. During the civil war it severed its alliances with al-Queda and the Islamic State, militant jihadist groups that persecuted those who did not match a harshly severe version of Islam.
The emerging “Salvation Government” professes commitment to tolerance. For instance, HTS did not oppress Christians in the enclave it formerly controlled. A spokesman says that future laws on women’s dress, LGBT treatment and alcohol sales are “open for discussion.” 
The Alawite minority is understandably anxious about physical safety, as depicted in a recent New York Times dispatch from the Assads’ hometown of Al-Qardaha near the northwestern seacoast. In addition to the longstanding religious rivalry, the hated Assads made sure that fellow Alawites dominated their political and military leadership.
Thus far, however, harassment of Alawites has been limited, an encouraging note of optimism, though a divisive judicial reckoning for Assad loyalists looms. 
The Alawites emerged out of historic Shi’a roots but are often considered to follow a separate religion. Mainstream Muslims have traditionally branded Alawites as ghulat (“extremists”). Due its esoteric and secretive nature, there’s some disagreement on how best to describe this faith, but according to “The Encyclopedia of Religion,” the mainstream Sunni and Shi’a consensus is that Alawites are kaffir (“unbelievers”) and idolators. 
Here’s why, as explained by scholars. Islam’s founding Prophet Muhammad was the guardian who raised his cousin and future son-in-law Ali ibn Abu Talib (circa 599-661). Upon his death, the Prophet left behind no universally agreed plan for naming future leaders. What became Shi’ism revered Ali as the first legitimate head because succession belonged to the Prophet’s holy family, whereas Sunnis reckoned Ali to be merely the fourth in the line of “rightly guided” caliphs chosen by consensus. ‘Ali’s assassination by a poisoned sword added to his mystique as a martyr.
“Alawite” means “follower of Ali,” which is true of all Shi’a segments. But with this sect, veneration of Ali is so intense that the orthodox believe it borders on or embraces shirk, the major heresy of ascribing to God a “partner” who is also worthy of worship, which is Islam’s fundamental objection to Christianity. 
Standard reference works state that Alawites believe Ali was the last and most perfect of seven individuals in which God appeared in human form, somewhat like the belief in Jesus Christ’s incarnation at birth. (In fact, Alawites celebrate Christmas along with Muslim holy days).
The Alawite God is also said to have three personalities, somewhat resembling Christianity’s Trinity of the one God in three persons of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Other unusual Alawite aspects include widespread belief in reincarnation, a concept from Hinduism and Buddhism. 
The small and insular Druze community adheres to a similarly secretive and esoteric faith that operates its own military force in a small enclave in southwestern Syria. The faith emerged from Shi’a believers who held that Egypt’s 11th Century Caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah was divine. 
Syria also has a tiny population of Kurdish Yazidis, whose secretive faith blends elements of ancient Persian religion, Judaism, Christianity and Islam and is inaccurately branded as “devil worship.” Their 2014-2017 genocide under the Islamic State within Iraq sparked global outrage and Yazidi activist Nadia Murad won the 2018 Nobel Prize for Peace. 
Yet another minority faction is the Christians, among whom the ancient Orthodox churches predominate. The faith’s very name originated in 1st Century Syria (see Book of Acts 11:26). During the civil war, Syria’s Christian population plummeted from a substantial 1.5 million to an estimated 300,000. 
Mark Tooley, editor of Providence magazine, noted in a Dec. 11 piece that Syria under the Assads tolerated Christians more than some other Muslim countries — just so long as they did not threaten the dictatorship.
Though “it’s human nature to imagine the best of whatever person or force we see as a guard against more malevolent forces,” Bashar “was in fact a murderer, tyrant, and thief” and “in the end, the Assads were not good for Syria’s Christians.”
Richard N. Ostling was a longtime religion writer with The Associated Press and with Time magazine, where he produced 23 cover stories, as well as a Time senior correspondent providing field reportage for dozens of major articles. He has interviewed such personalities as Billy Graham, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI); ranking rabbis and Muslim leaders; and authorities on other faiths; as well as numerous ordinary believers. He writes a bi-weekly column for Religion Unplugged.
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AI pushes creative boundaries, but human imagination remains irreplaceable .

China Daily

   

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Thematic image. While AI enhances efficiency in areas like visual effects, storyboarding and set design, its role as a creative partner, rather than a replacement for human artistry, remains a point of debate. PHOTO: PIXABAY
January 2, 2025
BEIJING – Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the Chinese film industry, reshaping how movies are made, from conceptual development to post-production.
One striking example of this transformation is a short film by seasoned director Yu Baimei, which reimagines the legendary figure Zhong Kui in a modern context. A heroic figure from Chinese folklore, Zhong Kui is often depicted as a warrior clad in crimson robes, vanquishing evil spirits.
“I’ve always been drawn to Zhong Kui — humorous, heroic and deeply familiar to us all,” says Yu, 49. “Yet, it felt like he’s never been portrayed on TV or in movies in a way that truly does him justice.”
With the help of AI, Yu created a two-minute short film, Bai Gui Wu Rao (“No Disturbance from Ghosts”), which connects Zhong Kui’s legend to contemporary life.
In the film, Zhong Kui strides through a shadowy forest, mist curling between ancient trees under a moonlit sky. Wielding a sword, he confronts otherworldly adversaries, including a monstrous rabbit with glowing red eyes, his movements a symphony of power and grace. The narrative then shifts to a modern bedroom, where a young man snores softly amid flickering phone notifications. The forest battle is revealed to be a dreamscape, with Zhong Kui now embodying the boy’s digital “guardian spirit”. A playful on-screen message, “On holiday: No disturbance from ghosts”, humorously emphasizes the need for personal time in the digital age.
This experimental film, alongside AI-generated shorts from eight other acclaimed directors, debuted in December as part of the “Kling AI Director Co-Creation Project” at the China National Film Museum. These works have been inducted into the museum’s permanent collection, marking a groundbreaking moment for Chinese cinema.
Yu’s foray into AI filmmaking reflects a broader trend of AI’s expansion within the industry.
“AI now permeates every aspect of filmmaking, from conceptual development to post-production,” says Rao Shuguang, president of the China Film Critics Association.
Celebrated director Zhang Yimou’s ongoing adaptation of The Three-Body Problem, the Hugo Award-winning sci-fi novel, exemplifies this trend.
“Beyond refining the script, the first thing I did was establish an AI team,” Zhang explains. “Using new technologies and concepts in the production process is a learning experience for me.”
Major studios are also leveraging AI to push creative boundaries. Bona Film Group’s AI-powered micro-series on the Sanxingdui archaeological site allegedly blends sci-fi storytelling with industrial-grade filmmaking.
Meanwhile, Yangshipin, a video platform under China Media Group, released Chinese Mythology, a fully AI-produced micro-series utilizing text-to-image, text-to-video, text-to-music and text-to-voice workflows.
While AI enhances efficiency in areas like visual effects, storyboarding and set design, its role as a creative partner, rather than a replacement for human artistry, remains a point of debate.
French filmmaker Luc Besson, speaking at the 2024 Hainan Island International Film Festival, described AI as a “valuable tool” but noted its limitations. While AI might draft a sequel to Dogman, he said, it could never create something as original as the 2023 action-thriller hit itself or the 1988 romance film The Big Blue, because AI relies on existing material.
Chinese filmmakers share this nuanced view.
“Human imagination, creativity and innovation remain irreplaceable by AI,” Rao says.
Still, he emphasizes the urgency for filmmakers to swiftly and comprehensively learn and adopt evolving AI technologies, as failure to do so could result in being outpaced by more skilled peers.
China’s AI filmmaking revolution parallels developments in Hollywood. In 2024, Lionsgate entered into a partnership with AI startup Runway to develop a generative model trained on its extensive film and TV library. Similarly, director James Cameron joined the board of Stability AI, signaling growing interest in AI’s creative potential.
Chen Xuguang, director of the Institute of Film, Television and Theatre, Peking University, envisions a future where filmmaking transitions from a resource-heavy industry to a lightweight, AI-enhanced model.
“With the power of AI, a small team — or even an individual — can evolve into a highly efficient and creative production workflow, forming a robust industrial chain,” Chen says.
The adoption of AI extends far beyond filmmaking. According to a 2024 report by the China Internet Network Information Center, 230 million Chinese — 16.4 percent of the population — were using generative AI-powered products by June 2024.
“Sooner or later, AI will fully integrate into every aspect of our lives, becoming a friend to everyone,” says Yu. “The nine directors in this initiative, regardless of the quality of their final works, have set a valuable precedent. Not that filmmaking in the future should be left to directors alone — but that anyone can create.”

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Best Altcoins to Buy This Month: Qubetics’ Interoperability, Binance’s Ecosystem, and Bitcoin Cash’s Transaction Efficiency  Analytics Insight
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EGS is beginning 2025 in a very big way. 
By Logan Moore
The first free game on the Epic Games Store in 2025 is one that’s being given out just before the release of its new sequel. As a whole, Epic has been on a bit of a hot streak lately when it comes to its free giveaways. The Epic Games Store closed out 2024 by handing out Sifu, which was joined by other free titles over the holidays that included Control and Redacted. Now, with 2025 having just begun, Epic is continuing this momentum with its latest freebie.
Starting now and lasting until January 2nd at 11:00am ET/8:00am PT, the Epic Games Store has made Kingdom Come: Deliverance entirely free to download and own for good. Released in 2018, Kingdom Come is a medieval, open-world RPG that comes from developer Warhorse Studios. Since its arrival nearly seven years ago, Kingdom Come has been incredibly popular with those who have played it, which makes this free offer one of the best ones we’ve seen on EGS in the past month.
As mentioned, though, the best part of Kingdom Come: Deliverance going free on the Epic Store at this point in time is that its sequel is out in roughly one month. Set to release on February 4th, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 will expand and build off of the story, combat, and world established in the first game. As such, if you somehow haven’t played the original Kingdom Come, now is the perfect time to give it a shot while you can get it for nothing at all.
About: “Bohemia – located in the heart of Europe, the region is rich in culture, silver, and sprawling castles. The death of its beloved ruler, Emperor Charles IV, has plunged the kingdom into dark times: war, corruption, and discord are tearing this jewel of the Holy Roman Empire apart.
One of Charles’ sons, Wenceslas, has inherited the crown. Unlike his father, Wenceslas is a naive, self-indulgent, unambitious monarch. His half-brother and King of Hungary, Sigismund the Red Fox, senses weakness in Wenceslas. Feigning good will, Sigismund travels to Bohemia and kidnaps his half-brother. With no king on the throne, Sigismund is now free to plunder Bohemia and seize its riches.
In the midst of this chaos, you’re Henry, the son of a blacksmith. Your peaceful life is shattered when a mercenary raid, ordered by King Sigismund himself, burns your village to the ground. By bittersweet fortune, you are one of the few survivors of this massacre.
Without a home, family, or future you end up in the service of Lord Radzig Kobyla, who is forming a resistance against the invasion. Fate drags you into this bloody conflict and shoves you into a raging civil war, where you help fight for the future of Bohemia.
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TULSA, Okla. — The New Year’s tradition of the annual Smiley’s Racing Products Tulsa Shootout is back, bigger – and louder – than ever.
Almost 1,800 entrants will compete for six Golden Driller trophies.
“Without the Tulsa Shootout and figuring the facility could be used the way they wanted to use it with the dirt track and everything, the Chili Bowl wouldn’t exist,” Tulsa Shootout announcer Bryan Hulbert said on Jan. 1. “So this is what actually started it all.”
Tens of thousands are expected in and out of the SageNet Center throughout the week. Tickets are $15 through Jan. 3 and $20 for the final races Jan. 4.

Ray Brewer is hoping he’ll be one of the winners. The 17-year-old Owasso driver has traveled the country racing with his dad for the last few years.
“It feels great to be back in a micro(-sprint car) seeing what we can do in this after chasing the big car at Tulsa County and Creek County,” Brewer said. “We’re just having fun and seeing what we can do.”
This week is a homecoming for his Brewer Motorsports crew, who is also his family.
“We’re a little crazy, so it’s nerve-racking,” said Amanda Brewer, Ray’s mom.
“It takes a lot of dedication and patience because it’s a hurry up and wait type of game,” said Alyssa Jones, Ray’s sister. “(Officials) tell you to hurry up, and then you just sit there and wait until it’s your time to race.”
The Brewer Motorsports team, like many crews during the races, will not be wearing an abundance of hearing gear, though.
“I just rough it out,” Jones said. “I don’t wear any of it.” I just hope for the best. It’s part of the dedication.”
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The Internet Archive’s Fight to Save Itself  WIRED
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Epic Games Store First Free Game of 2025 Revealed  GameRant
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Epic Games store enters 2025 with a bang and the 15th free mystery game revealed is Kingdom Come: Deliverance. You have only 24 hours to claim this epic open-world RPG adventure.

The Epic Games Store mystery game 2024 event is going with a mixed feeling so far. With only one game remaining to be revealed, Epic had to reveal a game worth the wait before the final one. And so did they! Originally released in 2018, Kingdom Come is one of the iconic RPG experiences that contains everything you desire from the adventure of the Holy Roman Empire.

If you love a story-rich RPG, this is one of the best choices out there. The game is more than just combat, leveling up and progress. In Kingdom Come: Deliverance, your goal is to break the chains and witness a path only you can take.

Unveil an inclusive character creator and take on multiple side stories that feel as important. Apart from the iconic story-telling, the game comes with a classic action-adventure style combat. Being a son of the blacksmith, the combat coming forth will be challenging.
Keep in mind that there is no story unless you create one. Yes, the path you choose, the choices you make, or the allies/enemies you pair with will decide your fate. This complements the already realistic open world of Bohemia.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is usually at a price of $29.99 and getting such a critically acclaimed game for free is a steal deal. Claim Kingdom Come: Deliverance for free from the Epic Games Store mystery event now.

A gaming nerd who cover all thing video games. Spending time looking through the games and gaming industry was always a dream. Thanks to Beebom, I live it. Once I am done gaming, I write. Once I am done writing, I game.
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