Latest news with #RIOT
Scottish Sun
11-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Second night of Ballymena violence as cops fire multiple baton rounds at rioters as water cannon on scene amid tensions
Several properties were damaged on Clonavon Terrace in attacks RIOT UPDATE Second night of Ballymena violence as cops fire multiple baton rounds at rioters as water cannon on scene amid tensions Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RIOT police have been deployed again in Ballymena as cops fire multiple baton rounds at rioters. It comes just one day after serious unrest in the area saw homes destroyed and cops injured. 8 A Ballymena resident said she's too scared to stay in the area following the riots Credit: Pacemaker 8 Firefighters attended the scene after two homes were set alight Credit: Pacemaker 8 People wearing masks threw masonry and other missiles Credit: Pacemaker Hundreds of people have gathered in the Co Antrim town less than 24 hours after riots broke out following a protest last night. PSNI vehicles have been sent into the area to form barricades on some roads. This comes after several properties were damaged on Clonavon Terrace in attacks which police have described as 'racist thuggery'. The violent scenes in the area left 15 police injured and a number of cops cars damaged. The violence followed an earlier protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the town at the weekend. Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court on Monday charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter. A 28-year-old man was also arrested by police as part of the investigation on Monday evening, but has since been 'unconditionally released' from custody. A mother who lives in one of the houses attacked during violence in Ballymena said she had been left too scared to stay in the area. The mother-of-three - who now intends to leave the area - said her children were asking why their house was being attacked during disturbances in the Co Antrim town on Monday night. Speaking to the PA news agency, the woman, who said she was too afraid to give her name, said she tried to flee her house after the front window was broken. She said: 'The children were asking me why are we being attacked. 'I don't want to stay here now, the children are afraid and I am afraid.' 'POGRAM PREVENTED' In the aftermath of the rioting, the chairman of the Police Federation said the actions of PSNI officers saved lives and 'prevented a pogrom with consequences too painful to contemplate'. Liam Kelly, the head of the group that represents rank and file PSNI officers, said cops faced attacks which were 'totally mindless, unacceptable and feral'. Mr Kelly said: 'Once again, our colleagues were caught up trying to quell hate-filled violence on our streets. 'Officers who were trying to protect life and property came under unjustified sustained attack. 'All right-minded people should utterly condemn these actions and provide information and assistance to the PSNI so they can identify those who engaged in the various lawless acts of thuggery. 'Officers' injuries tell a frightening story of a mob fully intent on inflicting great harm on people. 'Police officers worked tirelessly to defuse a potentially explosive situation and uphold the law.' 'MINDLESS VIOLENCE' Mr Kelly said the officers had suffered 'for their courageous and professional interventions'. He added: 'This was mindless violence and thuggery. 'Officers were under great pressure but, to their credit, they restored order over a prolonged period of unrest. 'I have no doubt whatsoever that police officers – far too few because the service is starved of resources and officer numbers – prevented a pogrom with consequences too painful to contemplate. 'What we saw was totally mindless, unacceptable and feral. 'I wish to commend the men and women of the PSNI who undoubtedly saved lives last night. "I would appeal for calm, and request that there is no repeat of these shocking images in the town or the lawless acts of intimidation of anyone in our community." 'FELT FEAR' PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the force would have a significant operation in place over the coming days in case there was any repeat of the disturbances. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the attacks should be 'loudly condemned by all right thinking people'. Speaking at a press conference at Ballymena police station, he said: 'Any attempt to justify or explain it as something else is misplaced." He said that members of the minority ethnic community 'felt fear' and there will be a significant policing operation in the town in the coming days to reassure the community. 'All right-minded people should utterly condemn these actions and provide information and assistance to the PSNI so they can identify those who engaged in the various lawless acts of thuggery." Liam Kelly He said one arrest has been made and more will follow, as video and online footage is examined. The 29-year-old arrested has been charged with riotous behaviour, disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police. He is due to before Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Mr Henderson said: 'I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday's disorder to reflect long and hard about their actions, they will have consequences." VIOLENT SCENES Mr Henderson said that police officers from England and Wales will be brought to Northern Ireland if needed to help the PSNI in the wake of the Ballymena disorder. He said: 'Should I need any additionality, I'm absolutely assured that my colleagues in policing in England and Wales, the National Police Operation Centre, stand fast and ready to support should we need that support.' The senior officer said police did not have specific intelligence that there would be a repeat of the violent scenes, but said a significant policing operation would be in place. PLANNED VIGIL A PSNI spokesperson said: 'At around 7.30pm, a planned vigil gathered in the Galgorm Road area before making its way towards Larne Street, onto Wakehurt Road and then down Queen Street. 'The vigil was initially peaceful as it made its way towards the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena. 'Officers were present at the vigil to ensure an appropriate and proportionate policing response, due to the large number of people who had gathered in the area. 'A number of masked individuals then broke away from the vigil and began to build barricades, stockpiling missiles and attacking properties in the Clonavon Terrace area. 'Elements of the crowd then turned on to police and attacked officers with petrol bombs and masonry. 'This disorder was sustained and continued in the vicinity of Galgorm Street, Linenhall Street and Larne Road Link in the vicinity of the Braid.' COPS ATTACKED The statement added: 'Police officers came under sustained attack over a number of hours with multiple petrol bombs, fireworks, heavy masonry and bricks thrown in their direction by masked rioters. 'Fifteen officers were injured with some requiring hospital treatment. 'Two police vehicles were also damaged during the disorder. 'A number of homes and businesses were damaged with windows and doors smashed. Four houses were damaged by fire with three people evacuated. 'The attacks on these properties are being investigated as racially motivated hate attacks. 'Windows were also smashed of several business units in Galgorm Parks in the early hours. 'In total, six properties in Clonavon Terrace have sustained damage to windows and doors during the disorder." OTHER ARSON As part of ongoing inquiries, police are also investigating a report of arson at the Tobar Park area of Cullybackey in the early hours of Tuesday. Shortly after 12.20am, it was reported that a petrol bomb had been thrown at a vehicle in the area which set it alight. Damage was caused to a nearby property, with a woman and two children inside. 8 The violence followed an earlier protest Credit: Pacemaker Press 8 Residents told of the fear after the riots Credit: Pacemaker Press 8 PSNI vehicles were sent into the area to form barricades on some roads Credit: Pacemaker Press 8 Cops and riot officers were among those deployed to the scene Credit: Pacemaker
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Was Jim Cramer Right About Preferring Bitcoin Over Riot Platforms (RIOT)?
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discusses. When asked whether Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) was worth buying amid a dip in Bitcoin miners, Cramer dismissed the idea entirely. He made clear in that older episode that he preferred simpler exposure to crypto: 'If we're going to be in that, we're just going to go buy Bitcoin or go buy Ethereum. Either one is fine with me.' Great call. The bitcoin miner is down -6.42% since while Bitcoin has risen significantly since then. Riot Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) is a Bitcoin mining company that operates large-scale data centers powered by renewable energy sources to mine and secure the Bitcoin blockchain. A computer engineer working in a futuristic office, programming algorithms to mine cryptocurrency. Cramer remains sceptical about Bitcoin miners. Here's what he said about the stock on January 3: 'Okay, well, Riot Platforms, I have to go to my chief scientist Ben Stoto on that. He points out that it's a Bitcoin miner and can you get a better business than mining Bitcoin?' Overall, RIOT ranks 11th on our list of stocks that Jim Cramer discusses. While we acknowledge the potential of RIOT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Was Jim Cramer Right About Preferring Bitcoin Over Riot Platforms (RIOT)?
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discusses. When asked whether Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) was worth buying amid a dip in Bitcoin miners, Cramer dismissed the idea entirely. He made clear in that older episode that he preferred simpler exposure to crypto: 'If we're going to be in that, we're just going to go buy Bitcoin or go buy Ethereum. Either one is fine with me.' Great call. The bitcoin miner is down -6.42% since while Bitcoin has risen significantly since then. Riot Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) is a Bitcoin mining company that operates large-scale data centers powered by renewable energy sources to mine and secure the Bitcoin blockchain. A computer engineer working in a futuristic office, programming algorithms to mine cryptocurrency. Cramer remains sceptical about Bitcoin miners. Here's what he said about the stock on January 3: 'Okay, well, Riot Platforms, I have to go to my chief scientist Ben Stoto on that. He points out that it's a Bitcoin miner and can you get a better business than mining Bitcoin?' Overall, RIOT ranks 11th on our list of stocks that Jim Cramer discusses. While we acknowledge the potential of RIOT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) Soared On Friday
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) stands against other Friday's best-performing stocks. Riot Platforms saw its share prices rise by 9.57 percent on Friday to close at $9.85 apiece, mirroring Bitcoin's rally, supported by its improved production of the cryptocurrency last month. As of writing, Bitcoin's prices are up by 2.78 percent at $104,434.90 apiece, as traders cheered news of better-than-expected employment data. Meanwhile, Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) announced earlier this week that it was able to mine 514 Bitcoins last month, or 11 percent higher than the 463 produced in April, and by 139 percent as compared with the 215 Bitcoins in the same month last year. A computer engineer working in a futuristic office, programming algorithms to mine cryptocurrency. The company said the higher Bitcoin production was supported by an increased hash rate of 35.4 EH/s. Bitcoin mining aside, Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) said it recently acquired 355 acres of land near its Corsicana site, intended for the development of data centers to serve high-performance compute, which typically require larger footprints than bitcoin mining to utilize the same power capacity. 'We will continue to look to strategically add additional land parcels to ensure that our Corsicana site is ideally suited to support designs for data centers that serve the needs of hyperscale and enterprise tenants,' said Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) CEO Jason Les. Overall, RIOT ranks 8th on our list of Friday's best-performing stocks. While we acknowledge the potential of RIOT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
07-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Bitcoin and AI Themes Ignite Riot Platforms Stock (RIOT)
Bitcoin is back in the spotlight again, reaching an all-time high of over $109,000 over the past week. For investors seeking ways to capitalize on this trend beyond investing in the cryptocurrency itself, other investment opportunities along the value chain, such as firms that provide specialized infrastructure, including computers that operate continuously to secure the network and mine new coins, may present a compelling option. Confident Investing Starts Here: On such stock is Riot Platforms (RIOT), operating some of the most powerful mining facilities in the U.S., and the company just delivered some impressive numbers that caught Wall Street's attention, generating $161.4 million in revenue during the first quarter of 2025, more than double what they earned in the same period last year. I am optimistic about the overall growth of blockchain technology and particularly bullish on RIOT stock. The company presents a compelling investment opportunity at the crossroads of infrastructure and emerging technology. With ongoing operational enhancements, strategic acquisitions, and diversification initiatives, Riot is well-positioned to capitalize on the expanding demand for cryptocurrency. Building a Bigger and Better Mining Operation Riot's recent push to expand and optimize its mining operations appears to be paying off rapidly. Their hashrate—the measure of computational power driving Bitcoin mining, similar to horsepower in a car—grew an impressive 142% year-over-year, reaching 35.4 exahashes per second. RIOT has also made significant efficiency improvements, reporting a 24% increase in energy efficiency. This is particularly critical in a sector where electricity costs significantly impact profitability. Riot now operates at 21.2 joules per terahash, a substantial reduction from previous levels. These gains in efficiency could provide a meaningful competitive edge over time. Bitcoin's mining rewards halve roughly every four years to control inflation and cap the total supply at 21 million coins. The most recent halving, in April 2024, cut the reward from 6.25 to 3.125 BTC per block. This post-halving environment has made mining more challenging across the industry. Network difficulty has risen by 41%, meaning miners must exert significantly more computational power to earn the same rewards. While this creates pressure for all participants, companies with highly efficient operations, like Riot, are best positioned to continue growing despite these challenges. Growth Through Strategic Acquisitions and AI Riot recently announced the acquisition of Rhodium's mining operations, and looks to make Rhodium's operations profitable while freeing up 125 megawatts of power capacity for Riot's own mining activities. The numbers from May 2025 show this strategy is paying off. Riot produced 514 Bitcoin for the month, more than doubling their output year-over-year. The increase in mining output, coupled with the growth in Bitcoin's price, compounds the company's revenue potential. Another intriguing aspect of Riot's unfolding story is its move to expand beyond mining. The company has recently acquired 355 acres near its Texas facility, with plans to build large-scale data centers targeting the artificial intelligence and high-performance computing (HPC) markets. The company is planning to bring online 1 gigawatt of power capacity by early 2026. This strategy makes sense for Riot (and other miners, many of which are pursuing similar opportunities), considering it has already incurred sunk costs in two key drivers of data center success — reliable power infrastructure and operational expertise in managing large-scale computing facilities. Riot Platforms is rated a Strong Buy overall, based on the most recent recommendations of ten analysts. , which represents a potential upside of 70% from current levels. Analysts following Riot remain bullish on its prospects. For example, Roth MKM has recently reiterated a Buy rating on the stock with a price target of $16, noting the firm's increase of substantial capacity of 600MW at its Texas facility, along with a move to hire Jonathan Gibbs as Chief Data Center Officer, has bolstered its position in the high-performance computing (HPC) market. Needham also maintains a Buy rating on the stock. However, analyst John Todaro has adjusted Riot Platforms' price target from $13.50 to $12 in response to a miss on adjusted EBITDA, attributed to higher-than-anticipated SG&A and other costs of goods sold during the first quarter. RIOT in Review Riot provides leveraged exposure to Bitcoin's upside potential, with recent record revenue growth and notable efficiency improvements making a strong case. Their expansion into AI and high-performance computing markets marks a strategic move into a promising adjacent sector, which could also serve as a useful hedge against Bitcoin's volatility. That said, investing in RIOT carries significant risks. The company's fortunes remain closely tied to Bitcoin's notoriously volatile price fluctuations. Additionally, mining profitability hinges on a delicate balance between Bitcoin prices, network difficulty, and energy costs—factors largely beyond management's control. Overall, I remain bullish on Riot as a high-risk, high-reward play for investors looking to gain measured exposure to crypto infrastructure.
