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roulette numbers Jimmy Carter’s Death Shakes Up Trump’s Inauguration Day Plans: Here's HowAs we delve further into Season 38 of Arena of Valor, it is clear that this season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and diverse yet. With the introduction of new hero Koko, the Time Warp game mode, balance changes, and a competitive ladder system, players have plenty to look forward to. So, gather your team, sharpen your skills, and prepare for an unforgettable season of intense battles and thrilling victories. The battlefield awaits, are you ready to rise to the challenge?

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Former defense official says government is hiding UFO secrets from Americans READ MORE: What are the drones over New Jersey? All the key theories so far By JAMES GORDON and LAURA PARNABY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 19:14, 25 December 2024 | Updated: 19:33, 25 December 2024 e-mail 1 View comments A former defense official has said the government is hiding UFO secrets from Americans, amid the spotlight on apparent drone sightings over the East Coast in recent weeks. Luis Elizondo, the former head of the Defense Department's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, told Congress last month about an alleged government group 'hiding the fact that we are not alone in the cosmos'. 'I believe that we as Americans can handle the truth. And I also believe the world deserves the truth,' Elizondo said. Elizondo was among those claiming that whistleblowers are afraid to come forward, while urging Congress to pass legislation which would protect them. The hearing was part of a larger investigation into UFOs, also known as unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAPs), to determine whether any government officials have been withholding evidence from Congress. It comes as wild footage showed what appeared to be a UFO hovering in the skies over New Jersey before suddenly accelerating away on Sunday. In a short 13 second clip posted to social media, a white light blinked in the sky before suddenly vanishing, leaving onlookers stunned. In the footage, which was shot close near Atlantic City, family members were heard discussing what they witnessed before the object suddenly disappears. Luis Elizondo, the former head of the Defense Department's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, told Congress last month about an alleged government group 'hiding the fact that we are not alone in the cosmos' A former defense official has said the government is hiding UFO secrets from Americans, amid the spotlight on apparent drone sightings over the East Coast in recent weeks 'It just vanished!' one said. 'I just watched it through the telescope.' The footage was sent to Tim Janicki by a friend. The video is the most recent in a long line of mysterious drone sightings that have been reported flying over New Jersey and across the eastern U.S., sparking speculation and concern over where they came from and why. Data shows New Jersey residents have reported more than 1,000 sightings of the flying objects across the state in less than a month after the first report. Some 964 incidents have been logged in total since the first sighting on November 19 up until December 13, according to statistics collected by the state’s Office of Emergency Management and shared with the New York Post . Yet despite the startling volume of apparent sightings - which have prompted locals to shoot into the sky and even sparked the closure of an airport in neighboring New York - officials are yet to provide answers about who or what is behind the drones. As the flashing objects continue to circle the skies above New Jersey and beyond, theories about the source have proliferated in the homes of lawmakers and residents below - from Project Blue Beam to foreign conspiracies. Social media has gone wild with conspiracy theorists insisting the alleged drones are connected with a chilling government plot. Trump-supporting actress Roseanne Barr was among those touting the Project Blue Beam theory , which claims global elites are planning to use advanced technology to stage celestial events in order to manipulate the world's population. 'Now you see why I mention Project Blue Beam every week on my podcast.....,' the 72-year-old wrote on X. The theory dates back to the 1990s, but it recently found traction again online as commentators such as Barr claim that the US government could stage an alien invasion as a pretext for imposing authoritarian rule. Others have also espoused the idea that the Biden Administration could be behind the drone activity, given its refusal to provide reassuring answers amid the mounting crisis. Footage has emerged of what appears to be a ' UFO ' hovering in the skies over New Jersey before suddenly accelerating away leaving the family who were watching lost for words Swarms of drones have been spotted in the skies of New Jersey for weeks, sparking officials to call for a 'limited state of emergency' Former CIA operations officer Laura Ballman revealed her chilling theory that the drones lighting up multi-state skies may be a 'classified exercise.' She told Fox News Live that the drone sightings are 'extremely unsettling,' and shared her theory that they may be part of a technology 'test,' orchestrated by the federal government. Ballman said: 'Now in terms of who is behind this, seeing the statements that have been made by John Kirby, who has said that these objects are not operating illegally. 'Coupled with the several op-eds that have been out there in the last 24 hours about the need to look at our detection systems , [it] makes me think perhaps this is actually a classified exercise to test either evasion technology or detection technology in urban areas.' White House National Security spokesman John Kirby has said the aircraft are not foreign - and they may not even be drones . 'We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat or have a foreign nexus,' Kirby told reporters on Thursday. 'The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are investigating these sightings, and they're working closely with the state and local law enforcement to provide resources using numerous detection methods to better understand their origin,' Kirby said. He said the agencies used 'very sophisticated electronic detection technologies' but 'have not been able to – and neither state or local law enforcement – corroborate any of the reported visual sightings.' 'To the contrary, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft being operated lawfully,' he said, denying the aircraft were even drones. Share or comment on this article: Former defense official says government is hiding UFO secrets from Americans e-mail Add comment

Trump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying US Steel, pledges tax incentives and tariffs

By PETER SMITH A social-media tribute to Coptic Christians. A billboard in Amish country. A visit to a revered Jewish gravesite. While Donald Trump’s lock on the white evangelical vote is legendary, he and his campaign allies also wooed smaller religious groups, far from the mainstream. As it turned out, Trump won by decisive margins, but his campaign aggressively courted niche communities with the understanding that every vote could be critical, particularly in swing states. Voter surveys such as exit polls, which canvass broad swaths of the electorate, aren’t able to gauge the impact of such microtargeting, but some backers say the effort was worth it. Just one week before the election, Trump directed a post on the social-media platform X to Coptic Christians in the United States —- whose church has ancient roots in Egypt. He saluted their “Steadfast Faith in God, Perseverance through Centuries of Persecution and Love for this Great Country.” “This was the first time seeing a major U.S. presidential candidate address the community in this manner,” said Mariam Wahba, a Coptic Christian and research analyst with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based research institute. “It was really a profound moment.” She said many Copts share the conservative social views of other Christian groups in the Republican constituency, and they may already have been Trump supporters. But the posting reinforced those bonds. Coptic bishops sent the president-elect congratulations after his victory and cited their “shared social and family values.” Some Assyrian Christians — another faith group with Middle Eastern roots — similarly bonded with Trump, whose mispronunciation of “Assyrian” at a rally created a viral video moment and drew attention to their support. Sam Darmo, a Phoenix real estate agent and co-founder of Assyrians for Trump, said many community members cited the economy, illegal immigration and other prominent voter issues. They echoed other conservative Christians’ concerns, he said, on issues such as abortion, gender identity and religious expression in public. But he said Trump supported various Middle Eastern Christians recovering from the Islamic State group’s oppressive rule. Darmo also credited Massad Boulos, father-in-law to Trump’s daughter Tiffany, for mobilizing various Middle Eastern Christian groups, including Chaldean Catholics, and other voters, particularly in Michigan, such as Muslims. “He brought all these minority groups together,” he said. “We’re hoping to continue that relationship.” But members of Middle Eastern-rooted Christian groups, and their politics, are far from monolithic, said Marcus Zacharia, founder of Progressive Copts, a program of Informed Immigrants, an organization that promotes dialogue on sensitive topics among such groups in the United States and Canada. He said many younger community members question Trump’s stances on issues such as immigration, and sense that conservatives sometimes tokenize them by focusing on the plight of persecuted Christians in the Middle East while neglecting wider issues of repression in countries there that the U.S. supports. He said there needs to be more informed dialogue across the political divide in these communities. “There is no more high time than these next four years to have that way of conducting conversations,” he said. Courting the Amish Republicans also made an aggressive push for Amish voters , particularly in the swing state of Pennsylvania, where they are most numerous at about 92,000 (many below voting age). The GOP has made similar efforts in the past, even though researchers have found that less than 10% of them typically vote, due to their separatism from society. But Republicans used billboards, mailers, ads and door-to-door campaigner to drive turnout in Lancaster County, home base to the nation’s largest Amish settlement. On Election Day, Amish voters Samuel Stoltzfus and his wife Lillian Stoltzfus said they were supporting Trump, citing their anti-abortion beliefs. “We basically look at it as murder,” Stoltzfus, 31, said outside a polling center in the Lancaster County community of New Holland, where dozens of other members of the local Amish community voted. Trump has wavered on the issue, dismaying some abortion opponents, though many have said Republicans still align more closely to their views. Stolzfus added: “Make America great again and keep the moral values,” he said. “Let’s go back to the roots.” Steven Nolt, a history professor at Elizabethtown College in Lancaster College who studies the Amish and their voting patterns, said that while it’s too early to say definitively without further research, he doesn’t see evidence of a larger turnout this year. Lancaster County as a whole — most of which is not Amish — is a GOP stronghold that Trump won handily, though both parties’ votes edged up from 2020, according to unofficial results posted by the Pennsylvania Department of State. Trump’s biggest increases were in urban or suburban areas with few Amish, while some areas with larger Amish populations generally saw a modest increase in the Trump vote, said Nolt, director of the college’s Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. “Bottom line, percentage-wise, not much change in the parts of Lancaster County where the Amish live,” he said. Paying respects at a Chabad grave Trump directly reached out to members of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of Orthodox Judaism. Related Articles National Politics | Attorneys want the US Supreme Court to say Mississippi’s felony voting ban is cruel and unusual National Politics | Trump convinced Republicans to overlook his misconduct. But can he do the same for his nominees? National Politics | Trump gave Interior nominee one directive for a half-billion acres of US land: ‘Drill.’ National Politics | Trump’s team is delaying transition agreements. What does it mean for security checks and governing? National Politics | Judge delays Trump hush money sentencing in order to decide where case should go now On Oct. 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, Trump made a symbolically resonant visit to the “Ohel,” the burial site of the movement’s revered late leader, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. Wearing a yarmulke, the traditional Jewish skullcap, Trump, who has Jewish family members, brought a written prayer to the Ohel and laid a small stone at the grave in keeping with tradition. The site in New York City, while particularly central to Chabad adherents, draws an array of Jewish and other visitors, including politicians. About two-thirds of Jewish voters overall supported Trump’s opponent, Democrat Kamala Harris, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. But the Trump campaign has made a particular outreach to Orthodox Jews, citing issues including his policies toward Israel in his first administration. Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowitz of Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Florida said it was moving for him to see images of Trump’s visit. “The mere fact that he made a huge effort, obviously it was important to him,” he said. Associated Press journalist Luis Henao contributed.Furthermore, it is essential to recognize that sleep needs can vary based on individual differences. Some people may be naturally short or long sleepers, meaning that their ideal amount of sleep falls outside of the general recommendations. It is crucial for individuals to listen to their bodies and prioritize getting the amount of sleep that makes them feel well-rested and alert during the day.

Formartine United boss Stuart Anderson was thrilled to progress to the Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shield semi-final after a penalty shoot-out triumph against Inverurie Locos. This keenly-contested quarter-final tie at North Lodge Park finished 1-1, but the Pitmedden side prevailed 5-4 in the shoot-out with goalkeeper Ewen Macdonald saving the last spot-kick from Callum Duncan. as they following their maiden success in January 2019. Anderson said: “I’m delighted to get through, when it goes to penalties it’s a lottery. “Inverurie are a good side and there wasn’t much between the teams, they had the first half and we had the second half. “We’ve lost a few penalty shoot-outs, but it’s swings and roundabouts, you’ll win one eventually and we have. “Ewen made a really good save and he’s done that in quite a few shoot-outs over the years. “Credit to him he’s made some big saves in big moments, he’s in excellent form just now and we’re delighted to have him. “You go into every tournament trying to win it and we’ll think about the semi-final when it comes around. It’s good for the boys to have the opportunity to get to a final.” Little between the teams Inverurie had the better of the first period and came closest to making the breakthrough on 25 minutes when Aidan Wilson’s drive from 25 yards was brilliantly turned away by Macdonald diving to his left. After the break Formartine asked more questions of the visitors and broke the deadlock just after the hour mark. Marc Lawrence linked with Paul Campbell and his ball forward was nodded down by Aaron Norris for striker Julian Wade – who had come off the bench barely a minute earlier – he drove into the area and finished into the bottom left corner. However, Inverurie fought back and equalised on 74 minutes. Ryan Park’s flick on released Duncan on the right side of the box and he fired into the bottom left corner. In the shoot-out the Graeme Rodger, Norris, Michael Dangana, Wade and Aidan Combe all netted for United. Paul Coutts, Calum Dingwall, Mark Souter and Cole Anderson did likewise for Locos, but with the Railwaymen’s fifth spot-kick Macdonald dived low to his right to deny Duncan. Locos’ cup hopes over for this term Defeat means Inverurie are out of all the cup competitions this season. Manager Dean Donaldson said: “When it gets to penalties it’s a lottery. Callum is a young player who was big enough to step up and take a penalty, he’s missed and he’ll learn from it. “Over the course of the game I thought we were the better team, but again we’re not taking our chances. “The boys need to have a little bit more about them to put the ball in the net or at least hit the target. “We’re competing and running top teams close, it’s just the final part that’s eluding us just now. “It’s not even Christmas and we’ve got no cups left to play for which is frustrating with them all being played before the turn of the year.” Turriff United 1-0 Deveronvale Turriff United will host either Keith or Fraserburgh in the semi-finals of the Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shield after edging out Deveronvale at a chilly Haughs. The only goal of the game came in the 68th minute when Murray Cormack placed a well-struck 15-yard grounder beyond Ethan Hopkinson in the visitors’ goal. In the third minute Vale had a loud shout for a penalty kick when Ben Hermiston appeared to be upended by Owen Kinsella but referee Scott Donohoe waved play on. At the other end Reece McKeown headed past the upright from six yards with only Vale keeper Hopkinson to beat. Both sets of players were finding it difficult to keep their footing in the slippery conditions. In the 25th minute home keeper Lee Herbert flapped at a Harry Noble cross but there was no Vale player in the six-yard box ready to capitalise on his mistake. On the half hour mark Herbert redeemed himself when he raced from goal to dive at the feet of the onrushing Alexsander Dlugosz. Two minutes after the restart United full-back Kieran Yeats slid in and sent the ball just wide from eight yards as the home side opened the second half with intent. The game badly needed a goal and it came in the 68th minute when Cormack fired an angled 15-yard drive past Hopkinson and into the bottom corner of the net. Hermes and Buckie go head-to-head Buckie Thistle boss Lewis MacKinnon hopes they can get the better of unfamiliar opponents in the Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shield. The Jags face Junior side Hermes at Lochside Park in the quarter-final of the Shield on Wednesday night. This clash is the first of two quarter-final ties for Buckie this week, Since Hermes started playing the Aberdeenshire Cup and Shield in 2021 they have never faced Thistle before now. MacKinnon said: “Hermes aren’t a team that we’re familiar with playing, but we’ve done our preparation and it’s clear they’re a very good team. “They’re doing well in their league this season and we’ve got complete respect for them, but we want to go out and express ourselves. “We’ve got two quarter-finals this week and our full focus is on this tie, but it would be great if we could reach the semi-final of both competitions. That’s where we want the club to be competing.” Underdogs up for the challenge Hermes have had a good season to date. They have already lifted the Grill League Cup and Saturday’s Scottish Junior Cup defeat to Benburn was their first loss in Junior competitions this term. Manager Steve Watson is hoping for a good showing against Buckie and added: “At home we’ve proved over the years that teams will need to play well to beat us. “Home advantage is good for us and although we’re underdogs you never know what can happen. “We’ve never managed to reach a semi-final in one of the Aberdeenshire competitions so it would be a massive leap for us to win this tie. “We’ve had a great season so far and what the boys have done so far this season after a massive turnaround of players has been really good. Hopefully we can keep it going.” Meanwhile, last night’s quarter-final between Keith and Fraserburgh at Kynoch Park was postponed due to frosty underfoot conditions.

Former US president Jimmy Carter dies aged 100Alex Ovechkin is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken left legPHOENIX — The culture wars are back at the state Capitol. But this time, Sen. John Kavanagh, a Fountain Hills Republican, thinks the election results suggest public sentiment is on his side on the issue of transgender rights, and that Democrats who opposed his proposals in the past are now paying attention. One law he proposes would prohibit school employees from referring to a student by a pronoun that does not match his or her biological sex. And by that, Kavanagh means the sex at the time of birth as determined by anatomy, he told Capitol Media Services Tuesday. Only if a parent gave consent would his Senate Bill 1002 allow a teacher to use a different pronoun. More far reaching is his SB 1003, which would prohibit the use of restrooms, locker rooms and any sleeping quarters designated for one sex by those of the "opposite" sex. Kavanagh did include language requiring schools to make "reasonable accommodations'' for those who refuse to use the facility that aligns with their "immutable biological sex.'' Accommodation can include a single-occupancy restroom or changing facility, or use by students of a facility normally reserved for employees. Kavanagh If these seem familiar, it's because Kavanagh pushed both through the Legislature in 2023 — with only Republican votes — only to have them vetoed by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. But Kavanagh said this year is different, citing what he claims is a major shift in public attitudes reflected in this year's election, and not just on the national level. Democratic state Sen. Christine Marsh lost her race in her "swing'' district that spans Phoenix and Scottsdale to Republican Carine Warner. Kavanagh contends Marsh lost because of her arguments Arizona should allow transgender students to use showers in locker rooms. Marsh had said a shower curtain would be sufficient, which Warner highlighted in campaign materials. "I think some Democrats got the message that people think they are totally out of touch with society on all of these social, transgender issues,'' Kavanagh said. Overall, Republicans strengthened their hold at the Legislature, picking up one seat in the Senate and two in the House. That still leaves Hobbs with her veto stamp. But Kavanagh said even she is reading the tea leaves of the election. He pointed out the governor now says she is willing to work — at least in some form — with the incoming Trump administration on immigration and border security issues. But gubernatorial press aide Christian Slater said Kavanagh is engaged in wishful thinking on the issue of transgender rights. He cited Hobbs' veto messages on both 2023 bills, and said her thinking has not changed since then. Kavanagh said if he can't get the measures past the governor, the ultimate fallback is to take the issue directly to voters. He tried to do that earlier this year, only to be thwarted by state Sen. Ken Bennett, a Prescott Republican. Bennett voted in 2023 for both the "bathroom bill'' and the pronoun bill. But he balked at sending both to voters, pointing out that anything approved at the ballot is constitutionally protected, meaning lawmakers cannot fix any problems that develop. He had other concerns. "I can probably identify three or four of my nephews and nieces that would fall under some of these situations,'' Bennett said. "And I have to always think of them on behalf of everyone who's in one of these situations: How would I want a state law to affect them at such tender ages?'' Plus , he said, he didn't want to combine both issues into a single take-it-or-leave-it ballot measure. Kavanagh said he thinks that vote to kill his ballot proposal is the reason Bennett's constituents voted not to return him to office. Bennett acknowledged Tuesday that campaign mailers sent out by Mark Finchem, his foe in the 2024 primary election, included charges that Bennett supported "transgender ideology.'' But he said that's just a piece of the puzzle. "The people in my party who didn't want me to be a senator any more, there were other excuses they could have come up with to do what they did,'' Bennett said. He said they recruited Finchem, who previously was a state representative from Oro Valley, to move to Prescott to run against him. They also helped Finchem raise more than $400,000 for a legislative race, more than three times what Bennett collected, he said. Finchem also had something else: Donald Trump's endorsement. With Bennett gone and a slightly larger GOP majority in the Legislature, Kavanagh figures he's got the votes for a 2026 ballot measure. Still, Kavanagh admitted there's a political motive behind his new legislative proposals. "I think the public has a right to know if the Democrats, especially swing district Democrats, have seen the light, or if they're still far left on these social issues,'' he said. "But I still wouldn't rule out the governor signing this.'' Slater said Hobbs made herself clear with her vetoes. In rejecting the pronoun bill, she called it "harmful legislation directed at transgender youth.'' "Instead of coming up with new ways to target and isolate our children, we should be working together to create an Arizona where everyone has the freedom to be who they are without fear of harassment or judgment,'' Hobbs said in a 2023 post on social media. And in vetoing the bill on bathroom use, the governor said "I will not sign legislation that attacks Arizonans.'' The issue of bathroom use is not just an Arizona question. Schools aside, it also made headlines when U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced after last month's election he is banning transgender women from using female bathrooms on Capitol Hill. That followed the election of Democrat Sarah McBride of Delaware, the first openly transgender member of Congress. Kavanagh also contends that polls on transgender issues — which also include the separate hot-button question of transgender girls participating in girls' sports — show the public is supportive of his position. But the question of public attitudes is a bit murkier than he says. There are no recent Arizona surveys. A 2022 poll by the Pew Research Center said 64% of those questioned supported protecting transgender people from discrimination in jobs, housing and public spaces. But the same survey said 58% thought trans athletes should compete on teams that match the gender of their birth, versus 17% opposed. And by a 41% to 31% margin, the poll said people should use public bathrooms that match their assigned gender. As to the issue of pronouns, a 2023 poll by the McCourtney Institute of Democracy found that 39% questioned said teachers should be encouraged to use a student's preferred pronoun, while 38% said that should be discouraged, and the balance said it should be left up to teachers. Get your morning recap of today's local news and read the full stories here: tucne.ws/morning Howard Fischer is a veteran journalist who has been reporting since 1970 and covering state politics and the Legislature since 1982. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, Bluesky , and Threads at @azcapmedia or email azcapmedia@gmail.com . Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

The Detroit Lions will play without two high draft picks in rookie cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. while possibly getting back veteran Emmanuel Moseley against the host Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Arnold was downgraded Saturday from questionable to out because of a groin injury. He was limited at practice on Thursday and participated in a full practice on Friday. The Lions drafted Arnold with the 24th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Alabama. Arnold, 21, has started all 10 games and has 38 tackles and six passes defended. Rakestraw (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve after not practicing all week. He already had been ruled out for Sunday's game. Detroit picked Rakestraw in the second round (61st overall) out of Missouri. He has played in eight games and has six tackles. Rakestraw, 22, has played on 46 defensive snaps (8 percent) and 95 special teams snaps (42 percent). Moseley had full practice sessions all week and was activated from injured reserve on Saturday but was listed as questionable for Sunday. The 28-year-old is in his second season with Detroit and appeared in one game last season before going on IR in October 2023. He was placed on IR on Aug. 27 with a designation to return. Moseley played from 2018-22 for the San Francisco 49ers and had 162 tackles, four interceptions -- one returned for a touchdown -- and 33 passes defensed in 46 games (33 starts). Detroit elevated linebacker David Long on Saturday for game day. Long, 28, signed with the practice squad on Tuesday after the Miami Dolphins released him on Nov. 13. He had started six of eight games for the Dolphins this season and had 38 tackles. In other Lions news, the NFL fined wide receiver Jameson Williams $19,697 for unsportsmanlike conduct for making an obscene gesture during a touchdown celebration in last Sunday's 52-6 home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL Network reported Saturday. Williams, 23, scored on a 65-yard pass from Jared Goff with 12:55 remaining in the third quarter. --Field Level MediaAs if it wasn’t already a landmark year for Lord of the Rings fans, between the announcement that Peter Jackson is making another LOTR movie and the second season of Rings Of Power having us hooked, audiences can also venture back to Middle Earth on the big screen in a couple of weeks. Ahead of The Lord of the Rings : The War Of Rohirrim joining the 2024 movies this December, the anime has screened and first reactions are here. The social media embargo for War Of Rohirrim has just lifted, and it looks like critics have mixed to positive thoughts on the movie overall. Let’s start with CinemaBlend’s own Mike Reyes , who had this to say on X: #LordOfTheRings War of the Rohirrim is a breathtaking jump into anime for the Middle-earth Saga. There is so much to love for the animated return of Tolkien's #LOTR mythology; and it feels every bit as epic and stirring as you'd want. I cannot wait to see this again. What a glowing review! The new Lord of the Rings movie is actually the first time we’ve seen Middle Earth on the big screen in a decade following the final The Hobbit movie. Reyes was dazzled to return to J.R.R. Tolkien’s world through its first anime, and is looking forward to second viewing. The Movie Podcast ’s Shahbaz agreed with our CinemaBlend critic in many ways, but had some gripes with the movie as well. As he wrote: The War of the Rohirrim captures the beauty of Middle-earth with stunning animation, perfect for an anime. But despite my love for this series, its lengthy runtime and unengaging story kept me from fully connecting with it. Now, The War Of Rohirrim is two hours and 14 minutes long, which is actually the shortest a Lord of the Rings movie has ever been. That being said, some first reactions shared some similar complaints about its pacing. As Ezra Cubero expressed: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM has glimpses of that Middle-Earth magic, but proves that it can only be as powerful as the characters we follow which are sadly unengaging. The intrigue in its story lacks surprise and it's got a lethargic pace. I was let down. The new movie is set nearly 200 years prior to the events of the Lord of the Rings trilogy by telling the story of one legendary king of Rohan, Helm Hammerhand, and his daughter. Ever since the first trailer came out, we’ve been excited for the Hayao Miyazaki vibes . While it certainly sounds like the animation delivers, not everyone was sold on the story. According to Jonathan Sim : LORD OF THE RINGS: WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM is a gorgeously animated return to Middle-Earth. It features well-defined characters and masterful battle sequences, but occasional predictability and unearned moments can hold it back. FandomWire’s Sean Boelman also pointed out how the movie focuses on men when perhaps a Lord of the Rings movie based on other more intriguing Middle Earth races like elves or Hobbits could have been better suited. In his words: My biggest question about THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM is why they used a medium as wide open as anime to tell a story in the world of Man. It's not bad, but it's less engaging and unique than I would have hoped. Probably a fans-only affair. While there’s definitely some criticism for The War Of Rohirrim , tons of first reactions are purely positive. Mama’s Geeky owner Tessa Smith commended the movie for being a solid family feature for fans of the franchise. CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is a great addition to the iconic franchise. Perfect for families with teens & Tolkien fans, it has deeper exploration of lore, delivers an empowering story, offers up insane action & features exciting cameos. Lastly, Rama’s Screen was all in on the movie, calling it one of the best of the year. Check out what he said: I really enjoyed LOTR: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM. Epic, grand, mesmerizing! The anime-style animation was exquisite. Felt so good returning to middle-earth. I didn’t realize how much I had missed it. One of my favorite films this year. Perhaps these reactions helped make up your mind on the Lord of the Rings: The War Of Rohirrim movie ? It hits theaters exclusively (with an awesome popcorn bucket tie-in ) on December 13. While we wait for the release, you can check out how to watch all the Lord of the Rings movies in order here on CinemaBlend.

The narrative began over a decade ago when the graduate, whose identity had been shrouded in mystery during her absence, mysteriously disappeared without a trace. Left behind were her grieving family members, who tirelessly searched for her and the two children she had taken with her. Despite their efforts, the trio remained elusive, leaving a void in the hearts of those who longed for their return.Flood warnings issued as Storm Bert hits regionNEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points. Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022 voting. He didn't pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Ohtani joined Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. He was the first player to twice become an unanimous MVP. He had combined with Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2023 for the first year both MVPs were unanimous. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title, playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. "The ultimate goal from the beginning was to win a World Series, which we are able to accomplish," he said through a translator. "The next goal is for me to do it again and so right now I'm in the middle of rehab and working out and getting stronger." When Ohtani returns to the mound, could he win MVP and the Cy Young Award in the same year? "That would obviously be great, but right now my focus is just to get to get back healthy, come back stronger, get back on the mound and show everybody what I can do," Ohtani said. Ohtani became the first primary DH to win an MVP in a season that started with the revelation his longtime interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara, had stolen nearly $17 million from the star to fund gambling. Ohtani is the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each). Balloting was conducted before the postseason. Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 31 stolen bases and 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. Judge had discussed the MVP award with Philadelphia's Bryce Harper, the NL winner in 2015 and '21. "I was telling him, `Man, I'm going to try to catch up to you with these MVPs here, man,'" Judge recalled. "He'd say, hopefully, he could stay a couple ahead of me, which I think he'll do." When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. He is the Yankees' 22nd MVP winner, four more than any other team. Judge was hitting .207 with six homers and 18 RBIs through April, then batted .352 with 52 homers and 126 RBIs in 127 games. "March and April were not my friend this year." Judge said. "Just keep putting in the work and things are going to change. You can't mope. You can't feel sorry for yourself. Especially in New York, nobody's going to feel sorry for you. So you just got to go out there and put up the numbers?" ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg City Council reversed course Thursday on whether to spend more than $23 million to repair the hurricane-shredded roof of the Tampa Bay Rays' ballpark, initially voting narrowly for approval and hours later changing course. The reversal on fixing Tropicana Field came after the council voted to delay consideration of revenue bonds for a proposed new $1.3 billion Rays ballpark. Just two days before, the Pinellas County Commission postponed a vote on its share of the new stadium bonds, leaving that project in limbo. “This is a sad place. I'm really disappointed,” council chair Deborah Figg-Sanders said. “We won’t get there if we keep finding ways we can’t.” The Rays say the lack of progress puts the new stadium plan and the future of Tropicana Field in jeopardy. “I can't say I'm confident about anything,” Rays co-president Brian Auld told the council members. The Trop's translucent fiberglass roof was ripped to pieces on Oct. 9 when Hurricane Milton swept ashore just south of Tampa Bay. There was also significant water damage inside the ballpark, with a city estimate of the total repair costs pegged at $55.7 million. The extensive repairs cannot be finished before the 2026 season, city documents show. The Rays made a deal with the Yankees to play next season at 11,000-seat Steinbrenner Field, New York's spring training home across the bay in Tampa. The initial vote Thursday was to get moving on the roof portion of the repair. Once that's done, crews could begin working on laying down a new baseball field, fixing damaged seating and office areas and a variety of electronic systems — which would require another vote to approve money for the remaining restoration. The subsequent vote reversing funding for the roof repair essentially means the city and Rays must work on an alternative in the coming weeks so that Tropicana Field can possibly be ready for the 2026 season. The city is legally obligated to fix the roof. BRIEFLY PIRATES: Pittsburgh hired Matt Hague as its hitting coach, bringing him back to the team that drafted him in 2008. Hague replaces Andy Haines, who was fired after Pittsburgh finished in the bottom 10 in the majors in every significant statistical category last season, including runs (24th) and home runs (25th), while also striking out a club-record 1,504 times, second-most in the National League behind Colorado. The 39-year-old Hague spent last season as an assistant hitting coach with the Toronto Blue Jays. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

The US Congress has been attempting to “pull back the curtain” on secret research into UFOs - as our map reveals the 31 unexplained objects witnessed above . The hearing, titled “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth,” heard from several experts and a variety of witness accounts. Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) is the new name for Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). Experts included government workers and a member of NASA’s UAP Independent Study Team. Michael Gold - former NASA associate administrator of space policy and partnerships and a member of the UAP study team - told the hearing that “the vast majority of UAP are drones”. However, he added that there are anomalies that must be studied and admitted that some of the UAPs observed “can move faster” than US submarines and “are being intelligently controlled”. Author and former Department of Defence official Luis Elizondo claimed that “advanced technologies not made by our government - or any other government - are monitoring sensitive military installations around the globe.” He insisted: “Let me be clear. UAP are real.” The hearing, jointly led by Chairs Nancy Mace and Glenn Grothman, was the second to investigate the phenomenon of UAP. “Americans deserve to understand what the government has learned about UAP sightings, and the nature of any potential threats these phenomena pose,” the co-chairs said in a statement. The hearing followed a long-awaited report released by NASA last year which studied previous sightings of UFOs (or UAPs) in the skies. While the report did not find any clear evidence that the sightings were alien, it did admit it was possible they could be. Last year the British spotter group UFO Identified documented a total of 395 sightings in the UK in 2023. That was a 20 per cent drop from 497 UFO sightings in 2022 and also lower than in 2021 (413) and 2020 (484). Those figures include 31 sightings above Kent: 12 last year; nine in 2022; and 10 in 2021. A witness saw a “spinning cylinder” moving in the sky immediately in front of them in Bickley, , in July last year. Several dots of light that were seen “dancing” in the sky above Railway Station, in April last year. An oval-shaped object was seen moving and tipping on its side immediately after a red flash in the sky above Ashford. Just under half of all documented sightings (48 per cent) include photographic or video evidence. A quarter of all sightings (25 per cent) were of a “star-like” object or objects, moving across the sky. The next most common sighting was of an unidentified object shaped like an “orb” (17 per cent), “sphere”, (10 per cent) and “cylinder” (9 per cent). UFO Identified found that people in the North West had the best chance of seeing a UFO last year, with 41 sightings across the region, followed by the South East (40) and then the South West (39). Separate research by the UFO spotter website Enigma has documented more than 200,000 unexplained encounters above the skies of the USA. More UFOs have been spotted in California than any other US state, just over 28,000. California is followed by Florida (14,500), Texas (12,500) and New York (10,000). But those states have the highest populations in the US - meaning there are more people to watch the skies, and more likely that someone will see something they can’t explain. Taking population size into account, residents of New Mexico are most likely to have seen a UFO. For every 100,000 people, there are 162 sightings. That’s the equivalent of one in 618 people encountering a UFO.

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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are impacted by three strict Kansas City Chiefs rulesMy dear 2024, Letter writing may be a lost art in this digital age, yet there are mo­ments when the weight of reflection demands the intimacy of a letter. So, dear 2024, consider this a heartfelt note from a Nigerian seeking to en­capsulate the whirlwind of emotions, events, and transformations that have unfolded over the past twelve months. As I pen down these words, I do so with the awareness that you are not an ordi­nary year. Your arrival brought hope, but as the days rolled, that hope was replaced with hardship, struggle, per­severance and lessons. In this letter, as tricky as it may be, I will attempt to recount the key events that shaped you – the milestones that defined not only my life but the collec­tive experience of a nation grappling with economic hardship, political un­certainty, and social upheaval. Nigeria stands at a crossroads, and you will be remembered as a year that tested our spirit and resolve. This is not just a recollection of facts but a narrative of survival in a land where, at times, the future seemed uncertain. You were, indeed harsh, but we, the Nigerian people, have shown re­markable resilience and perseverance. Despite the economic hardships you brought, with inflation, unemploy­ment, and rising living costs affecting all, we have stood strong. Your visita­tion of economic hardships worsened by 34-40% inflation rate and supply chain disruptions, an embarrassing unemployment rate of 40%, and rising living costs affected both the high and the low. Almost all households felt your pinch. Nigeria›s food inflation rate rose to close to 40% by mid-year, pushing millions into poverty. National Bureau of Statistics reports indicated that over 71 million Nigerians faced food insecurity by the third quarter. The exchange rate rose by over 60%. Yet, amid these challenges, the Nigerian people showed remarkable resilience and perseverance. To put it into context, essential com­modities such as rice, maize, and garri doubled in price within months. The petrol price fluctuated between ₦700 to ₦1200 per litre, severely impacting transportation and logistics. Even sachet water, popularly called ‹pure water›, became a luxury for many, re­flecting the depth of economic strain. You made our economic thinkers and planners look clueless. Thank God we, the people, showed understanding with them. You brought needless political con­tentions –the Rivers crisis, contentious elections in Edo and Ondo states, the Kano Emir drama, the Old-New-Old national anthem, and “Endbadgover­nance”demonstrations. An attempt to reform our tax system highlighted our stubborn ethnic fault lines. You were not short of drama, both relevant and irrelevant. The reinstatement of the old national anthem left citizens divid­ed, as critics viewed it as distracting from pressing governance issues. However, amid these contentions, the Nigerian people stood united, showing remarkable solidarity. Despite the divi­sive nature of some of these events, we have remained a united front. Poverty and hunger became our companions, resulting in three deadly stampedes during palliative distribu­tions in Oyo, Anambra, and the Feder­al Capital Territory (FCT), leaving no fewer than 60 people dead. Unemploy­ment among the youth reached over 45%, with many university graduates resorting to menial jobs or leaving the country in search of greener pastures, contributing to the ongoing ‹Japa› wave. At the global scene, you delivered historic elections and global unrest. People in more than 60 countries— representing almost 50 per cent of the world’s population—went to the polls during the year. Voters in Mexico and the United Kingdom picked new leaders, while a former U.S. president was invited by voters back to the White House. In Nigeria, voter turnout in lo­cal elections dipped to a record low of 28%, reflecting growing disillusion­ment with governance. This disin­terest was amplified by widespread insecurity, with over 1,500 reported cases of abduction and banditry dis­rupting daily life. Villages in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Borno faced relentless attacks, forcing thousands into inter­nally displaced persons (IDP) camps. “Lakurawa” gained a strong foothold in parts of North-West states. Some strange things happened that we did not foresee. Greece extended adoption rights to same-sex couples, and Thailand legalised same-sex marriage, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to do so. You gave LGBTQ+ rights activists something to celebrate. This felt strange in this part of the world, where same-sex relations remain criminalised, and social acceptance lags far behind. In Nigeria, lawmakers intensified ef­forts to uphold conservative values, with proposed bills aimed at further restricting LGBTQ+ rights. The dis­parity in cultural values highlighted the widening gap between regions of the world, reflecting the complex lay­ers of societal evolution. You saw the world in turmoil, and the Russian vs Ukraine war continued unabated. This war brought about lots of military posturing, leading some to fear nuclear conflict between Rus­sia and NATO. The conflict between Israel, Hamas, and Iran ramped up to greater heights. The Middle East is in commotion, with the war extending to Lebanon and Israel vowing not to stop until it wipes Hamas and Hezbollah out. Iran has shown its willingness to confront Israel, framing itself as the watchdog of the Middle East against Israel’s aggression. You also witnessed the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, raising fears of extremist groups seizing power. Reports from the UN suggested that over 300,000 Syrian refugees fled to neighbouring countries by year-end, adding to the growing refugee crisis. But amid it all, you allowed some of my compatriots to think and look at things differently, to learn that hard work does not kill and bad governance is for a season. Despite the odds, small businesses grew by 7% in sectors like agriculture and technology, offering a glimmer of hope. Despite the increase in tariffs and persistent collapse of the national grid, there has been a mar­ginal improvement in power output in homes and factories. The healthcare sector witnessed significant transformation in the past few months of 2024 because of incisive, superlative reforms and pro­grammes. So far, 53,000 health work­ers have been re-trained—an impres­sive number—to deliver integrated, high-quality services. The Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative, which offers free caesarean sections to all eligible Nigerian women meeting the criteria, and the Nigeria Climate Change and Health Vulnera­bility and Adaptation (V&A) Assess­ment Report were launched. These initiatives represent a step forward in our healthcare system, offering hope for the future. Your successor, 2025, is shaping up to be quite the mixed bag — it’s like the year is expecting a baby, but no one knows if it’ll be a bundle of joy or a handful of trouble. Nigeria is trying really hard to stop putting all its eggs in the oil basket. There’s a lot of noise about agriculture, tech, and manufac­turing stepping up. With this African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) getting more action, we might see Nigeria flexing as West Af­rica’s trade big brother. But let’s be honest — oil and gas aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. The Dangote Refinery finally kicking into gear might help us cut down on those expensive imported petroleum products. If it plays out right, that could mean fewer trade deficits and more jobs, which we desperately need. But you know how it is with oil — pric­es are like Lagos traffic, unpredictable and everywhere. Plus, the world’s mov­ing towards greener energy, so we’ve got to figure out how to keep the mon­ey flowing long-term. Now, on the money front, I won’t sugarcoat it. Inflation and the ex­change rate will probably keep danc­ing around, and not in a fun way. The Central Bank will try to keep things under control, but they’ll need se­rious foreign investment and more non-oil exports to make it work. The tech space is looking exciting, though. With all these young, sharp minds and everyone glued to their phones, Lagos and Abuja are becoming mini–Silicon Valley — fintech, e-commerce, aggro­tech, you name it. Politically, Nigerians are still out here demanding real change. Anti-cor­ruption will stay a hot topic — we’re all tired of the same old stories. There’s also this growing pressure for elector­al reforms and better public services. Civil society is getting louder, and I’m here for it. But security? Whew. That’s going to be a big one. Between insur­gency in the Northeast, banditry up North, and secessionist noise in the Southeast, the government has its hands full. It will take more than mili­tary action — they must dig into why these issues keep popping up. On top of that, some states are push­ing harder for more control over their resources and policies. The whole de­centralisation and restructuring de­bate might heat up. Meanwhile, you can bet politicians are already gearing up for 2027. Alliances will shift — it’s like watching chess, but with higher stakes. Look, Nigeria has its share of problems—inequality, environmen­tal issues, governance struggles. But the potential? It’s huge. We’ve got the people and the energy, and if we can channel it right, the sky’s the limit. Here’s hoping 2025 is more of a blessing than a headache. As I look ahead to 2025, I do so with cautious optimism. While the road ahead remains uncertain, I am reminded that even in the darkest of times, resilience shines through. So, to everything we have passed through, thank you, 2024, for setting us free. 2025, if you’re reading, please be more lib­eral to us as a nation and as a people. May our leaders listen more and ap­ply more wisdom. May 2025 usher in real hope, stability, and progress for Nigeria and the world. Wishing Nigerians a happy, peace­ful, and prosperous new year