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My 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 N700 to N1200 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”demonstra tions. 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, ecommerce, 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.
Former Pentagon official and military witness come forward with shocking UFO revelations as 'drone' wave leaves Americans on edge READ MORE: NASA astronaut saw 'two metallic spherical orbs' fly over Texas By MATTHEW PHELAN SENIOR SCIENCE REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 18:43, 26 December 2024 | Updated: 19:00, 26 December 2024 e-mail View comments A US military witness with over 25 years of experience has revealed his own late night encounter with a UFO , that lit up his campsite and 'made absolutely no noise.' The event came less than a month before a more senior ex- Pentagon counter-intel official, Luis Elizondo, testified before Congress accusing government actors of secretly working to ' hide the fact that we are not alone in the cosmos .' The October 21, 2024 campsite UFO, according to the military witness who requested anonymity, hovered as close as 100 yards above him along the treeline: 'The entire area lit up brighter than the brightest full moon I’ve ever seen,' he reported. 'I knew it wasn’t the moon because I had already located the moon prior,' the trained observer noted of this 20–30 foot UFO . '[The moon] was a dimly lit waning gibbous.' The career military man, who reported this episode to the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) , added: 'I observed it for at least a minute before fear took over and I sank back down into the bed of my truck and into my sleeping bag.' The oval-shaped 'stationary, bright white light' resembles one newly public case reported this November by Connecticut policeman Robert Klein, who professed that an orb UFO, the size of a Mini Cooper, 'lit up the entire cab' of his patrol car in 2022 . Fear over roughly car-sized 'unidentified aerial phenomena' (UAP), often described as ' mystery drones, ' has swept the nation since November as sightings across New Jersey and surrounding states have eerily matched cases over US military bases . Local leaders in the Garden State are 'livid,' according to journalist and author Michael Shellenberger, who obtained audio from a video briefing delivered to more than 500 New Jersey mayors by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A US military witness with over 25 years of experience has revealed a late night encounter with a UFO that lit up his campsite. Above, Nest camera footage from a July 24, 2019 UFO case in Leominster, MA, in which a similar brightly lit object (a possible meteor) zoomed across the sky The US military witness saw their 30-40 foot long, oval shaped UFO while camping at the the Santa Rosa Mountain Yellow Post campsites just southwest of Joshua Tree National Park in California. Above: the Milky Way galaxy seen over a Joshua Tree in the park on May 12, 2024 'One of them [i.e. a mayor] got up there,' Shellenberger told Fox News, 'and said, "I had two automobile-sized drones hovering over my house."' The newly public military witness's case, as he told NUFORC was itself roughly 8–10 feet tall, making this bright oval UFO about the size of a school bus. The sighting, which the military man said lasted for over a full minute, occurred at the Santa Rosa Mountain Yellow Post campsites, just southwest of Joshua Tree National Park in California where he was 'the only camper/hunter in the area that night.' 'I was laying in the tarped bed of my truck,' he told NURFOC, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that has coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on UFOs for decades. 'It was pitch black out,' he said, as the waning gibbous moon was shining weakly — when 'instantly' the ordinary noises of the insects and animals in the wild 'went completely silent' as the UFO appeared. 'It made absolutely no noise, didn’t pulsate or move, and did not radiate any sort of heat,' he said, adding the temperature was 'about 40 degrees Fahrenheit' that night. By his estimation, this 'stationary, bright white light' was 'about the size of a medium sized helicopter but with the light encompassing the entire object' as it hovered at 'tree top level, behind an about 30-40 foot tall pine tree, only about 100 yards away.' The encounter, which ended as abruptly as it began, differed from Officer Klein's encounter with a car-sized glowing orb UFO in that the Connecticut policeman's sighting pulsated its light from white to red to green to orange. The veteran cop took pains to emphasize to NewsNation that, in the early moments of his encounter, he was able to get 'a very close-up view of it' from 30 feet below the hovering, orb-like object: 'It wasn't a drone — I can guarantee you that.' Swarms of drones have been spotted in the skies of New Jersey for weeks, sparking officials to call for a 'limited state of emergency' - with drone bans taking effect in some areas Mayor Mike Ghassali of Montvale, New Jersey took to Facebook to reveal what happened to a resident's quadcopter drone when they had a run-in with a mysterious drone UFO hovering in the air nearby - noting there was 'sophisticated' technology at play in this December 15 event The military witness delivered the coordinates of his October 2024 UFO sighting as 33 degrees 32' 12.8" North and 116 degrees 27' 38.7" West (red pin, above) - placing him at the Santa Rosa Mountain Yellow Post campsite east of Los Angeles at the time of his 'I froze,' Klein said, recalling that moment looking up at the object. 'I wasn't in fear. I just was really trying to understand what exactly I was looking at.' 'I was trying to just process what I was looking at,' he said. 'Still to this day, I'm perplexed.' Speaking before Congress this past November , Luis Elizondo, the former head of the Defense Department's UFO-hunting Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), criticized federal officials for 'excessive secrecy' on the UFO issue. 'I believe that we as Americans can handle the truth. And I also believe the world deserves the truth,' Elizondo said. The former intelligence officer also urged Congress to pass legislation that would protect government whistleblowers afraid to reveal what they know about UFOs, a common refrain among those testifying at the November 13, 2024 open hearing. The hearing, held by the House Oversight committee, was part of a larger investigation into UFOs to determine whether any government officials have been withholding evidence from Congress. 'Advanced technologies not made by our government, or any other government, are monitoring sensitive military installations around the globe,' Elizondo insisted, raising unsettling implications for the rash of 'mystery drone' sightings at US bases. In recent months, the Garden State has been ravaged by thousands of unexplained drone sightings, as over 5,000 reports of odd drones have been filed with federal law enforcement Read More EXCLUSIVE Haunting connection between UFOs and America's nuclear weapons is laid bare in new study Although misidentifications of conventional planes have been rife amid the growing public panic, reports by from US military officials across America and Europe , alongside local police, have told matching accounts of these car-sized drones. The drone swarm's lighting colors, as well as its behavior, match those that also made repeated brazen incursions over the restricted airspace above Air Force joint-base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, then home to America's stealth F-22 fighter fleet. For at least 17 nights in December 2023, swarms of these noisy, small UFOs were also seen at dusk 'moving at rapid speeds' and 'flashing red, green, and white lights.' And these cases are almost identical to what has been reported above sensitive sites in New Jersey, like the US Army's Picatinny Arsenal, since mid-November 2024. Base police have reported 11 confirmed and unauthorized drone sightings over the arsenal since November 13, meaning security officers ' visibly witnessed a drone .' Senior ex-Pentagon security official Chris Mellon told DailyMail.com last October that the unexplained incursions over Langley-Eustis were 'part of a much larger pattern affecting numerous national security installations.' 'Two of the notable aspects,' he said, 'are the fact our drone signal-jamming devices have proven ineffective and these craft are making no effort to remain concealed.' 'In fact, in some instances,' as Mellon took pains to emphasize, 'it is clear they want to be seen as though taunting us.' Connecticut New Jersey Share or comment on this article: Former Pentagon official and military witness come forward with shocking UFO revelations as 'drone' wave leaves Americans on edge e-mail Add comment
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U.S. leaders from across the political spectrum began honoring former President Jimmy Carter just minutes after the Carter Center confirmed that the 39th president of the United States had died Sunday. The top Democrat and Republican in the Senate each released statements honoring Carter’s life and impact. “President Carter’s faith in the American people and his belief in the power of kindness and humility leave a strong legacy,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “He taught us that the strength of a leader lies not in rhetoric but in action, not in personal gain but in service to others.” Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said that “Carter’s character and commitment, just like his crops, were fruits of all-American soil.” “After every season when life led him to lofty service far from home, he came back home again, determined to plow his unique experiences and influence into helping others; into building and teaching and volunteering; into further enriching the same rich soil that had made his own life possible,” McConnell said. "Like much of the Greatest Generation, President Carter will be remembered by what he built and left behind for us — a model of service late into life, a tireless devotion to family and philanthropy, and a more peaceful world to call home," said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., in a statement. Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said in a post on X that Carter "gave us a pure and lasting example of a public servant." "I’m sending love to the Carter family today as we honor his life and untiring, humble mission to help others," he added. The condolences rolled in from both sides of the aisle, with Republicans also honoring Carter, a Democrat. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said that Carter "devoted his entire life to serving others." "Please join Ann & me in praying for the Carter family, their friends & all who worked alongside the former president," he said. Carter was widely recognized for his work on human rights and social justice following his presidency. He established the Carter Center, a nonprofit that was founded "on a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering," according to the group's website. Carter also worked with Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit, to help build homes for people in need. "Even more historic than his time in the White House was Carter’s post-presidency, which he dedicated to serving his fellow man," said Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, in a post on X . "From providing housing for thousands of families to Sunday school for the children of his community, he will remain distinguished among America’s leaders for his great humanitarian accomplishments and deep commitment to his Christian faith."Several politicians also pointed to Carter’s faith when reacting to his death. Carter taught Sunday school in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, up until the pandemic. “We were bit by different political bug but hv much in common incl love of the Lord,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, in a typical short-hand post to X.
Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolvedT he thing that sticks in my mind — even now — was the welcoming eyes and the warm smile. He stretched out his hand to offer it in greeting and said something along the measure of: “Thanks for coming down to see us.” Jimmy Carter — who died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia, at age 100 — was always known as a gentleman, a farmer from Georgia who had held the most powerful political office in the world. But it did not seem forced, it did not seem an act. I’d flown to the offices of The Carter Center in Atlanta to interview him about his latest book, The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War . He’d written plenty of books — he would go on to author more than 30 — but this was his first novel, one that the publisher Simon & Schuster described as “a sweeping novel of the American South and the War of Independence.” The publisher had said: “With its moving love story, vivid action, and the suspense of a war fought with increasing ferocity and stealth, The Hornet’s Nest is historical fiction at its best, in the tradition of such major classics as The Last of the Mohicans .” In truth, the novel had been a bit slow going, packed dense with historical detail, but when The Independent received the chance to talk about it, we leaped. It was March 2004, a full year since George W Bush and Tony Blair launched the invasion of Iraq , sending the West’s military on what would be a disastrous and deadly war based on concocted claims and lies about Saddam Hussein’s purported arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. We hoped the former president might be persuaded to comment. His office made clear he only wished to talk about the novel, but either way, it was going to be a chance to meet and talk to someone who had probably been more active once they left the White House than any other modern president. I was nervous, rather in awe, and trying to act cool and professional, and suppress the voice in my head yelling: “You’re talking to the president of the United States.” It felt so loud, I wondered if he could hear. Carter could not have been more charming. Impeccably dressed in a blazer and tie, we sat in the airy lobby of his foundation, set on 35 acres of gardens and plants in the center of the city, and got started talking about his 465-page book about the War of Independence, which he had spent seven years researching. I had a digital recorder, which I did not trust, and — as now — was careful to take detailed shorthand notes. His view was that historians had misunderstood the war, concluding with the surrender of the British forces under General Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 19, 1781, and it had been essential in creating the notion of how Americans see themselves. “This is a war that shaped the basic consciousness and character of our nation,” Carter said, He added: “I had wanted to write a book of fiction for a long time. I had written other books before. Just as a matter of challenge, I went back to college. I got professors to give me detailed reading assignments on creative writing. My ancestors had been involved in the Revolution and because there are few books like mine, I wanted to do that.” His organization has worked in more than 65 countries. In the foyer where we sat talking, me glancing down at the recorder, were leaflets detailing its work to counter river blindness in Guatemala, and against guinea worm disease in more than 20 African and Asian nations. The conversation progressed. The 39th president of the United States, elected in 1976 amid the chaotic aftermath of Watergate, and serving one term before being beaten in a landslide by Ronald Reagan, continued to make his points. He was aged 79 then, yet his grip on the material was clearly enormous and potent. Were there any lessons that could be drawn from the War of Independence for the present day, I asked. There were, said Carter. One was the need to keep and maintain allies. Had the US not secured the support of the French, the likes of George Washington might never have defeated the British army and won their independence. Did that relate to the current situation? “I think so. Most wars, certainly not all, could have been avoided,” he said. “There was no reason for us to become involved in Iraq last year. That was a war based on lies and misinterpretations from London and Washington, claiming falsely that Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11, claiming falsely that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.” I hoped my face did not change too obviously as I realised the man born in the village of Plains, and where he even to that day read sermons and teachings at the Maranatha Baptist Church, had just given me my story. My fingers scrambled to scribble down everything he said, and he continued. “President Bush and Prime Minister Blair probably knew that many of the allegations were based on uncertain intelligence and a decision was made to go to war [and then people said] ‘let’s find a reason to do so’,” he said. “Bush Jr was inclined to finish a war ... that his father had precipitated against Iraq. That commitment of Bush prevailed over the better judgment of Tony Blair, [who] became an enthusiastic supporter of the Bush policy.” Before I could press him further, Carter said we needed to get back to talking about his book. My heart was pounding, hoping that the tape captured everything. In the years that followed that conversation, the tone of U.S. politics in the U.S. has shifted inexorably. Donald Trump spoke in the most brutal terms of others who held the office, and he dragged the conversation down with him. While the likes of Barack Obama sought largely to avoid personal attacks, in the presidential election of 2020, things got pretty ugly. Yet, at the time of my interview with Carter, it was very rare for a president to speak in such terms of a successor. Two years earlier, when he received the Nobel Peace Prize in what was seen as a rebuke by the committee of U.S. plans for a yet-to-be-launched war, Carter declined to comment about Iraq. Later, Carter, the only U.S. president not to have officially sent forces into combat, with the exception of the failed mission in 1980 to try to rescue American hostages in Iran, would in turn speak darkly of the threat he believed Trump represented to the nation. He would also repeat his criticisms of the invasion of Iraq. Yet his comments to The Independent that morning were among his very first public remarks about the invasion of Iraq that would result in the deaths of thousands of American and British troops and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians. Two days later, his comments were carried on the front page of The Independent . Looking back, I realize Carter had said precisely as much as he wished to, and no more. It was not a question of someone being tricked into speaking out of turn. (Thankfully, every word was captured by the recorder, as well as my notes. When I got outside in the Atlanta sunshine, I pressed the device into my ear, checking twice that the conversation had been captured before, calling my editor and grabbing a taxi to the airport.) The former first lady, who had been married to Carter for over six decades, died at the family home in Plains, Georgia, in November 2023. Two months earlier, she and Carter had made a surprise appearance at the Peanut Festival in Plains, riding in an SUV and waving to the crowd. Carter, who described his late wife as “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” entered hospice in February 2023. He marked his 100th birthday in October 2024, surrounded by his loved ones. My interview with the president in 2004 lasted more than half an hour. When it came to bid farewell, the president smiled: “I’ve enjoyed our conversation.”
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Brayden Point scored twice and added two assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Sunday. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two helpers for the Lightning, while Jake Guentzel scored on a power play late in the third period. Captain Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood found the back of the net for the Canucks. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 22 of the 24 shots he faced and Kevin Lankinen made 28 saves for Vancouver. Lightning: Kucherov, who returned to the lineup Sunday after missing two games with a lower-body injury, added another potent piece to Tampa’s red-hot power play. The Lightning were 2 for 4 with the man advantage and scored a power-play goal for the sixth straight game. Canucks: Hughes took a stick to the face 55 seconds into the game, missed more than 11 minutes, then returned to open the scoring 16:08 into the first period. It was the 50th goal of the defenseman’s career and extended his points streak to seven games with three goals and 10 assists across the stretch. Tampa took the lead 6:29 into the second when Kucherov sliced a pass to Point at the bottom of the faceoff circle and the Lightning winger blasted it in past Lankinen for his 17th of the season. Kucherov put the visitors on the board just a minute and 49 seconds earlier. Point scored his league-leading 10th power-play goal of the season. He’s one away from becoming the third player to score 100 power-play goals for the Lightning. The Canucks continue a six-game homestand Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. The Lightning visit the Oilers on Tuesday. AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHLA young woman has taken to the social media platform X to share a touching story about how her mother met and married her father 38 years ago. She shared the story while contributing to a thread on how people's parents met each other. According to her, her mum was a widow from an abusive marriage and had a five-year-old son. Her dad at the time was in his 40s and was keen on never getting married, stating he would only concede to marriage if the woman was a widow or divorcee. She said an aunt who badly wanted her father to get married introduced him to her mum and they have since lived happily. The X user said when asked why a widow, her father told her mum that being a widow wasn't her fault and that she deserved happiness. Read the heartwarming story below.
NEW YORK (AP) — Police don't know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * NEW YORK (AP) — Police don't know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack, not a random one. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics. The fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any possible clues and found his backpack there Friday. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of the backpack, or on the results of the search in the pond, saying no updates were planned. Investigators have urged patience, saying the process of logging evidence that stands up in court isn’t as quick as it looks like on TV. Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment at the hostel in which he briefly showed his face. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven’t been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask. Advertisement AdvertisementA Kentucky bettor won nearly $443,000 on Sunday from a $3.1 million wager after the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Carolina Panthers 22-16, according to ESPN's Doug Greenberg and David Purdum. Circa Sports accepted the wager on Thursday afternoon at -700 odds before adjusting it to -870 on Friday morning, according to Greenberg and Purdum. Circa Sports owner Derek Stevens told ESPN that the bettor increased the wager from an initial $1 million, making it the largest bet the sportsbook has ever accepted. This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .Brayden Point's 4-point night leads the Lightning over the Canucks 4-2
The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded polarizing defenseman David Jiricek to the Minnesota Wild in a big trade on Saturday afternoon. It was a big shakeup on Saturday as David Jiricek found himself traded to the Minnesota Wild for a package that includes Daemon Hunt, and several draft picks. The trade was announced by Elliotte Friedman on X who often breaks this deals. This was later confirmed as Jiricek was sent to Minnesota shortly after. It was a much needed trade for both teams, as Jiricek was having trouble finding a spot in Columbus meanwhile Minnesota gets a chance to upgrade their defense with a young prospect who could break out in a big way. Full Details of Blue Jackets-Wild Trade Minnesota Receives: (D) David Jiricek 2025 5th Round Pick Columbus Receives: (D) Daemon Hunt 2025 1st Round Pick 2027 2nd Round Pick 2027 4th Round Pick Who is David Jiricek Jiricek is a 22 year old defenseman who was drafted 6th overall by the Blue Jackets in 2022. He has yet to find a spot on the team and has been subject of trade talks for a little while. The Czech defenseman still has a lot of time to break out and he was not getting the chance with Columbus. Only averaging 11:12 TOI this season, Jiricek has been playing nearly three minutes less than his career average. A decent defender with great vision and standing 6'4, Jiricek is an interesting prospect for GM Bill Guerin to see if they can resurrect his career and bring him the success Columbus couldn't. Jiricek has 11 points in 53 career games with just 1 assist this season. Who is Daemon Hunt? Hunt, a 6'1 offensive defenseman was drafted in the 3rd round by Minnesota in 2020. He is the same age as Jiricek and the potential to add a better playmaker and defensively sound defenseman. He's only got 13 games under his NHL belt but has one assist so far, and was a standout for the Iowa Wild, and had 29 points a season ago. Hunt will give GM Don Waddell a new piece to try and build around, as the Jiricek experiment failed and he wanted to see if he could find a potential suitor for Jiricek down the line. Columbus also receives Minnesota's first-round pick, so they could ideally keep that to draft their next potential piece or be able to flip that if Waddell wants to bring aboard an NHL-ready talent. This article first appeared on Hockey Patrol and was syndicated with permission.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — 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. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said MLB wants to give the Rays and Tampa-area politicians time to figure out a path forward given the disruption caused by the hurricane. Assuming Tropicana Field is repaired, the Rays are obligated to play there for three more seasons. “We’re committed to the fans in Tampa Bay,” Manfred said at an owners meeting. “Given all that’s happened in that market, we’re focused on our franchise in Tampa Bay right now.” 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. “I’d like to pare it down and see exactly what we’re obligated to do,” council member John Muhammad said. The city previously voted to spend $6.5 million to prevent further damage to the unroofed Trop. Several council members said before the vote on the $23.7 million to fix the roof that the city is contractually obligated to do so. “I don’t see a way out of it. We have a contract that’s in place,” council member Gina Driscoll said. “We’re obligated to do it. We are going to fix the roof.” The council had voted 4-3 to approve the roof repair. Members who opposed it said there wasn't enough clarity on numerous issues, including how much would be covered by the ballpark's insurance and what amount might be provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They also noted that city residents who are struggling to repair their homes and businesses damaged by hurricanes Helene and Milton are dismayed when they see so many taxpayer dollars going to baseball. “Why are we looking to expend so much money right away when there is so much uncertainty?” council member Richie Floyd said. The new Rays ballpark — now likely to open in 2029, if at all — is part of a larger urban renovation project known as the Historic Gas Plant District, which refers to a predominantly Black neighborhood that was forced out to make way for construction of Tropicana Field and an interstate highway spur. The broader $6.5 billion project would transform an 86-acre (34-hectare) tract in the city’s downtown, with plans in the coming years for a Black history museum, affordable housing, a hotel, green space, entertainment venues, and office and retail space. There’s the promise of thousands of jobs as well. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, a prime mover behind the overall project, said it's not time to give up. “We believe there is a path forward to success,” the mayor said. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb