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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Erik Pratt had 20 points to help Milwaukee defeat North Central College 92-57 on Sunday. Pratt shot 5 for 9 (3 for 7 from 3-point range) and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line for the Panthers (9-4). Jamichael Stillwell scored 12 points and added 10 rebounds. Learic Davis had 12 points and went 6 of 9 from the field (0 for 3 from 3-point range). The Cardinals were led in scoring by Sean Molloy, who finished with eight points. James Bullock and Drew Gaston scored seven each. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .EXCLUSIVE Ryan Bertrand opens up on life after football as former Champions League winner turns himself into successful businessman Ryan Bertrand starred in Chelsea's historic Champions League triumph in 2012 The 35-year-old former defender is now thriving in the world of business LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism has gone at Old Trafford By SAMI MOKBEL Published: 18:29 GMT, 28 December 2024 | Updated: 18:29 GMT, 28 December 2024 e-mail View comments Failing to prepare is preparing to fail, so says the adage. Ryan Bertrand most certainly agrees. The transition from professional footballer into retirement can be tricky business. For Bertrand, business is the operative word. The former England international, best remembered for his starring role in Chelsea ’s historic Champions League triumph in 2012, is showing the same conviction in his new corporate life as he did during his football career. ‘I had already taken steps towards transitioning away from professional football when I was playing,’ explained Bertrand, who retired in June 2024. ‘I was constantly educating myself and reading. The trajectory of footballers once they leave the game is well documented. ‘That was something I didn’t want, staying ahead of the curve and doing as much business and personal development to prepare for that next move before that day came became a big focus for me. Ryan Bertrand always considered what he what do after football and founded founded fintech brokerage Silicon Markets with business partner and long-term friend Louis Bell (left) in 2015 Bertrand drinks in Chelsea's historic 2012 Champions League triumph on an open-top bus alongside Didier Drogba (bottom), Sam Hutchinson (back left) and Gary Cahill (back right) The defender picked up 19 international caps for England during his illustrious career ‘When the day comes (to retire) it isn’t always graceful, I always wanted the opportunity to finish when I wanted to finish. ‘It got to the point where I was almost looking forward to retirement. ‘Instead of incubating myself in the football world and locking myself away from the real world, I always had the balance. ‘I could occupy my mind into the business world that would prepare me for the next step. ‘Footballers should find the time to expand their mindset with what’s happening in the wider world. Football’s big but the world is far bigger. ‘Being at Chelsea, to all my loans - Bournemouth, Oldham, Norwich, Reading, Forest, Villa back to Chelsea - what I appreciate from my career is how rounded it was. 'From League One, to the Champions League final, to Wembley to playing for England at the Euros to battling relegation. ‘Perhaps from a personal context it allowed me to have more empathy and objectivity when approaching sports from a business perspective because I could understand what they (the players) are going through.’ Bertrand spent seven years at Southampton and was named in the 2015 PFA team of the year Bertrand says his numerous loans, including his time at Reading (pictured), have rounded him The 35-year-old finished his career at Leicester City, announcing his retirement last June In 2015, Bertrand - together with business partner and long-term friend Louis Bell - founded fintech brokerage Silicon Markets. Located next door to all-in-one finance app Revolut - now worth an estimated £45billion - Bertrand and Bell witnessed first hand just how rapidly business’ can grow with the right direction. ‘I remember going to China and pitching our business alongside Revolut's employee Alan Chang,’ recalls Bell. ‘We saw Revolut grow and that was eye opening, great lessons and learning curves.’ Today, alongside Bell, Bertrand runs football talent agency FA Sport that looks after the interests of Chelsea and England defender Levi Colwill and Everton striker Armando Broja among others. As Bertrand and Bell speaks to Mail Sport about life after football from FA Sport’ HQ in Knightsbridge London, their thrill for the fight is clear. Bell, himself, has a history in football. He was a former Gillingham youth player before turning his hand to a career in finance and entrepreneurship. ‘The competitiveness is what we thrive on - the challenge is the hurdles we face,’ explained Bell. Bertrand played alongside a host of stars at Chelsea, including Spain midfielder Juan Mata (pictured) and won the FA Cup and Europa League as well as the Champions League There was more silverware at Leicester, picking up the Community Shield with Jamie Vardy Ryan Bertrand was selected for Stuart Pearce's 2012 Great Britain Olympic squad ‘You do what you’ve got to do. The challenges are the back and forth you have with clubs. ‘I'd be calling Ryan when he was a player during the early hours of the morning. ‘He would call back, we would have an argument. He’d come back with a solution, I’d come back with a solution and we find a middle ground. ‘Like football, that’s competition.’ Indeed, Bertrand, who has an FA Cup, Champions league, Europa League, Community Shield and 19 international caps to his name, insists his achievements in the business world are every bit as profound as his medals. ‘Winning the Champions League was massive for me and it gets bigger the more time passes. But being in the business space it’s you versus everyone - but now you get to decide your purpose,’ said the 35-year-old. Through FA Sport, Bertrand and Bell played a key role in the crucial appointment of Joe Shields as co-director of recruitment and talent at Chelsea - one of Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali’s key early appointments. Bertrand also recommended £115million Moises Caicedo and Manchester City player Josko Gvardiol to Premier League sides when both players were available for under £5million. Since retiring, Bertrand's attention is fully on football talent agency FA Sport Bertrand insists his achievements in business are every bit as profound as his medals Bertrand's FA Sport continue to look to sign talented young players and expand into Africa Bell also brokered the transactions for Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Cesare Casadei to Chelsea in the summer of 2022. The future of the company will see FA Sport continue to look to sign talented young players and expand into Africa, where they intend to open a development centre for elite and amateur athletes. ‘There’s much talent in Africa, we really want to be part of Africa’s development in a sporting context,’ said Bertrand. ‘Developing sports in Africa so people and communities can harness the social and economic benefits that a robust sports landscape can provide. ‘Can we give youngsters a career in football in Europe and beyond? Can we find the next Sadio Mane?’ For now, though, the focus is the current operation heading into the January transfer window. ‘Signing Levi Colwill and Armando Broja at 16, seeing them develop and then having their own ideas on where they wanted to get to - the ambition and determination makes you super proud,’ added Bell. ‘Seeing them play for England and Albania makes you understand why you started - you remember sitting in Cobham and signing them at 16 years old.’ Bertrand adds: ’The secret to our success as an agency is the purpose, we want to help the players, we resonate with the players, the parents and because my experience as a player was rounded so our advice is maybe a bit more relevant. ‘I’ve lived every move. The loans, the move trajectories. I was one of the first players to go out on loan at Chelsea with a view to coming back to play first team: it was me and Jack Cork to Bournemouth. ‘I’ve it lived and breathed it. We know how to identify an elite young athlete, we know the pathway and the moments they need to take to get to the top of their game. ‘There are tough conversations with clubs, but our track record show we have had those conversations with conviction. ‘We have had some instances where we have listened to the club and things haven’t worked out. That’s where we have learned and reinforced our own principles.’ Southampton Chelsea Leicester Share or comment on this article: Ryan Bertrand opens up on life after football as former Champions League winner turns himself into successful businessman e-mail Add comment
FILE – Author Percival Everett attends the 75th National Book Awards ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File) FILE – Taylor Swift performs during “The Eras Tour” on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File) FILE – Riley Keough, left, and her mother Lisa Marie Presley arrive at the 24th annual ELLE Women in Hollywood Awards on Oct. 16, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) FILE – First lady Melania Trump stands next to the 2020 Official White House Christmas tree as it is presented on the North Portico of the White House, Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE – This cover image released by FSG shows “Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney. (FSG via AP, File) FILE – This cover image released by Random House shows “From Here to the Great Unknown” by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough. (Random House via AP, File) FILE – This cover image released by Simon & Schuster shows “War” by Bob Woodward. (Simon & Schuster via AP, File) FILE – This cover image released by Dey Street Books shows “Cher: The Memoir, Part One,” releasing on Nov. 19. (Dey Street Books via AP, File) FILE – This cover image released by Random House shows “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder” by Salman Rushdie. The book, about the attempt on his life that left him blind in his right eye, will be published April 16, 2024. Rushdie’s first book since the 2022 stabbing he thought might end his life is both explicit in the violence Rushdie sustains and heroic in the will to live that Rushdie retains. (Random House via AP, File) FILE – Author Percival Everett attends the 75th National Book Awards ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File) By HILLEL ITALIE NEW YORK (AP) — Even through a year of nonstop news about elections, climate change, protests and the price of eggs, there was still time to read books. Related Articles Nikki Giovanni, poet and literary celebrity, has died at 81 Trivially Speaking: Novel suggestions for Christmas gifts with meaning Percival Everett, 2024 National Book Award winner, rereads one book often Gift books for 2024: What to give, and what to receive, for all kinds of readers Our critic’s picks: Best mystery fiction books of 2024 U.S. sales held steady according to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print market, with many choosing the relief of romance, fantasy and romantasy. Some picked up Taylor Swift’s tie-in book to her blockbuster tour, while others sought out literary fiction, celebrity memoirs, political exposes and a close and painful look at a generation hooked on smartphones. Here are 10 notable books published in 2024, in no particular order. Asking about the year’s hottest reads would basically yield a list of the biggest hits in romantasy, the blend of fantasy and romance that has proved so irresistible fans were snapping up expensive “special editions” with decorative covers and sprayed edges. Of the 25 top sellers of 2024, as compiled by Circana, six were by romantasy favorite Sarah J. Maas, including “House of Flame and Shadow,” the third of her “Crescent City” series. Millions read her latest installment about Bryce Quinlan and Hunter Athalar and traced the ever-growing ties of “Maasverse,” the overlapping worlds of “Crescent City” and her other series, “Throne of Glass” and “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” If romantasy is for escape, other books demand we confront. In the bestselling “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt looks into studies finding that the mental health of young people began to deteriorate in the 2010s, after decades of progress. According to Haidt, the main culprit is right before us: digital screens that have drawn kids away from “play-based” to “phone-based” childhoods. Although some critics challenged his findings, “The Anxious Generation” became a talking point and a catchphrase. Admirers ranged from Oprah Winfrey to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee, who in a letter to state legislators advocated such “commonsense recommendations” from the book as banning phones in schools and keeping kids off social media until age 16. Bob Woodward books have been an election tradition for decades. “War,” the latest of his highly sourced Washington insider accounts, made news with its allegations that Donald Trump had been in frequent contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin even while out of office and, while president, had sent Putin sophisticated COVID-19 test machines. Among Woodward’s other scoops: Putin seriously considered using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and President Joe Biden blamed former President Barack Obama, under whom he served as vice president, for some of the problems with Russia. “Barack never took Putin seriously,” Woodward quoted Biden as saying. Former (and future) first lady Melania Trump, who gives few interviews and rarely discusses her private life, unexpectedly announced she was publishing a memoir: “Melania.” The publisher was unlikely for a former first lady — not one of the major New York houses, but Skyhorse, where authors include such controversial public figures as Woody Allen and Trump cabinet nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And its success was at least a minor surprise. Melania Trump did little publicity for the book, and offered few revelations beyond posting a video expressing support for abortion rights — a break from one of the cornerstones of GOP policy. But “Melania” still sold hundreds of thousands of copies, many in the days following her husband’s election. Taylor Swift was more than a music story in 2024. Like “Melania,” the news about Taylor Swift’s self-published tie-in to her global tour isn’t so much the book itself, but that it exists. And how well it sold. As she did with the “Eras” concert film, Swift bypassed the established industry and worked directly with a distributor: Target offered “The Eras Tour Book” exclusively. According to Circana, the “Eras” book sold more than 800,000 copies just in its opening week, an astonishing number for a publication unavailable through Amazon.com and other traditional retailers. No new book in 2024 had a better debut. Midnight book parties are supposed to be for “Harry Potter” and other fantasy series, but this fall, more than 100 stores stayed open late to welcome one of the year’s literary events: Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo.” The Irish author’s fourth novel centers on two brothers, their grief over the death of their father, their very different career paths and their very unsettled love lives. “Intermezzo” was also a book about chess: “You have to read a lot of opening theory — that’s the beginning of a game, the first moves,” one of the brothers explains. “And you’re learning all this for what? Just to get an okay position in the middle game and try to play some decent chess. Which most of the time I can’t do anyway.” Lisa Marie Presley had been working on a memoir at the time of her death , in 2023, and daughter Riley Keough had agreed to help her complete it. “From Here to the Great Unknown” is Lisa Marie’s account of her father, Elvis Presley, and the sagas of of her adult life, notably her marriage to Michael Jackson and the death of son Benjamin Keough. To the end, she was haunted by the loss of Elvis, just 42 when he collapsed and died at his Graceland home while young Lisa Marie was asleep. “She would listen to his music alone, if she was drunk, and cry,” Keough, during an interview with Winfrey, said of her mother. Meanwhile, Cher released the first of two planned memoirs titled “Cher” — no further introduction required. Covering her life from birth to the end of the 1970s, she focuses on her ill-fated marriage to Sonny Bono, remembering him as a gifted entertainer and businessman who helped her believe in herself while turning out to be unfaithful, erratic, controlling and so greedy that he kept all the couple’s earnings for himself. Unsure of whether to leave or stay, she consulted a very famous divorcee, Lucille Ball, who reportedly encouraged her: “F— him, you’re the one with the talent.” A trend in recent years is to take famous novels from the past, and remove words or passages that might offend modern readers; an edition of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” cuts the racist language from Mark Twain’s original text. In the most celebrated literary work of 2024, Percival Everett found a different way to take on Twain’s classic — write it from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. “James,” winner of the National Book Award, is a recasting in many ways. Everett suggests to us that the real Jim was nothing like the deferential figure known to millions of readers, but a savvy and learned man who concealed his intelligence from the whites around him, and even from Twain himself. Salman Rushdie’s first National Book Award nomination was for a memoir he wished he had no reason to write. In “Knife,” he recounts in full detail the horrifying attempt on his life in 2022, when an attendee rushed the stage during a literary event in western New York and stabbed him repeatedly, leaving with him a blinded eye and lasting nerve damage, but with a spirit surprisingly intact. “If you had told me that this was going to happen and how would I deal with it, I would not have been very optimistic about my chances,” he told The Associated Press last spring. “I’m still myself, you know, and I don’t feel other than myself. But there’s a little iron in the soul, I think.”Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda on Monday announced they had entered into official talks to merge and create the world's third-largest automaker by sales . In a press conference on Monday, Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said the companies needed greater scale to compete in the development of new technologies in electric vehicles and intelligent driving. A business integration would give the companies an "edge that will not be possible under the current collaboration framework," Mibe said, according to a translation. The deal would aim to share intelligence and resources and deliver economies of scale and synergies while protecting both brands, he said. A holding company would be formed as the parent company of both Honda and Nissan, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The larger Honda will nominate most of the integrated entity's board members. The merged group has the potential to deliver revenue of 30 trillion yen ($191.4 billion) and operating profit of over 3 trillion yen, he said. Discussions are set to conclude in June 2025. Mibe added that if approved, the integration would be a mid to long-term project that is currently not expected to show visible progress until 2030 and beyond. Nissan's strategic partner Mitsubishi has been offered the chance to join the new group and will take a decision by the end of January 2025. The companies are grappling with intense global competition in the EV market from the likes of Tesla and China's BYD. The proposed deal was first reported by Japan's Nikkei newspaper on Dec. 17. Nissan shares spiked following the initial report of a merger. Analysts say the potential tie-up is a result of financial underperformance at the company and of the restructure of its longstanding partnership with France's Renault . In its most recent quarterly results, Nissan said it would cut 9,000 jobs and reduce global production capacity by a fifth. Honda CEO Mibe on Monday said some of the company's shareholders may feel that the deal would represent Honda supporting Nissan, but noted the merger was "based on the assumption that Nissan completes its turnaround action." "If Nissan and Honda fail to stand on their own feet the business integration talks will not come to fruition," he said. Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida told reporters that the discussion of integration did "not mean we have given up on a turnaround" and was instead about ensuring the company's competitiveness for the future. "After doing this turnaround action for future development, future growth, we need to look at ultimate size and growth. This growth will be through partnerships," he added. Nissan has "been struggling in the market, it's been struggling at home, it doesn't have the right product line-up," Peter Wells, professor of business and sustainability at Cardiff Business School's Centre for Automotive Industry Research, told CNBC's " Street Signs Europe " last week. "There are so many warning signs, so many red flags around Nissan at the moment that something had to happen. Whether this is the answer is another question," Wells added. — CNBC's Ruxandra Iordache and Sam Meredith contributed to this story.Canaan Inc. Signs Agreement with AGM Group Holdings Inc.
Each zodiac sign has its unique traits that shape their personalities & differentiate them from each other. Wouldn’t it be useful to start your day knowing what’s universe planned for you? Keep reading to see if today will bring good fortune your way. Aries A heartfelt response from someone special might leave you overjoyed. Be mindful of your spending habits to avoid financial hiccups. Skipping medical advice could cause avoidable health issues, so take care. Listen to those you trust and hold your ground to avoid being overpowered. Let go of minor worries that won’t matter in the long run. Taurus Getting too involved in a work-related issue could complicate things further. On the bright side, financial relief is on the way. Health concerns might be more in your head than reality. If you make a mistake, don’t hesitate to ask for help—support is available. A glowing review of a travel spot might inspire a spontaneous getaway. Gemini Your skills will make you the center of attention at work. Splurging on luxuries won’t hurt your wallet right now. Unexpected sources might offer emotional encouragement. Some may consider studying abroad for better prospects. Keep an eye on your fitness to avoid future problems. Think before making big decisions like buying property—planning is key. Cancer Mending fences with a competitor could prove worthwhile. You might reconnect with an old friend, making your day brighter. Clear and open communication can resolve concerns during negotiations. A fun outing with a loved one will lift your spirits. Keep calm at work, even if things don’t go as planned, and avoid sweating the small stuff. Leo Achieving your goals might require extra effort, but luck is on your side. An overdue loan from a friend could finally be repaid. Athletes are likely to excel today. Hosting an event or party will help you impress influential people. Manage your finances wisely to avoid unnecessary strain. Virgo Be extra cautious with your belongings today. You might need to put in additional hours to manage a professional commitment. Maintain good relations with those in positions of authority, especially in academics. While delicious food is tempting, practice moderation. Someone close might not keep their promises, so investigate before reacting. Libra You’ll feel satisfied with a recent purchase. Today is perfect for starting that initiative you’ve been planning. With tasks piling up, it’s time to get into action mode. Giving to a charitable cause might open unexpected doors. If someone ignores your advice, don’t take it personally. Finalizing a property deal seems likely today. Scorpio Travel might take you on an exciting journey, possibly out of town or even abroad. Think carefully about your spending, as it could affect future finances. Push yourself a bit harder to stay on top of your workload. Address challenges with determination, and you’ll finish pending tasks. Avoid unnecessary conflicts by staying out of others’ matters. Sagittarius Career growth looks promising, with potential promotions in sight. Despite earning well, long working hours might feel draining. A more intense fitness routine could benefit you. Making a new friend might bring unexpected joy to your evenings. Your efforts in professional and academic areas will likely bear fruit. Real estate investments seem set to deliver good returns. Capricorn Managing debts may call for cutting down on expenses. Physical exercise can help you manage stress effectively. With focus and dedication, your business can thrive. Government employees might receive news of a promotion. Joining social activities can help you expand your network. If you’re spiritually inclined, a pilgrimage could be on the cards. Aquarius The stars align in your favor today, bringing good fortune. A surprise financial gain might let you indulge in a treat. After a hectic time, you’ll finally get a chance to relax. Spiritual pursuits may provide deeper insights into life. Your innovative ideas will earn appreciation at work. Socially, you’ll shine, and a younger family member’s achievements will bring pride. Pisces Professionally, it’s a rewarding day. You’ll focus on personal goals and make strides toward success. Acting swiftly will help maintain harmony at home. Exercise caution on the road as the day’s energies aren’t fully in your favor. Patience will guide you to the perfect opportunity. A new purchase will fill you with happiness. Also See: Horoscope Predictions for 2025Aries Horoscope 2025Taurus Horoscope 2025Gemini Horoscope 2025Cancer Horoscope 2025Leo Horoscope 2025Virgo Horoscope 2025Libra Horoscope 2025Scorpio Horoscope 2025Sagittarius Horoscope 2025Capricorn Horoscope 2025Aquarius Horoscope 2025Pisces Horoscope 2025 Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Astrology and around the world.Dr Mohammed Amin Adam will be my Finance Minister
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Freshman wide receiver George Dimopoulos threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dane Pardridge on the first play of double overtime and Jordan Hansen ended the game on a fourth-down sack to give Northern Illinois a 28-20 victory over Fresno State on Monday in the Idaho Potato Bowl. Dimopoulos, who played quarterback in high school, also converted the two-point conversion when he passed it to quarterback Josh Holst for his second completion of the season. Holst, a freshman walk-on, was making just his third start at quarterback as NIU was without starter Ethan Hampton, who entered with 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns to go with six interceptions. Holst completed 18 of 30 passes for 182 and two touchdowns for Northern Illinois (8-5). He was also intercepted on the first play of the game. Both teams missed a 35-yard field goal in the final three minutes of regulation, including Dylan Lynch's third miss of the game on the final play to send it to overtime. Fresno State started overtime with a touchdown when Bryson Donelson was left wide open out of the backfield to haul in a 9-yard touchdown pass. NIU needed five plays, and a defensive holding penalty, to score as Holst found Grayson Barnes for a 3-yard touchdown. Donelson finished with 15 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown for Fresno State (6-7). He added three catches for 28 yards and another score. Dual-threat quarterback Joshua Wood was 16 of 23 for 180 yards and a touchdown. Mac Dalena made six catches for 118 yards to help go over 1,000 yards for the season. Fresno State was without 14 players, including starting quarterback Mikey Keene after he transferred to Michigan. Two top-three receivers, Jalen Moss and Raylen Sharpe, also did not play as the Bulldogs were forced to use five new starters. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football2020 Bulkers: Paid A 16% Dividend Yield In The Past 12 MonthsCousins Properties Announces Pricing of Senior Notes Offering
India News | ICMR Develops AI Tool to Predict IVF Outcomes in Men with InfertilityMayor Monroe Nichols names director of Office of Tribal Policy and PartnershipsHistory is made in BBC One’s latest Christmas special, as of a British police detective parachuted into the sleepy (and entirely fictional) Caribbean island of Saint Marie. But as he dons the droopy green sun hat of DI Mervin Wilson, he has his work cut out in a fun, feature-length instalment that tries to pull off several demanding tasks simultaneously. Firstly, the episode must introduce DI Wilson as a fully rounded replacement for Secondly, it has to serve up a distinctive dollop of Christmas cheer on a weekend when heave under a dead weight of tinsel and season’s greetings. Oh, and it has to deliver a satisfying murder mystery with the inevitable loose ends tied up by the closing credits. That’s a tall order – too tall perhaps. There are moments when this Christmas one-off threatens to lose its footing and tumble head over heels like Santa slipping on a dodgy roof tile. The good news is that Gilet is a great addition to the series. His phlegmatic, crotchety persona harks back to the OG policeman abroad, Richard Poole (the harrumphing Ben Miller). Poole was forever grumbling about life on a glorious tropical island. DI Wilson has some of that same Columbo-esque energy, complaining early on that visiting Saint Marie is “like stepping back in time”. But there’s deep sadness under that glum exterior, and it is revealed that he came to the island hoping to connect with his mother, whom he had never known. He also seems not to have any friends back in London – revealing to DS Naomi Thomas (Shantol Jackson) that he always volunteered to work at Christmas because he didn’t have much else on. The episode also brims with yuletide conviviality. As it was no doubt filmed months ago, in sunny Guadeloupe, conjuring the season’s charm must have been a challenge. But it pulls it off, with a heart-warming subplot in which Danny John-Jules’s officer Dwayne Myers pulls out all the stops to spend 25 December with his ageing dad Nelson (Ram John Holder), who he suspects may not have too many more Christmases left in him. Dwayne follows this up by announcing he is stepping down as a policeman so that he can have more quality time with his father (it is Jules’s second exit from after he previously took time away in 2022). Where the instalment falls down is in its manically convoluted murder plot. You know that internet meme from , in which a wild-eyed Charlie Day stands in front of a cork-board map criss-crossed with red lines? That is what this storyline feels like, as the holidaying Wilson is asked to delay his return to London to help the local police investigate the double killing of two men, both dressed as Santa. The two have seemingly been killed with the same gun – at the same time. Oh, and there is another near-victim, again done up as Father Christmas and pinged with a bullet at the very moment his fellow Santas were shot dead. Untangling the mystery is a tremendously fiddly undertaking, and I’m still not sure I entirely understand it all. I won’t spoil it here – suffice to say it’s a bonkers combination of Agatha Christie’s and Oliver Stone’s , with several potential culprits and enough deep-fried red herrings to stock a chipper on Christmas Eve. It’s all quite baffling, and not even DI Wilson appears to fully understand it as he breaks down the details of the murder. But then, the crimes – and the idea they need to make any sense at all – have always taken a back seat on . Far more important is the fact that the new DI strikes up an instant connection with the support crew of DS Thomas and police chief Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington). The chemistry is great, the sunshine a balm at this time of year – and the Christmas spirit appropriately festive. You could go down a tropical rabbit hole trying to unravel the complicated plot. But bah humbug to that. What is really important is that has a compelling new lead detective. To grumble about the twisting, turning story would be to indulge in criminal levels of nitpicking.
10 notable books of 2024, from Sarah J. Maas to Melania TrumpMassive fire at port in Delta, B.C., Saturday morningMandya : In separate road accidents that took place in Mandya district yesterday, three engineering students and a woman and a girl were killed while two others have sustained serious injuries. Malavalli: In the first case, three engineering students were killed on the spot while another sustained serious injuries when a truck hit the car in which they were travelling near Nagegowdana Doddi Gate in Malavalli taluk. The deceased have been identified as Pranav (22), Adarsh (23) and Akarsh (22), all fourth semester students at Bangalore Institute of Technology (BIT) in Bengaluru and natives of Challakere in Chitradurga district. The injured has been identified as Hrithik and all the four students were on their way to Talakad in the car when the accident took place. When the four students were proceeding near Nagegowdana Doddi Gate in Malavalli taluk, a truck coming from Kollegal side rammed into the car, killing the three students on the spot and leaving another student seriously injured, who has been admitted to the Government Hospital. Dy.SP V. Krishnappa, Circle Inspector Mahesh and staff, visited the accident spot, conducted mahazar, preliminary investigation and a case has been registered at Mandya Rural Police Station. In the second case, a woman and a girl were killed on the spot while another sustained injuries when a truck rammed into the scooter they were travelling near Mahadeshwarapura village on Srirangapatna-Jewargi Highway yesterday early morning. The deceased have been identified as Shilpashree (34), wife of Shivannegowda of Neelanahalli village in Pandavapura taluk and Sandhya (17), daughter of Pradeep of Neelanahalli village. Shilpashree’s mother Shylaja, who has sustained serious injuries has been admitted to a private hospital in Mysuru. READ ALSO 14 Karnataka Bn NCC adopts Sir MV’s statue at Mandya Shilpashree and Shylaja were to go to Tirupati and Shylaja’s daughter Sandhya was taking them on her scooter to drop them at Pandavapura when the speeding truck carrying onions, which came from Nagamangala side rammed into the scooter killing Sandhya and Shilpashree on the spot and seriously injuring Shylaja, who was rushed to Pandavapura General Hospital, where she was provided first-aid and later shifted to a private hospital in Mysuru. Shylaja has two children and Sandhya was her second daughter who was pursuing her 2nd PUC. Dy.SP Murali, Sub-Inspector Pramod and staff, who rushed to the spot, conducted an inspection and shifted the bodies to the Government Hospital mortuary. Former Minister C.S. Puttaraju and MLA Darshan Puttannaiah visited the mortuary and consoled the family members and relatives of the deceased, who had gathered in large numbers in front of the mortuary. A case has been registered at Melukote Police Station. Mandya