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multiplayer poker game 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 Hundreds of bookstore staffers receive holiday bonuses from author James Patterson Nikki Giovanni, poet and literary celebrity, has died at 81 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.”

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Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat sent to restaurants nationwide. Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli, which can cause life-threatening infections. No illnesses have been reported outside of Minnesota. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.”

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, is continuing to meet with Senators who will decide whether to approve his elevation to the post. There are still questions about reported sexual misconduct allegations, allegations of mismanagement of funds while leading a veterans' charitable organization, and questions about alcohol and drinking issues that he reportedly had while working at Fox News. Those questions have reportedly come up with Hegseth's meetings with senators. Hegseth met Monday with Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, who is herself a military veteran and a sexual assault survivor. Sen. John Cornyn on Tuesday told reporters he has learned more about Hegseth's reported history with alcohol. "[Hegseth] admitted that coming back from deployment he and a lot of his young single service members did enjoy drinking and partying. I don't find that unusual or abnormal," Cornyn said. "He doesn't currently believe that he has a problem. He has in the past consumed alcohol, but I don't think he would be unique here on Capitol Hill or in the Pentagon for having done that." RELATED STORY | Trump doubles down on support for Hegseth amid contentious nomination process Cornyn and other Republican senators have also reiterated that the allegations of sexual misconduct against Hegseth so far come from anonymous accusers. It's still not clear if accusers would come forward before or during confirmation hearings. Hegseth is expected to meet soon with Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, another pivotal voice in the Senate who could lend crucial support to Hegseth's nominations. Republicans have a large enough majority in the next Congress to not need Democratic votes to confirm any of Trump's cabinet nominations — but that majority is still slim enough that the party can sustain only a few defections.NoneNEW YORK — After Hassan Naveed, City Hall’s former hate crimes prevention director, was fired earlier this year , he alleged his axing was the result of religious-based workplace discrimination and said he would take legal action against Mayor Adams’ administration over the matter. A notice of claim filed by Naveed reveals he also plans to take legal action directly against Adams over allegations that the mayor defamed and retaliated against him in the aftermath of his termination. Naveed’s notice, filed in July, marks the first formal step in his planned lawsuit against the city and charges Adams made the “false and defamatory” comments about him during an April 30 press conference at City Hall. “When asked why [Naveed] was terminated, Mayor Adams stated, along the lines of, ‘you’re given a responsibility in a role, you’re in charge of hate crimes. I’m seeing an increase in hate crimes,’ and ‘people have to live up to what they’re hired to do, taxpayers deserve that,'” states the notice, a copy of which was obtained by the Daily News via a Freedom of Information Law request. “Mayor Adams made such statements with the personal knowledge that they were false and harmful to plaintiff’s reputation, but stated them publicly anyway in retaliation and to punish [Naveed], such that [Naveed] may not receive a job in the future.” The notice, which has never previously been reported, specifies Naveed’s lawsuit will allege “defamation of character” and “retaliation,” in addition to wrongful termination and violations of his freedom of religion. Naveed is Muslim and said upon his April 18 sacking that he had “definitely been fired because” of his faith, as first reported by The News. In response to his defamation accusations, Adams spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak said Wednesday that Naveed is the one making “false” comments. “This individual was an at-will employee who, after being terminated, went to the press and made false statements about why he was let go. The press then asked Mayor Adams for his explanation and he responded with the truth,” Mamelak said. “The mayor has every right to set the record straight when false claims are made about the administration.” In an interview with The News this week, Naveed elaborated on his notice’s defamation claim, saying Adams’ April 30 remarks about him were contradicted by his City Hall job performance reviews, which he claimed gave him positive grades. “And the idea that occasional fluctuations in hate crime data shows success is superficial,” Naveed said. “We are supposed to look at things from a much larger perspective, beyond politics.” At the time Naveed was canned, hate crime rates were spiking in the city following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, with the NYPD receiving 136 hate crime complaints and conducting 76 hate crime-related arrests in the first quarter of 2024. Those rates have since increased further, with 153 complaints and 79 arrests logged by the NYPD in the third quarter of 2024. In addition to his performance reviews, Naveed said he sent emails while at City Hall urging then-Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks’ office to allocate more resources for Naveed’s team amid the city’s early 2024 hate crime uptick. Those requests went unfulfilled, according to Naveed. In April, Mamelak, Adams’ spokeswoman, said Naveed was let go because “it was determined that the important mission of this office should be led by someone who puts bringing hate crimes down first and themself second.” Naveed’s position hasn’t been filled nearly eight months later. Naveed’s former deputy, Eunice Lee, the only other staffer in the hate crimes prevention office, resigned in July , and her role hasn’t been filled either. Mamelak said City Hall is in the process of “onboarding” a new executive director to replace Naveed, but didn’t offer a timeline for when a hire will be made. She also said the office has hired two new staffers since the spring. ©2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Mercedes-Benz has always been at the sharp end of technological innovation and design evolution which is reflected in their concept cars of the past, present, and the ones proposed for the future. The Vision EQS, , , and are good examples of the brand’s future ambitions. This gives independent automotive concept designers the creative opportunity to expand that vision even further with striking mock creations. Mercedes Chronos concept is one of them, impressing with the hyper futuristic design aesthetics that are fit for a dystopian future that’ll be radically different from today’s world. Designer: This Mercedes concept is a stunning exercise in pushing the boundaries of automotive design drawing inspiration from the brand’s rich heritage and exploring the possibilities in unknown times that demand a vehicle tailored for all-terrain commute. Crafted as a luxury, high-performance electric vehicle, the Chronos is a fusion of elegance, cutting-edge technology, and aerodynamic precision, capturing the essence of what a Mercedes-Benz of tomorrow could be. The design concept is sleek yet dynamic, with a low-slung, elongated body that exudes a sense of speed even at a standstill. The sharp, fluid lines are inspired by the natural flow of wind, optimized to reduce drag and improve efficiency. The aggressive front end reminiscent of a serpent’s hood features a seamless amalgam of the grille and headlights. Loaded with advanced LED headlight technology, the compact panel creates an illuminated signature that’s both visually striking and highly functional. This one-seater hotrod has a large unibody spoiler at the rear and a curvaceous lower end contrasted by the flashy taillights. The side panels are brought to life with a translucent honeycomb-patterned body panel backlit by warm lighting. In the nighttime, this feature comes to life, turning this sci-fi Mercedes concept into an object of desire. For me, this concept is a pure representation of what the thought process of our descendants would be. Flamboyant, fearless, and magnetic!

WWE is seeking a bigger stage and Netflix, pushing for more live events, is providing itDOVER, Del. (AP) — A Delaware judge has reaffirmed her ruling that Tesla must revoke Elon Musk’s multibillion-dollar pay package Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick on Monday denied a request by attorneys for Musk and Tesla’s corporate directors to vacate her ruling earlier this year requiring the company to rescind the unprecedented pay package. McCormick also rejected an equally unprecedented and massive fee request by plaintiff attorneys , who argued that they were entitled to legal fees in the form of Tesla stock valued at more than $5 billion. The judge said the attorneys were entitled to a fee award of $345 million. The rulings came in a lawsuit filed by a Tesla stockholder who challenged Musk’s 2018 compensation package. McCormick concluded in January that Musk engineered the landmark pay package in sham negotiations with directors who were not independent. The compensation package initially carried a potential maximum value of about $56 billion, but that sum has fluctuated over the years based on Tesla’s stock price. Following the court ruling, Tesla shareholders met in June and ratified Musk’s 2018 pay package for a second time, again by an overwhelming margin. Defense attorneys then argued that the second vote makes clear that Tesla shareholders, with full knowledge of the flaws in the 2018 process that McCormick pointed out, were adamant that Musk is entitled to the pay package. They asked the judge to vacate her order directing Tesla to rescind the pay package. McCormick, who seemed skeptical of the defense arguments during an August hearing, said in Monday’s ruling that those arguments were fatally flawed. “The large and talented group of defense firms got creative with the ratification argument, but their unprecedented theories go against multiple strains of settled law,” McCormick wrote in a 103-page opinion. The judge noted, among other things, that a stockholder vote standing alone cannot ratify a conflicted-controller transaction. “Even if a stockholder vote could have a ratifying effect, it could not do so here due to multiple, material misstatements in the proxy statement,” she added. Meanwhile, McCormick found that the $5.6 billion fee request by the shareholder’s attorneys, which at one time approached $7 billion based on Tesla’s trading price, went too far. “In a case about excessive compensation, that was a bold ask,” McCormick wrote. Attorneys for the Tesla shareholder argue that their work resulted in the “massive” benefit of returning shares to Tesla that otherwise would have gone to Musk and diluted the stock held by other Tesla investors. They value that benefit at $51.4 billion, using the difference between the stock price at the time of McCormick’s January ruling and the strike price of some 304 million stock options granted to Musk. While finding that the methodology used to calculate the fee request was sound, the judge noted that the Delaware’s Supreme Court has noted that fee award guidelines “must yield to the greater policy concern of preventing windfalls to counsel.” “The fee award here must yield in this way, because $5.6 billion is a windfall no matter the methodology used to justify it,” McCormick wrote. A fee award of $345 million, she said, was “an appropriate sum to reward a total victory.” The fee award amounts to almost exactly half the current record $688 million in legal fees awarded in 2008 in litigation stemming from the collapse of Enron.

Minutes after the University of North Carolina announced it had hired Bill Belichick as its next head football coach, the Tar Heels’ Instagram account posted a photo of the legendary NFL coach — at no more than 3 years old — sitting in the UNC bleachers. “Welcome home, Coach,” the post reads , dredging up the memory of when the young Belichick shadowed his father, Steve, who was a UNC assistant from 1953 to 1955. As news of his hiring spread around the NFL world, the reaction ranged from excitement at seeing him back on the sideline to disbelief. The most decorated coach in NFL history after earning six Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots, and two more as the defensive coordinator with the New York Giants, Belichick is officially making his next challenge college football after agreeing to a five-year deal with UNC. “I will have to see him on the sideline to believe that’s happening,” Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury joked Thursday. “We’ll see how the NFL job search goes and all that. I will have to see him on the sideline coaching in Chapel Hill to believe that’s happening." While Belichick’s knowledge of the sport, and his success, are unquestioned, there has been debate among those who have played for the 72-year-old coach during his 40-plus years in football about how well his style will translate to the college game. Some of his former players believe his skill set will work at any level. That list apparently includes Tom Brady, the quarterback during all six of Belichick’s Super Bowl wins with New England. “Congrats, coach. The Tar Heel way is about to become a thing,” Brady posted on Instagram on Thursday, referencing “The Patriot Way” that he popularized in New England. Some cautioned that the players he brings into the UNC program should prepare to have their limits tested like never before. “I think he’s going to do good,” said Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne, who played under Belichick during his final three years in New England. “Bill does a good job of developing players, developing young men. I think it will be a challenge for the young man. He’s a tough coach, which we all know. But I think it will be good for certain players that have the right mindset.” Bourne's advice? Always stay locked in mentally. “Just stay tough,” Bourne said. “Have a gritty mindset because it’s not going to be easy, but in the end, it’s going to be worth it." Though some have questioned why the Tar Heels would even consider hiring Belichick after parting ways with 73-year-old Mack Brown this season, current Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said good coaching is ageless. “To me, it doesn’t matter if you’re a young man or a 10-year vet in the league, he’s a great teacher,” said Mayo, who played eight seasons under Belichick, winning a Super Bowl during the 2014 season, and then succeeded him as head coach after last season. "I wish him nothing but the best. It doesn’t really matter what level, I think he’ll be successful.” NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is a relative newcomer to the college game himself. He spent three seasons at Jackson State before going to Colorado in 2023. In a message posted to the X social media platform, he welcomed Belichick as a competitor. “Coach Bill Belichick is a coaches coach to all us Coaches along with my man coach (NIck) Saban,” Sanders posted. “They’re game changers and they know how to move people forward. I know this is a great thing for College Football & for North Carolina. God bless u Coach, if you’re happy I am 2.” But former Patriots defensive back Je’Rod Cherry wonders how well Belichick’s old-school coaching style will be received in an era in which in-your-face methods don't always fly as well as they did when Belichick began his career. “You can’t coach hard anymore,” Cherry said during an appearance on ESPN GameNight. “You can’t yell at guys, curse at guys and that’s what he does. You are going to have to find guys who are going to accept that brand of coaching and will accept someone constantly getting on them." New York Jets safety Jalen Mills, who played for Belichick with the Patriots from 2021 to 2023, said he was surprised by the news. “I thought he definitely was going to try to wait it out until after the season and come back to the NFL,” Mills said. "But I think it’s gonna be a good thing for him because now you get a guy who has won and, of course, he’s going to try to turn that program around. But he also gets to connect with the younger generation and kind of modify and adjust to this younger generation of football on top of what he already knows. So I think that’ll just help him as far as coaching. And then, of course, he’ll give those guys, those young guys, structure as far as what the NFL looks like, too.” Just how much the Belichick on the college sidelines will resemble the one in the cutoff hooded sweatshirt who patrolled NFL sidelines is unclear. Belichick hinted they will be one and the same. During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN prior to agreeing to the UNC job, Belichick laid out what his approach at the college level would be. “The program would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players than have the ability to play in the NFL,” Belichick said. “It would be a professional program — training, nutrition, scheme, coaching, techniques — that would transfer to the NFL. It would be an NFL program at a college level.” AP National Writer Howard Fendrich and Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl3 recipes to help you through the busy holiday seasonThe biggest shake-up in the advertising agency landscape in decades is upon us as Omnicom announces the acquisition of IPG. Omnicom boss John Wren with IPG counterpart Philippe Krakowsky / Omnicom It’s now official. After overnight leaks, Omnicom has today confirmed that it has agreed to acquire its fellow New York-based holding company Interpublic in a deal that would create the world’s largest advertising agency business. In a joint statement, the two companies said their boards had unanimously approved the takeover of IPG (valued at $10.9bn at the close of trading on Friday) by its larger competitor (Omnicom was worth $20.2bn at Friday’s close). The combined group will have net revenue of more than $20bn. This would make it the biggest advertising holding company in the world in revenue terms, shifting the balance of power to the US from Europe, where London-based WPP and Paris-based Publicis Groupe have been battling for supremacy. Just last week, Publicis was touting the news that it was finally about to usurp WPP and become number one holding company by the end of 2024. “This strategic acquisition creates significant value for both sets of shareholders by combining world-class, highly complementary data and technology platforms enabling new offerings to better serve our clients and drive growth,” said John Wren, chairman & chief executive of Omnicom. “This combination represents a tremendous strategic opportunity for our stakeholders, amplifying our investments in platform capabilities and talent as part of a more expansive network,” added Philippe Krakowsky, Interpublic’s chief exec. Wren will remain chairman & chief exec of Omnicom. Phil Angelastro will remain EVP & chief finance officer of Omnicom. Philippe Krakowsky and Daryl Simm will serve as co-presidents and chief operating officers of Omnicom. Krakowsky will also be co-chair of the Integration Committee post-merger Omnicom’s flagship agencies include BBDO, DDB, TBWA, OMD and PHD while IPG counts McCann, FCB, MullenLowe and IPG Mediabrands among its marquee shops. Despite sharing similarly storied histories, their recent fortunes have been contrasting. Omnicom reported 6.5% organic growth year-over-year in its Q3 figures , but IPG’s revenues have been flat, and it is selling off the digital agencies Huge (already gone) and R/GA (on the way – unless this deal offers a buzzer-beater reprieve) in order to improve its balance sheet . “I don’t think there will be too much surprise IPG is being sold given both its operational and share price performance and recent sales of agencies,” wrote the analyst Ian Whittaker. Haven’t we seen this movie before? Omnicom was close to a similarly transformative deal a decade ago when it agreed to a stunning $35bn mega-merger with Publicis Groupe. Announced in July 2013 with a celebratory photo call between then-Publicis chief executive Maurice Levy and Omnicom counterpart Wren in front of the Arc De Triomphe, the so-called “merger of equals” ultimately descended into a power struggle, and the deal collapsed in May 2014. Advertisement It’s a cautionary tale that while the Omnicom-IPG merger has been announced, replete with the customary shot of new partners Wren and Krakowsky together, there will still be much to unpack behind the scenes before any agreement becomes official. The two parties say they expect the deal to close in “the second half of 2025”. What hurdles could stand in the way? As the breakdown of the Publicis Omnicom merger demonstrated, deals of this scale are not straightforward to complete no matter the initial willingness of the parties involved. Holding companies are rife with internal politics, with individual agency brands effectively competing with each other for self-preservation as their behemoth parent companies are squeezed by budget-cutting clients or encroaching tech giants. This has given rise over the last decade to the age of holding company reinvention or – to put it less euphemistically – rationalization. At IPG, this has most recently manifested itself in R/GA being put up for sale and Huge being offloaded to private equity firm AEA Investors last week. “Putting more and more separate branded businesses into big silos is not an option in a deal of this kind,” says Matt Lacey of Waypoint Partners. “Therefore, we are likely to see significant consolidation of agency brands over the next few years, akin to what WPP has been doing .” Advertisement Omnicom and IPG will no longer merely need to work out how to get their own houses in order, but each other’s. This will mean settling issues such as the conflicts of interest that will inevitably arise from their agencies sharing clients in the same categories and the political minefield of who gets the top jobs. ( The battle to choose the CFO was said to be one of the stumbling blocks in the Publicis-Omnicom negotiations ). Perhaps, though, this is where having a clear senior partner will make the process easier than the always fanciful notion that a “merger of equals” could be achievable à la the doomed Publicis Omnicom Group. Both firms being headquartered in the same city may help with the practical challenges that any such merger presents (people, corporate structure, tax, offices, culture etc), but the US dominance may add to the deal’s difficulty. As Whittaker says: “Don’t assume this deal will get regulatory approval ... the Republicans view the advertising/agency industry not as a friend and the new administration [looks] as though it will continue, or accelerate, the Biden administration actions.” How will rivals react? Having gone to the trouble of recruiting Snoop Dogg to celebrate becoming the holding company top dog, the team at Publicis Groupe will not be thrilled at such news dropping this hot only a matter of days later. Until this point, the industry-leading growth of the Arthur Sadoun-led firm had undoubtedly been the holding company story of the year. Expect Publicis now to push the narrative that it has grown to outstrip its competition without having to buy any of them. Catch up on the most important stories of the day, curated by our editorial team. Stay up to date with a curated digest of the most important marketing stories and expert insights from our global team. Learn how to pitch to our editors and get published on The Drum. Curiously, a report did surface on the financial blog Betaville last week suggesting Publicis was lining up a bid for IPG though that rumor was ultimately unsubstantiated. Will this trigger a wave of consolidation across the marcomms space? Many eyes will turn to WPP, likely dethroned either by Publicis, this new entity or both as the world’s biggest holding company after years at the top, in expectation of a response. But perhaps some of the most interesting activity will be a rung down from the super-sized holdcos. As The Drum columnist and Green Square partner Barry Dudley puts it: “The Vivendi break up feels like one can become four, as an undervalued group spins itself out. While Omnicom and IPG coming together is more 1 + 1 equals 1.75.”

Do you know what a decapoda is? How about a lesser covert? What about a gall? A group of Uxbridge youth found the answers to these questions last Friday when they took part in the Brook Never Sleeps program, put on by the township’s environmental and sustainability committee during a school PA day. Broken up into groups, the children travelled to four stations in and around the township offices where they learned about aquatic insects, how to cast when fly fishing and how life goes on around the stream all year long. While participating in a nature scavenger hunt along the banks of the Uxbridge Brook, the participants wore white sports socks over their boots and shoes. At the end of the session, the socks - covered in mud and debris - were taken off and placed in Ziploc bags. The children were asked to take the bags home, place them in a sunny window and observe what grows from the socks. Later in the day, the youngsters had close encounters with live turtles brought in from Scales Nature Park in Orillia. Christine MacKenzie, the organizer, said about 40 children signed up for the free program, which is aimed at exposing children to the natural environment. The Brook Never Sleeps was held previously in March, during the March break, but MacKenzie said that time of year often saw the ground covered in snow, so the decision was made to move it to November. Midway through the day, the youngsters assembled in the council chambers for healthy snacks and several boxes of pizza before resuming the program. To answer the questions posed earlier: at a station set up by Ontario Streams, a charity that rehabilitates streams and brooks, the children used magnifying glasses to examine a host of tiny, squirming bugs taken from the stream. One, which resembled a tiny crayfish, was called a decapoda. At a session on birds, they learned that a lesser covert is a type of feather. In the nature scavenger hunt, they learned that a gall is a type of growth found on plants, usually round like a ball and containing a grub. None

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nutanix, Inc. (“Nutanix”) (Nasdaq: NTNX), a leader in hybrid multicloud computing, today announced its intention to offer, subject to market conditions and other factors, $750 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2029 (the “notes”) in a private placement (the “offering”) to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Nutanix also expects to grant the initial purchasers of the notes an option to purchase up to an additional $112.5 million aggregate principal amount of the notes within a 13-day period from, and including, the initial issuance date of the notes. The notes will be unsecured senior obligations of Nutanix. Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears. The notes will mature on December 15, 2029, unless earlier converted, redeemed, or repurchased. The notes will be convertible at the option of holders, subject to certain conditions and during certain periods. Upon conversion, the notes may be settled in cash, shares of Nutanix’s Class A common stock or a combination of cash and shares of Nutanix’s Class A common stock, at Nutanix’s election. The interest rate, initial conversion rate and other terms of the notes are to be determined at the time of the pricing of the offering. Nutanix intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to (i) repurchase a portion of its outstanding 0.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 notes”) concurrently with the pricing of the offering in separate and privately negotiated transactions with certain holders of its 2027 notes (the “concurrent note repurchases”) effected through one of the initial purchasers of the notes or its affiliate, acting as Nutanix’s agent, and (ii) repurchase up to $200.0 million of shares of Nutanix’s Class A common stock in privately negotiated transactions with institutional investors effected through one of the initial purchasers of the notes or its affiliate, acting as Nutanix’s agent, at a price per share equal to the last reported sale price of Nutanix’s Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the date of the pricing of the notes (the “Share Repurchase”). Any such Share Repurchase would not reduce the amount available for future repurchases under Nutanix’s existing share repurchase program. Nutanix intends to use the remaining net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures and potential acquisitions. From time to time, Nutanix evaluates potential acquisitions of businesses, technologies or products. Currently, however, Nutanix does not have any understandings or agreements with respect to any acquisitions. The terms of the concurrent note repurchases are anticipated to be individually negotiated with each holder of the 2027 notes participating in the concurrent note repurchases, and will depend on several factors, including the market price of Nutanix’s Class A common stock and the trading price of the 2027 notes at the time of each such concurrent note repurchase. Certain holders of any 2027 notes that Nutanix agrees to repurchase may have hedged their equity price risk with respect to such 2027 notes and may, concurrently with the pricing of the notes, unwind all or part of their hedge positions by buying Nutanix’s Class A common stock and/or entering into or unwinding various derivative transactions with respect to Nutanix’s Class A common stock. Any repurchase of the 2027 notes, and the potential related market activities by holders of the 2027 notes participating in the concurrent note repurchases, together with the repurchase by Nutanix of any of its Class A common stock concurrently with the pricing of the notes, could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of Nutanix’s Class A common stock, which may affect the trading price of the notes at that time and the initial conversion price of the notes. Nutanix cannot predict the magnitude of such market activity or the overall effect it will have on the price of the notes or its Class A common stock. No assurance can be given as to how much, if any, of the 2027 notes or the Class A common stock will be repurchased or the terms on which they will be repurchased. Neither the notes nor the shares of Nutanix’s Class A common stock potentially issuable upon conversion of the notes, if any, have been, or will be, registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements. This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale is unlawful. About Nutanix Nutanix is a global leader in cloud software, offering organizations a single platform for running applications and managing data, anywhere. With Nutanix, companies can reduce complexity and simplify operations, freeing them to focus on their business outcomes. Building on its legacy as the pioneer of hyperconverged infrastructure, Nutanix is trusted by companies worldwide to power hybrid multicloud environments consistently, simply, and cost-effectively. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding Nutanix’s financing plans, Nutanix’s ability to complete the offering, the timing and size of the offering, the concurrent note repurchases and the Share Repurchase, Nutanix’s intended use of the net proceeds of the offering. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, whether Nutanix will be able to consummate the offering, the final terms of the offering, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions with respect to the offering of the notes, prevailing market conditions, the anticipated use of the net proceeds of the offering of the notes, which could change as a result of market conditions or for other reasons, and the impact of general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of the words “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions by Nutanix’s management that, although believed to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain and subject to a number of risks. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or predicted by Nutanix’s forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to other risks detailed in Nutanix’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, and the risks discussed in Nutanix’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Nutanix undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by applicable law. © 2024 Nutanix, Inc. All rights reserved. Nutanix, the Nutanix logo, and all Nutanix product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or unregistered trademarks of Nutanix, Inc. (“Nutanix”) in the United States and other countries. Other brand names or marks mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s). This press release is for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes a warranty or other binding commitment by Nutanix. Investor Contact: Richard Valera ir@nutanix.com Media Contact: Lia Bigano pr@nutanix.comREFORM, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge ruled that the family of former NFL player Glenn Foster Jr., who died in law enforcement custody in Alabama, can pursue a lawsuit alleging his death was the result of excessive force. Foster, a former New Orleans Saints defensive end, died on Dec. 6, 2021, three days after being arrested and taken to jail in rural Pickens County for alleged speeding and attempting to elude police. A judge ordered Foster taken to a medical facility in Tuscaloosa for a mental evaluation. Foster was found unresponsive in the back of a law enforcement vehicle when he arrived at the facility. He was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later. His widow, Pamela Foster, filed a lawsuit against officers at the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and jail saying Foster had been beaten, shocked with a Taser and strangled while at the jail. The defendants then asked a federal judge to dismiss the case. U.S. District Judge Annemarie Carney Axon ruled Thursday refused to dismiss allegations of excessive force and failure to intervene. Axon dismissed other portions of the lawsuit. The ruling came a day before the third anniversary of Foster’s death. Foster appeared in 17 games for the Saints in 2013 and 2014.

President-elect Donald Trump is Time Magazine’s Person of the Year, and in a lengthy interview with the magazine Trump recalled his furious campaign schedule in the lead-up to the election, which helped him every swing state, including Pennsylvania. This was Trump’s second time being named TIME’s Person of the Year, and comes a little over a month before he will be inaugurated into his second administration, and a month after he won Pennsylvania and the presidency. A lot has changed since he first won the award in 2016 . In the wide-ranging interview, published Thursday, Trump talked about loyalty and praised Elon Musk, one of his strongest campaign surrogates in Pennsylvania. He also weighed in on the bathroom controversy on Capitol Hill as Representative-elect Sarah McBride (D., Del.) prepares to take her seat next month. To celebrate being named Person of the Year, Trump rang the bell at the opening of the New York Stock Exchange Thursday morning. Here’s what to know from the interview: ‘72 Days of Fury’ for Donald Trump to win swing states and the presidency In his journey to winning crucial swing states — including Pennsylvania — and the presidency, Trump told TIME that he called a turbulent sequence of no days off “72 Days of Fury.” But even more important to his path to victory than nonstop work, he said, was that Democrats were out of touch with voters’ priorities. “We said things that were on the minds of the country. I think the Democrats didn’t get it,” Trump said. “They just kept going back to the same old nonsense. And it was nonsense, especially in where we are right now. And we hit—we hit something that was very special. We hit the nerve of the country.” The president-elect also recalled the aftermath of surviving an assassination attempt at his rally in Butler, Pa. in July. Trump said that he tries not to think about that moment, but he said his rally, where he returned to the site of the shooting at the Butler Farm Show grounds in October, was “a very big moment” that made people become more religious. Trump owes his victory in part to his campaign’s messaging on immigration issues, border security, and the economy, Vice President Kamala Harris’ lack of interviews, and his boisterous rallies which he called “one of the big advantages,” he said. But he doesn’t see his win as a “comeback.” “I don’t view it that way. I think I ran a great campaign. I think I was popular. I think I did a very good job the first term ... So I don’t, I don’t view it as a comeback,” he said. “I know it’s considered that. I should allow it to be that, and I will allow it to be that. But, you know, come back from what? I’ve always been here, you know.” Elon Musk: Pa. surrogate, DOGE co-leader and a ‘great guy’ After spending significant time and financial capital campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania, Elon Musk, the richest man in the world and SpaceX CEO, has earned himself a spot in Trump’s inner circle , often perched by his side at big events — even if he is the CEO of Tesla and Trump thinks that electric cars are “not for everyone.” During the Time interview, Trump called Musk a friend and a “great guy” who gave him “the best endorsement you could ever have.” He marveled over the unlikely way that Musk came to be a staunch ally. When Trump got shot in Butler, Pa. the president-elect said, “something happened” to Musk. Shortly after the assassination attempt, Musk endorsed Trump and during an X Spaces conversation in August the billionaire applauded Trump’s “strength under fire.” And it’s that friendship and endorsement that prompted Trump to appoint Musk as the coleader of the “Department of Government Efficiency” alongside tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. The proposed commission, which will operate outside the government, is charged with cutting perceived government waste and spending. Many of the specifics of DOGE remain unclear, but Trump said the country is “bloated with rules, regulations and with, frankly, people that are unnecessary to do.” He said his administration will look to promote private sector jobs and move education oversight to the states. Trump and incoming Delaware Rep. Sarah McBride agree on one thing On the campaign trail, Trump’s ads constantly railed against Vice President Kamala Harris’ support for transgender rights. At rallies, he pledged to ban transgender athletes from participating in their sports. And that topic has now come to Capitol Hill. Last month, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R, S.C.) introduced a bill that would restrict lawmakers from using single-sex facilities “other than those corresponding to their biological sex,” which was clearly aimed at Sarah McBride, the Delaware Democrat who is the first transgender person elected to Congress. McBride will take office next month. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) announced — on Transgender Day of Remembrance — that transgender individuals are not permitted to use Capitol bathrooms that align with their gender identity. But despite the attacks McBride has opted against engaging in a debate over bathrooms. “I’m not here to fight about bathrooms,” McBride said on Nov. 20. “I’m here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families.” Trump told TIME that he agreed with McBride’s sentiments that there are more important issues at hand than discussing bathrooms. “I do agree with that. On that—absolutely,” Trump said. “As I was saying, it’s a small number of people.” Trump downplays ability to get prices down after campaigning on it Trump undersold his ability to achieve affordable prices in the interview, even after committing to address rising costs — some of which have slowed — on the campaign trail. “Look, they got them up. I’d like to bring them down. It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up,” Trump said. “You know, it’s very hard. But I think that they will. I think that energy is going to bring them down. I think a better supply chain is going to bring them down.” Many voters cast their ballots for Trump because they thought he’d be able to address increased costs, but he told TIME that he didn’t believe his presidency would be a failure if he didn’t achieve lowering prices. He didn’t specify how he would fix supply chain issues, but some experts say that Trump’s plans for sweeping new tariffs would add an extra burden to any supply chain problems. And if Trump ends up deporting agricultural workers as part of his plans for mass deportation, it could further put the food supply chain at risk. Asked about this in the interview, Trump said: “No, because we’re going to let people in, but we have to let them in legally.” Trump thinks he will be able to maintain loyalty in second administration Howard Lutnick, Trump’s transition co-chair, his nominee for Commerce secretary, and Haverford College’s largest donor, emphasized in an interview with The Inquirer in October the importance of loyalty in the future Trump administration. Trump told Time that he doesn’t think he will have to ask his appointees to “take a loyalty pledge,” but if officials or public servants don’t follow his orders he would consider firing them. One of Trump’s most loyal picks — and also one of the most controversial — is Kash Patel, the president-elect’s nominee for FBI director. Last week, U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D., Pa) released a statement urging President Joe Biden to issue a blanket pardon of individuals, perceived as Trump’s political enemies, that he believes Patel will target should he be confirmed. “I think I will be able to, for the most part, determine who’s loyal,” Trump said. “I want them to be loyal as to policy, as to the country. It’s gotta be loyal.” ©2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Visit at inquirer.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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