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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. 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. “House of Flame and Shadow,” by Sarah J. Maas 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.” “The Anxious Generation,” by Jonathan Haidt 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. “War,” by Bob Woodward 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. “Melania,” by Melania Trump 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. “The Eras Tour Book,” by Taylor Swift 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. “Intermezzo,” by Sally Rooney 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.” “From Here to the Great Unknown,” by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough 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. “Cher: The Memoir, Part One,” by Cher 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.” “James,” by Percival Everett 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. “Knife,” by Salman Rushdie 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.”Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) suffered a sprained wrist but was not otherwise seriously injured after falling following a weekly lunch gathering with his colleagues, his office said Tuesday. “Leader McConnell tripped following lunch. He sustained a minor cut to the face and sprained his wrist. He has been cleared to resume his schedule,” according to the statement. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said McConnell’s fall happened after he left the lunch and was going through a Senate reception room. He said McConnell had a cut to his face but was able to make it to his office without assistance. At a weekly press conference not long after McConnell’s fall, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) gave an update on the Kentucky Republican, saying, “He is fine. He’s in his office.” Don't let this be the end of the free press. The free press is under attack — and America's future hangs in the balance. As other newsrooms bow to political pressure, HuffPost is not backing down. Would you help us keep our news free for all? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. McConnell, who will turn 83 in February, has had a history of health issues. He decided not to run again for party leader after suffering two public freezes at weekly press conferences in 2023. Thune will replace him as head of the Senate GOP. McConnell also had a concussion and broken ribs after he fell at a fundraising dinner last year . After the first freeze up, McConnell joked he had been “sandbagged,” a reference to President Joe Biden blaming an ill-placed sandbag on stage for a public fall after a speech in June 2023. In his second freezing episode, a spokesman said McConnell paused after feeling “momentarily lightheaded.” While McConnell will no longer be the top-ranking Republican in the Senate in 2025, a post he held since 2007, he will still be influential as the chair of the subcommittee that deals with annual defense spending. Related From Our PartnerBayonne police on routine patrol were more than a little surprised to hear loud music coming from a warehouse on the eastern, industrial side of the city one early morning late last month. Even more startling is that the massive warehouse on Lefante Way was vacant of any businesses. In what turned into a large-scale police response, with departments from neighboring cities even lending manpower, Bayonne authorities broke up an early morning rave that numbered more than 250 people, Bayonne Sgt. Kenneth Drago said. The party-goers parked their vehicles ― 165 of them, according to police ― inside the warehouse. While everyone, including the man who organized the unauthorized party, was issued summonses for trespassing, a Jersey City attendee is facing more serious charges. Drago said police saw Yeraldy M. Amparo, 21, remove a handgun from his waistband and place it in the trunk of his vehicle. Inside the trunk police found two weapons: a Glock 17 Gen 4, 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a 31-round magazine and 24 rounds inside the firearm; and a Glock 45 Gen 4 semi-automatic handgun with a 17-round magazine and 13 rounds inside the firearm, according a criminal complaint. Amparo was charged with possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, criminal trespass and prohibited weapons and devices, for the illegal magazines. Drago said these types of illegal parties are rare for Bayonne. As police approached the building just after 1 a.m. on Nov. 24, they noticed a man with a handheld radio who was shouting “Police! Police!” The attendees found out about the warehouse party via friends and social media posts and they paid a $20 entry fee, Drago said. The warehouse was initially breached when someone broke the gate and forcibly removing the key from a lockbox that was affixed to the gate. Police identified Junio E. Cedano-Adams, of Paterson, as the organizer and he was additionally cited for maintaining a nuisance, Drago said. The attendees cooperated with police and were issued their disorderly persons summonses for trespassing via mail and provided a date to appear in court. 69 LeFante Way in Bayonne, where police broke out an unauthorized early morning party Nov. 24, 2024 and issued more than 250 summonses for trespassing. (Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal) Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey
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FBI Director Christopher Wray announced he will resign in advance of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration — meaning he will depart from the bureau about three years before his term ends. Wray’s decision, which was revealed on Dec. 11, came shortly after Trump nominated Kash Patel — a strong supporter of his — to lead the FBI. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work,” Wray, who was nominated by Trump in 2017, told his colleagues, according to The Associated Press. Trump celebrated the move, writing in a post on Truth Social that Wray’s resignation “is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice.” Amid these developments, here is what to know about FBI directors and their tenureships. During the early years of the FBI, the attorney general was charged with choosing the bureau’s director, who was not constrained by term limits . However, in 1968, Congress passed a law establishing that the president would appoint the director, who would require Senate confirmation. “By that point the FBI was considered important enough to warrant an executive appointment,” Douglas Charles, a history professor at Pennsylvania State University Greater Allegheny, who researches the FBI, told McClatchy News. “Before then, attorneys general hired and fired them.” In 1976, Congress passed a law permitting the FBI director to serve one 10-year term. The law “stemmed directly from the fact that J. Edgar Hoover was entrenched as director for 48 years,” Charles said. Hoover led the intelligence agency from 1924 to 1972 , during which time he amassed significant powers, he said. As a result, the law sought to prohibit anyone else from following in his footsteps. Hoover wasn’t the only impetus for the term limit, though. “This law came, as well, in the wake of Watergate where President Nixon tried to have his own man, his own lackey, L. Patrick Gray, become FBI director,” Charles said. So, the law “sought to isolate the FBI from White House political influence.” There have been 12 directors — including acting directors — since the 10-year term limit was established, and nearly all of them left office before their term ended, according to FBI records. For example, Clarence Kelley , who was nominated by Nixon, led the agency for about five years between 1973 and 1978. Similarly, Louis Freeh , who was nominated by President Bill Clinton, helmed the agency for about eight years between 1993 and 2001. The only director to stay on for a full term was Robert Mueller , who was in office for 12 years. President George W. Bush nominated Mueller to head the FBI in 2001, and in 2011, before his term ended, President Barack Obama asked Congress to pass legislation extending his term for two more years — which it did. “The United States faces ongoing threats from terrorists intent on attacking us both at home and abroad, and it is crucial that the FBI have sustained, strong leadership to confront that threat,” Attorney General Eric Holder said at the time. “There is no better person for that job than Bob Mueller.” → How does Senate confirmation process work? What to know as Trump makes Cabinet picks → Trump to return to White House after 4 years. Only one past president has done that → How did LGBT Americans vote in election? Exit poll finds significant shift from 2020 “Only two FBI directors were outright fired,” Charles said. The first was William Sessions, whom Clinton dismissed in 1993 after learning the director had been accused of misusing FBI resources. Specifically, he had been accused of using a government airplane for personal reasons, installing a fence around his house using government funds and failing to pay taxes on an FBI limousine, according to ABC News. Twenty-four years later, in 2017, Trump fired FBI Director James Comey amid a bureau investigation into whether Trump’s campaign had colluded with the Russian government. At the time, Trump said Comey’s ouster was required to bring back “public trust and confidence” in the FBI, according to The Associated Press. “There have been other FBI directors who resigned in the past after improprieties or scandals surfaced,” Charles said. “I call these Washington, D.C., ‘firings’ where they were quietly asked to resign or just stepped aside.” One of these was L. Patrick Gray, who became acting director following the death of Hoover in 1972. He resigned in 1973 after it was disclosed that he had destroyed incriminating White House documents related to the Watergate scandal , according to The Guardian. Gray’s successor, Kelley, also left office early following a scandal. Following the election in 1976, it was revealed that FBI carpenters did construction on his home, costing a total of $355, Charles said. “In the wake of Hoover and Watergate this was seen as a scandal,” he said. “By our standards today it is small potatoes.” President Jimmy Carter, who was inaugurated in 1977, ended up making a deal with Kelley, in which he would step down after one year, Charles said.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers activated linebacker Dre Greenlaw to play Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams for his first action since tearing his left Achilles tendon in . Greenlaw had been practicing the past few weeks and was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Thursday. San Francisco placed offensive lineman Ben Bartch on injured reserve with an ankle injury to make room on the roster. Greenlaw was one of the emotional leaders of San Francisco's defense before the freak injury in the first half of the Super Bowl loss to Kansas City. Greenlaw bounced up and down on the sideline and then started to run onto the field with a few teammates when he collapsed holding his left leg. He was then helped off in a cart. Greenlaw was drafted in the fifth round in 2019 and emerged as one of the key defenders for San Francisco in 2022. He started 30 games the past two seasons with 247 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 10 passes defensed and three takeaways. The Niners have missed his intensity and physical play this season, especially against the run. The Rams and 49ers both promoted players from the practice squad for the game with Los Angeles adding defensive back Charles Woods and San Francisco promoting running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn. AP NFL:AJ Brown makes incredible gesture for young Eagles fan after hilarious Tanner McKee first TD blunder
Ducks hope to snap 3-game skid in Ottawa or TorontoCredit ratings have become the most integral part of the modern global financial system. These agencies rate the creditworthiness of individual citizens, corporations, and even governments. The process was based on traditional human analysis and manual evaluation. However, with tremendous developments in AI , these agencies are witnessing drastic change. AI is remodeling the pattern through which credit ratings are ascertained more efficiently, accurately, and equitably. Traditionally, credit score assignments by credit rating agencies relied more on historical data and some expert judgment than financial statements. While historically effective to a point, they have limitations because human biases, errors in processes, and the inability to process big data quickly have been critical factors against them. The rise of AI helps solve many of these problems. AI technologies, like machine learning and natural language processing, allow for the analysis of much more data at unprecedented speed and accuracy. Indeed, this has moved on from subjective evaluation to what is truly observed. One of the great contributions that AI can make to credit rating agencies is its capability to handle and analyze vast data quantities. While traditional methods are usually restricted to focusing on a humble list of financial metrics, AI considers a greatly enhanced list of factors. For instance, AI systems may be able to consider data from nontraditional sources such as social media , online transactions, and market trends. Such a large dataset can enlighten an entity's financial health and creditworthiness to a greater extent. In short, they can identify patterns and correlations that human analysts would not. These findings help provide much more accurate credit ratings and better predictions of default risks. Another big issue for credit assessments over the years is human bias. Analysts may make decisions based on several subjective factors, thereby providing inconsistent or unfair ratings in some cases. AI helps reduce this risk by purely following data-based algorithms . Taking personal opinions out of this is the only way for credit ratings to be transparent and directed by pure rules. This will bring about fairness and inclusion, especially for groups left behind by old ways. As far as speed goes, AI may outperform classical approaches. A conventional credit scoring procedure takes weeks or even months to prepare, yet in only a few minutes, an AI machine could scan and process all data, producing credit scores. This efficiency benefits both the lending and borrowing parties. Lenders enjoy speedier credit decisions, while the latter enjoy timely access to funds. Moreover, AI-based credit assessments allow credit rating agencies to respond more to changing market conditions. It is revolutionizing risk management in the financial sector. AI systems' ability to predict defaults by deciphering historical data and identifying trends is very accurate, enabling credit rating agencies to give lenders good risk assessments. Finding risks early helps banks and financial companies act in advance. They can change interest rates or adjust loans. These actions protect the lenders and also help the borrowers stay out of money problems. Although AI has several benefits, it also has many challenges. The primary one is the lack of transparency that AI algorithms provide. For instance, AI systems, at specific points, make opaque decisions about which rating is most likely. Therefore, the criteria indicated by regulators and the market will maintain the possible trust in the credit rating agencies, but certainly only if the AI systems of explanation are transparent. Another concern is data privacy . Most AI systems require immense databases, and such huge collections often include personal information that must be kept safe from breaches and violations of privacy laws. This integration of AI into credit rating agencies is in its infancy, but the scope is undoubtedly undeniable. As more and more AI technologies emerge, they are expected to be ever so intricately complex, much more reliable, and, hence, more trustworthy. In the future, AI can be applied to credit rating agencies to devise real-time credit scoring systems that monitor financial behavior constantly and adjust credit scores dynamically. These innovations may transform lending practices and open credit access to millions of people. AI transforms the credit rating agency beyond its weaknesses in old approaches. AI improves data analysis while reducing bias, is more efficient, and raises the bar on accuracy and fairness in credit scoring. However, its adoption has also sparked several ethical and regulatory issues. Innovation should, therefore, be accorded accountability to ensure that AI-based credit rating systems benefit all parties in the financial sector.
The recent petrol price crash by Dangote Refinery and subsequent partnership with MRS Oil has been hailed as a good move The Independent Monitors Group on Economic Reform (IMGER) described the move as a commitment to the welfare of Nigerians The group also hailed Dangote Refinery’s special purchase offer, allowing customers to purchase an extra litre of fuel on credit secured by banks Don't miss out! Join Legit.ng's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now! Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade. The Independent Monitors Group on Economic Reform (IMGER) has lauded Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil for crashing the price of Premium petrol. Wasiu Akande praised the two firms' plans in a statement, saying they showed their commitment to the development and well-being of Nigerians. Dangote Refinery offers petrol on credit Akande also called for more such collaboration between the private sector and the Nigerian government to boost economic growth and development that benefits Nigerians. Read also Aliko Dangote explains decision to reduce petrol price PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! The group lauded Dangote Refinery's special purchase offer, which allows consumers to buy extra fuel on credit secured by a bank guarantee. According to The Nation, this initiative, according to Akande, provides added financial flexibility for consumers during the high-spending holiday period. IMGER believes that reducing fuel prices will positively impact the Nigerian economy, lowering the cost of transportation, food, and other essential commodities. The statement said: "IMGER commends Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil for their bold and laudable decision to reduce the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) during the yuletide season,". The move will improve economic standards The statement said the move shows the firm’s dedication to providing affordable petroleum products to Nigerian consumers. The group disclosed that it believes Dangote and MRS's crash in petrol prices will positively impact the Nigerian economy, helping to reduce transportation costs, food, and other key commodities. IMGER disclosed that the move will boost economic activity, stimulate growth and enhance the overall living standards nationwide. Read also NLC speaks on fuel price reduction by Dangote refinery, points at competition within sector The group asked the Nigerian government to support and collaborate with Dangote Refinery and MRS Oil to deliver on the nation’s economic potential. IMAGER also urged other private sector players to emulate the example of Dangote and MRS Oil by prioritising the welfare and well-being of Nigerians. Dangote collaborates with MRS to reduce petrol price Legit.ng earlier reported that Dangote Refinery has agreed with MRS to distribute petrol for N935 per litre through its retail outlets nationwide. Dangote Group's spokesman, Tony Chiejine, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, December 21, 2024. The mega refinery crashed petrol prices for marketers from N970 to N899 per litre to ease transportation burdens for Nigerians during the holidays. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ng
Trump nominee Pete Hegseth speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill following his nomination. Pete Hegseth , the former National Guard officer who President-elect Trump has tapped to lead the Department of Defense, said he's had "great" conversations with senators amid efforts to shore up his confirmation and was "standing right here in this fight." On Thursday, Hegseth said he refused to back down from a fight as his nomination remains in limbo amid drinking and sexual misconduct allegations. He has denied any wrongdoing. "We've had great conversations, about who I am and what I believe," Hegseth said of his meetings with senators. "And, frankly, the man I am today, because of my faith in my lord and savior Jesus Christ and my wife Jenny right here, I'm a different man than I was years ago." TRUMP TRANSITION SIGNS AGREEMENT FOR FBI BACKGROUND CHECKS Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, is joined by his wife, Jennifer Rauchet, as they walk through the basement of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) "And that's a redemption story that I think a lot of Americans appreciate," he added. "And I know from fellow vets that I've spent time with, they resonate with that as well. You fight, you go through tough things in tough places on behalf of your country. And sometimes that changes you a little bit." An email was recently leaked from Hegseth's mother, Penelope Hegseth, in which she was critical of his past relationships with women. She joined "FOX and Friends" on Wednesday morning to set the record straight, saying she wrote the email in an impassioned moment after her son's divorce, but apologized hours after sending it. Hegseth's mother also said she did not believe any of the accusations against him. TRUMP FLOATS DESANTIS AS POTENTIAL DEFENSE SECRETARY REPLACEMENT IF HEGSETH FALTERS Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, and his wife, Jennifer Rauchet, attend a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Multiple sources confirmed to Fox News that Trump is reportedly considering nominating Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as defense secretary in place of Hegseth amid the allegations against him. But Hegseth brushed off the potential replacement, telling reporters that he was prepared to fight. "As long as Donald Trump wants me in this fight, I'm going to be standing right here in this fight, fighting to bring our Pentagon back to what it needs to be," he said. Hegseth also told reporters that he doesn’t answer to the media, only to Trump, God, his family and the senators slated to vote on his confirmation. On Thursday, Hegseth said the conversations with senators have been "robust, candid at times with great questions on policy and personality." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "So we're going to earn those votes," he said. "We're fighting all the way through the tape. I'm grateful to have the president's support, because his vision for this Department of Defense is to bring it back to its core capacity of deterring our enemies and, if necessary, defeating those enemies." Fox News Digital's Aubrie Spady contributed to this report. Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com .State Administration Council Members watched the final matches of Inter-State and Region sports competitions of the Fifth National Sports Festival at the relevant stadiums and gymnasiums in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. The final matches of Inter-State and Region boxing took place at Wunna Theikdi stadium yesterday and was attended by SAC members Dr Hmuh Thang and Dr Ba Shwe, Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs U Min Thein Zan, Deputy Ministers, state and regional social affairs ministers, transport ministers, and other relevant officials. In the women’s 52-kilogramme event, the Magway Region team won the first prize, the second went to the Mandalay Region team, the joint third to the Shan State team and the Taninthayi Region team, whereas the Yangon Region team grabbed the first prize, the second by the Taninthayi Region team and the joint third by the Nay Pyi Taw and the Sagaing Region team in women’s 50-kilogramme. The Taninthayi Region team won the first prize in women’s 54-kilogramme, and the Kayin State team ranked second place and the Shan State team and the Yangon Region team secured the third place. In the women’s 57-kilogramme, the first prize went to the Chin State team, the second to the Ayeyawady Region team, and the third to the Bago Region team and the Sagaing Region team. In the men’s 51-kilogramme, the Kayin State team won the first prize, while the Kachin State team grabbed the second prize and the Mandalay Region team and the Sagaing Region team received the third prize. In the men’s 54-kilogramme, the first prize went to the Mandalay Region team, the second to the Shan State team and the third to the Nay Pyi Taw team and Taninthayi Region team. In the men’s 57-kilogramme, the Yangon Region team won the first prize, the Kachin State team ranked at the second place and the Chin State team and the Sagaing Region team at the third place. In the men’s 63.5-kilogramme, the Kachin State team won the first prize, the Mandalay Region team grabbed the second prize and the Bago Region team and Sagaing Region team achieved the third prize. In the men’s 71-kilogramme, the first prize went to the Sagaing Region team, the second to the Mandalay Region team, and the third to the Kayin State team and Bago Region team. The final matches of the Inter-State and Region U-21 athletics were held at Wunna Theikdi stadium, and SAC member U Yan Kyaw, Union Minister U Min Thein Zan, deputy ministers, state and regional social affairs ministers, transportation ministers, and other officials. In the men’s 800-metre race, the Bago Region won the first prize, the Nay Pyi Taw team won the second prize and the Ayeyawady Region team won the third prize. In the women’s 800-metre race, the first prize went to the Chin State team, the second to the Kayah State team and the third to the Shan State team. In the women’s 200-metre race, the first and second prizes went to the Taninthayi Region team and the third to the Magway Region team. In another women’s 200-metre race, the Taninthayi Region team won the first prize, the Ayeyawady Region team grabbed the second prize and the Taninthayi Region team secured the third prize. In the men’s shot-put event, the first prize went to the Magway Region team, the second to the Yangon Region team and the third to the Ayeyawady Region team. In the men’s 110-metre hurdle, the Ayeyawady Region team won the first and second prizes, and the Magway Region team won the third prize. In the women’s 110-metre hurdle, the first and second prizes went to the Shan State team and the third to the Sagaing Region team. The Kayin State team grabbed the first prize in the men’s high jump, whereas Mon State ranked at second place and the Ayeyawady Region team in third place. In the men’s 400-metre hurdle, the Sagaing Region team won the first prize, the second prize by the Mandalay Region team and the third prize by the Taninthayi Region team. Moreover, in the women’s shot put, the Shan State team won the first prize, while the second prize by the Rakhine State team and the third prize by the Sagaing Region team. In the women’s high jump, the Taninthayi Region team ranked at first place, the Sagaing Region team at second place and the Taninthayi Region at third place. Similarly, Inter-State and Region Men’s and Women’s U-20 volleyball final matches took place at Wunna Theikdi Gymnasium B, and attended by SAC Member Khun San Lwin, Union Chief Justice U Tha Htay, Union Constitutional Tribunal Chairman U Aung Zaw Thien, and other relevant officials watched the matches. In the women’s volleyball, the Shan State team won the first prize, whereas the Taninthayi Region team won the second prize and the Kachin State team and the Mandalay Region team won the third prize jointly. In men’s volleyball, the first prize went to the Mandalay Region team, the second to Shan State team and the third to the Kayin State team and the Nay Pyi Taw team. Similarly, the award ceremony of Inter-State and Region Taekwondo was held at TC-1. The Yangon Region team won the first prize, the Bago Region team grabbed the second prize and the Chin State and Shan State teams achieved the third prize in women’s singles. In men’s singles, the Yangon Region team won the first prize, whereas the second prize by the Mon State team and the third prize by the Shan State and Kayin State teams. In the mixed event, the first prize went to the Yangon Region team, the second to the Mon State team and the third to the Shan State team and Mandalay Region team. In the women’s team event, the Yangon Region team won the first prize, the Kayah State team the second prize and the Shan State team and Bago Region team third prize. In the men’s team event, the first prize went to the Yangon Region team, the second to the Bago Region team and the third to the Mon State team and Kayin State team. — MNA/KTZHBy 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. 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. “House of Flame and Shadow,” by Sarah J. Maas 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.” “The Anxious Generation,” by Jonathan Haidt 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. “War,” by Bob Woodward 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. “Melania,” by Melania Trump 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. “The Eras Tour Book,” by Taylor Swift 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. “Intermezzo,” by Sally Rooney 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.” “From Here to the Great Unknown,” by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough 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. “Cher: The Memoir, Part One,” by Cher 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.” “James,” by Percival Everett 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. “Knife,” by Salman Rushdie 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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