jili178 log in Joe Burrow's home broken into during Monday Night Football in latest pro-athlete home invasionRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's current governor and his successor tacked on another lawsuit Monday disputing a key provision within a GOP law that erodes the powers of several incoming Democratic state leaders — the latest in a longstanding power struggle between North Carolina's executive and legislative branches over who controls the state's elections. The lawsuit challenges one of the law's core power shifts that move the ability to appoint members of the North Carolina State Board of Elections from the governor's authority to the state auditor's office — which will be run by Republican Dave Boliek next year. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Gov.-elect Josh Stein, who currently serves as the state attorney general, filed the suit in Wake County Superior Court on Monday, saying in the complaint that the provision is unconstitutional and violates the separation of powers. The change to state election board appointments will take place next spring if it isn't blocked in court. The state elections board would likely remain under GOP control for the next few years and would trickle down to county boards as well. “We have had the same structure for our state board of elections for nearly a century and it has served North Carolina well, with fair and secure elections across our state through every cycle,” Cooper said in a news release Monday. “These blatantly partisan efforts to give control over elections boards to a newly elected Republican will create distrust in our elections process and serve no legitimate purpose.” The suit from Cooper and Stein is the second challenge the pair has levied against the GOP-controlled state legislature concerning the law. Cooper and Stein are also contesting another provision that prevents the governor from choosing his State Highway Patrol commander. Those alterations to the governor's powers were part of a larger swath of changes to several statewide offices that Democrats won in November and will preside over next year — such as attorney general, state schools superintendent and lieutenant governor. If the law withstands the court challenges, it would further underscore the GOP-led legislature's tightened grip over the other two branches of government since Republicans took control of the General Assembly more than a decade ago. Last year, GOP supermajorities in both the House and Senate firmed up power even more. Pending legal disputes in a few outstanding races , Republicans could lose their supermajority if Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn's attempt to oust incumbent Republican Rep. Frank Sossamon proves successful. That would give Stein a slightly more effective veto stamp on future Republican legislation if Democratic lawmakers stay unified. Republican legislators passed the law in both chambers earlier this month — not without scathing disapproval from crowds of protesters in the building. The bill drew the ire of House and Senate Democrats, as well as some community organizers, who denounced it as a “power grab.” They also criticized Republican lawmakers for tying the power shifts to disaster relief funding for western North Carolina in Hurricane Helene's aftermath. Most of the $252 million in recovery funds included in the law can't be spent until the next time the General Assembly acts. But GOP legislators defended the bill, with incoming House Speaker Destin Hall saying during the House vote that the changes are within the legislature's constitutional right. Republicans also point to previous Democratic actions , such as weakening the state’s first GOP governor in 1972, as reasons necessitating the legislation. Spokespeople for Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore — who are both defendants listed in the lawsuit — did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday evening. A state elections board spokesperson also did not immediately respond. Changes to the state elections board aren't a first for GOP lawmakers. Previous attempts have been blocked by courts , including a suit last year that would move board appointment authority from the governor to the General Assembly . Berger and Moore's attorneys moved to dismiss that case last week, and the new lawsuit from Cooper and Stein seeks to replace it. Makiya Seminera, The Associated Press

Australia's inflation battle risks further rate risesMessi's son debuts at Argentina youth tournament as grandparents watch

Black Friday 2024 is officially here! This is the moment we’ve all waited for and we’re finally shopping like it is our job. Because it is ! As we have with the last two Prime Days , our shopping and deals crew has rounded up the top items we’ve decided to buy this week during all of the big Black Friday deals . We’ve got a decade of experience with shopping online and watching Black Friday sales, so these are our predictions for products we expect to see on sale this week. Some of these hot-ticket items are also expected to sell out fast . We saw an early Black Friday Dyson Airwrap deal sell out in a day just a few weeks ago. Each member of the team has narrowed down some of the top coveted items we’re hoping to snag at a discounted rate during all of these Black Friday sales. New skincare from Paula’s Choice , Belif and BIODANCE I plan to restock my skincare lineup when Belif, BIODANCE, and Paula's Choice run their Black Friday deals. Amazon I’m Ana, the manager of the Content Innovation & Digital Growth team, and I am still trying to recover from the days of using St. Ive’s face wash and over-exfoliating my skin. I wait all year and snag everything during Black Friday or Prime Day to stock up on what I need. Black Friday always tends to be the best day to score the biggest deals on the brands I love, like Paula’s Choice , Belif , and BIODANCE . The big bottle of Paula’s Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant is normally a whopping $35, but for Black Friday it is down to $27. While Paula’s Choice has markdowns, I’ll also snag some of their C15 Super Booster (24% off) to help get rid of hyperpigmentation on my skin. I’ve read online these two are like a power duo to minimize the appearance of pores and help bring more life to your skin. These might just be buzzwords, but they’re working on me. For the last three Black Fridays, I’ve bought this belif The True Cream Moisturizing Eye Bomb for anywhere between 30% to 50% off and I plan to do the same in 2024. It always lasts me the full year, since I use it only at night and I’ve never had an issue with it in all of these years. It is perfect for my sensitive skin and keeps the skin around my eyes soft and smooth. I’ll probably pick up the brand’s Cooling Eye Gel for a morning pick-me-up since it is 34% off. As I’ve mentioned before, I am the TikTok-obsessed member of my team. That means I got sucked into trying BIODANCE Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask , and the hype is real. This mask is like a breath of fresh air for my skin. It is so intensely hydrating, which means I need to snag as many discounted packs as I can get ahead of the cold winter months. A 4-pack is currently 32% off for Black Friday, while the 16-pack is 30% off. A new pair of HOKA Clifton 9 sneakers I'm hoping to score a great deal on the HOKA Clifton 9 during Black Friday sales this week. HOKA For me, Black Friday is typically a restock time. I don’t want a PS5 or a new TV, I want to replace my favorite things that desperately need it. I am a HOKA girlie and have been for years now. I’ve worn my Clifton 9 sneakers into the ground. Literally . The bottoms of my soles have officially worn out around the toes and I need to put my current pair to rest. I have a pair of Bondi 8 sneakers but have found those are better suited for my 30,000 step days in Disney World and my HOKA Clifton 9 sneakers are my preferred shoe for walks around my neighborhood and at my Rumble boxing classes. My current pair is just the classic Black/White colorway , and I want to restock those exact sneakers. But, if I were to see these on super sale, I’d be inclined to snag two pairs and get a new color as well, I’ve got my eye on the Sunlit Ocean / Lilac Mist and Frost / Rose Gold colorways. A slew of Amika hair products Another restock I plan to do for Black Friday is on Amika haircare, when the brand slashes prices by around 30% off. Amazon I wasn’t kidding that Black Friday has a recurring theme for me: restocking. The final thing I plan to restock is my Amika staples. I have been growing my hair out for years and it has been a success in large part due to investing in quality hair products, and Amika is a brand I’ve grown obsessed with over the last few years, but it comes with a hefty price tag. The Top 2 Amika products that I’m planning to grab when they go on sale are the Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner and Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask . Both smell absolutely amazing and leave my hair feeling softer than ever. I tend to use the mask once a week and then use the leave-in conditioner every few days, I’d love to use it daily but at $29 per 200 ml, I try to conserve it. I’ve got my eye on the Amika Power Hour Curl Refreshing Spray to see if it goes on sale as well because I’m always on the hunt for a good curl product. Solo Stove Yukon Smokeless Fire Pit I plan to buy the Yukon Backyard Bundle while it is currently marked down by $290 for Black Friday. Solo Stove Hi, I’m Dawn, one of our team’s Shopping Tips & Deals writers and this is going to be a stellar year for Black Friday savings. I’m already seeing so many cheap sale prices, but I have my sights set on a few key items for the holidays. At the very top of my Black Friday shopping list is a Solo Stove Smokeless Fire Pit . This is a major splurge and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it’s been on the wishlist since summer. Our current fire pit burnt its last fire in early June and my husband and I’ve been mulling over a new one ever since. But unlike last time, we’re going big with the Solo Stove Yukon Smokeless Fire Pit . This fire pit carries a hefty price tag normally ($450) and if you decide to go with the Backyard Bundle like we are, it’ll cost you $940. But Solo Stove has big savings on its smokeless fire pits for Black Friday and the Yukon Backyard Bundle is $290 off, dropping its price to $650. Normally, I’d balk at the price but there are a few additional factors in this decision. First, the Yukon Backyard Bundle has everything (removable base plate, ash pan, shield, stand, lid, and shelter). So, instead of piecing all the accessories together afterward, you get them all in a bundle at a discounted price. Second, this fire pit is “smokeless,” and if you’ve ever seen the meme, no matter where I sit the smoke follows me. Yes, that is my superpower. Lastly, this fire pit has a lifetime warranty and I’m not buying another one ever again. The viral Orolay Down Jacket The Orolay Women's Thickened Down Jacket is 45% off on Amazon for Black Friday. Amazon More out of necessity than style, I’m grabbing the Viral Orolay Down Jacket for Black Friday. This viral jacket has sold out so many times on Amazon, I’ve lost count, but I’m expecting it to sell out again this year. The main reason this jacket is on my Black Friday wishlist is for warmth. I want a jacket that’s extremely warm to layer up with this winter. I am done freezing to get the mail, walk the dogs, take the garbage out, and run to my car in the snow and ice. I just want to be warm and this jacket looks like it will fit the bill. With over 28,000 positive ratings, the Orolay Down Jacket has become a fan favorite with its wind-resistant and waterproof design. It’s touted for its fleece-lined hood, numerous pockets, and fitted wristbands that keep the cold out. Reviewers have said, “Very warm, stylish, soft, and full of down for a cold winter,” and I hope when it arrives, I’ll agree. Currently, the Orolay Down Jacket is on sale for 45% off on Amazon, and I don’t expect it to creep any lower before the holidays. This one’s already in my cart in green. The kitchen essential Our Place Always Pan 2.0 The Always Pan is currently $55 off at Our Place for Black Friday. Our Place I waited a long time to finally decide that I needed and deserved the Our Place Always Pan . I’ve seen the commercials, read the articles, seen it in action online, and lusted over it on my social feed. But finally, I am giving into temptation and buying what I now consider an essential part of dinner planning and preparation. If you’re not familiar with the Always Pan , this famous pan replaces 10 pieces of cookware, including your fry pan, saute pan, steamer, roasting dish, baking dish, skillet, saucier, nonstick pan, spatula, and spoon rest. So, basically, this is the only pan you’ll ever need (or rather I’ll need) to cook with. This is also a viral product that has sold out multiple times since its release back in 2019. Now in its second generation, the Always Pan 2.0 has a toxic-free design, is oven-safe up to 450 degrees, and is just so nice to look at with a variety of colors to choose from. Thankfully, Our Place is having a Black Friday sale with the “lowest prices of the year” and the Always Pan 2.0 is now $95, instead of $150, for a savings of $55 off. So, this one is getting wrapped up under the tree just for me (in Spice). BÉIS best-selling luggage BÉIS luggage is at the top of my list, because I’ve written about the brand so many times, I know I finally need to join the party. BÉIS Hi, I’m Danielle, another Shopping & Commerce Writer on our Content Innovation team. To be completely honest, I’m not planning any huge frivolous Black Friday purchases this year because my husband and I spent a nice chunk of change on an end-of-year vacation for our 10-year wedding anniversary and we’re Christmas shopping for three kiddos already. I have a few things that I’d be happy to buy, though, if the price is too good to pass up. BÉIS luggage is at the top of my list because I’ve written about the brand so many times, I know I finally need to join the party. The last time we got new luggage was right before our wedding and, while the soft-side Samsonite 3-piece has served us well over the last decade, it’s high time we invested in some hard-shell suitcases. BÉIS has some of the sleekest carry-ons and check-in luggage around, and the neutral colors are trendy, but totally timeless, too. So, I’ve been thinking about snagging a Large Check-In Roller , a Medium Check-In Roller , and a Carry-On Roller for our family of five. BÉIS already has bundling offers where you can get 10% off when you combine two rollers and 15% off when you combine three rollers, but I’d love to see each piece 20-25% off for Black Friday, which would bring my total expense down by over $200 (reduced to well under $700). We’re thinking about a trip to Disney next year, so I might even take the opportunity to stock up on some kids’ luggage and backpacks for my little mousketeers , as well. The Real Life Play Kitchen from Lovevery At $300, this definitely isn’t a cheap gift, but Lovevery is offering up to 25% off sitewide / holiday bundle savings for Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Lovevery My youngest, who is two years old now, was a Lovevery baby through and through. He had Play Kits for every developmental stage, and we’ve passed everything down to my sister for her newborn to use as he grows up. Even my middle child, my little girl — who is 5 years old now — got an incredible amount of use out of her 4-year-old Play Kit last year. I have hyped the brand for years, telling parents, friends, and family members how amazing all of the playthings, books, and activity mats are, so I was so excited to hear about The Real Life Play Kitchen coming out. Designed for toddlers aged 18 months and older, this adorable pretend and practical play mini kitchen is a perfect Christmas present for my son — I can already picture it in the middle of his presents with a huge bow on it. What sets this play kitchen apart is its thoughtful design, which takes inspiration from always-popular water tables and trendy sensory bins. The sink has a gentle water flow and a spill-proof basin, so when the littles are playing, they won’t be making too big of a mess. The child-sized utensils and food-grade accessories, like a colander and cutting board, also lets toddlers and preschoolers mimic grown-up activities in a safe and scaled-down environment. Plus, the interchangeable colored and patterned backsplashes — six of them — add a personalized and highly aesthetic touch. I’m seriously obsessed with this kitchen because it’s not obnoxiously primary-colored or blaring with earworm-y songs or sounds and it encourages creativity and a sense of responsibility. I can imagine my little guy rinsing vegetables, chopping pretend food and drying dishes, and I can only hope those simple building blocks breed important life skills, cooperation and the concept of everyone in our family having a role and contributing. At $300, this definitely isn’t a cheap gift , but Lovevery is offering up to 25% off sitewide / holiday bundle savings for Black Friday/Cyber Monday. This first-time-ever move for the brand is knocking 10% off spends of $80+, 15% off spends of $125+, 20% off spends of $250 or more and 25% off spends of $500 or more. So, I can get the kitchen for $240, instead $300, through Dec. 8! Beekman 1802 Bloom Cream Daily Face Moisturizer Right now, the Jumbo Bottle is 35% off — $82, down from $108 — but if Black Friday brought an additional 10-15% off in discounts, I’d be sold. Beekman 1802 During this time of year, my hands are usually dry, red, and cracked. And I’ve used every hand lotion and body moisturizer out there to fix the problem, from Kiehl’s and CeraVe to Aveeno and Aesop. I honestly just tried Beekman to placate my mom, who couldn’t stop talking about how great “the goat’s milk beauty products” were, but after only a few days of using the Wicked Defy Gravity Whipped Body Cream (which I was, fortunately, able to sample ahead of the “Wicked” premiere), my hands were changed for the better — well, for the best, really. My skin has never felt softer and more youthful, and I’m a TOTAL convert now. Not only has this whipped body cream gone on without a greasy after feel, but it also absorbs instantly, and it leaves my hands smelling like fruity pebbles in the best way, thanks to the sweet Elphaba-inspired gourmand scent. I’m obsessed with this fluffy paraben and sulfate-free rich goat milk and creamy butter salve, and I’ll be heartbroken when the container is wiped clean. So, I plan on replenishing the “Elphie lotion mommy loves!” and also stocking up on some other hero body creams . While I’m at it, I’d also love to try Beekman’s famous Bloom Cream Daily Face Moisturizer with moisturizing goat’s milk, hydrating and pore-minimizing niacinamide. The company says this bestselling “elegant, lightweight formula is designed to work on all skin types and it literally blooms out of the bottle with every pump.” And if it works in any way like the Whipped Body Cream, then I will become a customer for life. Right now, the Jumbo Bottle is 35% off — $82, down from $108 — but if Black Friday brought an additional 10-15% off in discounts, I’d be sold. TCL 50-Inch Class S5 UHD 4K LED Smart TV with Fire TV (2024 Model) Amazon has the TCL 55" TV on sale of the lowest price of the year for Black Friday. Amazon I’m Victoria Rosenthal, associate editor for SEO/commerce on the Content Innovation Team. My TV is a relic from my college years. Despite it being an old geezer, it has withstood the test of time — 12 years to be exact. This 21-inch Samsung flat-screen has seen it all: all-nighters, breakups, procrastination, (not great) dorm room dance practice, Beyonce’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, the whole final season of “Breaking Bad.” Although this baby has been at my side for over a decade, it’s time for an upgrade. That upgrade won’t be so difficult or pricey since I’m going with the latest model of the TCL 50-inch Class S5 UHD 4K LED Smart TV with Fire TV . It’s a big enough size for a bedroom with a renter-friendly footprint. It has enhanced visuals and sound thanks to its 4K UltraHD resolution screen, Dolby Atmos Audio, and Enhanced Dialogue Mode for more intelligible and clear audio. Plus, I can actually enjoy playing video games with my Nintendo Switch , FireTV Stick with the Xbox Game Pass app, PlayStation 2, and PS4 on this larger TV in Auto Game Mode. It automatically turns on when you hook up a gaming console and uses the lowest possible input lag and latency for improved gameplay. It already has a 4-star rating on Amazon and a 4.2-star rating at Best Buy . And you can’t beat Amazon’s Black Friday deal that gives you 23% off, bringing the price down from $300 to $230. As a replacement for my beloved college TV, this one might be a winner. Ticket to Ride Board Game Amazon has “Ticket to Ride” on sale for $25 during its Black Friday sale. Amazon As a board and card game fan, I love trying out as many of them as possible. My favorites range from “13 Dead End Drive” and “Exploding Kittens” to “Jumanji” and “Nightmare The Video Board Game.” But one game I’ve always wanted to play more is “Ticket to Ride.” After playing it once in a board game café, I was hooked. A board game that’s meant to transport you into another world, time, or dimension and immerse you in the story will always be added to my cart. While going cross country to claim the most train lines and points, the competition, strategy, and fast pace bring excitement to the game, unlike some slow-burn titles that one might call boring (cough cough, “Monopoly” ). “Ticket to Ride” is easy to learn so anyone can quickly understand the gameplay and join in. Also, there’s a feature where Amazon Alexa can act as a player for a more immersive experience. She can keep track of gameplay and points and add atmospheric sound effects and music that transports you back to 1910 in the United States. Because of its $55 price point, I’ve always been hesitant to spend that kind of money on a board game. But now that Amazon has “ Ticket to Ride ” on sale for $25 during its Black Friday sale, that’s over half off the retail price. I have no reason not to buy it! The Best Black Friday Deals in 2024 Walmart, Amazon and Target have Nintendo Switch Black Friday deals up to $75 off — but they’re selling out lightning fast Nordstrom Rack’s Black Friday deals have the best ‘Flash Sale’ markdowns on handbags, hair tools, luggage and more Dick’s Sporting Goods Black Friday sale has HOKA, Nike, New Balance, more top sneakers up to 50% off — but only for a limited time Dyson just dropped all of its Black Friday deals, including $100 off the Airwrap and these sales won’t last for long Walmart has the Apple Watch SE 2 on sale for only $149 in a can’t-miss Black Friday dealThe O.N. Jonas Foundation announces this year’s Arts-in-Education grant recipients. The foundation oversees two major grant entities: the Seretean Foundation grants for elementary schools and the Lorberbaum Foundation grants for middle and high schools. Teachers in Dalton, Murray County and Whitfield County schools may apply for grants to expand and enhance arts instruction in visual arts, music, theater or dance. Students at Westwood, Valley Point and Chatsworth elementary schools will benefit from this year’s Seretean grants. Megan Walker’s Westwood students will create silhouettes of children at play. Under the direction of Kaylee Fissel, additional barred instruments will be incorporated into Valley Point students’ music education. Sheri Carr’s Chatsworth students will create arts and crafts for a Celebration of Cultural Diversity. The Seretean grants began in 2011. Due to their success in enhancing arts learning in area elementary schools, in 2021 the Lorberbaum Foundation established grants for middle and high school arts. Students at Dalton High School, Northwest Whitfield High School and Murray County High School will benefit from this year’s Lorberbaum grants. The addition of a classroom music technology studio will provide Rodney Gipson’s students at Dalton High with hands-on experience and practical knowledge to prepare them for a career in music production. Josh Ruben’s students at Northwest Whitfield High will produce masque theatre — they will construct masks, research storytelling traditions, write scripts and perform short plays. An additional trailer at Murray County High will provide increased storage capacity for Holly Kinsey’s band students, allowing prop and technology inventory to increase. Submitted by the O.N. Jonas Foundation.

How Search Engine Marketing Is Fundamentally ChangingMore Scots business owners anticipate higher turnover in 2025, poll suggestsLISBON (Reuters) - Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was looking for a statement win from his side on Tuesday and got it as they brushed aside in-form Sporting Lisbon with a superb display in a 5-1 away Champions League victory. Arteta praised his team’s intelligent use of the ball and their tenacity against a Sporting team that beat Manchester City 4-1 in their previous Champions League outing and had won 17 of their previous 18 games in all competitions. "I’m very happy, it is a big result against a big opponent," Arteta said. "We wanted to make a statement. I felt a really good energy before the match, but you have to put it into practice. "The first half was exceptional and gave us the platform to win the game. We were really clever and efficient in the way we attacked them. It is an important win for us." Arsenal looked untouchable in the first half as they went into the break 3-0 up, but a goal early in the second period for Sporting changed the mood in the stadium until Bukayo Saka scored a fourth to swing the momentum their way once more. "The atmosphere was changing (when Sporting scored), they had belief, but after that we showed our personality to get on the ball again, to defend deeper if we needed to and the fourth goal changed it again," Arteta said. "We have to enjoy it, playing in this competition against these sorts of team. I was pleased with how the performance flowed." Arsenal had been in a mini-slump of three games without a win before a 3-0 win over high-flying Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this past weekend. Backing up a victory with another dominant display is something they will have to do all season long if they are to be successful, according to Arteta. "We need the consistency, if you want to be going for championships then you have to win and win again. Today was a different type of game but we handled it well and let's move on now," he said. Arsenal are next in action on Saturday when they travel to West Ham United in the Premier League. (Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)

Qatar tribune Cate Twining-Ward The first thing I do each morning is check my watch — not for the time but for my sleep score. As a runner, when the glowing red letters say my score — and my training readiness — are poor, I feel an instant dread. Regardless, I scroll on, inspecting my heart rate variability and stress level — snapshots that influence the tone I carry into the day. What does dreading my smartwatch’s interpretation of my athletic competence say about me? That I have become a pawn in the gamification of health data. Last year, electronics represented one of the largest proportions of total Black Friday sales, according to Deloitte. That’s when I bought my first smartwatch, a Garmin. This year, I’m throwing it away. I was the perfect target. For several years, I had been preparing to run my first marathon. I watched fitness influencers, ultramarathoners and Olympians optimize their training with meticulous tracking and high-tech devices. I wanted in. I got the watch and joined Strava, a social media network for athletes. Once I had a tracker on, sleep became sacred. I traded late-night socializing for it, confident that I’d cash in on race day. I built my day around my nights, transfixed by a false sense of control over my circadian rhythm. Sleep, just like my running routine, had slowly morphed from a bodily function into a technological token of productivity. I was hooked, emboldened by the illusion that I was training intuitively. I pushed hard when my Garmin nudged me, and even harder when I wanted to prove its metrics wrong. I began to run more for the PR (personal record) badge and “your fastest 5k!” notifications than for mental clarity and solitude. I ran because I loved it, and because I loved it, I fell prey to the Strava-fication of it. Suddenly, I was no longer running for myself. I was running for public consumption. I realized this only when it literally became painfully obvious. An MRI found that the lingering pain I’d been ignoring in my heels — something my watch hadn’t picked up on — was caused by four running-induced stress fractures. Recovering from the injury forced me to be sedentary, and during that time I’ve thought a lot about the app-ification of exercise culture. I’ve realized that health optimization tools — the ones marketed as necessary for better sleep, a lower resting heart rate, higher VO2 max (a measure of how much oxygen your body absorbs) and so on — are designed to profit off our fitness anxiety. We track ourselves this way and that way, obsessing over our shortcomings to no apparent end. In doing so, we are deprogrammed from listening to innate physiological signals and reprogrammed to create shadow experiences such as posting our detailed workout stats or running paths on digital walls that no one is looking at. I’ve also learned that if you stop tracking, you will feel marginally but measurably better. I don’t deny that today’s fitness gadgets are incredibly alluring, and in many ways tracking can be useful for training. I am convinced, however, that overreliance on the data collected by devices and apps — and the comparisons we draw from sharing it — can quickly corrupt and commodify what I find to be the true essence of running: being present. When we aren’t tracking, when we are just doing, we can begin to reap the dull yet profound psychological benefits of endurance sports — the repetitive silence, the consistent failure — that can’t be captured in a post or monetized. And when we endure the mundane and difficult aspects of a sport, over and over, we often make gains that are mindful as well as physical, becoming more aware of how and what we pay attention to. This is no small task. It takes discipline to remain aware, present and undistracted. Exercise is a rare opportunity to allow our bodies’ movement to color our thoughts from one minute to the next. When we’re in motion, we don’t need to analyze our health metrics. We can learn to accept the moment and be humbled by our limitations. Gift-giving season will attempt to convince you that you need devices to make your exercise more effective and efficient. There will be bright and beautiful advertisements featuring famous athletes. There will be a sleeker smartwatch and a cutting-edge GPS tracking shoe sole like that one Instagram keeps showing you. Be skeptical. Freeing yourself, even temporarily, from the smartwatch or smartphone or smart-fill-in-the-blank that is tracking your every move is a challenge worth taking on. Because every walk or run or ride is a new story, and without fitness devices the path remains ours to choose. (Cate Twining-Ward is a climate policy consultant in New York City.) Copy 23/12/2024 10(Reuters) - Barcelona manager Hansi Flick praised his players as they bounced back from consecutive LaLiga disappointments with what he described as a great performance to thump French side Brest 3-0 in their Champions League clash on Tuesday. Flick said on Monday that his side's recent form was a major worry after they failed to win for a second successive LaLiga game, but the German coach was delighted with how his players responded. "Very happy. We deserved it, winning by three goals but we could have scored more," Flick told Movistar Plus. "But I'm happy either way because delivering a performance like this after (a 2-2 draw at Celta) Vigo (on Saturday) is just great." Flick praised Barca striker Robert Lewandowski who scored twice to join Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the only players to reach 100 goals in the competition, but said that he preferred his team's collective effort on Tuesday. "Lewandowski is great, I'm delighted with his goals. I think Lewandowski knows he has to score and he is in the position to do it, but the important thing is what the team generates," Flick said. "Obviously, he knows he has to score and he plays for it, but what this team does is just wonderful." Tuesday's victory lifted Barca to second in the 36-team Champions League table on 12 points from five games, one point behind Inter Milan and level with third-placed Liverpool, who host Real Madrid on Wednesday. Flick's team are on top in the LaLiga standings with 34 points, four ahead of rivals Real Madrid in second, who have a game in hand. (Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Toby Davis)Soccer-Elated Arteta revels in Arsenal’s thumping win at Sporting

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Thiago Messi, the eldest son of the Argentina star, has made his debut in the “Newell’s Cup” tournament in the countryside city of Rosario. The 12-year-old Messi played with the No. 10 jersey of an Inter Miami youth team, which lost 1-0 on Monday to host Newell’s Old Boys in the traditional under-13 competition. The team also played Tuesday. Lionel Messi took his first steps as a footballer in the Argentinian club in Rosario, 300 kilometers (186 miles) northwest of capital Buenos Aires. Thiago's mother, Antonela Roccuzzo, and several members of his family, including grandparents Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini, were in the stands to watch him play. Lionel Messi did not attend. Thiago, who was substituted in the second half, played with his friend Benjamín Suárez, son of Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, Messi's teammate and close friend at Barcelona and now at Inter Miami. Messi and Suárez are in Rosario after Inter Miami’s early elimination in the MLS playoffs. On Sunday, they watched a friendly game of Inter Miami's U13 team against Unión at the same sports complex. The youth tournament in Argentina brings together eight teams from North and South America. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Rebuilding from the rubbleThe Thai woman’s body was discovered in a fifth-floor hostel room in the Jomtien area of Chonburi in eastern Thailand. Jomtien Beach area and the Gulf of Siam, Pattaya, Thailand (stock image) An Irish man in his 70s has been questioned by police in Thailand after a woman was found dead in a hostel on Sunday. The Thai woman’s body was discovered in a fifth-floor hostel room in the Jomtien area of Chonburi in eastern Thailand and she has since been identified as 45-year-old Ms Duangta. Forensic experts and medical teams from Banglamung Hospital gathered evidence at the scene today before transferring the deceased to the Institute of Forensic Medicine to determine the course of the investigation. Ms Duangta had been dead for at least three days in the hostel room she shared with a 77-year-old Irish man being referred to as ‘Mr B’. Other residents in the building had noticed a smell coming from their room and notified authorities but police found no evidence of struggle or a break-in in the room, which Mr B had left on Sunday morning. Authorities later questioned him after finding him walking along Jomtien Beach, where Khaosod reports he claimed Ms Duangta had asked to stay with him from December 18 after being assaulted by another person. Building staff claim that the Irish man had been renting the room since October 16 and frequently brought different women to stay with him. Mr B has been taken to Pattaya City Police Station for further questioning as police investigate his relationship to the deceased and why he had not reported her death.

No David Montgomery, no problem. The Lions continued their prolific ways offensively on Sunday, scoring 34 points and amassing 475 yards of total offense in a winning effort against the Chicago Bears. Related Articles Detroit Lions | ‘We know who we are’: Lions top Bears for franchise-record 13th win Detroit Lions | Takeaways from 34-17 win, as Lions’ offensive stars shine in win over Bears Detroit Lions | Photo gallery from the Lions’ 34-17 road win over the Bears Detroit Lions | Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu active for Lions against Bears Detroit Lions | Lions’ Brandon Joseph was in police custody Saturday, released It marked Detroit’s 13th game in 2024 with 345-or-more total yards, plus the team’s eighth game this season with at least 31 points. The Lions also have now scored 493 total points, the most points ever scored by the franchise in a single season. Along with all that, the Week 16 matchup featured a variety of commonalities for Ben Johnson’s offense. For starters, Jared Goff was “the straw that stirred the drink,” completing 72 percent of his passes and leading the Lions on four touchdown drives (three of which ended with touchdown throws). The veteran quarterback has now thrown a career-best 33 touchdowns. Johnson’s unit also produced its customary series of explosive plays. And on Sunday, it was courtesy of running back Jahmyr Gibbs and wide receiver Jameson Williams. Gibbs more than shouldered the workload out of the backfield in the place of Montgomery. He eluded defenders all game long, en route to accumulating 109 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Plus, he added another 45 yards as a pass-catcher. In totality, the second-year back amassed 154 all-purpose yards, marking his ninth game this season with north of 100 yards from scrimmage. It’s a feat that was last accomplished by a Lions back in 1997, when Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders did so on the way to earning MVP honors. Meanwhile, Williams was the very definition of electric on Sunday. Most notably, he displayed his game-changing speed on his 82-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, easily running past Chicago cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and safety Jonathan Owens on his way to the end zone. “It looked good in practice. That was better than practice,” Lions head man Dan Campbell said of Goff’s deep strike to Williams. “It was a hell of a throw, excellent protection, and man, just a great job on his landmark, hitting it with speed, trusting it, great catch. It was big time.” With the touchdown, the third-year wideout now has totaled four TD receptions of 50-plus yards this season. He is one of only three players in Lions franchise history to achieve the feat in a single season. The others: Detroit legend Calvin Johnson in 2011 and Cloyce Box in 1950. Williams finished the NFC North divisional tilt with five catches and a game-high 143 yards and a score. Unsurprisingly, Amon-Ra St. Brown also played an integral role in the Lions’ triumph over the Bears. Termed the team’s “binky” on offense by Campbell, St. Brown was once again his ultra reliable self. The fourth-year receiver caught six of his eight targets from Goff, including a screen pass late in the second quarter on which he impressively slipped past several Bears defenders into the end zone. He finished the Week 16 contest with six catches for 70 yards and the one score. With the output, St. Brown now holds the distinction of being the only player in Lions franchise history to amass 100 receptions and 10 receiving touchdowns in back-to-back seasons. Plus, on Sunday, he became just the second player in NFL history to record multiple seasons with 100-plus catches, 1,000-plus yards and 10-or-more touchdowns in one’s first four seasons. The other player to accomplish the feat: former longtime Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The Lions, equipped with difference-making pass-catchers like St. Brown and Williams and an explosive back like Gibbs, are able to attack opposing defenses in a multitude of ways. Goff can beat the opposition both short and deep with those weapons – along with tight end Sam LaPorta – at his disposal. And Gibbs, with his immense talent, has the ability to break off a big run at any point in a game. As if that weren’t already enough for Detroit’s opponents to handle, Johnson’s offense also has mastered the ability to throw off defenses through the element of surprise. Whether a fake punt or a goal-line pass drawn up for an eligible offensive lineman (e.g. Dan Skipper), you never quite know what Johnson has up his sleeve. And on Sunday, the play-caller went into his bag of tricks once again, and pulled out his most creative play design of the season thus far. It came on the opening possession of the second half. After starting off on their own 21-yard line, Goff & Co. had driven all the way to the Bears’ 21-yard line in a mere four plays. It set up arguably the fake of the season not only for the Lions but also for the entire NFL. On the play, Goff, with Detroit lined up in the singleback formation, appeared to stumble upon taking the snap while Gibbs fell to the Soldier Field grass. All the while, you could hear members of Detroit’s offense yelling, “Ball, ball, ball, ball” and “fumble, fumble.” It all proved to be intentional, however, and a fine display of acting from Johnson’s unit. Goff never lost possession of the football, and remained on his feet as he found a wide-open LaPorta for a 21-yard TD pass. It was a stroke of genius from Johnson, and executed to perfection by the Lions’ veteran signal-caller and the offense. “I think that part where Gibbs, where he dives, really sells the play,” Goff said in the postgame. “I’m only doing half of it. It worked like a charm, and it was nice to score there.” No ifs, ands, or buts about it, the Lions delivered a masterful offensive performance Sunday. And it couldn’t have come at a better time for Detroit’s fanbase, which needed a huge pick-me-up after the team’s loss to the Bills a week ago. Sure, this offensive output came against the lowly Bears, and doesn’t guarantee success for Campbell’s injury-ravaged squad the rest of the season (and in the playoffs). However, in the spirit of the Christmas season, it’s time to drop the negativity (at least temporarily), and to celebrate the one thing that has remained constant for the team in 2024: its offensive productivity. Lions fans absolutely should cherish the “gift” that is Detroit’s high-powered offense this Christmas. This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lionsAmerican Airlines fixes technical issue that halted Christmas Eve flights

Holy Cow! History: Britain’s lost knocker-uppers

SAN ANTONIO — Colorado secured what it said was record insurance coverage for quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter as the star duo opted to complete their college careers in the Alamo Bowl rather than sit out and prepare for the NFL draft. Colorado would not disclose the amount of insurance coverage each received, citing privacy laws. Coach Deion Sanders and athletic director Rick George both said it was the largest in college football history. "We happen to have two players that are probably going to be the first two picks of the NFL draft," Sanders said Monday. "We all know who those two are and they have received, I think, the highest number of coverage that has ever been covered in college football. It far exceeds anyone that has ever played this game of college football." While college programs maintain insurance policies for their athletes in case of injury, Colorado increased disability coverage for its entire roster in the Alamo Bowl. Sanders, the coach of the No. 20 Buffaloes, ensured his QB son and two-way star Hunter received larger policies since both are expected to be among the top 10 selections in the upcoming NFL draft. "It was his idea we should get disability insurance for our athletes for this game to ensure that they played and if there was some kind of injury that they would be well taken care of," George said. "So, we worked together on that. We're excited about it. We think it's great that all our players are playing in the game. That's what all bowl games should be like." Colorado (9-3, No. 23 CFP) will face the 17th-ranked BYU Cougars (10-2, No. 17 CFP) in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday. While most teams are scrambling with starters opting out of bowl games this year to enter the transfer portal or NFL draft, the Buffaloes did not lose any player on their two-deep roster. "It's more than what I got (when he played at Kansas State)," Colorado linebackers coach Andre' Hart said. "They gave us a helmet and said pop this on your leg and get out there and play. For them to get that (increased insurance coverage), I just think it's beneficial. To talk about where the game is, where it's going and how leadership is taking care of the players, I thought that's excellent." Shedeur Sanders completed 337 of 454 passes for 3,926 yards and 35 touchdowns this season. Many scouting services have Sanders rated as the top quarterback in this year's draft. Hunter received the Heisman Trophy as a two-way standout at cornerback and wide receiver. He had 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns and as a cornerback had four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and limited the opposition to 22 receptions on 688 defensive snaps. "They've taken care of us, everybody," Colorado running back Micah Welch said. "It really means a lot to have every teammate up here. That's a big thing. What I like about Coach Prime, they're taking care of us." Get local news delivered to your inbox!Saratoga Springs Police Department implementing new Axon Fusus software

Earl Holliman , an actor with scores of credits spanning a half-century that ranged 1950s films Forbidden Planet and Giant to Police Woman and popular ’70s and ’80s TV dramas and the syndicated superhero series NightMan, died Monday after a short illness. He was 96. His niece, Theresa Mullins Harris, announced the news on social media , writing in part: “His dream at 5 years old of becoming a movie star came true, more than he ever could have imagined.” Holliman won a Supporting Actor Golden Globe for 1957’s The Rainmaker and was nominated for the short-lived early-’90s ABC sitcom Delta , starring Delta Burke. He was a series regular on the latter, playing the understanding owner of a bar where aspiring country singer Delta Bishop (Burke) worked while trying to make it. Born on September 11, 1928, Holliman began his screen career with roles in 1950s movies including the sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet and James Dean’s final film Giant among many others. He co-starred opposite Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn in The Rainmaker as Jim Curry, the randy brother of Hepburn’s spinster Lizzie. Holliman had done several guest-starring roles on 1950s TV before landing his first starring role on the CBS western Hotel de Paree. He toplined as Sundance, who accidentally had killed a man in Colorado town but returned after a long prison term. When he got back to town, the hotel was being run by two of his victim’s relatives (Jeanette Nolan and Judi Meredith). Sundance got a job as a strongarm and peacekeeper. Among his stocks in trade were shiny discs in his hatband that could blind any rivals. The series failed to catch on in a three-network universe where half of the Top 20 series were westerns, and it aired just one season min 1959-60. Holliman continued to guest on TV before landing a second series-regular role on Wide Country, starring as a champion bronc buster who made the rodeo-circuit rounds while trying to keep his younger brother (Andrew Prine) from following in his footsteps. The NBC western also lasted a single season in 1962-63. MORE TO COME... DEADLINE RELATED VIDEO:

ESPN will be embarking on an unusual broadcasting task which is part of the new 12-team College Football Playoff. The network's broadcast job will cause a huge blow to the rivals NBC over the expanded playoff. The 11-1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish will play host to the 11-1 Indiana Hoosiers in the first-ever game of the College Football Playoff. The game is set for Friday, December 20th at 8:00 pm Eastern and will air on ESPN and ABC. The contest will also be the first Notre Dame game not to be broadcast on NBC or Peacock since 1990. Journalist Timothy Burke reported on Bluesky that the Indiana-Notre Dame game will be the first Fighting Irish home game to air on a non-NBC network since November 17, 1990. Read More on College Football On that date, the Fighting Irish faced the Penn State Nittany Lions in a game broadcast by ESPN. Notre Dame and NBC currently have a broadcasting contract that will have the team's home games remain on the network through 2029. The deal was agreed on last year and NBC is said to be paying an annual fee of roughly $50 million. NBC was one of numerous media companies that were interested in bids for the expanded CFP but lost out on acquiring those rights. Most read in American Football Due to the new playoff format, more Fighting Irish home games could air outside of the NBC network. Notre Dame finished as the No. 7 seed which allowed ESPN to broadcast the game. If the Fighting Irish finish between the No. 5 and No. 8 seed, as they did this campaign, ESPN or TNT, who sublicenses hand-picked first-round CFP games from ESPN, could have the chance to broadcast a game live from South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame has gotten big TV ratings for NBC this fall, per Nielsen figures cited by Sports Media Watch. Two games each hit 4 million viewers, one against Northern Illinois in September and Army in November. The most viewers for a Fighting Irish game came when they went on the road to take on the Texas A&M Aggies to start the season. That game reached close to 8 million people who watched the game on ABC.Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death rowLAS VEGAS (AP) — Brett Howden scored his 15th goal of the season and Ilya Samsonov stopped 31 shots as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Calgary Flames 3-0 on Sunday night. Howden redirected defenseman Alex Pietrangelo’s shot from the top of the slot late in the second period and is now tied with Ivan Barbashev for the team lead in goals. Howden has scored a goal in four of the last five games. Victor Olofsson and Tanner Pearson also scored for the Golden Knights, who have shut out Calgary twice this season, beating them 5-0 on Oct. 28 . Dan Vladar made 34 saves for Calgary. The Golden Knights have now won six straight, the longest active win streak in the NHL, while improving to 25-8-3 on the year. They own a 13-2-1 record against Pacific Division opponents. Calgary (17-12-7) dropped to 4-4-1 against Pacific Division teams. Takeaways Calgary: The Flames played in their fourth back-to-back set following Saturday’s 3-1 win in San Jose. Calgary is 3-1-0 in game one of a back-to-back scenario and dropped to 1-3-0 in game two of back-to-backs. Vegas: The Golden Knights scored twice in the third period and now boast a league-best plus-30 goal differential in the third period. Key Moment Spanning the end of the first period and into the second period, the Golden Knights were successful in staving off a Calgary power play, which included a 5-on-3 for roughly a minute after Howden was given a double-minor for a high stick to Jonathan Huberdeau’s head. Samsonov stopped five shots during the entire sequence. Key stat 200 — Jack Eichel played in his 200th game as a Golden Knight, while Bruce Cassidy coached his 200th game with Vegas. Up next The Flames host Vancouver on Tuesday. Vegas will host Montreal on Tuesday. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl W.g. Ramirez, The Associated Press

More Scots business owners anticipate higher turnover in 2025, poll suggestsDexter: Original Sin will take audiences back in time to find out how the man became the monster — er, the monster-slayer — in the Showtime thriller. The prequel series, which premieres on Paramount+ with Showtime on Friday, December 13, takes place 15 years before we first met Dexter (then played by Michael C. Hall , who still narrates the new series) in the original Dexter . Taking over the title role in this iteration is Patrick Gibson , who has the character’s steely-eyed stares and smug sauntering style down to a science. With new characters being introduced in some familiar settings, the new series will bring some new details about Dexter’s past to light, but it will also inevitably retread some familiar territory from the first show, which had ample flashbacks. Here’s what to remember about Dexter ‘s past before Dexter: Original Sin . Dexter didn’t find out until he was a fully grown serial murderer that he had a big brother who was also running around slaughtering people. The Ice Truck Killer who stalked Dexter was actually Brian Moser, his slightly older brother who was not adopted (or even mentioned) by Harry. Dexter only found out about Brian because the Ice Truck Killer left clues that were tailored to catch his attention — reminding him of scenes from his past as part of the Morgan family. Laura Moser was the single mother to Brian and Dexter and worked as a confidential informant for Harry and the Miami-Metro Police Department against the Colombian cartel. She was brutally dismembered right in front of Brian and Dexter, who were left wading in her blood inside a shipping container. Harry adopted Dexter as his own upon finding him in the container, but Brian was sent into the foster system. In flashbacks in Dexter , it became clear that he was not a normal teenager with typical feelings or tendencies. In fact, he had an innate bloodlust that his father recognized and tried to quell with hunting trips, to the exclusion of his daughter Debra. Harry wanted to protect Dexter from himself — particularly his self-destructive impulses. Though Harry tried to find other ways for Dexter to quench his thirst for blood, so to speak, he soon gave in and encouraged him to kill someone when he discovered Nurse Mary was poisoning Harry and other patients in the hospital after his heart attack. Once Dexter began to kill, Harry worked hard to create a framework for his adoptive son to work within that, if he followed it to the letter, would keep his morality and freedom intact. The rules included being certain that the mark was worthy of being murdered and leaving no trace of evidence behind. Even after Harry’s death, Dexter worked to strictly adhere to this code in every kill. Randy Tepper/Showtime Dexter repeatedly revealed that he felt empty on the inside, and it was Harry who taught him to feign normal human feelings and social interactions around others — even if it meant faking a smile in his own family photos. Little by little throughout Dexter , we learn that Harry Morgan had several affairs while married to Doris, including with Laura Morgan and another confidential informant. Though Harry is definitely the most common star of Dexter’s flashback memories, his adoptive mother Doris is also a fixture of his past. She died when Deb was 16 and didn’t know about Dexter’s violent tendencies, even if she didn’t totally understand him at times. Dexter: Original Sin , Series Premiere, Streaming, Friday, December 13, Paramount+ with Showtime, Sunday, December 15, 10/9c, Paramount+ with Showtime More Headlines:

'They have to be favourites' - Liverpool 'perfect' in Champions League

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.Hezbollah leaders also signalled tentative backing for the US-brokered deal, which offers both sides an off-ramp from hostilities that have driven more than 1.2 million Lebanese and 50,000 Israelis from their homes. An intense bombing campaign by Israel has killed more than 3,700 people, many of them civilians, Lebanese officials say. But while the deal, set to take effect early Wednesday, could significantly calm the tensions that have inflamed the region, it does little directly to resolve the much deadlier war that has raged in Gaza since the Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that killed 1,200 people. Hezbollah, which began firing scores of rockets into Israel the following day in support of Hamas, has previously said it would keep fighting until there was a stop to the fighting in Gaza. Here’s what to know about the tentative ceasefire agreement and its potential implications: – The terms of the deal The agreement reportedly calls for a 60-day halt in fighting that would see Israeli troops retreat to their side of the border while requiring Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swathe of southern Lebanon. Us President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that the deal is set to take effect at 4am local time on Wednesday. Under the deal, thousands of Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers are to deploy to the region south of the Litani River. An international panel lead by the US would monitor compliance by all sides. Mr Biden said the deal “was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, insisted on Tuesday that the military would strike Hezbollah if the UN peacekeeping force, known as Unifil, does not provide “effective enforcement” of the deal. – Lingering uncertainty A Hezbollah leader said the group’s support for the deal hinged on clarity that Israel would not renew its attacks. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Qatari satellite news network Al Jazeera. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state” of Lebanon, he said. The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday that Israel’s security concerns had been addressed in the deal also brokered by France. – Where the fighting has left both sides After months of cross-border bombings, Israel can claim major victories, including the killing of Hezbollah’s top leader, Hassan Nasrallah, most of his senior commanders and the destruction of extensive militant infrastructure. A complex attack in September involving the explosion of hundreds of walkie-talkies and pagers used by Hezbollah was widely attributed to Israel, signalling a remarkable penetration of the militant group. The damage inflicted on Hezbollah has come not only in its ranks, but to the reputation it built by fighting Israel to a stalemate in the 2006 war. Still, its fighters managed to put up heavy resistance on the ground, slowing Israel’s advance while continuing to fire scores of rockets, missiles and drones across the border each day. The ceasefire offers relief to both sides, giving Israel’s overstretched army a break and allowing Hezbollah leaders to tout the group’s effectiveness in holding their ground despite Israel’s massive advantage in weaponry. But the group is likely to face a reckoning, with many Lebanese accusing it of tying their country’s fate to Gaza’s at the service of key ally Iran, inflicting great damage on a Lebanese economy that was already in a grave condition. – No answers for Gaza Until now, Hezbollah has insisted that it would only halt its attacks on Israel when it agreed to stop fighting in Gaza. Some in the region are likely to view a deal between the Lebanon-based group and Israel as a capitulation. In Gaza, where officials say the war has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians, Israel’s attacks have inflicted a heavy toll on Hamas, including the killing of the group’s top leaders. But Hamas fighters continue to hold scores of Israeli hostages, giving the militant group a bargaining chip if indirect ceasefire negotiations resume. Hamas is likely to continue to demand a lasting truce and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in any such deal. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas offered a pointed reminder on Tuesday of the intractability of the war, demanding urgent international intervention. “The only way to halt the dangerous escalation we are witnessing in the region, and maintain regional and international stability, security and peace, is to resolve the question of Palestine,” he said in a speech to the UN read by his ambassador.