name of 5 games
name of 5 games
From Squid Game to Blackpink, how South Korea became culture powerhouseSaquon Barkley ninth player with 2,000-yard rushing season
Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Officer kills pet dog mistaken for a coyote in Massachusetts town. The owner says it was unnecessary An animal control officer shot and killed a pet dog in a Massachusetts town after mistaking it for a coyote in an incident local police are describing as a sad mix-up. Police in Northbridge, Massachusetts, say the shooting happened on Tuesday after police received a call of a report of a coyote in a residential backyard. Police say the animal control officer went into the woods to look for the coyote and found what they thought was the animal in a threatening position and shot it. The incident happened as communities around Massachusetts and the country have dealt with an uptick in interactions between coyotes and people. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat sent to restaurants nationwide. Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli, which can cause life-threatening infections. No illnesses have been reported outside of Minnesota. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City.This Black Friday, Samsung is offering an incredible (and unprecedented) deal on its flagship tablet, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra . As part of its extensive holiday sale which includes discounts on smartphones, earbuds, TVs and home appliances, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra stands out as the best deals available. With an immediate discount of $200 off the original price, the 256GB model is now priced at $999 instead of $1,199. However, the real excitement comes from Samsung’s trade-in offer that can bring the price down to an astonishing $199—an impressive 85% off the original price . See Tab S10 Ultra at Samsung.com Samsung’s unique trade-in program adds a true layer of value to this offer: by trading in any old tablet—regardless of age or brand—you will receive a guaranteed credit of at least $300 towards your new purchase . This means that even if you have an older device lying around, you can still benefit from significant savings on this luxury Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. For those who might find the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra a bit too premium (and too expensive) for their needs, Samsung also offers the Galaxy Tab S10+ which is available for just $149 instead of $999 through similar trade-in discounts . While slightly less powerful than its Ultra counterpart, the Tab S10+ still boasts impressive features and performance that make it an excellent choice. See Tab S10+ at Samsung.com Forget About iPad Pros The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a powerhouse of technology designed to meet the demands of both productivity and entertainment, and it competes with the latest iPad Pro. It features a stunning 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (probably better than the iPad’s one) with a resolution of 2960×1848 pixels which delivers vibrant colors and deep contrasts that make everything from streaming your favorite shows to working on graphic design projects a visual delight. The screen’s HDR support enhances brightness and color accuracy and ensures that every image pops with life. At the heart of this device is the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chip which provides exceptional performance that rivals many... laptops! This means whether you’re multitasking or diving into high-performance gaming, the Tab S10 Ultra handles it all with ease. It also has a robust battery life that offers up to 16 hours of usage on a single charge so that you can rely on this tablet to keep up with your busy lifestyle. In addition to these fantastic savings, Samsung Rewards members will earn 1.5% cashback on their purchase which can be redeemed for future purchases or accessories. This means that not only are you getting a great deal on the tablet itself but you’re also rewarded for your loyalty with additional savings. And if you’re considering accessories, purchasing the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra also grants you access to over 40% off select accessories like the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Buds3 Pro . This makes it easier than ever to create an interconnected ecosystem of devices that work seamlessly together. See Tab S10 Ultra at Samsung.com
Raiders TE Brock Bowers sets two rookie records, one team mark
‘Vanderpump Rules’ Star Scheana Shay Reveals How Taylor Swift Inspired Her Upcoming EPDevon Conway Skips Third Test for Family's Joy: Mark Chapman Makes Debut
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to implement the “toughest” anti-U.S. policy, state media reported Sunday, less than a month before Donald Trump takes office as U.S. president. Trump’s return to the White House raises prospects for high-profile diplomacy with North Korea. During his first term, Trump met Kim three times for talks on the North’s nuclear program. Many experts however say a quick resumption of Kim-Trump summitry is unlikely as Trump would first focus on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. North Korea’s support for Russia’s war against Ukraine also poses a challenge to efforts to revive diplomacy, experts say. During a five-day plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party that ended Friday, Kim called the U.S. “the most reactionary state that regards anti-communism as its invariable state policy.” Kim said that the U.S.-South Korea-Japan security partnership is expanding into “a nuclear military bloc for aggression.” “This reality clearly shows to which direction we should advance and what we should do and how,” Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. It said Kim’s speech “clarified the strategy for the toughest anti-U.S. counteraction to be launched aggressively” by North Korea for its long-term national interests and security. KCNA didn’t elaborate on the anti-U.S. strategy. But it said Kim set forth tasks to bolster military capability through defence technology advancements and stressed the need to improve the mental toughness of North Korean soldiers. The previous meetings between Trump and Kim had not only put an end to their exchanges of fiery rhetoric and threats of destruction, but they developed personal connections. Trump once famously said he and Kim “fell in love.” But their talks eventually collapsed in 2019, as they wrangled over U.S.-led sanctions on the North. North Korea has since sharply increased the pace of its weapons testing activities to build more reliable nuclear missiles targeting the U.S. and its allies. The U.S. and South Korea have responded by expanding their military bilateral drills and also trilateral ones involving Japan, drawing strong rebukes from the North, which views such U.S.-led exercises as invasion rehearsals. Further complicating efforts to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons in return for economic and political benefits is its deepening military co-operation with Russia. According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops and conventional weapons systems to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine. There are concerns that Russia could give North Korea advanced weapons technology in return, including help to build more powerful nuclear missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in Russia’s Kursk region. It was the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties since the North Korean troop deployment to Russia began in October. Russia and China, locked in separate disputes with the U.S., have repeatedly blocked U.S.-led pushes to levy more U.N. sanctions on North Korea despite its repeated missile tests in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Last month, Kim said that his past negotiations with the United States only confirmed Washington’s “unchangeable” hostility toward his country and described his nuclear buildup as the only way to counter external threats.None
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a "tragic incident" following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people, but stopped short of acknowledging that Moscow was responsible. Putin's apology came as allegations mounted that Russian air defenses shot down the plane while attempting to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya. Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference Saturday at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. An official Kremlin statement issued Saturday said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny airport as the airliner "repeatedly" attempted to land there on Wednesday. It did not explicitly say one of these hit the plane. The statement said Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev "for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace." The readout said Russia has launched a criminal probe into the incident, and Azerbaijani state prosecutors have arrived in Grozny to participate. The Kremlin also said that "relevant services" from Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are jointly investigating the crash site near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. The plane was flying from Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, to Grozny when it turned toward Kazakhstan, hundreds of miles across the Caspian Sea from its intended destination, and crashed while attempting to land. There were 29 survivors. According to a readout of the call provided by Aliyev's press office, the Azerbaijani president told Putin that the plane was subject to "external physical and technical interference," though he also stopped short of blaming Russian air defenses. Part of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane lies on the ground Thursday near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan. Aliyev noted the plane had holes in its fuselage and the occupants sustained injuries "due to foreign particles penetrating the cabin mid-flight." He said that a team of international experts began a probe of the incident at Azerbaijan's initiative, but provided no details. Earlier this week, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's office confirmed that investigators from Azerbaijan are working in Grozny. On Friday, a U.S. official and an Azerbaijani minister made separate statements blaming the crash on an external weapon, echoing those made by aviation experts who blamed the crash on Russian air defense systems responding to a Ukrainian attack. U.S. President Joe Biden, responding Saturday to a reporter asking whether he thought Putin should take responsibility for the crash, said: "Apparently he did but I haven't spoken to him." Biden made the comment after leaving church in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Passengers and crew members who survived the crash told Azerbaijani media they heard loud noises on the aircraft as it circled over Grozny. Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia's civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia, said Friday that as the plane was preparing to land in Grozny in deep fog, Ukrainian drones were targeting the city, prompting authorities to close the area to air traffic. Yadrov said after the captain made two unsuccessful attempts to land, he was offered other airports but decided to fly to Aktau. People attend a funeral Saturday for Mahammadali Eganov, who died in the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 crash near the Kazakhstan's airport of Aktau at the age of 13, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Earlier this past week, Rosaviatsia cited unspecified early evidence as showing that a bird strike led to an emergency on board. In the days following the crash, Azerbaijan Airlines blamed "physical and technical interference" and announced the suspension of flights to several Russian airports. It didn't say where the interference came from or provide any further details. If proven that the plane crashed after being hit by Russian fire, it would be the second deadly civil aviation accident linked to fighting in Ukraine. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed with a Russian surface-to-air missile, killing all 298 people aboard, as it flew over the area in eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed separatists in 2014. Russia denied responsibility but a Dutch court in 2022 convicted two Russians and a pro-Russia Ukrainian man for their role in downing the plane with an air defense system brought into Ukraine from a Russian military base. The grave of Mahammadali Eganov, 13, who died in the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 crash near the Kazakhstan's Aktau airport, is seen Saturday in Baku, Azerbaijan. Following Wednesday's suspension of flights from Baku to Grozny and nearby Makhachkala, Azerbaijan Airlines announced Friday that it would also halt service to eight more Russian cities. Several other airlines made similar announcements since the crash. Kazakhstan's Qazaq Air on Friday said it would stop flying from Astana to the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains for a month. Turkmenistan Airlines, the Central Asian country's flagship carrier, on Saturday halted flights to Moscow for at least a month, citing safety concerns. Earlier this past week, Israel's El Al carrier suspended service from Tel Aviv to the Russian capital, citing "developments in Russia's airspace." Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Neal Maupay: Whenever I’m having a bad day I check Everton score and smile
Teen Charged Again for Threats Leading to Chartiers Valley School District ShutdownYour weekly horoscope is here . The countdown is on! This week sees us waving sayonara to 2024, hello 2025! New year, new you! La Luna helms the new year with a new moon on Monday, so your new year intentions catch the upswing on the lunar cycle. As we breeze through the last few days of 2024, take stock, reflect, and write or share in a circle with friends and family. Let go of what you’re not taking into 2025! Then focus on what you’re grateful for. This sets up the perfect potion for inviting in those wishes and plans for the coming year. New Year’s plans benefit from a range of different kinds of people, or a group you’re part of, since the moon is in quirky, friendship-oriented Aquarius. On Thursday, Venus moves into glamorous Pisces, so remember we’re wearing rose-tinted glasses when it comes to love and aesthetics! Read on to discover what’s in store for your sign during the week of December 29, 2024, through January 4, 2025. Aries It’s new moon, new year, new you time, Aries. This week’s new moon falls in your professional and public image sphere, so contemplate your aspirations, get clear, and write your manifesto for the year ahead. You’re a sign that likes a target, so give yourself a clear goal to focus your foundational steps and decisions through the year. Think about how you want to be seen, what you want to achieve, status, recognition, and what you want to build. Structure and strategy are key, so lean into them. Learn different types of business structures, etc., and it will hold you in good stead. How do you wish to be seen? Show up as that person consistently. Venus in your sphere of sleep and dreams suggests some time out to get in touch with your desires, what brings you pleasure, and the more artistic, altruistic, subtle side of life. Taurus A new moon in your sphere of long-range vision (and travel), personal philosophy, and study suggests doubling down on this season’s planning. It may be the festive holiday season, but perhaps that gives you time out of your usual routine to open your mind to possibility. Write a list of how you will be expanding your horizons in 2025 and beyond—where and how you envision personal growth as well as professional—and commit to the potential. Happy New Year for Wednesday! On Thursday, your ruling planet Venus switches signs, this month gliding through sensitive Pisces. This bodes well for love, beauty, aesthetics, and creativity. Those invites keep rolling in past the party season with Venus activating your zone of friendships and groups, so work your magic on new connections and keep up with your favorites. Gemini This final week of 2024 hosts the new moon, activating your sphere of shared resources with themes of professional and long-term strategy, planning, and partnership. Set your intentions for what you want to achieve with and via others and their resources, while bringing your own best in show, of course. Aligning almost with the new year and covering the time we tend to set our New Year’s resolutions, the skies couldn’t be more in our favor for goal-setting. New Year’s Day, the moon moves into a social sign that prefers the broad mix of a group, so if you’re out and about or favoring New Year’s Day celebrations over NYE, then work the crowd! Be that social butterfly and pick up all the links, ideas, stories, contacts, and networks, as they may turn out to broaden your mind and horizons. 2025 puts your sign into even more of a focus, continuing a pattern of growth and change that will last several years, so embrace the new and be the change you want to see in the world! Cancer It’s finally here—the end-of-year peak in expectation, good intentions, and valiant resolutions! Since a new moon precedes the new year, set your resolutions on its lunar cycle so they grow with its light. And of course, as we do what is in our power to do, we achieve them. Set your goal for a peak or harvest in six months’ time, then a closing of the cycle for this time next year. The new moon is activating your relationship sphere, so add some specifics for that area of life. What are you grateful for now? What are you calling in? Feel, and experience in your body and imagination, the partnerships that mutually amplify you. What kind of person do you need, and what kind of partner do you need to be—especially to yourself? Happy New Year, Cancer! Leo Is it the roaring twenties yet? With the new year fast approaching, we’re halfway through the decade, so Leos, it’s up to you to exercise your roar power in 2025! As a new moon on Monday lights up your sphere of work and wellness, set your professional vision in place to achieve your goals the old-fashioned way: taking dynamic, strategic action toward them. Yes, we can all get lucky, and while we wait for that, we go for it and do what we can ourselves. So set your intentions and resolutions on this new moon. Include wellness habits and commitments you’re able to maintain throughout the year with a clear goal. Perhaps that’s to lift your cardio or lift your spirits, improve flexibility or strength. Don’t go for the Oscar on this one; go for maintaining your schedule! Venus in your sphere of intimacy and others’ resources sounds like some ooh la la is in your immediate future. Enjoy the deep yet practical connections. Virgo Setting off the new year with a new moon in your sphere of love, romance, and creative self-expression? You bet! La luna resets just in time to carry your new year resolutions into 2025 and beyond, so set them for amore, fun, and whatever your idea of a good time looks like. This is also the sphere of fame, so is this your year, Virgo? You have to be in it to win it, so sharpen a talent and resolve to get yourself out there. Hey, it’s the journey that counts, but it doesn’t hurt if you reach an enviable destination! Themes of status, achievement through hard work, strategy, and planning are right up your alley, so put it out there and don’t sweat the details just yet. Get in touch with your dream, whether that’s personal, professional, children, or fame, and have a happy new year! Libra With a new moon rounding out the year, it’s time to set your intentions and lavish on the New Year’s resolutions while you’re there. This time la luna activates your domestic sphere, so dress your home to impress. Themes of structure, old-money aesthetics, and a pragmatic approach to your living space abound. Whether it’s a new look or reconfigured, clear chores list so domestic labor is fair and equal, or setting up your home to support your worldly ambition, set your plans with the new moon on Monday. A challenge from this particular lunation supports you to balance your need for harmony with stepping up and being the boss, and perhaps a fear of conflict through setting that structure and ground rules. Find your own charming way (safely) without rolling over! This looks to be a supportive year ahead, so set your plans in motion early in the new year or ASAP! Scorpio Closing off the year, la luna cycles down to a dark then new moon, so let go with the last of its silver light, and set your intentions and New Year’s resolutions on its fresh phase. In your sphere of siblings, local connections, and shorter-term study or teaching, perhaps now is the time to call a long-lost sister, brother, or cousin. Set those intentions for establishing yourself locally. While the world is indeed becoming more connected, it must be balanced with real face-to-face connection. Take it old school and befriend the baker, barista, and board members of your favorite local club, or become one. With Venus heading into watery Pisces, this combo suits your mystic and intimacy-loving side. Go for woo, fantasy, or a hearty dose of bonding with healthy boundaries. In your sphere of love, art, and leisure, get creative with someone sexy! Sagittarius A focus on your financials takes you through into 2025 as a new moon further activates this topic. Take a pragmatic approach to how you’re earning and consider what is and isn’t working. How can you align what you love to do with what actually converts? There are multiple ways of drawing in an income; however, this month the focus is on a more traditional approach. Reputation is important, so build it. Consider approaches that might not make bank immediately but support you over time. Sometimes it’s not what people know; it’s who they know. Network. Be reliable, take a professional angle, and aim for consistency. Of course, there’s the natural dash and spontaneity of Sagittarius; however, when you aim those arrows, consider, “What would a Capricorn do?” Or someone you know or admire who is financially savvy and in a position you want to be in. Set your intentions on empire this year, Sagittarius—or at least the next layer of the build—and have a happy new year! Capricorn The final new moon of 2024 is hosted by your sign on Monday, so set out a ritual to make the most of it. Clear your space (sage/scent), light a candle or set the atmosphere, and reflect on your year. Let go of what you’re not taking through from this point, from a place of love, gratitude, or at least neutrality. From here, you’re ready to open up to the fresh-pressed year ahead. Write down your plans or intentions, or share in a circle of friends or family. Hold hands once everyone has finished and call the intentions in as a group. Keep it positive like you’re welcoming a guest. Invite that guest in! Visualize and feel yourself living your intentions. Close off the circle or your ritual, and give thanks for your plans working with ease. Happy new year, Capricorn! Aquarius This year brought a shift in energy and perhaps circumstances for you, Aquarius. Expect the trend to continue over the next few years with shifts, jolts, and bolts of lightning, sudden change, opportunities, and consciousness-raising moments. Set intentions on Monday’s new moon for capitalizing on the change and being the change-maker yourself! This is your chance to dial into the classic liberty-and-equality-for-all motto your sign is well known for. Join a board, choose a mentor, find your people. Activating your Zen zone, the new moon taking us into 2025 suggests visiting your liminal spaces, tapping into your subconscious, and certainly getting enough R&R ready to tackle 2025. Pisces Say hello to a social new year as the moon resets in your sphere of special interest groups and friendship circles. Set your intentions and some of those New Year’s resolutions to bloom with the growing light of the moon as it phases up through the first weeks of 2025. Now we’re at a quarter of a century—what do you want to experience, find, develop, etc., in your extended circles? For the next year, 5, or 25... When you have a plan (and most people probably don’t for this arena), you’re much more likely to nail the assignment. Venus heads into Pisces on Thursday—what a great start to the year. Loved up, glowy, and feeling completely extra. And why not?! Fake it till you make it if you’re not quite there; uplift your mood and self concept through imagination, creative self expression, and positive reinforcement. This is a great time to update your look for 2025 with headshots, and your version of personal branding. Enjoy arts, crafts, fantasy, and romance. Vanessa Montgomery—a.k.a. Astro All-Starz—is a professional counseling astrologer and the upcoming author of Astro Power: A Simple Guide to Prediction and Destiny for the Modern Mystic . Aimed at enlightenment and seeing past labels to the oneness that unites us all, Montgomery’s work also helps navigate the practical essentials with grounded cosmic intel. Her motto: Free your mind, own your power, create your world. You can learn more at astroallstarz.com or follow Montgomery on Instagram @astro_allstarz .
A ceasefire deal that went into effect on Wednesday could end more than a year of cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, raising hopes and renewing difficult questions in a region gripped by conflict. The , approved by Israel late Tuesday, calls for an initial two-month halt to fighting and requires Hezbollah to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops are to return to their side of the border. It offers both sides an off-ramp that have driven more than 1.2 million Lebanese and 50,000 Israelis from their homes. An intense bombing campaign by Israel has left more than 3,700 people dead, many of them civilians, Lebanese officials say. Over 130 people have been killed on the Israeli side. But while it could significantly calm the tensions that have inflamed the region, the deal 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, previously said it would keep fighting until there was a stop to the fighting in Gaza. With the new cease-fire, it has backed away from that pledge, in effect leaving Hamas isolated and fighting a war alone. 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 swath of southern Lebanon. President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the deal is set to take effect at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday (9 p.m. EST Tuesday). Under the deal, thousands of Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers are to deploy to the region south of the Litani River. An international panel lead by the U.S. would monitor compliance by all sides. 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, but Lebanese officials rejected writing that into the proposal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that the military would strike Hezbollah if the U.N. peacekeeping force, known as , does not enforce the deal. Lingering uncertainty Hezbollah indicated it would give the ceasefire pact a chance, but one of the group’s leaders 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 Tuesday that Israel’s security concerns had been addressed in the deal. 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, signaling a remarkable penetration of the militant group. The damage inflicted on Hezbollah has hit not only in its ranks, but 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 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, while Netanyahu on Tuesday reiterated his pledge to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are freed. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whose forces were ousted from Gaza by Hamas in 2007 and who hopes to one day rule over the territory again as part of an independent Palestinian state, offered a pointed reminder 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 U.N. read by his ambassador.Bayern Munich entered its Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain knowing that it needed to put away the French powerhouse. It was a wild game, but the Bavarians did — finally — get that signature win that they desperately needed. Let’s talk about how it all went down and more on the Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show. This is what we have on tap: A look at the starting XI. A rundown of the scoring and substitutions. If you were looking for entertainment, the first half had you covered with its frantic pacing. Kingsley Coman cannot hit the broad side of a bard, but he was giving PSG fits. Ousmane Dembélé’s sloppy play got him two yellow cards, which allowed Bayern Munich to just grind away at PSG. Some final thoughts and takeaways on the match. Support Bavarian Podcast Works on Patreon! If you like our podcasts and want more, or just want to listen our episodes ad-free, then support us on Patreon! Every single dollar will be used to help boost the coverage of the team we all love. Mia San Mia. DONATE NOW! Be sure to stay tuned to Bavarian Podcast Works for all of your up to date coverage on Bayern Munich and Germany. Check us out on Patreon and follow us on Twitter @BavarianFBWorks, @BavarianPodcast @TheBarrelBlog, @BFWCyler, @IredahlMarcus, @2012nonexistent, @TommyAdams71 and more.
Baker Mayfield threw for five touchdowns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stayed in the race atop the NFC South by pounding the visiting Carolina Panthers 48-14 on Sunday afternoon. Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan both caught two TD passes and Bucky Irving rushed for 113 yards as Tampa Bay's second victory of the month against Carolina came much easier than the road version in overtime. Mayfield completed 27 of 32 passes for 359 yards and Evans caught eight balls for 97 yards. The Buccaneers (9-7) collected 551 yards of total offense. The Panthers (4-12) have lost five of their last six despite Bryce Young throwing two touchdown passes to Adam Thielen (five catches, 110 receiving yards). Young finished 15-for-28 passing for 203 yards, but Carolina managed only 39 rushing yards as it played without injured top running back Chuba Hubbard. Both of Mayfield's TD tosses to Evans were short (2 yards, 1 yard). Mayfield's scoring throws to McMillian covered 10 and 16 yards. He also had a 5-yard throw to Payne Durham to open the second-half scoring. The Buccaneers also scored off J. J. Russell's blocked punt return during a 25-second span of the third quarter when they racked up 14 points. Chase McLaughlin kicked field goals of 23 and 34 yards for the Buccaneers, who need to finish with a better record than the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional race because the tiebreaker favors Atlanta, which plays at Washington on Sunday night. Tampa Bay hosts New Orleans next weekend, while Carolina plays at Atlanta. After scoring on its first possession, Carolina's next three series on offense resulted in a total of minus-6 yards and three punts. The Buccaneers cashed in for 17 points following those defensive stops. The Panthers perked up by going 70 yards in 21 seconds to score on Young's 40-yard pass to Theilen with 50 seconds left in the half. They got the ball back following a Tampa Bay punt, and were in position to post 10 points in the last minute of the half until Eddy Pineiro's 53-yard field goal attempt was off the mark. Carolina has surrendered more points this year than in any season in franchise history, though Tampa Bay came four points shy of matching the most points ever allowed by the Panthers in a game. --Field Level Media
