The noose is tightening around southern Lebanon. As the Israeli military steps up its ground operations—losing nine soldiers earlier today—and intensifying its bombing campaign against Hizbullah targets, small towns are being cut off from the rest of the country, and civilians, like Gaith, are getting caught in the cross-fire. So are other noncombatants on the scene: two ambulances from the Red Cross were bombed on Sunday and four United Nations peacekeepers were killed in a missile attack on their base yesterday....

Emotional Experiencing constipation can greatly affect your quality of life. Research shows that constipation leads to significant psychological and social distress. It can affect your relationships as well. A 2020 study found that opioid-induced constipation is linked to a lower quality of life and a lessened ability to perform daily activities. This condition has been found to affect one’s ability to walk, work, sleep, and socialize with others. Quality of life tends to worsen when the constipation symptoms last for a long period of time....

After the game, the university auctioned off the lids, some of which were signed by notable alumni like Phil Knight and Joey Harrison and raised more than $200,000. The proceeds were donated to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund -- a fund established in the name of the former women's basketball coach at North Carolina State University for research and programs involving types of cancer that affect women. “Cancer has touched so many lives and hopefully, together with Nike and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, we can help create awareness and help raise money for the fight against women’s cancers,” coach Mark Helfrich said in a statement....

Jeremy Stiles, 47, of Portland, was on the shore at the Falcon Cove area with his children when they were all pulled into the ocean by a wave, state police said. Police responded to the scene, near the county line of Clatsop County and Tillamook County, shortly before 1 p.m. After a rescue operation, the 7-year-old girl was brought to hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A search for the boy has since been suspended “indefinitely,” The Oregonian reported....

Health officials reported 7,615 new COVID cases Thursday. The state record before this week of 3,207 cases in a day was set in August. Oregon averaged 4,001 COVID cases the past week. That figure is up 162 percent from just last Thursday. The infections are being driven by the Omicron variant, which is highly contagious, although less severe. Much of the spread occurred since Christmas. Almost 25 percent of the state’s reported COVID tests were positive on Thursday, as well....

You can bet two Roberto Aguayo field goals in FSU’s first three red zone trips wasn’t what Jimbo Fisher expected. UPDATE: It’s over — Oregon routs FSU in first College Football Playoff semifinal MORE: New Year’s Day big start | Bowl photos | Scoreboard But the Seminoles recovered from a slow start to pull within 18-13 at the half against the second-seeded Ducks. The winner of the Rose Bowl semifinal will plays the winner of Thursday night’s Sugar Bowl matchup between No....

Cristobal, who takes over full-time as the Ducks’ head coach thanks to much input from his players, will try and improve on a 7-6 outing that saw their season end with a 38-28 loss to Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl. MORE: Pac-12 2018 season primer Oregon only faces two teams on Sporting News’ way-too-early top 25 and avoids USC in the Pac-12 South, though it remains to be seen what exactly Year 1 of the Cristobal era will look like in Eugene....

The Line: Oregon -9, Total: 61 Line movement: Around Las Vegas, Oregon opened at -9.5 or -10, and the line moved toward the dog in early wagering. Midweek, the spread ranged from -8.5 or -9.5. The Westgate took a quick dip to Oregon -8 only to have it move up to -8.5. The South Point opened at -9.5, moved up to -10 and then down to -8.5. For updated spreads and totals from around Las Vegas, visit our live odds page ....

He was arrested by Eugene police at roughly 3:15 a.m. early Saturday after crashing into a McDonald’s drive-through. He was booked into Lane County Jail at 5:28 a.m. and left at 6:30 a.m. after getting out on $580 bail. MORE: Former Ducks standout escapes jail with four months left in sentence First-year Oregon coach Willie Taggart said Carrington has been suspended indefinitely from the program, and said the university is gathering facts in his arrest....

If you’re wondering whether that’s an MLB record, it’s not. But it’s extremely close. Eugenio Velez owns the record (by a position player) with an 0-for-46 streak, and surprisingly three people (Bill Bergen, Dave Campbell, Craig Counsell) share an 0-for-45 streak. So while Davis is not alone in his misery, it is still pretty amazing to see a professional baseball player not be able to record a hit in so many at-bats....

The O’s reportedly had concerns about Gallardo’s physical exam, which revealed wear in the right-hander’s pitching shoulder. Others believed Baltimore simply had buyer’s remorse and just wanted to spend less money. MORE: Fantasy: Key players on new teams | Every AL team has a shot The original deal was worth $35 million. The new contract guarantees $22 million and could rise to $33 million if the Orioles exercise the option, according to MLB....

Britton allowed one run in 58 appearances dating to May 5; that’s a 0.16 ERA. He had not given up a lead or handed over a tie game during that span. And yet, during a winner-take-all playoff game, he did not pitch. MORE: Top 50 players in the playoffs It has become standard practice in baseball for teams to save their best reliever for when they get a lead, rather than use him in an attempt to establish one....

CONCACAF aiming for joint World Cup bid The 23-year-old midfielder returns to MLS having made just 10 appearances for Queretaro since joining the Mexican side in December 2015. Gil played for Real Salt Lake from 2010 to 2015, making 145 MLS appearances and starting the 2014 MLS Cup final. Four of his five seasons with RSL were played under Jason Kreis, who took over as Orlando coach last summer....

PRETORIA, South Africa — Prosecutors in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial on Thursday displayed a sequence of photos showing the blood stains and blood spatter found on the floors, walls, stairs and chairs in the athlete's house after he fatally shot his girlfriend. In one photograph displayed on TV monitors in the courtroom, spots of blood were seen right next to some of the double-amputee Olympian and multiple Paralympic champion's golden trophies....

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters Thursday that Grzelcyk is in the concussion protocol and will not travel with the team to St. Louis ahead of Saturday’s Game 3. Sundqvist delivered a high hit against the boards to Grzelcyk in the first period of Wednesday’s game, which the Blues eventually won 3-2 in overtime. Grzelcyk stayed down on the ice and eventually had to be helped to the locker room after the hit....

Sleep deprivation is common when you’re caring for a baby. You may also have trouble falling or staying asleep (insomnia). If you’re breastfeeding, the stress of adjusting to a new routine, swollen breasts, nighttime nursing, and the lingering pain from giving birth can make it harder to get a good night’s sleep. This article covers sleep problems you might have while you’re breastfeeding. It also goes over the options you have to improve your sleep, including the possible risks and safety concerns of using OTC medications and supplements like melatonin while you’re nursing....

“He asked me to fight, so I couldn’t turn that down,” Pageau told reporters after the game. “I think we’re winning with having him sitting in the bench for five minutes. He’s obviously one of their best players… to have him sit for five minutes, it’s good for our team.” Pageau later added a goal and an assist for a Gordie Howe hat trick, which he said may be his last for a while....

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we won’t be publishing a newsletter, here are The Linemakers’ leans for all five football games on the betting card: Bears at Lions (-7, 47.5), 12:30 p.m. ET, CBS While the Bears’ two-game win streak has come against weaker teams, it’s still a positive for one of the most disappointing teams in the league and something for them to build on. The Lions have lost their last two, scoring only 15 points combined....

Luxury? Nyet! The seven-seat UAZ is a nuts ‘if bolts car. In fact, bolts are in plain view on the rounded ’50s chassis. As William Anderson Jr., head of UAZ of America, brags: “You won’t find any computers under these hoods. They’re made the way cars used to be made.” Down to a Model T-like hand crank in case the battery dies. The UAZ’s four-cylinder engine runs on 76 octane gas (vodka might do), but will be retooled to meet EPA codes and raise its 18-mpg fuel efficiency....

The Perdue Chicken Twitter account addressed concerns over the lawmaker’s remarks in over a dozen tweets on Saturday morning, assuring critics that the senator is in no way affiliated with the brand. “Hi there, Julie. I can assure you that David Perdue has no affiliation with the Perdue brand,” reads the most recent tweet from Perdue Chicken, attributed to a person named Eliza. Users have been consistently tweeting their disapproval of the senator’s mispronunciation of Harris’ name....