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Live updates | Israel plans to step up attacks on the Gaza Strip

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:04 GMT

Aid deliveries have begun moving into the besieged Gaza Strip, two weeks after the militant group Hamas rampaged through southern Israel and Israel responded with airstrikes.Israel says Hamas has freed two American hostages who had been held in Gaza since the war began Oct. 7. Israeli airstrikes continued to hit southern Gaza, an area swollen by civilians who fled there from the north on Israeli instructions. Israel’s military spokesman said the country planned to step up its attacks starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of its war on Hamas.The war, which is in its 15th day on Saturday, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that the death toll has reached 4,385, while 13,561 people have been wounded.More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly in the initial attack on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants stormed into Israel. In addition, 203 people were believed captured by Hamas during the incursion and...

49ers’ McCaffrey practicing, appears more likely to play than Williams, Samuel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:04 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Christian McCaffrey is the most likely of three prominent injured 49ers to play Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings.McCaffrey was on the field practicing with his teammates Saturday during the media window, while left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) and wide receiver Deebo Samuel (shoulder) were not present as the 49ers began team drills.Coach Kyle Shanahan will provide a official injury update following practice before the 49ers (5-1) depart for Minnesota to face the Vikings (2-4).Regarding Williams and Samuel, It’s unusual but not unprecedented for players to miss practice all week and then play in a game.A Monday night game gives players an extra day to heal up, which 49ers general manager John Lynch said is a bigger deal than it may seem.Christian McCaffrey practicing Saturday for #49ers. No sign of Deebo Samuel,Trent Williams during media window. pic.twitter.com/JthDbM8DW4— Jerry McDonald (@Jerrymcd) October 21, 2023“It’s a good ...

Premier League mourns death of Bobby Charlton. Man City and Liverpool get back on track with wins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:04 GMT

LONDON (AP) — On a day when English soccer mourned the passing of Bobby Charlton, Manchester City and Liverpool got back on track with wins in the Premier League.The death of Charlton, the 1966 World Cup winner and perhaps England’s and Manchester United’s greatest ever player, was announced during the halftime break of Saturday’s five afternoon games, overshadowing the results on the field on a busy day as the Premier League returned after the international break. “The whole football world is losing a legend, a big personality, a giant,” Man United manager Erik ten Hag said ahead of his team’s emotionally charged visit to Sheffield United in the evening kickoff. United’s players laid a wreath in the center of the field and took part in a period of applause before the game started.City and Liverpool bounced back from two straight disappointing results with comfortable wins to reignite a title rivalry that is showing signs of once again going deep into the sea...

Richmond’s defensive, special teams units seize the day helping Spiders thump NC A&T

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:04 GMT

GREENSOBRO, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Wickersham threw a touchdown pass and from there Richmond’s defense and special teams took over the scoring duties in the Spiders’ 33-10 win over North Carolina A&T on Saturday.Wickersham threw a 2-yard score to Quanye Veney to conclude an 11-play, 65-yard opening drive. Before the end of the first quarter, Andrew Lopez kicked a 21-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.Early in the second, Jabril Hayes had a 48-yard, pick-6 of Kevin White to make it 17-0. The Aggies put up some fight when on the ensuing kickoff, Taymon Cooke returned it 91 yards to reduce the deficit.Just before halftime, Quintarius Jefferies gathered a blocked punt and ran it in from 15 yards out to put Richmond (5-3, 4-1 Coastal Athletic Association) ahead 23-7 after Lopez missed the point-after attempt.Later, Lopez kicked a 35-yard field goal in the third, and in the fourth, Aaron Banks intercepted White and returned it 32 yards for the game’s final score.North Carolin...

Ohio beats Western Michigan 20-17 to become bowl eligible

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:04 GMT

ATHENS, Ohio (AP) — Kurtis Rourke passed for 275 yards and a touchdown, Sam Wiglusz caught 10 passes for 155 yards and a score, and Ohio beat Western Michigan 20-17 on Saturday to become bowl eligible.Rourke led an eight-play, 78-yard drive ending in a 7-yard touchdown catch by Wiglusz for a 20-10 lead with 4:36 left. Western Michigan answered with an eight-play drive to get within three points with 2:21 left. O’Shaan Allison ran it four straight times on Ohio’s final possession, getting a first down and running out the clock.Sieh Bangura had 86 yards rushing and a score for Ohio (6-2, 3-1 Mid-American Conference). Keye Thompson had 11 tackles in the first half, and Tank Pearson grabbed an interception.Hayden Wolff completed 30 of 42 passes for 290 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Western Michigan (2-6, 1-3).___Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here ___AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-p...

Dillon Gabriel throws 3 TD passes against his former team as No. 6 Oklahoma holds off UCF, 31-29

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:04 GMT

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Dillon Gabriel threw three touchdown passes against his former team, Oklahoma stopped a two-point attempt in the closing minutes and the No. 6 Sooners held on to beat UCF 31-29 on Saturday.Gabriel, who transferred before the 2022 season, connected on 25 of 38 passes for 253 yards.Nic Anderson caught five passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns and Drake Stoops caught seven passes for 60 yards and a score for the Sooners (7-0, 4-0 Big 12).John Rhys Plumlee, who missed most of the past month with a leg injury, passed for 248 yards and two touchdowns for UCF. Javon Baker had five catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns and RJ Harvey ran for 101 yards for the Knights (3-4, 0-4), who are still seeking their first Big 12 win.With Oklahoma leading 7-0 early in the second quarter, the Sooners appeared to have a goal-line stand, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against linebacker Jaren Kanak gave the Knights a first down. Plumlee scored on the next play to tie the...

Harrison has a touchdown catch, No. 3 Buckeyes defense steps up big in 20-12 win over No. 7 Penn St

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:04 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — All-American Marvin Harrison made all the difference for No. 3 Ohio State in a pivotal Big Ten match-up, making 11 catches for 162 yards and late touchdown as the Buckeyes beat No. 7 Penn State 20-12 on Saturday.The Buckeyes’ defense smothered Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten), extending Ohio State’s winning streak in the series to seven games.Penn State needed 58 minutes to convert a third or fourth down and didn’t get into the end zone until 29 seconds were left in the game. Penn State failed to convert on its first 15 third down attempts.Kyle McCord was 22 for 35 for 286 yards and the Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0) put up 367 total yards, a season-high against Penn State’s stingy defennse.The biggest moment for Penn State was fleeting.Nittany Lions linebacker Curtis Jacobs stunned the Ohio Stadium crowd in the first half when he knocked the ball loose from McCord, scooped up the fumble and galloped 60 yards the other way for an...

Fils stuns Tsitsipas to set up European Open final against Bublik

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:04 GMT

ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — French teenager Arthur Fils stunned top-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) to become the youngest finalist in the history of the European Open on Saturday. The 19-year-old Fils will seek a second career title against third-seeded Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, who beat German qualifier Maximilian Marterer 6-4, 6-4 in the first semifinal. Fils saved eight of nine break points and hit 34 winners to 21 for his Greek opponent. He failed to serve out the match at 5-4 as Tsitsipas broke back to force a second tiebreaker.“I was very tired,” Fils said on court. “My first serve didn’t go. I mean, I was trying to ace on every serve, but I cannot. So, I said: ‘OK, maybe it will be tough.’”In the second tiebreaker, Fils jumped to a 5-1 lead before winning the match with a forehand volley. In his breakthrough season, Fils won his first title in Lyon and got his first victory over a top 10 player by knocking out Casper Ruud in Hamburg.Meanwhile, Bublik will chase ...

Penn beats Yale 27-17 behind Jared Richardson’s program-record 17 catches

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:04 GMT

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Aidan Sayin passed for 364 yards and two touchdowns, Jared Richardson caught a program-record 17 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown and Pennsylvania beat Yale 27-17 on Saturday night.Richardson’s 3-yard scoring catch gave Penn the lead for good at 17-14 with 4:07 to play in the first half. Bryce Myers added a 15-yard touchdown catch in the fourth.Malachi Hosley rushed for 86 yards and a score for Penn (5-1, 2-1 Ivy League), which has won six straight away from home dating to last season.The Penn defense had sacks on back-to-back plays to force a turnover on downs with 2:54 remaining in the fourth quarter to seal it.Nolan Grooms threw for two touchdowns and an interception for Yale (3-3, 1-2), which had a three-game winning steak snapped. Grooms also rushed for 61 yards.___Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here ___AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/...

Late touchdown gives Howard 27-23 win over Norfolk State in MEAC opener for both

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:04 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Quinton Williams’ 15-yard touchdown pass to Jarett Hunter with a little over a minute left gave Howard a 27-23 win over Norfolk State on Saturday in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener for both teams.After Grandin Wilcox kicked his third field goal of the game to give the Spartans a 23-20 lead with six minutes remaining, the Bison (3-4, 1-0) went 75 yards on 10 plays with Williams hitting Hunter in the right side of the end zone. Aaron Moore returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards to the Spartans 49 but the drive ended with Kenny Gallop Jr.’s interception of a long pass at the Bison 1-yard line.Williams was 14-of-24 passing for 240 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He also scored from a yard out for the game’s first points. The Bison’s Eden James took a short pass and turned it into a 45-yard score to tie the game at 20-all in the fourth quarter before Wilcox temporarily gave the lead back to the Spartans.Otto Kuhns was 16 of...