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College Football Picks: No. 2 Michigan visits No. 9 Penn State in its first test of the season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:08:48 GMT

Finally, No. 2 Michigan gets a test.The Wolverines (9-0) have stomped through the season, crushing opponents by an average of 34 points per game, the best margin in the country.None of those opponents has been ranked in the AP Top 25, creating some questions about just how good Michigan is.A trip to Happy Valley to face No. 9 Penn State on Saturday will provide an answer. A cloud of controversy will arrive with Michigan, which could race possible discipline from the Big Ten for a scouting/sign-stealing scheme.Michigan-Penn State is one of two top-10 matchups in the most intriguing games of Week 11.No. 2 Michigan (minus 5 1/2) at No. 9 Penn StateThe Nittany Lions managed just one late touchdown in its loss at Ohio State with an offense that has struggled to pop big plays all year. Now here come the Wolverines, who humiliated Penn State last year by running for 418 yards in a 41-17 victory.It’s also another potential narrative-changer for Nittany Lions coach James Franklin, who ...

No. 23 Arizona is taking huge strides in its third season under Jedd Fisch

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:08:48 GMT

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Jedd Fisch had the toughest sales job in college football, trying to convince recruits and assistant coaches to join what was at the time one of the nation’s worst programs.Amid what would become the longest losing streak in Arizona history, Fisch had to paint a picture of promise and lay out a plan for a better future.The former NFL coach sealed the deal more often than not, setting the foundation for a massive turnaround in a short timeframe.“It’s been a crazy process of knowing that it was going be long and hard, and really proud that our guys are where they are right now,” Fisch said.Arizona went from a one-win first season under Fisch to five last year. The upward trend has continued this year.The Wildcats (6-3, 4-2 Pac-12) had one of the most difficult stretches in college football this season, playing five straight AP Top 25 teams — and handled it well.With Saturday’s 27-10 win over then-No. 20 UCLA, Arizona has beaten ranked opponents in three cons...

Seahawks’ Kenneth Walker, Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb among best bets to score in Week 10 of NFL season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:08:48 GMT

There are a handful of byes this week, but there are still plenty of quality scoring fantasy options at our disposal. These are my best bets to find the end zone in Week 10 of the NFL season.___Running BackKENNETH WALKER, SEAHAWKSWalker has had a tough couple of weeks, but he was dealing with an injury while going up against two of the best defenses in the league in the Browns and the Ravens. Prior to that, Walker had either scored or surpassed 100 yards in every game. Altogether he has a 35.89% TD dependency. This week he faces a Washington team that is our 10th-best matchup for opposing running backs going into Week 10, a matchup that Vegas gives him -125 odds to score, the second-best odds for a running back this week.JOSH JACOBS, RAIDERSJacobs has shown improvement in the past two weeks, despite the turmoil and upheaval his organization was going through. Just last week, under an interim head coach, he had his best rushing day of the season (26 carries for 98 yards and two touch...

PLDT: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:08:48 GMT

MAKATI, Philippines (AP) — MAKATI, Philippines (AP) — Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PHI) on Tuesday reported earnings of $168.8 million in its third quarter.On a per-share basis, the Makati, Philippines-based company said it had net income of 78 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains and to account for discontinued operations, were 66 cents per share.The telecommunications company posted revenue of $936.5 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PHI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PHISource

Youngkin expresses disappointment in legislative wins by Virginia Democrats, pledges bipartisanship

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:08:48 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — While expressing disappointment in Tuesday night’s legislative wins by Virginia Democrats, GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin pledged to work with the party’s new legislative majority on bipartisan priorities like improving the mental health care system and economic development over the remainder of his term.Youngkin struck an optimistic tone as he told reporters gathered at the foot of the Capitol steps Wednesday afternoon that the results showed Virginia is a “purple” state.“I’m a little disappointed to be clear,” he said.Democrats have pointed to their support for abortion rights as a winning issue.Youngkin did not directly answer a question about whether he thought his proposed 15-week ban remains viable, but said he thought the results showed Virginia is a purple state.“We all have to come together in order to progress legislation,” Youngkin said.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Only a handful of ultra-competitive V...

House Republicans will subpoena Hunter and James Biden as their impeachment inquiry ramps back up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:08:48 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans will issue subpoenas on Wednesday to members of President Joe Biden’s family, taking their most aggressive step yet in an impeachment inquiry bitterly opposed by Democrats that is testing the reach of congressional oversight powers.The subpoenas were expected to be issued later Wednesday afternoon. The long-awaited move by Rep. James Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, to subpoena the president’s son Hunter and his brother James comes as Republicans look to gain ground in their nearly yearlong investigation. So far, they have failed to uncover evidence directly implicating the president in any wrongdoing.But Republicans say the evidence trail they have uncovered paints a troubling picture of “influence peddling” by Biden’s family in their business dealings, particularly with clients overseas.“Now, the House Oversight Committee is going to bring in members of the Biden family and their associates to questio...

Breast implants play a crucial role in innovative procedure to save life of man with severe lung damage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:08:48 GMT

(CNN) — When 34-year-old Davey Bauer’s lungs stopped working, doctors turned to an unusual tool to help keep him alive: large breast implants.Experts say it was an innovative solution to give Bauer’s body time to fight off a nasty infection so it could accept a lifesaving double lung transplant. It maybe the first instance of a potential transplant practice that could save people with infectious disease who probably would not have survived just years ago.Bauer’s casestarted in April, when he felt like he couldn’t catch his breath. The avid snow- and skateboarder had always been healthy. He kept in good shape and maintained a healthy weight working in landscaping in De Soto, Missouri. But he had long been a smoker, starting a pack-a-day cigarette habit when he was 21. He switched to vaping in 2014.“I thought it was the healthier alternative,” Bauer said. ”But, in all honesty, I found it more addicting than cigarettes.”When people smoke or vape, it can leave lung tissue inflamed, maki...

EU balks at US, Israeli pressure for new Hamas sanctions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:08:48 GMT

Israel and the United States are piling pressure onto the EU to impose new sanctions on Hamas in the wake of the October 7 attack on Israel in which some 1,400 people were killed.Some EU countries are pushing back, with Portugal’s foreign minister telling POLITICO that new sanctions were a “diversionary tactic” compared to the larger question of statehood for Palestinians.“This is not a central problem,” João Gomes Cravinho said of the proposed sanctions. “We all agreed that Hamas is a terrorist organization [and that] Hamas has committed absolute atrocities.”“The bigger question of developing a Middle East in which Hamas no longer exists, it will not be achieved through a combination of military strikes and sanctions,” he added. “It has to come about through the development of a settlement that provides the Palestinians with their own state and with all the characteristics of a state recognized by the international communi...

Belgium deputy PM wants Israel sanctioned over Gaza war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:08:48 GMT

Petra De Sutter, Belgium’s deputy prime minister from the Greens, called on the country’s government to sanction Israel on Wednesday. “It is time for sanctions against Israel. The bombing is inhumane,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter. “While war crimes are being committed in Gaza, Israel ignores the international demand for a cease-fire.”De Sutter called for an “immediate” suspension of the association agreement between the EU and Israel, and proposed that Belgium allocate extra funds for the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes by Israel and Hamas, she said in a press release.De Sutter also stressed people and companies who supply Hamas with money must be sanctioned, while violent settlers, politicians and military figures responsible for war crimes should face an entry ban.“Israel’s bombing increases the Palestinians’ total hopelessness. Without a real solution, the violence will continue to repeat itself. That is wh...

Cate Blanchett urges EU to treat asylum crisis with ‘humanity’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:08:48 GMT

Actress Cate Blanchett, a goodwill ambassador for the U.N.’s refugee agency (UNHCR), on Wednesday called on the European Union to focus on protecting displaced refugees while rejecting “dangerous myths” about migration.“I am not denying that this is complex,” Blanchett said, while addressing the European Parliament. “But this is the European Union. And addressing the challenges of forced displacement and mixed movements requires unity, international cooperation, resources and patient, compassionate work.”Earlier this week, UNHCR called for “an immediate humanitarian cease-fire” in Gaza, where conflict “has claimed and is still claiming thousands of innocent lives,” Blanchett said. War has been raging in the region since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1,400 and triggering a deadly retaliation from Israel, which in turned has killed more than 10,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.But this is “far from the only v...