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Osaka’s first tournament as a mom ends in a loss to 3-time winner Pliskova in Brisbane

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:08 GMT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — A loss didn’t bother Naomi Osaka at the Brisbane International as much as the missed opportunity for more matches ahead of the year’s first Grand Slam tournament.The four-time major winner’s first tournament since becoming a mother ended in a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 second-round loss Wednesday to three-time Brisbane International champion Karolina Pliskova.Osaka won her first match at the elite level since late 2022 on Monday in straight sets against Tamara Korpatsch. After that win, she said the birth in July of her daughter, Shai, and the changes to her mindset since becoming a mother had given her a better perspective on tennis.A second-round encounter featuring two former No. 1-ranked players was a step up in tempo and a better indication of how Osaka’s preparations are going for the Australian Open starting Jan. 14 in Melbourne.“The week is definitely shorter than I wanted it to be,” Osaka said in a news conference. “I feel like I’m ...

Bucknell plays conference foe Holy Cross

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:08 GMT

Holy Cross Crusaders (3-10) at Bucknell Bison (3-10)Lewisburg, Pennsylvania; Wednesday, 7 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bison -6; over/under is 134.5BOTTOM LINE: Jack Forrest and the Bucknell Bison host Joseph Octave and the Holy Cross Crusaders in Patriot League action.The Bison are 1-4 in home games. Bucknell is 0-2 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 12.7 turnovers per game.The Crusaders are 1-5 on the road. Holy Cross is 1-2 in one-possession games.Bucknell is shooting 42.4% from the field this season, 4.4 percentage points lower than the 46.8% Holy Cross allows to opponents. Holy Cross averages 66.2 points per game, 5.6 fewer points than the 71.8 Bucknell allows.The matchup Wednesday is the first meeting of the season for the two teams in conference play.TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Bascoe is averaging 8.9 points and five assists for the Bison. Forrest is averaging 15.6 points and 5.5 rebounds over the past 10 games for Bucknell.DeAndre Williams is averaging 3.9 points fo...

LIU takes on Wagner following Strickland’s 27-point outing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:08 GMT

Wagner Seahawks (6-6) at Long Island Sharks (1-11)New York; Thursday, 7 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: LIU hosts the Wagner Seahawks after Tai Strickland scored 27 points in LIU’s 86-69 loss to the Albany (NY) Great Danes.The Sharks have gone 0-1 at home. LIU ranks ninth in the NEC with 10.3 assists per game led by Eric Acker averaging 3.5.The Seahawks are 3-5 on the road. Wagner is fourth in the NEC with 12.8 assists per game led by Melvin Council Jr. averaging 3.4.LIU scores 62.8 points per game, equal to what Wagner allows. Wagner’s 37.6% shooting percentage from the field this season is 10.0 percentage points lower than LIU has given up to its opponents (47.6%).The Sharks and Seahawks face off Thursday for the first time in conference play this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Strickland is scoring 12.7 points per game and averaging 3.5 rebounds for the Sharks. Tana Kopa is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for LIU.Tyje Kelton is averaging 7.4 points and 5.5 rebounds ...

San Diego hosts Saint Mary’s (CA) following Hayes’ 21-point showing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:08 GMT

Saint Mary’s Gaels (9-6) at San Diego Toreros (10-5)San Diego; Thursday, 11 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: San Diego hosts the Saint Mary’s Gaels after PJ Hayes scored 21 points in San Diego’s 78-65 win over the Westcliff Warriors.The Toreros are 9-1 in home games. San Diego ranks fifth in the WCC with 34.8 points per game in the paint led by Wayne McKinney III averaging 7.3.The Gaels are 1-0 in road games. Saint Mary’s (CA) is 2-1 in one-possession games.San Diego averages 72.9 points, 14.4 more per game than the 58.5 Saint Mary’s (CA) gives up. Saint Mary’s (CA) averages 70.3 points per game, 1.5 fewer than the 71.8 San Diego gives up to opponents.The Toreros and Gaels square off Thursday for the first time in conference play this season.TOP PERFORMERS: McKinney is averaging 14.6 points, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals for the Toreros. Hayes is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for San Diego.Aidan Mahaney is scoring 12.7 points per game and ...

Tennessee Tech visits Morehead State after Minix’s 34-point performance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:08 GMT

Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (5-10, 0-2 OVC) at Morehead State Eagles (10-4, 1-0 OVC)Morehead, Kentucky; Thursday, 7 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Morehead State hosts the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles after Riley Minix scored 34 points in Morehead State’s 83-64 win over the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks.The Eagles are 6-0 on their home court. Morehead State ranks ninth in college basketball with 43.6 rebounds led by Minix averaging 9.0.The Golden Eagles have gone 0-2 against OVC opponents. Tennessee Tech is fifth in the OVC with 24.7 defensive rebounds per game led by Daniel Egbuniwe averaging 5.3.Morehead State is shooting 46.9% from the field this season, 0.8 percentage points higher than the 46.1% Tennessee Tech allows to opponents. Tennessee Tech has shot at a 45.6% rate from the field this season, 8.7 percentage points above the 36.9% shooting opponents of Morehead State have averaged.The Eagles and Golden Eagles face off Thursday for the first time in conference play this sea...

Washington State hosts Oregon State after Bilodeau’s 26-point performance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:08 GMT

Oregon State Beavers (9-4, 1-1 Pac-12) at Washington State Cougars (9-4, 0-2 Pac-12)Pullman, Washington; Thursday, 11 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Oregon State visits the Washington State Cougars after Tyler Bilodeau scored 26 points in Oregon State’s 86-70 victory against the USC Trojans.The Cougars are 7-0 in home games. Washington State is second in the Pac-12 at limiting opponent scoring, allowing 64.7 points while holding opponents to 39.0% shooting.The Beavers play their first true road game after going 9-4 to start the season. Oregon State is ninth in the Pac-12 with 12.2 assists per game led by Jordan Pope averaging 3.6.Washington State’s average of 6.3 made 3-pointers per game is 1.4 fewer made shots on average than the 7.7 per game Oregon State gives up. Oregon State has shot at a 44.9% rate from the field this season, 5.9 percentage points higher than the 39.0% shooting opponents of Washington State have averaged.The matchup Thursday is the first meeting this season b...

The NHS is facing the longest strike in its history. Here’s why

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:08 GMT

LONDON — It might be a new year, but England’s cherished public health service is facing the same old problems. And its legions of striking junior doctors are just getting started. From January 3, junior doctors working for the National Health Service in England will start a six-day walkout — the longest single period of strike action the NHS has ever faced — as part of a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.It comes at a time when pressure on the service is already acute, and leaves junior doctors — the backbone of many hospitals — as major outliers amid deals in other parts of the NHS. POLITICO unpacks the row as the latest walkout gets underway.What’s the dispute about? Since 2022, workers across the NHS have been demanding substantial pay hikes to keep pace with inflation. And junior doctors aren’t backing down.The British Medical Association (BMA), whose members include junior doctors, says the cohort has faced a “steep decline in pay” since ...

EU targets world’s biggest diamond miner as part of Russia war sanctions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:08 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union imposed sanctions on the world’s biggest diamond mining company and its chief executive officer on Wednesday as part of what it called its “unwavering commitment” to Ukraine in the war against Russia.The move targeted Alrosa, which accounts for about 90% of Russia’s diamond production, and CEO Pavel Marinychev. The EU headquarters said the company “constitutes an important part of an economic sector that is providing substantial revenue” to Moscow.It means Alrosa’s assets in Europe will be frozen and EU citizens and companies will be barred from making funds available to the company. Marinychev, who was appointed CEO last May for three years, also faces a travel ban in Europe.The EU had already banned the import, purchase or transfer of Russian non-industrial natural and synthetic diamonds and diamond jewelry from Jan. 1. The measure applies to diamonds originating in Russia, exported from Russia, transiting through Russia and Russian diamonds proc...

Live updates | Fighting rages in southern Gaza and fears grow the war may spread in the region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:08 GMT

Heavy fighting raged in central and southern Gaza on Wednesday as fears mounted of a regional escalation following a strike in Beirut that killed one of the top Hamas leaders. The strike was widely blamed on Israel but it’s implications for the war remain unclear. Israeli officials have not commented on the strike Tuesday that killed Saleh Arouri, the most senior Hamas member slain since the war in Gaza erupted nearly three months ago. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said “we are on high readiness for any scenario.” Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack from Gaza into southern Israel killed around 1,200 people, and some 240 others were taken hostage. Israel’s air, ground and sea assault in Gaza has killed more than 22,100 people, two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory. The count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.Israel’s campaign has driven some 85% of Gaza’s population from their ...

Israel on alert for possible Hezbollah response after senior Hamas leader is killed in Beirut strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:08 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Israel was on high alert for an escalation with Hezbollah on Wednesday after one of the top leaders of the Palestinian Hamas was killed in a strike in Beirut that was widely blamed on Israel and heightened the risk of a broader Middle East conflict.The killing of Saleh Arouri, the most senior Hamas member slain since the war in Gaza erupted nearly three months ago, provided a morale boost for Israelis still reeling from Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack as the militants put up stiff resistance in Gaza and continue to hold scores of hostages.But its implications for the war remain unclear. Israel has killed several top Hamas leaders over the years, only to see them quickly replaced. And the strike in Hezbollah’s southern Beirut stronghold could cause the low-intensity fighting along the Lebanon border to boil over into all-out war.Much depends on how Hassan Nasrallah — who has led Hezbollah since an Israeli strike killed his predecessor in 1992 — chooses to respond. He h...