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Biden-von der Leyen 2024?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:54:28 GMT

Up for election in 2024? The transatlantic alliance. By a quirk of timing, 2024 will see not only America elect a president, but Europe choose its next slate of top EU officials.And with Joe Biden officially launching his re-election campaign last week, the U.S. president is now one step closer to facing voters within months of his EU counterpart, Ursula von der Leyen, who is still deciding whether to seek her own second term atop the European Commission.In many ways, the personal chemistry between the two is on the ballot. The two leaders have forged strong ties while in office together despite persistent friction between the U.S. and Europe over everything from tariffs to subsidies to security deals.That means that whether the duo stays or goes will inevitably have profound consequences for the transatlantic alliance.A defeated Biden could mean a return of Donald Trump, who as president launched a trade war with Europe, openly questioned multilateralism and cast the European Union...

Pats focus on offense, special teams on final day of draft

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:54:28 GMT

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — After focusing exclusively on defense with their first three picks, the New England Patriots used the final day of the NFL draft to address their offense and special teams.The Patriots entered Saturday expecting to be busy with nine draft picks spread over the final four rounds.They came in as one of two teams to not draft an offensive player during the first two days, but ended up spending multiple picks on offensive linemen and wide receivers.The possibility of New England featuring rookies at both punter and kicker is in play after it used some of the team’s draft capital to select players from each position.Shifting to the other two phases of the game after the Patriots stocked up on defenders starting with their first pick — cornerback Christian Gonzalez — on Thursday.Defense remained the focus on Friday with the additions of edge rusher Keion White and safety-linebacker hybrid Marte Mapu.On Saturday, New England completed its draft class with center Ja...

Chicago Bears UDFA tracker: Ryan Poles gets to work adding more rookies

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:54:28 GMT

After he wrapped up his 10th and final pick of the NFL draft Saturday night, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles got to work signing undrafted free agents.The Tribune is tracking those signings through announcements by their schools, agents and reporters.Here’s a list of players expected to join the Bears as undrafted free agents or on tryouts.Nick Amoah, UC Davis offensive linemanTyson Bagent, Shepherd quarterbackMicah Baskerville, LSU linebackerJustin Broiles, Oklahoma defensive backRobert Burns, Connecticut running backDamien Caffrey, Stony Brook tight endMacon Clark, Tulane safetyAron Cruickshank, Rutgers wide receiverJalen Harris, Arizona defensive endGabe Houy, Pittsburgh offensive linemanLorenz Metz, Cincinnati offensive linemanThyrick Pitts, Delaware wide receiverAndre Szmyt, Syracuse kickerDe’Jahn Warren, Jackson State defensive back ()

After drafting 3 offensive players, have the Chicago Bears done enough to build around Justin Fields?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:54:28 GMT

Not long after the Chicago Bears drafted Cincinnati wide receiver Tyler Scott in the fourth round Saturday, Scott tweeted a video of the moment he received the Bears’ call.Above the clip of him putting on a Bears hat to the cheers of family and friends, he wrote a message to quarterback Justin Fields.“EXACTLY who I wanted to draft me all along!!” Scott tweeted. “Time to get to work @justnfields.”Scott grew up an Ohio State fan in northeast Ohio and has followed Fields’ career since he played there. He called the Bears quarterback “a playmaker, a guy that’s doing whatever it takes to win, whether that’s throwing or running.”Now Scott is one of three offensive players the Bears drafted to help Fields win in his third year in the league.“Just being a part of that offense is going to be fun,” Scott said.By the end of the draft Saturday night, Bears general manager Ryan Poles had added a speedy rookie in Scott. He us...

Nathan Eovaldi tosses complete-game shutout as Yankees bats go silent in loss to Rangers

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:54:28 GMT

ARLINGTON – Former Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi dominated his former team Saturday, cruising through the injury-riddled New York lineup in a complete-game shutout for the Texas Rangers.Eovaldi only allowed three hits and struck out eight in the 2-0 win over the Yankees, who dropped their second straight in Arlington without star slugger Aaron Judge.The 33-year-old Eovaldi — who signed a two-year, $34 million contract with Texas in the offseason — entered with a 5.20 ERA and hadn’t gone more than six innings in a game this year. But Eovaldi, who went 23-11 with the Yankees from 2015-16, returned to form Saturday, repeatedly hurling fastballs a few ticks harder than the 93.9 mph he averaged over his first five starts.“He kind of bullied us,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Used both sides of the plate, was a little unpredictable. He was slowing us down a little bit with the curveball, but obviously the cutter and the split, and stuff-wise...

Revolution battle FC Cincinnati to a 1-1 draw in early showdown

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:54:28 GMT

FOXBORO – Hard knocks and bad breaks are difficult to overcome against a high-end opponent.The New England Revolution (6-1-3) managed an inordinate share of both to secure a 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati (6-1-3) in a battle for first place in the Eastern Conference on Saturday night before 30,080 at Gillette Stadium.Both teams have 21 points but the Revs get top billing due to goal differential. The Revolution play their next three games on the road beginning with Toronto FC on May 6.“A hard-fought game, a very physical game and I think the first 10 minutes of the game they dominated us physically,” said Revolution head coach Bruce Arena. “We didn’t adjust to well to it and it took us a little time and it took the referee a little time to sort that stuff up.“You had two good teams out there fighting and battling and we weren’t going to give in when we went down a goal.”Arena structured his starting XI with an offensive bent while keeping a key piece in reserve. Gustavo Bou dressed aft...

Machado leads 11-HR Mexico City slugfest, Padres top Giants

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:54:28 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Manny Machado put San Diego ahead in the seventh inning with his second homer and the 11th of the night, and the San Diego Padres outslugged the San Francisco Giants 16-11 Saturday night in Major League Baseball’s first game in Mexico City.Nelson Cruz, Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis and Xander Bogaerts also went deep for the Padres, who outhomered the Giants 6-5 and outhit them 17-13 in the thin air of Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú, which opened in 2019. At 7,349 feet above sea level, this two-game series is the highest elevation for big league games. MLB’s previous regular-season trips to Mexico were for games in Monterrey.San Francisco’s Brandon Crawford, Lamonte Wade Jr. and Mitch Haniger homered off Joe Musgrove. Blake Sabol hit a two-run homer in the seventh against Steven Wilson that tied the score 10-10, and David Villar homered five pitches later.That lead didn’t last long against the Padres, who were the home team and scored in seven of eight innings in which they...

Maple Leafs end 19-year first round playoff drought with OT win over Tampa

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:54:28 GMT

The Toronto Maple Leafs exorcised two decades’ worth of playoff demons, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in overtime Saturday night to win their opening round NHL playoff series in six games. John Tavares scored the game-winner at 4:36 of overtime to send Toronto into the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004. The Leafs captain threw a puck in front on the winning sequence that went in off Lightning defenceman Darren Raddysh’s skate and in to send Toronto players spilling off the bench.Auston Matthews opened the scoring for the Maple Leafs with his fifth of the postseason almost 14 minutes into the second period. That lead stood until early in third when Steven Stamkos notched the tying goal."We're still a long way from where we wanna go."Auston Matthews talks with @SNkylebukauskas after the Maple Leafs break the pattern as they advance to the Second Round for the first time since 2004. pic.twitter.com/HmfLaRNKel— Sportsnet (...

Known for laughs, DC dinner spotlights risks of journalism

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:54:28 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner — known for its fun albeit ferocious jabs at Washington — took a more solemn tone this year as what many see as the brazen attack on press freedom across the globe was on painful display.Upon arriving at the Washington Hilton on Saturday, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden met privately with the parents of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned in Russia since March. He was charged with spying, despite strong denials from his employer and the U.S. government. Some guests wore buttons with “Free Evan” printed on them.Also among the 2,600 people attending the gala is Debra Tice, the mother of Austin Tice, who has not been heard from since disappearing at a checkpoint in Syria in 2012. U.S. officials say they operate under the assumption that he is alive and are working to try to bring him home.“They are among hundreds of journalists around the world who are wrongfully ...

The Chicago Bears' 2023 NFL Draft Class

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:54:28 GMT

KANSAS CITY — With the conclusion of the NFL Draft in Kansas City Saturday, here is a quick recap of the Chicago Bears' 10-player haul they took home in this year's NFL draft.1. Darnell Wright - OT/Tennessee - Rd. 1, Pick 10FILE - Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright (58) plays against Ball State during an NCAA football game Sept. 1, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. The Chicago Bears selected Wright with the No. 10 overall pick in the NFL draft Thursday, April 27, 2023. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)Even after the Bears shipped off the no. 1 overall pick to Carolina for a trove of selections and wide receiver D.J. Moore, there was still widespread ideations being made on what need Chicago would address with their top draft pick.Would it be a pass rusher? A defensive tackle? Perhaps an offensive tackle? Another wide receiver? A corner? Every single one of those position groups needed to be addressed after an abysmal 3-win season a year ago, and as fate would have it, the Bears decided it ...