Column: Explaining economics to Trump won’t save MexicoMUNICH (AP) — Harry Kane is the quickest player to score 50 goals in the Bundesliga after scoring a hat trick on his 43rd appearance on Friday. Kane’s three goals – including two penalties – gave Bayern a 3-0 win over Augsburg , stretching the Bavarian powerhouse’s lead to eight points ahead of the rest of the 11th round. Kane scored 36 goals in 32 league appearances last season, his first for Bayern after joining from Tottenham. It was also the first season since 2012 that Bayern failed to win the title, as Bayer Leverkusen went undefeated to snap Bayern's winning run. As well as 14 league goals this season, Kane has scored five in the Champions League and one in the German Cup. Against Augsburg, he had to be patient as Augsburg goalkeeper Nediljko Labrović and his defenders stood firm. “It was somehow typical Harry Kane,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said. “It was close in the first half, close, close, close, and then it happens, I think three goals in 15 minutes. Of course, he can do that. But for such a player, I have to say, he had a lot of chances that he could maybe make more of. Then, in an instant, everything is perfect and he can score many goals.” AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
As he delivered his postgame speech after the Vikings escaped with a 23-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday, head coach Kevin O’Connell locked eyes with undrafted defensive tackle Jalen Redmond. ADVERTISEMENT After watching Redmond explode into the backfield on multiple occasions, making a couple of tackles for a loss in the process, O’Connell wanted to make it known how much he appreciated his impact on the game. So, as he handed out game balls like he typically does after each win, O’Connell made sure Redmond got the recognition he deserved. “Sometimes we start feeling a guy’s energy,” O’Connell said. “Just highlighting that.” Redmond was caught off guard in the locker room at U.S. Bank Stadium, joking that he almost started to get emotional when he heard O’Connell say his name aloud. ADVERTISEMENT “It meant a lot,” Redmond said. “It was a special moment.” It was a stark contrast to back in training camp at TCO Performance Center when Redmond got kicked out of practice by O’Connell in response to a scuffle after the whistle. He remembers leaving that particular summer practice a little bit unsure about his future with the Vikings. “When I was walking off I was like, ‘Oh man. What did I do? I messed up,’ ” Redmond said. “The rule was not to fight, and I know that, so I was, like, ‘Man. I can’t be doing this stuff. I’m barely here.’ ” Fortunately for Redmond, O’Connell was forgiving in the immediate aftermath, and he got to keep his spot on the roster. Fortunately for the Vikings, Redmond has made the most of his opportunity, and he has slowly started carving out a niche for himself this season. ADVERTISEMENT “There’s a reason why he made our team,” O’Connell said. “He’s a perfect fit for our scheme with the way we move those guys up front.” The fact that Redmond has proven skills as interior pass rusher is something defensive coordinator Brian Flores has tapped into even more he’s found places to insert him into the game on a weekly basis. “The athleticism jumped out immediately,” Flores said. “This guy can run.” ADVERTISEMENT That has long been a calling card for Redmond. He was an explosive athlete in college at Oklahoma, and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.81 seconds, proving he had the twitchiness to play at the next level. After signing with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent, Redmond arrived at rookie minicamp hellbent on proving everybody wrong. He got cut after training camp despite showing flashes of his potential. “It crushed me,” Redmond said. “I didn’t know if I was ever going to get another shot.” As he sat at home wondering what was next for him, Redmond randomly got a call from the legendary Bob Stoops, the former head coach of Oklahoma, who is now the head coach of the Arlington Renegades of the UFL. ADVERTISEMENT “It was wild,” Redmond said. “I look at my phone and see the name. I was like, “Why is Bob Stoops calling me?’ I answered it and he asked if I wanted to play on his team.” After growing up in in Oklahoma, Redmond was not about to say no to a legend. He joined the Arlington Renegades and eventually parlayed that into a cup of coffee with the Vikings ahead of training camp “I went there with the mindset that I was going to make the best of it and try to get back to where I wanted to be,” Redmond said. “I had a lot of fun there, and it helped get me to where I am now.” ADVERTISEMENT Though he wasn’t exactly a household name, Redmond did enough to make the team out of training camp. “Whenever I walk through those doors and my code still works, I don’t take it for granted,” Redmond said. “I put in everything I can to everything I do here because I’ve been on the other side of it.” Now he’s starting to look more and more like somebody who could emerge as a key contributor for the Vikings down the road. “That’s all I wanted to do when I got here,” Redmond said. “Just prove that I can play at this level.” He can. He has a game ball as proof. “I was so happy for him,” Flores said. “I think he’s got a long career in front of him.” ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .Gophers QB Max Brosmer commits to play in bowl game
For the second straight Major League Baseball offseason, a norm-shattering contract has been the talk of the winter, with Juan Soto agreeing with the New York Mets on a $765 million, 15-year deal that's the richest in baseball history. It comes almost exactly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers forked out a princely sum of $700 million on a 10-year, heavily deferred deal for two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. They are believed to be the two richest contracts in pro sports history. The way it's going, a contract approaching $1 billion doesn't seem out of the question. But several factors are working against it — at least in the near future. There's reason to believe the megadeals for Ohtani and Soto are unicorns in the baseball world. Both players are uniquely talented, surely, but both also had unusual circumstances propelling their value into the stratosphere. Ohtani is the greatest two-way player in baseball history, capable of improving any team on both sides of the ball. He's also the rare baseball player who has true international appeal. His every move ( like his unexpected marriage announcement ) is followed closely in his native Japan, adding another 125 million potential fans who buy merchandise, watch him play and help fill the Dodgers' coffers. Then there's Soto — a four-time All-Star and on-base machine who won a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019. The X-factor for him is he became a free agent at the prime age of 26, which is extremely hard to do under current MLB rules. New York Yankees' Juan Soto, right, with the help of his agent Scott Boras, left, agreed to a $765 million, 15-year deal with the New York Mets on Sunday. Players have to be in the big leagues for six years before testing free agency. The precocious Soto debuted at 19 with the Nats, making him part of a rare group of players who reached the highest level of professional baseball as a teenager. That accelerated his free agency timeline. It's rare for players to debut that young, and rarer still for them to develop into stars and test the open market the first chance they get. Two recent examples are Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, who both reached free agency in 2019. Machado signed a free-agent record $300 million contract with San Diego, and Harper overtook him days later with a $330 million contract to join the Phillies. Most players debut in the big leagues from ages 22 to 26, which means free agency comes in their late 20s or early 30s. A typical example is Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is one of this generation's great players but didn't hit the market until he was 30. Judge played three seasons of college baseball for Fresno State before getting drafted by the Yankees in 2013 at age 21 — already two years older than Soto was when he made his MLB debut. It took a few years for the budding superstar to reach the majors, and he was 25 when he had his breakout season in 2018, smashing 52 homers to earn AL Rookie of the Year honors. By the time he reached free agency after the 2022 season, he had already passed age 30. It's a major factor that led to him signing a $360 million, nine-year deal with the Yankees, which seems downright reasonable these days after the Ohtani and Soto deals. Two major trends are colliding that will make it harder for guys like Soto to hit free agency in their mid 20s. First, MLB teams have been more likely in recent years to take college players early in the draft, betting on more experienced talents. Just 10 high school players were drafted among the top 30 picks in the 2024 draft. Second, teams are more eager to lock up young, premium talent on long-term deals very early in their careers, well before they hit free agency. Sometimes before they even reach the majors. Juan Soto's deal comes almost exactly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers forked out a princely sum of $700 million on a 10-year, heavily deferred deal for two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. Since Soto, just two players have debuted in MLB before their 20th birthday — Elvis Luciano and Junior Caminero. Luciano hasn't been back to the majors since his 2019 cup of coffee. Caminero is now 21 and has only played in 50 big league games. Among those that debuted at 20: Fernando Tatis Jr. signed a $340 million, 14-year deal with San Diego in 2021, years before reaching the open market. Milwaukee's Jackson Chourio got an $82 million, eight-year deal before even reaching the big leagues. Young stars Corbin Carroll ($111 million, eight years with Arizona), Bobby Witt Jr. ($288 million, 11 years with Kansas City) and Julio Rodriguez ($209.3 million, 12 years with Seattle) also got massive guarantees early in their 20s to forgo an early free agency. The exception and wild card: Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be a 26-year-old free agent next offseason. Guerrero hasn't been as consistent in his young career as Soto, but a standout 2025 season could position him to threaten Soto's deal. More likely is that the player to pass Soto isn't in the majors yet — and might not even be in pro baseball. When 25-year-old Alex Rodriguez signed his record $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas in 2001, it took over a decade for another player to match that total, when Albert Pujols got $240 million over 10 years from the Angels in 2012. For many players, passing up life-changing money in their early or mid 20s is too enticing, even if it means that they might not maximize their value on the free agent market later in their careers. Soto was determined to test the market. He famously turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer to stay with the Washington Nationals in 2022, betting that he could make even more as a free agent. Not many players would turn down that kind of cash. Then again, that's what makes Soto so unique. And it's also why his $765 million deal could be the industry standard for some time. Stiliana Nikolova, of Bulgaria performs in the rhythmic gymnastics individuals all-round qualification round, at La Chapelle Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Cincinnati Reds' Jonathan India reacts as he collides with San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. India was safe and Campusano was charged with an error. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Kimberley Woods of Britain competes in the women's kayak cross time trial at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays a forehand return to Coco Gauff of the U.S. during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Noah Lyles, of the United States, jumps as he limbers-up ahead of the men's 100-meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) A member of the Seattle Mariners tosses a ball against a wall during drills at spring training baseball workouts, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia waits to receive serve during her first round match against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Czech Republic's Jiri Beran, left, competes with France's Yannik Borel in the men's team epee bronze final match during the 2024 Summer Olympics at the Grand Palais, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) France's Adrien Truffert jumps over Argentina's goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli during a quarterfinal soccer match between France and Argentina, at Bordeaux Stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Bordeaux, France. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Fans interfere with a foul ball caught by Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Italy's Sara Curtis splashes her face with water before a women's 50-meter freestyle semifinal at the Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Ivory Coast 's Seko Fofana, top, duels for the ball with Nigeria's Victor Osimhen during the African Cup of Nations final soccer match between Nigeria and Ivory Coast, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) Costa Rica midfielder Jefferson Brenes, from left, Alvaro Zamora (21), Francisco Calvo (15) and Joseph Mora (8) are pelted with drinks and trash after celebrating a Brenes goal in the second half of a CONCACAF Nations League Play-In soccer match against Honduras, Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's 200 meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Tyrrell Hatton, of England, reacts on the 11th hole during a practice round in preparation for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Augusta, GA. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Quincy Hall, of the United States, celebrates after winning the men's 400-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Tim Tszyu, of Australia, hits Sebastian Fundora in a super welterweight title bout Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers takes the field prior to an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Workers peep through curtains to watch a match between France's Gael Monfils and Russia's Daniil Medvedev during the China Open tennis tournament held at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Amy Yang, of South Korea, is doused after winning the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament at Sahalee Country Club, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Sammamish, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Workers remove snow from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/ Jeffrey T. Barnes) United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Gurgl, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti) Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, left, scores his side's second goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue ) Czech Republic's Michal Kempny, right, punches United States' Brady Tkachuk during the quarterfinal match between Czech Republic and United States at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Turkey's Taha Akgul, left, competes with Georgia's Geno Petriashvili in a men's freestyle 125 kg category gold medal wrestling match during the European Wrestling Championships, in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith cries after winning the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Carles Coll Marti of Spain competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke heat at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots between New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III and guard CJ McCollum in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in New Orleans. The Lakers won 110-106. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A man in a monk's robe waves the French flag as the peloton passes during the sixth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 163.5 kilometers (101.6 miles) with start in Macon and finish in Dijon, France, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Belgium's Jeremy Doku, left, challenges for the ball with Romania's Andrei Ratiu during a Group E match between Belgium and Romania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) A spectator walks through a water mist sprayer on her way to Eiffel Tower Stadium to watch a beach volleyball at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Gabriel Medina, of Brazil, kicks off of a wave as he warms up prior to the quarterfinals round of the 2024 Summer Olympics surfing competition, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Rebeca Andrade, of Brazil, is reflected on a surface as she performs on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastics all-around finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Wyndham Clark waits to hit on the 17th hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Kolkata Knight Riders' wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz dives to make an unsuccessful attempt to run out Sunrisers Hyderabad's Abhishek Sharma during the Indian Premier League cricket final match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024.(AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, in Singapore, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Serbia's Novak Djokovic embraces his daughter Tara after defeating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the men's singles tennis final at the Roland Garros stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Spain's Dani Olmo clears the ball from the goal line during the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) A fleet of boats compete in the mixed multihull sailing race during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) A horse watches from its stable ahead of the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Saratoga Race Course, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Silver medalist Simone Biles, of the United States, left, and bronze medalist Jordan Chiles, of the United States, right, bow to gold medalist Rebeca Andrade, of Brazil, during the medal ceremony for the women's artistic gymnastics individual floor finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Denver celebrates after winning the championship game against Boston College in the Frozen Four NCAA college hockey tournament Saturday, April 13, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. Denver won 2-0 to win the national championship. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Washington safety Kamren Fabiculanan (13) and cornerback Elijah Jackson (25) break up a pass to Eastern Michigan wide receiver Terry Lockett Jr. (3) in the end zone during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Seattle. Washington won 30-9. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Milwaukee Bucks' AJ Johnson, right, goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers' Jared McCain, center, and Adem Bona during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Elise Mertens, of Belgium, serves against Naomi Osaka, of Japan, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Monday, March 11, 2024, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Italy's Giovanni Tocci competes in the men's 3m springboard diving preliminary at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani breaks his bat during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Wearing a device that measures his energy consumption, the Israel Amputee Football Team player, Ben Maman, left, fights for the ball with a young soccer player from a local team during a practice session in Ramat Gan, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) A soccer fan dressed as Spiderman watches Brazil play Uruguay in a Copa America quarterfinal match on a screen set up for fans on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, July 7, 2024. Brazil lost in a penalty shootout and Uruguay qualified for the semifinals. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Men dressed in traditional clothes try to pull the opponent over the table at the German Championships in Fingerhakeln or finger wrestling, in Bernbeuren, Germany, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, kicks the ball after double faulting against Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Water is sprayed on the pitch as the ball boys and girls walk along the center line before the start of the men's Group A field hockey match between South Africa and Germany at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Colombes, France. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Cleveland Browns defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) reaches for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens (12) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) Morocco's Widad Bertal celebrates after defeating Thailand's Jutamas Jitpong in their women's 54kg preliminary boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher) Brazil's Priscila eyes the ball during a women's semifinal soccer match between Brazil and Spain at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, at Marseille Stadium in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Simone Biles of the United States competes on the balance beam during a women's artistic gymnastics qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) New Orleans Saints linebacker Willie Gay Jr. signs autographs for a young fan before the start of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Real Madrid's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Mozambique's Deizy Nhaquile battles rough seas during a women's dinghy race, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) People watch the cauldron rise at sunset by the Olympic rings during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22. (AP Photo/John Locher) A light show is projected from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Kateryna Tabashnyk, a high jumper, sits for a portrait Sunday, June 9, 2024, at the athletics arena of the "Polytechnic" sports complex, which was destroyed by a Russian rocket attack, in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) Sent weekly directly to your inbox!GOP Armed Services chair criticizes ban on gender-affirming care for minors in NDAABritish ambassador to the U.S. Karen Pierce joins ‘Cavuto Live’ to discuss meetings between President-elect Trump and other world leaders at the reopening of Notre Dame. Social media users erupted over President-elect Trump's "dominating" handshake with French President Emmanuel Macron at their meeting in Paris Saturday. Trump traveled to France to attend the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, his first international trip since winning the 2024 presidential election. Ahead of the event, Trump met Macron, and the two shook hands in a gesture that quickly went viral online. "President Trump is back to dominating world leaders with his handshake," one user, George, wrote in a post on X. "Macron is going to need a hand massage after all that twisting and pulling Trump did to him." TRUMP MEETS WITH MACRON, ZELENSKYY AHEAD OF THE NOTRE DAME REOPENING CEREMONY IN PARIS French President Emmanuel Macron, right, shakes hands as he welcomes U.S. President-elect Trump before a meeting at the Élysée Presidential Palace in Paris Dec. 7, 2024. (Mustafa Yalcin) "President Trump manhandles French President Emmanuel Macron with one of the most dominating handshakes I’ve ever seen," said commentator Drew Hernandez. "We are so back." DAVID MARCUS: TRIUMPHANT TRUMP AT NOTRE DAME SIGNALS AMERICA AND THE WEST ARE BACK Colin Rugg wrote, "7 years later and the handshake battle continues between Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron." During a meeting in 2017, during Trump's first term in office, the two world leaders had a 29-second handshake and appeared to be tugging back and forth as they walked with their wives. French President Emmanuel Macron meets with President-elect Trump at the Élysée Palace Dec. 7, 2024, in Paris (Oleg Nikishin) "The Trump-Macron handshake is hilarious," author John Lefevre said in a post on X. "Because it happened twice. And you know Macron was told to prepare and probably practiced and then still got dominated." Trump's handshakes with world leaders have gone viral over the years, including when he pulled in Russian President Putin's arm during a handshake at the G-20 Summit in 2019. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump attended the reopening ceremony alongside political figures, including first lady Jill Biden and Prince William. Aubrie Spady is a Writer for Fox News Digital.
South Korea’s Yoon survives impeachment after martial law fiasco
It's playoff time throughout high school football across the country. With most of the season behind us, here's a look at who we think have been the nation's top 20 running backs this year. The primary criteria were 2024 production and team success relative to strength of schedule. Performance in prior seasons and recruiting accolades were also taken into account. Recruiting info is per 247Sports unless otherwise specified. TOP 20 RUNNING BACKS IN THE COUNTRY: Allen isn't a projected Power-4 starter like most of the rest of the players on this list, but the Harvard commit just had a season for the books. Playing against solid Texas competition, he ran for 2,588 yards and 42 touchdowns on 10.4 yards per carry, caught 19 passes for 374 yards and five more touchdowns, and threw a touchdown pass for 2,964 total yards of offense in just 10 games. Including kick returns, Allen totaled 3,130 all-purpose yards. That's 313 a game, and he even averaged over 250 a night in St. John's losses. The top-ranked senior running back in the country, Berry is a career 8,000-yard rusher and 5-star LSU commit. After totaling nearly 2,500 yards of offense as a junior, he ran for 1,666 yards and 32 touchdowns on 12.7 yards per carry this regular season alone, and caught for 247 yards and three more TDs. Berry is fast as it gets at the running back spot with a 4.37 40-yard dash. With a 10.62 time in the 100m to go with solid size and pass-catching ability, it's easy to see why more than 40 schools offered Blaylock. And his high school production follows suit. Despite missing a bit of time due to an injury, Blaylock has run for 1,076 yards and 21 touchdowns on 9.5 yards per carry as a senior for a top-20 team in the country playing a national schedule. The Oklahoma commit has also recorded 19 catches for 265 yards and three TDs, and his ability to fly out of the slot has helped clear the box for run-centric QB Cardae Mack. A 5-star recruit and the top-ranked RB in the Class of 2027 with the numbers to show for it. Crowell came out of the gate with 29 touchdowns and 1,737 rushing yards as a freshman, and has already rushed for 1,667 yards and 25 touchdowns on 11.7 yards per carry in 2024 to go with two TDs and 233 yards receiving. His Aggies are 21-1 with their only loss coming by one score to nationally-ranked Saraland, and even then he went for 200 yards and three TDs. Crowell is up to 22 offers with 'Bama, Auburn, and UCF listed as the early frontrunners by 247Sports. Over the last two seasons, Davidson's Bulldogs are 26-0, and he's run for 4,315 yards and 71 touchdowns (and counting). Davidson is a speedster with a 10.69 personal record in the 100m, but has good size for a tailback at 6-0, 195. Easy to see why he's ranked third at his position in the Class of 2025 and is committed to Clemson. Davison is averaging over 100 yards of offense per game for a Mater Dei team on pace to run away with a national title. He's run for 13 touchdowns in nine games as a senior, and committed to Oregon over the summer out of a whopping 50 colleges to offer. Davison proved as a sophomore that he can carry a heavy load, rushing for 17 TDs and 1,514 yards for the nation's No. 2 team in 2022. Barbara Gauntt/ Clarion Ledger/ USA Today Network/ Imagn After rushing for 27 touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards as a junior, Dear has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in eight games as a senior – despite spending real time at QB. In addition to his rushing production, the 4-star Alabama commit has caught a touchdown and completed 17 of 26 passes for 249 yards and three TDs, good for a 118.9 passer rating. A 6-foot-1 bruiser with tremendous straight-line sprinting speed, Dear is widely considered a top-two RB in his class. Jake Crandall/ Montgomery Advertiser/ USA Today Network/ Imagn What do you get when a top-10 RB recruit in the country plays in the right system at the 1A level? One of the most dominant high school careers of all time. And some 44 Division I offers. Henderson first experienced varsity action in eighth grade, ran for 1,115 yards and 24 touchdowns as a freshman, doubled his production as a sophomore, and made history as a junior a year ago. The 4-star Auburn commit ran for 3,525 yards and a state-record 61 touchdowns while leading the nation with 68 total touchdowns, and did it all on "just" 225 carries thanks to his jaw-dropping 15.7 yards per carry. Henderson has already rushed for 3,456 yards and 61 TDs as a senior, with career totals of 10,766 rushing yards, 193 rushing TDs, and even 327 yards and two touchdowns passing on 11-17 completion. For what is not the first time, this 4-star Clemson commit is one of the premier halfbacks in high school football in 2024. Henderson has only needed 116 carries to guide the Bears to an 11-1 record and rack up 1,631 yards and 22 touchdowns rushing, good for a massive average of 14.1 yards per carry. He also has 23 catches for 206 yards and a touchdown. In 14 games as a junior, Henderson totaled 39 touchdowns and over 2,700 all-purpose yards. Hill ran for 1,788 yards and 25 touchdowns on 13.6 yards per carry for a 10-2 team as a junior, and he's been even better in 2024. The 4-star Oregon commit has run for 2,150 yards and 34 touchdowns on an insane 17.3 yards per carry, and is having a breakout year as a pass-catcher with 16 catches for 303 yards and five more TDs. To top it off, he's still going, as his Crusaders are one win away from an undefeated 1A state title run. The top-ranked RB in his grade and the only 5-star running back in the Class of 2026, per 247Sports' Composite Rankings. Hiter's 2024 stats aren't up yet, but he's crossed the 200-yard mark a handful of times and been considered a major stock-riser in recent months by scouts after running for a little over 1,000 yards as a sophomore. James is a high 3-star Notre Dame commit who hasn't quite gotten the national recognition he deserves for powering the Spartans through a tough schedule into national rankings. In 11 games against strong foes, he's run for career-highs of 1,677 yards and 17 touchdowns, and also has 26 catches for 326 yards and three TDs. Ranked fourth at RB in his class, Kromah checks every single box of a top recruit. With a rare combination of power running and receiver skills, the 4-star Clemson commit has run for 4,477 yards and 54 touchdowns in his career, and has caught for 1,312 yards and 18 TDs as well. Kromah also uses his 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame to block particularly well for a halfback. The cherry on top is his winning pedigree, having propelled Lee County – which is 12-0 entering state 5A quarterfinals – to national relevance. The longtime LSU commit ran for 1,729 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior, and he has been even better as a senior. Lindsey piled up nearly 946 yards of offense in the first five games of 2024 alone, and his Trojans are undefeated and nationally-ranked. Speed is the 4-star recruit's main calling card with a sub 11-second 100m dash. He's one of the top breakout stars of 2024 at running back spot statistically – although the top college programs in the country have been in hot pursuit of the 4-star recruit for years. In just 10 games games, Louis has run for 1,313 yards and 13 touchdowns and has 17 catches for 229 yards and three TDs, putting him at 154 yards of offense per game for an 9-2 team playing a national schedule. He's also a standout in the blocking department. Louis committed to Florida State out of 29 offers in September, but there's a lot of attention being paid to his upcoming official visit at Florida. An 8,000-yard rusher for his career, Overton is up to 1,561 yards, 426 receiving yards, and 36 touchdowns as a senior with his team at 10-1 after dominating its postseason opener. And while it wasn't a factor in his inclusion, his mark of seven interceptions at safety is extremely impressive too. Before transferring to Hayfield, he had a decorated career at Freedom (VA) that included a Gatorade State Player of the Year award. Overton is a 3-star Virginia Tech commit. Bill Welt/ The State Journal-Register/ USA Today Network/ Imagn Parker led Cardinal Ritter to an undefeated season and state title as a junior with 1,644 rushing yards on 11.2 yards per carry and 26 touchdowns. The 4-star Nebraska pledge was just as good as a senior the regular season with 1,564 yards and 18 touchdowns rushing on 10.3 yards a try in the regular season alone. Parker also had 12 catches for 134 yards and two more TDs during the regular season. A tireless power back for the perennial Texas powerhouse Eagles, Riden's senior season has been his best yet – and his third above 1,000 rushing yards. Leading DeSoto to a 10-2 record and national top-25 ranking against a national schedule, Riden is up to 1,685 yards and 24 touchdowns with nearly all of it coming on the ground. A 4-star recruit in 247Sports' composite rankings, he picked Texas A&M out of nearly 40 schools to offer. Warren's full senior year stats aren't up yet, but consider the following. North Crowley is ranked fifth in the nation by High School On SI and ninth by MaxPreps at 12-0. And Warren ran for 350 yards and four touchdowns in the first three games alone, including 153 yards and three touchdowns to knock off another top-25 team in the nation in DeSoto (TX). Warren, a 3-star recruit, picked UNLV out of 15 schools to offer, which included some high-major stalwarts like Ole Miss and Utah. Yates built on an All-American sophomore year with an even better junior campaign possessing a trifecta of standout speed, strength, and pass-catching. In 2024 he rushed for 1,339 yards and 15 touchdowns on over 10 yards per carry, made 31 catches for 453 yards and four TDs, and totaled 358 yards and two more scores as a return specialist, putting him over 2,000 all-purpose yards. And the 4-star recruit was a force to be reckoned with even in the Wildcats' two losses, showing that you can't stop him but can only hope to contain him. Yates committed to stay home for Mississippi State in September.Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and weapons charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO's death
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Elon Musk has ignited speculation regarding the potential creation of a U.S. Bitcoin BTC/USD strategic reserve. This comes as Bitcoin’s value soars past the $100,000 mark, following the victory of President-elect Donald Trump . What Happened : According to a report Musk’s hints at a significant shift in the Bitcoin and crypto market have led traders and analysts to speculate on the possibility of a U.S. Bitcoin strategic reserve. Musk, who has emerged as an influential advisor to Trump after the election, is viewed as a crucial figure in the pro-cryptocurrency administration. According to the report by Forbes, despite distancing himself from the sector following the 2021 bull run, Musk’s company, Tesla, continues to hold approximately 10,000 Bitcoin, valued at nearly $1 billion. Cryptocurrency and financial markets analyst Richard Ptardio told the outlet, “With Bitcoin and crypto’s most famous cheerleader in Elon Musk at Trump’s side, we can expect the most pro-cryptocurrency administration to date.” Also Read: Musk’s Net Worth Tops One-Third of a Trillion Dollars As the price of Bitcoin crossed the $100,000 threshold, Musk commended El Salvador’s Bitcoin investment profits, further fueling speculation about the establishment of a U.S. Bitcoin strategic reserve. However, many Bitcoin and crypto observers still consider the creation of a U.S. Bitcoin strategic reserve as unlikely, with the Polymarket prediction platform forecasting a 25% chance. Why It Matters : The establishment of a U.S. Bitcoin strategic reserve could significantly impact the cryptocurrency market. It would not only legitimize Bitcoin as a strategic asset but also potentially stabilize its price. Musk’s influence in the Trump administration and his company’s significant Bitcoin holdings make his support for such a move noteworthy. However, the skepticism among Bitcoin and crypto watchers indicates that the establishment of a U.S. Bitcoin strategic reserve is far from a done deal. The market will closely watch Musk’s actions and statements in the coming months. Read Next Elon Musk Aims For Mars by 2030, But Experts Say Don’t Count On It © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Biden is considering preemptive pardons for officials and allies before Trump takes office
Kurtis Rourke has made the Jon Cornish Trophy a family affair. The Indiana quarterback received the award Monday, which is presented annually to the top Canadian playing football in the NCAA. Rourke’s older brother, Nathan, currently with the CFL’s B.C. Lions, won the award twice in 2017 and 2018 at Ohio. “It’s awesome,” Rourke said. “Kind of getting introduced to the Jon Cornish Trophy back when Nathan won it a couple of times, I wanted to be able to have a shot and it was one of my goals to be in the conversation, be in the running. “It just means a ton to be recognized just because Canadian athletes don’t get recognized too often. I’m just so glad we’re able to get that recognition and continue to do it for our country.” Rourke finished first in voting ahead of Montreal’s Dariel Djabome, a junior linebacker at Rutgers. Stanford receiver Elic Ayomanor, last year’s winner, was third, followed by Vancouver’s Ty Benefield (sophomore safety, Boise State) and Jett Elad of Mississauga, Ont., a senior safety at UNLV. Cornish, of New Westminster, B.C., was a standout running back at Kansas who went on to have a decorated CFL career with the Calgary Stampeders (2007-15) before being inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2019. Rourke transferred to Indiana last December to boost his NFL draft stock after five years at Ohio, where he began as a backup to his older brother. The junior Rourke then captured the ‘22 MAC offensive player of the year award despite suffering a season-ending knee injury before heading to Indiana after the 2023 season. Rourke was instrumental in Indiana — traditionally known as a basketball school — emerging as a Big Ten contender in head coach Curt Cignetti’s first season. After winning 11 of their first 12 games, the Hoosiers’ stellar campaign ended with a 27-17 loss to Notre Dame in the opening game of the expanded U.S. college football playoff bracket. Rourke finished 20-of-33 passing for 215 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in that contest. Overall, Rourke completed 222 of 320 passes (69.4 per cent) for 3,042 yards with 29 TDs and five interceptions. “What a privilege, opportunity to come join a program that had so much to prove,” Rourke said. “It kind of aligned with what I was wanting to do, which was prove I could play at a higher level.” The six-foot-five, 223-pound Rourke was named a finalist for the Manning Award, presented annually to the NCAA’s top quarterback. He was also ninth in voting for the Heisman Trophy as U.S. college football’s outstanding player. “College football has been everything to me,” Rourke said. “Starting off my freshman year to be able to watch Nathan grow and play in his senior year and just learn from him in both how to live a college life but also be a college quarterback as well. “I won’t forget my time at Ohio at all, it really created me and moulded me into the person, player I am. I’m extremely grateful for the entire college football experience.” The former Holy Trinity star becomes just the second Canadian high school graduate to claim the Jon Cornish Trophy. Chuba Hubbard, of Sherwood Park, Alta., and currently with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, did so in 2019 while at Oklahoma State. The six-foot-two, 240-pound Djabome recorded 102 tackles (48 solo), three sacks and two forced fumbles this season. Rutgers faces Kansas State in the Rate Bowl on Boxing Day. The six-foot-two, 210-pound Ayomanor, a redshirt junior, was one of the few bright spots this season for Stanford (3-9). He registered 63 catches for 831 yards and six TDs after recording 62 receptions for 1,013 yards and six touchdowns in 2023. Last week, Ayomanor declared for the ‘25 NFL draft. The six-foot-two, 204-pound Benefield led Boise State in tackles (73), solo tackles (53) and interceptions (two) while also registering five tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and two recoveries. The Broncos are the third seed in U.S. college football’s expanded playoffs and face Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. Elad registered 55 tackles, an interception and six pass knockdowns during the regular season. He added 12 tackles (nine solo) and a sack in the Runnin’ Rebels’ 24-13 win over Cal in the Art of Sport LA Bowl to finish with an 11-3 overall record.Ruhullah leads protest on reservation; PDP, other party leaders participate
