Von Der Leyen's State of the Union address noted Europe needs to rebalance unfair trade, cut red tape, and strengthen its industrial and strategic autonomy.
But Euratex said it regretted that industrial competitiveness failed to muster as much attention as other issues in the address.
The trade body is calling on the Commission to match the political commitments with an equal sense of urgency on industrial competitiveness, and to place manufacturing sectors, such as textiles, more firmly at the centre of its agenda in the months ahead.
"Europe cannot build a strong defence, lead the green and digital transitions, or protect its social model on a weakening industrial base. Competitiveness is not just one chapter of the European project – it is the foundation all the others are built on; when we get that right, everything else becomes possible.", states Dirk Vantyghem, director general, Euratex.
Specifically, Euratex is urging action on trade-defence measures including stronger customs enforcement and imports monitoring for textile products, with particular regard to the trade deficit with China, which has "reached a tipping point."

#defence #state

Knicks news: Dirk Nowitzki delivers 'skeptical' take on Jalen Brunson leading New York to first **** le in 53 years appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Before the 2026 Finals MVP Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to their first **** le in 53 years, he spent his rookie season playing alongside Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks. Brunson is hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend, topping off an offseason victory lap that Nowitzki says is well deserved after New York's historic run.
Nowitzki reflected on Brunson's growth over the years, which he admits he didn't foresee blossoming into a Finals MVP-caliber run, he said, per The Stein Line's Marc Stein.
"I loved it for him. I love to watch his evolution. I gotta say, I was [skeptical] when he went to New York as the franchise player there in that market," Nowitzki said. "He's a quiet guy–shy guy. To go to that media market, I was a little worried. But man, has he been unbelievable on and off the floor. Really carried his franchise. So well-deserved to win the championship; bring the championship back there after 50-something years. Finals MVP. It's been an incredible run. I gotta say didn't see that development coming from him.
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#jalen

Dirk Nowitzki admits that he never thought Jalen Brunson would become a superstar originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jalen Brunson has become one of the best players in the league over the past few years. The New York Knicks are glad to have him as their superstar, especially given how they managed to win a championship with him shining as the main man.
During his early years, he was a backup guard on the Dallas Mavericks. He was the primary backup to Luka Doncic, so it was normal for him to play a role because he was behind one of the world's most talented players. This led Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki to appreciate Brunson's hard work behind the scenes, but he never expected the guard to pivot into becoming a star himself.
Nowitzki was teammates with Brunson during the latter's rookie season in the 2018-19 campaign. Considering they worked together quite often during that year, Nowitzki got to see how the young point guard was working out. Brunson managed to impress during his rookie season, playing 73 games and even starting 38 of them.
For the next couple of seasons, Nowitzki watched Brunson and the Mavericks from the sidelines. Since Brunson played more of a sixth-man role until the 2021-22 season, it was clear to Nowitzki that he would be a rotational guard.

#sporting

Nuggets predicted to trade for $198M Lakers' generational 6x All-Star to pair with Nikola Jokic originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers are entering the Luka Doncic era, as LeBron James will no longer be playing for the organization for the first time in a decade. Doncic has done everything possible to improve his conditioning and arrive at the upcoming season in the best shape possible.
It was noticeable last season that Doncic had already made improvements, but he still had some work to do to become fully conditioned. This year, Dirk Nowitzki has raved about Doncic's physique.
"The comments came as Doncic and his Lakers teammates traveled to his native Slovenia for a bonding trip and training camp in Ljubljana, giving fans an early look at the guard's conditioning ahead of a pivotal year. Doncic has drawn buzz as a potential MVP candidate, and Nowitzki clearly believes his protege is positioned for a big season," ClutchPoints' Miguel La Torre wrote.
The only concerning aspect of Doncic's situation for the Lakers is that he is not locked up for the long term. There is always a possibility that he could eventually want out if things do not go according to plan in Los Angeles.

#angeles #conditioning #year

Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Baron Global Opportunity Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. The fund achieved a strong quarter, gaining 26.7% (Institutional Shares), exceeding a 14.9% gain for the MSCI ACWI Index (the Index), and a 19.8% gain for the MSCI ACWI Growth Index. YTD, the Fund is up 20.6% compared to gains of 11.3% and 10.6% for the benchmarks, respectively. In mid-2026, market patterns show similarities to the previous year, following three years of over 25% gains driven by a healthy economy and AI investments. Elevated geopolitical risks persisted, with a pullback likely. A tariff-related market dip was followed by a recovery, reflecting a growing market indifference to geopolitical uncertainties. Similarly, airstrikes against Iran and subsequent tension led to an initial market sell-off, yet a lull in hostilities led to a strong market rally. The Fund noted significant outperformance, credited to stock selection and sector allocation, with 1,173bps of overall outperformance relative to the Index. It excelled in developed markets while underperforming in emerging markets, particularly due to a spectacular rise in Korea. The Fund remains optimistic about its investments and seeks attractive opportunities. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Baron Global Opportunity Fund highlighted DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) as a new addition. DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) manufacturers engine products, including complex precision cast components and nickel- and cobalt-based superalloys for aerospace, industrial gas turbine and transportation industries. On September 1, 2026, DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) closed at $41.48 per share. Over the past month, DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) declined 20.69%. DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) has a market capitalization of $6.02 billion.
Baron Global Opportunity Fund stated the following regarding DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
We also initiated a new position in DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC), a leading manufacturer of precision-cast superalloy components – the turbine blades, vanes, and structural castings that must perform under very harsh operating conditions including very high temperatures (1000c) and high pressure. These parts go into both commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines (IGT) that generate electricity. The company occupies a hard-to-replicate market positioning as a critical supplier of the inner parts of an engine that only a handful of qualified manufacturers in the world are capable of producing.
Since the company began its turnaround in 2020 after over a decade under poor ownership, with the leadership of CEO Mike Quinn, who spent over a decade at Precision Castparts, and Co Chairperson of the Board Dirkson Charles, who built and currently is CEO of aerospace and defense proprietary parts provider

The Dallas Mavericks are expected to have Kyrie Irving back after he missed the entire 2025-26 campaign because of a torn ACL, and Dirk Nowitzki is among those excited to see the 34-year-old guard again soon.
In a recent interview with WFAA's Joe Trahan, Nowitzki strongly believes Irving's return will address the Dallas Mavericks' Achilles heel last season – the point guard position. The one-time NBA champion is also interested in how Irving will play alongside franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg.
Nov 22, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) looks back at guard Kyrie Irving (left) during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
"The most exciting thing is, on the court, what struggled last year for the Mavs were the point guard position. And now you have one of the all-time greats coming back with Kyrie. He had a year off. He should be ready. He should be excited. He watched Cooper for a year, so I'm sure in his head, he has a plan on how they're going to play off each other," Nowitzki stated.
Irving is entering his contract year with the Dallas Mavericks, where he'll earn around $39.5 million, and the 34-year-old guard can exercise his $42.4 million player option in the summer of 2027 (or become an unrestricted free agent).

#irving #back

Dirk J. Debbink, Director of Cincinnati Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:CINF), purchased 1,000 shares in this filing, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.
Metric
Value
Shares purchased
1,000

#purchased #cincinnati #financial #corporation

Tomer Azarly: If you could go back and team up with any player in NBA history all-time, who would it be? Can you even pick just one? Chet Holmgren: Ooh, that's a tough one. Yeah, I don't know. Can I maybe give a starting five? Obviously Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, I'd say like OKC Kevin Durant, and one more. I'd say 2011 Dirk Nowitzki.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Ooh, that's a tough one. Yeah, I don't know. Can I …

#tomer #azarly #chet

Back to league business! Following the international break, FC Bayern Women are back in FLYERALARM Women's Bundesliga action this weekend with the rearranged fixture away to bottom-of-the-table 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam on Saturday 25 February. Kick-off at the Karl-Liebknecht Stadion is at 13:00 CET. From the state of play to the team news, our preview has all the info.
The match against Postdam was supposed to take place at the start of February, but a frozen pitch led to the game being postponed at short notice. After an international break of almost two and a half weeks, head coach Alexander Straus has had just two days to prepare his side for the meeting with the cellar dwellers. Nevertheless, Straus' charges travel to Brandenburg with momentum after the 2-1 victory over fellow **** le challengers Eintracht Frankfurt in the opening match of the second half of the season, their sixth straight win in the league.
Turbine Potsdam's record currently reads nine defeats and one draw. Having finished fourth last term and narrowly missed out on qualification for the Champions League, they face the threat of relegation to the second tier this year for the first time since 1994. Just before the original date for the meeting with Bayern, interim coach Sven Weigang stepped down, with previous **** istant coach Dirk Heinrichs taking charge of the team for the coming weeks. Their first two fixtures of the year have both been called off, meaning this is Potsdam's first competitive game since early December.
These two sides have come up against each other 44 times in the Women's Bundesliga, making it one of the most-played fixtures in the league. The stats are very close, with 19 wins for FCB, 18 for Potsdam and seven draws. The Brandenburg outfit haven't beaten Bayern since 2016, though, and last managed a draw in December 2021.
Along with long-term absentees Giulia Gwinn (cruciate ligament tear) and Jovana **** janović (muscle strain), Strauss is without the services of Sydney Lohmann, who returned home from international duty early due to a muscular problem. Goalkeeper Laura Benkarth will also not travel to Potsdam because of illness.

#first

Dirk Nowitzki: Nellie… You didn't just draft me. You believed in me. You saw things in my game before I ever realized I could do them. I've said it a million times and I will always say it: I don't think my career could have turned out how it did without you being my first coach and giving me the freedom to play my game. I can only say THANK YOU. For everything. RIP legend.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Nellie… You didn't just draft me. You believed in me. …

#dirk #i 've #hoops

Mavs' Cooper Flagg's sole rookie 'hole' still outperformed LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Michael Jordan originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg turned in one of the most complete debut seasons in recent NBA history, averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 **** ists on his way to Rookie of the Year. Only one part of his game drew consistent scrutiny all year.
That one weakness is his three-point shooting has now been put into historical context, and the numbers suggest fans have little reason to worry.
The comparison first circulated this offseason, breaking down Flagg's 29.5 percent mark from three against several Hall of Fame rookie seasons.
Flagg shot 29.5 percent from deep on 244 attempts as a rookie, a mark that topped LeBron James' 29.0 percent and Kevin Durant's 28.8 percent in their own first seasons. Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki has downplayed any concerns about the number since before the season even ended.

#rookie #flagg

Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, after weeks of in-patient care following a fall in mid-June, announced via a statement on Thursday that he has been discharged from a rehabilitation center and will continue his recovery at home.
"Earlier today, I was discharged from the rehabilitation center to continue my recovery at home," McConnell said in a statement. "Elaine and I are grateful for the many well wishes and support from friends, colleagues, and Kentuckians, and for the attentive care I've received from excellent doctors, nurses, therapists, and hospital staff."
"On the advice of my doctors, I'll maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home during the state work period, and I'll continue to engage with my staff and colleagues on important Senate business," McConnell added.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images - PHOTO: Mitch McConnell delivers an opening statement during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the FY2027 budget request in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 12, 2026 in Washington, DC.
McConnell was first hospitalized on June 14 for reasons that were initially undisclosed by his office.

#mitch

Entries from early 2020 in a now-exposed personal diary kept by Dr. Anthony Fauci during the COVID-19 pandemic show that he privately estimated the death rate from the illness was significantly lower than what he told Congress under oath only weeks later.
Fauci, 85, has come under intense scrutiny for years regarding his approach leading the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic, and his alleged links to the Chinese lab where the virus originated. He will return to Capitol Hill on Wednesday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to speak about his newly publicized personal records.
"The stated mortality over all of this when you look at all the data including China is about three percent. It first started off as two and three," Fauci said in testimony before the House Oversight Committee on March 11, 2020, according to a transcript of the hearing.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci prepares to testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee about the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on November 4, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Senators questioned Fauci and other witnesses about the approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for children between 5 and 11 years old this week.
Legacy Media Ignores Massive Anthony Fauci Document Release Alleging He Misled Congress On Covid Origins

#senate #capitol

2026 World Matchplay of Darts Day 6 quarterfinals Live results, scores, schedule & bracket: Van Duijvenbode survives despite late Anderson surge originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Luke Littler is off to another great start scoring-wise, but finds himself up just 3-2 after a great start against Josh Rock.
The 2026 World Matchplay of Darts resumes on Thursday, with two exciting matches held on Day 6 in Blackpool.
In the extended format starting this round, Gary Anderson and Dirk van Duijvenbode will kick off the session.
The second and final match of the day is a rematch of last year's semifinal, as Luke Littler plays Josh Rock.

#sporting #LUKE

2026 World Matchplay of Darts Day 4 second round Live results, scores, schedule & bracket: van Gerwen and van Duijvenbode meet in all-Dutch clash originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Dirk van Duijvenbode has upped his performance, as he found a couple of breaks of throw in the second session, allowing him to take a 6-4 lead overall over Michael van Gerwen.
The 2026 World Matchplay of Darts resumes on Tuesday, with four exciting matches to be held on Day 4 in Blackpool.
Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Stephen Bunting are among the eight players competing for a spot in the quarterfinals on Day 4.
Here is the schedule and results from Day 4.

#sporting #results

Erling Haaland 's 86th-minute goal was the difference as Norway knocked out Ivory Coast with a 2-1 win during Tuesday's World Cup round of 32 action.
The goal was Haaland's fifth of the World Cup, which puts him in a tie for the Golden Boot with Argentina's Lionel Messi .
Norway looked to have had the game in control after Antonio Nusa opened the scoring in the 39th minute. Martin Ødegaard found Nusa with **** e on the side of the Ivory Coast penalty box seven minutes before halftime. Nusa then took on Nicolas Pépé and after a pair of feints, quickly curled a shot around goalkeeper Yahia Fofana 's reach and into the back of the net for the lead.
According to Squawka , the setup makes Ødegaard the first player to record **** ists in three straight World Cup matches since Dirk Kuyt of the Netherlands in 2010.
Not satisfied with one, Norway had two more chances in the waning minutes of the opening half, but both Haaland and Alexander Sørloth could not capitalize on their respective opportunities.

The Detroit Tigers continued to show just the slightest signs of life on Monday night as they notched a 5-3 victory over the New York Yankees to move within 10 games of .500. Every contest is essentially a must-win for the club if they want to get back in the American League Central race. Perhaps more importantly, they can only sustain a certain number of losses before the trade deadline until there's no choice but to deal Tarik Skubal.
Meanwhile the Yankees stayed atop the AL East despite the setback and are significantly less stressed. For proof, let's check in on Jazz Chisholm Jr. The second baseman made history by becoming the first player to play an MLB game with a lollipop in his mouth in Detroit, but that wasn't even the most entertaining moment he provided.
That came during the bottom of the fourth inning when he happened to notice a camera embedded in the infield dirt and stopped the game so he could get to the bottom of it. What resulted was pure cinema with the Tigers broadcast team of Jason Benetti and Andy Dirks providing some wonderful commentary from the perspective of the dirt cam.
The dirt cam has been doing the work of providing some awesome camera shots all year and this is the first time a player noticed it out on the playing field. It's perfectly understandable that Chisholm would prefer to play his position without concern a ball is going to take a wicked hop after some fancy hidden equipment. He also seemed to be having a good time with the whole thing, which one would suspect from the guy who ate a lollipop on the field.
Credit to Benetti and Dirks for getting into character and turning the delay funny.

Monday night’s game between the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees encountered an unusual delay in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Tigers announcers Jason Benetti and Andy Dirks made the most of it.
The Yankees, led by second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., noticed a dirt cam sticking up out of the ground in the infield.
As Chisholm and company stepped on and kicked the dirt cam, the always entertaining Benetti and Dirks offered commentary from the perspective of the helpless dirt cam on the Detroit SportsNet broadcast.
dirt cams have feelings too pic.twitter.com/JboNtqRCMR
— Detroit Tigers (tigers) June 22, 2026

Prosper Stars & Stripes, a long/short equity fund, recently released its first-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter is available to download here. In Q1 2026, the portfolio underperformed with a net return of (-5.6%) compared to the Russell 2000 Index's +0.9% return and the HFRX Equity Hedge Index's -1.5% return. Long book performance was negative, while the short book contributed positively. Geopolitics significantly influenced the first quarter, contributing to increased inflation pressures and elevated energy prices. Additionally, you can review the Portfolio's top 5 holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, Prosper Stars & Stripes highlighted York ***** e Systems, Inc. (NYSE:YSS). York ***** e Systems, Inc. (NYSE:YSS) is a ***** e and defense company that provides a comprehensive suite of mission-critical solutions. On June 17, 2026, York ***** e Systems, Inc. (NYSE:YSS) closed at $30.30 per share. One-month return of York ***** e Systems, Inc. (NYSE:YSS) was 6.50%, and its shares gained 71.38% over the last three months. York ***** e Systems, Inc. (NYSE:YSS) has a market capitalization of $3.93 billion.
Prosper Stars & Stripes stated the following regarding York ***** e Systems, Inc. (NYSE:YSS) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
"York ***** e Systems, Inc. (NYSE:YSS) was the largest detractor in our long book in the quarter. The company is a ***** e and defense prime contractor, with hardware and software capabilities that enable it to meet a wide range of mission requirements. Its offering is the satellite "bus," the functional backbone of any ***** ecraft which integrates the power, altitude & orbit control, thermal control, telemetry, tracking & command, and structural integrity which is then coupled with the satellite payload. York is founder led, with its CEO Dirk Wallinger, seasoned with experience at Orbital Sciences, General Dynamics, and Lockheed Martin. The company's vertically integrated model allows it to manufacture satellites approximately 20% faster and at 50% lower cost than its competitors. York currently has 33 satellites in orbit, with more than 100 additional units expected to be delivered over the next 21 months, providing strong revenue visibility. ***** e remains a major focus area for the U.S. Department of War, particularly through initiatives such as the ***** e Development Agency, which is targeting a proliferated constellation of roughly 1,000 satellites in low Earth orbit by the end of 2026. Despite these favorable fundamentals, the January IPO traded below its offering price, triggering technical selling in a temporarily soft aerospace and defense market. Following its first earnings report as a public company, the stock recovered. However, we exited our position as the visibility into funding and competition became more difficult to confidently discern."