Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday held the last of 537 press briefings during the Biden administration, delivering emotional remarks from the podium and acknowledging the role of a free press in democracy.

Jean-Pierre told reporters gathered in the briefing room that the Biden White House held 537 briefings, and that she personally conducted 306 of them. There are no further on-camera briefings scheduled during Biden’s final few days in office.

“We had the first briefing of this administration on Inauguration Day because President Joe Biden wanted to make clear the importance of daily briefings and the vital role that the press plays in our democracy,” Jean-Pierre said.

The room was full of familiar faces from the Biden press office. Former press secretary Jen Psaki stood in the back, as did a handful of former press aides who departed for other jobs in the administration and outside government.

Jean-Pierre acknowledged those former staffers, as well as those still in the press office, and she got emotional and she talked about spending more time with her daughter. Jean-Pierre replaced Psaki in May 2022, becoming the first Black and the first openly LGBTQ person to serve in the role.

Questions on Wednesday were focused on a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that was announced earlier in the afternoon.

The Biden White House restored the tradition of holding press briefings on an almost daily basis after the Trump White House upended the routine. Former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham did not hold a single on-camera briefing during her tenure, and her replacement, Kayleigh McEnany, held them sporadically during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Trump’s incoming press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, is set to make history as the youngest person to ever hold the position. She has mused about shaking up the seating arrangement in the briefing room and giving access to less traditional media outlets, but nothing has been finalized.

This weekend, British judokas will compete in two major European tournaments: the Porec Millennium Team Cadet European Cup in Croatia and the Riga Senior European Cup in Latvia.

Porec Millennium Team Cadet European Cup

In the men’s division, Coen Gilbert (Sportif) will compete in the -50kg category, while Evan Anderson (Blyth Juno Michi) and Reece Blackshaw (Penistone JC) take on the -55kg. The -60kg field will feature Samuel Tang (Kin Ryu JC) and Jack Milligan (Wirral Judo Club), with Viktor Andriichuk (Camberley) battling in the -66kg.

Lenny Tancock and Luka Abashidze (both Bishops Stortford JK) will compete in the -73kg, while Harrison Elliot (High Wycombe Judo Centre) joins Nikoloz Shengelia (Palavani) in the -81kg.

On the women’s side, Sara Coni (Camberley) and Maisie Broadley (Wirral JC) will contest the -44kg category. Alexis Buchanan (Sportif) and Taylor Chrisp (Blyth Juno Michi) will fight in the -48kg field, while Lucy Robinson (Kin Ryu JC) will compete solo in the -52kg.

Aleksandra Dudko (Ealing JC), Maisie Shattock (Bacup JC), and Valentina Lawlor (Sportif) will take on the -57kg division. In the -63kg, Bronach Mary McGill (Sportif) and Karina Semete (Tonbridge JC) will round out the squad.

Riga Senior European Cup

Ross Dempsey (Clyde Judo) will be the sole British representative in the -60kg division, while a strong quartet of Finlay Allan (Camberley), Cameron Foster (Alness Judo), James Gray (Destination Judo), and Peter Miles (Bradley Stoke Judo) will compete in the -66kg category.

In the -73kg division, Cameron Charles and Harry Le Mare (both Camberley) will take to the mat, with Logan Campbell and Rory Tyrrell (both Camberley) contesting the -81kg. Samuel Petgrave (Westcroft JC) will compete in the -90kg category, while Daniel Ede (Westcroft JC) steps up in the +100kg division.

Lanina Solley (Camberley) will be the sole British contender in the -57kg category. Tomi Imrie (Jidel Judo 93) and Katie Mills (Camberley) will represent GB in the -63kg, while Holly Devall (Dragons Academy) rounds out the squad in the -70kg division.

Good luck to everyone competing!

Watch out for further news from British Judo by checking out our latest news section. You can also catch up via our official social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The post Two Squads Ready for Porec Cadet and Riga Senior European Cups appeared first on British Judo Association.