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Official: Nico Gonzalez signs new contract with Juventus until 2030

Juventus have officially confirmed that Argentina international Nico Gonzalez has signed a new contract with the club which will run until the end of the 2029-30 season.Nico Gonzalez has re-establishe...

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Oct 9 • 11:50 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Gears of War: E-Day sells 230K copies

Gears of War: E-Day has sold 230K copies since its advance-access launch on October 1 and full release on October 6. Steam accounts for 168K of those, with Xbox (console and PC) selling 62K. But there’s more to this story, as Xbox makes up the bulk of revenue. E-Day is the best-reviewed Gears game in nearly two decades (and the best one ever made, in my opinion). The Coalition has made a banger here (it’s currently in my top 10 of the year). Despite E-Day’s undeniable quality, this is a soft result. And it’s down to the business model, really. E-Day has made $37M so far, thanks to the Premium upgrade On Xbox, Game Pass is cannibalising much of the premium revenue. Our estimates show that 1.7M folks accessed E-Day via their subscription rather than a copy. But Xbox is having it both ways – or having it halfway, at least – via its Premium Edition Game Pass upgrade. Game Pass subscribers could pay $30 (or their local equivalent) for up to five days of early access starting October 1. Our estimates show that of the 1.7M who accessed E-Day through Game Pass, 722K paid for the upgrade. Between the review embargo lifting on October 1 and the full release, E-Day managed to shift another 250K early-access upgrades – no doubt helped by the campaign’s rave reviews. So despite selling far fewer copies on Steam, Xbox accounts for almost three-quarters of the revenue (roughly $26M of the $37M, versus about $11M on Steam). So “230K copies” undersells the paying audience. Including the 722K upgrades, nearly 950K people actually paid something for E-Day. The $30 upgrade is a halfstep from cannibalisation, but will Xbox go all the way? While E-Day is a sublime game, these are soft numbers for a flagship when Xbox badly needs revenue wins. E-Day sold 62K copies on Xbox against 722K Premium upgrades, so for every one copy sold on Xbox, nearly 12 Game Pass upgrades were sold. The $70 premium SKU is – functionally – dead on Xbox. Normally you can’t see what a Game Pass player would have paid, because the game’s just there in the subscription. But the $30 early-access upgrade estimate shows that 722K people demonstrated they’ll spend real money on this game. In a world without day-one Game Pass, many of these folks would have bought E-Day at $70. They paid $30 for five days early access to something they don’t own. Xbox is, in effect, charging its most valuable customers the least, based on a hangover from a tried-and-exhausted strategy from a previous administration. Those 722K willing-to-pay players generated about $21.7M via the upgrade. If three quarters of this group – mostly US and European audiences – bought E-Day outright, that’s nearly $40M. Of course, Game Pass does bring in meaningful recurring revenue, and E-Day is adding value for hundreds of thousands of subscribers. However, Game Pass is no longer growing, so Xbox is at a crossroads. Xbox is reportedly looking to do a Netflix and bolt on an ad-supported tier to pad it further. But that will just set a new floor, and leadership keeps telling us the priority now is revenue growth, which is subscriber-speak for ARPU. Xbox has already pulled Call of Duty from day-one Game Pass after day-one inclusion hammered its sales, with new CoD titles now arriving on the service around a year late. We know that some Microsoft executives believe the service devalues games outright, and rumours (which Microsoft has dismissed so far, to be fair) suggest that day-one releases could be taken off Game Pass. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe When a game this well-reviewed does this softly on its home platform, the model – not the game – gets brought into question. What else E-Day’s early adopters have played (including this month so far) Looking at E-Day‘s players on Xbox, most have played the franchise before (86% have played Gears 5, 76% Gears 4), and every game on the crossover list is either a shooter or a title from an Xbox-owned studio (though Game Pass is inflating those numbers, of course, more on that later): As for what else Xbox’s E-Day players have played this month, the top three are Fortnite (16%), Roblox (7%), and Call of Duty (6%). Another 5% played Minecraft Dungeons II, which is also on Game Pass and launched a couple of days before Gears‘ advance-access date. Many Game Pass players are happy to check out most big new additions. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Over on Steam, the top crossover games are also mostly shooters (slightly more PC-coded ones), including Space Marine 2, which was itself heavily inspired by Gears: Looking at what E-Day‘s Steam players are into this month shows who they are – as subscriptions don’t skew the data. The top three are Wardogs (13%), Deadlock (12%), and CS2 (10%), so you’ve got the restless shooter crowd checking out the new hotness. A little further down are Helldivers 2 and Space Marine 2, your co-op PVE shooter players who’ll feel right at home in Horde mode. Game Pass is skewing the playtime distribution on Xbox Looking at the playtime distribution in our platform, E-Day players on Steam are – relatively speaking – playing for longer: 54% of E-Day players on Xbox have played for five hours or less (versus 32% on Steam) 19% of Xbox players played for over 15 hours (versus 33% on Steam) 14% of Xbox players played for over 20 hours (22% on Steam) The absolute number of people playing for over 15, 20, and 50 hours is, of course, bigger on Xbox, thanks to the sheer volume of folks who came in through Game Pass (upgraders included). None of that is cause for alarm. Game Pass is the reason Xbox playtime skews lower, as when a game is free to try, people try it and bounce without putting in even an hour (17% under an hour on Xbox versus 6% on Steam). Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe The subscription brings in tourists alongside the committed, dragging down the average even when the game is excellent (but also perhaps winning over the uninitiated). It’s standard across every subscription-included title, on PS Plus too. Forza Horizon 6, for instance, had 11% of its Xbox players bounce under an hour, versus just 2% on Steam. So, Xbox’s crossroads So there we have it. Gears of War: E-Day is an incredible game whose revenues have been stifled by subscription inclusion and exclusivity. It’s the best-reviewed entry in the series in fifteen-odd years, but it still turned into one of the year’s softer flagship launches, not because players didn’t want it, but because Xbox’s own storefront gave its most willing buyers a reason not to pay. Which leaves Xbox at a crossroads. Will it keep making Gears games when the financial returns are this thin and the margins this low? And if it does, does the next one arrive off Game Pass at day one – the way CoD now does, or even on PlayStation? I think it should. Alright, back to E-Day for me! The last word Reply to this email – or reach out here – if you have any feedback for the newsletter – or want to request a game for us to cover. [Alinea Analytics boasts the most accurate PC and console estimates in the business. Game makers use our platform to understand their audience, keep an eye on the competition, monitor sales trends, and spot new opportunities. We equip game studios and financial institutions with accurate data and the confidence to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Want to talk about all things games market data? We’d love to chat!]

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Oct 9 • 11:49 AM EDT • Technology • alineaanalytics.substack.com
EPA’s New Science Chief Defends Integrity After Trump’s Shakeup

The director of a new EPA science office says the agency is still committed to upholding scientific integrity, despite concerns from observers that the Trump administration has taken steps to undermine those efforts.

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Oct 9 • 11:39 AM EDT • Science • news.bloomberglaw.com
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Confirmed: Barcelona breakthrough academy talent renews until 2030

FC Barcelona’s plans for the present and future are taking shape, with the club officially confirming the renewal of one of its most promising young players, Xavi Espart.The Catalan club announced t...

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Oct 9 • 10:56 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Essentia Health hosting annual “Families Remember with Love” memorial celebration

Interfaith service honors children lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, childhood or adult death during Pregnancy and Child Loss Awareness Month

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Oct 9 • 10:46 AM EDT • Health • essentiahealth.org
Foscue Gives Rangers Affordable Designated Hitter Option

With Joc Pederson’s price tag rising, the Texas Rangers could pivot to Justin Foscue’s versatile bat to stabilize the lineup without breaking the offseason budget.

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Oct 9 • 10:32 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Mitch Marner Gets Latest Laugh vs. Maple Leafs

Thursday night marked the third time that Mitch Marner has played against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Marner still hasn’t lost to his former team while now suiting up for the Vegas Golden Knights. The Golden Knights pulled out a 4-3 victory in a shootout to ensure that Marner is now 3-0 lifetime against the team […] The post Mitch Marner Gets Latest Laugh vs. Maple Leafs appeared first on HEAVY.

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Oct 9 • 10:18 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Knicks suspend contract extension talks for Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart 'until later in the season'
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Oct 9 • 10:12 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon

Prime Day deals have started drying up, but you can still get $200 off every model of the M5 MacBook Air as we head into the weekend. These are the best post-hike prices we've seen on the M5 MacBook Air, and prices now start at $1,099.00 for the 512GB 13-inch model and $1,299.00 for the 512GB 15-inch model. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

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Oct 9 • 9:59 AM EDT • Technology • macrumors.com
Cook Political Report tilts 18 House races toward Democrats

The political environment keeps deteriorating for Republicans.

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Oct 9 • 9:56 AM EDT • Politics • axios.com
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YouTuber Gets Banned For Hellraiser: Revival Censored Gameplay Video That Still Violated 'Sex And Nudity Policy'

This is why the Cenobites could never be content creators

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Oct 9 • 9:45 AM EDT • Technology • kotaku.com
Ohio Representative Landsman introduces legislation against sexual violence

On Friday, bipartisan legislation to improve how colleges and universities handle reports of sexual violence and ensure greater transparency and support was reintroduced in Congress.

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Oct 9 • 9:45 AM EDT • Politics • spectrumnews1.com
As Heat adjustment process continues for Giannis, the preseason results have been encouraging

The preseason results have been encouraging, but Giannis Antetokounmpo says he’s still finding his footing with the Heat.

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Oct 9 • 9:32 AM EDT • Sports • miamiherald.com
Food as Medicine Symposium Explores Nutrition, Health and Community

At 82, Hampton Bays resident Ann Coppola is still looking for ways to live healthier. A plant-based eater, she came to Stony Brook Southampton on September 25 with questions about nutrition, supplements and how the food she eats can support her health. “I don’t need a prescription,” Coppola said. “I just need knowledge.” That desire

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Oct 9 • 9:30 AM EDT • Health • sbmatters.stonybrook.edu
‘The Maine Question’ podcast explores how Maine can expand its healthcare industry

From hospital unit closures and job vacancies to an aging workforce, Maine is facing several challenges in sustaining its healthcare industry. Yet there are still opportunities for the state to bolster its healthcare workforce and services if industry and higher education work together. The University of Maine is working with…

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Oct 9 • 9:30 AM EDT • Health • umaine.edu
Oregon Universal Health Plan Group Hastens To Meet Deadline

A few weeks ago, it looked like the board tasked with giving lawmakers the template for government-run universal health care plan would get until December to finish its big report. It turns out it had to move faster.

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Oct 9 • 9:10 AM EDT • Health • wweek.com
Are Suns in Immediate Danger of Regretting Miles Bridges Trade?

By sacrificing sharpshooting depth and a distant first-round pick, Phoenix embraced significant risk. Bridges’ volatile off-court history and fit now determine if this gamble haunts the franchise.

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Oct 9 • 9:07 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
In brief: 'Stick' season 2 trailer and more

Bill Murray stars in the official trailer for A Course Called Ireland. The six-part documentary series premieres on Paramount+ on Oct. 25. The show follows Murray and his friends as they travel across the island to explore Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland's best fairways ...The Die Hard films are getting a brand-new home media release. All five of the movies will be released on physical media in 4K Ultra HD on Dec. 1. Bruce Willis stars as John McClane in all of the Die Hard films. The original movie finds the New York City policeman taking on terrorists after he flies to Los Angeles to be with his estranged wife and two children on Christmas ... TNCMS.AdManager.render({region: 'fixed-big-ad-top-asset', slot: 1, fold: "above"}); The trailer for Stick season 2 is here. Owen Wilson stars as the talented golfer who strives for second chance in the sophomore season. Peter Dager, Timothy Olyphant, Rhea Seehorn, Marc Maron, John Higgins and Billy Zane also make up the cast of the new season. The Apple TV series premieres its first two episodes on Nov. 4. A new episode drops weekly every Wednesday that follows until the season finale airs on Dec. 30 ...Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Thank you for reading kmaland.comAt KMA, we attempt to be accurate in our reporting. If you see a typo or mistake in a story, please contact us by emailing kmaradio@kmaland.com.

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Oct 9 • 8:30 AM EDT • Entertainment • kmaland.com
Boniface handed chance to revive Leverkusen career after Kofane setback

Still working to rediscover his best form, Victor Boniface has been limited to just five minutes of football for Bayer Leverkusen so far this season.However, with Christian Kofane ruled out for the co...

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Oct 9 • 8:23 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Back on the pitch: preparations ahead of Inter vs. Parma

With the international break now over, Inter returned to training at Appiano Gentile before the league picks up again. The Nerazzurri will take on Parma at San Siro on Saturday 10 October at 18:00 CES...

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Oct 9 • 8:18 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Could dragons have ever existed? Science has a surprising answer

Dragons appear in stories as enormous reptilian creatures with wings, claws, armored bodies and, in many traditions, the ability to breathe fire. Science has found no evidence that an animal matching ...

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Oct 9 • 8:11 AM EDT • Science • yahoo.com
Zambia agrees health deal with US after resolving dispute

Africa’s second largest copper producer got better terms than its neighbors, and still has a minerals deal to settle with Washington.

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Oct 9 • 7:15 AM EDT • Health • semafor.com
Zambia agrees health deal with US after resolving dispute

Africa’s second largest copper producer got better terms than its neighbors, and still has a minerals deal to settle with Washington.

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Oct 9 • 7:15 AM EDT • Health • yahoo.com
Health affordability task force considers utility model

CHEYENNE — The Health Insurance Affordability Task Force discussed models Tuesday that could reduce the cost of health insurance in Wyoming, in addition to unanimously agreeing that the task force

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Oct 9 • 7:00 AM EDT • Health • wyomingnews.com
Huber Heights offers $150K in business, nonprofit grants; deadline Oct. 16

Huber Heights businesses and nonprofit organizations have until Oct. 16 to apply for an economic development grant program with $150,000 allocated for 2026.

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Oct 9 • 5:30 AM EDT • Business • daytondailynews.com
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Official | Malian wing-back Adama Camara extends Paris FC contract

Paris FC have announced this Friday the contract extension of their right-back Adama Camara (29).Originally linked to the Parisian club until 2027, the newly promoted Malian international (one cap) ha...

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Oct 9 • 5:25 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Talarico vowed to back an LGBTQ rights bill. Now, his stance isn’t so clear.

The Texas Democrat pledged during the primary to sponsor the Equality Act. As he moderates in the general election, his campaign won't say if he still intends to.

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Oct 9 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com
We’re Investigating Prior Authorization. Help ProPublica Understand Your Health Insurance Denial.

ProPublica is looking into the ways health insurers’ use of prior authorization impacts patients. We need your help to figure out if the process is still leading to delayed or missed treatments, tests, medical equipment or medication.

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Oct 9 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • propublica.org
Opinion: Trust fall: ads for Kansas candidates address voters’ slumping faith in almost everything

Opinion from Eric Thomas: I watched 52 Kansas campaign commercials today so that you don’t have to. Actually, for the next few weeks you will still be watching them. Whether you want them or not, they will still be on during the nightly news, college football games and re-runs of “Everybody Loves Raymond.”

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Oct 9 • 4:33 AM EDT • Politics • kansasreflector.com
Is Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO) Still Cheap On Earnings?

Academy Sports and Outdoors has delivered solid gains for long term shareholders, which puts a spotlight on whether the current share price at US$52.76 is still well supported by its earnings power. With that kind of track record in the rear-view mirror, the key issue now is what those profits are worth today. A 33.9% return over the past 5 years means long term holders have been rewarded. Fresh buyers need to ask whether the present valuation still lines up with the earnings that underpin...

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Oct 9 • 4:10 AM EDT • Sports • finance.yahoo.com
"Sources have relayed to me that sides still remain …

"Sources have relayed to me that sides still remain …

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Oct 9 • 3:48 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Video. 'Modern-day Thomas Edison': Trump awards Musk top US science medal

Video. Despite the president's glowing words at the award ceremony, Trump and Musk have navigated a rather volatile relationship in recent years.

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Oct 9 • 2:16 AM EDT • Science • euronews.com
'Modern-day Thomas Edison': Trump awards Elon Musk top US science medal

Despite the president's glowing words at the award ceremony, Trump and Musk have navigated a rather volatile relationship in recent years.

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Oct 9 • 2:16 AM EDT • Science • yahoo.com
'Modern-day Thomas Edison': Trump awards Musk top US science medal

Despite the president's glowing words at the award ceremony, Trump and Musk have navigated a rather volatile relationship in recent years.

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Oct 9 • 2:16 AM EDT • Science • euronews.com
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Inside the deadlock at the world's top climate science body

The decision was expected to take minutes. But after nearly three years of debate, members of the world’s leading authority on climate change still can’t agree on a timeline to publish its next review of the latest science on the warming planet.

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Oct 9 • 2:04 AM EDT • Science • reuters.com
Inside the Deadlock at the World's Top Climate Science Body

By Kate Abnett and Sudarshan Varadhan BRUSSELS/SINGAPORE, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The decision was expected to take minutes. But after nearly three years of debate, members of the world’s leading authority on ⁠climate change ⁠still can’t agree on a timeline to publish its next review of the latest science ...

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Oct 9 • 2:04 AM EDT • Science • usnews.com
Thursday’s Injury Report Was Still Concerning for the Chargers
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Oct 9 • 1:47 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
War’s Hidden Mental Health Toll on Children with Disabilities

As armed conflicts proliferate around the globe, World Mental Health Day is a reminder that the psychological toll stemming from hostilities result in mental health harms that have lasting effects on people’s lives. Insecurity, trauma, anxiety, and confusion are the norm for many who have endured armed conflict.

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Oct 9 • 12:01 AM EDT • Health • hrw.org
5 Key Moments From Hostile Michigan Senate Debate Between El-Sayed and Rogers

Slashing personal attacks dominated the first televised face-off between Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Senate, and former Representative Mike Rogers, his Republican rival.

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Oct 8 • 10:46 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
What rising costs mean for Volusia County small businesses

Rising costs are squeezing Volusia County businesses, while local leaders say resources and lower costs still help entrepreneurs open and grow.

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Oct 8 • 10:30 PM EDT • Business • mynews13.com
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The plague never went away. Cases are reported in Africa and the U.S. nearly every year

The plague, a rare bacterial infection known for its deadly impact in 14th-century Europe, still exists today.

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Oct 8 • 10:03 PM EDT • Health • seattletimes.com
Warriors unsure when Kristaps Porziņģis will return from lingering health issue

What is clear is that Warriors players and coaches still don't have a good sense on when Porziņģis may be able to return.

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Oct 8 • 9:12 PM EDT • Health • nytimes.com
Arizona candidate says she was raped while posting campaign signs: ‘maybe I was targeted’
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Oct 8 • 8:41 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
‘Disgusting’: Dem Senator shocked by Hegseth plan to livestream firing squad execution
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Oct 8 • 8:05 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Health Policy Watch | US finally signs health deal with Zambia, but still pursues minerals agreement

In 2024, 84% of Zambia’s HIV programme was funded by PEPFAR – and 1.3 million Zambians are on antiretroviral medicines.

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Oct 8 • 7:55 PM EDT • Health • eatg.org
Michigan Senate debate between Rogers and El-Sayed grows hostile quickly

Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed are facing in their first debate in Michigan's closely watched Senate race. The Thursday night debate in Grand Rapids comes after weeks of

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Oct 8 • 7:49 PM EDT • Politics • lancasteronline.com
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Desmond Bane Gets Emotional About First Return to Memphis

Desmond Bane said returning to Memphis as an opponent made him nervous as he reflected on what the city and Grizzlies still mean to him.

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Oct 8 • 6:48 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Katie Nolan genuinely baffled by ‘the rehabilitation of Deshaun Watson’

If you made it to this Thursday still blissfully unaware that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson played on Thursday Night Football last week, how? Amazon’s Prime Video really wanted everyone to know about Deshaun Watson playing on Thursday Night Football. Before kickoff, Taylor Rooks sat down with Watson. During the game, Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit glossed over…

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Oct 8 • 6:30 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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Trump bucks and the politics of mailing checks

The checks started going out last week, nearly one million of them, and mostly to battleground states. With a return address for the U.S. Treasury and a letter enclosed signed by President Donald Trump, these one-time checks for $500 were ostensibly government rebates for Obamacare enrollees who overpaid. In the accompanying letter, however, Trump attacks his predecessor and talks about his record in office on an important issue he’s not polling well on, which makes it seem more like the most expensive political mailer in U.S. history. The average piece of direct mail costs between 30 cents and $3, according to Mail Processing Associates, a print, mail, and fulfillment company. At $500 a pop plus roughly 50 cents each to issue the paper check, the cost of Trump’s healthcare mailer sent to more than 950,000 enrollees comes in at more than $475 million. Trump’s midterm healthcare message “For years, the Biden Administration overcharged you to fund the operation of HealthCare dot gov,” Trump wrote in the letter. “That money belongs to hard-working Americans, not the Government, and now, I am returning it to you!” In the letter, Trump makes false and misleading claims about his administration’s record on healthcare costs, an issue Democrats have a 20 point advantage on over Republicans, according to a recent poll from KFF, a nonpartisan health policy think tank. Trump touts his administration’s TrumpRX program, which he claims is “delivering massive discounts.” However, new research from KFF found that of a selection of drugs available on the TrumpRX platform, just five were the lowest price, while 13 were the highest price. Trump also falsely claims in the letter that he’s fighting to lower healthcare costs. In reality, average monthly premium payment costs for enrollees rose 58% under Trump while marketplace sign-ups declined 5%, per KFF. Under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, it’s estimated 10 million more Americans will be uninsured by 2034. You get a check and you get a check and you get a check Trump’s long promised cash outs to his fans, from his days as a casino operator and gameshow host to his presidency. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the first Trump administration made the unprecedented move to put Trump’s name on checks that went out under the CARES Act (notably the $500 refund checks this time around don’t feature Trump’s name). Ever since, Trump’s been chasing that high. In his second term, Trump’s promised more stimulus that never arrived, like refund checks from DOGE cuts and tariffs, while he said at his party’s convention last month that he’d give out $5,000 checks to everyone if Republicans win in November. In reality, DOGE overstated its cost cutting and Trump’s government actually now spends more than former President Joe Biden’s, while Trump’s tariffs actually grew the trade deficit. His proposal for $5,000 checks would add about $1.2 trillion to the national debt. The problem is there’s no money to give. These $500 checks — plus $90 Medicare rebate checks also going out as well as $250 deposited this week in some Trump Accounts for kids courtesy Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell and his wife Susan — represent the closest Trump’s going to get to making good on his promise to deliver cash fast. And the checks seem especially targeted. Though the $500 checks went out to enrollees in one of 30 states that use the federal HealthCare dot gov marketplace, a Reuters review found 71% of the payments, or $339 million, went to enrollees in 13 states that have the most competitive elections for governor and U.S. Senate. Most Americans don’t buy it Could Trump bucks sway the election? An Economist-YouGov poll found 57% of U.S. adults doubt Trump will deliver on his promise for $5,000 checks, compared to 21% who do. “I’m waiting on my DOGE check and I’m still waiting on my tariff check,” one 2024 Trump voter who’s since turned on him told a recent focus group. “It felt like kind of trying to buy people’s votes, which honestly felt like in elementary when the class president was like, hey we’re going to take you to the water park if you vote for me. It’s like, I don’t think it works like that.” But for voters in swing states who got a check, it could still matter. One survey published in 2022 found receiving a physically personalized check in the mail during the pandemic was associated with a much greater self-reported likelihood of voting for Trump in 2020, and those gains mainly came from out partisans. The issue for Trump comes if these checks are mostly going to Obamacare enrollees whose premiums have gone up by more than just $500 since he took office and who view the money as something like a bribe before the election rather than an actual long-term solution to lowering household costs. Spending $500.50 per mailer would be absurd as a normal campaign expenditure, but since Trump’s checks and letter are a government rebate, his campaign and super PAC didn’t have to spend a dime and he got out his message regardless. If enough voters in key states are swayed by the one-time payment, it could prove to be the best $0 the Trump campaign spent. Subscribe [ ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/why-independent-candidates-are-making) [ Why independent candidates are making independence central to their brand ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/why-independent-candidates-are-making) Hunter Schwarz · Oct 6 [ Read full story ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/why-independent-candidates-are-making) [ ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/these-designers-and-grocery-nerds) [ These designers and grocery nerds will brand Mamdani’s NYC grocery stores ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/these-designers-and-grocery-nerds) Hunter Schwarz · Oct 2 [ Read full story ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/these-designers-and-grocery-nerds) Trump wants to turn his first-ever golf course into a government course for presidents

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Oct 8 • 6:01 PM EDT • Politics • yellopolitics.com
Latest News from CNN Politics

Democratic candidate for Texas governor Gina Hinojosa joins Kasie Hunt to discuss her views on the death penalty.

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Oct 8 • 5:51 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
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Watch: How UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory leads NASA missions like ESCAPADE

Perched high in the hills above campus, it's one of only two university-based centers in the U.S. capable of managing the entire life cycle of a satellite mission.

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Oct 8 • 5:14 PM EDT • Science • news.berkeley.edu
Another Vikings WR Returns to Practice; Darrisaw Still Missing

The Minnesota Vikings brought some good and bad news to the practice fields at TCO Performance Center on Thursday. Here's the latest on Addison and Darrisaw plus more.

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Oct 8 • 4:39 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Alex Rodriguez completely misunderstands ‘Moneyball’ while praising Milwaukee Brewers

In 2003, “Moneyball” took MLB by storm. The book, which chronicles how the 2002 Oakland Athletics won 103 games using a data-driven approach, became the template for how baseball would be played for decades to come. Many of that Athletics team’s core “sabermetrics” tenets still drive strategy in MLB today: prioritizing on-base percentage over batting…

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Oct 8 • 4:30 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Erie County lawmakers approve small business bill, pass resolution

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Erie County lawmakers on Thursday voted to approve the Small Business Utilization Act and passed a resolution that calls for reimbursement from New York State. County L…

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Oct 8 • 3:33 PM EDT • Business • wivb.com
Texas Launches Expedited Online Business Filing System via SOSPortal

Governor Greg Abbott announced the launch of online Texas Express services, allowing businesses to utilize same-day and next-day filings through the Texas Secretary of State.

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Oct 8 • 3:31 PM EDT • Business • texasborderbusiness.com
Obama marvels at Democrats’ Senate chances

“There are states right now in play that I would not have imagined being in play,” the former president said.

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Oct 8 • 3:26 PM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com
Finding a career through service

Hector Jaquez hadn’t considered putting his business degree to work in a nonprofit until a chance email opened his eyes to the possibility.

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Oct 8 • 2:46 PM EDT • Business • news.asu.edu
Florida still projected for College Football Playoff by CBS Sports

DEspite a brutal loss in Week 5 to Missouri, Florida football is still projected to reach the College Football Playoff by CBS Sports.

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Oct 8 • 1:41 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Real Madrid Identify Arsenal's Mikel Merino As New Midfield Option

Mikel Merino has reportedly emerged as a potential transfer target for Real Madrid. The Spanish giants are keen on the versatile midfielder but for now, no talks have taken place between Madrid and Arsenal over a possible deal.

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Oct 8 • 1:24 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Florida slips two spots in CBS Sports' SEC power rankings after Week 5

Florida football fell a couple of spots in CBS Sports' SEC power rankings after Week 5 but still remains among the top five schools in the conference.

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Oct 8 • 1:21 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
David Jolly thinks he can be the first Democratic Governor of Florida this century
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Oct 8 • 1:09 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Same Class, Different Views: Rethinking political division on campus

With one month until the midterm elections, Americans must confront a deeply divided political system and growing ideological tensions. College students remain uniquely positioned to explore, rather than avoid, this political reality. That opportunity is worth preserving now more than ever. Students living away from home for the first time experience many new opportunities, and...

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Oct 8 • 12:40 PM EDT • Politics • smudailycampus.com
Sen. Tillis on Congressional Oversight: ‘If we find that’s something concerning, we should pursue it’
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Oct 8 • 12:36 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
DOE Announces Science Applications for Quantum Computing

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the release of Quantum Genesis Priority Applications (QGPAs), a set of eight key scientific utility problems that will guide the Quantum Genesis’s goal of developing fault-tolerant scientifically relevant quantum computers. This effort directly supports the goals outlined in President Trump’s Executive Order Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation and builds on the recommendations made in the Blueprint for DOE Quantum Supercom

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Oct 8 • 12:25 PM EDT • Science • newswise.com
New St. Pete Polls survey has Ashley Moody at 47%, Angie Nixon at 45%, and the Senate race still inside the margin of error

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody leads Democrat Angie Nixon 47% to 45% in a new St. Pete Polls survey for Florida Politics, a narrow edge for the Republican inside

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Oct 8 • 12:09 PM EDT • Politics • floridapolitics.com
Applications reopen for 2026 KOSBE Small Business Awards

The Kingsport Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship has reopened applications for the 2026 KOSBE Small Business Awards until Oct. 23.

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Oct 8 • 12:04 PM EDT • Business • timesnews.net
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Trump’s Nobel ambitions fade, but Norway still fears his wrath

Trump seldom talks about the Nobel Peace Prize these days, but in Norway, some fear that any award could provoke him.

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Oct 8 • 12:00 PM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com
Before Computer Science Became a Boys’ Club, Margaret Hamilton Wrote the Code

The woman who helped put astronauts on the moon was a software engineer when the field was not prestigious or lucrative.

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Oct 8 • 11:50 AM EDT • Technology • nytimes.com
New HRC Data: Despite Political Headwinds, LGBTQ+ People Are Choosing…

Ahead of National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11 and less than one month until the midterms, HRC calls on LGBTQ+ community and allies to come out to vote to…

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Oct 8 • 11:26 AM EDT • Politics • hrc.org
🙂 Positive (33%)
Alaska Science Forum time capsule: The secret life of a red fox family

Note: At the start of every walk, my dogs try to sneak away to “fox town,” a fox den on the other side of the pond near my cabin, and we often see the adult foxes trotting through the neighborhood. Hearing one of them bark the other evening, I was reminded of this March 26, 2020, story by Ned Rozell. He recently reported that foxes still use the den, but did not occupy it in summer 2026. — Sara Wilbur

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Oct 8 • 10:30 AM EDT • Science • peninsulaclarion.com
PENN Entertainment (PENN) Gets A Fresh Look After Deutsche Bank Upgrade And NFL Deal

PENN Entertainment (PENN) drew fresh attention after Deutsche Bank shifted its rating to Buy. In addition, theScore Bet signed a multiyear NFL partnership that provides access for sports wagering and online casino operations in Canada. Recent trading has been choppy for PENN Entertainment. The share price slipped 1.19% over the last day and 7.91% over 30 days, after a 24.02% decline over 90 days. It still shows a 5.86% year to date share price gain, while 1-year total shareholder return is...

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Oct 8 • 10:11 AM EDT • Entertainment • finance.yahoo.com
Didn’t get Carly Rae Jepsen tickets? Here’s where you can still buy them

The 2027 tour runs from April through late May, with stops in Los Angeles, New York and more.

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Oct 8 • 10:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • syracuse.com
The Odds: The Ohio Senate Race
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Oct 8 • 9:49 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Can Cristiano Ronaldo reach 1,000 goals without playing for Portugal?

Cristiano Ronaldo’s path to 1,000 career goals could continue even without Portugal, but the milestone would become a club-only challenge. With 21 goals still needed, the 41-year-old forward would have to rely heavily on Al-Nassr while facing a limited window before his expected retirement from professional soccer.

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Oct 8 • 9:00 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
NFL Week 5 Survivor/Eliminator Picks

I won! I picked a team in NFL Survivor last week that didn’t even score a touchdown, but who cares, I won! Survivor (or Eliminator) this season has been a mess. If your contest is still going, good job, because…

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Oct 8 • 8:34 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Mipcom: Why Pragmatism Is Reshaping Global TV Deals

At Mipcom, global TV executives face industry’s shift from bidding wars to pragmatic deals, shared rights, consolidation and YouTube-driven IP.

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Oct 8 • 8:30 AM EDT • Business • variety.com
Open science is compatible with research security, says Canada’s chief science advisor

Open science is “not incompatible” with research security and science leaders and policymakers should “demystify” the false dichotomy between the two, according to Mona Nemer, Canada’s chief science advisor. More than a decade ago, EU policymakers were promoting open science, open innovation and open collaboration across the world. It was a political movement that aimed to make scientific research, data, software, publications and methodologies transparent, accessible and reusable for everyone.But that rhetoric has changed over the past few years. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and Donald Trump came back to power in 2025, international partnerships have become more pragmatic. Countries are trying to implement protectionist policies and governments are increasingly worried about technology espionage. According to Nemer, science can remain open if the sector can come up with improved security protocols that would protect research data from undue manipulation by foreign actors. “If anybody can fiddle with the with the data, then [open science] is actually quite dangerous and quite useless,” she told Science|Business. Universities and research institutions are increasingly vulnerable to attempted espionage and other types of foreign interference. In September, the UK’s domestic counter-intelligence service MI5 issued a security warning against collaborations with the China General Technology Research Institute. And earlier this year, Germany’s Helmholtz Center for Information Security was criticised by federal research minister Dorothee Bär, who told a parliamentary hearing that “existing rules and systems” at the institute “were not suitable” for preventing leaks to China. According to Nemer, universities and research institutions should perhaps follow the example of the private sector, as companies have been able to safeguard their research while still publishing results. “I think that there is a level of research security hygiene that researchers and institutions need to just adopt,” she said. “You don't have to tell Sanofi or IBM how to safeguard their research, which they end up publishing anyway.”While certain areas of research will not be open for collaboration with certain partners, in other areas cooperation is necessary even with researchers based in adversarial countries. “I stress this because politics change,” she said. “Science and politics don't make for good fellows, and whether we like it or not, politics will influence certain things.”Researchers will play an important role in “protecting the integrity of science,” said Nemer. “I think that it's time that there's a commitment to a certain scientific compact, so that citizens don't think that science is actually an open door for espionage and for anti-nationalism.”New partnershipsNemer spoke with Science|Business on the margins of the Hamburg Science Summit on September 17, the day when Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for increased cooperation with the EU, including in science and technology. Canada is looking to strengthen ties with partners in other corners of the world, after the Trump administration threatened to put tariffs on Canadian goods and services and even openly suggested Canada could become the 51st state. In parallel, the US government has indicated it wants to retreat from international science projects, including US collaboration with Europe’s CERN particle accelerator and other big science labs.Related articlesThe stats we need to better understand R&DCanada looks to deepen research and education links with the EUCan researchers trust that AI models won’t leak their ideas?Nemer said the US is still a science “powerhouse,” but Canada and Europe will have to work closely together on global challenges. “It’s important for both [sides], but I think it's also important for the rest of the world, because the cut in funding for development, in health, in regions like Africa and other places, have dramatic effects.” The Trump administration is also planning a review of the Nelson memo, a Biden-era document that mandated that results of federally funded research would be openly available. With that idea being called into question, Nemer said it could be “very disruptive” to scientific collaborations and could jeopardise research on climate change, the Arctic and global health. “When your collaborator suddenly tells you I'm not going to share the data with you as a researcher, if this happens, I think it's very worrisome,” she said. “I'm certainly hoping that a lot of the Canadian institutions, funders, researchers, have started looking at joining forces on databases and using more European research infrastructures,” Nemer added.

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Oct 8 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • sciencebusiness.net
FDA-approved epilepsy drug may help reverse osteoarthritis damage

Researchers at Yale have identified a promising new approach to osteoarthritis that could do more than simply ease pain. The epilepsy drug lacosamide appears to block a protein involved in both pain signaling and cartilage destruction, helping damaged joints shift back toward repair in preclinical studies.

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Oct 8 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • sciencedaily.com
Raphinha still not training with Barcelona ahead of Getafe clash

The Brazilian looks unlikely to feature on Saturday.

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Oct 8 • 8:00 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Golden Nuggets: TIL the practice squad has an injured reserve

Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Thursday, October 8th, 2026

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Oct 8 • 4:48 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
The Math Singularity Is Here, and Science May Be Next

OpenAI has released an extraordinary body of mathematical work produced by an unreleased frontier model: 722 manuscripts spanning 372 research families across fields including number theory, complexity theory, and mathematical physics. Each result required, on average, the equivalent of roughly three hours of ChatGPT Pro reasoning. A New Era of Discovery We may be witnessing the beginnings of a “math singularity”: a point at which machine-generated discovery accelerates beyond humanity’s ability to independently reproduce, verify, or fully absorb it. If frontier models can generate hundreds of meaningful results in the time it takes a human researcher to investigate one, the constraint will no longer be producing new mathematics. It will be our capacity to validate, interpret, and integrate it. This does not make mathematicians obsolete. It changes their role. They may increasingly serve as guides, critics, and meaning-makers. Increasingly, they will decide which questions matter, determining which results can be trusted, and explaining why they are important. Mathematical insight may become abundant, while human judgment becomes more valuable than ever. Mathematics May Be Only the Beginning Every scientific discipline could eventually experience a similar acceleration. AI systems could generate and test hypotheses, connect findings across specialized fields, and explore possibilities at a scale no human research community could match. In medicine, imagine models identifying overlooked disease mechanisms, designing drugs and clinical trials, personalizing treatments, or discovering cures in months rather than decades. In materials science, AI could help create better batteries and cleaner industrial processes. In climate science, it could accelerate advances in energy, forecasting, and carbon removal. In biology, it could uncover relationships hidden across enormous genomic and molecular datasets. The result would not simply be faster research. It could expand the frontier of what is scientifically possible. The New Bottleneck Scientific discovery, however, is not the same as scientific progress. A medical breakthrough must still survive laboratory testing, clinical trials, regulatory scrutiny, manufacturing constraints, and real-world deployment. As machine-generated ideas multiply, the bottleneck may shift from producing breakthroughs to validating them safely and translating them into practice. We may soon have more hypotheses than laboratories can test, more drugs than clinical trials can evaluate, and more mathematical results than experts can review. That imbalance will require better systems for automated verification, reproducible research, prioritization, peer review, and collaboration between AI and domain experts. The importance of OpenAI’s work is not merely the number of manuscripts produced. It offers a glimpse of a world in which intelligence can explore thousands of intellectual paths in parallel. If ideas cease to be scarce, humanity’s defining challenge will be deciding which are true, which matter, and how to turn them into progress. The math singularity is not the end of human inquiry. It is the beginning of a new kind—one in which machines expand the frontier of knowledge and humans decide where it should lead. Subscribe Share Leave a comment

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Oct 8 • 4:22 AM EDT • Science • douglevin.substack.com
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Clásico Referee Decision Still Pending After Conflicting Reports

Hernández Hernández was reported to be the frontrunner to referee Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on October 25, but the appointment had not been officially confirmed. Radio MARCA’s report, ...

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Oct 8 • 4:00 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
😐 Neutral (0%)
Lens’ Abdallah Sima set for lengthy absence

Yannick Cahuzac has confirmed that Abdallah Sima (25) returned from the international break with an injury. L’Équipe understands that the RC Lens forward will be absent until the end of November. S...

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Oct 8 • 3:50 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Firefox and AEG partner at Berlin’s premier entertainment venues

Firefox is teaming up with AEG and taking to the main stage at Berlin’s biggest and best indoor arenas. Starting this October, as the indoor music scene

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Oct 8 • 3:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • blog.mozilla.org
Yankees left with 'broken clubhouse' after agonizing postseason sweep

Still without Aaron Judge, the Yankees offense went silent against the Rays.

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Oct 8 • 12:51 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Zach Goedert logs limited practice

Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert still dealing with knee injury

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Oct 7 • 11:18 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
☹️ Negative (-7%)
What's The Oldest Samsung Phone That Still Gets Software Support?

Buying a new phone is an investment, so you'll want one that lasts a while, but does your old Samsung still have some life or is it out of support?

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Oct 7 • 11:17 PM EDT • Technology • bgr.com
The Good, Bad, and Ugly From Dodgers' Series-Clinching Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday and booked their ticket to the National League Championship Series, but they still have a lot to improve.

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Oct 7 • 10:56 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Eric Morris: Oklahoma State Still Working Through Braylin Presley's Eligibility

Braylin Presley is back at Oklahoma State, but his playing status remains uncertain. Eric Morris says the Cowboys are still working through eligibility questions while Presley faces the challenge of learning a new offense four games into the season. Here's the latest on his potential role.

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Oct 7 • 10:03 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Gas, health care, utilities: high costs squeeze US midterm voters

Former US steelworker Denise Barber retired three years ago, but steep gasoline prices and family healthcare needs are making the Ohio resident consider returning to part-time work to make ends meet."...

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Oct 7 • 9:42 PM EDT • Health • yahoo.com
Nearly 10 months at sea. Families now count the hours until USS Lincoln docks

Sailors went months without setting foot in a port after the carrier got called to the Middle East to fight the war in Iran

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Oct 7 • 8:56 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com
Thunder Rookie Aday Mara Passed His First Real Test

The 7-foot-3 Spaniard dominated the paint against Pelicans starters, flashing elite versatility and rim protection that suggests the Thunder have unearthed another high-impact piece for their frontcourt.

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Oct 7 • 8:41 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Former US envoy demands answers on suspected plague death: ‘Hold the Russians’ feet to the fire’
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Oct 7 • 8:29 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Rosenthal: The Baez Deal Made Detroit Gun-Shy, Not Cheap

Ken Rosenthal named the one Tigers contract he says still shapes how Detroit spends. #Tigers

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Oct 7 • 8:00 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Sentencing date pushed to December for Newsom's ex-top aide facing federal charges

Dana Williamson, a former top political aide to key Democratic leaders in California, including Gov. Newsom, is still struggling with an unexpected health issue and a hearing to discuss her prison sentencing has been postponed.

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Oct 7 • 7:57 PM EDT • Health • kcra.com
House Democrats hold 'shadow hearing' on election security in Queens

With fewer than four weeks until Election Day, House Democrats say the stakes are far greater than political power.

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Oct 7 • 7:27 PM EDT • Politics • nystateofpolitics.com
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House Democrats hold 'shadow hearing' on election security in Queens

With fewer than four weeks until Election Day, House Democrats say the stakes are far greater than political power.

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Oct 7 • 7:27 PM EDT • Politics • ny1.com
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Who Won August and September: Original Films or Franchises?

(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) I just heard someone say that if you’re reading a pundit or data analyst, and they don’t tell you that they got anything wrong, they’re not a pundit but an “influencer”. I agree with that. You have to tell your audience when you get things wrong, or they won’t (or shouldn’t) trust you as much. Today, we’ve got another edition of “What I Got Right, What I Got Wrong”. In general, I’m patting myself on the back (and patting very hard) about a few things like IP at the box office, LIV golf, horror films, crowdfunding movies, superheroes, and old people going to the theaters. That said, I also made a couple of data mistakes on the streaming bubble popping and HBO’s datecdotes, so I’m not perfect. But first, I need your feedback... Subscribe Follow-Ups: What Should We Call Mid-Budget Movies Which Aren’t Cinematic Enough for Theaters But Are Too Expensive to Make Money on Streaming? After I asked for feedback on what we should call straight-to-streaming films that are too big to pencil out on streaming but not really big enough to resonate in theaters, I got some great suggestions from you all, including... “Moldilocks” from John Aboud “Little Big Indie” from Travis Frick1 “Midflicks” from Jonathan Funke. “Extra-Medium” from Jona Nwuke. (Read the explanation in the footnote.) Between these and Brandon Katz—who suggested “Bermuda Budget Triangle”, “The Platform Gap” and “The Distribution Deadzone”—we’ve got some excellent suggestions. And they’re better than my suggestion, the “Streaming Budget Dead Zone”, so let’s take a poll! The winning entry becomes the new term. Loading... RIGHT: LIV Golf is Fully Bankrupt…Is Anyone Else Next? A few years ago, I was always a bit perplexed at all the articles I’d read praising LIV Golf and their strategy to disrupt the PGA. LIV Golf, a brand new professional golf league, offered PGA stars ten times what they made on the PGA Tour to join their new league. And folks praised this strategy for its initial “success” in that a lot of big names did indeed leave the PGA. Yeah, of course the players came over. LIV Golf paid them so, so, so much more! But LIV Golf hadn’t discovered a way to increase potential revenue. So think about this in basic business terms… They paid much more in costs… …but had no real way to increase revenue. That’s not a strategy! That’s deficit financing. It won’t work unless you bankrupt the competition (and then turn around and pay those same golfers much, much less). It’s not a sustainable strategy and only lasts as long as the company/person/nation backing it decides they’re cool with losing money. For LIV Golf, that meant Middle East oil wealth, in particular Saudi Arabian money. Clearly, the current Iran War has hurt Middle East finances, so they need to trim their more exorbitant spending. And LIV Golf was part of that trimming. This should be a major warning for others. TGL’s parent company, TMRW Sports, just got a $1 billion valuation, despite TGL’s (the indoor golf league) horrible TV viewership of less than half a million viewers per match. Unrivaled, the women’s basketball league, just secured a $650 valuation, despite its horrible TV viewership and a new rival (Project B) entering the scene next year. To relate this to streaming, Hollywood should ask which streamers may have wealthy patrons funding their losses. (Let’s be clear: Google, Amazon and Apple.) Could those patrons lose their appetite? For Amazon, probably not. But Apple has a new boss, so maybe! WRONG: My Analysis of the Streaming Bubble Was Missing a Week I’m going to be congratulating myself a lot today, but I make mistakes too, like this data goof. When I last compiled the data on the decline in TV shows, I was missing one week at the end of June. If you look at the first image, you can see that one week was mislabelled as “July”. Mainly, this image got updated to show a 27% decline, not 29%: This change doesn’t really impact the overall analysis, but it is two percent better. By the way, through the third quarter, the decline increased and it’s now a 30% decrease since 2022. (I’ll write/visualize this in an upcoming article.) But I want you to trust me and my data. Especially these days, when many people are using LLMs that I know are inserting faulty data into their charts, I want to keep earning my audience’s faith. So that’s the accurate data. RIGHT: IP Remains Very, Very Popular In July, I wrote a giant (and I mean giant) article on Backrooms, Obsession, and the box office, going over what we know, what we don’t know about what works in theaters, looking at YouTubers, IP, the horror genre, comic book movies, and a whole lot more. The month of August really tested a lot of my theses and, being honest, mostly supported my arguments. Let’s start with IP. Looking at 8-Aug (the weekend after Spider-Man: Brand New Day came out) to 18-Sep (the weekend that Resident Evil came out, which I think provides a nice bookend to this time period), there were seven films based on pre-existing IP: Resident Evil (2026) ($126 million) Practical Magic 2 ($65 million) _Insidious: Out of the Furthe_r ($65 million) Coyote Vs. Acme ($59 million) Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie ($53 million) Tony ($15 million) Super Troopers 3 ($7 million) Compare those to the notable original films from the past month—I actually could have included more movies, but here are just thirteen, bringing us to an even twenty films—including.... The End of Oak Street ($54 million) Buddy ($26 million) Mutiny ($15 million) By Any Means ($15 million) The Dog Stars ($14 million) Runner ($14 million) One Night Only ($11 million) Hope ($8 million) Spa Weekend ($7 million) The Uprising ($6 million) Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma ($6 million) Onslaught ($3 million) Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man ($2.8 million) Here’s that in chart form: Five of the top six films in this time period were all based on IP. I made a big chart of films that grossed over $200 million at the box office before Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey hit theaters. Let’s update that chart! By the way, if you want to see how I categorized each film—so another bar chart—here it is: I know that many of my fellow critics/pundits/analysts dislike films based on IP and how Hollywood is making so many of them. And I’m sympathetic to this point of view. As I’ve written many, many times before, you need a balance between existing franchises, new IP, and original films. And Hollywood clearly needs to make more films like Resident Evil (a well-made film from a visionary director) and fewer Practical Magic 2’s (which didn’t get critical or customer buzz). But at some point, critics and pundits need to contend with what audiences are telling them: Movie-goers aren’t showing up to original films. Audiences are speaking with their dollars, telling you they want more IP and franchises. You can try to convince studio heads to make fewer IP-based films and franchises, but the data and numbers aren’t there. Instead, critics need to work harder to convince audiences to show up for original films. Aim your ire/concern at the average person, not studio heads.2 Because they’re just making the films that audiences are telling them to make. WRONG: Original Horror Films Didn’t Break Out I’ll be honest, even though I wrote an article casting some skepticism on the horror genre in July, if you asked me to make a prediction, I would have predicted that, in August, a new, original horror film would have blown up. No, seriously, I just assumed that Obsession and Backrooms presaged a change in audience behavior. But none of the buzzy new original horror films from August—Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, Onslaught (not an action film in spite of the ads), The End of Oak Street, Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man, or _Buddy—_broke out. To be clear, exactly one of those films (Buddy) had good “ROI”, but again—I try to be specific in my language—none were “popular” in any broad sense of the word. None of them will be “saving” movies theaters like Backrooms or _Obsession_helped save the summer. The new Insidious film and Resident Evil, both based on IP, were far and away the biggest horror films since July. (We’ll see if this changes in October/Halloween season.) RIGHT: Stay Skeptical about Crowdfunding... I’ve long been skeptical about crowd-investing platforms as one of Hollywood’s saviors, mainly because there’s so much hype/buzz. People need to stay more skeptical about more things, explaining both the potential upside but also the downsides. In particular, the media often hypes crowdfunding at the start and never checks in on the actual results after they’ve come in later. And August gave us our first update! _Ice Cream Man—_directed by Eli Roth—grossed $6 million off of a $5.5 million budget. This is a production of The Horror Section, which was one of the first “crowd investing” studios with 2,400 investors, which means that 2,400 investors probably lost money. They certainly aren’t getting as great of returns as if they had just invested their dollars in the stock market. Hopefully Stiletto (Tagline: “Someone’s Going to Make it Rain Blood!”) does better next month. WRONG: Another Data Goof Here’s another data error. When the first episode of House of the Dragon came out, HBO put out that it had 21.5 million viewers in the first three days, and I read that to mean in the US…but no, it was global. So my US-only datecdotes charts shouldn’t have included it. We never got US-only numbers for the first episode, but for the final episode, HBO put out that it had 11 million US viewers. (And that global dropped to 21 million viewers.) Here’s the updated chart (which I’ve since used in the Streaming Ratings Report): Still, this show is absolutely huge. RIGHT: Superhero Films Remain Very, Very Popular After Supergirl flopped, I read a few takes that “comic book movies are going the way of the Western”. Post-Spider-Man: Brand New Day, that take didn’t age well. To be fair, I have a very nuanced take on the superhero genre right now; it’s down right now, for a lot of reasons. But it’s not “dead”. Maybe _Spider-_Man is just a really popular character? I saw that take, and it’s a fair counter-argument. (But pundits arguing that superhero movies were dead should have mentioned this $1.5 billion counter-argument…) But is it just Spider-Man? The next Avengers film already has $50 million in pre-sales (and I was skeptical that that film would do well) and the Avengers: End Game re-release topped the box office two weekends ago (over three original films). And I wouldn’t bet against Batman or Superman. So maybe it’s just Spider-Man, Batman, Superman and the Avengers. Oh, and Deadpool, of course. And Black Panther. And Wolverine. And probably the X-Men. Plus a well-made Wonder Woman or the Hulk film could break out. But that’s it! It’s just those ten characters/teams. Oh, what’s that? Lanterns is also doing well on HBO? (See previous section…) To be fair, I’m actually pretty sympathetic to the argument that more popular characters—like Spider-Man and Batman—anchor more popular films. In fact, I made that exact argument three years ago when I first wrote about the “Marvel-cession”. In many ways, you can blame The Guardians of the Galaxy for fooling Marvel Studios (and the rest of us) into believing that any character could pop. It turns out, the list of iconic characters is probably smaller than most people think. But it’s probably too early to say that superhero films and comic book movies are dead unless “death” means a slight decline over a longtime. RIGHT: Who Killed Theaters? Old People I get frustrated whenever I see headlines or analysis about how young people are “returning” to theaters. As I’ve detailed(for years), young people have always powered the US box office, despite narratives about “kids these days” and their “phones”. Really, what’s changed post-2020/pandemic is that old people aren’t going to the movies nearly as much. This summer, I saw a movie (from an older director) in a theater near a retirement community, and multiple older people at the theater were talking about how this was their first time seeing a movie in years. I dislike personal anecdotes, so YouGov can fill in the data, best summarized by this headline: “Who killed movie theaters? Not the youths”. According to them, 64% of people aged 18-29 have seen a movie in the last year, but only 30% of 65-and-older. 20% of 18-29 have seen a movie in theaters in the last week and 42% in the last month. Here’s the polling data: Most concerning? Many Americans (17%) think theaters are a worse or much worse experience than watching films at home. Slight WRONG: Hadestown Opens Big A live theater capture of the Broadway musical, Hadestown, made $20 million at the US box office, which begs the question: was I wrong to be skeptical about musicals a few years ago? Yes and no. On the one hand, $20 million is a far cry from being “popular”, so yeah, the genre isn’t that popular overall and Hadestown is one of the more popular musicals from recent years (i.e. the “Taylor Swift Data Fallacy” in action). On the other, I doubt filming this cost all that much, and I don’t think that they spent much on marketing, so this is a good source of ancillary revenue. Smaller Updates WRONG: As I mentioned in a Streaming Ratings Report, I underestimated the budget for Enola Holmes 3. It probably cost more like $50 million, if not more. But... I’m not sure that it really matters? At sub-10 million hours, prices have to come down to make this work. WRONG: Netflix is giving Ink a 27-day in theaters! To quote the kids/YouTubers these days, let’s go! Now I might actually have a chance to see Danny Boyle’s latest in theaters. I’d complained about this in a “Coming Soon” section, but I was heartened to read that Netflix is giving multiple films longer theatrical windows this year. RIGHT: Netflix is sending 4-5 films per year to theaters. Netflix is slowly but surely sending more and more films to theaters, as I cautiously predicted earlier this year. For now, it’s just three big films and a number of awards contenders, but still, this is great news. And they’ll be releasing box office grosses! Just this week, Ted Sarandos confirmed that KPop Demon Hunters 2 will come to theaters (and my guess is it performs in the box office top ten at a minimum). WRONG: Angel has 3 million subscribers! How do I know this? Well, they told Deadline, who reported it. I marked this as “wrong”, since they’ve doubled their subscribers in one year but, you know, they don’t really have a hit film to speak of and they’re still losing money. WRONG: Furious was only renewed for one more season. I accidentally wrote “two more seasons” in my latest “Renewals, Cancellations, Un-Orders and Removals Update”. RIGHT: House of David is ending with its third season. In July, Prime Video renewed House of David for a third season, as I just wrote in my latest “Renewals and Cancellations” report. Well, now it’s ending after that third season. Why? As I’ve been writing, its viewership wasn’t great. I got feedback that this show didn’t cost very much, but it cost enough that its limited viewership didn’t save it. WRONG: Adults was a Hulu original! So I missed Adults when it first came out last year; I saw that it aired on FX and just assumed that it was a linear-first program. Turns out, it aired three episodes on FX, but binge-released the rest of its episodes the next day on Hulu. Huh. So I should have covered it last year! But I just wrote about it. 1 “When I was a kid in the 90s, if you wore a t-shirt to school that wasn’t too big and also wasn’t too small, but somehow didn’t quite fit, we’d say you were wearing an “extra-medium” shirt.” 2 As always, a huge exception is Disney, which barely makes anything original anymore.

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Oct 7 • 6:41 PM EDT • Entertainment • entertainment.substack.com
International robot/human fight promoter ordered to cease in California

A company that stages human-versus-robot fights is still advertising a San Francisco event this week despite receiving a cease-and-desist order from California regulators over a recent match between a humanoid robot and a social media influencer.

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Oct 7 • 6:38 PM EDT • Entertainment • bradenton.com
Latest News from CNN Politics
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Oct 7 • 6:37 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
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