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Nebraska football vs. Georgia Tech live updates, stats and highlights
Nebraska volleyball returns to action on Saturday by hosting Georgia Tech. The Huskers are coming off a sweep of Baylor on Friday night.
Trump asks Smithsonian to install George Washington statues and exhibit
Trump asked for an exhibit beginning now and continuing through Feb. 22, 2032, the 300th anniversary of Washington’s birth. For Constitution Day on Sept. 17, Trump asked the institution to install the 11-foot statue of Washington featured at the recent Freedom 250 IndyCar race in the museum's Flag Hall.
Georgia Tech football history: John Heisman
John Heisman's history with Georgia Tech athletics
Germany’s Political Tailspin: Your Weekly SPIEGEL Recap
It might be tempting to dismiss the results of last Sunday’s state election in Saxony-Anhalt, in which the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party raked in 43.8 percent of the vote, as a rather unimportant extremist blip in a state that hardly anyone can find on the map. And you wouldn’t necessarily be wrong to do so. The state’s population – around 2.1 million – is a mere 2.5 percent of the German total. And while the state capital of Magdeburg was once the political heart of the Holy Roman Empire back when Otto the Great used to hang out there (more than a millenium … no … milennium … nope … millennium ago), it is today something of a backwater, albeit one with a ginormous cathedral in its center. We wanted to briefly interrupt this week’s newsletter to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our subscribers, both new and old. And to remind you all that a free subscription gets you access to this newsletter every Saturday. A paid subscription, by contrast, gets you one DER SPIEGEL article every weekday, delivered to your inbox. We strive to select pieces that both demonstrate what Europe’s leading newsmagazine has to offer and provide an international audience – namely, you – with an insight into how Germany and Europe view the world. If you haven’t already signed up for a paid subscription, please consider doing so if you can. Our Substack channel relies entirely on reader support and we are excited to continue offering you the best of DER SPIEGEL. Subscribe But even beyond the fact that a huge percentage of the voters in the state decided to place an X next to a party with an ideological lineage that runs rather directly back to the right-wing extremist soup out of which the Nazi Party was born, the results are a perfect example of a phenomenon that has been plaguing German elections in recent years: the lack of an obvious path to a majority. Call it the Balkanization of German politics. There are a number of developments driving the phenomenon, but for the purposes of this newsletter, here are two of the most salient: Persistent voter frustration with the country’s two (former) big-tent parties – the Christian Democrats (CDU) on the center-right (17.2 percent in Saxony-Anhalt last Sunday) and the Social Democrats (SPD) on the center-left (9.3 percent). The presence of parties on the far left (Left Party), the populist left (the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance – BSW) and the far right (AfD) with which mainstream parties are reluctant to form coalitions. So what happens now? Stories of the Week A Lack of Leadership The answer for many people in the country, and particularly within the CDU, is clear: pin (some of) the blame on Chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to a survey taken directly after the election in Saxony-Anhalt, 88 percent of respondents agreed with the statement that if the federal government in Berlin were doing a better job, the AfD wouldn’t be as strong. And it is true that the predominant impression of the federal government ever since Merz was sworn in on May 6, 2025, is one of ineffectiveness and bickering. His rather unique combination of bumbling-plus-bravado has also not exactly endeared him to the German public. Indeed, his standing in the country is so shaky that his popularity – according to recent polls – has now dropped even below the historic lows associated with his predecessor Olaf Scholz. The situation is such that the CDU even opted to keep him largely out of the campaign ahead of the Saxony-Anhalt vote. And since then, dissatisfied rumblings within the CDU have grown louder. DER SPIEGEL’s Swantje Karich notes that the problems with the CDU go much deeper than Merz. “The center-right has a trust problem. At a press appearance following the devastating election result in Saxony-Anhalt, Friedrich Merz said that the party wanted to ‘reach people more effectively’ through ‘emotional engagement.’ It sounded as though he were announcing a political program. On the basis of that statement, it is difficult to take his empathy seriously.” “The Chancellor’s chastened appearance did, at least, reveal where he stands: with his back to the wall. Elections will be held in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania next week, and the CDU could fare even worse there. The party is polling at between 8 and 10 percent in the state.” “What is at stake is the political tradition that has lent stability to the Federal Republic since 1945: a democratic conservatism that understands what must be preserved, but also how to embrace progress and openness to the world. If the Union continues along its current path, it risks becoming politically irrelevant after the 2029 federal election – and Germany could soon find itself with a government of the far right.” The Trumpification of Political Debate? It is often said in Germany that to understand the political and social trends that will soon be dominant in Europe, one need only look across the Atlantic to the United States. When it comes to political debate, that has certainly proven true. Donald Trump understood early on that triggering mouth-foaming outrage among Democrats is an ideal way to both generate headlines and to secure loyalty among supporters. And he realized that far more quickly than the left side of the political spectrum understood that simply ignoring the old man might be the best recipe. To be sure, there have been signs recently that the US president may be over-relying on the strategy. Earlier this week, in an apparent grandpa-discovers-AI moment, Trump sent out 60 posts in the space of 10 hours, many of them AI-assisted images portraying him as a hero – or showing Iceland as part of the US (outrageous!!!). It was also during that slew of schlock that he explicitly backed the AfD with an “MGGA” post. In Germany, though, the outrage cycle remains in full swing, with much of the focus on those who would dare to vote for the AfD. They are alternately portrayed as being dim-witted, ungrateful, backward, racist or all of the above. That, argues DER SPIEGEL columnist Sabine Rennefanz, is not particularly helpful. “Everywhere on election night, people spoke of a watershed moment, a rupture, a turning point. But what is that supposed to mean in concrete terms? A watershed would imply an interruption, a moment of pause – perhaps even a willingness to rethink and learn. At first, there was little sign of that in the main television panels. Instead, the familiar rituals that had already shaped the election campaign continued: outrage, lecturing and abuse.” “That’s just the tone, one might object. They’re only talk shows. Given that the party’s state branch has been classified by domestic intelligence officials as confirmed right-wing extremist, there are more important problems than hurt feelings on television. Yet although the condescending tone is not the cause of the AfD’s success, it is an expression of the broader mood within the so-called political center – a kind of institutional blindness that too often treats material concerns as a communications problem.” “People have a pretty good sense of whether you like them – whether you approach them with curiosity or merely study, lecture and manage them as a problem group. They notice whether you genuinely want to understand their fears and pain, or whether you are simply waiting for the chance to correct them. They can also tell whether someone still has the energy to change things, or whether they have barricaded themselves behind platitudes and empty phrases.” “Anyone who wants an egalitarian democratic society cannot promise equality only to those whose language, tastes and moral convictions they share. They must also acknowledge the wounds, resentments and fears of those whose political conclusions they consider wrong. Acknowledging them does not mean agreeing with them. But a democracy that communicates with almost half its citizens only through warnings and labels gives up on political debate before it has even begun. An atmosphere must be created in which people can express their opinions without fearing that they will be canceled. We are currently a long way from that.” East-West? One of the clear undercurrents in the election last Sunday was, of course, Germany’s ongoing east-west divide, particularly as it pertains to the success of the AfD. Historically, the party has been far stronger in the former East German states than in former West German states. The fact that this generalization no longer reliably holds is certainly one of the primary concerns that many have about the party’s growth. And yet, there is still a distinct flavor of “stupid easterners, they don’t understand democracy” to the coverage. In the weeks before the vote, there was even a rather interesting back-and-forth in Germany’s culture pages about how ungrateful eastern Germans allegedly are for being pulled out of their pre-reunification backwardness and into the light of the West. DER SPIEGEL’s Jochen-Martin Gutsch has had enough. “Ten years ago, in 2016, elections were also held in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD won more than 20 percent, which at the time rightly provoked outrage and incomprehension in western Germany. Today, in 2026, the AfD is also polling at around 20 percent in western German states, but this no longer provokes outrage and incomprehension. Instead, it is now regarded as proof of democratic conviction and civilizational resistance. After all, in the east, it’s 40 percent!” “This allows people to continue feeling morally superior to the East, but the wiser course would be to admit: if something doesn’t happen soon, the West will turn AfD-blue too. Or bluish.” “But will anything happen? The truly depressing thing about election night was not so much the AfD leaders intoxicated by their own success. It was the representatives of the other parties, who once again said that they were utterly shocked, needed some time to digest the result and would, of course, not simply return to business as usual. The SPD, a former big-tent party, celebrated its ‘stable’ result of 9.3 percent. Congratulations!” “For 10 years, the AfD has gone from one electoral success to the next. And still, the established parties remain ‘shocked’ and scratch their heads in astonishment. How long can they keep being shocked? Friedrich Merz says he may need to communicate his reform ideas in a more ‘emotional’ way. So the CDU’s political professionals sit down together after the election, mull over a strategy, and in the end come up with this: Fritz, try to be a little more relaxed, charismatic and emotional – or something. Beyond that: no political plan, no defiance, no promise of a future. That is frightening.” What was good, what was bad for democracy? Good: Voter turnout in Saxony-Anhalt was 77.8 percent, the highest ever recorded in the state. Whatever one thinks of the result, that figure is encouraging. Democracy needs citizens to take an interest. Bad: Although a strong AfD result had been expected in Saxony-Anhalt, many politicians from the mainstream parties – including in Berlin – appeared confused, helpless and overwhelmed in their initial reactions. That is not how they will win back voters’ trust. Last Week’s Highlights: 🗳️ Meet the Germans Who Voted for the AfD: Why would voters in a country like Germany, with its Nazi past, vote for a right-wing party? It’s a question only an editor in Berlin could come up with. On the ground, the view is different. 🟦 How the AfD Wants to Expand Its Power Across Germany: The far-right AfD is planning to decimate public broadcasting in Saxony-Anhalt, revamp education and install extremists in positions of power. And it is eyeing victory on the national stage as well. 🕯️ The Continuing Reverberations of September 11: It was a generational shock, and the consequences can still be felt today - from massive surveillance and significant increases in presidential power to violent excesses at ICE. 🤝 “For Europe, Canada Is the Preferred Partner in Trans-Atlantic Relations”: In an interview with DER SPIEGEL, Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne discusses his country’s failed trade deal with the US and why Canada is looking to Europe. 🏛️ The True Historical Roots of the AfD: During the Weimar Republic in the 1920s, there were numerous parties on the extreme right espousing “Germany first” nationalism. The Nazis may not be the best comparison for today’s AfD. 🌊 AfD in a Landslide: Merz Is the Wrong Leader for Germany: The right-wing Alternative for Germany won in a landslide in Saxony-Anhalt state elections on Sunday. What does that mean for the country at large? Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful week! Subscribe Share Leave a comment Your SPIEGEL Substack Team Compiled and edited by Charles Hawley
COMMENTARY: Look for an angry bunch of Yellowjackets Saturday night
"Experts" think the Tennessee Volunteers can handle Georgia Tech
Georgia vs. Western Kentucky time, TV channel, score, live updates
Georgia plays Western Kentucky in a week 2 game. Follow live score updates, highlights, injury news, key plays and instant analysis.
Hardee’s Friday Night Blitz – Week 3
WEEK 3 SCORES THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 (3-0)CARROLL COUNTY 49, (0-3)GALAX 0 (1-2)PATRICK COUNTY 64, (0-4)NORTH STOKES, NC 35 (2-0)NORTHWOOD 46, (0-3)EASTERN MONTGOMERY 6 (4-0)VIRGINIA HIGH 20, (1-2)GEORGE WYTHE 15 (1-2)GRAYSON COUNTY 32, (1-1)TAZEWELL 20 (3-0)CHILHOWIE 50, (1-2)NARROWS 0 (1-1)EASTSIDE 56, (2-1)RURAL RETREAT 29 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 (3-0)SALEM 45, (1-2)WILLIAM FLEMING 12 (2-1)PATRICK HENRY 35, (0-3)FRANKLIN […]
An exclusive look aboard the USS George Washington in its crucial role in the Iran war
What to watch for from Tennessee against Georgia Tech
An interesting matchup.
Politics Unusual: Former Governors Pataki and DiFrancesco on their experience with 9/11
In this episode of Politics Unusual, FOX 5 NY's political reporter Morgan McKay speaks with former New York Gov. George Pataki and former New Jersey Gov. Donald DiFrancesco about their experience leading their states during the time of the 9/11 terror attacks.
Fox News Entertainment newsletter: King Charles shuts down Harry and Meghan; Prince George starts at Eton
The Fox News Entertainment Newsletter brings you the latest Hollywood headlines, celebrity interviews and stories from Los Angeles and beyond.
Judge Releases 1999 Murder Defendant Amid Health Issues
DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt granted a homicide defendant’s unopposed motion for release on Sept. 11. George Mudd, 72, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder and felony murder, with aggravating factors of being especially heinous or cruel while committing or attempting to commit a robbery. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the […]
Fox News Entertainment newsletter: King Charles shuts down Harry and Meghan; Prince George starts at Eton
The Fox News Entertainment Newsletter brings you the latest Hollywood headlines, celebrity interviews and stories from Los Angeles and beyond.
KSU Shocked by Massive Sellout as Rivalry Fever Hits
Kennesaw State football sold out the Georgia State showdown. See the numbers, the crowd streak, and what this means for Atlanta college sports.
Former MSU Health Care doctor arrested for sexually assaulting 2 patients
A former resident physician at an MSU Health Care facility has been arrested in Georgia and charged in connection to accusations he sexually assaulted two of his patients.
Friends of Acadia’s Auction for Health & Hope
View this email in your browser Hello Friend, We are excited to announce our Auction for Health & Hope, hosted as part of our 25th anniversary celebrations. All proceeds will directly support Healthy Acadia’s vital community programs and resources. Mark your calendars to join us September 14-19. Bidding opens at 5 A.M. on Monday, September 14th and closes at 5 P.M. on Saturday, September 19th. This auction highlights the arts and experiences across our region and features themes of health & hope. We have received an abundance of donations from local artists and community members - thank you! All funds raised will support Healthy Acadia’s wide array of health programs and resources, helping to make health happen! We have a variety of items to bid on, including: a handcrafted bowl sculpted by Maria Chamber; a bird lover’s birding basket and membership; a $100 gift card to Union River Lobster Pot; Robert E. Goodier prints; a Cadillac Mountain painting by Roberta Sprague; a winter tulip CSA from Eden Street Flowers and so much more! View this email in your browser There is so much more to check out, and every winning bid helps those in our communities who need health supports the most. It is a win-win! For early viewing of the auction, please visit: **bit.ly/auctionforhealthandhope**If you have any questions, please email: **development@healthyacadia.org.**The auction will culminate on September 19th at our 25th Year Anniversary Celebration at TunkJoy Bakery in Steuben, where we’ll announce the winners live! We would love to see you there. If you haven’t RSVP’d yet, please click here. We are grateful for everyone’s support so far, and we are looking forward to celebrating our auction winners! With Gratitude,The Healthy Acadia Team Don’t want to bid, but want to donate? Click here. Subscribe Share Leave a comment
India’s 'Freebie' Politics May Have Reached America
Trump’s $5,000 “dividend” to Americans if Republicans retain Congress sounds outrageous in the U.S. But across the developing democratic world, election-time cash and freebies have long been entrenched in politics. India offers a cautionary precedent.
Mercury shrinking much more than scientists previously thought
A study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters suggests that Mercury may have contracted more than previously believed.
Mercury shrinking much more than scientists previously thought
A study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters suggests that Mercury may have contracted more than previously believed.
Arsenal confirm deal to sign young forward
Arsenal have reached a pre-contract agreement to sign highly-rated Georgian youngster Andria Bartishvili.The 17-year-old will officially join the Premier League champions in July 2027, when he will be...
Proposed Head Start Rule Would Further Undermine Child and Family Health
Head Start, a federal program that supports young children in low-income families, is headlining news in the early childhood policy and health worlds. Early last month, the Trump Administration released a monumental proposal to alter the program’s framework. Head Start is an essential investment in children’s wellbeing that works alongside Medicaid in child care centers, […]
Michelle Yeoh had fun dissecting a pig to prep for ‘Surgeon’: ‘Maybe she’s a little psychotic’ (exclusive)
See an exclusive first look at Michelle Yeoh as a kidnapped doctor who turns the tables on her captors in ‘Surgeon,’ premiering Sept. 12 at the Toronto International Film Festival.
9/11 Firefighter on Rudy's Mamdani Attack: 'Leave Politics Out of It'
In the National Geographic docuseries, Bill Spade, the sole survivor of Staten Island’s Rescue Company 5 crew, finally tells an NYPD officer’s sons about their father’s last moments.
25 years after 9/11: How the attacks transformed American politics
Twenty-five years after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, The Hill’s Bill Sammon and Chris Stirewalt examine how that day transformed George W. Bush’s presidency and altered the course of America…
The candy business or football? Crookston's George Widman V chooses Fighting Hawks
Widman runs UND's scout team while also overseeing the Hawks' equipment operation
The infamous post-9/11 ad that reshaped Georgia politics and unseated a war hero
In the terror attacks’ emotional aftermath, a dispute over civil service rights was weaponized to frame a decorated veteran next to Osama bin Laden.
George J. Pammer
George J. Pammer is a founding partner at Batarseh Pammer, which provides experienced legal counsel in family law, criminal defense and traffic matters.
Cocktail Thursday: Western Kentucky Edition.
Are your Georgia Bulldogs getting ready to kick off in Sanford Stadium and looking to avoid a letdown after a sterling week one performance? Then you could probably use a drink. I can help you with that. It occurred to me earlier this week that I was in Sanford Stadium the last time the Western […]
From Harpur to company president, mentor, and donor
Earth Sciences alumni helped launch Sin Senh’s career. Now a CEO, he’s doing the same for future Binghamton geologists.
How Heart Disease Can Start as Early as Your 20s
A major new study found plaque in some adults under 30, suggesting that protecting the heart may need to begin decades before symptoms appear.
David Petraeus: George W. Bush, Political Courage, and the Surge in Iraq
In the wake of the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush launched what he called the War on Terror. It began with the invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, which quickly toppled the Taliban and expelled al-Qaeda from its most crucial sanctuary. Then, in early 2003, American forces—with the support of foreign allies like the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland—attacked Iraq, toppling Saddam Hussein’s regime and installing an occupation force in hopes of quickly transforming the country into a free and democratic state. Instead, the post-regime coalition authority made significant missteps, and a devastating insurgency erupted. And despite President Bush’s 2004 reelection, the war quickly lost popular support among the American public. In early 2007, Bush appointed General David Petraeus, who had already served in Iraq as a two- and three-star general, to lead allied forces in Iraq, which heralded a sea change in American strategy known as “the surge.” As part of our coverage looking back on 9/11 and the world it created, General Petraeus tells the inside story of one of the most consequential moments in the War on Terror. The general’s essay today is both a crucial history and a profile in political courage. It demands reflection as we take stock of the last 25 years. —The Editors By the end of 2006, the war in Iraq was failing. There is no useful purpose in softening that judgment with the passage of time. The bombing of the al-Askari mosque in Samarra by terrorists that February had accelerated sectarian violence and pulled Iraq into an increasingly vicious Sunni-Shia civil war. Al-Qaeda in Iraq and Sunni insurgent groups controlled substantial areas, Shi’ite militias operated with growing impunity in other parts of the country, and the Iraqi security forces were no longer capable of arresting the downward spiral. The strategy of transitioning security responsibilities to Iraqi forces, consolidating American troops on large bases, and progressively reducing the U.S. presence had clearly been invalidated by the escalating violence. The numbers conveyed the horror imperfectly but unmistakably. In December 2006, an average of 53 Iraqi civilians were killed by violence every 24 hours in Baghdad alone. Washington, meanwhile, was approaching its own breaking point. Public support for the war had fallen dramatically, President George W. Bush’s Republican Party had just lost control of both houses of Congress, and the bipartisan Iraq Study Group—of which future defense secretary Robert Gates was a member—had recommended a course that anticipated a substantially reduced American combat role. Many senior military leaders were deeply skeptical of sending substantial additional forces, advocating instead for an accelerated transition to Iraqi forces, the deployment of additional trainers and advisers, or other more modest measures with an eye to withdrawing U.S. forces. Virtually every political incentive pointed toward reducing America’s commitment. President Bush chose instead to increase it, a decision that remains, in my view, one of the most courageous presidential decisions of the 21st century.
3 Strategies to Improve Health Insurance, Per Georgetown Report
A Georgetown report outlines three strategies to improve health insurance by lowering costs, simplifying coverage and protecting patients from corporate abuses.
NRF: Import cargo volume peak continues into September
The National Retail Federation (NRF) has revised its outlook for U.S. container import volumes as this year remains unpredictable in large part because of global geopolitical issues. After forecasting import...
Voters and advocates parse Bottoms' and Jackson's platforms as health costs, coverage top election concerns
Health care, how to access it and how to afford it, is top of mind for voters heading into Georgia’s gubernatorial election.
Wait, Did the Supreme Court Actually Make a Sane Decision About Outrageous Republican Redistricting Maps?
Fingers crossed this sets a precedent.
Entertainment, Food & Artisans Announced for Saturday’s Hispanic Heritage Festival
Airdate: September 10th, 2026 George Lyons, Candidate for 12th District Court JudgeSeptember 10, 2026JATA Seeks Partners & Sponsors for Try Transit Week Next MonthSeptember 10, 2026Marnie Hade, Northwest Schools, Highlights Student Service ProjectsSeptember 10, 2026WellWise Fall Prevention Workshop Schedule AnnouncedSeptember 10, 2026Entertainment, Food & Artisans Announced for Saturday’s Hispanic Heritage FestivalSeptember 10, 2026Leslie vs Columbia…
Georgia Looks to Continue Dominant Start Against Western Kentucky
The Georgia Bulldogs made a statement in their season opener, and now they will look to keep that momentum going. No. 3 Georgia opened the 2026 season with a dominant 63-3 victory over Tennessee State, controlling the game from the opening minutes. The Bulldogs finished with 660 total yards while holding Tennessee State to just…
49ers TE George Kittle off injury report, cleared vs. Rams
Nine months after a torn Achilles tendon, former Iowa football tight end George Kittle will officially return to the San Francisco 49ers' lineup tonight.
The Baltic Powers Available Now for Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition! - Age of Empires
Hello adventurers, a Shipment from the Home City has arrived! The Baltic Powers DLC for Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is available now, and comes
Chemistry professor honored for work on biodegradable polymers
Geoffrey Coates was named a co-winner of the prestigious Balzan Prize for his work transforming renewable feedstocks and recovered carbon dioxide into high-performance, degradable and recyclable materials.
Chemistry professor wins prestigious Balzan Prize for work on biodegradable polymers
Geoffrey Coates was named a co-winner of the prestigious Balzan Prize for his work transforming renewable feedstocks and recovered carbon dioxide into high-performance, degradable and recyclable materials.
City & State New York Recognizes Three NYC Health + Hospitals Leaders on Its 2026 "Manhattan Power List 100" List
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan CEO Julian John, NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem CEO Georges Leconte, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue CEO Dr. Eric
Kamala Harris to campaign with Sen. Jon Ossoff as part of midterm campaign swing
Kamala Harris will keynote a Fulton County Democrats dinner and stump with Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff at the end of October, capping off a spate of appearances on the trail for a select group of candidates on the midterms ballot this year.
How the Lucas Museum's epic battle for a home ended in L.A.
George Lucas' quest to find a permanent home for his namesake museum started more than 20 years ago and involved land battles in Chicago and San Francisco before the project landed in L.A.s Exposition Park.
UPDATE: TN, GA announce recipients of rural health funding from Trump administration
Tennessee and Georgia have been awarded over $200 million each in funding to support rural healthcare through the Rural Health Transformation Program.
Small Business Opportunity Week Returns September 21-25
Read Small Business Opportunity Week Returns September 21-25 by Georgia Business Council for SaportaReport here.
How a real-life divorcée inspired George Kay’s new legal drama “War ”(exclusive)
Sienna Miller and Dominic West star in the series set to premiere on Oct. 1.
Dixie Roundup Rodeo brings pro cowboys, 3 nights of family entertainment to brand-new Dixie Sunbowl
(Sponsored) The Dixie Roundup Rodeo, organized by the St. George Lions Club, has been part of the fabric of Southern Utah since 1934. Now, one of the community’s most beloved
How geopolitical rifts cut scientific collaboration
Researchers have measured how worsening geopolitical relations hobble scientific collaboration, at last quantifying the impact of rifts between governments on cooperation between labs. Over the last decade, a tenser world has thrown up new barriers to cross-border science. Collaboration between the US and China has dimmed as the two countries have sunk into an ever-deeper rivalry. Links between Russia and Europe have collapsed following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But while a concern, the magnitude of the damage is less than might be expected. For all the geopolitical turmoil of the last decade, international scientific collaborations are near a record high. “Some part of the story is positive,” said Shreyas Gadgin Matha, a social scientist at Harvard University and an author of the new study. “Research collaborations are largely resilient.” Matha and colleagues looked at data on cross-border research papers and patents in the period 2000-23, and analysed how they were impacted by countries’ political relations, as measured by how often states voted together in the United Nations. They found that when states drift apart at the UN by the median difference in votes between all countries, joint scientific papers decline by 3.1% over the next three-year period. To put that in context, over the last decade, the US and China have diverged by around a third of that difference in votes every three years. In other words, on average, it takes quite a significant diplomatic rift even to trigger a small single-digit percentage drop in joint papers. “In the short term, even something like a 3% reduction [in joint papers] is, in some ways, not that big of a number,” said Matha. Research remains more international than ever, according to an analysis extending to 2023 released by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2025. We’re still living in an era of unprecedented scientific globalisation, the analysis says, with 27% of papers in OECD countries written across borders. In 1970, just 2% of articles had authors from different countries. Longer-term damage?However, this trend towards increasing international collaboration “has lost momentum and might be partly breaking down,” the OECD analysis says, largely due to a fall in the intensity of US-China joint papers since 2018. Matha and his colleagues stressed they are not complacent about the global science system. For now, “it's pretty resilient,” said co-author Muhammed Yildirim, director of academic research at Harvard’s Growth Lab. But if links are weakened, through the denial of study visas, for example, then this could have a much longer-term effect, cascading through generations of scientists, he added. Related articlesChina becomes Russia’s biggest collaborator after war decimates science ties with the west US scientists prefer German to Chinese collaborators, study finds Horizon Europe is now truly global. But what comes next? Another finding of the study, Burning bridges or bridging divides: Geopolitics and collaboration in research and innovation, is that trust appears easier to destroy than create.The hit to scientific collaboration when countries drift apart is around three times as big as the growth in joint papers when they move closer, the paper finds. “It's far easier to break these ties than to mend them, and that that also perhaps has some larger policy lesson,” said Matha.PatentsThe results around patents were less clear cut. Some methods of analysis found a statistically significant link between a diplomatic rift and a drop in co-patenting, but others did not. According to Yildirim, patents with cross-border inventors are often developed by multinational companies, which may have invested heavily in global R&D facilities, so are less likely to change how they operate simply due to a change in the geopolitical weather. “That's why we might not be seeing the effect immediately in technology,” he said.By contrast, researchers might be more sensitive to geopolitics, because visa policies can quickly affect who meets who at academic conferences, he went on. International collaboration on patents is much lower than for academic articles, the study shows. It peaked at around 10% in 2010, and has since fallen back to around 8%. This could be because China dramatically ramped up domestic patents in the 2010s, said Yildirim, squeezing the international share.
How geopolitical rifts cut scientific collaboration
Researchers have measured how worsening geopolitical relations hobble scientific collaboration, at last quantifying the impact of rifts between governments on cooperation between labs. Over the last decade, a tenser world has thrown up new barriers to cross-border science. Collaboration between the US and China has dimmed as the two countries have sunk into an ever-deeper rivalry. Links between Russia and Europe have collapsed following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But while a concern, the magnitude of the damage is less than might be expected. For all the geopolitical turmoil of the last decade, international scientific collaborations are near a record high. “Some part of the story is positive,” said Shreyas Gadgin Matha, a social scientist at Harvard University and an author of the new study. “Research collaborations are largely resilient.” Matha and colleagues looked at data on cross-border research papers and patents in the period 2000-23, and analysed how they were impacted by countries’ political relations, as measured by how often states voted together in the United Nations. They found that when states drift apart at the UN by the median difference in votes between all countries, joint scientific papers decline by 3.1% over the next three-year period. To put that in context, over the last decade, the US and China have diverged by around a third of that difference in votes every three years. In other words, on average, it takes quite a significant diplomatic rift even to trigger a small single-digit percentage drop in joint papers. “In the short term, even something like a 3% reduction [in joint papers] is, in some ways, not that big of a number,” said Matha. Research remains more international than ever, according to an analysis extending to 2023 released by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2025. We’re still living in an era of unprecedented scientific globalisation, the analysis says, with 27% of papers in OECD countries written across borders. In 1970, just 2% of articles had authors from different countries. Longer-term damage?However, this trend towards increasing international collaboration “has lost momentum and might be partly breaking down,” the OECD analysis says, largely due to a fall in the intensity of US-China joint papers since 2018. Matha and his colleagues stressed they are not complacent about the global science system. For now, “it's pretty resilient,” said co-author Muhammed Yildirim, director of academic research at Harvard’s Growth Lab. But if links are weakened, through the denial of study visas, for example, then this could have a much longer-term effect, cascading through generations of scientists, he added. Related articlesChina becomes Russia’s biggest collaborator after war decimates science ties with the west US scientists prefer German to Chinese collaborators, study finds Horizon Europe is now truly global. But what comes next? Another finding of the study, Burning bridges or bridging divides: Geopolitics and collaboration in research and innovation, is that trust appears easier to destroy than create.The hit to scientific collaboration when countries drift apart is around three times as big as the growth in joint papers when they move closer, the paper finds. “It's far easier to break these ties than to mend them, and that that also perhaps has some larger policy lesson,” said Matha.PatentsThe results around patents were less clear cut. Some methods of analysis found a statistically significant link between a diplomatic rift and a drop in co-patenting, but others did not. According to Yildirim, patents with cross-border inventors are often developed by multinational companies, which may have invested heavily in global R&D facilities, so are less likely to change how they operate simply due to a change in the geopolitical weather. “That's why we might not be seeing the effect immediately in technology,” he said.By contrast, researchers might be more sensitive to geopolitics, because visa policies can quickly affect who meets who at academic conferences, he went on. International collaboration on patents is much lower than for academic articles, the study shows. It peaked at around 10% in 2010, and has since fallen back to around 8%. This could be because China dramatically ramped up domestic patents in the 2010s, said Yildirim, squeezing the international share.
Rating the Washington Wizards Top X-Factors in 2026-27
From Anthony Davis’ health to Kyshawn George’s explosive growth, discover which key players will determine if Washington’s star-studded roster can spark the NBA’s biggest turnaround.
Thursday Dawg Bites
We are off and running, quickly making our way into week 2 of the college football season. Our beloved Georgia Bulldogs got off to a good start with a dominating Week 1 win over Tennessee State, but like a cheap hotel breakfast buffet, I didn’t take much from it. The offense was clean like you […]
Georgia football controversially puts game highlights behind paywall
Georgia football fans learned they may have to pay a subscription fee to watch cinematic game highlights posted on social media this season.
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS: Coventry City vs Brighton
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Slanted Cartography: The Politics of Mapping
There is much in the nature of a map. The very drawing of a line signifies an assertion, an acceptance, or even a repudiation of power. Borders are
Week 3 Hardee’s Friday Night Blitz Schedule Changes
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — We have some Hardee’s Friday Night Blitz games being moved from Friday to Thursday. Galax at Carroll County, Eastern Montgomery at Northwood, Virginia High at George Wythe, Tazewell at Grayson County and Narrows at Chilhowie are the games being moved to Thursday.
Oil-bubble research could lead to technological breakthroughs
Binghamton University assistant professor collaborates with Georgia Tech for a $590,000 National Science Foundation grant.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Freed joins Essentia Health-32nd Avenue Clinic
The Essentia Health-32nd Avenue Clinic is excited to welcome orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Freed.
MedStar Health Offers New Nonsurgical Weight-Loss Procedure
/PRNewswire/ -- For the first time at MedStar Health, patients struggling with obesity who may not want, or may not qualify for traditional bariatric surgery,...
GRI “Your Wondrous Works” Conference Presents Science To Buttress the Bible
Adventist scientists gathered for the Geoscience Research Institute conference and tension again emerged between science and the Adventist understanding of creation. What happens when the search for evidence to support Adventism’s understanding remains inconclusive?
New Intermountain Health Flight & Ambulance Services base
New Intermountain Health Flight & Ambulance Services base at Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital will save response time and enhance patient care
Georgia Tech’s Season Could Get Ugly Fast
Georgia Tech has a problem. The Yellow Jackets entered 2026 hoping to build off last season and potentially become a legitimate ACC contender. Instead, they’re 0-1 and already facing a massive game. Georgia Tech’s 14-13 loss to Colorado was ugly. The offense didn’t score a single touchdown, Tech managed just 51 rushing yards , committed…
Georgia Fans Are Absolutely Furious About This
Georgia football fans will pay for a lot of things. Tickets. Parking. Donations. Merchandise. Streaming subscriptions. Apparently, game highlights are next. Georgia promoted its traditional “Victory Highlights” video following its 63-3 destruction of Tennessee State , except there was one massive catch. The full video was placed behind the Glory Glory subscription service, which starts…
The Center for Health and Human Rights submits an input to the United Nations on mobilizing public resources to finance sustainable development
The Center for Health and Human Rights (CHHR) of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown Law submitted an input on August 20 in response to
George Birge Signs With Black River Entertainment
George Birge has inked with Black River Entertainment. Currently boasting over 400 million [...]
Swan Town Creative Announces Inaugural Build Business Better Conference for Established Business Owners
A live virtual conference featuring an all-woman lineup of business experts, built to help established business owners explore what's possible and decide what comes next.Marietta, GEORGIA, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Swan Town Creative, a business advisory and consulting firm, announces the inaugural Build Business Better Conference, a two-day live virtual event taking place October 21–22, 2026. Designed primarily for business owners with three or more years of experience who have moved b
49ers Reveal George Kittle, Nick Bosa Plan Before Rams Game
The San Francisco 49ers are set to open the 2026 season against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, and two of their top players are expected to suit up. But that doesn’t mean they’ll play their usual workload.Tight end George Kittle and defensive end Nick Bosa are both trending toward Week 1 availability, and […] The post 49ers Reveal George Kittle, Nick Bosa Plan Before Rams Game appeared first on HEAVY.
INSIDE CLIMATE NEWS: NOAA Fisheries takes a ‘sharp turn away from science’
The agency’s focus on commercial interests threatens fisheries science and over one million miles of protected marine habitats. By Johnny Sturgeon, Inside Climate News This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here. In July, the Trump administration relegated endangered leatherback turtles, sea lions and whales to mere collateral damage in its race to profit from the oceans. Now, fisheries science is in […]
George Clooney recalls holding his 'hero' sister's hand as she died
George Clooney is reflecting on the final moments he shared with his older sister, Adelia "Ada" Zeidler, and the lesson her death taught him about the fleeting nature of life.
Vols looking to extend regular-season nonconference win streak
Tennessee looks to extend its regular-season nonconference win streak against Georgia Tech.
A new strategy enables precise fabrication of nanoporous carbon structures
Nanoporous carbon materials have attracted significant interest for applications in lightweight structural materials, microdevices, and bio-integrated systems due to their low density, chemical stability, electrical conductivity, and tunable mechanical properties. However, existing fabrication approaches often struggle to simultaneously achieve precise patterning, controllable porosity, and desirable mechanical performance. A research team led by Professor Min Qiu at Westlake University has developed a new fabrication strategy, termed Mix-ice lithography (Mix-IL), that enables direct construction of nanoporous carbon structures with tunable pore architectures and complex geometries. The study has been published in Science Bulletin.
DIA to open first Georgia O’Keeffe exhibit devoted to famed artist’s architectural paintings
The Detroit Institute of Arts expects the show will draw 125,000 or more visitors at $20-$30 per ticket.
2004-05 deja-vu - Can Moyes inspire another fine finish?
Deadline day may have left Everton fans feeling disillusioned, but the side is four games into the season and remains unbeaten, nine goals scored, including two in added time to secure a point. After what was a chaotic close to the transfer window, even by the Toffees' own standards, the performance against Manchester United ironically saw the summer signings playing a key role in the fight. Jack Grealish and Hayden Hackney came on from the bench to turn the game on its head, Tyrique George scored to equalise before the visitors went back in front, and it was Ainsley Maitland-Niles with a stunning strike to secure the draw in the final few seconds.
Slanted Cartography: The Politics of Mapping
There is much in the nature of a map. The very drawing of a line signifies an assertion, an acceptance, or even a repudiation of power. Borders are
Dabo takes offense at question about ‘roster construction’
SPARTANBURG, SC(WSPA)-Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney spoke as much about this past Saturday’s rout at LSU, a 51-10 loss, as he did about the upcoming opponent, Georgia Southern (Saturday, 7:30pm, Death Valley) at his weekly Tuesday news conference. The last question he was asked during the session, from Chapel Fowler of The State, centered on […]
Meet the Lehigh Valley's newest political bosses
Northampton County Democratic Chair Baron Vanderburg and Lehigh County Republican Committee Chair George Rivera want to change the course of politics in the Lehigh Valley.
Geologists reveal the Americas collided millions of years earlier than thought
Volcanic rocks in Colombia are rewriting the timeline of the collision between Central and South America. Their magnetic signatures show that major tectonic deformation had already weakened by the late Miocene, suggesting the most intense collision occurred earlier than previously believed.
Recent 49ers moves hint towards George Kittle return
The possibility of George Kittle playing in the San Francisco 49ers' Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams is still up in the air. But based on recent moves, the stars are aligning towards a potential return.
Nick Bosa, George Kittle limited participants in practice
Georgia getting new pro football team
The ownership group said Rome is a great market for arena football.
Game Awards Host Geoff Keighley And PlayStation Architect Mark Cerny Will Start Giving $2 Million To Young Game Designers Each Year
The Nova Games Foundation is a new philanthropic initiative aimed at supporting the next generation of game makers
988: September 8 marks nationwide awareness campaign for mental health crisis lifeline
Georgians are being asked to tell a friend about 988 as part of a nationwide campaign marking September 8.
DMV high school football rankings (9/8/26)
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Here are this week’s high school football top 25 rankings compiled by DC News Now sports reporters Jake Rohm and Alex Flum. Areas eligible for these rankings are based on our coverage zone and viewing area: Washington, D.C., Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Frederick County (MD), Fairfax County, Loudoun County, […]
Exclusive: Two of gaming’s biggest names are making a big investment in gaming’s future
The first thing to know about the Nova Games Foundation is that it isn’t about The Game Awards. And it’s not about PlayStation. The ambitious new grant program is the brainchild of Geoff Keighley and Mark Cerny. Keighley is the host of The Game Awards, Summer Game Fest and Opening Night Live. Cerny is a game designer of some 45 years and the lead architect for the PlayStation 4 and 5. But this new thing, which they’re revealing through Game File, isn’t about their day jobs. It’s an unaffiliated, standalone philanthropic project. It’s a bet on the artistic future of video games and a way, they tell me, to give back. “I’m nearing the end of my career,” Cerny recently told me over email. “I’m not done yet, but paying it forward—in the best way possible—is very much on my mind these days,” The Nova Games Foundation is a university-affiliated fellowship program, intended to offer six-figure grants to 20 young game designers each year, potentially for decades to come. It will offer no-strings-attached funding along with mentorship from games industry leaders, a combination intended to aid the development of groundbreaking new games, Cerny and Keighley told me. Nova will begin accepting applications in December, from class of 2026 and 2027 students from 13 affiliated gaming programs at universities in eight countries. The schools working with Nova include the New York University and the University of Southern California in the U.S., along with Abertay University in Scotland, Cnam-Enjmin in France, TH Köln in Germany, and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, Cerny and Keighley said. The plan: $100,000 per recipient, with about a quarter of Nova fellows eligible for up to $500,000 more for projects that are shaping up particularly well. Payments will be delivered based on development milestones, and recipients will own their games. Nova will help promote the work, and developers will be free to pursue the publishers and platforms of their choice. Nova can help introduce fellows to publishers, but won’t take a cut. “I’ve always wanted to give back, but given my role in the industry, I’ve never felt it appropriate to commercially invest in games,” Keighley told Game File. “I’ve never owned stock in a game company or taken a financial stake in a game. Nova is philanthropy: we aren’t taking equity or looking to recoup the grants. The return we’re hoping for is creative—helping new voices make games and find their footing. “Mark and I have each made multi-million-dollar donations to establish the foundation, and we intend to keep contributing. We hope others will join us.” Cerny and Keighley have already hired an executive director, John Maconga, and a head of grants, recent Game Developers Conference director Ashley Corrigan, to help launch the effort. They’re working to recruit game industry leaders to join the effort. Keighley says “dozens of leading game directors have already expressed interest in contributing their time.” To name one, they’ve already gotten Josef Fares, lead designer from It Takes Two and Spit Fiction studio Hazelight on board with a donation and pledge to help out. “I’m proud to support Nova because it gives the next generation of creators the freedom to explore their creativity and hopefully bring their unique visions to life,” Fares told Game File. A plan forged from a friendship Keighley and Cerny have known each other a long time. It’s been so long, Cerny isn’t even sure exactly when they met. “We travel in much the same circles and I’m sure first intersected in the 90s or early 2000s,“ Cerny said. Keighley thinks it might have been during his stint writing a column about the mid-’90s console 3DO for a gaming magazine while Cerny was working on games with Crystal Dynamics or on Way of the Warrior with Naughty Dog. They became genuine friends about a 10 years ago, Keighley said, as they bonded over a shared love of games and a hope to improve the industry. “About a decade ago, we started having dinner a few times a year in LA,” Keighley said. “Just to catch up on life and the industry. Those conversations continued over Zoom during COVID. Nova grew out of that friendship and a question we kept coming back to: ‘What could we do to help the next generation of game directors get started?’” Keighley credits Cerny with the idea to figure out a way to put their money and time back into the industry. At one of those dinners, Keighley proposed the idea of a fellowship program. He’d recalled applying for a Rhodes Scholarship when he was younger. “Spoiler: I didn’t get it,” he said. He’d admired the MacArthur Foundation’s so-called “genius grants.” He liked these kinds of programs that recognized people’s talents and gave them the financial boost and the freedom to realize their potential. With Cerny, he had pondered what a game industry version of that could be. Keighley liked the idea of centering the fellowship on students, drawing inspiration from the accomplishments of Jenova Chen, the USC game design graduate who went on to lead the creation of gently moving, ambitious games such as Flower and Journey. Keighley also thought it could be useful to help promising graduates bridge the transition from student to professional. “Joining an established studio isn’t always possible—especially in today’s market—and even then, it isn’t the right path for everyone,” Keighley said. A fellowship, he realized, could give “graduates the time, resources and guidance to pursue a game of their own and not worry about the commercial viability.” As the idea took shape, Cerny also saw an opportunity to enable more games of a certain type: “The target with the grants is games as an artistic medium,” Cerny told me. “We like to say games with ‘artistic, literary and societal value.’” He added: “I’m a pretty big gamer myself, though I tend to gravitate towards the smaller and more unique or artistic titles, games like Neva, Abzu, Gorogoa, Stray or Outer Wilds. I was just playing and Roger on a flight to Japan, and was getting misty eyed to a degree that I was concerned that a flight attendant would ask me if I was OK. “So one fun benefit here is the games that will come out of the Nova Games Foundation – I can’t wait to play them myself.” Cerny believes it will also be useful for Nova fellows to hone their craft and team leadership skills. “We are looking for the next generation of visionaries,” he said. “The trick is that they will also need to have the executive function necessary to drive a small project to completion.” Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my reporting, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Going big with this Keighley and Cerny may have started Nova and may be the ones primarily backing it right now, but they’re dreaming of something that goes beyond them. “Mark and I may have helped get it started, but one of our measures of success is that Nova grows into something the entire games industry feels a sense of ownership in,” Keighley said. “Our ambition is to build a lasting endowment supported by people and companies across the industry, and an equally broad community of creators willing to give their time and experience to the next generation.” The industry has a lot of knowledge that it can pass to the next generation, Keighley said: “Nova can hopefully become a way to connect that generosity with talented young creators at the moment when it can make the biggest difference.” Cerny, who told me he believes Nova can mature “over the next 10 or 20 years,” sees an opportunity to give generations of game makers momentum. “The industry has changed immeasurably since I started in games in 1982,” he said. “These graduates have talent, training and tools that outclass what we had back in the day by an astonishing amount. But they face a tough road ahead getting traction in the industry, and many could benefit from our support. We want to be there to give it to them.” “There’s a personal side to this, too,” Keighley said. “I don’t have children, and I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I can do for future generations. Games have been my entire career. I’ve been incredibly fortunate, and helping someone else build a life in this industry feels like a meaningful way to give back.” Cerny’s oeuvre dates back to Marble Madness and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. He has stood on stage multiple times to reveal the future of PlayStation hardware. He’s been an executive producer for a string of modern PlayStation classics such as The Last Guardian and Marvel’s Spider-Man. Nevertheless, of Nova, he said, “It’s certainly not like anything I’ve done before.” Nova Foundation applications will be due in December and the first wave of fellows will be announced in March 2027. A full list of participating universities and steps students and recent graduates can take to apply to become a Nova Fellow is forthcoming.
Cowboys Predicted to Add Champion George Pickens Replacement
The Dallas Cowboys could have a high-scoring offense with George Pickens back. But assuming he leaves after this year, could a college star replace him? The post Cowboys Predicted to Add Champion George Pickens Replacement appeared first on HEAVY.
What Trump’s new study says about support for trans rights — and why experts are worried
This story was originally reported by Orion Rummler and Jasmine Mithani of The 19th. Meet Orion and Jasmine and read more of their reporting on gender, politics and policy. A new study from the Trump administration is sending alarm bells through pro-democracy groups for its potential to fuel a crackdown on Americans who support LGBTQ+ […]
COMMENTARY: Tennessee loses Dodson, shifts focus to Georgia Tech
What must Tennessee do to leave Atlanta with a win?
Neither political donations nor special interest groups should dictate policy
Letters: Readers respond to George Monbiot’s article on Andy Burnham and political donations
The Revue: No reward for UAPB’s courageous lions
THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRUMAN HAS SPOKEN
USA TODAY Sports Super 25 national high school football rankings, Week 4
St. Thomas Aquinas' win over Columbus ensured Florida powers didn't shift in the Super 25, but teams from Texas and Georgia saw jumps after big wins.
AZ's R&D chief Barr touts internal 'science success story' after IL-33 antibody's stellar showing in COPD
With a detailed data drop that AstraZeneca’s R&D chief described as an internal “science success story,” the British Big Pharma has secured an FDA priority review for what it believes could become a flagship biologic in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In detailed results from the late-stage Oberon and Titania trials—first teased in March and detailed in full at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Barcelona this week—the drugmaker laid out the extent of its IL-33 inhibitor’s potential to reduce moderate and severe exacerbations in a wide range of COPD patients still struggling with those “lung attacks,” as AstraZeneca’s Sharon Barr, Ph.D., called them, despite using standard-care inhaled therapy. In the headline results, a 300 mg dose of tozorakimab given once every four weeks curbed those moderate and severe exacerbations in the studies’ primary population of former smokers by 29% in the Oberon study and 34% in Titania. In the overall population of both current and former smokers, these reductions were 30% and 29%, respectively, versus placebo and inhaled standard of care. The benefits also extended to clinically meaningful exacerbation reductions in all prespecified patient subgroups and specifically turned up promising signals in patients across a range of blood eosinophil counts, with Barr telling Fierce that “it’s the details that make this even more exciting than the high-level results that we’ve already shared.” In fact, during AZ’s tozorakimab poster presentation at the ERS 2026 Congress this past weekend, attendees were so enamored by the data that event organizers had to encourage people to clear the room and look at the other presentations on offer, Barr said in an interview. “I think it really speaks to the fact that there is a lot of buzz around these data because the entire respiratory community has been so desperate for new therapies for these patients,” she explained. The respiratory disease continues to represent a “staggering unmet medical need,” Barr said, highlighting the COPD exacerbations that the Oberon and Titania studies homed in on, which she added carry a greater mortality risk than a heart attack. “When a patient has a severe exacerbation, only about half of them are still alive within three and a half years,” she pointed out. As for tozorakimab specifically, Barr christened the molecule “an AstraZeneca science success story,” harkening several years back to the point at which researchers began to explore IL-33 as a driver of respiratory disease, and COPD in particular. At the same time, “there was still so much that wasn’t understood,” she admitted, highlighting the insight that IL-33 signals through both ST2 and EGFR through the RAGE pathway, a discovery Barr attributed to AstraZeneca's own scientists. Understanding the need to tackle both pathways in COPD—and aware of competitor candidates in the hopper, including one that bound ST2—the company ultimately had to make some “courageous decisions,” Barr said. These included taking a prior COPD molecule offline and going back to the drawing board to reinvent its potential IL-33 label “to make sure that we had a molecule that could block signaling through both arms of the pathway, through both the reduced form and the oxidized form, knowing that we wouldn’t be first, but striving to be best.” “When we put [tozorakimab] into the clinic, we firmly believed that we had a differentiated molecule, and we saw the other molecules blocking just ST2 or partially blocking IL-33, unable to deliver two positive pivotal studies in COPD,” Barr explained. “We kept marching forward because we believed our molecule was differentiated, and now I think we have the clinical validation that supports that.” Ultimately, AstraZeneca finds itself on much better footing these days when it comes to potential biologic rivals to tozorakimab in COPD. Sanofi and Regeneron’s Dupixent, for instance, is approved to treat COPD exacerbations in patients with high eosinophil counts, but not low ones. Meanwhile, the future has become cloudier for other next-gen IL-33 candidates from Sanofi and Regeneron, as well as Roche, which have suffered trial flops in recent years. One other potential ingredient for AstraZeneca’s success in its duo of studies was that the company was “ambitious in the trial design, willing to look at an all-comers population,” Barr said, “and willing to enroll the most severe patients.” Prior studies for would-be biologics rivals in COPD “avoided enrolling” those patients, she pointed out. She also highlighted the Big Pharma’s painstaking design of exacerbations in its trial, which “gave us a very rigorous readout,” and pointed to “the extra effort and investment” the company put in to understand the effect of mucus plugs in patients. Barr described mucus production as a “key feature in disease diversity,” noting that mucus plugs—obstructing clumps of mucus that block patients’ airways—are associated with worse outcomes in COPD. In its data announcement, AstraZeneca noted that an integrated analysis of Oberon and Titania found tozorakimab “demonstrated a reduction in patients’ mucus plug score,” with the pharma claiming its biologic is the first to deliver such results in a broad COPD population. “So being able to reduce those mucus plugs, we expect, is an important part of driving benefit for patients who are living with COPD,” Barr said. Again touching on the breadth of the study populations, Barr added that tozorakimab “worked across all eosinophil levels in both current and former smokers across all levels of lung function,” which she suggested “really simplifies decision-making for clinicians, and it allows them to offer therapy to the broadest possible patient population.” In the highest patient eosinophil count group, tozorakimab helped chart a 43% reduction in exacerbation risk, which Barr stressed were “unprecedented data.” In the mid-level group, AZ’s drug delivered a 23% reduction and, in the lowest group, a 34% reduction in eosinophils, which Barr said suggests efficacy “in all patient subgroups.” As for AZ’s recent guidance upgrade on the medicine’s sales opportunity, the lift from a $3 billion to $5 billion range to $5 billion plus was informed by multiple factors, Barr said, including the fact that “in 2024, there were multiple competitors, and there aren’t anymore.” Additionally, “we know that this is a massive unmet medical need, and this is a really incredible set of data that we think will be very convincing to the clinical community,” Barr said. Looking ahead to a potential evolution of the COPD treatment landscape, Barr noted that most patients start treatment in the community with an option like a triple therapy, and for them, having an option like AstraZeneca’s inhaler Breztri will remain a “really important part” of that journey. But of the patients uncontrolled on triple therapy, which Barr described as “about half of them today,” just a “small fraction” are currently eligible for biologic therapy, which she emphasized AstraZeneca is working to change. Understanding that COPD is not a “one-size-fits-all” disease, AstraZeneca is also looking at its antibody drug Tezspire for patients with T2-driven disease, and the company continues to think about new mechanisms for tackling COPD through both systemic and inhaled drugs, Barr said.
1,000 Museum Visitors Dive Into NASA Sea Level Science on World Ocean Day
More than 1,000 visitors explored NASA sea level science firsthand during World Ocean Day at the University of Georgia Aquarium on Skidaway Island on June 6, 2026.
Dawg Sports On The Radio
Do you enjoy talking about big Georgia victories over smaller college football programs? Of course you do. Who doesn’t? I know I do. That’s why I’ll be listening to MaconDawg’s best friend’s godmother’s redneck cousin on WFOY in St. Augustine(102.1 FM/1240 AM) this afternoon around 6:43 pm Eastern to talk Georgia Bulldog football on SportsNow with […]
How Merlin Entertainments is approaching GEO
The attractions business revamped its search strategy and grew its AI Overview visibility at six times the benchmark rate.
Former Pentagon official analyzes Strait of Hormuz oil threats
Former Pentagon official Brent Sadler discusses rising geopolitical risks including Iran's threats in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. envoys pushing for Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations and the new Russia-North Korea road bridge.
6 Impact Training Exercises to Boost Bone Strength, From an Orthopedic Surgeon
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, an orthopedic surgeon describes how this kind of training can help ward off hip fractures.
T-Pain sues Akon’s record label, claiming unpaid royalties
Atlanta rapper T-Pain is suing Konvict Entertainment, the record label co-founded in Georgia by singer Akon, claiming almost $500,000 in unpaid royalties from music sales.
ESPN’s Katie George Just Changed Sideline Reporting Forever
Katie George Is Officially a Sports Media Psycho Some people had a relaxing Sunday. Katie George apparently looked at the sports calendar and said, “Why not do two cities and two sports instead?” George spent Sunday night in Nashville working the nationally televised Ole Miss-Louisville game at Nissan Stadium for ABC. Then came Monday. New…