SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " Lu " 37,571 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Chris Ash Breaks Down Notre Dame's Successful Defensive Philosophy
From explosive starts to a relentless run-stopping identity, the Irish defensive coordinator details the strategic evolution turning his unit into a dominant, Top 10 powerhouse.
Louisiana opens enrollment for 274,000 Medicaid recipients who must switch plans
Healthy Blue, offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana and Elevance Health, is pulling out of Louisiana’s Medicaid program at the end of the year.
Where to watch Broncos vs. Seahawks: Channel, live stream, time, schedule for NFL 'Thursday Night Football'
All you need to know to watch "Thursday Night Football" between the Seahawks and Broncos, including TV channel and live streaming info.
The secret to learning from failure may be what you do next
The timing and framing of failure can be critical for future success. A setback, says one researcher, can actually propel a person forward.
Why Is Children's Entertainment Getting So Stupid?
From YouTube influencers to Blippi, today's kids have endless entertainment options. But is all that content making them less curious?
What's new to streaming this week? (Oct. 16, 2026)
What’s new on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and more? We've got you covered.
'Artificial' review: Andrew Garfield enters his villain era
Luca Guadagnino makes Sam Altman a cult leader.
Art Hounds: St. Paul Art Crawl, dreamlike ceramics and a mental health doc
The Art Hounds recommend the St. Paul Art Crawl, a retrospective of Jim Grittner’s ceramics in Duluth and a documentary screening in Fergus Falls about Minnesota’s mental health institutions.
7 Takeaways From an Investigation Into Financial Aid at Texas Hospitals
Hospitals can prevent medical debt by preemptively wiping out a patient’s bill. But a Tradeoffs analysis finds that few nonprofit facilities in Texas use this tool to the maximum benefit of patients.
Industrial real estate in south Louisiana is hot, while other sectors are more sluggish
Louisiana’s industrial construction boom is fueling demand for warehouse space across the region, including the Greater New Orleans area — a welcome trend in an otherwise lackluster real estate market
Hasan Piker isn't worried about being a political boogeyman this midterms season
President Donald Trump recently called Hasan Piker a “terrible liability” and a “communist.”The California-based streamer — who describes himself as a socialist — has become the GOP’s political bogeyman ahead of the midterm elections. Piker argues those attacks will backfire, but also says he has played a role in being portrayed as a 'figurehead of the insurgent left.'“The way that I'm portrayed in the media is an America-hating communist Islamist fundamentalist who wants to secretly do jihad, and then also, at the same time, very woke and gay, so there's this weird inconsistency in their messaging,” Piker says. “Who I am is very simple. I'm a socialist. I'm an anti-imperialist. I want what's best for Americans, and I want what's best for everyone from all around the world.”In this episode from NPR’s Newsmakers, Piker sits down with host Leila Fadel and argues Republicans are using him to distract from policies that made life less affordable. He also addresses his seven Twitch bans, defends his rhetoric against right-wing reactionaries, and reflects on the crisis of loneliness among young men — and the limits of his influence.“At the end of the day, I'm a Twitch streamer,” Piker says. “I hold no political office. I have no real political power. So getting people to be upset at a Twitch streamer and their affiliation as a, if you want to call it a surrogate, in the primary is going to be very difficult.”Newsmakers is where you'll find NPR's biggest interviews. We post new episodes as soon as they're available -- any day of the week. Follow or subscribe on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you watch or listen to podcasts to get new episodes as soon as possible. You can also find Newsmakers on the NPR app. Newsmakers relies on supporters who value independent journalism and a free press. Join NPR+ today to support our work and get perks from the podcasts you trust. Go to plus.npr.org.
Tennis Legend Chris Evert Sends Strong 6-Word Message to WNBA in Support of Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark’s influence on women’s basketball has drawn praise from another sporting legend after a fan revisited her place on a Forbes ranking. Tennis great Chris Evert joined the conversation with a brief message about how the WNBA should treat the Indiana Fever star.
Chinese travel agents advertising North Korea business trips on social media
Chinese travel agents are openly promoting North Korea trips for business delegations on social media, NK News has found, highlighting what appear to be growing opportunities to enter the country despite the ongoing ban on Chinese tourism. The trips to the border city of Rason and Pyongyang include factory and company visits, with dedicated North […]
Hasan Piker isn't worried about being a political boogeyman this midterms season
NPR's Leila Fadel asks Twitch streamer and political commentator Hasan Piker about his incendiary style and whether he's become a liability for Democrats ahead of the midterms.
Charity watchdog to criticise ‘intimidation’ after Farage calls for prosecution of groups helping asylum seekers
Charity commissioner to use speech to say there is a difference between ‘heated discussion’ and harassment or abuse
MyChart and a major hospital said I could opt out of sharing my health data. But they didn’t make it easy
My journey with MyChart and a major hospital included a notary, the hospital not honoring its own policies and employees that gave me wrong information.
Pierre Sage Hoping For 'Relaxed' Game Agaisnt Lyon
Pierre Sage spoke to the media ahead of his return to Lyon this evening, and shared his thoughts on the club, as well as Palace's expectations and travelling support.
Ubisoft to reduce workforce across Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Mainz as part of "proposed voluntary departure plan"
Approximately 100 employees may be affected by cuts, which are reportedly taking place to "best position [its] German studios for the future"
Leicester Tigers back row Williams signs new deal
Leicester Tigers back row Samuel Williams signs a contract extension of undisclosed length with the Prem club.
SKC builds new generation of Indigenous leaders with national business chapter
It's the first week of classes at Salish Kootenai College for the fall semester. As class lets out, students, new and returning, are making their way into the John Peter Paul building for the first meeting of an important club on campus. This club gives students hands-on experience by inspiring Indigenous students with leadership, networking, scholarships and business experience.
How did political campaigns get so expensive?
The 2026 midterm elections are fast approaching, and it’s gearing up to be the most expensive election in American history. So how did we get here, where every election feels more expensive than the last? Today on the show, we’re exploring what’s causing the flood of money into our politics. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen –Bad economics, smart politics –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR AppConnect with The Indicator from Planet Money–The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. –Instagram, TikTok and YouTube –Find the Planet Money book –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch, and other merch at the NPR Shop!Support public media by subscribing to NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Romania's nominated prime minister secures support ahead of confidence vote
BUCHAREST, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Romania's leftist Social Democrats said they will join the government of Prime Minister-designate Luca Niculescu while other parties pledged their votes, edging the
Mourinho impressed by Wesley: “I knew he was strong.”
There’s no shortage of talent at Real Madrid. From Mbappé to Diomandé, there’s plenty of quality players. Mourinho’s squad is sensational, including the bench. It was evident against Roma: a t...
First Friday on pause after deadly Arts District shooting; businesses support safety review
Organizers say the future of the longtime event is being reevaluated following a fatal shooting, while business owners call for stronger security measures before its return.
FourNet Expands £65m Customer Experience and AI Business With SVL Acquisition
MANCHESTER, England, October 15, 2026--FourNet, the customer experience and AI transformation partner, has acquired SVL Business Solutions, creating a combined business with more than 230 people, over 450 customers and revenues of around £65m.
Gibraltar to Sell Infrastructure Business to Saint-Gobain for $208 Million
Gibraltar Industries (ROCK) has agreed to sell its Infrastructure business, D.S. Brown, to Saint-Gobain for $208 million in cash. The price is subject to customary post-closing adjustments. Closing is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to closing conditions, including required regulatory approvals.Gibraltar expects the transaction to be highly tax efficient and plans to use the proceeds to accelerate debt reduction as it focuses its portfolio on building products and structures end-markets. Management will update its 2026 outlook for the sale alongside its third-quarter 2026 report; that report’s timing will be announced separately.
Cincinnati business leaders asked CPS to 'pause' levy this year
Letters to Cincinnati Public Schools officials from business leaders illuminate why the chamber did not endorse the district's levy.
Reclaiming the Politics of the Possible
Washington is stuck in a cycle of performative conflict. The incentives seem to reward outrage, not outcomes that last; purity tests, not problem‑solving. So it’s no surprise that after three shutdowns in less than a year, public approval of Congress collapsed to just 10 percent this spring. (Gallup...
Exclusive: US considering using ‘mother of all bombs’ against Iran, sources say
The US military has developed new strike plans that include potentially using the so-called “mother of all bombs” to target Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites should President Donald Trump give the order to resume combat operations either before or after the midterm elections, according to multiple US officials familiar with the matter.
Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for Oct. 15, 2026, puzzle No. 752
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
From runway to classroom Jenny Smith shapes artist futures
From international runways to luxury cosmetics, Jenny Atwood Smith brings her creative vision to HOURGLASS Cosmetics.
Senator Murray launches working group to shield US public health from political influence
HEALTH MATTERS: Wound Care Specialist keeps man from foot amputation
Jeffrey Broyles thought summer 2026 would look like the sand-and-ice-blue waters featured in his snapshots from summer 2025, not like the decaying flesh and gaping wounds his cell phone camera capt…
Spencer Cox Talks Polarization, Outrage Politics, and the Future of Bipartisanship at IOP
Governor Spencer Cox (R-Utah.) spoke to Institute of Politics (IOP) Founding Director David Axelrod about his efforts to promote collaboration and debate across party lines at International House on Monday. This past year, Cox published Off Ramp: How To Be A Peacemaker In An Age Of Contempt, a book outlining his blueprint for depolarization in...
EGOT winner John Legend to meet fans at Mall of America album signing
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (WQOW) — John Legend is coming to Mall of America for an exclusive album signing and photo opportunity celebrating his new album, Muse.
Mad about Science: Oakville blobs » Sandpoint Reader
By Brenden BobbyReader Columnist We continue through October with another instance of unsolved mysteries. This is a story with twists and turns, and the potential of a massive government cover-up happening right in the...
Health leaders ponder ways to boost confidence in science-backed public health
Trust in the U.S. healthcare system has plummeted in recent years.
Health leaders ponder ways to boost confidence in science-backed public health
Trust in the U.S. healthcare system has plummeted in recent years.
Connection Needed: Mammoth Owner Ryan Smith Unveils New Salt Lake City Entertainment District
Jean-Marc Jancovici: 'As long as there is no shared understanding that the impact of a heatwave is lasting, politicians will not act'
The energy engineer and founder of the Shift Project think tank lays out the major climate challenges facing future governments, with six months to go before France's 2027 presidential election.
The Far-Left Firebrand Who Wants to Upend France’s Politics—and Cancel Its Debt
Jean-Luc Mélenchon has seized on student demonstrations and transformed himself into a real contender for France’s highest office.
CEOs AND BUSINESS LEADERS CHAMPION COURAGE, RESILIENCE AND INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP AT 2026 WORLD EDITION OF BREAK THE CEILING TOUCH THE SKY® IN SINGAPORE
CEOs, C-suite executives, business leaders and changemakers from around the world convened in Singapore on October 12 for the 2026 World Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky® – the success and leadership summit for women (and all allies), identifying the critical leadership capabilities required to build stronger businesses and a better world in an increasingly disrupted global environment.
Meet MARO: The Portuguese singer-songwriter captivating audiences around the world
At a time when concert crowds are often illuminated by the glow of their own phones, Portuguese singer-songwriter MARO had a Los Angeles audience doing something increasingly rare on Tuesday night:…
New York Yankees’ Insider Unveils Latest Giancarlo Stanton Situation
The New York Yankees are facing uncertainty with Giancarlo Stanton.The 36-year-old slugger is a loyal veteran, but the Yankees’ crowded roster has been pushing him off the table.According to an MLB insider, here’s where things stand for both parties.Yankees’ Looming Giancarlo Stanton Decision Weighs HeavilyAs detailed by Brendan Kuty of The Athletic on Oct. 14, […] The post New York Yankees’ Insider Unveils Latest Giancarlo Stanton Situation appeared first on HEAVY.
Tyler Cameron argues “DWTS” isn’t about being the ‘best’ dancer after shocking season 35 eliminations
The “Bachelorette” alum cited this week’s departure of Guillermo Rodriguez.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave announces Expansion Pass DLC
DLC is coming to Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave with a new Expansion Pass, Nintendo and Intelligent Systems just revealed. Three separate waves of content are planned. Wave 1, which is out today, includes four additional weapons. These are modeled after the Heroes’ Relics from Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Wave 2 includes additional wearable outfits and three additional allies. New allies...
FBI Adds Ex-Bellum Entertainment CEO To Most Wanted Fraudsters List; Offering $150K Reward For Info On Fugitive Mary Carole McDonnell
In a true turn of events that would seem almost incredulous in a Hollywood script, the boss of a now defunct production company that specialized in true crime is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Invest...
FBI Most Wanted Fugitives List Adds Ex-Bellum Entertaiment CEO
Mary Carole McDonnell, the boss of a now defunct production company that specialized in true crime is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Iowa residents raise health and environmental concerns over data center expansion
Advocacy groups and residents are voicing concerns about the health and environmental impacts of Iowa's growing data center industry, citing increased fossil fuel use and air pollution.
Alaska Science Forum time capsule: Hardwood, softwood, fuelwood
Note: After finally cleaning my stovepipe last weekend, it feels like woodstove season at my cabin can officially (and safely) begin. Carla Helfferich wrote this wood power-focused Alaska Science Forum column on Oct. 3, 1990. — Sara Wilbur
Alaska Science Forum time capsule: Hardwood, softwood, fuelwood
Note: After finally cleaning my stovepipe last weekend, it feels like woodstove season at my cabin can officially (and safely) begin. Carla Helfferich wrote this wood power-focused Alaska Science Forum column on Oct. 3, 1990. — Sara Wilbur
Ozempic and Wegovy linked to rare risk of sudden vision loss
Popular diabetes and weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy have been linked to a slightly increased risk of a rare condition that can cause sudden, potentially permanent vision loss. Although the risk remains very low, Rutgers researchers say the findings warrant attention as millions of people turn to GLP-1 medications.
Your Business Probably Has More Data Than Insight by Nathan Tayloe
Most businesses know more about themselves than they ever have. Leaders have access to financial reports, sales pipelines, customer data, employee metrics, website analytics, and dashboards for almost every part of the organization. CRMs track every stage of the sales process. Marketing platforms report results in real time. AI can analyze and summarize enormous amounts of information in seconds. Yet I've sat in plenty of meetings where all of that information is available, and some of the most important questions are still surprisingly difficult to answer. What's actually working? Why are customers choosing us? Where are we losing opportunities? What should we do differently? Having the data and understanding what it means are two very different things. More Information Doesn't Always Create More Clarity Over the past decade, businesses have invested heavily in visibility, and that's a good thing. We can understand performance with a level of detail that would have been unimaginable not long ago. But there's an unintended consequence. The easier something becomes to measure, the easier it is to assume it must be important. Website traffic goes up, so that looks positive. Leads increase, so marketing appears to be working. Sales activity climbs, so the pipeline looks healthy. Maybe. The numbers tell us what happened. Understanding why it happened, whether it matters, and what we should do next still requires judgment. Not Everything That Matters Fits on a Dashboard Consider a customer who ultimately contacts your company through Google. The data may attribute that lead to search. What it may not show is that the customer heard about you from a colleague six months earlier, saw your company mentioned in an industry publication, followed one of your employees on LinkedIn, and read several reviews before finally searching for your company. Google may have produced the click. It didn't necessarily create the decision. This happens throughout a business. Some of the things that matter most are difficult to reduce to a single metric: Why your best customers stay Why talented employees choose your company Why a prospect trusts one provider over another Why one service is gaining momentum while another isn't Why the market perceives your business the way it does Data can help answer those questions, but it needs context. Better Decisions Start With Better Questions One of the easiest traps for leaders is starting with the information in front of them rather than the decision they're trying to make. Instead of opening a dashboard and asking, "What does the data show?" it can be more useful to start with a different set of questions: What are we trying to understand? What decision are we trying to make? What would we need to know to make that decision confidently? That changes the role of data. Instead of looking at every number available and searching for meaning, you're using information to understand something specific about the business. Information Still Requires Judgment More sophisticated analytics and AI will continue to give leaders access to better information, faster. That's valuable, but I don't think it reduces the importance of experience and judgment. If anything, it increases it. Someone still has to decide which numbers deserve attention, which patterns matter, what context might be missing, and when the data isn't telling the whole story. The goal isn't to know more about your business simply because you can. It's to understand your business well enough to make better decisions. Good data can tell you what happened. Good leadership has to decide what it means. — Learn more about how we help organizations turn business, customer, and marketing insights into smarter strategies at tayloegray.com, or reach out directly at nathan@tayloegray.com.
Talarico criticizes Israel’s actions in Gaza, backs two-state solution
James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for Texas’ Senate seat, addressed the nuances of a voter’s question about rising antisemitism and his stance on Israel. “I have deep love and respect for the Jewish people, for the Jewish scriptures,” noting that he learned about them from a local rabbi and not from a Christian perspective.
She Was in the Best Health of Her Life. Then Came Breast Cancer
At 40, Miami Pilates instructor Monica Larcada was active, health-conscious and feeling better than ever. When she discovered a breast lump, however, she acted immediately. Her diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma launched an intensive treatment journey — and changed the way she thinks about health, strength and gratitude.
Florida science standards debate heads to Orange County listening session
Florida Education Commissioner Henry Mack defended a proposed rewrite of public school science standards, saying it still includes evolution and climate science. An October 27 listening session in Orange County will give Apopka families and educators an opportunity to discuss the changes before a planned December vote.
Columbus Day weekend brought in high traffic, strong business
Toll data showed this year's Columbus Day weekend had the highest number of cars on the road in the past five years.
Shawn Horcoff Reveals Surprising Detail About Simon Edvinsson Contract Talks
Red Wings GM Shawn Horcoff reveals new details about Simon Edvinsson contract negotiations, including direct conversations and Detroit's flexibility.
Bay Area Science Festival set for Saturday; free event to feature games, robots, animals and experiments
13th annual gathering at UC San Francisco Mission Bay Campus showcases innovation and research, with a focus on kids
NASA develops batteries to power humanity's return to moon
If you've ever had your car start sluggishly, or not at all, on a particularly frigid winter morning, you know standard batteries do not like extreme cold. That's why NASA researchers are working to develop ...
Recruitment and retention take center stage at UPHS-Marquette Rural Health Showcase
About 50 future doctors and healthcare providers displayed their quality improvement projects they've worked on as residents on Wednesday
New Orleans officials urge residents to advocate for change at Urban League conference
New Orleans leaders, including U.S. Rep. Troy Carter and Mayor Helena Moreno, spoke at the event
Docktober invites folks to join citizen scientists in peeking under docks
In the month of October, naturalist Luan Roberts organizes events and encourages everyone to look at the wildlife living under their local docks and report what they see. She's on a mission to get more people involved in the emerging citizen science known as “dock fouling.”
Prichard Senior Center, Housing Authority host senior health fair
Wednesday's event offered flu shots and wellness information for seniors.
Martinez outburst came out of 'anger and frustration'
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez says he "spoke out of anger and frustration" when launching a scathing attack on the club's hierarchy.
TikTok star Bryce Hall arrested on domestic violence charges in Nevada
A representative for the influencer denied the allegations.
TikTok star Bryce Hall arrested on domestic violence charges in Nevada
TikTok influencer Bryce Hall was arrested on a domestic violence charge in Nevada. The alleged victim is listed in court records as his ex Maria Lafuente Palafox, better known online as Mika Lafuente.
Padres' offseason storylines include Sheets' health, Pivetta's contract
SAN DIEGO -- A fly ball that doesn’t hit a roof cable, a ninth-inning liner a few inches to the right, a deep drive from Manny Machado that carries just a bit farther -- with any of those things, maybe the Padres are preparing to host Game 3 of the
Xbox Reportedly Surveys Users On Return to Full Exclusivity for its Games
Xbox has reportedly surveyed players on how they would feel about a return to console exclusivity for all of its games, with the exception of Call of Duty.
Nebraska holds first public hearings on ballot initiatives, including school sports measure
The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office held the first of several public hearings Wednesday on proposed ballot measures that voters will decide on in the Nov. 3 general election.
City of Davenport adopts new occupational health contract
Davenport City Council approved a resolution to provide full on-site occupational health services for city workers.
Ohio Attorney General sues 2 home-improvement companies, including Lorain County business
The Ohio Attorney General's Office filed separate lawsuits against two Ohio home-improvement companies, including one based in Lorain County.
How the House landscape is evolving: From the Politics Desk
Plus, Trump’s latest moves leave Ukraine on the defensive.
South County police business group honors officers, awards scholarships
The South County Police Business Association recognized officers of the year and awarded scholarships to children of officers during its annual police awards and scholarship lunch.
Delta County students immerse themselves in the sciences for Mind Trekkers
Students turned the U.P. State Fairgrounds into a hands-on science lab on Wednesday with an interactive learning experience.
After Guilfoyle dismissal, Rubio reminds diplomats to ‘avoid conflicts of interest’
The former U.S. ambassador to Greece was accused of a variety of ethical violations, including asking a political donor for $100,000 to pay her personal American Express bill.
Kentucky health officials urge vaccination amid worst measles outbreak in years
Kentucky health officials are tracking 157 confirmed measles cases statewide, including 56 in Laurel County, and urging vaccination to slow the outbreak.
Shohei Ohtani Makes Major Routine Change After Dodgers Show Trust
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani stayed late on Tuesday working to fix his swing as he slumps in the postseason.
Google Quietly Sent Out 30% Off Pixel 11 Codes Today
Google is sending exclusive 30% off discount codes to Google AI Pro subscribers, slashing up to $570 off the Pixel 11 series and Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
ICE’s Operation Metro Surge cost Twin Cities a reported 32,000 jobs
Operation Metro Surge cost Minnesota 32,000 jobs, a new study found. The job losses followed the immigration crackdown between December and February, which included about 4,000 arrests, according to the
Gainesville businesses propose opening new courthouse parking garage during off-hours
Business owners want Alachua County to open the garage on nights and weekends
Marquette analysis finds young people are important voting block in Wisconsin
The analysis by the Lubar Center’s John Johnson found Wisconsin’s college campuses defy the stereotype of students being overwhelmingly progressive.
Gemini AI Plus subscribers will lose access to Pro models next month
Google has begun emailing Gemini AI Plus members to inform them when their Gemini subscription will no longer include access...
McKinney campaigning for US House, District 4
"It's an absolute joy talking to residents in the district while on the campaign trail," said Amanda McKinney.
Big Top Xtreme Opens in Pine Bluff Bringing Family Entertainment and New Attractions After Six Years of Development
Big Top Xtreme officially celebrated its grand opening in Pine Bluff on Wednesday, October 14th, marking the completion of a six-year effort to transform a former property into a family entertainment destination featuring go-karts, miniature golf, paintball, arcade games and Big Banjo Pizza. City officials, […]
Volunteers build Habitat Collier’s newest community
Physicians Regional Healthcare System and FC Naples joined Habitat for Humanity of Collier County for a volunteer build day at Las Palmas, Habitat Collier’s newest affordable homeownership community in North
Battle Over the Pierre Ends in Defeat for the Buyer Pushed by Lutnick
Motasem Khashoggi, who hails from a prominent Saudi family, missed a Tuesday deadline to deliver a $100 million deposit to purchase the Manhattan landmark.
Scientists identify avian cholera as major cause of penguin deaths in Antarctica
Thousands of Adélie penguins found dead in Antarctica in 2024 were primarily victims of avian cholera, not high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5N1) as researchers initially suspected, according to a ...
International business is influenced by local political climate, study finds
A new study co-authored by Tang Yinuo, a tenured associate professor at Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS), reveals that conservative communities in the U.S. are more likely to resist mergers ...
International business is influenced by local political climate, study finds
A new study co-authored by Tang Yinuo, a tenured associate professor at Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS), reveals that conservative communities in the U.S. are more likely to resist mergers ...
Toronto Blue Jays' Yariel Rodriguez Makes Important Offseason Decision
The right-hander is looking ahead toward 2027.
Ubisoft plans cuts at German studios, adding to wave of workforce reductions
Ubisoft is planning to reduce its workforce in Germany, where it operates a trio of studios, by about 100 workers, Game File has learned. The company wants to offer employees buyouts to, should enough people accept, avoid having to lay anyone off. “In Germany, we initiated discussions with the Works Council last week regarding a proposed voluntary departure plan across Ubisoft Dusseldorf, Ubisoft Berlin & Ubisoft Mainz,” a company rep told Game File. A “works council” is a union-like group representing employees. “The voluntary plan is the primary measure being proposed to support the intended organizational changes,” the Ubisoft rep added. The company declined to confirm the scale of the potential headcount cut. Of the impacted studios, Mainz might be the best known to the public. It leads development of the Anno series and shipped the well-reviewed strategy game Anno 117: Pax Romana in November 2025. Berlin and Dusseldorf operate as support studios within Ubisoft’s creative network. Berlin recently supported the development of Rainbow Six Siege and the Rayman Legends Retold remake. Dusseldorf also contributed to those projects, as well as The Settlers and Ubisoft-branded escape rooms. Dusseldorf is the biggest of the three studios, with some 400+ workers, compared to just over 100 at the other two, a source familiar with the reductions and the teams told Game File. More than half of these new reductions of about 100 people are expected to happen at Dusseldorf. The planned cuts were announced at a town hall for the German studios on Tuesday of last week. In an email follow-up, the studio group’s managing director, Benedikt Grindel, said the cuts were intended to “best position our German studios for the future... with a clearer focus on their role, capabilities and organizational setup needed for the work ahead.” The email was an echo of the past. In January 2025, Grindel had emailed the Ubisoft developers in his region (or studio “zone”) to explain that a round of 185 cuts at the time, including about 65 at Dusseldorf, were “essential to improve our operational efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of our studios, the zone and the company.” A half-decade of continued job cuts Ubisoft has been aggressively cutting its headcount for years. At the end of September 2022, it had 20,729 workers. By the end of March 2026, that total was down to 16,590. Studio management is trying to trim costs as it grapples with a changing industry and a drought of releases, let alone hits. The company announced earlier this year that it had reduced its costs since 2022 by “nearly €325 million” ($362m) and planned to lower them through 2028 by another €180 million ($200m). In June the company said it was closing down its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios and cutting roles in its Barcelona team. Even commercial and creative success hasn’t spared studios from this ongoing company-wide contraction. As Game File was nailing down details around the proposed cuts in Germany, Ubisoft management was informing workers of cuts in its Singapore studio, which shipped a hit remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag this past July. Some 70 positions in Singapore are being eliminated “to align the studio with upcoming production needs,” per a company rep’s statement to Game File. In early 2024, a large team in the Singapore studio launched the multiplayer pirate game Skull & Bones. It performed poorly but has been supported with regular content updates since. Many of Ubisoft’s studios around the world are heavily subsidized via regional grants and tax breaks. Singapore had been among them for years, but received no such local assistance in the 12 months ending this past March. News of the Singapore cuts broke today alongside word that Ubisoft is also proposing the closure of RedLynx, pending negotiations with officials. The Finnish studio behind the motorbike series Trials was founded in 2000 and sold to Ubisoft in 2011. As reported by VGC (and corroborated by Game File), Ubisoft management told employees it could not come up with a new, sustainable assignment for RedLynx. The 2025 workforce at Ubisoft Dusseldorf were straight-up cuts. This time, Ubisoft is hoping the reductions at its trio of German studios will largely come from workers taking a payout to leave. The company offered such voluntary dismissals at its Massive Entertainment studio (The Division) a year ago. For the German studios’ buyouts this time around, Ubisoft and the Works Council had discussed a formula that’d pay a worker’s monthly salary multiplied by 1.5 and by the number of years they’ve worked at the company, according to Game File sources. The formula is still subject to negotiations with the Works Council and has not yet been part of an official offer to workers. It could be adjusted up or down, and it could be supplemented with additional bonuses. Asked about the floated payout formula, a Ubisoft rep told Game File, “The terms of a potential voluntary departure program remain subject to negotiation with employee representatives. No final agreement has been reached, and we won’t comment on specific proposals while discussions are ongoing.” Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: Epic’s AI adventures Epic Games (Fortnite, the Unreal engine) is all-in on using AI to try to transform the way it makes video games and game-making tools. It’s leaders appear to be undeterred by any resistance among gamers and some game developers around generative AI—and instead emboldened by advances, particularly in AI-assisted programming. A recap of the last three days: On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Epic management told workers last week that development of an upcoming game combining Star Wars and Marvel characters would be “AI first.” Employees would be expected to use AI models such as Claude to code the game. A manager told Epic’s developers there would be “[n]o more hand-written code” and that art for the game would be “generated with full AI workflows,” per the outlet. Just ahead of that story running, Epic founder Tim Sweeney tweeted: “We have a huge pivot underway here at Epic, moving developers around to retool for maximum AI acceleration. The aim isn’t to do the same stuff with fewer people, but to enable everyone here to build MORE and BETTER stuff, and to bring the benefits to all teams using Unreal.” In a follow-up, Sweeney predicted that most game development processes would be at least three times faster a year from now than they were in January 2026, thanks to AI. To a person on X who told him he was failing to read the room, Sweeney said: “Much of the room wants it to be 2016 again, but it’s not. Our job, as the provider of tools and technology to much of the industry, is to design for the present that is and the future that will soon be.” On Wednesday, Epic announced it was releasing a faster launcher for its Epic Games Store marketplace. It did so by stating in a blog post as clear as could be that the launcher is an AI-enabled, vibe-coded project: Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher that’s way faster and more responsive than the current one, and has a new look. Programming is hard? That was unexpected phrasing from a company founded by a legendarily great programmer. Back in 2011, Sweeney told me that he’d picked up programming quickly as a kid and rejoiced at the power it gave him. “I could look at any program that anybody else had written and, with enough effort, build something cooler.” Item 3: The Xbox Labs experiment (and one of the people behind it) Microsoft’s Xbox division, which is flooding the zone with announcements lately, yesterday revealed a new internal tech-tinkering team called Xbox Labs. In the words of Xbox boss Asha Sharma Labs is “a small group of game makers, engineers and scientists whose job is to turn emerging ideas into things our players and developers can experience.” Conventional wisdom coming out of the announcement is that Labs is a team that’ll focus on ideas driven by generative AI. In her announcement, Sharma cited some of the dizzying achievements in tech and gaming over the past month as AI agents and other AI tools have been deployed to swiftly figure out how popular games work, then rebuild them and mix them up. She mentioned seeing ”games rapidly decompiled and rebuilt to run on hardware they were never originally designed to support” and said “[p]erhaps more surprisingly, we’ve seen many of the biggest games in the world have been remixed into the source code of another.” (Minecraft plus Elden Ring, for example, or Fortnite + Super Monkey Ball + Overwatch + Diablo + others.) Sharma also cited the work of Windows PC games being ported to run in browsers, a seeming reference to a recent AI-assisted fan port of Halo. Or perhaps Call of Duty or GTA. Sharma didn’t use the specific term “AI” in her memo, but she came close, citing AI “agents” and their potential for game-making tools that Labs could help craft: I think XBOX has an important role to play here. Coding became the first major workload for agents because they can write, run, and test software. Games share many of those same properties, and people spend more than 72 billion hours a year playing XBOX games, roughly five times the estimated time spent writing code worldwide. We’ve spent 25 years learning how to make great games, and I want our game makers to help shape what these new technologies make possible. As we learn, we’ll share the tools we build with developers across the industry, just as we always have. When I asked an Xbox rep if Labs was an AI-centric team, they said genAI was not the focus, describing it as having a broader mandate for using new tech in new ways in gaming. As an example, they pointed to Xbox’s recently launched disc-to-digital gaming usage rights program. Microsoft didn’t specifically name anyone involved full-time in Xbox Labs yesterday, but on social media and LinkedIn, I spotted Adrian Mato IDing himself as leading the creatio of tools at Labs and talking up the launch. Mato first caught my attention in late September, when he said on X that he was “starting to build a new team at Xbox focused on products and tools for how games get built and distributed as agentic tools become more capable.” At the time, he framed AI-based tools as a supplement to traditional game dev tools. “I don’t think we need to replace them,” he said. Since then, he’s publicly shown interest in AI and in games. He’s recently spent some of his X feed marveling at the power of AI agents and praising the lighting in the latest Gears of War. Following the Labs announcement yesterday, he enthused about the Xbox Labs’ stylish landing page. He wrote: “We built some fun tools to art-direct shaders in real time, experimented with interactive ASCII art, and sprinkled in lots of tiny details. “Move your mouse to leave a colorful trail that reveals the original footage, or interact with the video to trigger bursts of particles. “A lot of love went into making it all feel just right. “More to come”
A user has installed Googlebook OS onto a Chromebook Plus, and it runs great
Ever since Google officially launched the new Googlebook platform, one of the biggest questions hanging in the air has been what this means for existing Chromebook hardware. While we wait for...
Walmart to expand health benefits for employees, including $0 prescriptions, rare disease care
Walmart is expanding benefits for its 1.6 million U.S. | The new offerings include “zero cost” prescriptions, expanded Centers of Excellence for rare conditions and paid NICU leave.
Rep. Ilhan Omar's phone seized and relatives subpoenaed in criminal probe, AP source says
Federal authorities investigating Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar have seized the Democratic lawmaker’s phone and have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, according to a person briefed on the probe.
As measles surges, Pennsylvania doctors are seeing what the virus can do to kids
The virus is proving it can attack multiple organs, including the gut, liver, lungs and brain, even in children who were previously healthy.
Michigan Is a Way Better Group, Jason Beck Says
Jason Beck says Michigan's offense is a way better group than what's happening on the field. #GoBlue
‘I don’t know if this is going to turn out well.’
With a split-screen view of a turbulent tech revolution, Michael Brenner makes a case for the value of human guidance
Evaluating Where Suns' Offense Stands Heading Into Season
With questions looming over turnover troubles and backcourt rotations, Jordan Ott faces the challenge of maximizing a revamped roster to unlock the Suns' full offensive potential.
Martinez's future at Man Utd in doubt
Lisandro Martinez's future in doubt at Manchester United, Newcastle's Bazoumana Toure eyed by Manchester United and Arsenal, Getafe interested in free agent Jadon Sancho, plus more.