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Where is the next World Cup? See hosts for 2030 and 2034

The 2026 World Cup ends today at MetLife. Here's where the next tournaments will be played in 2030 and 2034.

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Jul 19 • 4:01 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Opinion | Double standard over GLP-1 drugs hits women especially hard

Women experience the effects of obesity in many ways, including heart disease, certain cancers, fertility challenges, maternal health complications, and more severe menopause symptoms.

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Jul 19 • 2:20 AM EDT • Health • bostonglobe.com
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Bill Montevecchi, seabird ornithologist and science communicator

The North Atlantic can look empty until someone begins paying attention. A stretch of gray water off Newfoundland may appear to hold little more than waves and scattered birds. To Bill Montevecchi, those birds were evidence. Their breeding success, feeding trips, and changing numbers revealed what was happening beneath the surface, offering clues about fish [Continue reading]

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Jul 18 • 11:40 PM EDT • Science • butlernature.com
DREAMTEAM

RUARIDH McCONNOCHIE, THE FORMER BATH, ENGLAND, ENGLAND SEVENS AND GREAT BRITAIN SEVENS WINGER, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Beno Obano – I’ve always thought Beno has been criminally underrated at international level. Everyone sees his power, but his hands and footwork are exceptional for a prop. He’s been a […] The post DREAMTEAM appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

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Jul 18 • 9:59 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Washington Huskies Forward Leads Serbia to Championship of International Tournament

Huskies forward Nikola Dzepina will face another potential UW recruit, Urban Kroflic, in the championship game of the FIBA EuroBasket tournament.

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Jul 18 • 7:29 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Raiders’ Owner Tom Brady Makes Eye-Opening Fernando Mendoza Move

Tom Brady is continuing to draw attention at Fanatics Fest, with his latest head-turning move involving Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The post Raiders’ Owner Tom Brady Makes Eye-Opening Fernando Mendoza Move appeared first on HEAVY.

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Jul 18 • 6:52 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Where Shane Beamer, Dabo Swinney stand in CBS Sports’ 2026 hot seat rankings

The seat is a bit warmer for both coaches, CBS says.

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Jul 18 • 6:34 PM EDT • Sports • thestate.com
Kings’ Darnell Credits Team for Ending Summer on High Note

Sacramento salvaged their tournament with a balanced offensive clinic, providing coach Chris Darnell vital evaluations of playmaking prospects and rookie shooters ahead of the regular season.

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Jul 18 • 5:45 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Valve Reportedly Sells 12-15K Steam Machine Units Per Week

When Valve listed its Steam Machine gaming console/PC back in late June, many doubted whether the console would sell due to its high price tag. However, it turns out that Valve's sales data have reportedly been good. Some investigative journalism led to an estimate that Valve is selling anywhere...

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Jul 18 • 5:38 PM EDT • Technology • techpowerup.com
Is Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) Undervalued After Its CTF Life Awards Deal?

Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) is back in focus after CTF Life agreed to become the exclusive title sponsor of the 2026 TMElive International Music Awards, bringing the event to Hong Kong for the first time. See our latest analysis for Tencent Music Entertainment Group. Despite the CTF Life partnership putting Tencent Music Entertainment Group back in the headlines, the stock’s recent performance has been mixed, with a 1 month share price return of 4.95% contrasting with a year to...

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Jul 18 • 3:20 PM EDT • Entertainment • simplywall.st
The beginning of the end

To start our final weekend of an incredible World Cup tournament: the third-place match in Miami.

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Jul 18 • 2:50 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Brandon Woodruff announces he needs season-ending shoulder surgery

Brandon Woodruff announced July 18 he needs season-ending shoulder surgery but that he's not retiring and intends to try to come back again.

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Jul 18 • 2:30 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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Food Bank's Health Partnership Model Draws National Praise

A new national report shows how FARSB's FoodRx program is helping Inland Empire neighbors eat better and stay healthier close to home.

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Jul 18 • 12:15 PM EDT • Health • raincrossgazette.com
CFM wins approval for jet engine durability boost

Jet engine maker CFM International said it had won U.S. and European approvals for an ​upgrade that would improve durability of engines used ‌on Boeing 737 MAX jets.

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Jul 18 • 11:52 AM EDT • Business • reuters.com
Brass at the Beach brings musical excitement back to Myrtle Beach

The Drum Corps International Brass at the Beach returns to Doug Shaw Stadium on Tuesday, July 28 at 7 p.m.

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Jul 18 • 11:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • myhorrynews.com
Now or never: Spending exceeds fundraising in race for GOP gubernatorial nomination

Closing arguments are being made and reserves are being tapped.

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Jul 18 • 8:59 AM EDT • Politics • floridapolitics.com
Honeywell Technologies completes first acquisition after spin-offs for $1.8B

The automation company bought a business based in a world capital.

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Jul 18 • 6:45 AM EDT • Business • charlotteobserver.com
Life after Kane - are England facing a false nine future?

Are England facing the prospect of using a false nine up front once record scorer Harry Kane calls time on his international career?

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Jul 18 • 6:42 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Nuclear deal that would permit uranium enrichment by Saudi Arabia in limbo awaiting Trump admin sign off

The Trump administration has tentatively agreed to allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium without enacting international safeguards intended to prevent nuclear weapons development, according to sources familiar with the matter and documents reviewed by CNN.

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Jul 18 • 6:30 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
He was 400 pounds, ridiculed and a revered Wisconsin leader

Ex-circus performer Krueger was a curiosity in 1947 when he arrived in Wisconsin Senate. His bipartisan approach to governance made him a legend.

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Jul 18 • 6:02 AM EDT • Politics • jsonline.com
Here’s where MS ranks among worst states for business in 2026. Did it get better from last year?

See how Mississippi’s ranking compares to previous year and other states across the country.

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Jul 18 • 6:00 AM EDT • Business • sunherald.com
Marco Bassetti on why global entertainment still depends on local culture

In an age when viewers can drift from TikTok to Netflix to YouTube within minutes, the World Cup remains a rare thing: a live event that can capture the attention of a huge, simultaneous worldwide audience. Banijay Live, part of Banijay Entertainment that is behind hit TV franchises including "MasterChef," "Big Brother," and "The Traitors," is producing the tournament's closing ceremony on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Marco Bassetti, its chief executive, says earning that kind of global attention is harder than ever — and keeping it depends on understanding local culture.

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Jul 18 • 6:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • reuters.com
What should we take away from Hornets’ NBA Las Vegas Summer League run?

Charlotte concluded 2026 stay in the desert with a 92-90 loss to Memphis Grizzlies.

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Jul 18 • 5:00 AM EDT • Sports • charlotteobserver.com
Where to watch AVP beach volleyball today: TV schedule, channel, live stream for New York Central Park tournament

Here's everything you need to know about AVP beach volleyball today, including TV channel and streaming options for the Central Park meet.

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Jul 18 • 3:30 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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Bryson DeChambeau Update: Latest On His Controversial British Open Penalty

Bryson DeChambeau is once again at the top of the headlines when it comes to a major golfing tournament. The British Open was one of his best opening rounds he's had in a very long time, and he followed it up with a great Friday. He was originally just one back of the leader and […] The post Bryson DeChambeau Update: Latest On His Controversial British Open Penalty appeared first on Stadium Rant.

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Jul 18 • 3:20 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Belichick Sees North Carolina Turnaround as Night and Day

Bill Belichick calls the North Carolina football turnaround a night and day difference after the 2025 disaster. Fans see real hope now.

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Jul 18 • 1:04 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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Boston businesses hope energy from World Cup crowds can have lasting impact on nightlife

Boston's summer of major international events is nearing its finale, but businesses and residents hope the momentum will continue long after the final whistle of the World Cup.

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Jul 17 • 11:25 PM EDT • Business • cbsnews.com
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Abbott investigates two separate cyber incidents, says no operations affected

Abbott Laboratories is investigating two cyber incidents involving unauthorized access to ​some internal systems at its cancer diagnostics business and ‌its LabCentral portal, the company said on Friday, adding that its operations were not affected.

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Jul 17 • 7:02 PM EDT • Business • reuters.com
Wagner's New Business Model

Wagner's leftover fighters run a tramadol empire in Central African Republic, fueling gold profits, militia violence, and ties to Sudan's war.

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Jul 17 • 4:30 PM EDT • Business • smallwarsjournal.com
Oregon Health Authority cancels layoffs

Oregon Health Authority leaders won’t divulge the size or cause of the agency's budget hole, but internal records indicate it needs to find $90 million in savings over the coming year. For now, though, layoffs won’t happen.

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Jul 17 • 4:28 PM EDT • Health • opb.org
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US oil firms sign deals with Iraq to develop alternative shipping routes

U.S. companies have signed roughly $60 billion in agreements and partnerships with the Iraqi government, including deals intended to create alternative routes for shipping oil out of the Persian Gulf.

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Jul 17 • 3:36 PM EDT • Business • click2houston.com
Tepper Sports is ‘broken’ and favors women, former Charlotte FC employee alleges

The first person hired by Charlotte FC was fired for an email he didn’t send, a discrimination lawsuit says, and women faced no repercussions.

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Jul 17 • 3:33 PM EDT • Sports • charlotteobserver.com
‘I am closing the door’: Katie Porter to leave politics, become a book influencer

The former Democratic U.S. representative is pivoting to her rediscovered passion for reading and books.

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Jul 17 • 3:08 PM EDT • Politics • sacbee.com
San Bernardino County restaurants shut down by health inspectors, July 8-16

Four facilities were ordered to close.

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Jul 17 • 2:00 PM EDT • Health • sbsun.com
China warns of reciprocal countermeasures after U.S. shortens foreign journalist visas

The Trump administration announced Thursday it will drastically shorten visas for foreign journalists in the U.S. to 240 days, down from years, and cut those for Chinese journalists to only 90 days, raising concerns over press freedom in the United States and prompting China to warn of possible reciprocal countermeasures.

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Jul 17 • 1:25 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
'RNA can do things which we have never seen before': New study challenges assumptions about what RNA was up to at the dawn of life

RNA can fold into more complex configurations than scientists thought, raising questions about how important these 3D structures were when life on Earth began.

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Jul 17 • 1:20 PM EDT • Science • livescience.com
NASA’s Psyche Mission Delivers Mars Flyby Data, Time-lapse Video

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft flew by Mars on May 15, using the planet’s gravity to gain speed and slightly tilt its trajectory. The flyby also gave the team an

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Jul 17 • 1:07 PM EDT • Science • science.nasa.gov
Hochul touts support in Albany as governor’s race heats up

The event comes as the 2026 gubernatorial campaign is heating up.

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Jul 17 • 1:02 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com
BBC mini-documentary shines a light on community health workers in Arizona

When people think of health care professionals, what often comes to mind are doctors and nurses. In reality, there are more than 250 distinct professions in the field. This summer, a new BBC mini-documentary is bringing attention to one of them: community health workers.

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Jul 17 • 12:59 PM EDT • Health • news.asu.edu
Raleigh’s Hopscotch Music Festival 2026 lineup is here. List of 100+ performers

Plus, festival dates and how to get tickets.

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Jul 17 • 12:55 PM EDT • Entertainment • newsobserver.com
Less sleep = less health; Led Zeppelin in the OR; dangers of people-pleasing; plus other stories with Vanderbilt Health sources

Prevention interviewed Beth Malow, MD, Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics in the Vanderbilt Sleep Division, for a story about two randomized trials published in Annals of Internal Medicinethat found decreasing sleep by just 1.5 hours each night was linked with increases in body weight, waist circumference, and sedentary time in adults with elevated cardiometabolic risk. Yahoo Healthalso picked up the story. WTVF News Channel 5 reporter Nikki Hauser interviewed Ashish Shah, MD, Professor and Chair of Cardiac Surgery, for a new video podcast series called “Why Nashville” where she interviews interesting people doing interesting work about why they came to Nashville and how it is going. Among the revelations: his go-to OR music includes Led Zeppelin and AC/DC. Everyday Health interviewed Aaron Brinen, PsyD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, for a story about the TikTok trend that encourages women to speak up about their concerns or they’ll develop an autoimmune disease. Overall, people suggest that suppressing feelings of anger, minimizing your own needs, or people-pleasing raises your risk. Telemundo Nashville broadcast a story on cyclosporiasis that quotes both William Schaffner, MD, professor of Preventive Medicine, and Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, chair of the Department of Pediatrics and system Pediatrician-in-Chief for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Schaffner also spoke to WKRN News 2 about measles and The Cutabout shingles and long distance running. WREG (Memphis) and others picked up the measles story as well. CNN reporter Deidre McPhillips interviewed John Trahanas, MD, Assistant Professor of Cardiac Surgery, and Director of Thoracic Aortic Surgery, for a story about aortic dissection in last week’s death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. The Nashville Post published a story by freelance reporter Leah Hunter on robotic surgery, including a patient story and numerous quotes from Sekhar Padmanabhan, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Surgical Oncology.

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Jul 17 • 12:27 PM EDT • Health • news.vumc.org
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Parents want safer phones for kids. These companies are answering the call.

As parents look for alternatives to unrestricted smartphones, a growing number of companies are building phones designed specifically for kids, from feature-limited mobile devices to minimalist home phones.

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Jul 17 • 12:12 PM EDT • Technology • techcrunch.com
Preparation Spreads the Value of the World Cup Across the Entire Sports Marketing World

The soccer tournament showed how being ready leads to success.

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Jul 17 • 11:54 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Walmart names Kinnard to replace departing US COO Shanahan, memo shows

Kieran Shanahan, chief operating officer of Walmart's U.S. operations, is leaving the retailer and will ​be replaced by the company's international division ‌COO, Kyle Kinnard, an internal memo showed on Friday, amid a major management rejig under CEO John Furner.

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Jul 17 • 11:44 AM EDT • Business • reuters.com
Sporting KC acquires two 2026 international roster slots

Sporting Kansas City announced today that the club has acquired two 2026 international roster slots in a pair of trades with the Philadelphia Union and the Seattle Sounders. Sporting has acquired an international roster slot and the 22nd spot in the Waiver Order from Philadelphia in exchange for the first

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Jul 17 • 11:30 AM EDT • Sports • sportingkc.com
The Bull Case For Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) Could Change Following Its TMElive Awards Push Into Hong Kong

CTF Life recently announced a long-term partnership with Tencent Music Entertainment Group to bring the TMElive International Music Awards to Hong Kong for the first time in August 2026, with CTF Life as exclusive title sponsor. This collaboration positions Tencent Music to extend its brand beyond online platforms into a large-scale international live festival, deepening its presence in the fan-driven music ecosystem. We’ll now examine how hosting the TMElive International Music Awards in...

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Jul 17 • 11:29 AM EDT • Entertainment • simplywall.st
10 songs to get hyped for the World Cup final

To get in the spirit for the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, The Associated Press has made a themed playlist. The list includes Shakira and Burna Boy's

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Jul 17 • 10:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • yakimaherald.com
Elevating citizen science: How IUCN Members are advancing a global conservation tool

This article shares reflections from an IUCN Member organisation about its efforts to elevate citizen and community science within the global conservation community. We demystify the IUCN motions process and show how it contributes to the IUCN Strategic Vision and Programme through the IUCN World Conservation Congress and its quadrennial cycle. Specifically, we outline the steps to organise support for Resolution 125 'Advancing citizen science to support and democratise conservation'.

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Jul 17 • 7:55 AM EDT • Science • iucn.org
World Cup winners to be presented with championship rings in tournament first

FIFA described it as "bringing one of the most recognisable American sporting traditions to the global game".

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Jul 17 • 7:00 AM EDT • Sports • nytimes.com
China warns of reciprocal countermeasures after US shortens foreign journalist visas

The Trump administration is drastically shortening visas for foreign journalists in the U.S. The new rule announced by the Department of Homeland Security limits visas to 240 days, down from

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Jul 17 • 5:56 AM EDT • Entertainment • yakimaherald.com
Patriots secondary faces big questions before camp

The Patriots' secondary was a key part of their playoff run but faces new challenges as training camp approaches.

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Jul 17 • 4:50 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
More Trust and Estate Disputes Are Becoming Business Litigation

As more families transfer business interests, commercial real estate, and other complex assets, trust and estate advisers may need to brush up on partnership law, corporate governance, contractual rights, tax planning, or real property law, FBFK Law’s Holly Gilani says.

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Jul 17 • 4:30 AM EDT • Business • news.bloombergtax.com
Bizcap US Launches, Bringing Fast, Flexible Funding to SMBs

VICTORIA, AU / ACCESS Newswire / July 17, 2026 / Global non-bank funder Bizcap has officially launched in the US, expanding its international footprint and bringing its proven funding model to one of the world's largest small business markets. Already ...

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Jul 17 • 4:10 AM EDT • Business • finance.yahoo.com
Exclusive : Diagnostics log confirms iPhone 18 Pro Max camera specs ahead of launch

An ISP diagnostics log, part of the trove of internal Tata Electronics files leaked in June by the World Leaks ransomware group, confirms several previously rumored iPhone 18 Pro Max camera specs ahead of Apple's official announcement.

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Jul 16 • 11:36 PM EDT • Technology • notebookcheck.net
Veteran bilingual journalist joins North Bay Business Journal staff

Veteran bilingual journalist Raquel Issenberg is joining the staff of the North Bay Business Journal, where she will cover entrepreneurship, employment, job training and health care.

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Jul 16 • 8:07 PM EDT • Business • pressdemocrat.com
Sports without politics is a fantasy and the World Cup proves it

From ancient Greece to Nazi Germany, sport and politics have long been intertwined. Nevertheless, we still imagine that international sport can be kept above the fray and serve as a neutral arena where nations compete on merit alone. In this article, diplomacy scholar Geoffrey Allen Pigman argues the 2026 FIFA World Cup shows this is a dangerous illusion. When international sport is left entirely to revenue-maximizing private bodies like FIFA, it doesn't escape politics, but rather surrenders to its worst expressions. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics fast approaching, the IOC must decide whether to learn that lesson or repeat the same mistakes. The largest and most lucrative FIFA World Cup ever draws toward its climactic conclusion amidst a swirl of controversy. Team members, staff, fans, and spectators have been denied their right to enter the United States to participate, and US President Donald Trump intervened with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to overturn a referee’s call that Trump believed disadvantaged the US national team. It is a moment to step back and reflect on what the purposes of international sport mega-events like the World Cup, and international sport more broadly, are, and what they should be. Does international sport serve public purposes? Is there a public interest? Or is it primarily a private endeavor organized by commercial enterprises to entertain the global public (and generate profit in the process), which is occasionally used by governments and leaders for raisons d’etat? Central to the idea of sport is the principle of fair play, which in the international context demands that games be free from political interference. However, it is impossible to separate sport from politics, all claims to the contrary notwithstanding. The most positive political use of international sport through the millennia has been to facilitate diplomacy. The use of international sport for diplomatic objectives has existed since at least the time of the ancient Olympic Games, around which was instituted the custom of the Ekecheiria, or Olympic Truce, between participating states to facilitate fair competition and diplomatic achievements by ensuring that participants could travel safely to the Olympiad. In his seminal work On Diplomacy (1987), diplomacy scholar James Der Derian characterized the objectives of diplomacy as overcoming alienation and mediating estrangement between governments and between peoples. One increasingly important diplomatic tool in the technology-infused media environment over the past century has been public diplomacy, under which governments and non-state diplomatic actors (e.g. transnational corporations) communicate to global publics about their international policy objectives and to shape their global brand image. Political scientist Michał Kobierecki, in his important book Sports Diplomacy (2020), views sports diplomacy as falling broadly within the ambit of public diplomacy, as international sport intimately involves the participation of global publics as spectators and consumers of global media. Diplomacy scholar Stuart Murray and this author, in a 2013 article, distinguish between international sport used for diplomatic purposes and international sport-as-diplomacy, which encompasses the range of diplomacy that occurs as teams and competitors, spectators and fans, and government officials all converge for international sporting events like the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. Diplomacy scholar H.E. Chehabi, in a 2001 article on US-Iran sports diplomacy, describes the interaction between spectators and fans at international sporting events as “people-to-people diplomacy,” in which relationships develop independently of governments and their objectives. Diplomacy by the aforementioned definitions is often unsuccessful. Moreover, all too often the tools of diplomacy may be employed by governments and other actors to thwart or oppose the objectives of diplomacy as characterized by Der Derian. Governments routinely use the tools of public diplomacy to disseminate propaganda, spreading misinformation in the attempt to deceive global publics about their objectives and to create misleading impressions about their brand identity. Within sports diplomacy, the term “sportswashing” has been coined recently to describe how governments invest in and promote international sport to create positive global public impressions of their nations and, in doing so, to distract the global public from their deficient records in areas such as human rights and democratic governance. Murray, in his 2018 book Sports Diplomacy: Origins, Theory and Practice, introduces the concept of sports anti-diplomacy, wherein governments intentionally use international sport to advance aggressive and nationalistic objectives. Obvious historical examples include Hitler’s use of the 1936 Berlin Olympics to glorify his Third Reich and the 1969 El Salvador-Honduras football “war.” SUGGESTED READING The beautiful game made ugly By Emily Ryall FIFA argues that it is and seeks to be apolitical in its stewardship of international Association Football (soccer). FIFA policies governing bids to host the World Cup require uninhibited and non-discriminatory access for players, team staff, and spectators of all participating countries to host nations and venues. It became clear soon after Trump returned to power in the United States in January 2025 that Trump’s political intentions and objectives to limit non-US citizens from living and working in the United States and, in numerous cases, even visiting the country, would collide with FIFA’s host nation policies. Beginning soon after the start of the second Trump administration, US federal authorities imposed restrictions on entry to the United States of citizens of between 20 and 40 countries for any purpose, with only limited exceptions. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began arresting non-US citizens in the United States, including persons with and without legal status, holding them in jails, concentration camps, and other detention facilities until they were deported to their home or third countries, where they faced substantive risks to their personal safety. FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, in an effort to ensure the most successful and lucrative World Cup in history, engaged diplomatically with President Trump in an attempt to facilitate entry to the US for World Cup participants. Infantino did all in his power to ingratiate himself with Trump, to the extent of creating a FIFA “Peace Prize,” which he awarded to Trump in December 2025 at a ceremony in the then Trump-controlled John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on the occasion of the World Cup draw. The prize was an ersatz consolation for someone who aspired in vain to win the rather more prestigious and well-known Nobel Peace Prize. And in the run-up to the World Cup, conditions became worse. In February 2026, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a war of aggression against Iran, illegal under international law, under the false pretence that Iran’s government was preparing to attack the United States and Israel. During the US aerial bombardment of Iran, US planes bombed Azadi Stadium, the facility where Iran’s national football team trained. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup began, it was clear that Infantino’s efforts had been for naught: the Trump administration would not adhere to FIFA policies governing access to World Cup host nations. World Cup referee Omar Artan, a citizen of Somalia, was denied a US visa to enter the United States to participate in the World Cup. Trump’s government only granted US visas to Iran’s football team ten days before they were scheduled to arrive for the tournament. Numerous members of the support staff for Iran’s team were denied US visas. Iran’s team, which had been scheduled to train in Arizona, was directed to shift its training site to Tijuana, Mexico, notwithstanding that all three of their group stage matches took place at US venues. The US Department of Homeland Security only permitted the Iranian team to enter the US on the day before each scheduled match and then to return to Mexico immediately after playing. Members of Iraq’s and Switzerland’s football teams were delayed for hours by US officials at the US border, and an Iraqi team photographer was refused entry. Spectators and fans from Haïti and Iran were denied entry to the United States altogether. A large number of fans from a range of countries had their applications for US visas rejected. There were multiple off-ramps through which participants could have avoided the negative consequences of Trump’s decisions for the 2026 World Cup. Once it was clear that the Trump government intended to violate the established expectations for World Cup hosts, FIFA could have shifted the matches scheduled to take place in the United States to Mexico and Canada. The three nations were already designated as co-hosts, and host cities and venues had been selected. Once it was clear that FIFA, governed by FIFA boss Gianni Infantino’s dependent and dysfunctional relationship with Trump, would never consider this option on its own, it fell to the national football federations to act. The national federations, particularly some combination of federations of the leading contenders (France, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Morocco, England, Germany, etc.), could have refused to participate under the US-imposed conditions or, at the least, demanded an ironclad agreement with the Trump government that FIFA policies on access would be respected. ___ International sport is inextricably entangled with diplomacy of different sorts, for good or ill, it cannot be considered to be in the purely private realm and left to revenue-maximizing private actors. ___ Why did neither FIFA nor the national football federations act to protect the interests of players, team staff, referees, fans, and spectators? In essence, the relentless engines of capitalism prevailed over norm observance, ethics, and fair play. The revenue interests of FIFA, sponsors, global media, and host cities won out. FIFA’s managers viewed hosting another World Cup principally in the United States as a veritable pot of gold for FIFA and its collaborators. FIFA has estimated its own revenue over the 2023-26 budget cycle, which includes the 2026 World Cup, at $13 billion, revised up from an initial projection of $11 billion, and 72% higher than the previous revenue cycle. Of that total, FIFA is estimated to have generated $8.9 billion from the Cup itself in revenue from TV rights ($3.92 billion), sponsorships ($2.69 billion), ticket sales ($3.1 billion), licensing rights, and other sources. A joint study by FIFA and the World Trade Organization estimates that the World Cup will contribute over $40 billion to global GDP, including nearly $14 billion in direct visitor spending in the three host countries (but principally in the United States, which hosted the lion’s share of the matches). The FIFA World Cup is now reportedly “the single most lucrative recurring commercial property in global sport.” And yet, notwithstanding the Trump government’s uses of the World Cup for sports anti-diplomacy, and the climate of anxiety that this created for participants and spectators, diplomacy that did not depend upon governments was able to thrive at the World Cup. Examples of successful people-to-people diplomacy were legion, as citizens of towns and cities across the States, as well as in Mexico and Canada, welcomed team members, their families and supporters, to training sites across North America. Fans of different teams joined together in person in stadiums for matches, at watch parties and bars, and at welcome events sponsored by host cities. The joy and camaraderie shared between the citizenry of Boston and Scotland’s “Tartan Army” of fans is but one example of how the “Beautiful Game” brings people together. Friendships forged across continents are likely to endure well beyond the Cup final. Even those achievements cannot be seen as unalloyed, however. As South African football fan Byron Pillay commented to Al Jazeera, “Football is called the Beautiful Game for a reason, for its ability to unite people. But it’s hard to believe in that magic with the politics and war rhetoric off the field of play, especially when one of the tournament hosts is central to that.” Ultimately, the experience of the 2026 FIFA World Cup illustrates that, as international sport is inextricably entangled with diplomacy of different sorts, for good or ill, it cannot be considered to be in the purely private realm and left to revenue-maximizing private actors. As long as there is the possibility of diplomatic progress in mediating estrangement between governments or between peoples, there is a broad and overarching public interest in international sport. Likewise, as it would be difficult to put on an international sport mega-event without international sporting organizations like FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), global media firms, and companies purchasing sponsorships, public and private interests in international sport must coexist, most likely somewhere on a shifting spectrum between partnership and rivalry or cross purposes. As the World Cup wraps up, the IOC needs to consider its lessons before the scheduled 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if they want to avoid a media-hyped Trump version of the 1936 Berlin Olympiad. The IOC and the National Olympic Committees need to set conditions on and make demands of Trump’s government with clearly articulated consequences for non-compliance, up to and including cancellation of the Games. Time is running out for the IOC, as unlike with the FIFA World Cup, there is no at-the-ready alternate venue for Los Angeles.

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Jul 16 • 8:00 PM EDT • Politics • iai.tv
‘Old folks’ and ‘rookies’ in politics

After what we have experienced recently I assure you America will never again hire anyone who would serve as president into their 80s. No blame can go to the founders of our nation who did not feel that it was necessary to put an age limit on the presidency. And then we had the “Joe […]

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Jul 16 • 8:00 PM EDT • Politics • nujournal.com
American Ceramic Tile & Supply celebrates nearly 50 years as family business

American Ceramic Tile & Supply earns a 2026 Family Owned Business Award after nearly 50 years of family ownership and growth.

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Jul 16 • 6:57 PM EDT • Business • thebusinessjournal.com
Mark Shapiro on Why Live Entertainment Has No Ceiling

TKO Group Holdings president and COO Mark Shapiro discusses the thriving economy of live sports, the cultural necessity of shared physical experiences, and the strategic vision driving major entertainment properties like the UFC, WWE, and the WNBA.

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Jul 16 • 6:46 PM EDT • Entertainment • finance.yahoo.com
CORE Business Interiors honored for building a family legacy

CORE Business Interiors is recognized for family leadership, business growth and community service in the Central Valley.

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Jul 16 • 6:45 PM EDT • Business • thebusinessjournal.com
Turner Security Systems earns Family Owned Business Award

Turner Security Systems is recognized for more than 50 years of family leadership and security services across the Central Valley.

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Jul 16 • 6:33 PM EDT • Business • thebusinessjournal.com
Fort Worth cocktail bar announces closure after decade of business

The Basement Lounge announced its closure on social media after over a decade of business in Fort Worth.

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Jul 16 • 6:14 PM EDT • Business • star-telegram.com
Family businesses built to last: Meet the 2026 FOBA honorees

Eight Central Valley companies are being recognized in The Business Journal's 2026 Family Owned Business Awards for multigenerational leadership and business longevity.

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Jul 16 • 6:13 PM EDT • Business • thebusinessjournal.com
Op-Ed: The Forgotten Key to Wildlife Management: Values

Science alone won’t get the politics out of wildlife management. We shouldn’t want it to.

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Jul 16 • 5:43 PM EDT • Science • mountainjournal.org
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England players stunned by Tuchel tactics

England players were shocked by Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup retreat that resulted in his team being dumped out of the tournament by Argentina.

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Jul 16 • 5:41 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Ex-MLB star returning to baseball after being found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor

Former Tampa Bay Rays star Wander Franco will play for the Dominican Republic in an upcoming baseball tournament.

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Jul 16 • 5:14 PM EDT • Sports • syracuse.com
Why we're building a Health Editor Help Desk

As health journalism grows more complex and newsroom resources continue to shrink, AHCJ is piloting a new model for providing the specialized editorial expertise reporters told us they need.

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Jul 16 • 4:27 PM EDT • Health • healthjournalism.org
Expanded Crew Works Science, Microgravity Adaptation, and Next Crew Departure

The International Space Station is a busy place hosting ten crewmates from NASA, Roscosmos, and ESA (European Space Agency) through the end of July. The

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Jul 16 • 4:04 PM EDT • Science • nasa.gov
Exclusive: Intel Core Ultra 400 "Nova Lake" to feature new branding

Intel is preparing new Core Ultra Series 4 branding for its Nova Lake desktop processors. Internal embargo windows point to a staggered release throughout 2027.

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Jul 16 • 3:47 PM EDT • Technology • videocardz.com
Google Gemini Launch Delayed as Tech Falls Short of Internal Goals

Alphabet Inc.’s Google is months behind schedule on delivering Gemini 3.5 Pro, its most powerful flagship AI model, because the company has been taking time to try to improve its capabilities, particularly in coding, according to people familiar with the matter.

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Jul 16 • 2:07 PM EDT • Technology • bloomberg.com
The best and worst moments of Marcello Hernandez hosting the 2026 ESPYs

Highlights included digs at Shane Gillis and Tiger Woods, and a fun moment with Will Ferrell.

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Jul 16 • 12:41 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
The best and worst moments of Marcello Hernandez hosting the 2026 ESPYs

The best and worst moments of Marcello Hernandez hosting the 2026 ESPYs included digs at Shane Gillis and Tiger Woods, and a moment with Will Ferrell.

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Jul 16 • 12:41 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com
Live Heat updates: Riley speaks; no Bam discipline; Giannis, Portis speak; LeBron

Live updates: Adebayo won’t be disciplined. Giannis and Portis speak. And LeBron James tracker.

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Jul 16 • 12:03 PM EDT • Sports • miamiherald.com
NC elections board approves new rule making it easier to disqualify ballots

The elections board’s Republican majority approved a series of rules in a 3-2 vote, including one on ballots without voter ID.

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Jul 16 • 11:35 AM EDT • Politics • newsobserver.com
New York Times files motion to quash subpoenas served on journalists over Air Force One coverage

The New York Times on Wednesday filed a motion to quash subpoenas that the Justice Department served on journalists who reported on security concerns involving the new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One, teeing up a significant court fight pitting press freedom against the the government’s ability to force reporters to identify sources.

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Jul 16 • 11:06 AM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
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NC State Health Plan overhauls insurer, hospital network and premiums. What to know

State employees will see numerous changes.

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Jul 16 • 10:00 AM EDT • Health • newsobserver.com
UnitedHealth blasts health care providers’ ‘egregious’ awards under No Surprises Act

Eden-Prairie based health care giant highlights alleged arbitration abuses while reporting success on financial turnaround.

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Jul 16 • 9:40 AM EDT • Health • startribune.com
Union City High School offers all-sports pass for 2026-2027 school year

The Union City High School Principal and Athletic Director, Jacob Cross, is offering a special deal for Golden Tornado fans this year.

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Jul 16 • 9:39 AM EDT • Sports • wbbjtv.com
SLO County coffee trailer wants to make eco-friendly easy. Inside Tiny Café

The mobile coffee shop is the first cafe in SLO County to be green-business certified.

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Jul 16 • 8:00 AM EDT • Business • sanluisobispo.com
Pluto flyby mission wakes up after long sleep nearly 6 billion miles from Earth

NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft recently came out of hibernation to continue its journey through an unexplored part of the solar system.

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Jul 16 • 7:30 AM EDT • Science • cnn.com
Move over, GPS: Navigation satellites in low Earth orbit are making a comeback

Xona aims to deploy 258 satellites into low Earth orbit as a GPS alternative.

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Jul 16 • 7:00 AM EDT • Technology • arstechnica.com
Champions of Potomac River mussels summon a ‘science barge’

The Potomac Riverkeeper Network has expanded its mussel-growing operation on the Potomac River with what the group is calling a “science barge.”

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Jul 16 • 6:30 AM EDT • Science • bayjournal.com
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‘86 47’: How Trump’s war on dissent gave his opponents a political rallying cry

The president’s attempts to bury a meme — and his political opponents — turned a small bit of political speech into an international symbol of protest.

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Jul 16 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • ms.now
World Cup reader Q&A: post your questions for Guardian sports reporter Nick Ames now

After 102 games we know that 2026 World Cup final will be between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey on Sunday. Our football correspondant Nick Ames has been in the US and Mexico all tournament – post your questions for him now

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Jul 16 • 5:35 AM EDT • Sports • theguardian.com
State Department hosting international officials to talk left-wing terrorism

Counterterrorism experts say the Trump administration’s focus on the far left lacks context about the full range of threats from extremists across the political spectrum.

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Jul 16 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • nbcnews.com
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CNBC rated Ohio 'Top State for Business.' Here's what that means — and what it doesn't.

Ohio Republicans are touting a CNBC business rating, but one of its authors says it doesn't mean that life is great for average Ohioans.

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Jul 16 • 4:00 AM EDT • Business • ohiocapitaljournal.com
As US AI costs soar, global firms pivot to China’s cheap, open-weight models

A sharp narrowing of the performance gap is prompting some developers to shift from costly American giants to budget-friendly Chinese alternatives.

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Jul 15 • 9:25 PM EDT • Business • scmp.com
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Two Familiar Faces Emerge to Replace Steve Yzerman

Shawn Horcoff and Kris Draper are the leading internal candidates to replace Steve Yzerman as Red Wings general manager.

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Jul 15 • 8:36 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Anaheim Ducks reportedly intend to leave Victory+ streaming platform

Victory+ picked a bad Wednesday to have a bad Wednesday. The Ducks are the second team to walk away from the streaming platform within hours, and the exit comes with two years still remaining on Anaheim’s contract. According to a report from Sports Business Journal’s Alex Silverman, the Ducks have notified Victory+ – who has…

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Jul 15 • 8:30 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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Google and Epic Abandon Settlement, Clearing the Way for Rival Android App Stores

Google and Epic Games this week withdrew their joint settlement agreement after it became clear the court was unlikely to allow it. With the settlement out, Google is bound by a permanent injunction issued in October 2024 requiring it to allow alternative app stores on Android devices. In a court filing [PDF], Google said that it plans to begin supporting alternative app stores on July 22. In a statement to The Verge, Google said it decided to withdraw the motion to avoid a prolonged legal fight.

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Jul 15 • 8:02 PM EDT • Technology • macrumors.com
Beck the Lead Author of Article Published in <em>Quaternary Science Reviews</em>

“Pleistocene record of a dynamic, fluctuating lacustrine margin from the Turkana Basin, Kenya,” co-authored by Associate Professor of Geosciences Catherine (Cat) Beck, appears in the October issue of Quaternary Science Reviews from Elsevier.

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Jul 15 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • hamilton.edu
ZeniMax Online Studios leadership to exit as part of Xbox cuts

There are major changes happening atop Maryland-based ZeniMax Online Studios, developer of the Elder Scrolls Online, Game File has learned. Joe Burba, a 14-year veteran of the studio who was appointed to run it last July, is departing, along with ESO executive producer Susan Kath, studio game director Rich Lambert and production director Ala Diaz. Their roles were listed among hundreds of others cut last week from the Maryland offices of ZeniMax, in a WARN letter sent to the state by ZeniMax and obtained today by Game File. Tonight, BUrbam Kath, Lambert and Diaz notified Zenimax Online Studios workers of plans to “transition” to a new leadership team consisting of promoted ZOS veterans. That transition will occur “over the next few months,” they told workers, according to a copy of the notice reviewed by Game File. “We will remain in place during the transition period to help ensure a smooth handoff.” Last week, Microsoft laid off of 1,600 workers across its vast gaming teams in locations around the U.S. and abroad. Just who has been impacted and how hard various studios have been hit has been emerging day by day. Game File reported last week that Microsoft/ZeniMax notified officials in Maryland that 379 gaming jobs were being cut across the state. They tallied cuts in two locations: one for ZeniMax Media Inc. (covering Elder Scrolls/Starfield/Fallout-maker Bethesda Game Studios and central Bethesda game publishing) and one for ZeniMax Online Studios (Elder Scrolls Online). More than 200 jobs were cut at the latter. Last week’s totals did not reveal job titles, nor did Microsoft announce any leadership changes in the ZeniMax group. That has now happened. Earlier today, Game File obtained from Maryland officials a breakdown of the 379 impacted roles, which, extraordinarily, included “studio head.” Microsoft later confirmed to Game File which studio head that referred to: ZeniMax Online Studios’. Microsoft has since has notified studio employees and internally announced new leadership. ZOS will now be run by Josh Henderson, previously head of business operations at the studio, and Nick Giacomini, who was promoted to game director for ESO last August. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Last week’s news of 200+ cuts at ZeniMax Online Studios generated public sympathy for those workers and questions about the long-term viability of the Elder Scrolls Online. ESO is a massively multiplayer online game that inherently persists on the strength of new content being developed for it. Earlier today, fans and workers in Maryland protested the cuts at the ZeniMax teams in a rally organized by the Communication Workers of America, the union that represents many of the impacted employees. Regarding concerns around the game, a community manager stated on Saturday: “The plan is still to deliver great content, and we will hopefully have an update soon.” In their note to the studio today, the outgoing leaders of ZeniMax Online Studios predicted “growth” for the game: We have tremendous confidence in Josh and Nick, the future of this studio, and the continued growth of ESO. With exciting experiences still ahead for our players as we wrap up work for Update 51 and beyond, we believe that your passion, creativity, and commitment to each other and the community will continue serving as the heartbeat of ESO. The list of jobs cut in the ZeniMax WARN notice in Maryland includes several very senior roles, including: Studio Head Studio Operations Director Studio Game Director Studio Audio Director Studio Art Manager Vice President and Controller VP, Global Sales & Business Development While some of those job descriptions match the exiting ZOS leadership team, Game File couldn’t verify if all were from that studio. The full list of cut roles shared by Maryland officials also covers workers at Bethesda Game Studios and its central publishing office. The following is an excerpt: The list of 379 eliminated ZeniMax jobs in Maryland also includes: four animators three bilingual CS (community service) leads for Chinese, Italian, and Japanese a creative director for the Elder Scrolls Online Player Life Cycle two food service workers seven producers more than 60 senior QA testers. and many others The WARN notice states that almost all of the 379 workers were notified of their layoff on July 6. In fine print, it states: “Approximately 9 employees were notified of the elimination of their position prior to July 6, 2026.” A 2021 mega-merger scaled back Microsoft announced in 2020 that it intended to buy ZeniMax and its network of game studios in 2020, and closed the $7.5 billion deal in March 2021. The purchase, which preceded Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, added several award-winning studios to Microsoft’s portfolio, including Bethesda (Elder Scrolls, Fallout), Arkane (Dishonored), and id Software (Doom). The studios’ output since then included a 2024 Game of the Year contented from MachineGames in the form of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle along with Starfield from Bethesda and the poorly-received Redfall from Arkane Austin. In recent years, a Microsoft repeatedly in cutback mode closed ZeniMax’s Tango Gameworks (which was reconstituted by Krafton) and closed Arkane Austin. The Xbox cuts last week have hit the ZeniMax group hard, with 158 jobs eliminated in Texas, many of them at id, and 379 from the ZeniMax teams in Maryland. Xbox also said last week that it would be entering a consultation process around Arkane Lyon, a process expected to end in a sale, shutdown or other form of divestment. The Lyon team has been working on a game tied to Marvel’s Blade vampire-hunting super-hero.

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Jul 15 • 7:42 PM EDT • Technology • gamefile.news
The ’Gay’ Attacks on Lindsey Graham Are All About Politics

Was Lindsey Graham gay? As the author of a book about the history of gay Washington, D.C., it’s a question I’ve been asked frequently for years, and even more so since his sudden death last weekend. The South Carolina Republican’s lifelong confirmed bachelorhood, vocal intonation, and Southern dandy demeanor (if not sartorial choices) prompted many to conclude that he was, as they say in that part of the country, “light in his loafers.” Graham’s repeated attestations to the contrary had zero effect on those invested in the narrative that he was. Only about the matter of J. Edgar Hoover’s rumored cross-dressing (for which there is much circumstantial but no direct evidence) am I questioned more. Whenever I’ve been asked to speculate upon Graham’s sexuality—and speculate was all that I or anyone else could do—I always answered the question honestly. While my personal sense is that Graham was probably gay, as a journalist and a historian I cannot rely on my intuition to make factual assertions. (Gaydar hasn’t yet been scientifically perfected.) Given the absence of any known female or male romantic interests, Graham may very well have been a heterosexual unlucky in love. He might also have been asexual. Barring the highly unlikely postmortem emergence of a personal diary or some other unassailable evidence attesting to Graham’s innermost yearnings, we will never know the answer. As is depressingly the case these days when a public figure dies, a chorus of voices reveled in Graham’s passing, many of them making light of his presumed homosexuality.

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Jul 15 • 7:30 PM EDT • Politics • thefp.com
Miguel Vargas is the Turnaround

Once the face of the South Side’s darkest days, he has become the symbol of its improbable revival

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Jul 15 • 6:44 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Lubbock woman’s custom shoe business now selling internationally

Natalie Buxkemper, owner of The Sewing Studio on the South Loop, started Patchwork Kicks about a year ago.

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Jul 15 • 5:32 PM EDT • Business • kcbd.com
Science Museum Oklahoma hosts adults-only SMO21+ rodeo night in Oklahoma City

Science Museum Oklahoma invites adults 21+ to smo21+ rodeo night with western-themed science activities and cocktails in Oklahoma City.

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Jul 15 • 5:21 PM EDT • Science • journalrecord.com
The States Try to Topple WarnerMount…Thus Begins the Local Antitrust Era

(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Well, it looks like it’s time for another strategy column. Can I finally avoid writing about M&A? No, it seems I cannot. Admittedly, I’m a week early with this column, since I usually put it out every other week. But this news couldn’t wait. This will make three “Most Important Stories” in a row with a merger or acquisition as its centerpiece. First, Roku-Fox (an acquisition), then Comcast-NBCUniversal (a divestment!), and now the State AGs and the WGA’s lawsuits against Paramount’s pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery (antitrust). M&A is usually the “most important” topic any given week, simply because a giant company merging or breaking up (or preventing those outcomes) can have the biggest impact on the streaming board. If you think about these companies as players in a game, changing the number of players is one of the biggest changes you can make. I shouldn’t really complain, either, since this lawsuit is very good news for customers and suppliers (econ speak for talent, workers and indie studios in Hollywood). So let me answer some questions about this potential trial, along with (shudder) making some heavily caveated predictions. I’ll also look at whether Hollywood must consolidate, whether or not the states can win, trouble at X-Box, Netflix’s YouTube binge, and more. Plus, I have five images that visualize this merger and the harm, including three brand new data looks you’ve never seen before. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Can The States and the WGA Stop Hollywood’s Consolidation (Crisis)? If every other newsletter and news outlet is writing about the same story, I try to avoid writing about it as well, but I can’t ignore a story this consequential. The story of the last year was the fate of Warner Bros. Discovery, and this development potentially extends that saga into 2027. As I tried to figure out my angle, I realized, like my last column, I’m again faced with a series of questions. These questions, though, are much more forward-looking. Will the states win? Will the WGA win? If so, what happens to Warner Bros. Discovery? Either way, will this chill the market for future mergers? So you know what that means: predictions. About the future, no less, the hardest thing to predict.1 Just remember: nothing here comes with a guarantee. And the more confident someone is in their predictions, the less you should trust them. This situation is incredibly fluid, nuanced, uncertain and tenuous. So let’s try to explain what may happen. Question: Why File this Lawsuit? I’ll admit, a few months back, I was fairly pessimistic about the fate of this lawsuit. Rumors had started bubbling up that the state Attorneys General (in particular California) wanted to settle with either some minor divestments (usually CNN) or behavioral remedies. And that tracked for me: the states usually settle lawsuits, like the recent John Deere right-to-repair suit. Yet, they plan to fight this. (As they did the LiveNation-Ticketmaster monopolization trial and the Nexstar-Tegna merger.) Honestly, that also makes a ton of sense. Frankly, this move is just good politics for these State AGs. Most are still running for higher and higher office in blue states—some folks have emphasized that only Democratic AGs joined this suit, but given the Ellison/Trump ties, and fears of retribution, that tracks—and a high profile case like this will help them move up the electoral ladder, especially since Paramount and its leadership (the Ellisons, father and heir) have sided with the other side of the political aisle. That makes them unsympathetic to Democratic voters and Hollywood workers in particular. Why did this lawsuit happen? In addition to the very real concerns about industry consolidation, this is why. That said, I don’t think we would have seen this lawsuit for Netflix and Warner Bros., simply because they’re more sympathetic and aligned with Democrats. But those consolidation concerns are real. The “town”—meaning Hollywood and such—really is seeing the damage of mergers on this industry. That’s why the WGA also filed its own lawsuit in defense of workers as well. (Wildcard: What about Europe? Will they try to stop the deal, too? There have been some rumors out of the UK they may try to fight the deal, and UK enforcers just stopped a Getty Images-Shutterstock tie up, so there is precedence. This argument could go either way, though. On one hand, the EU doesn’t need to step in, cause they states are handling it. On the other hand, this could make the EU’s case easier. Just imagine if both sides coordinated. I’ll simply say, “We’ll see!”) Question: Will The State AGs or the WGA Win? Can the state AGs play David to Paramount-Skydance’s Goliath here? That’s really the whole thing, isn’t it? If you know this result, you could make a lot of money. When things are uncertain, it’s tempting to shrug and say, “Eh” meaning it’s a 50/50 proposition. I wouldn’t, though. When in doubt, you should expect that the merging parties succeed. AT&T did successfully buy Warner Bros., after all, and Disney bought Fox without any challenges. Many judges are extremely sympathetic to mergers, and I’d bet the state AGs get a judge who will allow the merger. (Even Obama-appointed judges often allow mergers.) As I understand it, we’ll see two main attacks. First, theatrical films. The AGs are arguing that, when it comes to share of box office and the number of both “wide releases” and blockbuster (or “tentpole”) films, the merging parties will have over 27% market share. Now, the Supreme Court once ruled from on high that any merger that exceeds 30% is presumptively illegal, but that’s guidance, not an ironclad bar. Still, the states will have to argue that this is close to having too much power, and with that power, this will likely further worsen the theater/studio splits in particular. Indeed, as Matthew Stoller pointed out, “just five studios are responsible for 95% of all blockbusters; if this merger goes through, then Paramount and Disney will control 60% of that.” So yes, movie studios will be very concentrated after this merger. Want me to visualize some of that? Well, here’s the share of films that grossed over $200 million at the domestic box office since 2022. (Note: this isn’t all films released in over 3,000 screens, but it is a good look at market power.) First, here are the 43 films by studio: Notice all the blue (Disney), orange (Universal), and purple (Warner Bros)? Yeah, those studios are powerful, and this combines Paramount with one of them. Here’s the look by studio and share of the films that grossed over $200 million: Now, if you look at that and also think, “Huh, should we break up Disney?” I’m with you. I’ve seen some folks poo-poo this idea that this is a real category, but it is! For an upcoming article, I’ve been pulling data on the share of top 100 films at the box office as a share of total box office, and it’s massive. Here’s the chart: (This analysis looks at The-Number’s top 100 films and total domestic box office each year.) To be clear, tentpoles make up 80.7% of the box office each year, so I do think it’s a genuine market. (To be clear, films grossing over $50 million make up 80% of the domestic box office, and films grossing over $100 million make up 64.1%.) I mean, the top 100 films at the box office make up 95% of each year’s grosses. Worse, the combined studios will likely cut output to flex that market power. Everyone can just look at what happened to Disney and Fox to see the precedent. (With fewer films, the remaining theaters have to give more for those few films that remain.) Here’s an image I’ve used a lot, the share of wide-release films from Disney and Fox over time: The AGs will also argue that this consolidation will also impact the cable industry. In this case, the consolidation is actually worse, but that environment is…complicated. Paramount will argue that the cable industry is shrinking. That said, predictions that cable will “go to zero” also don’t look very well supported by the data, as the declines are shrinking, meaning “cable” or “vMVPDs” will likely stabilize at some point. Can the state Attorneys General win on those two main arguments? I honestly don’t know. Again, I’d bet no, since history in general supports that, but it depends on the judge/jury and how they interpret the arguments. Notably, Paramount won’t face accusations about monopoly power in other areas, like streaming, news, sports rights, or vertical integration. I tend to disagree with leaving out sports rights, but I also see the appeal for a simpler case. The states also aren’t really pushing novel theories about labor harm either, which should help. (By the way, Sean McNulty at The Ankler wrote a great run through of potential options, and Capitol Forum also wrote a great paper on theatrical consolidation. Both these pieces predated the lawsuit. Matthew Stoller is also out with his analysis of the pros and cons of the case too.) In some ways, the WGA’s case is even stronger. Quoting Sean McNulty’s summary: “The WGA is citing WARNAMOUNT as crossing a 30% market share in multiple sectors, a number that the Supreme Court has precedent for deeming “presumptively anticompetitive” in a market. According to the WGA numbers, WARNAMOUNT would have represented: - 35% of film writing jobs between 2021 and 2024 - 36% of TV writing projects between 2022 and 2025 - 38% of overall deals between 2021 and 2024” Notably, antitrust enforcers did win recently in the Penguin-Simon & Schuster merger by focusing on labor impact, so don’t count this thinking out. (Wildcard: Will the states try to get a jury trial? Most likely no, they’ll let a judge handle it. If I’m them, though, I’d try to put this in front of a jury. Juries tend to understand monopoly power in a more realistic way than judges faced with legions of economists.) Question: What if They Win? What if They Lose?

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Jul 15 • 4:48 PM EDT • Entertainment • entertainment.substack.com
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Airlines, health experts warn against permanent daylight saving time

Airlines for America warns that permanent daylight saving time could significantly disrupt aviation, affecting passenger travel and international connectivity on ‘America Reports.’

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Jul 15 • 4:41 PM EDT • Health • foxnews.com
Over $63 million is on its way to overcharged NV Energy customers

NV Energy has started issuing refunds to customers who were overcharged.

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Jul 15 • 4:03 PM EDT • Business • reviewjournal.com
C. Congoensis

A photograph of Colobus congoensis, whose common name is the local vernacular name, “likweli.”

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Jul 15 • 3:49 PM EDT • Science • eurekalert.org