SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " fran " 4,338 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Recap: Saints play Steelers in inaugural Paris matchup
Catch up on all the action from France.
Walter Koenig, Chekov of ‘Star Trek’ fame, dies at 90
(CNN) — Walter Koenig, who played exuberant Russian navigator Pavel Chekov on the original “Star Trek” series and many of the franchise’s ensuing films, has died at the age of
Walter Koenig, ‘Star Trek’ franchise's original Chekov, dies at 90
Walter Koenig, the 'Star Trek' franchise's original Chekov, has died at 90. The Manhattan native was the son of Lithuanian immigrants.
UC Berkeley scientists eye life abroad as Trump administration politicizes research
Some are considering programs run by France, Canada and other countries that aim to recruit weary U.S. researchers.
Hear About Assassin's Creed's Future This Week in Franchise Update
BF Resynced's New Game Plus update out tomorrow
We Built Trump’s Perfect Man Based Off His Own Description
Our spooky October “surprise” is a Franken-hunk built out of the men the president has gushed over.
‘Star Trek’ actor Walter Koenig dies: Reports
Walter Koenig, well-known for his role as Chekov throughout the “Star Trek” franchise, has died, according to reports. He was 90.
Leverkusen's Winning Streak Ends In Hoffenheim Nightmare
A late-game collapse and Andrej Kramarić’s historic penalty snapped Carles Martínez’s record-breaking scoring run, leaving the toothless Werkself stunned by three goals in a frantic final ten minutes.
‘Keep In-House Business In-House,’ ‘Don’t Put A Target On My Boy’ — Super Bowl Champ Irritated By Jonathan Taylor’s Wife’s Take on Trade Rumors
Things are getting messier by the day for the Indianapolis Colts. Sitting at 2-5 after arguably their worst three-game stretch of the season, the franchise has already parted ways with general manager Chris Ballard.
Dan Rather, Wavelength, Original Productions and Anchor Entertainment Partner to Make RATHER Documentary Free to Stream on YouTube Beginning Monday, October 26, in Support of Independent Journalism and Free Speech
Directed by Frank Marshall, RATHER explores the evolution of American journalism through the life and career of Dan Rather.
Kurt Warner apologizes for mixing up Jaylen and Tyler Warren
The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints met on Sunday in the NFL’s first ever game in France. NFL Network was on the call, with Dave Pasch on play-by-play and Jason Kelce and Kurt Warner both providing analysis. But throughout the broadcast, Warner suffered a painful mixup on several occasions, going out of his way…
Francisco Lindor named 2026 Roberto Clemente Award recipient
Congratulations to Mr. Smile!
Purdue and Accenture: A model for applied partnership
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping every industry. Find out how Purdue and Accenture are working together to prepare Indiana’s workforce and students in Purdue’s Mitch Daniels School of Business for an AI-powered future.
Worrisome chemical found in Bay Area, Santa Cruz creeks
A toxic compound has been found at worrisome levels in some watersheds in California.
NFL Week Seven: 2 Underrated Takeaways
NFL Week Seven’s Sunday slate has concluded, and there is plenty to speak of. The week featured a couple of firsts. The Miami Dolphins got their first win of the season, while the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs suffered their first losses. Those are the major stories. I’m going to focus on some […] The post NFL Week Seven: 2 Underrated Takeaways appeared first on Stadium Rant.
Free Agent Relievers the Cardinals Could Sign This Offseason
With a lockout looming, an offseason freeze between players and teams makes it even harder to predict the St. Louis Cardinals’ next moves. The franchise is seemingly continuing to slow-play its rebuild, with President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom not committing to any eye-popping moves after the club finished 76-83 in 2026. But even if …
‘Been a Problem for a Very, Very Long Time’ — Revisiting the Time Fox’s Pam Oliver Revealed the Health Battle That Impacts Her Sideline Reporting
NFL sideline reporter Pam Oliver has been a fixture in the business for more than 30 years, covering the league for Fox. At 65, she’s also one of the most experienced voices on the sidelines, most recently covering the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
NFL: Minnesota Vikings are last unbeaten team after Kansas City Chiefs lose
The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers lost in week seven of the NFL, leaving the Minnesota Vikings as this season's last unbeaten team.
Franciscan Health receives stuffed animals for pediatric patients across Northwest Indiana
NORTHWEST INDIANA — Pediatric patients in Franciscan Health emergency rooms, pediatric inpatient units and outpatient surgery centers in Michigan City, Chesterton, LaPorte, Dyer and Munster will now have stuffed animals to help make their hospital experience a little more comfortable, thanks to a donation by The Eva Martin Project. Representatives from The Eva Martin Project recently donated more than 1,400 new stuffed animals to the nonprofit Catholic healthcare system during a drop-off at Franciscan Health Michigan City. Each item has a tag with the organization’s logo and a QR code with a personal message on the back. The nonprofit organization
‘Resident Evil’ film resurrects horror game franchise
The first “Resident Evil” game came out in 1996, and since then, the franchise has been working to bring zombies, creatures and deadly outbreaks to life. For the newest piece,
‘Plans to die in office': Bay Area congressman's ex-aides protest challenger's ads
Seven former staffers of Rep. Mike Thompson demand that challenger Eric Jones' campaign remove a commercial targeting the North Bay legislator.
Matthew Stafford breaks Rams franchise record for touchdown passes
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Matthew Stafford added another milestone to his NFL career on Sunday, throwing his 155th touchdown pass for the Los Angeles Rams to break the franchise record.Stafford surpassed Roman Gabriel, who threw 154 TD passes for the Rams from 1962-72.
The Next FRIDAY THE 13TH Movie Can Finally Fix An Infamous Mistake
We don’t know precisely when, but a new Friday the 13th movie is coming. After a 17-year drought, the franchise has come back to life, most recently with the release of Crystal Lake on Peacock, a show...
Bethenny Frankel reacts to Bravo ‘b----‘ Andy Cohen’s shady comments about her TikTok
Bethenny Frankel didn’t hesitate to clap back at ‘bitter’ Bravo boss Andy Cohen for his shady comment about her TikTok page.
Cleveland Browns rookie WR hits historic mark against Titans
KC Concepcion’s 129 receiving yards places him in the Top 10 for a single game by a rookie in franchise history.
Liverpool working towards deal for star; could reach €90m
Liverpool are reportedly in the mix for a very in-demand France star. They’re working towards a deal and it’s one that could cost €90m.Liverpool are weighing up their transfer targets for the up...
French and Italian Retailers Tally Losses Ahead of Holiday Season
Retailers in France and Italy face financial losses and security concerns as protests disrupt business ahead of the holiday shopping season.
The Politics of Heaven ~ The Imaginative Conservative
The key to understanding Thomas More’s generous dedication to the real but limited good he could do on earth is, as Frank Mitjans makes clear, that More’s constant contemplation of God was the source of his boundless care for the souls surrounding him. Thomas More’s Vocation, by Frank Mitjans
Halloween evolved as a Frankenstein of cultural celebrations
The holiday has origins in Celtic, Roman and Catholic festivals and feasts, and mixed with other traditions as it spread.
After arts festival, San Francisco's Mid-Market businesses look for signs of a turnaround
Kings' Veterans Praise Rookie Acuff After 33-Point Showing
The Sacramento Kings are yet to get a win, but Darius Acuff Jr. looks like the high-octane guard that the franchise so desperately needs. Coming off a 33-point outburst, how will Acuff play against the Memphis Grizzlies?
Packers Lose Defensive Captain Just Before Massive Showdown With Lions
Green Bay Packers defensive captain Zaire Franklin has been ruled out against the Detroit Lions, leaving Green Bay without both starting linebackers.
ESMO: Roche touts ‘convincing’ phase 3 KRAS data after win over rivals
Roche has shed more light on its investigational KRAS G12C inhibitor's phase 3 victory over Amgen’s Lumakras and Bristol Myers Squibb’s Krazati. The open-label Krascendo 1 trial enrolled 338 people with previously treated KRAS G12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients who had already received a KRAS G12C inhibitor or pan-KRAS/RAS inhibitor were excluded from the trial. Participants received either divarasib once daily, Lumakras once daily or Krazati twice daily. Roche announced back in July that divarasib had demonstrated statistically significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), meeting the trial’s primary and key secondary endpoints. But the Swiss pharma had been holding back the detailed data until now. At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Madrid, Roche revealed that median OS for the 167 patients who received divarasib was 17.7 months, compared to 12 months for the 171 patients who received Lumakras or Krazati. The benefit was similarly clear when it came to median PFS, which stood at 9.8 months versus 5.7 months, respectively. A total of 44% of patients receiving divarasib were alive without disease progression at one year, compared to 24% of the control group, according to Roche’s presentation. It was a similar story for the objective response rate, which came in at 58% for divarasib versus 32% for the control group, while median duration of response was 11.9 months versus 6.9 months. Stefan Frings, M.D., Ph.D., deputy chief medical officer at Roche Pharma, told Fierce that the data made for a “very comprehensive, strong package, which should be convincing to health authorities.” “It’s an important advance for patients with lung cancer,” Frings said in an interview at a Madrid hotel during the conference. “It's a second-line setting, and patients who receive divarasib benefit compared to the current first-generation KRAS G12C inhibitors by having far longer overall survival,” he continued. “They live longer. They have better progression-free survival, better response rates, and with a safety profile which is—if [anything]—even better,” he said. According to Roche, 4.8% of patients receiving divarasib discontinued treatment due to treatment-related adverse events, compared to 11.7% in the control group. Serious treatment-related adverse events were also less common with divarasib, at 7.8% versus 15.2%. Roche’s confidence in divarasib had been building even before this phase 3 success. The candidate had already shown better potency and selectivity than the incumbent KRAS G12C inhibitors Krazati and Lumakras in preclinical tests. After cross-trial comparisons suggested that the edge translated into better clinical outcomes, Roche axed a study comparing divarasib to the chemotherapy docetaxel and went toe-to-toe with Lumakras and Krazati. “We designed the drug on purpose with higher potency and better selectivity,” Frings explained. “So, based on preclinical models, we clearly knew it would be superior to the first generation.” “It’s honestly not so frequent that pharma companies go head-to-head,” he added. “But if you want to make a point, if you want to convince payers, prescribers and patients … then a head-to-head win is rather rewarding.” While Amgen and BMS reached the regulatory finish line first for KRAS G12C-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC in 2021 and 2022, respectively, they have struggled to capitalize on their head start. Krazati brought in $55 million for BMS in the second quarter, while Lumakras delivered $111 million to Amgen. For its part, Roche is aiming for peak divarasib sales of 1 billion to 2 billion Swiss francs ($1.2 billion to $2.5 billion), according to Frings. The Big Pharma is currently recruiting patients into a phase 3 trial comparing divarasib plus Keytruda against Keytruda plus chemotherapy in previously untreated advanced or metastatic nonsquamous KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC. Roche has previously suggested that sales in metastatic disease would account for most of the forecast. Frings was tight-lipped on the exact timeline for a regulatory filing but said the Swiss pharma is “certainly keen to get this to as many patients as possible around the world.” Roche has more RAS drugs coming up behind divarasib. The pharma has already launched phase 1 trials of a pan-RAS inhibitor called RG6505 and a KRAS G12D inhibitor dubbed RG6620 in solid tumors. Roche’s partner Chugai Pharmaceutical is also testing a pan-KRAS inhibitor called AUBE00. Roche has made a “deliberate effort” to test a range of RAS drugs, Frings said. “If you have many rare mutations and you are scrambling to find sufficient patients, a pan-RAS inhibitor makes a lot of sense,” he explained.
Photos: Entertainment | Saints vs. Steelers
Check out the entertainment photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Pittsburgh Steelers for Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season on Oct. 25, 2026 at the Stade de France featuring Burna Boy.
Sarkozy's son warns violent protests in France could worsen amid political unrest
Louis Sarkozy, son of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, discusses violent unrest in France, the influence of far-left groups and the country’s immigration and economic challenges.
Franciscan Health, Tonn and Blank Plan Michigan City Medical Office Building at Former Marquette Mall
Franciscan Health, in partnership with Tonn and Blank Construction, is planning a medical office building on a portion of the former Marquette Mall property. Franciscan Health plans to operate a …
😂 Mystery note? BVB match-winner explains bizarre moment
Did you catch the curious scene after the final whistle in the big clash between Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt? Match-winner Maxi Beier suddenly found himself holding a piece of paper shor...
2022 Top 10 NBA Draft Pick Finds New Landing Spot While Thunder Open Two-Way By Waiving 2nd-Round Pick
Jeremy Sochan has found a new home. Sochan was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 G-League Draft by the Texas Legends earlier today. The Legends, the G-League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks, are the 2022 Top 10 draft pick's fourth franchise over the last year. Jeremy Sochan will be the No. 1 …
Science Hill lost in the TSSAA state volleyball finals on Friday
Franklin's win capped a banner day for Nashville-area Division I programs as they teams swept the Class A (Eagleville), AA (Valor Prep) and AAA championships.
Bruins vs. Sharks Takeaways: Boston Rallies for 6-4 Win
Boston erupted for four goals in the third period to secure a comeback win over San Jose. David Pastrnak reached a major franchise milestone as the Bruins extended their point streak to eight games.
🥈 Bullet header places Antoine Griezmann in MLS goalscoring pantheon
Antoine Griezmann's arrival in MLS has come up with the goods in expected fashion across much of the 2026 season, with the World Cup winner and France icon becoming one of the faces of the league and ...
Steelers Add New Uniform Combination for Paris Game
Pittsburgh is switching up its usual road look for Sunday's matchup against the Saints in France. Here's how the new combination compares with the Steelers' other uniform looks.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Length Around 14-16 Hours; Devs Said They’ve “Intentionally” Built a World That’ll Make Players “Curious to Explore”
The Tomb Raider franchise is set to return in a big way starting next year with the release of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a reimagining of the original Tomb…
Addressing mental health and loneliness through art: LaunchSpace's SocialRx program gets United Way funding support
LaunchSpace's SocialRx program received a $75,000 grant from the United Way of Franklin & Hampshire Region to boost regional wellness.
How to watch every ‘Rambo’ movie in order, from ‘First Blood’ to ‘Last Blood’
The ‘Rambo’ franchise spans five movies and more than 40 years, with a prequel on the way in 2027. Revisit Sylvester Stallone’s action-packed saga, from ‘First Blood’ to ‘Last Blood.’
Teaching science through storytelling with local author Jennifer Swanson
Children's author and Naval Academy graduate Jennifer Swanson joins Jen Franciotti to discuss how her passion for the sciences led her to writing her new book, "The Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide to Inventing the World"
France’s latest debt warning describes a country where governance is breaking down — and even doing too little, too late is barely possible
"The negative outlook reflects the increased risk that the fragmentation of France's political landscape will continue to impair the functioning of the country's legislative institutions."
Q+A: How this private equity group raised $1.3 billion investing in fr
Doug Kennealey, co-founder of Princeton Equity Group, said franchises are "phenomenal" and "cash-rich" business models. The firm secured $1.3 billion in two months for its most recent fund.
The Largest Planetariums In The United States
The Largest Planetariums In The United States ranked by dome size, led by Jersey City, with St. Louis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago close behind.
Timberwolves proves size isn’t everything with historic rebounding surge
The Minnesota Timberwolves may have sacrificed size this offseason, but their first two games suggest they gained something even more valuable: relentless physicality. After reshaping their roster around speed and defensive versatility . Minnesota has opened the season with a franchise-record rebounding margin. The Timberwolves dominated the […] The post Timberwolves proves size isn’t everything with historic rebounding surge appeared first on ClutchPoints.
NFL Week 7 picks: Experts overwhelmingly favor 49ers over Falcons
The 49ers look to keep their undefeated season alive in Week 7.
Blazers' Portland Future Gets Messy as Arena Deadline Closes In
A billion-dollar maintenance dispute and conflicting lease demands jeopardize a massive Moda Center renovation, leaving the franchise’s long-term stability in doubt as a critical state funding deadline looms.
Billionaires pour millions into San Francisco politics and elections
Millions of dollars have poured into San Francisco elections this campaign season, funding a torrent of postcards, pamphlets and video ads inundating voters’ mailboxes and screens.
Boarded-up windows, museums closed to visitors: How businesses in Paris are preparing for another day of protests
As France prepares for another weekend of protests, some of its most famous streets and landmarks are bracing and boarding up.
🎥 Ballon d'Or contenders: Kylian Mbappé's powers
Kylian Mbappé is among the favorites to win the next Ballon d'Or, and here's why.Mbappé has scored 58 goals in 60 matches for Real Madrid and France.He has also contributed 16 assists3He has been th...
France Politics
France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, right, and France's Urbanity and Decentralisation Minister Francoise Gatel attend a visit at a police station in the context of security and reconstruction efforts after
France Politics
France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, right, France's Decentralisation Minister Francoise Gatel, left, France's Culture Minister Catherine Pegard, second left and the Mayor of Limoges Guillaume Guerin, center, listen to explanations
France Politics
France's Culture Minister Catherine Pegard, France's Trade Minister Serge Papin, France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, Mayor of Limoges Guillaume Guerin and France's Decentralisation Minister Francoise Gatel walk during a visit
France Politics
France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, center, arrives at a police station during a visit to Limoges in the context of security and reconstruction efforts after a group of individuals forced
France Politics
France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, center, shakes hands with a police officer as he arrives at a police station during a visit to Limoges in the context of security and
France’s Avoids a Debt Downgrade From Moody’s, but Is Given a Warning
Moody’s held the country’s credit rating steady amid political uncertainty and a rise in borrowing costs that have worsened France’s debt situation.
Championship Volleyball Photo Gallery – Franklin vs. Science Hill, Class AAA
The Franklin High School volleyball team captured its first state championship with a 25-19, 25-18, 25-23 win over Science Hill in the TSSAA Class AAA final at The Murphy Center
Indie Game Dev Takes Down Vibe-Coded Zombie Shooter After San Francisco Officials Condemn 'Dehumanizing' Game
The developer of a zombie game set in San Francisco has removed the game from online marketplaces and issued a public apology after city officials condemned the title for depicting its homeless people as ‘zombies.’
Knicks’ fatal flaw that will doom 2027 NBA championship chances
Winning back-to-back titles is one of the hardest things to do in any sport, and the New York Knicks face an intense challenge as they look to repeat. It has been almost a decade since the last time an NBA franchise won two championships in a row. While New York’s 106-100 opening night loss to the Philadelphia 76ers featured some moments that […] The post Knicks’ fatal flaw that will doom 2027 NBA championship chances appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Terre Haute Children’s Museum hosts Frankenstein Science event
The Terre Haute Children’s Museum is inviting families to bring science to life with a Halloween-themed event this weekend.
Saint Francis, SEMO Establish Pinnacle Corporate Partnership
Southeast Missouri State University and Saint Francis are expanding their longstanding relationship with a new Pinnacle Corporate Partnership.
Giants Draft Pick Makes Immediate Impact in Pro Debut
San Francisco Giants 17th-round pick Tanner Mally carried his elite college hitting into professional baseball.
Why are tech entrepreneurs leaving California for Las Vegas?
Historically, about a third of people moving to Nevada from other states have come from California, primarily Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose.
NFL rescinds Buffalo Bills defender's one-game spitting suspension
Buffalo Bills defensive back Sam Franklin was suspended for spitting during a Week 6 game. A hearing officer overturned it, opting for a fine instead.
Packers' Zaire Franklin Ruled Out vs. Lions
A rare injury blow sidelines the Packers’ defensive workhorse for Sunday’s divisional clash.
Businesses board up ahead of next wave of France protests
CEO of Argil AI Brivael Le Pogam discusses the widespread unrest, business damages and arrests ahead of upcoming demonstrations in Paris.
Ellen Burstyn slams “Exorcist” franchise continuing: ‘It’s enough already’
“Isn’t there enough already of the ‘Exorcist’ thing?”
Business owner arrested in connection with illegal gambling and drug case
An owner of several businesses is facing charges in connection with illegal gambling and drug trafficking, according to the Frankfort Police Department.
Giants Must Attempt to Sign Morejón
Adrian Morejón’s dominant track record at Oracle Park makes him the ideal solution for the San Francisco Giants' crumbling bullpen.
Pope hope, that’s entertainment, and getting ahead in the CIA
Happy Friday friends, I want to start by just breathing for all of us a big long collective sigh of relief at the news this week that the pope’s doctors have basically blown the all clear for Leo’s health. Going from knowing nothing to him declaring to the world he needed surgery, to a cancer diagnosis, to bouncing out of the hospital in barely even days, to ringing the bell in less than two weeks is whiplash inducing. But in the best possible way. We are living in a world in which the Roman pontiff, by dint of history, biography and circumstance, is once more at the epicenter of global affairs. Not just conversations about religion, or Christian and post-Christian values, but the bleeding edge of the most pressing issues of human affairs. Think I am exaggerating a touch? Consider the images of the crowds who greeted Leo in Paris just weeks ago, and juxtapose them with the absolute photo negative scenes unfolding there recently. Ask yourself how many world leaders are talking about AI right now and directly citing the pope as they do so. Try to name a country who has had as many top-ranked diplomats in and out of both Russia and Ukraine in the last three years as the Vatican has in the last three months. It has been fascinating to watch Leo XIV emerge as not just a kind of pop culture reference point or totem to be cited (Francis was often name-checked this way) but as a kinetic force in global conversation. Given the state of things, we need global figures of gravitas and values, even better if they have real wisdom behind what they are saying. So news of Leo’s illness was, it seemed to me, a tremor with potentially Richter Scale implications. That not only has the worst not come to pass but instead we’ve had the best of outcomes announced is something to really be grateful for. Humanity, it seems to me, is entering one of its irregular but cyclical phases where the pace of change — technological, social, and geopolitical — outstrips the ability of previously settled norms and received wisdom to cope. Such periods – and I think the first decades of the last century were a similar such time – throw into question the viability of all kinds of institutions. And many of ours have been straining to breaking point for a few years now. The papacy has the power and the potential to be a steadying pole in all of this. That’s my hope, anyway. It’s a lot to freight the office with, though it is arguably its ultimate purpose from its founding, to be a steadying rock on which all that matters can be anchored. It’s also, of course, an intolerable weight of responsibility to place on a single man. But I am encouraged to have hope in – and for – Leo. The apostle whom he succeeds, after all, was famously unequal to some moments, failed some tests of faith, and resiled from taking the road which led ultimately to the circus on Vatican hill. Human frailty and limitations, of health, of character, of temper, can open us to Christ, whose strength is greatest in our weakness, so St. Paul learned. That gives me hope, and I am sure it consoles Leo, too. And so I will continue to pray for him. Because we need apostles of rock right now. Here’s the news. Subscribe The News The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued yesterday a new document “Venite ad me: Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change.” It’s not a short document, and it is at pains to stress this isn’t a doctrinal note from the dicastery, either. Rather, it brings together reflections on an important issue from the Church around the world. Some of it I actually found really rather powerful. It is, however, 25,000, which is a lot for a busy reader to get through on a weekday. So, you can read our busy reader’s summary right here. — News broke yesterday of an Oct. 22 meeting of U.S. bishops with President Donald Trump. The meeting was organized by an official at the Heritage Foundation, according to several sources close to the meeting. Video of several U.S. bishops praying in the Oval Office over President Trump was posted on social media Thursday afternoon, first by White House Communications Advisor Margo Martin, and then by the official twitter.com account of the Archdiocese of Denver. The meeting has drawn sharp criticism because of its proximity to the upcoming midterm Congressional elections, in which Democrats are widely expected to win control of the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate remains closely contested. Sources close to the bishops’ conference told The Pillar that some USCCB senior officials were surprised by the existence of the meeting when video of it first emerged online. And a source close to conference president Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City told The Pillar that the archbishop was “deeply frustrated” by the occasion of the meeting. An official conference spokesperson told The Pillar that the meeting was “not organized with or by the USCCB” and was “not affiliated with the conference.” You can read the whole story here. — The next National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis in 2029, a return to the city that hosted the last gathering in 2024. You read it here first. By here, I don’t mean this newsletter, I mean at The Pillar. We broke the story this week. It’s a big deal, in as much as the last congress was a roaring success and the next installment has the potential to be a real focal point for evangelizing efforts in the coming years. Read all about it here. — As Pope Leo prepares for the longest trip of his pontificate, Church leaders in Uruguay say the pontiff will encounter a highly secularized culture, in a country with a very different Catholic history than many of its South American neighbors. The nation has not had a papal visit since 1988, and leaders who spoke with The Pillar say it has a dire need for evangelization, even amid the prospect of a small revival in faith. This is real reporting on the Church in the country, and frankly a story you simply are not going to be able to read anywhere else. Read the whole thing. — The Archdiocese of Detroit announced this week a plan that would see the vast majority of its parish priests reassigned next summer, amid a restructuring process expected to dramatically shrink the number of parishes in the archdiocese. Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said this week that the plan “asks much of our priests,” but is a “sacrifice they are making as brothers of one, unified presbyterate.” The thing is, as JD pointed out in an analysis yesterday, pastors of parishes have a legal right to stability in office, so the only way this kind of wholesale reassignment goes ahead is if all of the archdiocesan clergy agree to resign. That creates its own kind of legal issues, though, and re-raises longstanding questions about the effectiveness of canonical due process protections for priests when dealing with coercive exercises in authority. Read the whole thing here. — More than three months after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its decree declaring the excommunication of the leadership of the Society of St. Pius X, questions remain about the full effects of the society’s schism. Specifically, the DDF’s July claim that marriages witnessed and confessions heard by SSPX priests are now invalid remains contested — and it emerged this week it appears that the Vatican’s own legal experts don’t agree. You can read my whole analysis of the situation and what it means here. All I would add is that the DDF’s undeveloped, some would say unsubstantiated, claim about the invalidity of some SSPX sacraments came in their July Explanatory Note on the schismatic consecrations by the society that month. It touches directly on both papal acts of governance — indeed it purports to nullify them — and the most intimate pastoral encounters possible in a parish setting. If there is one aspect of the Francis-era style of governance I would like the curia to finally cut out, root and branch, it would be these attempts to try to effect extraordinarily sensitive legislative acts via a note. — At least a dozen French bishops have spoken out following an eruption of violence on the country’s streets Oct. 17. Not surprisingly, they unanimously condemned the violence, but the length and content of their interventions varied significantly. Several sought to distinguish between the actions of rioters and what they suggested were the legitimate concerns of peaceful young protesters. Many also evoked Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France, suggesting it offered a powerful counter-image to the scenes of looting and destruction. A number of bishops also stressed their solidarity with law enforcement officials who struggled to contain the disorder, as well as the owners of the roughly 3,000 damaged or looted businesses. What’s the background to the nationwide unrest that the French media calls “les violences du 17 octobre”? And what exactly are the bishops saying? Read all about it here. — A Polish bishop called for the firm defense of unborn children as well as compassion for their mothers this week, as the lower house of Poland’s parliament passed two bills seeking to liberalize the country’s abortion laws. The bill on decriminalizing assistance in an abortion passed by 217 votes to 213, while the abortion in cases of fetal abnormality bill passed by 233 to 203, thanks to the government’s majority in the lower house. Both bills will now move to the Polish Senate, the upper house of parliament, where the ruling coalition has a larger majority. The fetal abnormality bill is symbolically significant because if it became law, it would effectively overturn a 2020 ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal that a 1993 law permitting abortion for a severe and irreversible disability or a life-threatening incurable disease was unconstitutional. Read the whole story here. Subscribe **[The St. Paul Center App | Bible Study On-The-Go Read and understand the Bible with St. Paul Center’s new app! With today’s leading Catholic Scripture scholars as your guides, the St. Paul Center app empowers you to read the Bible](https://stpaulcenter.com/app?utm_source=pillar&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=applaunch)** from the heart of the Church. Download the app for free at either the Apple or the Google app stores. https://stpaulcenter.com/app That’s entertainment I have written before about my deep and sincere reservations about the celebrity exorcist subculture which has taken root in American Catholicism. And, because I am very ill at ease with the entire thing, I try to keep a weather eye on the phenomenon without being drawn into the kind of online back-and-forth which these figures sometimes generate. Earlier this week, JD noted that one such celebrity exorcist type, Fr. Chad Ripperger, has undertaken, on the request of his bishop, a year’s fast from interviews and public speaking. I’m sure that will be salutary for him, if for no other reason than that receiving with docility requests from one’s rightful ecclesiastical superiors always comes with graces. Then a second thing happened this week which caught my eye. Apparently, another fixture in the celebrity exorcist world, Fr. Carlos Martins, has initiated a lawsuit against two lay men — apparently associates of Rippenger, though I am unclear in what way, exactly — for allegedly defaming him and his ministry on a podcast. It seems the suit was initiated nearly a year ago and is now pending. At issue, I read, is that the two men described Martins on a podcast as “not who he says he is” with regard to his exorcism ministry and that he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” These statements Martins considers to be false and defamatory and, his suit claims, “directly affected the sale and reception of [his] The Exorcist Files book that was newly released at the time these episodes aired.” I don’t want to get too into the weeds of the details here, but a couple of things struck me about all this.
Britain Politics
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, right, his wife Marie-France van Heel, left, pose with veterans Naomi Hall, second right, Anthony Coughlan, centre, and Laurence Moore at No 10 North at
There’s a Reason That Netflix’s Ad Business Has Underwhelmed
Somewhat lost in the company’s slew of firings and engagement warnings over the past few weeks was the fact that Netflix is scaling back its ad forecast for 2026 from $3 billion to $2.7 billion. That’s despite the fact that: CTV is growing by 14-15% this year This year saw a monster upfront Netflix is the biggest streamer out there this side of YouTube, and was the platform that for years brands were supposedly dying to be a part of In other words, that’s an alarming pull-back from Netflix. A Wall Street analyst I spoke with last week was blunt, calling Netflix’s ad business “disappointing.” To me, a red flag on the ad front is that Netflix has never revealed how many ad-supported subscribers it has. Because if I know anything about how big companies work, if they have a positive number that makes them look really good - they tend to share it. (How many subs does go90 have right now? We’re not saying just yet. How are ads going on ChatGPT? Oh, a billion run rate - I see). Yes, to date Netflix has shared some fuzzy ad numbers, such as the idea that the company’s ad tier ‘reaches’ 250 million users globally.’ Here’s why that figure gives me pause: a)they lead with global, and b) they don’t explain how they are calculated. (Are they based on average people in each room? Surveys of some kind?). Regardless, some insiders say that Netflix’s ad tier is scaling nicely - others not so much. Either way, one of Netflix’s biggest challenge on the ad front appears to have been its starting point. Remember, when Netflix launched ads in 2022, it had 73 million subs in the US and Canada. That’s 73 million people who were used to Netflix with zero ads. And when the ad product rolled out, the company clearly was going after new users - a limited pool of potential subscribers by default. That focus seems to have changed over time, as Netflix has tried to convert longtime subscribers to the ad tier. Historically Netflix subscribers are very sticky. But is the company’s low churn a problem? Not necessarily, according to Antenna data. Rather, Netflix’s consumer loyalty is a bit of a double-edged sword. “Netflix is the one streamer which actually has seen substantial “trade downs” but has much lower ‘win backs,’ said Antenna founder Jonathan Carson (win-backs being people who were on the ad-free plan, cancelled, then rejoined on the ad plan). “Netflix has lower churn and so has less opportunity to win back old subs with a lower cost plan option.” This all might explain why Netflix has been so slow to roll out all of these table stakes targeting options until just this week. It likely didn’t have enough users to carve up into various targets. etc. However, what really hit Netflix’s ad business was Amazon’s move a few years ago to turn on advertising for Prime Video by default. Suddenly the market was awash in premium inventory, and Netflix was playing catch-up on multiple fronts. Thus, the streaming giant appears to still be figuring out if if wants lead in ‘programmatic TV,’ or premium ‘upfront’ TV sales. “The CTV market now sorts into three businesses, and Netflix is not the leader of any of them,” wrote analyst Jack Myers. Ouch. So how does Netflix ratchet up its ads business? Get the next NFL package You’re gonna have to wait until 2030 unless one of the bigger media companies like Skydance opts out, but the easiest (not cheapest) way for Netflix to become a huge TV ads contender is to get one of the regular NFL packages, ideally Sunday afternoons. That way it can sell ads to its whole U.S. subs base overnight. Go FAST This one is risky, because to program a compelling FAST channel, you’d likely have to take some older Netflix exclusive shows and make them available for free to non-subscribers. But FASTs, for better or worse, are ad-inventory machines. Go full UGC I’m not sure I see this happening. There is something already off about Netflix carrying podcasts and shows for creators. The experience sticks out in what is such a produced, and generally non-communal environment. But Netflix could open up its platform by allowing creators to upload videos without having to be approved by the service. But that opens a whole other can of worms (policing brand safety, copyright infringement, overall quality). Make a huge RMN Deal I was going to suggest something crazy, such as ‘instead of buying Warner Brothers, Netflix should buy Target. But the company doesn’t want to be in the brick and mortar business. Yet for Netflix’s ad business to compete in an Amazon world, it needs to be able to connect ad exposures to shopping. What if, instead of letting Amazon target Netflix viewers with its DSP, Netflix inked a deal with Target, or even took control of Roundel, and created its version of the Amazon full-funnel for brands? Price us out. I hope they don’t do this, but Netflix’s price increases - while significant - haven’t been enough to push long-term customers out of the ad-free tier. But if they made those prices so prohibitive, it could push large swaths of consumers to trade down. Then again, that could also dent engagement - as binging becomes much less appealing once you bring ads into the equation. Or, they could just launch a bunch of hit shows and maybe everyone will quickly forget all this angst. More from Amazon unBoxed A few weeks ago, I recorded two podcasts live at Amazon’s unBoxed event in San Francisco. I was able to go really deep with several brand partners about how Amazon’s various data and ad products work - particularly the under appreciated Amazon Marketing Cloud. First, I talked with Laura Abadias Velilla, of the Amazon specialty agency Amerge, along with Amazon’s own Charlotte Maines, Vice President, Devices Content & Advertising, about how the two partners helped a very specific printer company Epson launch into a brand new category - high end projectors. It’s a great example of how brands connect audience data across platforms to make budget deployment decisions. Next, I chatted with Monks VP Head of Digital Investment for North America Tom Burchill about how the agency actually brought in data from Linkedin to help target B2B customers across various Amazon properties for the brand Quicken. Check it out: Check these out, or just listen:
Safran To Divest Cabin Business
Safran launches the sale of its $2.24 billion cabin business as the French aerospace group sheds its aircraft interiors unit.
9 former celebrity couples who say divorce actually brought them closer
Who says divorce can’t have a happy ending? From Gwyneth Paltrow to Courteney Cox, these stars say splitting up actually brought them closer to their exes.
Politics in 'materialist terms': Gen Z in Albania, Italy, France and India protesting for 'fairness'
What is Shamonda, the livestock virus found for the first time in a person in France?
The first known human case of Shamonda virus was reported by France on Thursday. The patient has died, but the World Health Organization says that it is considered to be an isolated case so far and that there is no broader risk to the general public.
No practice for Deebo Samuel
Hamstring issue keeps San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel sidelined
'Generational rage': Young Europeans fight to be heard
From blockaded schools in Rome to tent camps in Madrid and street protests in France, young people across Europe are turning their anger on a political class they say is not listening.- 'Inspiring oth...
Franklin County business ordered to stop operating child care center
The Department of Human Services has issued a cease-and-desist order to a Franklin County business for illegally operating a child care center.
What is a neutrino anyway? A look at the science behind this year's Nobel Prize in Physics
If you wanted a Nobel Prize, you would do well to study neutrinos. To date, the Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded five times to research related to neutrino detection and discovery. This year, Francis ...
SF: Health Officials To Discuss Recent Mgm-15 Related Overdose
San Francisco public health officials plan to release the city's latest data on accidental overdoses on Friday and also discuss a recent death linked to the kratom-derived opioid MGM-15.
Why Giants Should Part Ways With Adrian Houser
The San Francisco Giants are on the hook to pay Adrian Houser more money in 2027, but his production does not justify it.
Analysis-Ex-Prosecutor’s Killing Puts Guatemala’s Crime-Politics Nexus Back in Focus
By Sofia Menchu and Diego Oré GUATEMALA CITY, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Former Guatemalan anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Francisco Solorzano Foppa was one of the country's most high profile voices denouncing alleged links between politicians and business leaders and the country's increasingly powerful ...
How well have past GOTY winners sold?
We’re less than two months away from 2026’s The Game Awards, and what a year it’s been for fantastic games, including Resident Evil Requiem, Forza Horizon 6, Slay the Spire II, the Blood of Dawnwalker, and Control Resonant – just to name a few. So as we approach the end of the year, we thought we’d look back on our estimates for the GOTY winners of the past four years. In terms of revenue, Elden Ring (2022 winner), Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023), Astro Bot (2024), and Expedition 33 (2025) have generated a combined $3.8B via 73M copies sold: Let’s have a look, then. Elden Ring has generated $2B in revenue Elden Ring is a phenomenon in every sense. It’s sold a whopping 36.4M copies across Steam (50%), PS5 (35%), and Xbox (15% across console and PC). Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Elden Ring also just passed an astronomical milestone: $2B in revenue. While PlayStation and Xbox account for half of Elden Ring’s copies sold across these three platforms, they account for 57.5% of revenue. This – as ever – is due to regional pricing and the higher relative share of PC gamers in lower-priced markets. For example, around 17.4% of Elden Ring’s Steam copies sold were in China, where the game costs about 26% less than the price in the States. There’s an … interesting narrative going around these days that console gamers are only interested in ball-and-gun games and have the patience for little else. Well, Elden Ring’s impressive sales prove that is simply not true, and across all platforms. What’s more, over 9.8M people have played Elden Ring for over 100 hours, with nearly 3.5M people getting all of the achievements and trophies. For reference, 10.9% of Elden Ring’s PlayStation players have the platinum trophy, while 10.5% of players on Steam and 3.9% of Xbox players unlocked all the achievements. Git gud, Xbox players! Of the 1.5M people who played Elden Ring on PlayStation last month, 4% also played Dark Souls 3 last month, 4% played Bloodborne, and 3% played Sekiro. There’s those Soulsborne diehards for you. By many accounts, including my own, Elden Ring is one of the best games of all time. It’s an evergreen seller that will continue to be a cash cow for Bandai and FromSoftware for years to come. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Elden Ring has sold another 2M copies across Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox this year, generating almost $110M. This means it’s outperforming many of this year’s high-profile releases. Even Elden Ring’s standalone run-based PvE spinoff, 2025’s Nightreign, has sold 7.8M copies and generated $282M in revenue. Baldur’s Gate 3 is another billion-dollar-plus banger Another cross-platform phenomenon is Baldur’s Gate 3, which has sold 23.2M copies and generated over $1.2B in revenue. About 18.7M of these copies (80.6%) are via Steam, 2.9M via PS5 (12.7%), and 1.6M (6.8%) via Xbox. Around 1.3M folks on Steam bought BG3 before it hit 1.0. The PlayStation version launched about a month after the PC 1.0 release, while the Xbox version came four months later due to technical issues around developing local co-op on the Series S. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Across platforms, Baldur’s Gate 3’s monthly active users have never dropped below 2M, including 2.2M MAUs last month (68.5% on Steam, 21.9% on PS5, and 9.6% on Xbox). And it still regularly brings in 280K to 400K players every day: About 1% of BG3’s Steam player base has played for over 500 hours! That’s a little under 200K people. Astro Bot is also an evergreen seller, albeit a more niche, family one Astro Bot, 2024’s winner, has now sold 4.7M copies and generated $291M in revenue. The budget, including marketing, is almost certainly under $100M, given the small Japan-based core team and three-year dev timeline. You can really see why the tides are changing toward less expensive hubs. Astro Bot is the only first-party winner on this list, but follows other first-party winners of The Last of Us Part II (2020’s winner), God of War (2018), and Breath of the Wild (2017). Around 46.6% of Astro Bot’s copies sold have been physical, which is far higher than the typical game. This makes sense for a couple of reasons: There’s a large family audience for this one, and physical boxes are an item to wrap when giving Astro as a gift. Astro has collector value for the PlayStation core (this is nostalgia-fueled platformer celebrating PlayStation’s history) Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Astro is another one of those games that continues selling over time, regularly selling more than 100K a month. It’s sold around 1M more copies this year ($60M in revenue) and is a popular title with families. We can see this using the Alinea platform’s MAU crossover tool: Astro Bot’s top #2, #3, and #4 games by crossover in any given month this year are Minecraft, Fortnite, and Roblox – without fail. The #1 title every month, though, is Astro’s Playroom, a pack-in with all PS5 consoles. For every month this year, between 20% and 30% of Astro Bot players also played Astro’s Playroom that month. So the free pack-in is a noice funnel for converting players to a full paid product. Expedition 33 sells 8.7M despite Game Pass cannibalisation Finally, we have last year’s winner – Expedition 33. The turn-based-RPG banger has generated $366M via 8.7M copies sold, with 58.8% on Steam, 35.7% on PS5, and 5.5% on Xbox. Xbox’s share of copies sold is this low due to Expedition 33 launching on Game Pass, where 4.3M people across console and PC accessed the game. A little under 700K Xbox players used their subscription to play Expedition 33 this year. That said, the game’s 1.5-year Game Pass deal ended last week on October 16, and we’re already beginning to see a positive trend on Expedition 33’s copies sold via Xbox (but the jury’s still out!). There’s understandably a lot of French pride behind this one, as France is the game’s #3 market on both Steam and PlayStation. Vive la France! One thing that stood out to me is that the GOTY winners aren’t $300M Hollywood productions made in the US. They’re mostly mid-budget studios outside the traditional AAA cost centres. Lots to think about there. Also, good games sell well; who’d have thunk it!? And there’s a whole load of them this year, with GTA 6 still to come, too. GTA just made the cutoff point for the VGAs this year. What a coincidence! Loading... Cool links and other stuff Our physical games newsletter from Tuesday was picked up by GameSpot, Eurogamer, TweakTown, and a bunch of others. We’re offering a free trial of our platform for games companies. Send us a message here, or reply right here on Substack/email, and we’ll set you up. Next week, we’ve got some exciting news regarding the future of our newsletter, so stay tuned! The last word Reply to this email – or reach out here – if you have any feedback for the newsletter – or want to request a game for us to cover. Want to see why these companies (and many others) are subscribed to Alinea? Get a free platform trial! [Alinea Analytics boasts the most accurate PC and console estimates in the business. Game makers use our platform to understand their audience, keep an eye on the competition, monitor sales trends, and spot new opportunities. We equip game studios and financial institutions with accurate data and the confidence to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Want to talk about all things games market data? We’d love to chat!]
Launch Family Entertainment Names John Palumbo VP of Franchise Development
Launch Family Entertainment (Launch), a premier indoor family entertainment concept, has named John Palumbo Vice President of Franchise Development as the brand strengthens its leadership team and advances its national growth strategy. Palumbo brings nearly two decades of franchise development experience and an early-career foundation in sports and recreation operations. He began his career in athletic administration […]
Annual Health Fair for the Homeless Friday, October 23
Franklin Primary Health Center is holding their Annual Health Fair for the Homeless Friday, October 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Springhill Recreation
FMOL Health | St. Francis Medical Center hosting annual health fair
FMOL Health | St. Francis Medical Center is hosting their annual Healthy Starts with Hello health fair!
Introspection required if EU Inc fails, says start-up lobbyist
European start-ups have a new voice in Brussels. Startups for Europe, created from the merger of lobby groups Allied for Startups and the European Startup Network, is hoping to harness the momentum behind EU-Inc, a campaign that united start-ups and investors behind demands for a new pan-European company regime.At a launch event for the new association in Brussels on October 1, the mood was remarkably upbeat compared to a typical Eurobubble gathering, more Silicon Valley than Schuman roundabout.When asked whether this reflects a feeling that Europe is on the right track, chief executive Serena Borbotti-Frison said it’s a “scary” moment as the continent looks to boost its competitiveness amid a new technological arms race.“What is at stake is quite intense, and the way we can answer is by delivering, but also with hope,” she told Science|Business. “It’s what our industry does. It’s not about identifying a pain point and then saying it’s too hard.”For many in the start-up community, that sense of hope is dwindling. In March, the European Commission presented its proposal for EU Inc, naming its initiative after the grassroots campaign.EU Inc was meant to be a gamechanger: the ability to incorporate within 48 hours for less than €100 and scale up across Europe; a harmonised stock option regime enabling start-ups to compete for talent; and simplified insolvency procedures for innovative start-ups to reduce the cost of failure.However, haggling by EU governments has raised concerns that EU Inc will be stripped of the very features, including stock option harmonisation, that are meant to make it attractive for companies.“I fear we are proving to ourselves that the model doesn’t work,” Borbotti-Frison said of the policymaking process. “Everyone agrees we should have EU Inc. Everyone agrees it’s hard to scale and we need to scale to answer the competitiveness [challenge], and still we cannot deliver? [. . .] What does that say about ourselves?”The Commission has made EU Inc a cornerstone of its single market reform, and has agreed with the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to target an agreement by the end of 2026. However, several points are currently holding up an agreement, including national rules around employee participation in management decisions, and the provision that employee stock options always be taxed at the point of sale. Some EU governments have reportedly pushed back on the Commission’s choice of legal basis, contending that anything related to taxation requires unanimity in the Council.Trade unions have also protested against EU Inc, fearing it will be exploited by companies looking to undermine workers’ rights.“If this doesn’t work, it’s introspection time, on the way our institutions work, maybe the way our lobbies work, and maybe the way the cooperation between them works,” Borbotti-Frison said.“Is it in the national interest? Is it a gap between political will and technical ability to operate? Is it speed? I don't know, but something needs to be fixed.”Ahead of last week’s European Council meeting, EU-Inc campaigners tried a new strategy: appealing directly to EU presidents and prime ministers. In an open letter, they urged EU leaders to “step in and give your negotiating teams a clear mandate to change course and reverse their objections to the Commission’s original proposal.”Lessons from EU-IncLike its predecessors, Startups for Europe will represent national start-up associations, but it is also targeting investors. The founding sponsors are venture capital firm Atomico and EQT, the investor selected earlier this year to manage the €5 billion Scaleup Europe Fund.It also wants to harness the knowledge and cross-border experience of European success stories. “Take the list of the 100 biggest unicorns in Europe. We are speaking to all of them,” Borbotti-Frison said. The association plans to publish a full list of supporters following the Slush tech conference in Helsinki in November.Andreas Klinger and Simon Schaefer, two key figures in the EU-Inc campaign, are both on the board of the new association, and Startups for Europe wants to take the lessons from their campaign.What was unprecedented about EU-Inc was “how rooted it was, and how strong it was in bringing everyone on board behind one clear pain point and solution to fix it,” Borbotti-Frison said. “This is an inspiration for us, and then we need to turn it into something more systematic, more bridged in Brussels, more connected to the policymaking game, and to scale it.”If it’s possible to unite such a broad coalition, it’s because the European start-up ecosystem is now mature, she said. “Maybe it was not ten years ago. Maybe it was not five years ago. But now, it’s mature to speak with one voice.”Open and liberal EuropeThe association plans to campaign on files related to three “pain points,” Borbotti-Frison said: “start and scale in Europe, fundraise and invest in Europe, and making Europe the most innovative continent.”As well as EU Inc, she cited public procurement, the EU’s simplification push, the Savings and Investments Union, and files related to AI adoption and technological sovereignty as priorities for the coming months.What these files have in common is that they relate not to subsidies but to the framework conditions influencing the availability of mostly private, or in the case of procurement, public, funding.Related articlesEmployee participation disagreement delays MEPs’ vote on EU IncCommission urges EU governments not to water down EU IncEU’s ‘ultra-fast’ €5B scale-up fund is set up to win, says its fund managerThe budget dispute over the next Horizon Europe programme will also impact start-ups, which are supported notably through the European Innovation Council. But EU innovation funding is a drop in the ocean compared to venture capital and public procurement budgets.“If competitiveness and innovation are a priority, then the [EU budget] should reflect it,” Borbotti-Frison said. However, she added that the main question is not how much public money is invested, but “how do we create the right conditions for the market to solve the problem?”The Scaleup Europe Fund mixes both approaches, using €1 billion in EU funding to crowd in private investors and address Europe’s lack of large-scale, late-stage growth funds. “It’s a proof of concept. Ideally, then the market will do it itself,” Borbotti-Frison said.Startups for Europe is also focused on bringing an alternative political narrative. Amid competing visions for open, global markets on the one side and a protectionist Europe on the other, it wants to offer “a third voice, to say we can be proudly European and build a strong continent in a liberal economy, open to the world, and global.”It can be tempting, when thinking about how Europe can better support innovation, to look across the Atlantic. But while it’s important to compare statistics to see where Europe needs to catch up, that’s where the comparison should stop, Borbotti-Frison said. “On everything else, we need to do it our own way. We don't have the same history. We don't have the same political model. We don't have the same way of life.”Many of the key files that could benefit the start-up community, including EU Inc and the Savings and Investments Union, rely on closer integration within Europe, making it easier to operate across borders.While the Commission has made deepening the single market a political priority, support at national level is more precarious. The coming months will see pivotal elections in Spain and France, while the German government has also been coming under pressure domestically. In each country, far-right parties have been gaining ground.When asked if she was concerned the political situation could jeopardise this progress, Borbotti-Frison responded: “Of course. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t.” However, she continues to believe that cooperation is the only way forward. “Doing it alone is not the solution. It’s also not who we are, it’s not the model we are building, and it’s not the scale we need.”