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Another health insurer could end up out-of-network with Lehigh Valley Health Network
A contract dispute between Jefferson Health and Independence Blue Cross could leave Lehigh Valley patients out of network if no deal is reached by the end of the year.
Bobby Kotick’s lawyers sent me a bad email (and later apologized)
The message I had received was unsettling—for a moment. Then it was just really confusing. Back on January 20 of this year, at 5:15pm ET, I received an email with the subject line “Legal Correspondence re Bobby Kotick.” It was from the law firm Clare Locke, a firm I’d heard had been emailing reporters in recent years about their coverage of Kotick, the former, longtime CEO of Activision Blizzard. The letter was threatening. A lawyer from the firm introduced themselves as “defamation counsel to Bobby Kotick.” They issued a “demand” that I “correct” a Game File article I’d published a week prior. The article that had irked them had been a scoop of sorts. I’d written about a a 2022 lawsuit brought by a Swedish pension fund, AP7, over Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard. The suit wasn’t news, but I was first to review and report about Kotick’s extensive pushback to the fund’s claims. The pension fund’s core contention was that the sale had been rushed by Kotick to avoid the consequences of sexual misconduct scandals swirling around the company in 2021. (He’d not been accused of misconduct himself in those suits, to be clear.) As I wrote at the time, Kotick had denied the allegations of the rushed sale. Beyond that, Kotick used a December 2025 reply to the Swedish fund’s lawsuit to assign blame for those workplace scandals, the bad press and even for the AP7 lawsuit. I’d found Kotick’s arguments novel and newsworthy. Across nearly 3,000 words, I explained Kotick’s take: that a Swedish gaming company was behind the Swedish fund’s lawsuit (the Embracer group; they denied it); that the Microsoft-Activision deal was not rushed and was secured at what Kotick felt history had proven to be an optimal price for shareholders; that he believed a conspiracy of people at unions government agencies, PR firms and the media had spun up claims of widespread workplace misconduct at Activision Blizzard in 2021. The article gave context for all of this, letting readers assess the claims and weigh their credibility. As I’d later write to Kotick’s lawyers: I would be surprised if you could point to any news article about Bobby Kotick in the last five years that has spent more of its wordcount articulating his point of view. He is welcome to do an interview with Game File any time. Nonetheless, there they were in my inbox that Tuesday evening: Clare Locke, the law firm that secured a $787.5 million settlement from Fox News over false statements about voting machines. They were emailing me, threatening that failure to comply with their demand could support a claim of “actual malice,” a legal standard for libel. Unless… Unless, they said, I added a key paragraph to my article. This was a paragraph that I already knew Kotick’s lawyers had been emailing reporters about for at least a year, and it was a paragraph that was already in my article. The paragraph they wanted is from a 2023 settlement that California’s Civil Rights Department struck with Activision Blizzard. The settlement had closed a two-year-old lawsuit over alleged sexual discrimination at the game maker. The paragraph basically said that claims of systemic or widespread sexual harassment—or of execs like Kotick tolerating such behavior—had never been proven. I’d already seen proof that Kotick’s lawyers had pushed for the settlement’s language to be added to reports about 2021 sexual discrimination and misconduct lawsuits brought against Activision Blizzard by California and, separately, by the U.S. federal government (both suits were since settled). I knew that Kotick and his lawyers felt that the California settlement language should be mentioned in the same breath as references to an article he hated and denied, a November 2021 Wall Street Journal article claiming Kotick knew “for years” of sexual misconduct at Activision Blizzard. So, in the Game File article that Clare Locke emailed me about, in the interest of ensuring I was being fair and balanced regarding the person I was covering, I had already included the following excerpt from the California settlement [emphasis added in bold]: (Kotick has repeatedly pushed back against that November article in the Wall Street Journal, citing among other things, language from a court-approved consent decree as part of Activision’s 2023 $54 million settlement over the California suit. It states: “no court or any independent investigation has substantiated any allegations that: there has been systemic or widespread sexual harassment at Activision Blizzard [or] that Activision Blizzard senior executives ignored, condoned, or tolerated a culture of systemic harassment, retaliation, or discrimination.”) On the evening of January 20, I was incredulous. How do you write a four page legal threat about a week-old article and miss this? While scrambling to also make my kids dinner, I wrote a lengthy reply to Clare Locke’s lawyers, basically asking them to cool it with the threats and to start making sense. In part, I wrote: I hope you can understand why I am having trouble understanding what you’re asking for, when the statement you’re demanding to see in Game File’s article already appears in Game File’s article. Actual malice, as you know, refers to a reckless disregard for the truth. I’m not sure what your argument is when my article already states your client’s position. Here is where I should remind you, the reader, that I am an independent journalist. I publish on Substack, and have availed myself of the Substack Defender program that provides writers on the platform with legal support. But I’m no Wall Street Journal or New York Times, nor even IGN or GameSpot when it comes to such things as, well, having a legal department. There are more fun things for me to do as an independent journalist than writing back to a powerful law firm representing a very rich person. On the evening of January 20th, I was just trying to cook some pasta, broccoli and chicken nuggets for hungry twins. Nevertheless, I wrote back to them. Two hours later, I got a reply. Summarizing: A lawyer for Clare Locke said they’d “reviewed an incomplete version” of my article and they “apologize for the confusion.” (My guess: Someone didn’t read past the piece’s paywall, even though they’d had a full week to scrounge up the funds to do so. What I’d published above the paywall was balanced, as was what came after.)1 That was almost that, but something about the situation bothered me. The letter had been marked “confidential.” I hadn’t agreed to that, and I disliked the idea that powerful people on the beat that I cover would act like they could unilaterally control what I might tell my readers about. On the morning of the 21st, having already gotten the powerful law firm to back off, I oh-so-wisely re-approached them with just one more thing. I thanked them for clearing things up the night before but noted that I’d never agreed to keep their letter confidential. I’m all for agreeing with a source to keep things off the record, but that’s the thing. We have to agree. You can’t just declare it. I’m not bound by that. I wrote to Clare Locke’s lawyer and said, in part: I trust the matter is resolved. It was disappointing to have to spend less time with my kids last night in order to address your legal letter. Family time’s precious. I will add, for clarity’s sake, that, while your letter stipulated that it was confidential, I did not agree to those terms. In the future, should you wish to communicate with me confidentially, I am happy to agree to classifying our communication as “off the record” prior to the actual communication—as is standard with any professional journalist. The firm’s lawyer replied, not directly addressing the confidentiality issue but asserting that the matter was resolved. Why I didn’t write about this until now In May, I told this story on an episode of Simon Parkin’s podcast My Perfect Console, but I held off on sharing it directly with Game File readers. I held off to avoid stepping on the toes of another reporter, the journalist Mikhail Klimentov. He’d interviewed me in the spring of 2025 about an investigation he was working on regarding Bobby Kotick lawyers pressing the media to add the California settlement language to stories referencing the 2021 lawsuits. And about how some outlets had changed their stories and how some simply deleted them. Initially, I was a third-party source for Klimentov’s reporting, providing on-the-record context about the state of the games media. I’d heard about the letters but hadn’t put the time into pursuing the story. I thought it was interesting, and I was glad he was covering it. When the outlet that Klimentov was going to run his reporting in dropped the story, I began talking to him about potentially publishing his reporting on Game File. This was tentative. Then, in January, when I got my own Clare Locke letter, I told Klimentov that I didn’t think it would make sense for me to publish him, not with me now being part of the story. I had my own version of this situation to tell. But I wished him well and said I’d refrain from telling my tale until he could get his reporting out there. Last Friday, Klimentov finally ran his investigation, in a nearly 48-minute video report for People Make Games. It covers various Clare Locke letters, how media outlets reacted to them and what to make of all this. His video weighs the merits of Kotick’s request and looks at some of the articles that were changed (one of which had a glaring error). I highly recommend watching it: (Note, I did some editorial consulting for a People Make Games video last year but nothing to do with this report.) While many outlets haven’t left any public evidence that they updated their Kotick coverage at Kotick’s counsel’s request, at least one has. Back in October 2025, the mainstream outlet Reuters applied the most transparent article update I’ve seen. On the 3rd of the month, they published an article about the state of the Swedish pension fund’s lawsuit. Days later, they added this: In an October 7 letter sent after publication of this article, Kotick’s defamation counsel disputed claims of widespread harassment at Activision. “Not a single investigation, court finding, verdict, or ruling ever concluded that there was any merit” to the allegations of widespread harassment at Activision, Tom Clare and Nick Brechbill of Clare Locke wrote. I’ve never added a statement to my article on Game File, because none was needed. Not for fairness’ sake, nor to meet any demands of Kotick’s lawyers. I’ve nevertheless wanted to be transparent with Game File readers. If someone powerful is questioning my reporting, is threatening a lawsuit over it… if that threat is part of a pattern involving other games media outlets and if, in my case, the whole thing ran into a ridiculous ditch, I want you to know about it. I also share this as a real example of how I handle threats to Game File. I stand up for my own reporting, even when it’s not comfortable to do so. (In that same category of standing up for the work I do, I’ll point to an incident in late August. Asocial media post I published to X/Twitter regarding reporting I did about Take Two and GTA VI was hit by bogus copyright claim by a firm working for the publisher. I pushed back and got it reversed; even while a bigger games media outlet let themselves be censored. This is the other reason I’m sharing this story: To emphasize that dealing with threats from powerful people is one of the costs of covering the video game industry independently and as fearlessly as possible. This is where you come in. Your support, through free and paid subscriptions (sign up here!), can help me keep doing that. It can ensure that I’ve got the back-up I need. And it can help make fiascoes like this even less of a worry, so I can spend my evenings dealing with more important things, such as making sure I steam the kids’ broccoli just right. 1 That pension fund lawsuit I wrote about in January has all but gone away. In May, the fund and Activision Blizzard owner Microsoft agreed to settle. Lawyers for the fund brokered a $250 million settlement for former Activision Blizzard shareholders. In the settlement, the fund’s lawyers changed their rhetoric. Where once they’d questioned the meaning of the California settlement language, they adopted a version of it for themselves. Several weeks ago, while seeking to get a court to sign off on the terms of the settlement, they proposed their fee for their work in the case: $60 million.
Chinese business visit to Kuril Islands will do nothing to ease Tokyo tensions
The trip was aimed at identifying joint Russia-China investment opportunities in the disputed southernmost part of the archipelago.
Political credit before public safety? Inside Mayor Katie Wilson's gun violence strategy, disputed quotes and stakeholder concerns
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s gun violence plan raises questions about disputed quotes and transparency.
Little Red Hen eviction case dismissed: Court sides with Seattle dive
The Little Red Hen, a Seattle honky-tonk and karaoke institution for decades, won another important legal battle in its ongoing eviction dispute Tuesday.
Corteva, Inari settle lawsuit over seed patent dispute
In its lawsuit, Corteva accused Inari Agriculture Inc. of taking Corteva's patent-protected seeds, making slight genetic modifications and preparing to commercialize them under its own name.
Is the EU research budget actually increasing?
Is a Horizon Europe budget of €158 billion a 10% cut or a significant increase to the EU’s support for research and innovation? What would seem like a question of fact has divided opinion in Brussels since the Irish presidency of the EU Council presented its negotiation box on October 10. The answer depends on factors such as how you adjust for inflation, whether you account for increases in overall EU wealth and if you care about absolute or proportional figures. The €158 billion budget in current prices, proposed by the Irish presidency of the EU Council, was quickly criticised by university lobbies and rejected by the high-level expert group led by former Portuguese science minister Manuel Heitor. It was also decried by the four pro-European political groups in the European Parliament. “How can Europe close its competitiveness gap while cutting the European Competitiveness Fund by 13% and Horizon Europe by nearly 10%?” asked a joint statement by the European People’s Party (EPP), Renew Europe, the Socialists and Democrats and the Greens/European Free Alliance. Together, these parties hold 63% of seats in the Parliament.In stark contrast, Irish foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee said that the proposal “significantly increases investment in competitiveness, research and innovation,” Meanwhile, a presidency press release said that, compared to the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the proposal would “double the volume of competitiveness related programmes.” So, who is right? That depends on how you make the calculation.Compared to the Commission figure or the previous budget?The first thing to notice is the difference in baselines. When the MEPs say the Irish presidency will cut Horizon Europe by “nearly 10%” they are using the European Commission proposal for the MFF from July 2025, which allocated €175 billion in current prices to Horizon Europe. However, when the Irish foreign affairs minister said the research and competitiveness budget is increasing significantly, she is comparing it to the 2021-27 MFF, which had a Horizon Europe budget of €84.9 billion in 2018 prices.Her point holds when accounting for inflation. Applying a 2% annual inflation rate, the calculation method used by the Commission, the 2021-27 Horizon Europe would have a budget of €97.5 billion in 2025 prices. In comparison, the Irish presidency’s €158 billion figure in current prices translates to €140 billion in 2025 prices. Does the ECF count?But there is more to the dispute. In its statements, the Irish presidency lumped the research budget in with the overall budget for competitiveness. The Parliament statement, however, kept the two separate. This matters because the next MFF includes plans to add a new European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) to fund programmes meant to boost the continent's competitiveness. The Irish negotiating box allocated €245 billion in current prices to this programme.When this is added to the €158 billion for Horizon Europe, as well as programmes such as the EU education programme Erasmus+, the total for “competitiveness, prosperity and security” in the Irish proposal becomes €514 billion in current prices. But it is still uncertain how big a share of this competitiveness budget would go to research. The Commission proposal of July 2025 for the MFF included clear links between the ECF and Horizon Europe, indicating some ECF money will go to research. At the same time, the structure of the ECF is still being negotiated, and a substantial part of its budget is expected to support non-research activities such as defence manufacturing, decarbonisation and digital infrastructure. Related articlesCouncil floats 9.6% budget cut to next Horizon EuropeResearch community to appeal to national governments over planned EU budget cutEU own resources ‘essential’ for future research budget, says leading MEPSo, it is by looking at competitiveness rather than research, or combining the two, that the Irish presidency can claim that its proposed budget will significantly increase investment in competitiveness, research and innovation.According to the Irish presidency proposal, Horizon Europe and other competitiveness-related programmes in the current multiannual budget received €221 billion in current prices. However, since this money is being distributed from 2021 to 2027, it is not directly comparable to the €514 billion in current prices which will be distributed from 2028 to 2034.Research as a proportion of the MFFBut the relative rise in competitiveness-related programmes points to another important distinction: whether you look at the research budget in absolute terms or as a share of the overall MFF. Here, too, the size of the research budget has risen, although only slightly. In the 2021-27 MFF, Horizon Europe accounted for 7% of the total budget. In the Irish presidency’s proposal, it amounts to 8.7%. The share for the total competitiveness envelope went from 17.7% in the current MFF to 28.1% in the Irish presidency proposal.This proportional share may seem irrelevant to universities looking for research funding, but it is becoming significant as budget negotiations between the Parliament, the Commission and the Council begin. On October 2, a group of 17 southern and eastern European countries sent out a statement calling for the EU agriculture and cohesion budgets to be protected. The Parliament’s co-rapporteur on the budget, Siegfried Mureșan of the EPP, has also said that the research envelope is likely to be cut disproportionately as the budget is slimmed down during negotiations.
Beloved Carleton burger joint Fat Stax abruptly closes amid business dispute
A beloved small-town burger joint is expected to close its doors and the owner as well as the community is devastated. Fat Stax, on Telegraph Road in Carleton recently shut down and the owner, Barb Little, was spending the day cleaning it out.
How a controversial camera system is monitoring mental health patients
The Lampard Inquiry started back in September 2024 and I remember going to the first hearing in Chelmsford. Subscribe The bereaved families made placards of their loved ones, they stood outside in silence and then laid flowers to mark the moment. Now, two years on, in a process meant to last another two years, there’s been a development. Last week, we were told the chair, Baroness Lampard, pictured below, could be looking at making interim recommendations. Throughout the process, she has remarked that although this inquiry is looking at almost 2,000 people who were under the care of Essex mental health services from 2000-2023 when they died, the findings could have national implications for other trusts. ‘Records 24 hours a day in patient’s bedroom’ So why has this happened? One system that the inquiry is going to take a closer look at is a controversial monitoring system called Oxevision. It monitors some vital signs of patients remotely by using a camera placed in a room. It’s used by 40% of NHS mental health trusts. But campaigners, particularly the group Stop Oxevision, have asked for this technology to be removed from mental health wards as soon as possible. I spoke to a member, Hat Porter, today and they described to me what they thought this technology did and explained their concerns: “It records 24 hours a day and it’s located in a patient’s bedroom, which is obviously somewhere you’d usually expect to be a private place. “Our concerns are that the use of the technology has been has been kind of implemented as a substitute for proper in-person support, that it’s kind of over relied on and that there’s a lot of misunderstandings and that the presence of a camera, which has often been used without people’s consent, sometimes without even their knowledge, that that has a really big impact on privacy, dignity and human rights.” ‘Not sufficient’ I put it to them that the company behind Oxevision would dispute their claims about consent and in videos I’ve seen online from NHS trusts, they make it clear that the technology is complementary to trained staff and not a replacement. [ ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/the-nottingham-inquiry-what-lessons) [ How the Nottingham inquiry shines a spotlight on other key mental health care failings ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/the-nottingham-inquiry-what-lessons) Victoria Macdonald · Feb 12 [ Read full story ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/the-nottingham-inquiry-what-lessons) A team of lawyers has been working on the inquiry and with bereaved family members who have concerns about this technology. I spoke to solicitor Priya Singh, from Hodge Jones & Allen, who made the point that questions usually asked by nurses would be missing from using devices like this. “It’s not sufficient to say, oh, the patient is moving around. Somebody must go in and say, are you okay? Are you distressed? Do you want help? Is there anything I can do? Share Channel 4 News “How are you spending your time? So I think a lot of our families cannot see the function of it when ultimately the patient should only really be observed when they’ve been prescribed to be observed, they can be observed more, but that more should really be happening face to face.” The Chair will hear evidence over the next two weeks and then a decision made after that, which could have national impact if she does decide this technology should be investigated or even removed. The Department of Health and Social Care said: “The Government is committed to ensuring that lessons are learned from the Lampard Inquiry to improve patient safety. “We are confident that the Inquiry will play an important role in identifying wider learnings for the health system following the tragic events in Essex and will contribute to improvements in patient safety.” We approached LIO Health, which runs Oxevision, for comment. Subscribe Share Channel 4 News Leave a comment
Supreme Court Again Sides With Republicans in Political TV Ad Fight
The Trump administration had filed an emergency application asking the justices to intervene in a long-running dispute over political ad rates.
EU leads fight against fossil-fuel nations’ push to delay climate science reports
Dispute looms over next review of the latest science on the warming planet as temperatures continue to rise
Mayor Woodfin responds after wife's business subpoenaed in Birmingham data center lawsuit
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is pushing back after his wife and her real-estate company were named in a discovery dispute tied to a lawsuit over a proposed
Apple Lobbying Report Covers Trade and Public Health
Apple's Q3 2026 lobbying report covers IP, public health, and trade issues amid a pending ITC patent dispute. Read the full analysis to see what it means.
ChatGPT for Teens Failed to Alert Parents During Mental Health Crises
OpenAI disputes the findings.
Man, 20, allegedly confesses to stabbing coworker to death at San Rafael business
San Rafael police arrested a 20-year-old man who allegedly confessed to fatally stabbing a coworker over an ongoing dispute.
'SNL' takes aim at Kevin O'Leary and his Utah data center
James Austin Johnson played Kevin O'Leary on "Saturday Night Live" this week, addressing the dispute around the investor's Utah data center project.
Rock Song Copyright Dispute Rocks The Entertainment Industry
Copyright Termination Suit Rocks Entertainment Industry - Supreme Court Asked to Weigh In
25 Years of Business Income Insurance Coverage Claims Since the Attacks of Sept. 11, 2001
The 9/11 attacks reshaped business income insurance, spurring decades of litigation over loss calculations, restoration periods, expert evidence, and terrorism coverage. These disputes continue to influence claims and policyholder protections after major catastrophes.
Zambia signs US health aid deal after disputes over data-sharing
The US will provide $1.5bn (£1.1bn) under the deal that was negotiated after Trump cut USAID funding.
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.”
Controversy over Musk military system in Ukraine pitches relations with US into deeper crisis
The worst crisis in US-Ukraine relations since last year’s Oval Office meltdown is deteriorating further over a dispute about who ordered a disruption to a critical Ukrainian military system running on Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service.
The Boyz's New signs with Only New Entertainment
New debuted as a member of The Boyz, which now operates under 78 Records following a contract dispute with its previous agency.
Drumcree dispute: Four key takeaways so far
BBC News NI's Political Editor Enda McClafferty assesses the fallout from the Drumcree dispute so far.
Orange County teachers face ongoing pay and health insurance disputes
The recommendations come as the two sides remain at an impasse over compensation and health care costs
Missouri Jury Awards $10 Million In Marijuana Business Ownership Dispute
“We are here trying to get back the business that they stole from us.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent A St. Louis jury awarded $10 million Tuesday to three plaintiffs in a sprawling ownership battle over six Missouri cannabis licenses involving more than 20 businesses and individuals. Over a week of testimony, jurors heard about […]
Andrews questions Graham’s family business ties to China; Graham fires back
A dispute that erupted during Monday’s U.S. Senate debate in South Carolina is spilling onto the campaign trail, with Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews and Republican Sen. Darline Graham clashing over alleged foreign business ties.
KINGPIN Says a Connector Dispute With NVIDIA Derailed EVGA's Last Flagship Card
Vince "KINGPIN" Lucido has blamed NVIDIA for the troubled launch of the EVGA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti KINGPIN, the last graphics card to carry his name. In the first video on his new Overclocking Kingpin YouTube channel, the overclocker said he wanted the card to have two 12VHPWR power connectors,...
Political sticker dispute between Park Ridge councilman, activist dismissed
The nearly yearlong case involved campaign messaging, local sign rules and allegations of retaliation.
Jalen Duren not at Pistons' training camp amid contract dispute
Duren has declined the Pistons' offer of 5 years, $200 million.
Decades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis
For people who support peace and good relations, the spectacle of riot police separating communities conjures the strife that once plagued the province.
Court docs reveal accusations of family abuse preceded Bay Area killing
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The man gunned down Saturday afternoon at a Dublin sports complex spent the past year embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with his wife — the
Andrew Cuomo Hammers Partisan Politics: 'When CLARITY Failed, Ambiguity Wins'
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday said the CLARITY Act’s collapse came down to pure politics, not any irreconcilable policy dispute. Politics, Not Policy, Killed the Bill Cuomo told Bloomberg Television said the bill had the best name...
San Antonio concert canceled over political rhetoric dispute
"I think we were bamboozled on the whole deal," the owner said.
RFK Jr pushes back on reports of federal health coverage cuts
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. disputes reports that the administration is cutting people from Medicare, Medicaid or Obamacare, saying it is targeting duplicate enrollments and records for deceased individuals.
Sentara ends negotiations with Anthem on health plans
Sentara Health ended negotiations with Anthem over certain plans amid an ongoing dispute over reimbursement rates.
‘I don’t talk politics with anyone’: Georgia voting official on avoiding fiery debates ahead of midterms
Sabrina German, a poll official in Chatham county, details a typical election day, the pressure election workers face, and fallout from 2020 disputes
Supreme Court asked to weigh political ad rates
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to step into a lower court dispute over television advertising rates paid by political candidates and joint fundraising committees weeks before the midterm elections. The application asked the justices to set aside a 2-1 ruling issued Wednesday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th […]
Justices grant Trump administration’s request to pause lower court ruling in political ad rate dispute
The Supreme Court on Wednesday cleared the way for political parties and joint fundraising committees to continue to receive favorable advertising rates in the run-up to the 2026 election. In a five-…
MPD Reports: Mental health issues, domestic disputes, suspicious persons and juvenile problems
The City of Monroe Police Department reported the following incidents for the period Aug. 28 to Sept. 3, 2026. Due to the length, this report has been split into four parts. This is the second. Ple…
How Data Lawsuit Settlement Will Impact CVS Health Stock Investors
CVS Health recently agreed to a US$20.5 million settlement over allegations that its website shared personal and protected health information with ad tech firm Criteo without user consent, resolving a data tracking dispute that had raised privacy and compliance questions. The legal resolution lands at the same time CVS Health is working with improved full year guidance, stronger cash generation and better Aetna medical benefit ratios. Together, these factors sharpen attention on how...
Physician Organizations Oppose Legislation That Gives Health Insurers Unilateral Control Over Out-of-Network Payments
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and American College of Radiology (ACR) today expressed strong opposition to the Lower Premiums, Faster Payments Act, legislation introduced by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) that would eliminate the independent dispute resolution (IDR) process established under the No Surprises Act (NSA) and replace it with payment rates calculated by health insurance companies.
Kelly Clarkson and a Brooklyn store clashed on social media. Behind it, power dynamics loomed
Kelly Clarkson's recent dispute with a Brooklyn store highlights the power dynamics between celebrities and everyday people | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
Payer-provider disputes increase amid federal cuts, inflation
After months of contract negotiations this year, Sentara Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Virginia weren’t close to an agreement, foreshadowing
McClean hits out at 'incomprehensible' Derry treatment
Derry City player James McClean hits out at his treatment by Derry City amid an ongoing contract dispute with the club.
Iowa faces a reckoning over water quality and cancer rates in midterm campaigns
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is facing a budget deficit, high costs and economic strain from trade disputes that have squeezed farmers.
Tata boardroom feud is testing a trusted business empire
The dispute raises questions about the Indian conglomerate's governance, succession plans and future.
Trump Says Renovations on Disputed DC Golf Course Will Begin Immediately
A federal judge has ordered tree cutting halted at the city course as she considers a lawsuit over the legality of the administration’s plans.
Side Dish joins Good Day to talk entertainment headlines
Talk show host Kelly Clarkson and an antique store are in a dispute after the store offered a fake bird for $15,000, refused to sell it to her, and later raised the price to $15 million.
Salazar Accused By City Of Manufactured Dispute To Tank Entertainment District
by Glen Richardson Cities in Colorado are finding that entering into a seemingly binding contract with a developer to construct a critical downtown project does not mean it will ever, in fact, be done. The City and County of Broomfield entered into a $300 million agreement in 2019 with developers to construct a Broomfield Town […]
Shaken Baby Syndrome: Junk science or not? When lawyers set scientific standards
Shaken Baby Syndrome has increasingly been branded “junk science,” not because the medical consensus has disappeared, but because courts, some expert witnesses, and the media have created disputes over how these injuries occur. The real question is not whether every SBS prosecution is correct, but whether uncertainty in an individual case justifies discarding a diagnosis supported by a substantial body of medical evidence.
Man shot in front of southwest Houston bar after dispute over business ownership
A man is in critical condition after being shot in southwest Houston outside Costa Lounge VIP bar during a dispute, police report.
Moore campaign ads shut out Sinclair stations amid feud with David Smith
While it’s normal for politicians and journalists to disagree on coverage in private, this dispute has played out in full view of the public.
UMC, Texas Tech Health Sciences Center trade statements in OB-GYN doctor dispute
University Medical Center and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center are exchanging public statements about OB-GYN services following the recent departure of two doctors.
How the Midterms Could Complicate the Supreme Court’s New Term
Even before the justices start their new term on Monday, the court has spent the summer resolving fast-moving requests on election-related disputes.
UnitedHealthcare launches webpage to address questions surrounding Lee Health coverage dispute
UnitedHealthcare says Lee Health gave no warning before leaving its commercial network, and has launched a webpage to answer patient questions.
Micron's Taoyuan union in Taiwan secures authorisation to strike
A Taiwanese union representing workers at Micron Technology said on Wednesday it had secured authorisation from its members to strike work over a dispute concerning the company's bonus scheme, escalating a labour conflict at the chipmaker's largest manufacturing hub.
SEC opposes LSU bid to end lawsuit - Dispute remains 'live'
The SEC is opposing LSU's request to dismiss the conference's lawsuit against the university and its officials, saying a live controversy still exists between the parties.
NC State Health Plan moves most Atrium providers out of network
An ongoing dispute between the North Carolina State Health Plan (SHP) and Atrium Health intensified on Wednesday, with the SHP moving most Atrium providers from the non-preferred tier to the out-of-network tier for its 750,000 members, effective Jan. 1.
Zambia agrees health deal with US after resolving dispute
Africa’s second largest copper producer got better terms than its neighbors, and still has a minerals deal to settle with Washington.
U.S. ban on Canadian alcohol imports set to begin Tuesday
A coalition representing American bourbon distilleries, wineries and restaurant workers is urging the Trump administration to resolve the trade dispute ahead of the holidays
SMH and United Healthcare at odds on Medicare Advantage pact
Dispute does not affect traditional Medicare coverage or commercial contract negotiations
Redoing Daubert: Are judges letting bad science back into the court room?
Daubert was meant to keep unreliable science out of the courtroom by making judges gatekeepers who ensure the reliability and relevance of expert testimony and the underlying research. A recent Second Circuit decision raises a harder question: how deeply may a judge examine the science when evaluating an expert’s methodology before determining the scientific dispute itself? The answer could reshape how courts translate epidemiological evidence into legal proof.
The Supreme Court sides with GOP again in political ad rates dispute
The ruling gives the FCC more time to review a policy that would extend discounted campaign ad rates to political committees.
Oscar-winning actress ordered to stay away from 12-year-old son
Halle Berry was ordered to stay away from ex Olivier Martinez and their 12-year-old son after Martinez made a disputed abuse allegation.
Minors account for half of complaints against 'academy-style' entertainment agencies
A total of 366 dispute resolution requests involving 'academy-type' entertainment agencies, those that train their clients, provide auditions or even guarantee certain opportunities for a cost, were filed between 2023 and June this year.
Nicolas Cage says he won't work with Amazon again over AI dispute
Nicolas Cage, who recently starred in "Spider-Noir," said he won't work with Amazon again after a disagreement over an AI waiver.
Judge’s order explains decision in State Health Plan, Atrium dispute
A North Carolina Business Court judge offered a written explanation Wednesday for his decision not to issue a temporary restraining order or injunction in a dispute between the State Health Plan and Atrium.
Political ad rates case frozen through midterms
The Supreme Court in an unsigned decision Wednesday sided with Republicans in a dispute over expanding discounted television advertising rates beyond political candidates ahead of the midterms. The unsigned order from a majority of the court paused a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals from the 4th Circuit that could have allowed the courts […]
California falls short on Medi-Cal fraud, state report says
The program serves 14 million Californians and pays out $200 billion a year. State health officials dispute the findings.
Jefferson Health-Independence contract dispute worries Jefferson patients with IBX Medicare Advantage plans
IBX Medicare Advantage customers who are Jefferson Health patients have a choice: switch plans or risk losing access to their Jefferson doctors next year.
Zambia agrees health deal with US after resolving dispute
Africa’s second largest copper producer got better terms than its neighbors, and still has a minerals deal to settle with Washington.
Zambia signs US health deal after disputes over data-sharing
The US will provide $1.5bn (£1.1bn) under the deal that was negotiated after Trump cut USAID funding.
Controversy over Musk military system in Ukraine pitches relations with US into deeper crisis
The worst crisis in US-Ukraine relations since last year’s Oval Office meltdown is deteriorating further over a dispute about who ordered a disruption to a critical Ukrainian military system running on Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service.
Juneau family business accused of embezzlement and theft from Switzer Village Mobile Home Park
Josette and Marciano Duran, of Duran Construction, dispute the allegations brought by Josette’s mother, who owns the mobile home park.
Supreme Court Will Review Dispute Over Records From Elon Musk’s DOGE
A nonprofit watchdog group sued the Department of Government Efficiency, asserting that it should be subject to federal Freedom of Information Act discovery requests.
How Trump’s Revenge Campaign Descended Into Turmoil
The president’s allies have sought to prove a “grand conspiracy” through a sprawling Justice Department inquiry. It has buckled under staffing shake-ups, internal disputes and trouble finding evidence.
Why Lee Health's insurance standoff stands out from others across the US
More than 30 health systems across the country are currently in disputes with insurance companies, and many of those battles center around Medicare Advantage.
Maximum Entertainment AB (MAXENT_B) Funds Attached to Enforce SEK 160.9M Claim
Maximum Entertainment said the Swedish Enforcement Authority attached all funds in its SEB account to enforce an arbitration award claim totaling SEK 160,898,318 from a dispute with the sellers of Maximum Games.Material DetailsContext by AI AnalystThis is a late-stage escalation of a known arbitrat…
Court orders Dairy Farmers of America to keep paying its share of union employees’ health insurance after shuttering the St. Albans Creamery
The Monday decision requires payments to continue as a dispute between the union and the co-op over the reasons for the plant's closure plays out.
How Dolly Parton’s Estate Fight Exposes Hidden Risks In Family Businesses
Families with trusts or legacy businesses can learn from Dolly Parton's estate dispute, which shows how heir‑employees, governance gaps and unclear authority spark conflict.
Orange County Public Schools rejects health insurance proposal
For the time being, Orange County school leaders have rejected a plan to end a dispute over teachers' health insurance.
Kelly Clarkson, Brooklyn store clash over $15,000 mechanical bird price tag
Kelly Clarkson is engaged in a public dispute with a Brooklyn business over an encounter at its store, drawing strong reactions on social media from people taking both sides.
Bar Harbor in limbo as legal disputes over cruise ships continue
The disputes stem from an ordinance that aimed to limit disembarkations to 1,000 passengers per day.
Katie Zacharia did not pass the bar exam, senior administration official says
A Trump administration official argued that the White House press secretary could technically be considered a “lawyer.” That argument has been disputed by legal experts.
Pennsylvania confirms fifth measles-associated death as US outbreak grows
Cases have more than doubled since August as a dispute with federal health officials over the death count continues.
What tensions? Uniqlo is back in fashion in China despite Beijing-Tokyo dispute
The Japanese clothing brand saw its China sales recover over the past year despite ongoing political tensions and China’s consumer slowdown.
Popular Wisconsin restaurant to close after nearly 65 years in business
VAN DYNE, Wis. (WFRV) — A Wisconsin bar and restaurant is closing after serving residents for nearly 65 years, according to a press release. After a dispute among family members, Wendt’…
NY Times exec allegedly slain by in-laws in California was reportedly mired in bitter divorce dispute
Police in Northern California are investigating the circumstances around the killing of a 40-year-old New York Times executive who was fatally shot by his in-laws in a parking lot over
Final plans for Trump’s arch appear to abandon his ‘military complex’ idea
Newly posted documents make no mention of drones, snipers or other military features announced by the president. A White House official disputed that plans had changed.
How the Midterms Could Complicate the Supreme Court’s New Term
Even before the justices start their new term on Monday, the court has spent the summer resolving fast-moving requests on election-related disputes.
Marty Weinberg, retired attorney, former city solicitor, and longtime political power broker, has died at 89
As Mayor Frank Rizzo’s city solicitor in 1972 and ‘73, he negotiated labor contracts, litigated tax disputes, reduced the number of city consultants, and juggled other thorny political issues.
Amid trade dispute, Canada continues business relationship with Washington state
Canada ambassador Mark Wiseman visited Seattle this week. He said his country wants the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement implemented fairly.
OCPS rejects compromise on teacher health insurance ahead of school board hearing
Orange County Public Schools rejected on Tuesday a compromise on health insurance costs meant to break a months-long contract dispute between the district and its teachers union, saying that a special...
Kelly Clarkson and a Brooklyn store clashed on social media. Behind it, power dynamics loomed
Kelly Clarkson's recent dispute with a Brooklyn store highlights the power dynamics between celebrities and everyday people | 830 WCCO
Sentara ends negotiations with Anthem on health plans
Sentara Health ended negotiations with Anthem over certain plans amid an ongoing dispute over reimbursement rates.
Evans rips Dems for blocking data center bill foes say ‘has no teeth’
Rep. Gabe Evans blasted Senate Democrats after they blocked his Ratepayer Protection Act, setting off a dispute with Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper over data centers and electricity costs.
Lee Health and UnitedHealthcare dispute continues as open enrollment deadlines loom
A contract dispute between Lee Health and UnitedHealthcare could leave about 50,000 patients out of network starting Jan. 1, raising concerns among those who could be impacted.
Libertarianism Is Equality of Permission
“Without shared standards of right and wrong, it’s impossible to settle disputes; it’s impossible to maintain social cohesion and trust. Every healthy society rests on some shared conception of the sacred.”
Knicks Bold Predictions For The 2026/27 Season
The New York Knicks have one of the most unique seasons in their history coming up in 2026-27: a season defending their title as NBA champions. 3 Bold Predictions for the Knicks' Season With much of the roster returning, a wild offseason across the league, and public contract disputes, the spotlight remains on them as next …