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Naughty Dog will fully reveal Intergalactic in 2027
Naughty Dog confirms new Last of Us projects are in early development…
Canadian Law Firms Anticipate More European Business as Ottawa, Brussels Explore EU 'Associate Membership'
Beneficiaries could include Stikeman Elliott, Osler, Fasken, McCarthy Tétrault, Blakes, Davies and Torys, along with global firms.
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.
Newer Chromebooks Will Be Able to Upgrade to Googlebook OS
The company also confirms it'll continue to support ChromeOS through mid-2034.
Google seemingly confirms plans to kill ChromeOS in 2034
Google support maps out how Googlebooks can take over where ChromeOS left off.
Trajan Langdon confirms that the #Pistons have not …
Trajan Langdon confirms that the #Pistons have not …
Rod Stewart confirms final tour after heart procedure and health scares
Rod Stewart announced his "Final Encore Tour," revealing next year's dates will be his last-ever tour after a coronary stent procedure and health setbacks.
Newcastle Confirms Coca-Cola Partnership Agreement
Newcastle United continues to expand its commercial operation, with the club looking to strengthen revenue streams and broaden its reach beyond matchday football to eventually compete on equal financial terms with the Big Six. The club has confirmed a multi-year partnership with Coca-Cola, which becomes Newcastle’s official soft drinks partner and the presenting partner of […]
Inside Forbes’ Inaugural List Of 25 Black-Owned Business To Watch
For the first time in U.S. history, the number of Black-owned employer businesses topped 200,000 firms. These are the 25 companies that standout.
US firms in China return focus to local rivals as bilateral ties mend
As relationship stabilises, bilateral ties drop to second place among concerns of US companies, according to business chambers.
Völler confirms Klopp will ditch 44-man Germany squad
Jürgen Klopp made a surprising call with his first squad selection as Germany coach, naming 44 players for the four UEFA Nations League matches during this international break and splitting them into...
IRGC Reaffirms Commitment to Resistance Path on Nasrallah’s Martyrdom Anniversary
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps reaffirmed its commitment to the path of Hezbollah late Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, saying his legacy continues to strengthen the resistance front and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Taylor Swift Confirms She’s ‘Patient Zero’ In VMAs Music Video Debut
Fans had been parsing the singer’s social media for clues and coming up with theories for days leading up to the ceremony.
Taylor Swift Confirms She’s ‘Patient Zero’ In VMAs Music Video Debut
Fans had been parsing the singer’s social media for clues and coming up with theories for days leading up to the ceremony.
VMAs producer confirms idea for award Taylor Swift will first receive ‘came from external’ influence
Taylor Swift is receiving the inaugural Artist Director Honors at this year’s ceremony.
VMAs producer confirms idea for new award ‘came from external’ influence
The MTV Video Music Awards is handing out its first-ever VMA Artist Director Honors to Taylor Swift on Sept. 27.
Jürgen Klopp confirms Alexander Nübel will play against Greece
German national team head coach Jürgen Klopp has stated that 29-year-old Besiktas goalkeeper Alexander Nübel will play between the sticks in the UEFA Nations League game against Greece on Sunday. M...
As A.I. Makes Law Firms More Efficient, Clients Ask: ‘Where’s My Discount?’
There’s growing pressure to move beyond the billable hour. But big firms aren’t ready to blow up their trusted business model.
Pitt County Public Health confirms rabies in raccoon found in Greenville
Pitt County Public Health has confirmed a raccoon found in Greenville tested positive for rabies, according to the Pitt County officials.Greenville Animal Servi
U.N. Releases New List of Companies It Says Do Business With Israeli Settlements
Israel condemned the database of firms tied to activity in the occupied West Bank as a “political tool” to advance “a smear campaign.”
Apple Code Confirms iPad 12 Specs: A19, 8GB RAM, N1, C1X Modem
The next low-cost iPad will be equipped with an A19 chip, C1X modem, N1 networking chip, and 8GB RAM, according to details found in Apple's code by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. We've heard some of these same specifications in prior rumors, so this is more of a confirmation than a new leak. The iPad 11 has an A16 chip, so the upgrade to the A19 in the 12th-generation iPad will bring a noticeable improvement in performance.
Lionel Richie confirms ‘American Idol’ return amid health issues
Lionel Richie will return as a judge on ‘American Idol’ following a recent heart procedure to address atrial fibrillation.
Lionel Richie confirms ‘American Idol’ return amid health issues
Lionel Richie will return as a judge on ‘American Idol’ following a recent heart procedure to address atrial fibrillation.
NASA’s Roman Team Confirms Ground Stations Receiving Data
NASA has now confirmed all ground stations supporting the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope are ready to receive the mission’s high volume of data
Pioneer of China NewCo model sued in US over trade secret misuse, double-dealing
A legal feud unfolding in New York is putting a spotlight on the work of a business development veteran who is credited for pioneering one of biopharma’s hottest dealmaking mechanism: the China “NewCo” model. In a lawsuit originally filed in New York state court and recently moved to federal court, China’s Lepu Medical Technology has alleged that biopharma business development consultant Su Zhang, who was hired to help shop its GLP-1 weight-loss candidates to Western partners, engaged in corporate double-dealing and trade secret leaks. According to the complaint, while acting as Lepu’s primary dealmaking liaison for a group of obesity and metabolic disease drug candidates, Zhang was secretly double-dipping as the acting chief business officer for a direct competitor, BrightGene Pharmaceutical. “She never adequately disclosed the role, never sought Lepu’s consent, and never proposed any safeguard,” Lepu alleged in its complaint, which was filed in July after Zhang’s consulting firm, CoDevCo, sought certain transaction-based success fees from its angry customer through an arbitration process in Singapore. Lepu, the parent company of Lepu Biopharma, has asked Zhang to pay back its $500,000 retainer and disgorge all benefits she received during the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, plus other damages and relief. The company has also requested the court grant injunctions to protect Lepu’s trade secrets. The ill-fated partnership officially kicked off in December 2024, when Lepu tapped CoDevCo as its “exclusive business development mechanism” to identify collaborators for the company’s drug candidates. According to Lepu’s complaint, Zhang personally negotiated and signed the agreement as managing director for CoDevCo, which used her home address. Before the Lepu deal, Zhang made a name following a short stint as the global head of business development for Hengrui Pharmaceuticals. It was during her tenure that Hengrui signed a landmark deal granting exclusive rights for a portfolio of GLP-1 assets to Hercules, which was at that time newly established by a group of private equity and venture capital firms. In addition to the regular upfront and milestone payments, Hengrui also gained an equity stake in Hercules, which later became Kailera Therapeutics. The Hengrui-Hercules deal opened a new paradigm, where a Chinese biopharma company spins off certain early-stage assets to investors for further development through the creation of a new company abroad. The “NewCo” model quickly came into vogue as it allows Western investors to access high-potential assets originating from China at an early stage while giving the Chinese licensors an opportunity to reap long-term benefits through equity stakes in the new firms. The NewCo model proved its value when Kailera staged a record-breaking $625 million IPO on Nasdaq this April, merely two years into the Hengrui deal. Related Kailera CEO 'knew we were in a good spot' before obesity biotech's record-breaking $625M IPO On her LinkedIn page, Zhang described her work at Hengrui as “[b]uilding team and capability from the ground up,” forming NewCo and major pharma partnerships worth billions of dollars. Lepu clearly wanted that kind of track record to help boost its own cardiometabolic portfolio, which includes a range of assets for obesity, Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and muscle preservation during weight loss treatment. “Lepu’s pipeline is very valuable, but only if Lepu could secure the right international partner to expand into the overseas market during the available commercial window,” the company argued in its complaint. The Chinese biotech said it had little knowledge of U.S. laws, customs or business practices in the business development field, and therefore “needed to rely entirely” on the expertise of Zhang and her team as the firm’s first engagement of a U.S.-based BD consultant. “Zhang’s dominating influence on the business development strategy is further evidenced by the fact that she personally controlled the business-development communications on behalf of Lepu with potential partners,” Lepu said in its complaint. After entering the deal, Zhang introduced Lepu to her four associates. According to Lepu’s version of events, all of them were allegedly employed at different time points to perform similar jobs at other Chinese companies that Lepu described as its competitors, while having access to Lepu’s confidential information. As such, Lepu described Zhang’s team as “a roster of individuals whose primary professional loyalty, by virtue of their concurrent full-time employment, ran to Lepu’s competitors.” As well as the specific examples set out in the case, a look at Lepu’s deals over the period suggests Zhang may have been involved in at least one transaction. During their partnership, Lepu, through its subsidiary Shanghai Minwei Biotechnology, also out-licensed its GLP-1/GIP/FGF21 agonist MWN105 to a NewCo called Sidera Bio in the fall of 2025. The deal included an upfront and near-term payment of $35 million, up to $1.01 billion in milestones, and a 9.99% stake in the Danish startup. It seems likely that Zhang facilitated the Minwei deal given that Lepu is on record as having used CoDevCo as its “exclusive business development mechanism.” The big shock for Lepu came in the form of a news article on June 25, 2025. The article, reporting on phase 2 data for BrightGene’s GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist BGM0504, identified Zhang as acting chief business officer of the Lepu rival. Blindsided by her association with BrightGene, Lepu confronted Zhang in July 2025. “Lepu was given assurances that there was nothing to be concerned about and told that Zhang would explain the matter to Lepu,” Lepu alleged in its complaint. “Zhang never did.” Lepu claimed that Zhang had the motive and opportunity to steer potential prospective partners toward BrightGene or other competitors. Later, in February 2026, one of Zhang’s associates joined BrightGene as the vice president for global business development, according to the complaint. Around the same time, Lepu sent written demand letters asking Zhang to account for her BrightGene role, identify what confidential data were shared with the rival firm, and provide any conflict-of-interest or firewall policies during the engagement. According to Lepu, neither CoDevCo nor Zhang answered the questions in their responses. Related Novo vs. KBP: How a $1.3B deal turned into a fraud accusation and an international legal fight In a motion to dismiss filed with the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York on Sept. 4, Zhang’s legal team argued that Lepu’s agreement was signed with CoDevCo, and that an employee of the contractor does not owe fiduciary duties to the client. In its complaint, Lepu said: “That CoDevCo was the contracting entity does not insulate Zhang from personal liability for duties she personally undertook and personally breached.” Taking the argument one step further, the defending party argued that the consulting agreement “does not create a fiduciary relationship even between CoDevCo and Lepu; instead, it identifies CoDevCo as an independent contractor retained to market Lepu’s business to potential western partners.” Although CoDevCo was Lepu’s exclusive business-development contractor, there were no terms stipulating that the consulting firm should serve only Lepu, Zhang’s lawyer noted. As to Lepu’s claims that Zhang misappropriated trade secrets, the defendant argued that Lepu authorized the use of the information so Zhang’s team could perform their service per the agreement. In a rebuttal filed on Sept. 11, Lepu’s lawyer set out why they believe the Chinese biotech satisfied New York law’s misappropriation definition by alleging that the defendant used a trade secret “in breach of a duty or through improper means.” As an alternative to dismissing the suit, the defendant suggested the action should be stayed pending outcomes from the arbitration of a separate case in Singapore. While NewCo pioneer Zhang is defending her business arrangements, momentum behind the NewCo trend has continued unabated into 2026. Through August, Chinese biotech assets have spurred 15 NewCo deals this year, according to local trade publication PharmaDJ.
Pope Leo XIV affirms need for media when asked about Trump ban at White House
Pope Leo XIV told reporters they were welcome to cover him as he responded a question about the Trump administration’s attempt to bar U.S. media from the White House by affirming the importance of...
Pope Leo XIV affirms need for media when asked about Trump ban at White House
Pope Leo XIV told reporters they were welcome to cover him as he responded a question about the Trump administration’s attempt to bar U.S. media from the White House by affirming the importance of...
Jürgen Klopp Confirms Kai Havertz Scan After Germany Injury
The Arsenal forward was forced off during Germany's draw with the Netherlands, with Jürgen Klopp confirming a muscular problem and further checks.
Rob Pelinka Confirms Luka Doncic Influenced Offseason Moves
The Los Angeles Lakers have put their full trust in Luka Doncic as the face of the franchise. General Manager Rob Pelinka confirmed that Doncic was strongly involved into the decisions he made to build a team around the All-NBA superstar. Moves like adding center Walker Kessler and extending Austin Reaves to a long-term contract […] The post Rob Pelinka Confirms Luka Doncic Influenced Offseason Moves appeared first on HEAVY.
Tuscarawas County Health Department confirms West Nile virus
The Tuscarawas County Health Department (TCHD) warns the community on Thursday of a horse that tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) in the Mineral City area.
First flu-related death of season reported in Clark County
Southern Nevada Health District confirms the first flu-related death of the season in Clark County. Health officials urge Las Vegas residents to get vaccinated.
Taylor Swift Just Teased the 'Patient Zero' Music Video and I Think It Confirms *This* Theory
Taylor Swift announced that she'd be premiering a new music video, "Patient Zero," a the VMAs this weekend. Here's why I think it points to this long-standing theory.
The Copilot+ PC brand is dead: Microsoft and PC makers quietly pull back on tarnished Windows 11 AI PC branding
In a new interview, Microsoft Surface CVP confirms that its new Surface PCs are no longer called Copilot+ PCs, but will still support all Copilot+ features.
Apple Confirms iPhone 18 Pro Bug Fix Update is Coming Next Week
Apple has confirmed to 9to5Mac's Benjamin Mayo that it plans to release a software update early next week with a fix for a Face ID issue affecting some iPhone 18 Pro users. Apple has confirmed to 9to5Mac's Benjamin Mayo that it plans to release a software update early next week with a fix for a Face ID issue affecting some iPhone 18 Pro users.
Fossil-fuel firms in line for billions in benefits after answering Trump’s donation call
Senators’ report says taxpayers face higher bills after ‘bargain’ between president and major polluters
New report confirms length of Arteta’s new Arsenal contract
Mikel Arteta’s new contract is set to last for the next four years, according to a report, with his backroom staff to extend for the same period.Photo by Stu Forster/Getty ImagesFabrizio Romano repo...
Trump SBA to Extend Comment Period After Ranking Member Markey Leads Effort to Rescind SBA Policy that Reclassifies Billion-Dollar Businesses as “Small Businesses”
Trump admin policy would reclassify 114,000 larger businesses as “small” to access small business resources and win federal contracts meant for small businesses Letter (PDF) (Washington, September 23) – This week, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced its plans to extend the deadline to submit comments on its controversial proposed rule regarding small business size standards until November 20. The Trump SBA’s announcement came shortly after Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), alongside 12 of his Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Administrator Kelly Loeffler demanding that the Trump SBA rescind a harmful policy that would dramatically redefine what a small business is. The Administration’s proposed policy would change the small business size standard to designate 114,000 larger companies some with annual revenue above $1 billion—as small businesses, giving these businesses access to small business resources and federal contracts typically set aside for actual small businesses. In the letter, Ranking Member Markey and the lawmakers emphasized that small businesses will be shut out of the federal contracting space as government agencies award contracts to larger businesses, causing small businesses to lose revenue, lay off workers, or close their businesses entirely. “For more than 70 years, SBA’s mission has been clear: promote and protect the interests and viability of small businesses. By proceeding with this proposed methodology and rule, SBA moves further away from its mission of facilitating healthy small business participation in the U.S. economy. We urge SBA to rescind these proposals, meet in earnest with small businesses across the country, and discuss the proposal and methodology with congressional committees of jurisdiction. SBA must be committed to developing measured increases to the size standards that do not reward large, billion-dollar companies but instead helps our small businesses survive, grow, and thrive.” The lawmakers highlighted the following points in their letter: Under the Trump SBA’s new size standards, the highest receipts-based standard would exceed $1 billion in annual revenue—more than 20 times the current $47 million maximum—and the highest employee-based standard would reach 3,600 employees—more than twice the current 1,500 employee maximum. Specific increases include an increase in size of nearly 492% for banks, 1,500% for law firms, and more than 2,051% for private equity firms. Of the 114,000 businesses that would be newly classified as small, more than 37,000 of these businesses have collectively won more than 100,000 federal contracts worth approximately $71 billion in Fiscal Year 2025 alone without a small business designation. If SBA included the awards won by these 37,000 businesses in its Fiscal Year 2025 analysis, small business contracts would have accounted for 38% of all federal contracts, instead of the 27% that SBA announced this summer. The letter was co-signed by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Christopher Coons (D-Dela.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). Ranking Member Markey is fighting to protect small businesses in Massachusetts and across the country from the Trump SBA’s harmful policies that put big businesses and billionaires over American small businesses, workers, and families. In August, Ranking Member Markey slammed the Trump SBA’s proposal to overhaul its small business size standards to benefit big businesses over small businesses. In July, Ranking Member Markey and House Small Business Committee Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY-7) introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to rescind the Trump administration’s policy that bans green card holders from accessing essential Small Business Administration (SBA) loans to start and grow their businesses. Also in July, Ranking Member Markey and Senator Hirono submitted a comment letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA) opposing a proposed rule change by Trump’s SBA to the 8(a) Business Development Program that would harm underserved small business owners and entrepreneurs. In June, Ranking Member Markey released a new report highlighting Trump’s drastic reduction in federal contracting dollars awarded to American small businesses. ###
Why universities, law firms, tech, and media didn't fight Trump
Profiles in cowardice were everywhere amid the administration’s threats. Even when capitulation made no sense.
Euro zone business activity posts surprise upturn in September, PMI shows
Business activity across the euro zone accelerated this month at its fastest rate in over three years, confounding expectations for a slowdown, but firms faced a steeper rise in operating costs, a survey showed.
German business activity grows in September, PMI shows
By Maria Martinez BERLIN, Sept 23 (Reuters) - German business activity expanded solidly in September despite firms facing increased inflationary pressures, a preliminary business survey showed on Wednesday. The S&P Global Flash Composite PMI Index fo...
German business activity grows in September, PMI shows
By Maria Martinez BERLIN, Sept 23 (Reuters) - German business activity expanded solidly in September despite firms facing increased inflationary pressures, a preliminary business survey showed on
Latest Kyrie Irving Trade News Could Be Great For Lakers
The NBA future of Kyrie Irving could see a big trade coming in his future. A new report confirms the Dallas Mavericks expecting to start the season with Irving as the starting point guard. Most teams around the league forecast him to get traded in the near future. Cooper Flagg becoming the face of the […] The post Latest Kyrie Irving Trade News Could Be Great For Lakers appeared first on HEAVY.
State of Decay Developer Undead Labs Confirms 'Significant' Layoffs Following Independence from Xbox
State of Decay 3 developer Undead Labs has confirmed that it has had to undergo "significant" layoffs following its independence from Xbox.
New 'Injustice 3' Leak Teases Highly Anticipated DC Characters
A new 'Injustice 3' leak seemingly confirms two beloved characters are on the way for the unannounced game.
Xbox transfers Rare and Halo franchise to Activision, proposes closure of Ninja Theory and confirms another 268 roles cut amid studio restructure
Major staff cuts at former 343 Industries and other teams; consultation begins at Ninja Theory; Obsidian transferred to Bethesda, buyer found for Undead Labs
Pascal Groß confirms retirement from German national team
Germany will have one less player in the potential talent pool moving forward.
Most firms keep cash from tariff refunds, Fed study finds
The bulk of companies receiving billions in tariff refunds are mostly holding on to the cash, according to a survey released Monday by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Of
F1 confirms new Hot Wheels "Infinite Rush" car collection for 2027 release
Formula 1 will bring all 22 cars from the 2026 grid to the Hot Wheels 'Infinite Rush' video game in March 2027
Department of Health confirms case of Powassan virus in Rhode Island
A 60-year-old Washington County man, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health, has been diagnosed with Powassan virus- a rare tick-borne disease.
Bham firms trade Hoover apartments for $7M
A Birmingham-based firm flipped a Hoover apartment property after nine months of new management and renovations.
Opinion: When bigger businesses are reclassified as ‘small,’ small firms lose
Small-business policies should help small businesses grow. It should not redefine them out of opportunity, Dan Seals writes.
Memorial Healthcare System Names Shane Strum President & CEO
Board of Commissioners confirms permanent leadership following a two-year interim tenure marked by record growth and expanded access to care HOLLYWOOD, Fla., September 3, 2026 — The South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners has voted to name Shane Strum President and Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Healthcare System, confirming a role he has held on […]
Samsung confirms One UI 9 rollout dates for some older Galaxy devices
Samsung confirms the One UI 9 rollout date for Galaxy S25, Galaxy Z7 foldables, and S23 FE. Find out when your Galaxy receives the update.
iFixit Shares iPhone 18 Pro Teardown With Inside Look at New Features
iFixit today published an iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max teardown in both article and video formats, providing a closer look inside the new devices. The teardown confirms the battery capacities for the eSIM-only models: iPhone 18 Pro: 4,288 mAh (+0.8% vs. 4,252 mAh for iPhone 17 Pro) iPhone 18 Pro Max: 5,567 mAh (+9.4% vs.
North Bay firms urge Newsom to sign website privacy lawsuit reform bill
Contractors in Sonoma, Marin and Solano counties are among thousands of California small businesses who say website privacy lawsuits are costing them dearly as CIPA litigation reform bill SB 690 awaits Governor Newsom’s action.
Devin Booker Reaffirms Long-Term Commitment to Phoenix Suns
Amid rising league-wide volatility, the four-time All-Star embraces a dual role as franchise lifer and veteran mentor, intent on recruiting elite talent to spark a championship resurgence.
Diesel prices in Bakersfield top $8 a gallon, squeezing trucking firms and raising grocery costs
Bakersfield diesel prices are up 60% from last year, topping $8 a gallon and straining local trucking and farm businesses.
Andre-Frank Anguissa can leave Napoli, confirms sporting director
Serie A side Napoli have been struggling regarding a renewal for Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and there are signs an exit can go through soon.The Partenopei take on Fiorentina in a league clash today an...
AI agents can finally run your errands
Tech firms like Meta are betting users will embrace AI agents, even though they have shown they aren't always aligned with our interests.
Florida health department confirms dengue as Tampa woman's cause of death
The 80-year-old was apparently the first person in the region killed by the mosquito-spread virus in nearly a century. There are signs the Hillsborough County outbreak could be waning.
Samsung Confirms Free Feature Upgrade For Millions Of Galaxy Phones
Samsung has officially confirmed One UI 9 is rolling out to Galaxy S26 phones today with 11 new features. Here's what's new and how to get the update.
Teardown confirms US iPhone 18 Pro Max lacks Apple's C2 modem
A teardown of the iPhone 18 Pro Max has confirmed an oddity of the US-based model, in that it uses a Qualcomm modem instead of Apple's C2 chip.
iPhone 18 Pro Max still uses a Qualcomm modem in the US, teardown confirms
TechInsights has published one of the first in-depth iPhone 18 Pro Max teardowns. Most notably, the teardown confirms that the iPhone...
Arteta confirms Arsenal Pro Ref meeting
Mikel Arteta said Arsenal used the meeting to discuss the decision and wider refereeing issues after Dan Ballard was awarded a penalty against Ezri Konsa.Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty ImagesMikel Arte...
Insomniac Confirms Wolverine Doesn't Contain AI-Generated Assets After A Weird-Looking Sign Goes Viral
A funky-looking bathroom sign is the result of an in-game glitch and is not AI slop
Florida confirms a death from dengue as the state struggles with one of its worst recent outbreaks
Florida is experiencing one of its worst surges of dengue fever in decades, and the toll now includes a death. The Florida Department of Health confirmed the death Friday, though it didn't provide fu...
iPhone 18 Pro Max in U.S. Equipped With Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 Modem
TechInsights has published an iPhone 18 Pro Max teardown that confirms the U.S. version of the device is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 modem. The device's modem firmware also points towards the Snapdragon X80 modem. The smaller iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone Duo use Apple's custom-designed C2 modem worldwide, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max uses the C2 modem in every other country, so the U.S. version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max having a Qualcomm modem is unique.
Barcelona star confirms plans to retire at the club
All of a Barcelona persuasion will no doubt be delighted to learn of the latest comments laid out by Raphinha regarding his future with the club.This comes after the Brazilian revealed his intention t...
Postal Service chief confirms Trump mail-in ballot security work stopped
The chief of the U.S. Postal Service confirmed the agency has stopped its work on implementing a computer system that would have verified mail-in ballots for the midterm elections under an executive order from President Donald Trump. In a Thursday interview with the Associated Press, Postmaster General David Steiner said “we’re not doing anything” because […]
Zinédine Zidane confirms Kylian Mbappé’s role as France’s captain
The question of whether he would feature in Zinédine Zidane’s first squad did not even arise, whilst the one surrounding his continued role as captain of the French national team was quickly resolv...
Ex-Labour deputy leader Tom Watson joins Palantir
Lord Watson praises his new employers but says there are "legitimate questions" about big tech firms that "require answers".
The Blood of Dawnwalker Dev Confirms New Game Plus Is on the Way
The Blood of Dawnwalker is indeed getting a new game plus mode in the future, according to the game's director.
English midfielder confirms he's ready to join Liverpool
An English midfielder confirmed with his performance that he's ready to make the move to Liverpool. Well, Andoni Iraola has a problem. It has become very apparent that he needs a solution for his midf...
US sanctions boost China’s science-driven innovation by over 70%, study finds
US tech restrictions have driven Chinese firms to expand and deepen their scientific research sourcing through citations and research.
Cole County Health Department confirms case of rabies in a bat
The Cole County Health Department confirmed that a bat was found to have a positive case of rabies.The bat was tested after it had contact with a stray cat.The
'Sinners' star Wunmi Mosaku confirms she quietly welcomed second child
LOS ANGELES — Wunmi Mosaku has confirmed the birth of her second child — with style. The "Sinners" actor posed for photos with her two children, a then-10-week-old son and
'Sinners' star Wunmi Mosaku confirms she quietly welcomed second child
LOS ANGELES — Wunmi Mosaku has confirmed the birth of her second child — with style. The "Sinners" actor posed for photos with her two children, a then-10-week-old son and
Oliver Glasner Confirms Nottingham Forest Injury Boost
Nottingham Forest have been handed a fresh injury boost, Oliver Glasner has confirmed.
Bungie Denies Rumor It Plans to Merge the Destiny and Marathon IPs, Confirms Marathon December and March 2027 Updates Are Free
Bungie has stepped in to deny a rumor that it planned to merge the Destiny and Marathon IPs amid continued questions about the future of both franchises.
David Ornstein confirms Arsenal interest in Liverpool’s Ngumoha
Arsenal like Rio Ngumoha and hold an interest in signing him, but Liverpool are keen to renew the young winger’s contract, according to David Ornstein.Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty ImagesDavid Ornstein...
Monaco CEO confirms plan to sell Folarin Balogun in January
AS Monaco’s CEO Thiago Scuro has confirmed that the club’s plan is to sell Folarin Balogun (25) during the January transfer window, which would allow Lamine Camara and Aleksandr Golovin, both heav...
Wow, attacker confirms Liverpool have signed a sensational player
Liverpool have signed a phenomenal attacker, he just confirmed it. It's been a roller coaster of the transfer window throughout the summer. Looking back on it, two weeks later most supporters will be ...
Google confirms a dangerous Pixel security flaw was exploited by hackers
Pixel owners were hit by zero-day attacks
Fossil tooth analysis confirms Tyrannosaurus rex was warm-blooded
By using fossil teeth, scientists measured T. rex’s body temperature for the first time. They found evidence of an active, warm-blooded predator.
Tyrannosaurus rex was warm-blooded, new study confirms
The King of the Dinosaurs had an internal temperature similar to you.
NY Fed: Business activity declines, firms ‘not very optimistic’
The New York Fed reports a modest decline in business activity and a pessimistic outlook among firms in New York, northern New Jersey and southwestern Connecticut.
Award-winning Wertheim College teacher, healthcare scholar embraces visibility, FSU
He displays his love for teaching and his students on his office door and walls, reaffirms his dedication to life-changing research in his steady stream
Google confirms Pixel phones were exploited in ‘targeted’ attack related to modem
Google has confirmed that a “limited” number of Pixel phones were attacked by a vulnerability related to the modem on...
Samsung starts rolling out Android 17 with One UI 9, confirms initial list of Galaxy devices
After months in beta, Samsung is now rolling out One UI 9, based on Android 17, to select Galaxy devices....
Aurora Cannabis Provides Business Update; Accretive Acquisition of Safari Flower Company and Leading European Performance Expected to Fuel International Growth in the Fiscal Second Quarter 2027 and Beyond
NASDAQ| TSX: ACB Re-affirms FY27 Q2 guidance for sequential growth in quarterly net revenue and adjusted EBITDA1 Following the receipt of EU-GMP certification...
‘What do they know that you don’t?’ The question driving sports prediction markets
Your biggest competition in sports prediction markets operate like high-tech trading firms.
Inside the automotive supply chain: Empirical evidence from Italian business-to-business trade data
Europe’s automotive industry is undergoing a significant transformation. This column uses firm-to-firm data to map the Italian automotive supply chain, covering both direct suppliers and firms connected through indirect linkages. Around 40% of the value added of the supply chain is generated by car manufacturers, with the remaining 60% split between direct suppliers and indirect suppliers. The supplier network is diverse across sectors and regions of Italy, reflecting both agglomeration forces and long-standing patterns of industrial specialisation. It estimates that demand shocks to the automotive sector would propagate through the supply chain and lead to large network multipliers.
Pa. Department of Health confirms state's fourth measles-related death in Mifflin County
Officials with Pennsylvania's Department of Health are reporting the fourth measles-related death in the Commonwealth.
Pa. Department of Health confirms state's fourth measles-related death in Mifflin County
Officials with Pennsylvania's Department of Health are reporting the fourth measles-related death in the Commonwealth.
US confirms for first time it has deployed weapons into space
Analysts warn of an acceleration in high-risk arms race with Russia and China. in Earth’s orbit
Steam Deck 2 plans remain unchanged despite the ongoing memory crisis, Valve confirms
The ongoing memory crisis has forced several companies to increase the prices of existing products or rethink plans for future hardware. However, it seems it hasn't changed Valve's plans for the Steam Deck 2.