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German companies want tougher EU-China policy despite supply chain reliance
The DIHK finds German firms facing Chinese competition back stronger EU action, but its trade chief warns against ‘blanket measures’.
Iowa State’s new president talks about university’s role in state
During his first months as president of Iowa State University, David Cook has traveled to nearly 40 Iowa communities, listening as residents, community leaders, business owners and others talked about their hopes for the future and challenges they face. One concern has surfaced again and again: finding and keeping workers. “Workforce and talent are a…
Thomas using Jamaica experience to drive Wrexham on
Forward Natasha Thomas hopes the experience she has gained on the international stage with Jamaica can help Wrexham Women continue their rapid rise.
The Trade Desk lays off 15% of staff
The restructure is expected to affect more than 500 roles at the adtech company, which has faced intensifying competition from Amazon.
49ers’ Key Defensive Lineman Ruled Out Before Week 1 Matchup
The San Francisco 49ers announced on Friday that they ruled out defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.“DL Sam Okuayinonu (foot) has been downgraded to OUT for the Week 1 game against the Rams, the 49ers announced,” Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported. DL Sam […] The post 49ers’ Key Defensive Lineman Ruled Out Before Week 1 Matchup appeared first on HEAVY.
Skubala discusses Bristol City star’s future at the club
Michael Skubala hopes Bristol City and Jason Knight’s joint statement has brought an end to speculation surrounding the Robins captain’s future.Knight had been linked with a move away during the s...
Ruth Bar breaks silence on her 1993 affair with Netanyahu, his early political rise
Thirty-three years after Netanyahu’s live TV confession, Ruth Bar speaks publicly for the first time about their professional relationship and his early political instincts.
Private equity faces existential crisis in US as unsold companies pile up
Private equity firms and the companies they own employ over 13 million, from startups to rural hospitals and large retailers, but experts’ concerns of collapse are growing
Victoria County to weigh mental health facility, road work and airport upgrades
Victoria County commissioners are set to take up construction, transportation, public-health and student-veteran funding items during a special meeting Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Nithya Raman is the comeback kid of L.A. politics
The Dodgers should sit Raman in their dugout come playoff time, because her knack for scoring while behind is almost preternatural.
TENNESSEE VOLS FOOTBALL: UT opens 2026 season with visiting Furman
Tennessee football is opening the 2026 season by facing off with Furman inside Neyland Stadium. Here's a preview as the Vols open a new year.
NFL execs throw some serious doubt at Joe Burrow’s Bengals
A poll before Week 1 has Joe Burrow and the Bengals facing some skepticism.
Guest Commentary: Screen time isn’t to blame for youth mental-health issues
The narrative tying youth depression to smartphone use and screen time may not be accurate — the passing of the school year or other factors are shown to be more of an indicator.
Why Julián Álvarez’s Barcelona Dream Still Faces Atlético’s Veto
Julián Álvarez ended the summer window still on Atlético Madrid’s books, but that outcome has settled almost nothing. Barcelona spent the entire market chasing the Argentine, Atlético publicly r...
Bologna troubles continue as Orsolini ruled out until international break
Bologna are without a victory after their first two Serie A matches of the 2026-27 season and the troubles for head coach Domenico Tedesco have now increased as Italy international Riccardo Orsolini h...
67,264 Shares in PENN Entertainment, Inc. $PENN Acquired by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company
The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company acquired a new stake in PENN Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PENN - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 67,264 shares of the c
Seahawks’ Jadarian Price Gets Realistic Message Before Patriots Game
The Seattle Seahawks are counting on Jadarian Price right out of the gate to be a factor in their running game. Seattle opens the 2026 NFL season with a Super Bowl LX rematch against the New England Patriots on Sept. 9. Last season for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Price played 242 total snaps, leading to a […] The post Seahawks’ Jadarian Price Gets Realistic Message Before Patriots Game appeared first on HEAVY.
How Motherwell's blueprint is defying second-season syndrome
New faces, same identity. Motherwell's approach has fans dreaming of a campaign that surpasses the highs of 2025-26.
End of the world: Scientists reveal 7 countries most likely to survive a global collapse by maintaining society and food production
With countries fighting wars and natural calamities sweeping away civilisations, it seems a global collapse might be a spark away. But the possibility of entire humanity vanishing off the face of Earth seems a little less plausible with the years of effort we have spent preparing solutions for such situations.
Jaissle Rubbishes Osula Injury Rumour | Press Conference
Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle has refused to be drawn into reports that William Osula could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines, dismissing speculation from Denmark surrounding the striker’s foot injury.
VMI prepares to play Virginia Tech on Saturday
LEXINGTON, Va. (WFXR) – Facing Virginia Tech for the first time since 1984, the VMI football team will renew the all-time series with the Hokies after a 42-year hiatus.VMI looks to bounce back from last week’s 38-10 loss to Idaho State in Pocatello, Idaho. The Keydets trailed just 10-0 at halftime, but the Bengals pulled […]
🗞️ Champions buzz in Seville, Barça shielded... Friday's front pages
This Friday, September 4, the sports press comes packed with major football headlines: Carlo Ancelotti’s star visit to Real Madrid’s training camp before facing Betis, Barcelona’s moves to secur...
One year after its founder's death, Armani faces challenge of 'inevitable evolution'
One year after the death of founder Giorgio Armani, the Italian fashion house is entering a pivotal period as the clock starts ticking on plans for an initial stake sale, after the group spent the last year focused on governance.
San Francisco 49ers arrive in Melbourne for historic NFL game against the LA Rams
The San Francisco 49ers have arrived in Melbourne for their season-opening NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sept. 11. It is expected to be the first of many regular-season NFL games in front of its growing Australian fan base. The team’s 200-member traveling party touched down on Friday morning after a 15-hour chartered Qantas flight and will spend a week acclimatizing before facing the Rams in front of an expected sold-out crowd at the MCG.
Qalibaf Mocks US over Oil, Treasury Yield Pressures
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Parliament speaker warned that the US is facing growing pressure from rising oil futures prices, elevated Treasury yields and the depletion of the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), saying the consequences of US’ policies are increasingly difficult to conceal.
Princeton considers AI and data science-focused ‘evolution’ for ORFE department, specifics unclear
The ORFE major could undergo changes in the coming years as a new ad hoc faculty committee considers how the University can strengthen its research and scholarship in AI and data science.
The future of science without animal testing
Federal agencies, such as the NIH, FDA and EPA, and scientists are moving away from animal testing. Learn how non-animal testing methods are changing the future of research.
Three crucial questions facing Farage at Reform conference
Can the Reform UK leader put his policies into action, and become prime minister?
Red Sox Could Catch Yankees, but Health is More Important
The Red Sox have to be smart in multiple ways.
Bundesliga brings the band back together in Premier League's shadow
As the cashed-up Premier League spent billions in another record-breaking transfer window, many Bundesliga clubs were forced to improvise, bringing back former players on cut-price deals. - 'Back home' - As the transfer window slammed shut on Tuesday evening, FIFA figures showed the Premier League had spent more than $3.02 billion (2.6 billion euros), more than three times the Bundesiga's $904 million.
Bold Rams Prediction Will Fire Up Los Angeles Fans
The Los Angeles Rams have been handed one of the boldest predictions heading into the 2026 NFL season, and it should give their fans plenty of reason for excitement. The forecast calls for the team to finish the year with both the league’s No. 1 scoring offense and No. 1 scoring defense, a feat accomplished […] The post Bold Rams Prediction Will Fire Up Los Angeles Fans appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
'Al the Jelly Man,' a familiar face on the South Shore and Cape, asks for community's help amid health challenges
“I still want to get out and meet people and talk and everything. But it's just — it's something I cannot do.”
Official White House website launches arcade games where users arrest immigrants and build a border wall
The Trump administration launched a series of arcade-style games on the official White House website Thursday to tout its priorities — the latest turn in its aggressive online effort to troll Democrats that has at times surfaced racist and offensive images.
Rutgers football suffers embarrassing loss to UMass
If you drew up the worst-case scenario for how Rutgers football’s 2026 season would begin, it would look a lot like this.
Nick Kyrgios cleared for immediate tennis return after stunning drug ban reversal
Just weeks after facing the prospect of years away from tennis, Nick Kyrgios has been handed a stunning lifeline following a major suspension ruling.
Leadership transition for the HAPO Center
The contractor operating the HAPO Center has announced a leadership transition for the venue as owner Franklin County considers diverse options for the facility’s future.
Nurses announce sympathy strikes, pickets on Sept. 15 at five Prime Healthcare hospitals in four states
RNs at two Prime Healthcare hospitals in Nevada and California and nurses and health care workers at a Prime facility in California gave notice that they will hold a sympathy strike for one day on September 15 in solidarity with striking nurses at Olympia Fields Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Nurses at another Chicago hospital and at a hospital in Lewiston, Maine, will hold informational pickets in solidarity with Olympia Fields RNs on the same day.
Monitoring One Health action against antimicrobial resistance in Indonesia
Ministry of Health, with support from WHO and partners, convened a national multisectoral validation meeting for Indonesia’s 2026 TrACSS submission. Representatives from human health, animal health, fisheries, food and agriculture, environment, research institutions and development partners reviewed the country’s progress on AMR, and validated evidence supporting survey responses prior to submission. In the meeting, WHO presented Indonesia’s 2025 TrACSS results and facilitated technical sessions on the 2026 survey structure, rating principles and submission process.
Ex-Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez plans guilty plea to charges stemming from fight outside hotel
Sanchez faces a felony battery charge, along with three misdemeanor charges, for what prosecutors have said was a fight over parking.
BEYONCÉ MARKS HER BIRTHDAY WITH THE RELEASE OF A REMASTERED DELUXE "B'DAY" ALBUM HER COMING-OF-AGE MASTERPIECE IS AMPLIFIED WITH UPGRADED VISUALS, SURPRISE NEW TRACKS, AND SPANISH LANGUAGE SONGS, INCLUDING COLLABORATIONS WITH MALUMA AND THE LATE SELENA
/PRNewswire/ -- Today marks Beyoncé's birthday and the release of a voluminous remastered B'DAY, her coming-of-age second album. When it was released on...
Arizonans bracing for more Medicaid coverage changes
Arizona’s Medicaid system, already facing declining enrollment, is bracing for impacts from H.R. 1.
Five Things presented by Compass Minerals: Sporting travels to face FC Dallas
Sporting Kansas City hits the road this weekend to take on FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium down in Texas on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and will be available to stream on Apple TV, while the game will also be broadcast locally on the radio via
Onyeka Okongwu Tabbed As ‘Biggest X Factor’ for Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks may have to lean heavily on big man Onyeka Okongwu in the frontcourt this season.
South Grad Partners with Full-Time Facility Dog on Her First Job
At USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital, recreational therapy looks a little different for recent graduate Emma Bryson, thanks to a full-time canine colleague named Rainier.
To The Ceiling Entertainment Faces Unpaid Artist Claims
To The Ceiling Entertainment is out at Salem’s Grand Theatre amid unpaid artist claims and more than $100,000 in alleged back rent.
Even second graders can reason like scientists—if we ask them the right way
When a child asks "Why does a blowfish puff up?" we often jump in with facts. But what if we paused and suggested that they ask instead, "How does a blowfish puff up?" It may seem like splitting hairs, ...
Thomas Massie introduces bipartisan "Flock-Off Act"
The cameras have faced scrutiny around the country over privacy concerns.
North Carolina GM Michael Lombardi resigns amid internal investigation
Bill Belichick's right-hand man Michael Lombardi is out, with the GM resigning one game into the season amid an internal investigation from UNC.
Orange judge resigns amid investigation over political donations
Judge Diana Tennis was facing suspension and a public reprimand by the Florida Supreme Court.
N.J. public workers and taxpayers slammed with another massive increase in health premiums
Facing another year of premium hikes for current and retired public workers, Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she will bring unions and other leaders together to discuss cost-cutting strategies.
Has Jürgen Klopp found the solution to Germany’s striker problem?
Younes Ebnoutalib already has 4 goals and an assist in just 2 games this season. Is he Germany’s next star striker?
Fact check: Vance repeats Trump’s fictional ‘$19 trillion’ investment figure
President Donald Trump has for months been using a fictional economic figure. Vice President JD Vance echoed it on Thursday.
Texas Rangers lineup for September 3, 2026
The Rangers start a four game set with the Rays
TV Academy announces 2026 Engineering, Science, and Technology Emmys
SpaceX's Starlink and AI-based face replacement tech among this year's winners.
Television Academy announces 2026 Engineering, Science, and Technology Emmy recipients
SpaceX's Starlink and AI-based face replacement tech among this year's winners.
Fact Check Team: Why can't you stop scrolling? The science behind social media 'addiction'
Social media is designed to keep users engaged. But does that mean the platforms are designed to be addictive? That question is part of a major legal fight.
Women on parole face higher rates of mental health, housing challenges
Women on parole report higher rates of housing instability, poor health and serious mental health and substance use disorders than men on parole and than women who weren’t on parole, according to a new analysis from the nonpartisan think tank Council on Criminal Justice.
Osaka squeezes into US Open third round
Two-time champion Naomi Osaka survived a second-set swoon to beat Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 on Thursday and reach the third round of the US Open.I definitely had a couple of opportunities in the second set, and I think I was a little too hard on myself," said Osaka, who next faces Belgium's Elise Mertens, a 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) winner over Maria Timofeeva of Uzbekistan.
1Password Users Flee Platform After $300,000 Donation. Should You Run, Too?
1Password faces backlash over a $300,000 pledge to a foundation connected to David Heinemeier Hansson. Should you switch to Bitwarden?
Blue Ridge Health plans new medical facility in Hendersonville
WLOS News 13 provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for Asheville, NC and nearby towns and communities in Western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina, including the counties of Buncombe, Henderson, Rutherford, Haywood, Polk, Transylvania, McDowell, Mitchell, Madison, Yancey, Jackson, Swain, Macon, Graham, Spartanburg, Greenville, Anderson, Union, Pickens, Oconee, Laurens, Greenwood, Abbeville and also Biltmore Forest, Woodfin, Leicester, Black Mountain, Montreat, Arden, Weaverville, Hendersonville, Etowah, Flat Rock, Mills River, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton, Clyde, Franklin, Cullowhee, Sylva, Cherokee, Marion, Old Fort, Forest City, Lake Lure, Bat Cave, Spindale, Spruce Pine, Bakersville, Burnsville, Tryon, Columbus, Marshall, Mars Hill, Brevard, Bryson City, Cashiers, Greer, Landrum, Clemson, Gaffney, and Easley.
Sabotage, leaks and political ties: the story of the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder trial
Maltese businessman cleared of involvement in journalist’s death, but trial revealed challenges faced by those leading search for killers
ICYMI: AFP-NH, NFIB Host Business Roundtable
Manchester, NH — In case you missed it, Americans for Prosperity-New Hampshire (AFP-NH) and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) hosted a discussion with New Hampshire businesses to discuss the state’s business environment and the challenges they face. Participants included: John Stephen, Stephen Group in Manchester and NH Executive Councilor Gino Baroni, Trident Group in Salem […]
Polk County releases Iowa Events Center RFP
Proposals are due on Oct. 30 for organizations interested in serving as the next operator of the Iowa Events Center. Polk County is looking for either a single company or two companies to operate the facilities and provide food and beverage services. The Iowa Events Center comprises the Casey’s Center, EMC Expo Center and the…
Maryland looks to unleash Malik Washington in opener vs. Hampton
Mike Locksley plans to open up the offense for sophomore Malik Washington as the Terrapins aim to rebound from last year's eight-game slide against a Pirates squad facing its first Power Four test.
Coins, cards and buildings: Where the government has Trump’s name and face
President Donald Trump’s administration has put his name on more than a dozen buildings, documents, government items and programs during his second term.
Deciphering black holes, problematic proteins, and ‘intelligent’ bacteria: 75 undergraduates experience Clark’s ‘Summer of Science’
Seventy-five undergraduate science majors at Clark spent the summer working closely with faculty mentors and diving deep into research. Their projects ranged from black holes in outer space to the ubiquitin protein system, whose dysregulation can lead to the development of cancer and other serious diseases.
Mass. R&D Tax change hits small businesses with big bills
Potentially thousands of Massachusetts businesses may be facing large tax bills as a result of the state’s decision to “decouple” from the R&D deduction provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Carencro oil & gas business plans to tap into SpaceX development
An oil and gas manufacturer plans to invest $25.5 million to expand its Carencro facility and focus new production lines on aerospace and defense.
Court docs: Candidate accused of trying to plant drugs on political opponent
Court documents have revealed why a southwestern political candidate was facing a federal charge.Federal prosecutors charged Thomas Christopher Ross, 37, of Jop
Fact Check Team: Why can't you stop scrolling? The science behind social media 'addiction'
Social media is designed to keep users engaged. But does that mean the platforms are designed to be addictive? That question is part of a major legal fight.
LM Workboats Builds Aluminum Research Vessel For Chesapeake Bay Science Ops
LM Workboats has been contracted to construct a 59-foot aluminum research vessel for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, designed to conduct multi-mission, year-round operations on the Chesapeake Bay and near-coastal Atlantic waters. The vessel will be built to US Coast Guard Subchapter T and UNOLS standards at Lyman-Morse facilities in Maine.
Farke on Rodon, bids for Okafor and facing Brighton
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton at Amex Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST). Farke confirmed defender Joe Rodon will be out for eight to 10 weeks with a "serious hamstring injury", adding: "It is a big blow for us because he is a key player for us." The Leeds boss also said it is up to him to decide when the right time is for Gabriel Gudmundsson to return from injury.
The hidden reference in Nvidia and Hugging Face's deal price
"Special congrats if you find the Hugging Face and Nvidia references hidden in our $12,930,300,000 acquisition price," cofounder Thomas Wolf wrote.
Is intelligence really passed down by our parents? What science says today - Futura-Sciences
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” as the saying goes. But is popular belief enough to conclude that intelligence is hereditary? There are plenty of examples of parents who appear to have intellectual abilities that differ from those of their children. That is because other factors, such as...
The weather app on your Pixel Watch is adding new watch face modules
Google’s Pixel Weather app is adding three new complications to join the Sunrise and sunset, UV Index, and Weather options.
NBA insider reveals timeline for Kawhi Leonard-Raptors trade after Clippers punishment
The Los Angeles Clippers traded Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors earlier in the offseason and then mayhem happened. Now, with everything cleared up, it seems like it will still be able to go through.
A weekend with the Women’s Professional Baseball League
Creating opportunities and inspiring a new generation
Just war is not the same as ‘genocide’
When one nation is singled out for an accusation reserved for no one else facing comparable circumstances, the motive is no longer the pursuit of justice.
Virtual therapy becomes a lifeline for patients
For patients facing grief, anxiety or other challenges, getting help doesn't have to be hard. Logging in for virtual care can be a lifeline.
Titans of Business honored by TBP in inaugural event
From finances to athletics to spirituality to charity and all points in between, they have made a significant impact in our community. In fact, you could even c
Nvidia confirms it's buying Hugging Face for $13 billion
Nvidia is buying Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, the companies said on Thursday, confirming Business Insider's previous reporting.
iPhone 18 Pro Chip Leak Indicates Major GPU and Memory Bandwidth Improvements
An alleged solder joint diagram for Apple's A20 Pro chip suggests the processor will deliver a number of significant upgrades, including a seven-core GPU, a wider memory interface, and a larger L2 cache for its efficiency cores. The claims come from a Weibo user who says the layout was reconstructed by mapping the chip's solder ball positions and overlaying them with die level images to sketch out where each block of the processor sits.
Tacoma brewery caught in controversy as owners’ political donations surface
A political organizer accused the businesses of being “anti-trans” after owners donated to a PAC. The owners say it was about tax reform.
Innovative Eyewear, Inc. Announces Q3 Business Update
/PRNewswire/ -- Innovative Eyewear, Inc. ("Innovative Eyewear" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: LUCY; LUCYW), the developer & manufacturer of smart eyewear under the...
Phoenix data center firm raises $1B to repurpose older facilities amid construction backlash
Saragon, backed by I Squared Capital, is repurposing existing data centers across the nation for AI inference, with headquarters in Phoenix and plans to hire 160-180 employees by end of 2027.
8 facts about Columbus sports history
The Buckeyes aren't the only game town.
Reimagined Ocean Bar Debuts on Oosterdam with Expanded Entertainment
New live music offerings, enhanced performance venue and heritage-inspired design come together as part of Holland America Evolution Key Highlights New Ocean...
"This is the worst crash we've seen since the 1980s," says Tim Sweeney
Industry experts speak to Edge Magazine deputy editor Alex Spencer about how the industry is facing "Crash 2.0"
Cardinals rumors: Arizona making progress on Michael Wilson contract extension
The Arizona Cardinals are in for a rough 2026 campaign . After a tumultuous 2025 campaign, Arizona is still quite far from light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. While they have some intriguing pieces on their roster, it’s unfortunately not going to be enough to contend in the best division in the NFL this year. That being said, the best thing […] The post Cardinals rumors: Arizona making progress on Michael Wilson contract extension appeared first on ClutchPoints.
‘Right in your face’: The science behind Maryland field hockey’s press defense
While the intensity of the Terps’ press defense stays consistent, part of what makes it so effective is the different shapes the players take on.
Peatland Fires Darken Skies in Indonesia
With Indonesia gripped by drought, fires are smoldering on the surface and underground.
The Human Body May Age in Two Major Bursts, And a New Study Reveals What Drives Them
With most organs following the ovary's cues.
Chris Mason: Reform face headwinds as they gather for conference
The party's continued prominence has brought what prominence always brings: scrutiny, says BBC political editor Chris Mason.
Former teammate of Kyler Murray's thinks Vikings coaching well help
A former teammate of Kyler Murray's believes the Vikings' coaching staff is perfect for him.
2026 US Open disruption caused by embarrassing social media influencers
The U.S. Open had an unusual disruption Tuesday when influencers were reportedly warned for staging a photoshoot with lights during Naomi Osaka's first-round match.
Sony and Microsoft say they’re not obligated to pass U.S. tariff refunds to consumers, echoing Nintendo
Back in July, Sony executives told investors that the company expected to receive $508 million in refunds from the U.S. government, after tariffs that the PlayStation-maker paid were ruled mostly in 2025 were found to be illegal. “Most” of the refund would by recouped by Sony’s gaming division, its chief financial officer said. This week, Sony’s lawyers are arguing that the company is not legally obligated to pass those proceeds on to consumers who paid for recently price-hiked PlayStation consoles. That’s in the face of a lawsuit from gamers calling on them to do exactly that. “Paying fair market price for voluntarily purchased consumer goods is not a legally cognizable injury in fact,” the lawyers wrote in a legal motion filed on Monday, as they asked a judge in California’s Northern District to dismiss a potential class action lawsuit over the tariff refunds. Microsoft made a similar argument two weeks ahead of Sony’s lawyers, in a similar lawsuit brought by a gamer in federal court in Washington State. As Microsoft’s legal team put it on August 21, in their request for a dismissal of that lawsuit: “There is nothing unjust about Plaintiff purchasing an Xbox at an advertised price and getting exactly what he paid for—regardless of whatever theory he devised months later about Microsoft’s cost structure.” Both legal fights are set to go on for some time. How things got to this point U.S. tariffs impacting a wide range of imported goods, including game consoles, had kicked off in early 2025. In May 2025, Microsoft raised the price of its Xbox consoles, citing “market conditions and the rising cost of development.” They raised them again that September. In August of that year, Sony raised the price of PlayStation 5 consoles, citing “a challenging economic environment.” Sony later told investors that its tariff fees for the fall quarter were nearly $200 million. in February of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the 2025 tariffs illegal, prompting impacted companies to begin to request refunds. In turn, consumers began suing the likes of Sony and Microsoft to get what they said was their share. The gamers in the Microsoft and Sony lawsuits argue that the 2025 price hikes of PlayStation and Xbox consoles, which added $50 or more to their sticker price, were due to illegal tariffs and should now be returned to consumers. The Sony suit started in May, when a group of gamers sued in federal court in California, saying Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation) would be unjustly enriching itself if it did not pass tariff refunds to its PS5 buyers. “Sony is poised to be paid twice for the same unlawful tariff burden: once by its customers (through elevated prices) and once by the U.S. government (through tariff refunds),” the gamers’ lawyers wrote at the time. They called for Sony to partially reimburse anyone who bought a PlayStation in the U.S. since August 1, 2025. The Microsoft suit, filed by gamer Trevor Hastings against the Xbox giant in July, made similar claims. The console makers push back In late July, Nintendo’s lawyers, facing a similar suit accusing them of double-dipping on tariffs and refunds, replied with arguments that previewed Microsoft’s and Sony’s: “Nintendo or one of its retailers set a price for each product, and consumers decided whether that price was worth paying,” they wrote. Sony has buttressed that Nintendo-style argument this week by saying that the gamers have failed to prove that tariffs were the reason for its August 2025 PS5 price hike. They call thatclaim “speculative and illogical.” Other factors, including “inflation, currency fluctuations, component costs, logistics, competitive dynamics, or demand,” could have played a role. (No, the Sony lawyers do not break down the costs and factors that officially triggered the price increases). Microsoft has also argued that there’s no proof in these lawsuits that tariffs drove all or some of the price increase, as it seeks to dismiss the tariff refund suit it’s facing: “Plaintiff provides no specific allegations that would establish any pricing differential attributable to tariffs or suggest any possibility that Microsoft applied then or could recreate now any dollar-for-dollar calculation of tariff-related pricing—any more than it could any other market factor that affects pricing.” To further skewer the gamer side’s argument in its case, Sony’s lawyers have pointed to what might be a surprising defense: yet another PlayStation 5 price hike from this past spring, after the tariffs were ruled illegal. “If the original price increase were attributable to tariffs, SIE [Sony Interactive Entertainment, aka PlayStation] would have had no reason to raise prices again after the Supreme Court invalidated the IEEPA tariffs.” … “If tariffs were the cause of the price increases, one would expect SIE to lower prices once the tariffs were eliminated—not raise them again. Instead, the timeline confirms that the pricing of PlayStation consoles includes a diverse and dynamic set of input costs.” Judges have not yet ruled on the arguments made by Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo. Last week, Panic, the company behind the small, yellow Playdate handheld said it would be passing its tariff refunds on to consumers. It is the only gaming hardware maker to have made such a pledge. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my reporting, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: A reporter’s second Second Life Wagner James Au, who from 2003-2006 was paid by San Francisco-based tech company Linden Lab to be a full-time journalist embedded in their virtual world Second Life, is returning to the company. This time, he’ll be an editorial advisor and business development specialist, he tells Game File. The new role will involve trying to share the stories of people inhabiting Second Life’s ongoing online world with reporters and by extension the public. Au plans to continue to also chronicle some of that through his long-running blog New World Notes. I’ve known Au since the mid-2000s and featured him in a 2007 article for the Columbia Journalism Review about reporters like him opening up virtual news outlets within Second Life. As I wrote at the time: On April 22, 2003, writing as Hamlet Linden for the New World Notes blog on Second Life’s Web site, Au introduced himself. “For the next few months, Linden Lab has invited me to set aside my journalist cap, and instead, don the digital beanie of their in-house virtual correspondent.” He wasn’t paid to keep it positive. He wrote about builders and eccentrics, but then in August of that year, he reported on a tax revolt against Linden Lab (a complaint about the fees it charges users who build stuff) led by a resident whose avatar was a big cat. Second Life has always been less of a video game and more of a virtual world where people can live, hang out, make art, sell virtual items and flirt. Back in 2007, Au described touring it as “sort of like underwater lucid dreaming.” For the past two decades, Au has maintained New World Notes as an independent publication. But he said he’s been drawn back to Second Life and Linden Lab as a place to directly work. The virtual world has around 650,000 monthly active users, he said, “which is actually about what it was during the hype wave.” Au says he’s still finding rich stories in Second Life, the kind that keep him interested 20 years into the beat: “Over the last few months for instance, I wrote about an SL creator in Venezuela whose apartment was destroyed by the earthquakes, so the global SL community rallied to get him back on his feet,” he told me. “Then there’s the woman from a Middle Eastern country who explored her lesbian sexuality in SL, then earned enough from her virtual jewelry to escape her abusive family situation and country.” Au wants to beckon more reporters to give Second Life another look. He argues that it is often ahead of internet trends, noting, for example, an early backlash in the community against AI-made art. Now the platform is drawing curiosity from more of the user-generated content community who’ve grown up with the likes of Roblox, according to Au. “Second Life was too early during its hype wave in 2005-2010, but it now feels right for a new wave of interest,” he told me.