A sputtering lineup stirred in the eighth inning. Jose Altuve struck a one-out double, putting him on the cusp of a career milestone. Christian Walker flared a single into shallow left field. LaMonte Wade Jr. did the same, driving in Altuve and paring a deficit to one run.
The current Houston Astros offense can make that seem sizable. The additional hit it required did not appear. Jonathan Loáisiga got Daulton Varsho to wave at a third-strike changeup. Taylor Trammell, the second pinch-hitter of the inning, popped out to end it.
With a 3-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Astros dropped the deciding game of their series at Daikin Park and concluded a 4-3 homestand with consecutive defeats. They went 8-5 over a 13-game stretch with no off-day, emerging from it with a 73-71 record.
Houston scored three or fewer runs in eight of 13 games during that stretch. Its offense entered Sunday averaging 3.9 runs over its past 30 games, scoring the fifth-fewest runs in the majors in that stretch. Its .220 average was the sport's lowest in that span and its .368 slugging percentage the sixth-lowest.
Sunday, the Astros took three at-bats with a man in scoring position in the first seven innings and went hitless in them. Arizona starter Eduardo Rodriguez allowed one run in six innings on a first-inning home run by Yordan Alvarez. Alvarez also popped out with two runners on base to end the seventh.

#astros #runs #altuve #offense

Gwinnett Stripers 5, Charlotte Knights 3
Not only did the Stripers (69-67) outhit the Knights (74-63), 8-6, but a bullpen implosion in the eighth allowed Gwinnett to take the lead and ultimately win the game, 5-3. The good news is that Charlotte is still hanging in second place, on the cusp of a playoff berth. The bad news is that righthander Shane Smith really struggled with his command, unable to complete the eighth inning, surrendering three runs on two hits with three walks — one intentional — and two wild pitches.
Charlotte's offense mashed half of their hits (three) for extra bases, and went 2-for-5 with runners in scoring position, and the top of the lineup mostly carried the team. The Good Guys scored all of their runs in the third inning, igniting a two-out rally in the top of the third once the batting order flipped back to the top. Caden Connor set the tone with a leadoff base hit — his first of two — and Rikuu Nishida kept the inning rolling with a base hit of his own to bring up the power bats. Riley Unroe blasted a two-run triple to take the lead, and Ryan Galanie brought him right in on a two-out double to give the Knights a three-run lead.
Smith got off to a rough start as the Stripers tied the game with the first three batters the righty faced, and continued to fall off the rails, handing Gwinnett a two-run lead from a pair of wild pitches. The entire sequence of events before the Knights were able to get an out was … out of control: leadoff walk, bunt base hit, game-tying RBI double (3-3), walk, first wild pitch to giveaway the lead (4-3), intentional walk to load the bases, second wild pitch (5-3), ground out. Despite this being just his first blown save, Smith now owns a 6.06 ERA while receiving his second loss of the year. In his three previous innings of relief, Shane hadn't allowed a single hit, but he just wasn't on his game. It's still possible that Smith will be able to lean into a relief role, but there's definitely still some red flags about his performance his season.
MVP
Riley Unroe (3B): 1-for-4, R, 2 RBI, 3 K, 3B
Runners-Up
Rikuu Nishida (2B): 1-for-4, R, 2 K
Ryan Galanie (DH): 1-for-4, RBI, 2B
Caden Connor (LF): 2-for-4, R, K
Shane Murphy (LHSP): 5 1/3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, BB, 3 K, PO, WP, HB
Huascar Brazobán (RHRP): 1 1/3 IP, H, 2 K, Hold

#knights #game

Lionel Messi set up both goals for Inter Miami as the Major League Soccer champions drew 2-2 with Atlanta United on Saturday in the Argentina star's first match since announcing his retirement from international football.
Thunderstorms and lightning delayed the start for 90 minutes, but there were sparks aplenty on the field after with Messi, Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player, at the heart of the action.
Miami grabbed the lead in the 32nd minute when Brazil's Casemiro rose to head home Messi's corner.
Atlanta equalized three minutes later when former Newcastle forward Miguel Almiron blasted home a low shot.
Former Liverpool and Barcelona star Luis Suarez put Miami into the lead with a measured finish on the cusp of half-time after a move down the left started by Messi.

#lionel

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has spent 20 months promising that America was on the cusp of an economic boom. But Friday's surprisingly positive jobs report ultimately provoked frustration from Trump.
The August job numbers might have been a welcome break from after months of sluggish hiring and concerns about inflation that have been weighing on Trump and his party two months from Election Day. But speaking from the Oval Office, Trump instead launched into a grievance session about inflation and interest rates. His anger was aimed at the financial markets, the Federal Reserve and U.S. trade partners. He objected to the commonly accepted notion in economics that the surprise gain of 162,000 jobs in August could contribute to inflationary pressures.
"Success does not cause inflation. Stupidity causes inflation," Trump vented in the Oval Office, as he declared it "crazy" that the stock markets fell Friday on inflation concerns.
The combination over his second term of a drop-off in hiring and higher prices has dogged Trump and his pledge to instantly unleash historic levels of growth. "When I win the election, we will immediately begin a brand new Trump economic boom," Trump said at an August 2024 rally in North Carolina. But so far, the economy has grown at roughly 2% annually, slower than the gains during the Biden administration.
Trump blamed his inability to deliver stronger growth on higher interest rates for U.S. government debt, saying on social media that America could retaliate by stopping trade with foreign countries. Rates have been climbing in response to persistently high inflation fueled by Trump's tariffs and oil shortages from the Iran war. The national debt has now crossed the daunting threshold of $40 trillion and rates on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note on Friday rose to 4.79%.

#august

On August 25, Qfin Holdings (NASDAQ:QFIN) reported second-quarter results that tell two very different stories at once. Total loan volume fell 25.1% year over year to RMB63,377 million, and non-GAAP net income dropped to RMB454.9 million from RMB946 million just one quarter earlier. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted ADS sank to RMB3.72 from RMB7.70. But buried in the same release, revenue from the company's technology solutions business jumped more than sixfold, and management laid out plans to turn Qfin into what it calls an AI-native lender. Investors have to weigh both halves of that picture.
The clearest growth story sits inside Qfin's tech solutions arm. Loan volume tied to that unit hit RMB10.5 billion for the quarter, up 515% from a year earlier, while the outstanding balance climbed to roughly RMB16.1 billion, up 313%. Through its FocusPRO platform, Qfin now helps banks serve borrowers priced between 3% and 12%, a segment its own consumer lending rarely touches. During the quarter, the company signed two new AI agent projects with banking partners, one built to support loan officers from lead identification through conversion, the other aimed at SME credit review and approval. CEO Wu Haisheng framed the effort as an organizational shift, saying it is "about turning individual and team experience into shared reusable organizational capabilities."
Risk metrics also moved in the right direction during the quarter itself. The 30-day collection rate rose to 88.1%, up 2.3 percentage points sequentially, while the C-M2 delinquency ratio fell 17% sequentially to 0.66%, nearing year-ago levels. The 90-day delinquency rate dropped to 2.83% from 3.5%. On the funding side, ABS issuance jumped 90% sequentially to RMB5.5 billion while issuance costs fell roughly 20 basis points, and overall funding costs eased about 10 basis points as the company leaned on a track record of stable ******* et performance. Qfin also paid a semiannual dividend of $0.46 per ADS, a payout ratio near 30%, and had repurchased $7 million of stock before pausing the buyback program.
Every one of those quarterly improvements sits next to a much rougher backdrop. Sales and marketing spending fell 13% sequentially as Qfin pulled back on growth, and new credit line users fell to 830,000, down from 1.19 million a quarter earlier. New loan provisions hit RMB1.72 billion, a booking ratio of 5.36%, the highest on record. A one-off RMB500 million tax expense tied to a change in tax treatment pushed the effective tax rate to 60.3%, though management expects it to settle near 20% going forward.

#earlier

We are on the literal cusp of Week 1 of the 2026 regular season in the NFL. It's been a looooong wait, Broncos Country, but the wait is finally almost over. Given that we've had a full training camp and three preseason games, we thought the best question to ask in our weekly fan survey was to highlight the young player you are most excited to watch this season. Vote below and we'll come back with some neat graphics later on in the week!
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Broncos fans and fans across the country.
Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys:

#week #country #weekly #given

There are a lot of things to say when talking about the Cleveland Browns.
Very old fans can reminisce about how the franchise was once one of the league's dynasties, led by the father of the modern NFL in head coach Paul Brown. But with their last NFL championship coming in 1964, those memories grow dimmer every year.
Those of us who are old, but not that old, can share tales of the teams of the 1980s, perennial playoff participants that reached the cusp of the Super Bowl three times under the franchise's last great head coach in Marty Schottenheimer and everyone's favorite quarterback in Bernie Kosar.
For today's fans, those teams may as well have played in the leather helmet era; it was so long ago. And while they have been able to cheer for some of the franchise's most legendary players like Joe Thomas, Nick Chubb, Myles Garrett, and Joel Bitonio, that has not always been a comfort once the game ended on another lost Sunday afternoon.
That is because, of all the things one could say about the Browns, the one thing they have not been able to say much since 1999 is that the team plays winning football.

#head

Andoni Iraola and Richard Hughes still have a lot of work to do on Liverpool's squad before the transfer window slams shut.
Admittedly, they're now on the cusp of confirming a deal for Bradley Barcola which will instantly improve their attack.
However, the Frenchman can't be the only player that they bring in before deadline day.
There are several areas among their ranks that could still do with upgrading and, without these additions, it's hard to see how the Anfield outfit will do any better than they did last term.
Obviously, Iraola's style of football will probably help get the best out of his current crop of players but, without at least some new additions, it's hard to see how things are going to get any better for the Reds.

#still #hard #iraola #hughes

Houston Texans safety Kamari Ramsey treats every play like it could be his last.
His level of focus and dedication has the fifth-round pick out of the University of Southern California on the cusp of locking down a roster spot with the NFL's No. 1-ranked defense.
Ramsey traveled a long road to get here, and it started when he was young.
"It helped me become the person I am," he said. "With sacrifice and hard work."
Ramsey didn't do it alone.

#southern

Larne manager Gary Haveron says he is keen to experience another "pinch yourself" moment by leading the club back to the league phase of the Uefa Conference League.
Having managed three of Larne's games during their Conference League debut in 2024-25, Haveron is hoping to guide the Inver Park club back to a major European stage after reclaiming the Irish Premiership ****** le earlier this year.
Larne hold a 2-0 aggregate lead over Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps heading into Thursday night's play-off second leg at Inver Park.
"It's what you live for. The nights down here, I look back to when we played the Imps here two years ago when we got to the group stages and it was something that will live long in the memory for me, up there with my best night in football."
The 45-year-old former defender added: "To be on the cusp of potentially doing it again, it's a pinch yourself moment and it's a credit to the players that we're back in this position."

#back #league #larne

Lazio have reportedly improved their bid for Andrea Pinamonti as they try to find an agreement with Sassuolo before the transfer deadline.
Although the club's campaign began last Sunday (with a shocking elimination from the Coppa Italia at the hands of Mantova), the Biancocelesti have yet to add a new striker to their ranks, even though Gennaro Gattuso had considered it the main priority of the summer transfer market.
The Aquile were on the cusp of signing Bamba Dieng, who arrived in Rome on Thursday, but the deal collapsed due to a knee issue detected during the medical. As for Mauro Icardi, he wasn't completely sold on the project, preferring to bide his time while waiting for other offers. Therefore, Pinamonti re-emerged as the main target to bolster the attack.
According to Italian journalist Damiano Er Faina, Lazio have raised their offer for Pinamonti, and they're now awaiting a response from Sassuolo. It should be noted that the Italian capital club can only afford to sign the 27-year-old on loan with an option to buy, but since the player's contract with the Neroverdi will expire next June, he would first have to sign a renewal.
Er Faina adds that AC Milan outcast Santiago Gimenez was never a serious option for Lazio. The Mexican is instead a top target for Porto, who are working tirelessly to recruit him.

#sassuolo #italian

As Jake points out in his piece this morning, we're on the cusp of potentially seeing some big changes to the Red Sox roster and everyday lineup. Roman Anthony isn't coming back to Boston to ride the bench, of course. And while this will make a lot of fans groan, I think the same can be said of Trevor Story. So as the Sox get healthy, we're about to say goodbye to some bit-part players who turned into unexpected contributors to the 2026 Red Sox
Those unexpected contributors are one of the most fun parts of baseball. We get them every year, and we almost never see them coming, which, of course, is where the fun comes in. Which bit-part player will you remember most fondly from the 2026 team? Andrew Monasterio, Anthony Seigler, Jahmai Jones, Nick Sogard, Tsung-Che Cheng Mickey Gasper, Nate Eaton, Tyron Guerrero, Eduardo Rivera, and even Jake Rogers have all had their moments, and all will be remembered to varying degrees. You could even put Jake Bennett into this category, though he's likely to be a meaningful contributor for years to come, unlike those other names.
Talk about modern-day Pedro Ciriacos and whatever else you want in this ****** e and, as always, be good to one another.

#contributors #even #roman

Mariners expected to make Dan Wilson job decision if one thing happens originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Seattle Mariners have had a very disappointing 2026 season. From being on the cusp of the 2025 MLB World Series to now being on the outside looking in on the playoff hunt, this has not been a good year at all.
Considering how bad the year's gone, it should come as little surprise that talk about Dan Wilson's job has come up. It's a real question as to whether he'll be around next year or not.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale revealed a lot about Wilson's job security, reporting that the Mariners manager's job relies on one thing: whether the team makes the postseason or not.
"In the American League, Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson is expected to be fired if the Mariners miss the playoffs," Nightengale reports.

#sporting #Seattle #year #come

The NorthWood volleyball team has been on the cusp of playing for a state **** le for the past five seasons.
Will 2026 be the year the Panthers kick in the door?
Head coach Hillary Laidig has led the Panthers to four straight semistate **** le matches, with NorthWood coming up just short each time.
The last four years making semistate runs has been incredible,'' Laidig said. "The girls and people involved in making that possible are truly special. This group has the experience of how special that is and have a desire to train hard to give them a chance.''
The key returnee for this Panther team is senior outside hitter Ella Branham, who led the Panthers in kills last season with 467, while ranking second in both aces and digs.

#laidig #team #title #semistate

Entering their longest road trip of the season on a three-game winning streak, Caitlin Clark continues to excel as she registered her 30th career double-double with 29 points and 10 **** ists in the Indiana Fever's 98-87 win over the Dallas Wings on Friday night. It's the 11th points-assists double-double of this 2026 WNBA season for Clark.
At 22-12 overall, Indiana is on the cusp of securing a playoff berth with just 10 games remaining in their regular-season slate. The team sits in the No. 4 spot in the league standings, just a half-game ahead of No. 5 seed Atlanta and 1.5 games behind No. 3 seed Las Vegas.
As Clark and the Fever look to keep things rolling, here's a look at Indiana's upcoming schedule and when to catch Clark next:
Watch Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream
Sunday, Aug. 16: at Atlanta Dream (4 p.m. CT on ESPN)

#fever #points

Tottenham are moving quickly towards the exit of Djed Spence, with TeamTalk reporting that Inter Milan are now close to agreeing a deal for the defender after the player made his preference clear.
There has been an acceptance on all sides for some time that this summer was likely to bring a separation. Spurs and Spence had already settled on the broad direction of travel before the World Cup, and Roberto De Zerbi is said to have felt that a transfer represented the cleanest solution for everyone involved.
What matters now is that the process has accelerated. The key development is the player's stance. Spence has decided to prioritise a move to the Serie A champions, and that has pushed discussions forward to the point where an agreement is described as being close.
According to the original report, "Djed Spence's decision to prioritise a move to Italian champions Inter Milan has seen Tottenham Hotspur accelerate talks, with TEAMtalk able to exclusively reveal that a deal is now on the cusp of being agreed." That gives a strong indication of how advanced this situation has become.
There was no shortage of market awareness around Spence. Several Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Everton, were given the opportunity to sign him. Interest existed, but Tottenham's valuation proved problematic. Their "initial asking price of around £45million was viewed as too high and no deal materialised."

#close

It's been a quick leap for Bayern Munich youngster Maycon Cardozo. The former Bayern World Squad talent made his way through the youth ranks, from the U-17s to U-19s to FC Bayern II. Now, on the back of a strong preseason performance, Cardozo — who has already made his debut for Vincent Kompany in the spring — is on the cusp of the Bayern senior team.
Indeed, the 17-year-old is living his dream. And he can dream about a lot more, too — with one former Bayern winger and Brazilian compatriot in mind.
"Being at Bayern is a dream come true, I always say that," Cardozo reflected in comments captured by Brazilian outlet Ge.Global (via iMiaSanMia). "I've always played video games with them. And training with these players, playing together, is a dream come true, but I still have many dreams to fulfill. Training with them is a very good feeling, seeing Olise cutting inside, shooting, Luis Díaz in my position, and Harry Kane, a sensational guy, as a player and as a person, always comes to talk to you and give advice.
"I prefer to cut inside and shoot, and also play through the middle when needed. I play as a left winger and attacking midfielder. So I'm kind of like [Philippe] Coutinho. People often say I'm like Coutinho. I like to dribble, cut inside and try to finish or provide an ****** ist."
(Playing as Bayern in a video game: just like us, right?)

#bayern #cardozo #like #training

As the next crop of hallowed names enter Canton, Ohio, as the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, who are the current members of the Houston Texans following a similar path to one day become immortalized?
Three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt will, without question, become a first-ballot Hall of Fame honoree when eligible in 2028, but he's been retired for three seasons. It's about the here and now of players that continue to impress on the field and look unstopabble in their pathway to Canton.
So, who qualifes for Houston?
ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently revealed every team's top players and their chances of having a Hall of Fame career. Several players have just found their footing and need to continue to build off their success to be considered fringe options, but the consistency of Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter throughout his 12-year career has him in the "on the cusp" category entering 2026.
"Hunter's not an obvious candidate, and missing nearly a year and a half in the middle of his Vikings career hurt, but the six-time Pro Bowler is making a beeline for the Hall of Fame with his work over the past three seasons," Barnwell. "Hunter has 114.5 sacks under his belt, 43.5 of which have come since the start of the 2023 campaign. And having entered the league at 20, Hunter's still only 31 years old.

#fame #year #canton #barnwell

ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently went team by team projecting each franchise's realistic Hall of Fame candidates, and while several 49ers stars fared well, one veteran was tabbed as unlikely to reach Canton.
Barnwell explained his approach before sorting players into five tiers: players that are in, on the cusp, need to keep it up, have work to do and will be missing out on the Hall of Fame, based on historical comparables rather than personal opinion on merit.
San Francisco had plenty of representation across the spectrum. Barnwell listed receiver Mike Evans, running back Christian McCaffrey and tackle Trent Williams as locks, while tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner landed in the "on the cusp" group. Edge rusher Nick Bosa and quarterback Brock Purdy were tabbed as having "work to do" but remain on a promising trajectory.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk, however, fell into the "missing out" category despite a decorated career in the Bay Area.
Juszczyk will be a fascinating case to see whether that keeps up, given that he just earned his 10th consecutive Pro Bowl nod in 2025. Of course, while Juszczyk is a good player, it's fair to wonder whether he's racking up Pro Bowl appearances by virtue of being the most conspicuous player at a position where there simply aren't many others, just as Mike Alstott became a six-time Pro Bowler with the Bucs. Juszczyk plays only about half of the offensive snaps in a typical game, and it seems telling that the 49ers were willing to cut him this offseason before re-signing him, saving about $500,000 in the process. I'd be a little surprised if he made it in just given how the league has valued fullbacks.

#hall #cusp

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson gets wild, but accurate, Hall of Fame projection from ESPN originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Minnesota Vikings don't really have the best team right now, but they do have Justin Jefferson compiling an incredible career at the moment.
With some major uncertainty at the quarterback position, the hope is that Kyler Murray can get Jefferson the ball often as he deserves. But, even with his shaky QB production, Jefferson has already put together a remarkable NFL career.
Heading into 2026, and Jefferson's seventh NFL season, ESPN's Bill Barnwell made an incredibly bold projection that Jefferson is already "on the cusp" of making the Hall of Fame. But, while bold, this projection might be accurate.
"On the cusp: WR Justin Jefferson," Barnwell writes. "... There will be plenty of competition at wide receiver in the years to come, but ***** uming Jefferson bounces back from an uneven 2025 season with better QB play, he's only another year or two away from earning his plaque."

#projection #sporting #barnwell #accurate

Saints' Cameron Jordan receives good omen amid ESPN Hall of Fame projection originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New Orleans Saints might not have their best team put together at the moment, but this is a young roster that's on the rise. There are still veterans, like Cameron Jordan, helping out as well.
Speaking of Jordan, the franchise legend is back for one more season, and he's got a real chance to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But, where does he stand right now?
ESPN's Bill Barnwell projects that Jordan is "on the cusp" of making the Hall of Fame, and just one more solid season in 2026 would likely have him en route to the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
"On the cusp: Cameron Jordan," Barnwell writes. "I could see an argument that Jordan has already done enough to get in after a 10.5-sack season in 2025, and even a six-sack season in 2026 would surely be enough to get him over the hump."

#hall

Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for the "Baron Health Care Fund". A copy of the letter is available to download here. The Fund gained 11.99% during the quarter, compared with the 10.48% gain for the Russell 3000 Health Care Index and the 15.44% gain for the Russell 3000 Index. Since inception, the Fund appreciated 10.61% on an annualized basis, compared with 10.02% for the Benchmark and 14.83% for the Index. Strong stock selection in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, health care equipment, and life sciences tools and services supported the Fund's outperformance, although limited exposure to managed care stocks reduced relative returns. The Fund remains positive on health care due to improving biotechnology funding, strong acquisition activity, recovering managed care margins, and growth from an aging population, chronic disease, medical innovation, and higher health care spending. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know the best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Baron Health Care Fund highlighted Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW). Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) is a medical technology company that provides products and technologies to treat advanced cardiovascular diseases. On August 3, 2026, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) closed at $88.82 per share. The one-month return of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) was -6.33% and its shares gained 12.09% over the past 52 weeks. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) has a market capitalization of $51.14 billion.
Baron Health Care Fund stated the following regarding Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) was a material tailwind in the period. Shares of Edwards, a medical technology company specializing in structural heart disease therapies, rose due to solid first quarter results and an updated Medicare coverage decision for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), which has the potential to increase procedure volumes. We retain conviction as Edwards' lead in replacement therapies for mitral and tricuspid valves, which combined with a total addressable market that could approach the scale of core TAVR provides a durable and differentiated growth runway that competitors are years away from replicating."
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 68 hedge fund portfolios held Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) at the end of the first quarter which was 64 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tarif

Lazio are on the cusp of terminating their collaboration with their main shirt sponsor, Polymarket, who failed to lift their ban.
Last April, the two parties announced an agreement until June 2028 that saw the American company's brand immediately displayed on the front of the Biancocelesti's jersey. However, this partnership has been plagued by an unexpected development, with the Italian authorities recently blacklisting Polymarket and shutting down its website for providing unsanctioned betting services.
The New York-based company lodged an appeal at Italy's administrative court (TAR), arguing that its activity as a prediction market doesn't fall under the betting umbrella, and making a clear distinction between the two.
According to Il Corriere dello Sport (via Calcio e Finanza), the TAR has rejected Polymarket's urgent appeal, explaining that the case requires a thorough examination. Therefore, the final ruling on the matter could arrive in the coming months.
In the meantime, the collaboration between Lazio and Polymarket appears to be dead in the water. The Roman newspaper understands that the parties have already agreed to terminate the contract, which will be formalised and officially announced in the coming hours.

#polymarket #parties

Ohio State is on the cusp of preseason training camp.
There are just over four weeks of practices before the season opener against Ball State on Sept. 5.
As the Buckeyes ramp up at preparations at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, here is one question facing each of their position groups.
Will Julian Sayin be a captain?
Sayin has drawn praise for his leadership during summer strength and conditioning workouts, and it's clear his standing has grown a year after he spent the offseason competing with Lincoln Kienholz for the starting job. Both Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud were captains during their second season as starters, suggesting Sayin could find himself on a similar path. If he becomes the Buckeyes' first quarterback voted as a captain since Stroud in 2022, it would provide the clearest signal yet of his rising stature within the program.

#state #buckeyes #stroud

Featured in this week's MLB Power Rankings, we'll take a look at where each team sits now that the dust has settled from Monday's trade deadline.
Thanks to recent hot streaks, the Padres and Astros are both on the cusp of the top-10. Most teams still have around 50 games remaining on the schedule, nearly one-third of a season. A lot can still change, especially with trade reinforcements in tow and notable prospects arriving now or in the near future.
As a reminder, this article is a combination of current performance and long-term outlook.
Let's get into it!
Last week: 1

#rankings #last

Middle East turmoil, centered on the U.S. war with Iran, is playing havoc with world energy markets. An ongoing dispute over access to the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of world oil and natural gas supply is shipped, is causing prices to surge. This is a boon for South America's oil industry, particularly Suriname's emerging petroleum boom, which was delayed by conflicting drilling results and seismic data. The former Dutch colony is on the cusp of becoming South America's next major oil-producing nation.
Since 2019, Suriname's government in the capital Paramaribo has hungrily eyed Guyana's booming petroleum sector, which delivered a massive economic windfall for the former British colony. Five major oil discoveries in offshore Block 58, which started in 2020 with the Maka Central-1 exploration well, confirmed the presence of commercially exploitable hydrocarbons in Suriname's portion of the offshore Guyana-Suriname Basin.
After a series of delays, beginning in 2022, due to mismatched drilling results and seismic data along with a high gas-to-oil ratio, TotalEnergies, the operator of Block 58, approved a final investment decision (FID). TotalEnergies, which holds a 50% working interest in offshore Block 58, and 50% partner APA Corporation approved the development of the deepwater GranMorgu project. This changed the project's ownership structure. Forty percent was retained by the operator TotalEnergies with another 40% retained by APA, and the remainder granted to Staatsolie.
The state-controlled energy company's acquisition was in accordance with Staatsolie's rights set out in the production-sharing contract (PSC) for Block 52. The company used a $1.6 billion loan from a banking consortium and a March 2025 bond issue to finance the acquisition. Staatsolie's share of GranMorgu will multiply the earnings delivered to Paramaribo, which has been battling an economic crisis since 2021. Indeed, the situation was so severe that rioting engulfed parts of the capital and parliament was stormed by protestors in 2023.
GranMorgu, which will come online in 2028, is a game changer for an economically challenged Suriname. The project's floating production, storage and offloading unit (FPSO) vessel, on completion, will have capacity of 220,000 barrels per day.

#south #World

For years, Wall Street **** ysts have predicted that profits were just around the corner for Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB). Ramping Electron launches and the potential for a newer, larger Neutron rocket have been repeatedly cited as reasons to expect Rocket Lab to turn that corner and begin reporting generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) net earnings -- and free cash flow, too.
It hasn't happened yet, but now that Rocket Lab has announced a big acquisition of satellite company Iridium (NASDAQ: IRDM), I'm prepared to climb out on a limb myself and make the following prediction: Rocket Lab will turn profitable and free-cash-flow-positive in 2027.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Rocket Lab today is an unprofitable **** e stock -- just like most **** e stocks are unprofitable. (Yes, even **** e Exploration Technologies.) It's also a cash-burning business -- also like **** eX. And yet, thanks to one inspired acquisition, Rocket Lab is on the cusp of turning into a company that's not just GAAP profitable, but generating real cash profit as well: free cash flow.
How do I know this?

#rocket #space #gaap

Juventus had many needs in the summer transfer window, but perhaps the most pressing was along the front line.
With Dusan Vlahovic out of contract and Jonathan David and Loïs Openda on the outs after horrific debut seasons, there had been a serious question about who exactly would play up front, especially at the No. 9 position.
The rumors have been swirling for what seems like months, but we're finally on the cusp of answering the question.
Juventus' two big new attacking signings are mere steps away from their respective "officially official" articles. Attacking midfielder Kerim Alajbegovic arrived at Caselle Airport on Saturday afternoon, and reportedly headed straight to J Medical for his medical. The Bosnian international was accompanied by his countryman and former Juve midfielder Miralem Pjanic.
Alajbegovic, who won't turn 19 until September, has already been capped 14 times by Bosnia and Herzegovina, scoring twice, including against Qatar in the group stage of the World Cup this summer. He played at RB Salzburg last year, scoring 13 times in 44 games in all competitions. That prompted Bayer Leverkusen to buy him back from the Austrian side, looking to make a quick profit on excellent professional debut. Leverkusen had made an agreement with Chelsea, but Alajbegovic rejected the deal over concerns about playing time. The deal is reportedly for €33 million plus another €7 million in bonuses, and Luciano Spalletti has already intimated that he'll be the team's trequartista in the coming season.

#attacking #medical #question

Middle East turmoil, centered on the U.S. war with Iran, is playing havoc with world energy markets. An ongoing dispute over access to the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of world oil and natural gas supply is shipped, is causing prices to surge. This is a boon for South America's oil industry, particularly Suriname's emerging petroleum boom, which was delayed by conflicting drilling results and seismic data. The former Dutch colony is on the cusp of becoming South America's next major oil-producing nation.
Since 2019, Suriname's government in the capital Paramaribo has hungrily eyed Guyana's booming petroleum sector, which delivered a massive economic windfall for the former British colony. Five major oil discoveries in offshore Block 58, which started in 2020 with the Maka Central-1 exploration well, confirmed the presence of commercially exploitable hydrocarbons in Suriname's portion of the offshore Guyana-Suriname Basin.
After a series of delays, beginning in 2022, due to mismatched drilling results and seismic data along with a high gas-to-oil ratio, TotalEnergies, the operator of Block 58, approved a final investment decision (FID). TotalEnergies, which holds a 50% working interest in offshore Block 58, and 50% partner APA Corporation approved the development of the deepwater GranMorgu project. This changed the project's ownership structure. Forty percent was retained by the operator TotalEnergies with another 40% retained by APA, and the remainder granted to Staatsolie.
The state-controlled energy company's acquisition was in accordance with Staatsolie's rights set out in the production-sharing contract (PSC) for Block 52. The company used a $1.6 billion loan from a banking consortium and a March 2025 bond issue to finance the acquisition. Staatsolie's share of GranMorgu will multiply the earnings delivered to Paramaribo, which has been battling an economic crisis since 2021. Indeed, the situation was so severe that rioting engulfed parts of the capital and parliament was stormed by protestors in 2023.
GranMorgu, which will come online in 2028, is a game changer for an economically challenged Suriname. The project's floating production, storage and offloading unit (FPSO) vessel, on completion, will have capacity of 220,000 barrels per day.

#suriname #since #World #energy

The job market has been a tough sell for many Gen Z graduates, with tariffs, economic uncertainty, and artificial intelligence reshaping hiring plans across corporate America.
But according to Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang, the next wave of six-figure opportunities won't be found in a Wall Street cubicle or Silicon Valley Slack channel. Instead, high-paying careers will partially come by picking up a wrench—literally.
As tech giants race to build sprawling data centers—totaling $7 trillion in global capital outlays by the end of the decade—Huang believes the world is on the cusp of what he calls the "largest infrastructure build-out in human history," which will create "a lot of jobs."
"It's wonderful that the jobs are related to tradecraft, and we're going to have plumbers and electricians and construction and steelworkers," he said in conversation with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January.
The hands-on skills needed to construct what he described as chip, computer, and AI factories are already facing shortages—even though many roles pay over $100,000 without requiring a college degree. One McKinsey report estimated that between 2023 and 2030, there will be a need for an additional 130,000 trained electricians—as well as 240,000 construction laborers and 150,000 construction supervisors—in the U.S. alone.

#huang #World #jensen