JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1198

Microsoft's latest quarter undercut hopes for Xbox. Gaming revenue slipped 2% as Xbox hardware plunged 22%, while growth was a scant 1% and largely lifted by better-than-expected third-party titles like Clair Obscur Expedition 33. CFO Amy Hood forecast another low to mid single digit decline next quarter, citing a lack of landmark first-party releases, despite launches like Ninja Gaiden 4, The Outer Worlds 2, and Double Fine's The Keeper, and a push behind Asus's ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X. Meanwhile, cloud and AI rose 28%, even as gamers voiced displeasure with their wallets.

Universal’s Wicked: For Good is tracking for a $112 million to $115 million debut on November 21, echoing last year’s $112.5 million start for Jon M. Chu’s first chapter. Polling shows strong female interest, with first-choice levels among women over and under 25 outpacing the original and ahead of Lilo & Stitch; unaided awareness matches the film. The sequel runs 2:18, shorter than the 2:40 original, which set Broadway-musical adaptation records with $473.2 million domestic and $756.4 million global. Zootopia 2 tracking arrives next week, while Running Man and Now You See Me 3 open the prior weekend.

A Guardian investigation says US immigration officials are keeping people in small, secretive ICE holding rooms for days or weeks, despite federal policy. After a June memo lifted a 12 hour cap to three days, records show detentions still exceed limits, with average stays surging at 127 sites and nearly 600% at a Manhattan facility. One man was held two and a half months. The rooms have scant oversight, limited access to lawyers and families, and reports of unsafe conditions. DHS and ICE requested time to respond but did not comment by publication.

Eleven Democratic senators pressed immigration officials to explain deportation flights and halt ICE’s use of the WRAP, a full-body restraint, citing near-total secrecy and serious human rights concerns. In a letter led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, the group referenced an AP investigation documenting hours-long restraint of detainees on flights since 2020. Rep. Delia Ramirez said she is drafting legislation to curb the device. DHS has not answered detailed questions; a spokesperson said ICE practices align with legal standards. AP also found fatal restraint-linked cases involving the WRAP by local authorities.

President Donald Trump unveiled a tabletop model of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom planned to replace the demolished East Wing, and architects spotted glaring mistakes. The model shows dead-end stairs, blurred windows, and mismatches with official renderings, including 11 rather than nine west-side arches, extra south-side columns, and a single staircase where renderings show two meeting. Experts say the sloppiness reflects haste and poor quality control, not AI. The fast-tracked project, funded by $300 million in private donations, is moving ahead amid reduced oversight after Trump fired everyone on the US Commission of Fine Arts.

Portland, Maine — Maine Family Planning will close its primary care services Friday, blaming Trump administration moves to block Medicaid funding to abortion providers. The network, which runs 18 clinics and serves about 8,000 patients, said primary care reached more than 600 people last year and that telling them to seek new providers has been “devastating.” The group typically receives about $1.9 million in Medicaid reimbursements and notified patients a month ago. After a federal judge ruled against restoring funds in August, the network appealed; the Center for Reproductive Rights says the fight continues.

American farmers welcomed China’s pledge to purchase at least 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually for the next three years, plus 12 million between now and January, but warned the move won’t fix rising costs for fertilizer, machinery and seed. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said China will drop retaliatory tariffs and resume buying U.S. sorghum, potentially widening sales to other crops and beef. Farmers including Robb Ewoldt and Bryant Kagay called the deal a return to pre trade war norms, not a cure all, while aid promised by Trump remains on hold amid a government shutdown.

Abby Zwerner, the Virginia teacher shot by a 6-year-old in 2023, told a court she thought she had died as coworkers pressed her wounds. She said she lifted her hand just before the gun fired. Zwerner is seeking $40 million from former assistant principal Ebony Parker, accused of ignoring warnings the child had a gun. Shot in the hand and chest at Richneck Elementary in Newport News, she endured nearly two weeks in the hospital, six surgeries, hand damage, and a bullet still lodged. Now a cosmetologist, she no longer teaches. Parker faces a child neglect trial next month.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic has begun chemotherapy for testicular cancer, general manager Sam Presti said Thursday. Doctors are "extremely positive" about his long-term outlook. Topic, the No. 12 pick in the 2024 draft who missed last season recovering from a torn ACL, had a biopsy at MD Anderson Cancer Center in early October and asked the team to delay disclosure until treatment began. He has been able to work out, but there is no timetable for the 20-year-old Serbian to make his NBA debut. Presti said the organization’s focus is his recovery and offered full support.

Stocks slid Thursday as Meta plunged about 12% and Microsoft fell more than 3% despite solid results and higher spending plans. Jim Cramer called Meta’s drop a buy and the CNBC Investing Club lifted both Meta and Microsoft to its top 1 rating. He applauded the Federal Reserve’s quarter-point cut and Powell’s restraint on December guidance, noting housing stocks were doing better, citing Home Depot. Starbucks ticked higher after reporting positive same‑store sales last month and momentum into October; CEO Brian Niccol said the turnaround is ahead of schedule. Amazon and Apple report after the close.