New Photo - Heavy rains, severe storms bring flash flood threat to Southeast states

Heavy rains, severe storms bring flash flood threat to Southeast states Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY August 6, 2025 at 7:44 PM Millions of Americans are at risk of flooding from excessive rainfall and stormy weather over the next few days across parts of the Southeast and MidAtlantic, forecasters sai...

- - Heavy rains, severe storms bring flash flood threat to Southeast states

Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY August 6, 2025 at 7:44 PM

Millions of Americans are at risk of flooding from excessive rainfall and stormy weather over the next few days across parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, forecasters said.

A front lingering in the Gulf Coast will bring thunderstorms and showers to the Southeast and southern Mid-Atlantic states on Aug. 6 and through the end of the week, the National Weather Service said. More than 11 million people were under flood watches across large parts of North Carolina and Georgia the morning of Aug. 6.

Tropical moisture coming from a disturbance several hundred miles off the coast was causing showers and thunderstorms, which could pose an even greater risk to the coastal Southeast if it forms into a cyclone, hurricane forecasters said. As of mid-week, it had a 10% chance of development within 48 hours and a 40% chance within a week.

Since Aug. 4, a zone from southwestern Georgia through central North Carolina has already received 2 to 6 inches of rain since the start of the week, according to AccuWeather. An additional 2 to 4 inches could fall Aug. 6, the outlet said, risking flooding from already swollen rivers and streams.

"Persistently heavy rain could severely disrupt transportation and logistics networks. Flooded underpasses, debris-blocked roads and washed-out rural routes are likely, particularly where drainage is poor and rainbands stall," AccuWeather said in a news release.

Metro areas at risk through the evening include Raleigh, Greensboro and Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Florence and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, AccuWeather reported.

Rainy, stormy weather across much of US

Forecasters said several regions across the country are in the path of storms and showers this week, including a region at risk for severe thunderstorms, large hail and damaging winds in the Northern and Central Plains and upper Mississippi Valley later in the week. There is also a chance of tornadoes, the national Weather Service said.

By the afternoon of Aug. 8, the Storm Prediction Center said a cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms would move across the Dakotas and into Minnesota with hail over 2 inches in diameter.

More showers and severe thunderstorms are expected across a large stretch of the country from the Great Lakes region through the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic and southward to the Gulf Coast on Aug. 7.

Dangerous heat, fire weather in the West

Extreme heat is settling in the Southwest, with over 7 million people in Southern California and Arizona under extreme heat warnings on Aug. 6. Heat advisories also included parts of New Mexico and Texas, the weather service said. Heat-related illnesses are a big threat as temperatures reach highs in the mid-110s for the rest of the week.

"As temperatures rise, limit outdoor activity, stay hydrated, and ensure access to air-conditioning and other cooling areas," the weather service said.

Parts of Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho are all under red flag warnings as conditions are favorable for fires to break out with low humidity and wind, the weather service said. Any new fire could spread rapidly.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Severe storms bring flash flood threat to Southeast states

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Heavy rains, severe storms bring flash flood threat to Southeast states

Heavy rains, severe storms bring flash flood threat to Southeast states Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY August 6, 2025 at ...
New Photo - Deadly wildfires sweep across France and Spain

Deadly wildfires sweep across France and Spain Lilia SebouaiAugust 6, 2025 at 7:35 PM Tourists walk on the beach in BanyulssurMer as smoke rises from wildfires nearby OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty Raging wildfires have erupted across parts of France and Spain, killing one person and injuring nin...

- - Deadly wildfires sweep across France and Spain

Lilia SebouaiAugust 6, 2025 at 7:35 PM

Tourists walk on the beach in Banyuls-sur-Mer as smoke rises from wildfires nearby - OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty

Raging wildfires have erupted across parts of France and Spain, killing one person and injuring nine, as authorities race to contain the fast-moving flames.

Tourists and local residents have been forced to evacuate holiday villages and camping grounds as thousands of firefighters battle intense conditions in some of Europe's most popular summer hotspots.

An elderly woman died in her home and two people were injured, one of whom is now in critical condition with severe burns, according to authorities in the Aude region, where the inferno broke out on Tuesday afternoon.

In Spain, 15mph winds fanned raging flames across the popular Torre de la Peña beach resort in Cadiz. All bars, restaurants and hotels have been evacuated in between La Peña and Casas de Porros, according to local reports.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has mobilised "all the nation's resources" to tackle the biggest blaze in France this year, in a summer which has already seen some 9,000 fires, mainly along its Mediterranean coast, according to the emergency management service.

"We support our firefighters and our forces battling the flames. We have confidence in the government and elected officials," Mr Macron wrote on X.

"Everyone must exercise the utmost caution and respect the instructions of the authorities."

Tree were burning overnight in Narbonne, southwestern France - REUTERS/Manon Cruz

Nearly 2,000 firefighters worked overnight to contain the flames, which have scorched more than 12,000 hectares of land in the Aude region, an area greater than the city of Paris.

The blaze remained "very active'' on Wednesday, said local authorities, adding that seven firefighters were injured by smoke inhalation.

François Bayrou, the French prime minister, is expected on site on Wednesday afternoon, his office said.

A campsite and several homes were evacuated as the wildfire swept across Ribaute, Aude - IDRISS BIGOU-GILLES/AFP via Getty

Eric Brocardi, a firefighter spokesman, called the fire "a disaster of unprecedented scale". It has destroyed at least 25 houses, forced several major roads to close, and left around 2,500 households without electricity.

The Aude department has seen an increase in areas burnt in recent years, aggravated by low rainfall and the removal of vineyards, which used to help break the progression of fires.

Last month, a wildfire that reached the southern city port of Marseille, France's second-largest city, left around 300 injured.

Credit: Reuters

Southern Europe has already battled multiple large fires this summer, as scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires.

Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing at twice the speed of the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service.

A civil security helicopter is surrounded by smoke billowing from a wildfire - IDRISS BIGOU-GILLES/AFP via Getty Images

It comes amid reports that British tourists are increasingly rethinking classic summer destinations, as intense heat waves regularly topping 40 degrees disrupt holiday plans, coinciding with school holidays.

About nine per cent of European travellers have changed the months they travel due to the threat of increasing extreme weather events, according to a study conducted in July by the European Travel Commission.

Families are increasingly choosing to holiday between September and November, known as "shoulder season", or the off-peak season, according to the industry.

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Deadly wildfires sweep across France and Spain

Deadly wildfires sweep across France and Spain Lilia SebouaiAugust 6, 2025 at 7:35 PM Tourists walk on the beach in Ba...
New Photo - RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development

RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development AMANDA SEITZ August 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

- - RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development

AMANDA SEITZ August 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks as President Donald Trump listens at an event to promote his proposal to improve Americans' access to their medical records in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) ()

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Health and Human Services will cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines that are being developed to fight respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced in a statement Tuesday that 22 projects, totaling $500 million, to develop vaccines using mRNA technology will be halted.

Kennedy's decision to terminate the projects is the latest in a string of decisions that have put the longtime vaccine critic's doubts about shots into full effect at the nation's health department. Kennedy has pulled back recommendations around the COVID-19 shots, fired the panel that makes vaccine recommendations, and refused to offer a vigorous endorsement of vaccinations as a measles outbreak worsened.

The health secretary criticized mRNA vaccines in a video on his social media accounts, explaining the decision to cancel projects being led by the nation's leading pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, that offer protection against viruses like the flu, COVID-19 and H5N1.

"To replace the troubled mRNA programs, we're prioritizing the development of safer, broader vaccine strategies, like whole-virus vaccines and novel platforms that don't collapse when viruses mutate," Kennedy said in the video.

Infectious disease experts say the mRNA technology used in vaccines is safe, and they credit its development during the first Trump administration with slowing the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Future pandemics, they warned, will be harder to stop without the help of mRNA.

"I don't think I've seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business," said Mike Osterholm, a University of Minnesota expert on infectious diseases and pandemic preparations.

He noted mRNA technology offers potential advantages of rapid production, crucial in the event of a new pandemic that requires a new vaccine.

The shelving of the mRNA projects is short-sighted as concerns about a bird flu pandemic continue to loom, said Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

"It's certainly saved millions of lives," Offit said of the existing mRNA vaccines.

Scientists are using mRNA for more than infectious disease vaccines, with researchers around the world exploring its use for cancer immunotherapies. At the White House earlier this year, billionaire tech entrepreneur Larry Ellison praised mRNA for its potential to treat cancer.

Traditionally, vaccines have required growing pieces of viruses, often in chicken eggs or giant vats of cells, then purifying that material. The mRNA approach starts with a snippet of genetic code that carries instructions for making proteins. Scientists pick the protein to target, inject that blueprint and the body makes just enough to trigger immune protection — producing its own vaccine dose.

In a statement Tuesday, HHS said "other uses of mRNA technology within the department are not impacted by this announcement."

The mRNA technology is used in approved COVID-19 and RSV shots, but has not yet been approved for a flu shot. Moderna, which was studying a combination COVID-19 and flu mRNA shot, had said it believed mRNA could speed up production of flu shots compared with traditional vaccines.

The abandoned mRNA projects signal a "shift in vaccine development priorities," the health department said in its statement, adding that it will start "investing in better solutions."

"Let me be absolutely clear, HHS supports safe, effective vaccines for every American who wants them," Kennedy said in the statement.

Speaking hours later Tuesday at a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska, alongside the state's two Republican U.S. senators, Kennedy said work is underway on an alternative.

He said a "universal vaccine" that mimics "natural immunity" is the administration's focus.

"It could be effective — we believe it's going to be effective -- against not only coronaviruses, but also flu," he said.

writers Lauran Neergaard in Washington, Mike Stobbe in New York and Becky Bohrer in Juneau contributed.

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RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development

RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development AMANDA SEITZ August 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM Health and Human ...
New Photo - New Zealand evacuates three from US Antarctic base in high risk winter rescue

New Zealand evacuates three from US Antarctic base in high risk winter rescue Alasdair PalAugust 5, 2025 at 10:22 PM By Alasdair Pal SYDNEY (Reuters) New Zealand's air force said on Wednesday it had evacuated three people from a United States research base in Antarctica, in what it said was a highri...

- - New Zealand evacuates three from US Antarctic base in high risk winter rescue

Alasdair PalAugust 5, 2025 at 10:22 PM

By Alasdair Pal

SYDNEY (Reuters) -New Zealand's air force said on Wednesday it had evacuated three people from a United States research base in Antarctica, in what it said was a high-risk operation in freezing temperatures and perpetual darkness.

One person requiring urgent medical care and two others needing medical attention were taken on the rescue flight from the McMurdo Station on Tuesday, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) said in a statement.

The aircraft landed in the New Zealand city of Christchurch on Wednesday morning. The statement gave no details of the medical emergency or nationalities.

Andy Scott, a New Zealand Air Commodore, said the extreme cold and landing on a runway of ice in the dark make mid-winter flights to Antarctica one of the most challenging air crews can perform.

"(It is) an extremely challenging environment to fly in on night vision goggles due to the extreme weather conditions, which are highly changeable at this time of year and makes accurate forecasting a challenge," he said.

Temperatures at the McMurdo Station fell as low as -24 Celsius (-11 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, hampering the 20 hour mission that took place in the complete darkness of the Antarctic winter.

The U.S. Chargé d'Affaires for New Zealand Melissa Sweeney said the evacuation had been carried out "flawlessly".

"We are so very grateful. Our Kiwi partners didn't hesitate to undertake this mission in one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth. Their skill and readiness are truly world-class," she said.

RNZAF carried out similar rescues in 2021 and 2024.

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Michael Perry)

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New Zealand evacuates three from US Antarctic base in high risk winter rescue

New Zealand evacuates three from US Antarctic base in high risk winter rescue Alasdair PalAugust 5, 2025 at 10:22 PM B...
New Photo - Aaron Judge strikes out twice in return from IL, Yankees shut out by Rangers for fifth straight loss

Aaron Judge strikes out twice in return from IL, Yankees shut out by Rangers for fifth straight loss Jason OwensAugust 6, 2025 at 9:43 AM Aaron Judge returned to the New York Yankees on Tuesday from a 10game stint on the injured list.

- - Aaron Judge strikes out twice in return from IL, Yankees shut out by Rangers for fifth straight loss

Jason OwensAugust 6, 2025 at 9:43 AM

Aaron Judge returned to the New York Yankees on Tuesday from a 10-game stint on the injured list.

His presence didn't shift the fortunes of a faltering Yankees team. Judge struck out in his first two at-bats and went 0 for 3 at the plate against a sensational effort from Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi.

Texas broke a scoreless tie in the eighth inning to spoil a combined shutout by Yankees pitchers before closer Devin Williams gave up the only runs of the game. Newly acquired reliever Phil Maton held on in the top of the ninth for a 2-0 Texas win.

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The loss for the Yankees is their fifth straight and drops them to 7-11 since the All-Star break. And it put them at further risk of falling out of the AL playoff picture at 60-54.

It added up to a microcosm of the problems that have plagued the Yankees as they've posted an 18-29 record since the middle of June.

Judge, Yankees lineup struggles

New York's vaunted lineup has taken a step back during the slump. It started before Judge went on the injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow. But the Yankees hoped the two-time MVP could provide a spark amid a losing streak. But Eovaldi was in charge Tuesday night.

Eovaldi worked Judge to a 1-2 count in the first inning in Judge's first at-bat since June 25. Then he got Judge swinging with a splitter over the plate that dipped below the zone.

Nathan Eovaldi strikes out Aaron Judge on his nasty splitter to end a 1-2-3 first. @RangersSNtvpic.twitter.com/GnODWCzu7e

— Jared Sandler (@JaredSandler) August 6, 2025

Judge's second at-bat brought more of the same. Eovaldi worked a 1-2 count with two fastballs and a sweeping curveball that induced a swing-and-miss for strike two. Judge then swung again at a third-strike splitter that dipped below his knees.

Eovaldi strikes out Judge once again as he cleanly gets through the fourth inning The offense has to give him some help ASAP pic.twitter.com/CyfJlv4fRB

— Rangers Nation ⚾️ (@rangers__nation) August 6, 2025

Judge grounded out in his third at-bat, his final of the night. His teammates didn't fare much better as Eovaldi pitched eight shutout innings with six strikeouts to lower his season-long ERA to 1.38.

Devin Williams falters again

New York was still in the game late despite the struggles at the plate thanks to seven combined shutout innings on the mound, led by five from starter Will Warren. But Williams faltered for a second straight night, this time when he took the mound during a scoreless game in the eighth inning.

Williams induced a first-out groundout from Marcus Semien. But he loaded the bases from there via an Adolis García double and two walks. Then Rowdy Tellez secured the win in a 10-pitch at-bat.

After throwing a ninth-pitch ball for a full count, Williams offer an 83 mph changeup below the strike zone. Tellez dug deep and launched the ball into centerfield for a two-run single that proved to be the difference in the Texas win.

The ice breaker! #AllForTXpic.twitter.com/EkDXc8WzuK

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) August 6, 2025

Williams was credited with the loss a night after taking a blown save. On Monday, Williams allowed a game-tying solo home run to Joc Pederson in the bottom of the ninth. The Rangers went on to an 8-5 walk-off win in the 10th inning.

A two-time All-Star closer for the Milwaukee Brewers, Williams had settled in midseason after a rough start to his first season with the Yankees. But his struggles have ensued, and Tuesday's effort dropped his season-long ERA to 5.44.

With Tuesday's loss, the Yankees dropped to six games behind the first-place Blue Jays in the AL East and 2.5 games behind the second-place Red Sox. Their lead over the now 60-55 Rangers for the final AL wild-card spot dropped to a half game.

The Yankees and Rangers will close out their three-game series on Wednesday.

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Aaron Judge strikes out twice in return from IL, Yankees shut out by Rangers for fifth straight loss

Aaron Judge strikes out twice in return from IL, Yankees shut out by Rangers for fifth straight loss Jason OwensAugust...
New Photo - Shares gain around the world, yields edge up

Shares gain around the world, yields edge up Stella Qiu and Alun JohnAugust 5, 2025 at 9:22 PM By Stella Qiu and Alun John SYDNEY/LONDON (Reuters) World shares gained on Wednesday as traders bought the dip after recent falls on soft U.S. data and corporate warnings about tariffs, while benchmark U.

- - Shares gain around the world, yields edge up

Stella Qiu and Alun JohnAugust 5, 2025 at 9:22 PM

By Stella Qiu and Alun John

SYDNEY/LONDON (Reuters) -World shares gained on Wednesday as traders bought the dip after recent falls on soft U.S. data and corporate warnings about tariffs, while benchmark U.S. Treasury yields edged up from one month lows.

Europe's broad STOXX 600 index rose 0.2%, after most Asian benchmarks had risen earlier in the day, while S&P 500 futures were 0.3% higher.

U.S. economic data is one major focus for markets, and Wall Street closed lower on Tuesday after data showed services sector activity unexpectedly flatlined in July.

That reinforced the message from Friday's soft jobs data, which caused markets to significantly increase bets on the Federal Reserve cutting rates in September.

"There's this tug of war going on between the more concrete signs that we have seen that the U.S. economy is slowing and the fact that rate cuts are coming which removes some of the pressure on valuations," said Samy Chaar, chief economist at Lombard Odier.

At least for equity investors, the latter view was in the ascendancy on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, on tariffs Chaar said investors were taking comfort from the fact that at least part of the trade war is settling down, though there could be some complacency there.

"The market is more focused on the fact that we're not getting maximalist tariffs, but I wonder if it isn't focusing enough on the fact that we are still getting something moderate, and more could be coming, pharmaceuticals for example."

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would announce tariffs on semiconductors and chips in the next week or so, while the U.S. would initially impose a "small tariff" on pharmaceutical imports before increasing it substantially in a year or two.

He also said the U.S. was close to a trade deal with China and that he would meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping before the end of the year if an agreement was struck. However, he threatened to further raise tariffs on goods from India over its Russian oil purchases.

Tech and semiconductors were also a theme of the day regardless of tariffs. Shares of AI server maker Super Micro fell 17.2% in premarket trading after it missed fourth-quarter estimates, while chip firm Advanced Micro Devices dropped 5.5%.

Chip foundry giant TSMC shares fell 2%.

In the government bond market, Treasury yields edged up after a $58 billion auction of three-year notes went poorly, but still hovered near multi-month lows. More supply will hit the market this week, with $42 billion in 10-year notes on Wednesday and $25 billion in 30-year bonds on Thursday. [US/]

Two-year Treasury yields rose 1 basis point to 3.742%, having risen 3.5 bps overnight, while benchmark 10-year yields ticked up 4 bps to 4.239%.

Fed funds futures imply a 94% chance of a rate cut next month, with at least two cuts priced in for this year, according to the CME's FedWatch.

Investors are waiting for Trump's pick to fill a coming vacancy on the Fed Board of Governors. Trump said the decision will be made soon, while ruling out Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as a contender to replace current chief Jerome Powell, whose term ends in May 2026.

With European yields moving in line with Treasuries, currency markets were quiet. The euro and sterling were both flat against the dollar at $1.1579, and $1.3288 respectively. [FRX/]

Oil prices rose after four straight sessions of declines. U.S. crude was up 1.44% to $66.1 per barrel, while Brent was at $68.7, up 1.6%. [O/R]

Trump said on Tuesday he will decide on whether to sanction countries that purchase Russian oil after a meeting with Russian officials scheduled for Wednesday.

Spot gold prices slipped 0.4% to $3,365 an ounce.

(Reporting by Stella Qiu. Editing by Sam Holmes and Mark Potter)

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Shares gain around the world, yields edge up

Shares gain around the world, yields edge up Stella Qiu and Alun JohnAugust 5, 2025 at 9:22 PM By Stella Qiu and Alun ...
New Photo - Disney lifts profit outlook as parks, streaming drive Q3 earnings beat — but linear declines weigh on shares

Disney lifts profit outlook as parks, streaming drive Q3 earnings beat — but linear declines weigh on shares Alexandra CanalAugust 6, 2025 at 6:08 AM Disney (DIS) reported fiscal third quarter earnings on Wednesday that beat expectations, driven by continued strength in its domestic parks business a...

- - Disney lifts profit outlook as parks, streaming drive Q3 earnings beat — but linear declines weigh on shares

Alexandra CanalAugust 6, 2025 at 6:08 AM

Disney (DIS) reported fiscal third quarter earnings on Wednesday that beat expectations, driven by continued strength in its domestic parks business and a year-over-year swing to profitability in its streaming unit.

However, steep declines in the company's linear television business overshadowed some of that momentum, with shares slipping about 2% in pre-market trading.

Disney raised its full-year profit forecast to $5.85 a share, up from its May forecast of $5.75 and ahead of Wall Street expectations of $5.77.

Prior to its earnings update, Disney also confirmed previous reports that ESPN has reached a preliminary deal to acquire key NFL Media assets, including NFL network, NFL RedZone, and NFL Fantasy, in exchange for a 10% equity stake in the network.

Alongside the sale of NFL Network, the league and ESPN have also agreed to a second deal under which the league will license certain NFL content and intellectual property to ESPN for use across NFL Network and related assets. The news comes as ESPN prepares to launch a new standalone service on August 21, the company confirmed early Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, ESPN unveiled a separate agreement with the NFL to extend its NFL Draft rights and expand league content across its upcoming streaming service. The deal also enables bundling NFL+ Premium, which includes RedZone and NFL Network, with the soon-to-launch platform.

Disney's ESPN is launching new standalone streaming service this fall. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski, File) ()

Analysts see the debut as a key step toward more bundling opportunities with Disney+ and Hulu, as streamers across the industry work to retain subscribers and reduce churn.

The deal had been previously reported by the Athletic. Ahead of its confirmation, Morgan Stanley analyst Ben Swinburne wrote in a Monday note, "With the NFL as an investor, ESPN's long-term future is incrementally more secure."

He added, "While the NFL cannot stop cord-cutting and will surely not give Disney a discount in future rights renewals, by investing in ESPN, the NFL will be even more motivated to help ESPN survive and potentially thrive in the new streaming-first world ahead."

Legacy headwinds meet digital gains

Disney reported revenue of $23.65 billion for the quarter, roughly in line with analyst expectations of $23.68 billion and up 2% from the same period last year.

Adjusted earnings per share of $1.61 came in ahead of the $1.46 expected by analysts polled by Bloomberg. Earnings increased from $1.39 from a year ago.

However, ongoing weakness in Disney's linear networks business weighed on the quarter. Revenue in the segment fell 15% year over year while operating income dropped 28%. The decline in traditional TV, which includes ABC and Disney's cable networks, overshadowed strength in other areas and contributed to the stock's post-earnings slide.

On the streaming front, Disney+ added 1.8 million subscribers in the quarter, falling short of the 2.05 million analysts polled by Bloomberg had expected.

Disney continues to prioritize consistent profitability in streaming amid the ongoing shift away from traditional pay-TV. Disney is targeting approximately $875 million in streaming profits for fiscal 2025. (Courtesy: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration) (REUTERS / Reuters)

Disney's direct-to-consumer segment, which includes Hulu and Disney+, posted a profit of $346 million, compared to a $19 million loss a year ago. The company continues to prioritize consistent profitability in streaming amid the ongoing shift away from traditional pay-TV. Disney is targeting approximately $875 million in streaming profits for fiscal 2025.

Looking ahead, Disney expects total Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions to grow by more than 10 million in the current quarter, with most of that growth coming from Hulu due to an expanded distribution deal with Charter (CHTR). Disney+ is expected to see a more modest sequential increase.

Meanwhile, the parks business continued to shine in the quarter.

Revenue of $9.09 billion beat expectations of $8.87 billion with the company posting a 22% rise in operating income at its domestic parks. The gains were fueled by increased guest spending at theme parks, higher hotel occupancy, and a rise in cruise passenger volumes following the successful launch of the Disney Treasure late last year.

In a notable push abroad, the company recently announced plans to open a new theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi — its first major expansion into the Middle East and its seventh global resort. The move comes as fresh competition emerges closer to home following the debut of NBCUniversal's Epic Universe in May.

Allie Canal is a Senior Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X @allie_canal, LinkedIn, and email her at [email protected].

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Disney lifts profit outlook as parks, streaming drive Q3 earnings beat — but linear declines weigh on shares

Disney lifts profit outlook as parks, streaming drive Q3 earnings beat — but linear declines weigh on shares Alexandra...

 

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