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Panasonic turns off US TV business with handover to Chinese rival
Skyworth to take over most of Japanese electronics group’s foreign television operations
Economist: China’s politics, not prices, driving U.S. ag purchases
The chief commodities economist with StoneX Group says he’s recently become more optimistic about China buying more ag products from the United States. Arlan Suderman tells Brownfield President Xi Jinping is dealing with internal Chinese politics and he needs U.S. support. “My bias at this point is he will survive it, but in the meantime, […]
iPhone 18 Pro Reportedly Enters Trial Production Stage
Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro has entered production testing ahead of a launch later this year, a Chinese leaker reported today. In a Weibo post, the leaker account known as "Fixed Focus Digital" said the Pro models had already entered "mass-production testing," likely referring to late-stage manufacturing validation for the devices ahead of a September launch.
Starwatch: Jupiter shines steady in Gemini
Solar system’s largest planet remains a brilliant, unwavering beacon, forming a striking trio with Castor and Pollux
Chinese scientists engineer gene-edited tomato with popcorn aroma
By silencing two genes with CRISPR/Cas9 tool, Chinese team creates a tomato with a surprisingly sweet scent.
Looks like Samsung's Privacy Display trick won't remain exclusive for long
According to a new leak, Chinese smartphone brands are testing hardware-level privacy displays similar to Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra feature.
A product manager on why Chinese AI products are different
An AI product manager who worked at a Chinese tech giant explains what makes Chinese AI different from the West.
Climate Physicists Face the Ghosts in Their Machines: Clouds
The planet is getting hotter, but one factor in particular makes it hard to tell just how hot it will get. Physicists and computer scientists are racing to solve the problem of clouds.
Cambridge mental health charity says £205K grant is 'pivotal'
Sew Positive says the funding will also be used to install specialised sewing machines.
Trump Moves Toward War and Peace
Plus, a Chinese pressure campaign holds up a U.S. arms deal for Taiwan and RFK Jr. again reshuffles his leadership ranks.
Vanderbilt Health remembers C. Leon Partain, former chair of Radiology
Clarence Leon Partain, MD, PhD, professor emeritus of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, whose work in nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imaging helped shape the field of academic radiology, died Jan. 28 in Brentwood, Tennessee. He was 85. After beginning his career as a nuclear engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and as faculty at the University of Missouri and the University of North Carolina, Dr. Partain joined the ranks at Vanderbilt Radiology in 1980 and was promoted to professor in 1984. He later became the first Carol D. and Henry P. Pendergrass Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences and chair of the department (1992-2000), and subsequently the director of the Center for Imaging Research. Shortly after arriving in Nashville, Dr. Partain began to lead Vanderbilt Radiology’s nuclear medicine division. He remained in this role until he was named the department chair. Dr. Partain specialized in multiple fields, including nuclear medicine, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. Following his time as chair, Dr. Partain shifted his focus to research and spent time working clinically with radiology’s chest imaging section. In 2015, he retired and was honored for his years of service and named as emeritus faculty. Dr. Partain also held an appointment as professor of Biomedical Engineering. A Tennessee native, Dr. Partain was born in Memphis and later graduated from high school in Clarksville. He then received his BS in nuclear engineering from the University of Tennessee, his MS and PhD in nuclear engineering from Purdue University and his MD from Washington University. He completed his residency training in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Partain was clinically trained and certified in diagnostic radiology and nuclear radiology by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) and the American Board of Nuclear Medicine. Throughout his career, Dr. Partain contributed to the growth of Vanderbilt Radiology and received many academic and research accolades across the specialty through various associations. During his time leading the department, clinical studies increased from 180,000 to 260,000 cases per year, emerging technological imaging equipment expanded the department’s capabilities, and units for angiography and fluoroscopy were added to the tool kit. The department also expanded its footprint with outpatient imaging in Nashville, Bedford County and more. Research continued to expand with continued growth in scientific findings and millions in grant funding for radiopharmaceuticals, functional MRI, nuclear medicine, X-ray, ultrasound and more. Dr. Partain is celebrated for being instrumental in bringing the first MRI and PET/CT machines to the Medical Center. His efforts helped build Vanderbilt Radiology’s prestige in the world of academics and research both nationally and internationally. His society affiliations included the American College of Radiology, the American College of Nuclear Medicine, and the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM). He served as president of the Radiological Research Alliance of the Association of Academic Radiologists and has held executive roles as a member of many radiological society boards. Dr. Partain was editor-in-chief of the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging from 2000 to 2013 and a member of the editorial boards of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the American Journal of Roentgenology, Academic Radiology, the Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Investigative Radiology. He has authored/co-authored/edited six textbooks, including one of the first comprehensive textbooks on MRI, “Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Imaging.” Dr. Partain has also authored/co-authored/edited approximately 100-plus book chapters and 200-plus journal articles. In 2000, Dr. Partain received the Distinguished Service Award from the ABR. In 2014, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the ISMRM. In 2016, he received the Alumni Achievement Award from Washington University for his “contributions to advance the fields of nuclear medicine and medical imaging.” Dr. Partain served the ABR as an examiner for 20 years, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education as a member of the Nuclear Medicine Residency Review Committee, and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in multiple capacities. A devout Baptist deacon and man of committed faith, he is survived by his wife of 62 years, Judy; children, David (Rebecca), Teri (Bland), and Amy; brother, Larry (Deb); brother-in-law, Tom (Cathy); grandchildren, Sarah (Brandon), Amy, Luke, Tucker, Alex, Ryan and Jake; cousins and a host of nieces and nephews. Vanderbilt Health is grateful to Dr. Partain for his decades of service and major contributions to clinical and research imaging.
Peru’s Congress Removes President Jerí After Four Months in Office
Peru’s President José Jerí was ousted by congress after just four months in office, as lawmakers forced him out for failing to declare meetings with Chinese businessmen and for allegedly hiring unqualified young women to work with him.
Happy Lunar New Year! Celebrate the Year of the Horse with science
According to the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Horse—so saddle up for some equine science
Visa Expands Small Business Support And Cross Border Reach With New Deals
Visa (NYSE:V) has launched "Visa & Main," a new platform aimed at supporting U.S. small businesses. The company is working with Lendistry on a US$100 million working capital facility for eligible entrepreneurs. Visa has entered a milestone partnership with UnionPay International to extend Visa Direct reach into Chinese Mainland. Visa, a global payments network, is moving beyond card transactions into tools that support small business operations and access to funding. The "Visa & Main"...
Chinese automakers want to come to US. They could be here fairly soon
Chinese cars could be at an American dealership sooner than you think, and that’s good news for US consumers.
NBA All-Star 2026: 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe shines brightest among rising stars, setting tone for the weekend
Business on Harry Hines shut down in multi-agency enforcement operation
This comes roughly 10 days after officials announced the expansion of Project Safe Neighborhoods to battle violent crime, drug trafficking and human...
Federal raid shuts down Harry Hines adult bookstore
Federal agents halted operations at an adult bookstore as part of a probe into drug and prostitution activities in Dallas.
Sam Rockwell Stars as a Time-Traveling Hero in Sci-Fi Comedy ‘Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die’
A time-travelling hero (Sam Rockwell) arrives at a diner on a quest to save the world from the excesses of artificial intelligence. He’s seen the future, when machines are in charge and humans are ens...
Gaming machines seized, arrests made during raid on Hialeah business
Indonesian Media Firm Tied to Trump’s Business Partner Is Said to Weigh Hong Kong Listing
PT MNC Digital Entertainment, the media and entertainment unit of Indonesian conglomerate MNC Group is considering a second listing in Hong Kong, according to people familiar with the matter, in what would be a rare deal for a non-Chinese company seeking to float shares in the Asian financial hub.
CIA pitches Chinese military officers on helping the US in new video amid officer purge in China
The CIA is ramping up its efforts to recruit Chinese spies by releasing a new Mandarin-language video on Thursday that appeals directly to the country’s military officers who may be disillusioned with the corruption in their current government and President Xi Jinping’s extensive purges of top generals.
Hugo Souza shines as Corinthians end RB Bragantino’s unbeaten run
Corinthians bounced back after their debut defeat in the Brasileirão.Playing in front of their faithful fans for the first time in the competition, Timão defeated Red Bull Bragantino—who had been ...
Is Therian Enamorus Worth Raiding in Pokémon GO? Full Meta Breakdown
Therian Enamorus vs Incarnate: Weaker Fairy raid attacker due to stats & Moonblast swap, but shines in PvP Ultra/Master Leagues with key wins.
Chinese civilisation’s true age; engineer heads to China: 7 science highlights
From China’s world-first microwave weapon to a fourth ‘Shenlong’ mission, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.
Sports goes cringe to chase Gen Z, from celebrating 67-point scorelines to posting Italian brainrot videos
Rutgers professor Mark Beal says Gen Z loves weird stuff like Zamboni machines. “They’ve live-streamed it, they’ve shot it, they’ve put it out on TikTok.”
Black Myth: Zhong Kui Gets Six Minutes of In-Engine Footage
Black Myth: Zhong Kui just received six minutes of in-engine footage to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year, due on February 17.
‘A free limo is hard to turn away’: how car diplomacy turbo charges politics in the Pacific
A luxury Chinese sedan gifted to Fiji is the latest in a string of vehicles donated by foreign countries to deepen partnerships and seek influence in the region
Chinese robot makers ready for Lunar New Year entertainment spotlight
In China, humanoid robots are serving as Lunar New Year entertainment, with their manufacturers pitching their song-and-dance skills to the general public as well as potential customers, investors and government officials.
The Chinese Factory That Opened in the U.S. and Clobbered Its Rivals
President Trump has pressured trading partners for investment in U.S. manufacturing plants. What if local industries can’t compete?
Ancient Chinese medicine may hold the key to hair regrowth
A centuries-old Chinese medicinal root is getting new scientific attention as a potential game-changer for common hair loss. Polygonum multiflorum, long believed to restore dark, healthy hair, appears to work on multiple fronts at once—blocking hair-shrinking hormones, protecting follicles from damage, activating natural regrowth signals, and boosting blood flow to the scalp.
Threadripper PRO 9995WX $12,000 mod turns heat spreader into a water block, stays under 50°C at 1,550W
Geekerwan machines custom IHS as a waterblock for Threadripper PRO 9995WX Geekerwan has published a new build video on AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper PRO
Six Palm Beach County restaurants temporarily shuttered for mold, roach infestations
From roaches in ovens to moldy ice machines, health inspectors shuttered six Palm Beach County eateries last week for food safety violations.
Angry girlfriend smashed RTX 3080 Ti, but a repair shop managed to save the GPU
Smashed graphics card gets a second chance Colorful RTX 3080 Ti repair video shows GPU swap test after cracked PCB and burned VRAM power part A Chinese
Video shows man smashing slot machines with hammer at Hialeah business
Surveillance video shows a man using a hammer to smash slot machines at a Hialeah business during an incident that led to his arrest.
China Consumer Loyalty Business Report 2026: A $35.65 Billion Market by 2030 from $18.46 Billion in 2025 - 88VIP, JD.com, Meituan Black Card, and WeChat Infrastructure Anchor Platform-Led Models
The Chinese loyalty market presents prime opportunities in embedded, platform-driven loyalty models and membership-based systems across various sectors. Integration into super-app ecosystems, leveraging data-driven personalization within regulatory constraints, and blending offline-to-online experiences are key growth avenues. Chinese Loyalty Market Chinese Loyalty Market Dublin, Feb. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "China Loyalty Market Size & Forecast by Spend Value Across 100+ KPIs by Progra
A sports district mega-development opposed by the Phillies, Eagles, and Comcast Spectacor appears to be dead
Developer Hines left the project last year, and now the zoning that enabled the project is being repealed.
CJ ENM, JYP CHINA And Tencent Music Entertainment Establish “ONECEAD”
CJ ENM have announced their joint venture project with JYP CHINA and Tencent Music Entertainment called ONECEAD, and introduces new Chinese boy group, MODYSSEY.
Man arrested after smashing slot machines at Hialeah business with hammer: Cops
A man was arrested after police said he used a hammer to smash some slot machines at a Hialeah business.
House Republicans sound alarm over CCP-linked fake research threatening US taxpayer-funded science
House Republicans warn Chinese "paper mills" may be flooding U.S. science with fake research, potentially compromising taxpayer-funded programs and grants.
Panama’s ‘dangerous precedent’: why ports appear pawns as politics top contracts
Panama’s move to void CK Hutchison’s deal fuels fears of broader asset seizures, with analysts warning of rising risks for Chinese operators in the US sphere.
US, Russian, Chinese fighters fly at display event, how they compare
The biennial Singapore Airshow featured aerobatic stunts from the F-16C, F-35A, Chengdu J-10C, and Su-30MKM.
Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard’s office obtained and tested voting machines in Puerto Rico
The Office of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard obtained voting machines from Puerto Rico and probed them for security vulnerabilities, the office said in a statement to CNN on Wednesday.
Costco outpaces broad retail sales in January as its digital business shines
Costco (COST) January sales jump: comps +7.1%, e-commerce +34.4%, total sales +9.3% to $19.5B.
Chicago's quantum park lands another global player
Israel-based Quantum Machines will open a lab at Chicago’s South Works site, adding momentum to Illinois’ $500 million push to become a global hub for quantum computing.
CNBC's The China Connection newsletter: For Chinese businesses, it's not about which AI is the smartest
While U.S.-China AI competition has focused on intelligence, businesses in China have a different benchmark for choosing AI tools.
AMD spills the beans on possible next-gen Xbox launch in 2027
Advanced Micro Devices CEO Lisa Su made a rare comment about future sales for both Valve's Steam Machines and Microsoft's next-generation Xbox.
M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro Launch Imminent as Reseller Stock Dwindles
New M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models are slated to launch in the near future, according to information shared with MacRumors by an Apple Premium Reseller. The third-party Apple retailer said that MacBook Pro stock is very low currently because there is an imminent new product introduction. Apple typically coordinates supply with retail stores ahead of a new model launch to avoid leaving resellers with too many outdated machines.
Flamigo in Pokémon GO Meta: Is It Worth the Grind?
Flamigo's raid attacker stats disappoint despite solid Flying and Fighting moves. Shines as spice in PvP in Great and Ultra League.
Maryland Companies Celebrate Global Collaborations, Industry Honors and Local Partnerships
The Maryland Marketing Partnership, which helps drive Maryland's branding and marketing efforts to attract businesses, create jobs, and grow the state's economy, today shared a summary of the latest news from companies and organizations that invest in the partnership. "Maryland's marketing partners are starting the year with major investments in our state's workforce and economy," said Harry Coker Jr., Secretary for the Maryland Department of Commerce. "From clean energy to biopharma to higher education to commercial real estate, these investments are helping us build a stronger and more competitive Maryland economy." BGE , Maryland's largest natural gas and electric utility, along with the Exelon Foundation , announced a $250,000 grant for Civic Works' Baltimore Shines solar initiative to support solar installations for 30 homes in Baltimore. According to Civic Works, homeowners will receive free rooftop solar installations, adding clean energy to the grid and generating more than
From PopMart to JD.com: Britain and China rush to forge business deals as diplomatic thaw takes hold
Chinese firms moved to pledge hundreds of millions of investment in the U.K. as Starmer's visit to China spurred a flurry of business deals and money flows.
“Existential risk” – Why scientists are racing to define consciousness
Scientists warn that rapid advances in AI and neurotechnology are outpacing our understanding of consciousness, creating serious ethical risks. New research argues that developing scientific tests for awareness could transform medicine, animal welfare, law, and AI development. But identifying consciousness in machines, brain organoids, or patients could also force society to rethink responsibility, rights, and moral boundaries. The question of what it means to be conscious has never been more urgent—or more unsettling.
India hands Apple a win by letting foreign firms fund equipment for manufacturers
India's government on Sunday handed a major win to Apple by allowing foreign companies to freely provide machines to their contract manufacturers set up in certain areas for five years, without fearing any tax risk.
How Chinese short-video streaming firms are reshaping Latin America's media landscape
Short-drama apps, many with Chinese origins, are making significant inroads in Latin America as the region becomes more affluent, research shows.
UFC 325 Highlights! Salkilld Shines Again With Dominant Submission Win
Quillan Salkilld kept the hype train rolling earlier tonight (Sat., Jan. 31, 2026) at UFC 325 LIVE on Paramount+ from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, pushing his UFC record to 4-0 with a first-round submission (rear-naked choke) over battle-tested lightweight veteran Jamie Mullarkey. As expected, Salkilld was a large favorite heading into this […]
TikTok Superstar Khaby Lame’s Big Deal—Which Saw Him Valued At $6.6 Billion—Raises Red Flags, Experts Say
The all-stock transaction revolved around a small Chinese firm with less than $6 million in revenues, which went public just six months ago and saw its stock skyrocket over 650%
A World Safe for Autocracy: How Chinese Domestic Politics Shapes
China studies expert Jessica Chen Weiss of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies reveals how the Chinese Communist Partyʼs pursuit of domestic survival, which balances sovereignty, security, and development, drives
Starmer arrives in Shanghai as he looks to boost UK business opportunities
BEIJING (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in the Chinese financial center of Shanghai on Friday in his bid to boost business opportunities for U.K. firms in the world's second-largest economy, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a possible opposition to any deal...
Starmer arrives in Shanghai as he looks to boost UK business opportunities
BEIJING (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in the Chinese financial center of Shanghai on Friday in his bid to boost business opportunities for U.K. firms in the world’s secon…
Starmer arrives in Shanghai as he looks to boost UK business opportunities
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in the Chinese financial center of Shanghai in his bid to boost business opportunities for U.K. firms in the world’s second-largest economy, just hours after President Donald Trump signaled a possible opp...
Panama court rules Chinese control of canal ports unconstitutional
Lawsuit was brought before court in 2025 as US threatened to seize control of strategic waterway.
Trump says ‘very dangerous’ for UK to do business with China, after Starmer hails progress in Beijing
US president warns Keir Starmer over closer ties with China during British PM’s trip to secure lower tariffs and better access to Chinese market
Elora Cordier’s passion for unified sports shines on and off the court
Elora Cordier's dedication to unified sports shines as she wins the Falcon Award for basketball. Her passion and efforts have made a difference.
Alibaba Teams Up With Zelos on $2 Billion Robovan Business
Alibaba’s logistics arm is merging its autonomous-driving unit with Chinese robovan specialist Zelos Technology.
Xi-Starmer meeting: Chinese leader tells PM he hopes both countries can ‘rise above differences’
At Beijing talks, British prime minister Keir Starmer tells Xi he wants a ‘more sophisticated’ relationship with China
International Business Machines Corp (IBM) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Revenue ...
IBM reports its highest revenue growth in years, driven by software and infrastructure performance, while setting ambitious goals for AI and hybrid cloud advancements.
International Business Machines Q4 Earnings Call Highlights
International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) executives highlighted a year of accelerating growth and record cash generation during the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call, pointing to strong performance across Software and Infrastructure and outlining expectations to sustain momentum into 202
iPhone 18 Pro Could Feature Teleconverter Alongside Variable Aperture
Apple's rumored new variable aperture camera system for this year's iPhone 18 Pro models has reached the sampling stage, according to a new claim from a Chinese leaker. Posting on Weibo today, the account known as "Smart Pikachu" said the feature had entered late-stage engineering samples, while a teleconverter is also "under evaluation" for the device. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in September 2026.
Investment and Statecraft: The International Politics of Sovereign Wealth Funds - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
In 1953, Kuwait established the world’s first sovereign wealth fund to invest the country’s oil revenues and generate returns that would reduce its reliance on a single resource. Since then, over 100 separate funds have been created to preserve national wealth and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Today, they manage over $10 trillion in global assets. In this discussion with GJIA, political economist Kathryn Lavelle explains the increasingly novel dynamics that surround fund behavior and what the world can come to expect from their growing presence in international financial markets. GJIA: When it comes to the roles sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) play in global markets and politics, what would you say makes them unique? Kathryn Lavelle: Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) operate on behalf of governments as investors. That in itself is a strange relationship. Within them, a core contest takes place between the state’s interests (or sovereign) part of the dynamic, and the money interests (or wealth) part of it, and these two aspects are frequently in contradiction, serving fundamentally different goals. SWFs are also quite fascinating because when you talk to the people who manage these funds, they have an interest in convincing you that the decisions are made almost exclusively on a financial basis—they really will go to great lengths to differentiate their government owners and those who make the management decisions. At the same time, these people ultimately answer to someone in power. Therefore, for most SWFs, it remains deeply unclear who is actually making the investment decisions and for what purposes. Of course, it is not always clear how other vehicles, such as hedge funds and private equity make the decisions they do, but I think what a lot of people find particularly disconcerting about SWFs is that they seem to act on behalf of people who have a different identity from their own. People who could be trying to manipulate politics and markets in a way that would have a long-term effect on their own populations. Regular investors come and go at will, and they only share an interest in profit as far as most of us understand. However, SWFs have that extra “sovereign” part right behind them that obscures their true interest. GJIA: These funds can be found in countries all across the globe, in both authoritarian states and democracies. Would you say SWFs differ in their goals and structures between regime-type? KL: It is not necessarily regime type that makes the goals and structures of SWFs different. It has to do with their economies. Let’s look at a country like China. There’s going to be a debate about exactly how to characterize the regime, but it is a country with many different kinds of sovereign wealth funds, and a particularly opaque state connection to each. At one time, some of the state-owned Chinese oil companies created specialized investment vehicles listed outside Chinese markets that excluded parts of the firms that were more associated with human rights violations. At the same time, the China Investment Corporation (CIC)—China’s largest SWF—draws a lot of concern, not necessarily because of its investment activities, but because of the dynamics of global politics. So, I wouldn’t really tie differences to regime types themselves in a wholesale way, but rather to how such funds are perceived and how they are structured. Saudi Arabia’s SWF is getting all kinds of attention for its involvement in Hollywood, and this takes me right back to when I was a student in the 1980s, when people were concerned about Japanese investment entities buying assets in Hollywood. They aren’t quite the same in financial terms, but it’s the same kind of concern about foreign investment that drives people to be suspicious, and the whole idea that “foreigners are influencing Hollywood.” This holds true across industries, and it reflects where politics are in places like the United States right now. One metric we can try to look at is transparency, where all the funds will tell you, “we are transparent.” The problem you’ll keep running into with this approach is how you value things. When trying to do comparative studies of equity markets, you’ll find that every country doesn’t use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles like we do in the United States. A fund may appear opaque politically and not want people to show what they’re invested in or what their intent with that investment is, but they could also just not be able to report it because of the way it was purchased, or the kinds of shares they purchased. There are some assets out there that really are difficult to put a monetary value on. GJIA: To what extent do domestic politics shape SWF behavior in both the investing “home” country and the recipient “host” country? KL: This depends on the type of fund present and also on the extent to which voters’ political views are able to influence the fund. For example, in a democratic home state like Norway, the SWF doesn’t invest in nuclear weapons or tobacco because of social concerns, but there is a continuing debate over whether it should invest in oil, even though that’s where most of the money comes from. The degree to which Norway will continue to make those investments, and whether they contradict the government’s overall climate goals, is an open question in Norwegian politics. Because of the way the fund’s governance is structured, it may not be easy to resolve. On the other hand, some people consider pension funds, like the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in Ohio, to be quasi-SWF. They have a very strict separation between the people who make up the management division and the fund owners. No teacher or professor would want to invest in things that may harm the future of their students. At the same time, a fund manager might see an opportunity in a diversified multinational corporation that offers a good return, despite it deriving part of its revenue from e-cigarettes. These contests are very apparent. Domestic politics can work in host countries too. A good example is Singapore’s SWF, Temasek, investing in Thailand’s telecommunications sector. If you study political economy, you already know that countries everywhere are uncomfortable with foreign ownership of their telecom sectors because a foreign entity could monitor or manipulate our communications with each other. In the case of Temasek, there was significant pushback from Thai citizens surrounding the deal, which went on to influence national political sentiment toward Singapore as a whole, underscoring the risks some SWFs may face with their investment choices. In this case, fund behavior led to the dissolution of the entire Thai government in 2006 and a subsequent coup d’état. GJIA: To address some of this unease, the Santiago Principles were established in 2009 to ostensibly promote trust and transparency. From your perspective, have these mechanisms actually changed fund behavior? KL: In international relations theory, we always like to have a clear set of norms and best practices—the orientation we want the proverbial ship to be going in. In that regard, the Santiago Principles at least got the discussion going about which direction SWFs should take at a time when people were very skittish about the growing size of these funds. Nobody wanted them to be out there and potentially destabilizing economies, so talks about disclosure, conditions for withdrawal, and the independence of managers were helpful when initiated. The biggest stumbling block was that there wasn’t exactly a good way to measure compliance with the Principles, let alone how to hold funds to them. If you read the Principles, they’re overall quite vague. In general, a fund doesn’t want to reveal how and why they make certain investment decisions because that information is proprietary—a fund makes money off of how and why it makes decisions—so how do you reconcile that with loosely-defined ideas of openness? Some decisions might have a political purpose. The bottom line is that trying to figure out and assign a score to compliance is not easy, and it is therefore the reason why the Santiago Principles never really got off the ground to the point where they could truly direct fund behavior. GJIA: Many emerging markets are looking to build their own SWFs from mineral and oil revenues. Historically, have funds shaped development trajectories in these countries? KL: I think the big story in international emerging markets investment is that the investment is increasingly no longer unidirectional. In the past multinational corporations of primarily Western background were the main form of foreign direct investment in a country. That has changed dramatically, to the point where you have companies from so-called “developing countries” taking over companies in the United States. Therefore, the landscape of international investment has changed, and I think SWFs are certainly a possibility to be the next step in the game. Historically, you didn’t need an entire financial vehicle to reinvest commodity revenues in your country, but as emerging markets get more financially sophisticated, their capacity to operate such funds has increased. SWFs would allow treasuries to move from relying on holding foreign exchange assets like cash or government bonds to having broader financial markets and targeted growth areas, while easing pressure on welfare expenditures. GJIA: With their increasing financial weight, do you see the presence of SWFs being a factor in the political choices leaders will have to make with regard to domestic and foreign policy? KL: It will depend on just how big the funds get. One of the reasons people are already apprehensive is because of their scale, and if certain SWFs in certain countries achieve a large-enough size, the presence will absolutely be cause for concern. The other factor political leaders will have to consider are their objectives. It’s not always clear how to define a SWF, or even where its activity is concentrated, but it is certainly a worry from the perspective of national security of opaque external investment. More than that, I think one of the most interesting questions going forward is whether the United States, the home to the world’s largest financial markets, will develop its own fund, for which the Trump administration announced a plan. There have also been several proposals in Congress. Were it to come into being, it would have tremendous weight. At the same time, one of the hallmarks of U.S. capitalism is a lack of government ownership of shares, so it would not be clear how such a fund would be received in domestic politics, or which direction it would take. Given how politically fragmented the country is, a Democratic administration would likely be concerned about different sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, and want investment there, rather than a Republican administration, which might prefer defense industries. No investment vehicle could thrive under conditions of such instability. Moreover, it remains unclear where the money to fund a theoretical U.S. SWF would come from. It would be a fundamentally different entity depending on whether it is financed with debt, economic surplus, commodities, or the sale of state companies, as in the case of Singapore. If it is debt, or government borrowing of some form, then the fund would have to outperform whatever the cost of that debt is, which is not an easy thing to do. I think our political leaders have enough on their plate. Our system has worked well keeping political and investment functions generally separate. We have seen different forms of business rise and fall, and even the perception of different countries, all of which funds are tied to. Unless a major SWF either starts—like in the case of the United States—or collapses—an issue that concerns the Saudis, I don’t see any political tsunamis on the horizon. . . . Kathryn Lavelle is the Ellen and Dixon Long Professor of World Affairs at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research explores the exchange between domestic and international and political institutions with a particular emphasis on political economy and multilateralism. Dr. Lavelle’s first book, The Politics of Equity Finance in Emerging Markets, explored the political circumstances that surround large issues of stock in the developing world. After being granted tenure at Case Western, she was awarded an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship and named the William A. Steiger fellow, a designation given to the most promising political scientist in her class of fellows. While in Washington during 2006-2007, she worked on the staff of the House Committee on Financial Services on issues related to domestic and international monetary policy. Dr. Lavelle holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University; an M.A. in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia; and a bachelor’s degree in international economics from Georgetown University. She is a permanent member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length. Interview conducted by Sid Mehrotra. Image Credit: Jason Leung, Unsplash Content Licenses, via Unsplash
Starmer vows to raise issues ‘that need to be raised’ with Xi amid push to free Jimmy Lai
The prime minister may also discuss the fate of the Uyghurs with the Chinese leader
Chinese-made teething toys sold on Amazon recalled over fatal choking risk
Federal regulators announced the recall of Yetonamr pull-string teething toys manufactured in China after 32 reported choking incidents, urging parents to immediately destroy products.
Clawdbot sparks Mac mini memes as Anthropic forces name change
If you’re seeing a lot of photos of stacks of Mac mini machines filling the internet, that’s been sparked by...
Climate-risk scores shape billion-dollar decisions, and new study says science behind them needs to be more transparent
A new paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences argues that trustworthiness of climate-risk scores depends not just on the sophistication of the models used to produce the scores but also on whether the science behind them is open, reusable and transparent enough for others to examine, test and improve.
Anta Sports Set to Become Puma’s Largest Shareholder in $1.8 Billion Deal
The Chinese sportswear company has agreed to acquire a 29.06% stake in Puma, which will make it the German company’s largest shareholder.
Scientists say quantum tech has reached its transistor moment
Quantum technology has reached a turning point, echoing the early days of modern computing. Researchers say functional quantum systems now exist, but scaling them into truly powerful machines will require major advances in engineering and manufacturing. By comparing different quantum platforms, the study reveals both impressive progress and steep challenges ahead. History suggests the payoff could be enormous—but not immediate.
The Electric: Idle Chinese Plants Are Inviting Business With U.S. Battery Startups
A free-for-all of factory expansion among China’s battery manufacturers has left more than 40% of the country’s battery plants idle. That has presented a prime opportunity for a nascent wave of Western startups to capitalize on the Chinese battery makers’ misery.
Microsoft probes Windows 11 boot failures tied to January security updates
: Some machines are failing to start after security updates, prompting yet another Microsoft investigation
What role is China playing in global geopolitical transformations?
Chinese foreign policy is shaped by a paradox: it wants to project power and yet it seeks to avoid conflict.
US wins against Russian, Chinese air defenses risk wrong lessons
These systems could still be effective in the right hands or situation. At the same time, the US and allies have a history of success against them.
Louisiana poet David Middleton shines in "Time Will Tell" collection of poems
Middleton is a poet-in-residence emeritus at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux.
Chinese scientists shrink semiconductor chip into fibre as thin as human hair
Advance allows fibres to compute like chips or display information like transistors, paving the way for machine-wearable smart textiles.
After TikTok Deal, Chinese Firms Search for a New Global Path
Chinese firms must contend with geopolitical tensions and mistrust to do business in the United States. Some are choosing to avoid the U.S. altogether.
China’s analogue chip runs 12 times as fast on 1/200th energy of digital rivals
Chinese scientists go back to the future for inspiration that could reshape the power-hungry artificial intelligence model.
TikTok closes deal to split US app from global business: What to know
The app was due to be banned in the US a year ago if its Chinese owner hadn't sold its business in America.
The deal to secure TikTok’s future in the US has finally closed
The joint venture acquiring TikTok’s US assets has been formally established and has announced its leadership team, according to the company, one day before the deadline set by President Donald Trump for the app’s US assets to be spun off by Chinese parent company ByteDance.
White House and China finalize deal to sell control of U.S. TikTok business to investors backed by Trump administration
The popular short-form video platform has been subject to years of scrutiny across the political aisle in the U.S. over its Chinese ownership.
Alarm as US mulls prioritising citizens in research funding
A senior White House official said the Trump administration is considering ways to prioritise research funding to American citizens, triggering alarm in the research community that the country could destroy its century-long status as a magnet for overseas talent.Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), said last week that it is “important for us to continue to emphasise the use of federal R&D dollars towards American scientists and technologists that are staffed by Americans in their labs.” Asked about support for Chinese students during a Congressional hearing, Kratsios went on to say that in future funding announcements, the OSTP would “emphasise” that “we're funding American students.”The precise meaning of his impromptu comments, and what they could mean in policy terms, isn’t yet clear. The OSTP did not respond to multiple requests for clarification from Science|Business.But given that US science and technology has relied on overseas talent for the past century, Kratsios’s words have alarmed former US science officials.Immigrants have made up around 30-40% of US Nobel Prize winners since the 1940s, for example. Except for some sensitive projects, countries typically grant research funding on a nationality-blind basis, lest they deter foreign scientists from immigrating. “If director Kratsios’s statements are taken literally and become official policy of the White House, [research-intensive] universities will likely have to close labs if not entire research divisions,” said David Biggs, a former science and technology official in the US State Department. In their most extreme interpretation, Kratsios’s comments would imply that foreign scientists established in the US would see access to funding curtailed. This would “result in many world-leading professors who work in the United States in fields that this administration considers a priority (like fusion energy, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing) leaving the country,” said Cole Donovan, a former US science diplomat, and now associate director at the Federation of American Scientists.CripplingHowever, given the context of the conversation, Kratsios may have been referring more narrowly to funding for doctoral or postdoctoral students. At the hearing, he said he wanted to see labs staffed by US citizens. But even this would have devastating consequences for the US science system, say former officials, because the country is so dependent on early-career foreign researchers. Recent statistics show that nearly half of those in the US with a PhD in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) are considered short-term visitors, or non-residents in the official terminology. If this included residents who are not yet citizens, the proportion would likely be even higher. “Foreign PhD students are really a significant and core part of the university STEM workforce, and postdocs is similarly large,” said Donovan. Preventing US-based academics from hiring them from overseas would be a serious blow, he said. “If it's the case that this administration intends to limit funding to labs staffed only with US citizens, the effect will be to cripple the American scientific enterprise,” said Chris Marcum, a former OSTP official. “To think that these researchers can simply be replaced is a pipe dream. The labs will close,” said Marcum. Go elsewhereAround half of US-trained postdocs are foreign-born, said Biggs. “If these top international students cannot get funding to do their research, or even if they hear that funding for foreign students has been greatly restricted and will be super competitive, they will no longer choose to study in the US and will go elsewhere.” It’s unclear for now if Kratsios’s comments will translate into a real policy shift. But they could add to turmoil in the US science system since Donald Trump took over as president one year ago. Related articlesNIH turmoil risks reciprocal EU-US access to health research fundingUS set to close office responsible for global science and technology dealsTrump halts new NIH grants to international health-research partnersSince then, nearly 8,000 grants at the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation have been frozen or terminated, Naturereports. Courts have overturned most of these cancellations, but the disruption caused remains significant. Both those agencies have also dished out around a quarter fewer grants this year than normal, the journal reported. International student enrolment is also down by 17%. The Trump administration also proposes to cut research budgets by around a third, although Congress may mollify the cuts.
Alarm over US plan to prioritise citizens in research funding
The US’s leading science official has said the country will focus its research spending on scientists with US citizenship, triggering alarm that the country could destroy its century-long status as a magnet for overseas talent.Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), said last week that it is “important for us to continue to emphasise the use of federal R&D dollars towards American scientists and technologists that are staffed by Americans in their labs.” Asked about support for Chinese students during a Congressional hearing, Kratsios went on to say that in future funding announcements, the OSTP would “emphasise” that “we're funding American students.”Kratsios’s precise meaning, and what it could mean in policy terms, isn’t yet clear. The OSTP did not respond to multiple requests for clarification from Science|Business.But given that US science and technology has relied on overseas talent for the past century, Kratsios’s words have stunned former US science officials.Immigrants have made up around 30-40% of US Nobel Prize winners since the 1940s, for example. Except for some sensitive projects, countries typically grant research funding on a nationality-blind basis, lest they deter foreign scientists from immigrating. “If director Kratsios’s statements are taken literally and become official policy of the White House, [research-intensive] universities will likely have to close labs if not entire research divisions,” said David Biggs, a former science and technology official in the US State Department. In their most extreme interpretation, Kratsios’s comments would imply that foreign scientists established in the US would see access to funding curtailed. This would “result in many world-leading professors who work in the United States in fields that this administration considers a priority (like fusion energy, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing) leaving the country,” said Cole Donovan, a former US science diplomat, and now associate director at the Federation of American Scientists.CripplingHowever, given the context of the conversation, Kratsios may have been referring more narrowly to funding for doctoral or postdoctoral students. At the hearing, he said he wanted to see labs staffed by US citizens. But even this would have devastating consequences for the US science system, say former officials, because the country is so dependent on early-career foreign researchers. Recent statistics show that nearly half of those in the US with a PhD in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) are considered short-term visitors, or non-residents in the official terminology. If this included residents who are not yet citizens, the proportion would likely be even higher. “Foreign PhD students are really a significant and core part of the university STEM workforce, and postdocs is similarly large,” said Donovan. Preventing US-based academics from hiring them from overseas would be a serious blow, he said. “If it's the case that this administration intends to limit funding to labs staffed only with US citizens, the effect will be to cripple the American scientific enterprise,” said Chris Marcum, a former OSTP official. “To think that these researchers can simply be replaced is a pipe dream. The labs will close,” said Marcum. Go elsewhereAround half of US-trained postdocs are foreign-born, said Biggs. “If these top international students cannot get funding to do their research, or even if they hear that funding for foreign students has been greatly restricted and will be super competitive, they will no longer choose to study in the US and will go elsewhere.” It’s unclear for now if Kratsios’s comments will translate into a real policy shift. But they could add to turmoil in the US science system since Donald Trump took over as president one year ago. Since then, nearly 8,000 grants at the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation have been frozen or terminated, Naturereports. Courts have overturned most of these cancellations, but the disruption caused remains significant. Both those agencies have also dished out around a quarter fewer grants this year than normal, the journal reported. International student enrolment is also down by 17%. The Trump administration also proposes to cut research budgets by around a third, although Congress may mollify the cuts.
Late-night and daytime talk shows must offer equal time for candidate interviews, FCC says
Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez said the guidance contrasts with the FCC's longstanding view that such programs are entitled to editorial discretion based on newsworthiness, not political favoritism.
iPhone 18 Rumored to Feature Much Brighter Display
Apple's iPhone 18 will feature a significantly brighter display, according to a Chinese leaker. In a new post on Weibo, the user known as "Instant Digital" said that Chinese supplier BOE has little hope of making panels for the iPhone 18 because Apple's brightness requirements for the next-generation device are unprecedentedly high. This suggests that the iPhone 18's display will see a considerable leap forward in terms of brightness.
The obscure physics theory that helped Chinese science emerge from the shadows
Robert P Crease reveals the curious twist in the development of Chinese physics in the 1960s
Gone global: Chinese businesses are booming abroad
A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist
What International Business Machines (IBM)'s New Enterprise AI Platform Push Means For Shareholders
IBM recently announced several AI initiatives, including IBM Enterprise Advantage for building internal AI platforms, an enterprise-grade agentic AI collaboration with e&, and GRAMMY IQ built with watsonx to power interactive fan experiences using historical Recording Academy data. Together, these moves highlight IBM's push to embed governed, agentic AI across both mission-critical enterprise workflows and high-visibility consumer-facing experiences, underscoring its ambition to be an...
UK approves Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ despite espionage concerns
The United Kingdom on Tuesday authorized a massive new Chinese embassy in London, despite international concerns that the facility could be used to spy on the country. The embassy, set to be China’s largest in Europe, will sit on the Royal Mint Court, near the Tower of London. Members of parliament within both the ruling […]
Latest iPhone 18 Pro Leak Corroborated by Respected Former Analyst
Respected veteran display analyst Ross Young has added his support to a new leak today about the iPhone 18 Pro's front-panel design. In a new post on X (Twitter), the now-retired Counterpoint Research VP said that Chinese leaker Instant Digital's latest explanation of how Apple will shrink the Dynamic Island is what he was alluding to in a report last year.
5 Cool Costco Finds That Can Help You Build Your Own Retro Arcade
There are many items available at Costco, which are perfect for a home arcade. These include remote-control string lights, wall decor, and gaming machines.
Sony is selling its TV and home entertainment division to one of the biggest Chinese consumer electronics company in the US - The Times of India
Tech News News: Sony Group is spinning off its television and home entertainment division to Chinese rival TCL Electronics, ceding majority control of the iconic Brav.
Sony to spin off TV business, form joint venture with China's TCL
Chinese TV maker to take 51% stake in JV that will operate under Japanese brand names
LVMH sells greater China retail business of its DFS group to CTG
French luxury group LVMH , the world's biggest, said on Monday that it has agreed to sell its DFS travel retail business in Hong Kong and Macau, as well as its intangible assets in greater China to China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp (CTG) , a Chinese travel retail operator.