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Scientists discover hidden geometry that bends electrons like gravity
Researchers have discovered a hidden quantum geometry inside materials that subtly steers electrons, echoing how gravity warps light in space. Once thought to exist only on paper, this effect has now been observed experimentally in a popular quantum material. The finding reveals a new way to understand and control how materials conduct electricity and interact with light. It could help power future ultra-fast electronics and quantum technologies.
Social media reacts to UNC controlling Georgia Tech Saturday afternoon
Here's how social media reacted to UNC earning a solid win at Georgia Tech on Saturday afternoon, just its second ACC victory away from Chapel Hill.
Scott Galloway urges Big Tech boycott to influence Trump ICE policies
Small businesses struggled to observe the national shutdown to protest ICE. Here's why a boycott of companies like OpenAI and Amazon could be easier and more effective.
Not me watching this man destroy a 70-something Karen at the grocery store in the most satisfying way possible 💀
"Not all heroes wear capes; some wear AirPods."
AppleInsider.com
Apple has quietly updated the way that users buy and configure Macs on the online Apple Store, giving customers a process that's closer to buying an iPhone or iPad.
SoxFest 2026 Friday night takeaway: Setting the foundation for success
Chris Getz and Will Venable stress youth and culture as White Sox rebuild takes shape
Canadiens warned against trading away talented 1st-round pick
Montreal has to decide on a direction.
Anti-ICE protests impacting some Southern California businesses
Some businesses chose to close, while others remained open but supported the cause in different ways.
Warriors trying to persevere as rampant trade speculation swirls with NBA deadline looming
The Golden State Warriors are doing their best to focus on basketball as rampant trade speculation swirls with the NBA deadline just days away.
Steelers predicted to part ways with former Pro Bowler
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been predicted to move on from a veteran offensive playmaker.
We're a week away from the Opening Ceremony: From the Sports Desk
The opening ceremony is next Friday. Let the Games begin.
'Bama State Downs Bethune-Cookman to Claim Fourth Straight Win
MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Shamya Reid scored a game-high 19 points to lead three players in double figures as Alabama State University women's basketball pulled away for a 78-60 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Saturday at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
Apple's New Lip-Reading Tech Is a Weird Signal of Where We're Heading
Commentary: The purchase of a startup called Q.ai isn't a blip on the radar. The way we use our wearables could be changing in very weird new ways.
The Latest Way to Create an Isolated Retreat: Buy a Whole Village
Wealthy buyers and tourism entrepreneurs are acquiring abandoned European villages — school, church and bar included.
Dismissing 49ers’ EMF injury theory as ‘junk science’ misses the point
A power substation situated a stone’s throw from the 49ers’ practice field and training facilities is ground zero for a buzz that won’t go away as Levi’s Stadium prepares to host Super Bowl...
The Humiliation of Kristi Noem
President Trump doesn’t seem to fire people anymore, but he marginalizes them in subtler ways.
Takeaways from Tallahassee
FSU students, fans and alumni can say, without blinking, ‘we are the best’: the Honors Program.
Saints 2025 Year in Review: Defensive tackle John Ridgeway III
What did John Ridgeway III contribute to the New Orleans Saints in 2025? He's one of many free agents the team must choose to re-sign in 2026.
Healing Childhood Trauma: What Science Says About Breaking the Cycle
Decades after a landmark study showed the lasting health effects of such trauma, researchers are finding ways to guard against enduring harm.
Figure skating great Gracie Gold remains a champion as an Olympic mental health ambassador, and other thoughts
Gold is an important voice in the work to remove stigmas about mental health and to coach young athletes in more healthful ways.
Fort Wayne businesses closed in solidarity with ‘ICE out’ day of action
On the front doors of these businesses are signs signaling to customers that their store is not open. Local vegan and gluten-free bakery Good Bread was one of those businesses.
Veteran goalie James Reimer to lead Senators vs. Devils
The Ottawa Senators were in dire straits when it came to their goaltending situation. Starter Linus Ullmark recently stepped away to deal with some mental issues, and young backup Leevi Merilainen wasn't ready to replace him.
Sydney Sweeney on “MAGA Barbie” Nickname: “I’ve Never Been Here to Talk About Politics”
"I’ve always been here to make art, so this is just not a conversation I want to be at the forefront of," the 'Christy' star said in conversation with Cosmopolitan.
Analysis: 5 early takeaways from the DOJ’s big Epstein files drop
The Justice Department on Friday announced the long-awaited release of an enormous tranche of Jeffrey Epstein files, spanning more than 3 million pages, which it said fufilled its obligations under transparency legislation passed last year.
Local health officials warn of winter storm dangers beyond icy roads
Health official say frostbite, hypothermia and even just falling on the ground from ice on your porch or your driveway could have long-term effects on your health.
Body found behind northwest suburban business, police say
A death investigation was underway in northwest suburban Bartlett after a person was found dead outside a business on Friday, authorities said.
Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez Praises ‘Amazing’ Seahawks Star Before Super Bowl
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez will have his hands full during a marquee matchup that could sway Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks. New England’s red-hot defense must find ways to slow down Jaxon Smith-Njigba at Levi’s Stadium. The 23-year-old has blossomed into arguably the NFL’s best wide receiver during his third season, […]
Sad News in the Entertainment Industry-actress Catherine O'Hara, has passed
Sad News in the Entertainment Industry-Catherine O’Hara, an actress best known for her roles in Home Alone, Schitt’s Creek, Beetlejuice, and The Studio has sadly passed away. Our thoughts and prayers go out to family, friends, and fans. #catherineohara
Apple Wallet adds time-saving iOS 26 credit card feature, here’s how to use it
One of my favorite iOS 26 features in Apple Wallet is a convenient new way to manage and access credit cards. Here’s how to use it.
New triple-drug treatment stops pancreatic cancer in its tracks, a mouse study finds
By targeting three key growth pathways at once, researchers eliminated pancreatic tumors in multiple mouse models and prevented the cancer from returning, a promising step toward overcoming treatment resistance.
'ChatGPT saved my life.' How patients, and doctors, are using AI to make a diagnosis
Hundreds of millions of people are turning to chatbots to help figure out what's wrong with them. Doctors say that's not always a bad thing. In fact, many are using it themselves.
Hubble Sees Galaxy with Dark Rings in New Light
This Hubble image is of NGC 7722, a striking galaxy with an uncommon appearance located about 187 million light-years away.
Takeaways from the Ducks 2-0 Loss to the Canucks
Despite controlling play and outshooting the Canucks, the Ducks struggled to convert chances, succumbing to a shutout and ending their road trip.
Canon Fodder: Parasite’s Cake
Welcome back to ye ol’ Canon Fodder in 2026, a year of rather significant proportions as Halo will be celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. A whole quarter of a century—our very own and very first quadranscentennial! Indeed, it has already been over a month since Halo: Edge of Dawn released, and the latest novel from Kelly […]
A 65km hike into Norway's vanishing rural past
The Stølstruta offers hikers a responsible, respectful way to witness a pastoral tradition that has disappeared almost everywhere else in Europe.
Gut Health Docs Always Start Their Day With This 1 Drink
In TODAY.com's Expert Tip of the Day, gastroenterologists share how they start their mornings.
Whole Hog Politics: Georgia always on Trump’s mind
[Watch Whole Hog Politics live: Join us today at 9 a.m. ET at TheHill.com as Chris Stirewalt and host Bill Sammon break down this week’s political news and answer questions from a live online audie…
Businesses in Maine, across New England closed today for national ICE protest
Dozens of businesses in Maine and across New England will be closed on Friday as part of a national protest against recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Minneapolis and elsewhere. ICE was in Maine as recently as last week, and many Portland businesses have shut down for the day as a way of showing their solidarity with immigrant…
A breakthrough that could make ships nearly unsinkable
Researchers have found a way to make ordinary aluminum tubes float indefinitely, even when submerged for long periods or punched full of holes. By engineering the metal’s surface to repel water, the tubes trap air inside and refuse to sink, even in rough conditions. The technology could eventually be scaled up into floating platforms, ships, or even wave-powered energy systems.
Pens Points: Winning ways continue
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning… Forwards Anthony Mantha and Egor Chinakhov scored in a 31-second span in what was a dominant second period, as the Pittsburgh Penguins breezed by the Chicago Blackhawks 6-2 on Thursday night for their fifth straight victory. [Recap] As seen during the game, the Penguins officially recalled […]
Grading the Dolphins quarterbacks – The Splash Zone 1/30/26
Welcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours.
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.
Is Trump’s ICE dream over?
Jonathan Freedland speaks to George Conway, a conservative lawyer and the ex-husband of Trump’s adviser Kellyanne Conway, about what happens next for Trump’s ‘ICE patriots’
Business frustrated with copper thefts at Oakland freeway overpass
Articles and videos about Business frustrated with copper thefts at Oakland freeway overpass on KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco.
Vikings GM defends decision to move on from Sam Darnold, but admits results 'maybe didn’t play out the way we wanted'
Ian Cunningham is the new Falcons GM
Atlanta hires away Chicago’s assistant GM as their new general manager.
Josh Allen Disrespects Patriots In New Sore Loser Comments
It’s always unlikable when a pro athlete plays the “shoulda, woulda, coulda” game during interviews, and that’s what Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen just did. In a new presser, Allen insinuated that if he’d made one more play against the Denver Broncos in the Divisional round, the Bills would be headed to the Super Bowl […]
A ‘top priority in this building’: Senate health committee seeks to broaden access to primary care
An expansive bill seeks to change the way patients access primary care by changing the ways the state pays for it.
Large snow piles in Millvale keeping customers away, businesses say
NASA considering alternatives for Gateway logistics
NASA is at a “crossroads” in deciding how to handle logistics for the lunar Gateway as it considers alternative approaches.
Several Bellingham businesses will close Jan. 30 for nationwide ICE protest
“It’s time to speak up in the best way to make our government listen: the money in their pockets.”
Takeaways from Titans head coach Robert Saleh press conference
The Titans new coach met the Nashville media for the first time today.
Ohio political blog 'The Rooster' banned from X after criticizing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem
The blog's author, D.J. Byrnes of Columbus, wrote that Noem "will have to die in prison. No other way around it." The social media platform banned Byrnes for violent speech and abuse.
No. 21 Saint Louis faces Dayton, seeking 15th straight win
Nearing the halfway mark of conference play, No. 21 Saint Louis is well on its way to having the best season by an Atlantic 10 team since Dayton's 29-2 campaign in 2019-20.
Philadelphia Phillies Get New Health Update on Zack Wheeler
The Philadelphia Phillies have built their recent success around a rotation that’s typically one of the best in baseball, but entering the 2026 season, particularly when it comes to ace Zack Wheeler, there are ways Philadelphia will have to navigate without him.
Man clears driveway with autonomous snow blower during storm
Forget robotaxis — a man and his robo-snow blower were the envy of X during the weekend's winter storm.
Out West Midland launches as new live entertainment promoter in West Texas
A new chapter in West Texas live entertainment is underway as Out West Midland, led by partners Sean Elphick, Ariel Herrera, Aidan Acosta, and Logan Acosta, launches with a commitment to continue the growth of live events in the Permian Basin. The 2026 Out West Midland concert season will feature a limited run of live [...]
Two New Pixel Buds 2a Colors Reportedly Leak Online
Two fresh color options for Google’s budget earbuds appear to be on the way, with leaked renders pointing to a lighter gray tone and a vivid pink or red
cbdMD Strengthens Regulatory Science Platform to Support Emerging Regulatory Cannabinoid Evaluation Pathways
cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE American: YCBD), a leading innovator in hemp-derived wellness products, today announced a strategic initiative to integrate and expand its regulatory science, safety, and intellectual property assets to establish a differentiated cannabinoid compliance and evidence platform aligned with evolving federal healthcare evaluation frameworks, including emerging CMS and CMMI innovation initiatives.
Senate blocks massive funding bill, with critical talks underway to avoid government shutdown
Bipartisan senators blocked a massive spending bill Thursday, as eleventh-hour talks continue to avoid a costly partial government shutdown that looms at the week’s end.
Your Halo Story
I’m obsessed with stories. This comes as a shock to many of you, I know. These days when we hear the term, the immediate association is likely with penwoven narratives underpinning myriad entertainment properties and creative content. Or perhaps some variation of a bite-sized window of life viewed through the lens of a social platform. […]
A massive clump of dark matter may lurk in the Milky Way
Pulsating remnants of stars hint at a clump of invisible matter thought to be about 10 million times the sun’s mass.
California’s health care workforce crisis is a policy choice
“California should redouble our own state investments in health care workforce pathways and financial support for students.”
There won’t be a Nothing Phone 4 this year
CEO Carl Pei says there’s no new flaghip on the way, but teased improvements for the 4A series instead.
Comcast sheds more broadband customers as wireless competition mounts
Comcast lost more broadband customers than expected in the fourth quarter, as rivals lured away consumers with aggressive offers, piling pressure on the company's mainstay business.
Scientists use AI to crack the code of nature’s most complex patterns 1,000x faster
Order doesn’t always form perfectly—and those imperfections can be surprisingly powerful. In materials like liquid crystals, tiny “defects” emerge when symmetry breaks, shaping everything from cosmic structures to everyday technologies. Now, researchers have developed an AI-powered method that can predict how these defects will form and evolve in milliseconds instead of hours. By learning directly from data, the system accurately maps molecular alignments and complex defect behavior, even in situations where defects merge or split.
Scientists found a way to cool quantum computers using noise
Quantum computers need extreme cold to work, but the very systems that keep them cold also create noise that can destroy fragile quantum information. Scientists in Sweden have now flipped that problem on its head by building a tiny quantum refrigerator that actually uses noise to drive cooling instead of fighting it. By carefully steering heat at unimaginably small scales, the device can act as a refrigerator, heat engine, or energy amplifier inside quantum circuits.
Cairn and Peak Capture the Thrill of Climbing Mountains
With infinite pathways and incredible tension, video games like Cairn and Peak are recreating the activity’s emotional highs and lows.
CAA Fast Break
As the league approaches the midway point of the conference slate, CAA men’s basketball insider Dr. John Giannini and host Griffin Della Penna broke down the league and its incredible performances, as well as the CAA's upcoming matchups on CBS Sports Network in the fifth edition of the CAA Fast Break.
Turmoil at homeless program is a sign of harsh fiscal times
It is shameful that our nation is unable to support health care for all of its citizens in a meaningful way.
SF changes method to count unhoused; advocate believes it's political, will lead to undercount
For the first time in more than two decades, San Francisco is changing the way it counts the number of unhoused individuals on its streets.
6 biggest takeaways from Tesla's Q4 earnings call
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced a $2B investment into xAI and the discontinuation of Model S and Model X in order to support Optimus robot production.
A potentially habitable new planet has been discovered 146 light-years away – but it may be -70C
The Earth-size planet HD 137010 b has a ‘50% chance of residing in the habitable zone’ of its sun-like star, scientists say
Suns lean on bigs, paint attack for matchup vs. Pistons
The Phoenix Suns found a way around their guard shortage in a victory over Brooklyn on Tuesday.
Highway 21 Dairy Queen closure sparks conversation amongst local business owners
some local business owners say despite the roadwork, they say the project is good for the community.
Takeaways from CNN’s Minnesota town hall
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, in a CNN town hall Wednesday night, stood by the city’s sanctuary policies and repeated his demand that federal immigration agents leave the city.
Tiny mammals are sending warning signs scientists can finally read
Small mammals are early warning systems for environmental damage, but many species look almost identical, making them hard to track. Scientists have developed a new footprint-based method that can tell apart nearly indistinguishable species with remarkable accuracy. Tested on two types of sengi, the system correctly identified them up to 96% of the time. It offers a simple, ethical way to monitor ecosystems before they quietly unravel.
Trump endorses Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin's open race for governor
Trump announced the endorsement in a social media post on Tuesday night, saying Tiffany “has always been at my side.”
Brown & Root shifts engineering hub to Metairie
Brown & Root Industrial Services has relocated its engineering and construction operations from Baton Rouge to Three Lakeway Place in Metairie, marking a strategic investment in the Greater Ne… Already an INSIDER? Sign in. Already an INSIDER? Sign in
Internal review contradicts Trump administration on Alex Pretti shooting : The NPR Politics Podcast
An initial internal review into federal immigration officers’ fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last weekend contradicts the description of the incident by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. We discuss President Trump’s shifting messages on immigration policy and how his administration’s efforts to restrict legal immigration pathways are changing the political environment. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, immigration policy correspondent Ximena Bustillo, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Bria Suggs and Lexie Schapitl, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
How to watch NASCAR races on FOX, FS1, FS2, FOX Sports App
Check out the best ways to watch NASCAR action on the FOX Sports family of networks in 2026 for the Cup Series and Craftsman Truck Series.
Dispatch is censored on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch
Although there was initially speculation about Dispatch being censored on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch, it’s now confirmed that this is indeed the case. In the PC and PS5 versions, the game featured a “Visual Censorship” setting. This is gone on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch, so you’re always getting the censored experience. All scenes are in tact, but there...
Google DeepMind launches AI tool to help identify genetic drivers of disease
AlphaGenome can analyse up to 1m letters of DNA code at once and could pave way for new treatments
Google DeepMind launches AI tool to help identify genetic drivers of disease
AlphaGenome can analyse up to 1m letters of DNA code at once and could pave way for new treatments
Obituary: Ajit Pawar, the mercurial leader who stepped out of his uncle's shadow
Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash, reshaped Maharashtra's politics in surprising ways.
Nervous Allies and Fox News: How Trump Realized He Had a Big Problem in Minneapolis
President Trump often blusters his way through a crisis, refusing to back down. Minneapolis tested the limits of that strategy.
Kemi Badenoch apologises for Suella Braverman mental health claim
But she branded defectors from the Conservative party "drama queens", saying people who did not agree with the direction she was taking the party "need to get out the way".
Scientists turn tumor immune cells into cancer killers
Scientists at KAIST have found a way to turn a tumor’s own immune cells into powerful cancer fighters—right inside the body. Tumors are packed with macrophages, immune cells that should attack cancer but are usually silenced by the tumor environment. By injecting a specially designed drug directly into tumors, researchers were able to “reprogram” these dormant cells to recognize and destroy cancer.
Centrist ideas no longer wanted in Conservative party, says Kemi Badenoch
Party leader tells MPs that one-nation Tories doubting her rightward direction ‘need to get out of the way’
Night Owls Have Worse Heart Health, Study Finds
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterWEDNESDAY, Jan. 28, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Do you prefer to stay up late, living it up through the night while everyone else is snoozing away? You might be doing your heart health a disservice, a new study says. Middle-aged and older night owls appear to have ...
Who will win next year's Super Bowl? 2026 NFL power rankings using Super Bowl 2027 odds
The 2026 Super Bowl is just over one week away, but who are the early favorites to win a title next season? Here are the latest odds.
The surprising science behind how certain foods can make you smell more attractive
Beneath fancy perfumes and deodorants, our food choices may be quietly shaping our natural scent in unexpected ways
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
Inter's Chivu changed team's style and it's working
Chivu has kept Inter at the top of Serie A, but he has changed the way they're playing the game
Clawdbot AI assistant: What it is, how to try it
You can start using the personal AI assistant right away, but you should understand the security risks first.
How scientists predict big winter storms : Short Wave
This past weekend, Winter Storm Fern struck the States. Sleet, snow and ice battered Americans all the way from New Mexico to New York. Scientists predicted its arrival in mid-January, and in anticipation of the storm, more than 20 state governors issued emergency declarations. But how did scientists know so much, so early, about the approaching storm? NPR climate reporter Rebecca Hersher says it has to do with our weather models… and the data we put into them. Which begs the question: Will we continue to invest in them?Interested in more science behind the weather? Check out our episodes on better storm prediction in the tropics and how the Santa Ana winds impact the fire season this time of year. Have a question we haven’t covered? Email us at shortwave@npr.org. We’d love to consider it for a future episode! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.This episode was produced by Hannah Chinn. It was edited by our showrunner Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones and Rebecca Hersher checked the facts. The audio engineer was Robert Rodriguez. News clips were from CBS Boston, Fox Weather, Fox 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, and PBS Newshour.
Rebuilding Colorado’s talent pipeline system
By Randy Johnson The rule of thumb in designing and building anything is form follows function — you always build for a clear and specific purpose. This principle holds true for structures, vehicles, applications, seemingly anything, other than many educational systems and government functions. During the next few months, Colorado has a powerful opportunity to […]
Vegas sportsbook invests ahead of packed 2026 sports calendar
With Super Bowl Sunday just days away, sportsbooks across the Las Vegas Valley are preparing for one of their busiest days of the year — and looking well beyond
A variety of entertainment on the way in NEPA
The 2026 entertainment options for Northeast Pennsylvania are varied and include big names and local acts.
Corey Lewandowski, a Familiar Trumpworld Figure, Is at the Center of the ICE Uproar
Now a top aide to Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, Mr. Lewandowski has a long history of controversy in President Trump’s orbit, but he has always found a way back from exile.