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Sports Take: Super Bowl shows why NFL teams shouldn’t give up on QBs so quickly
The NFL is witnessing a growing trend of teams dumping young quarterbacks after only a few seasons. Stories of some of these quarterbacks reviving their careers prove that teams should invest in these players to develop into pro-level passers. The trend also serves as a warning for up-and-coming college quarterbacks.
The secret to long life? It could be in the genes after all, say scientists
New study into ‘heritability’ shows that 50% of the variation in human lifespan could be down to genetics
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. […]
Hungary Business Confidence Drops as Orban’s Stimulus Falls Flat
Hungarian business confidence dropped sharply at the start of the year, reversing recent gains in another blow to Prime Minister Viktor Orban before parliamentary elections.
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
More 'No Kings' protests planned for March 28 as outrage spreads over Minneapolis deaths
Organizers are planning what they anticipate will be the largest “No Kings” protests yet, targeting what they call authoritarianism under President Donald Trump
Business Travel Global Strategic Business Report 2026: Market to Reach $928.4 Billion by 2030 as Bleisure Emerges as a Major Trend Shaping Market Dynamcs
The business travel market is poised for growth driven by digital innovation, economic globalization, and evolving corporate cultures. There's a surge in digital tools enhancing efficiency, diversification into personalized experiences, and sustainability-driven strategies. Regional growth variances present notable opportunities. Business Travel Market Business Travel Market Dublin, Jan. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Business Travel - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added t
Nature
Genetic variations affect biological processes and can drive disease, but deciphering the precise effects of DNA sequence changes remains a significant...
Peter H. Duesberg, 89, Renowned Biologist Turned H.I.V. Denialist, Dies
His pioneering work on the origins of cancer was later overshadowed by his contrarian views, notably his rejection of the established theory that H.I.V. causes AIDS.
Democrats have continuously sided with criminal illegal aliens, political strategist says
Legal and political strategist Katie Zacharia discusses President Donald Trump’s reaction to the CBP-involved Minneapolis shooting and his push to end sanctuary city policies on ‘Fox News @ Night.’
What al-Maliki’s return would mean for Iraq and the region
Nouri al-Maliki's third term as prime minister is likely to escalate sectarian politics in the country.
Iraq Shia alliance nominates former PM Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate
Al-Maliki remains potent force despite longstanding claims he fuelled sectarianism and failed to stop ISIL expansion.
Science teachers from Queensland Open Brethren schools told to teach students about vegetarian dinosaurs on Noah’s Ark
Teachers who attended ‘compulsory’ creationist conference run by US-based fundamentalist group told radiometric dating techniques were flawed
Would salary cap solve MLB impasse? Not as much as less incompetence.
Dodgers and Mets are baseball's pariahs for spending money to win. How about everyone else tries a little harder?
NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jadarian Price, Running Back, Notre Dame
In this one, we take a look at the scouting report for Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price.
January 23, 2026
An epidemiology study finds that variations in one gene play a major role in determining the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Plus, X’s Grok AI is undressing users, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg with fake imagery online. What can we do about deepfakes? And, Louisiana communities continue collecting data on industrial pollution, despite a law restricting its use.
Congress grills health insurance CEOs over high pay
Lawmakers asked five executives during a House hearing on health care affordability why they're paid so much as their customers are struggling.
Donor Nation Cuts to Global Health Financing Affect Millions
Major donor nations dealt a devastating blow to the right to health for millions of people worldwide when they cut support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Fans know modern college football is a business, but they also feel the growing distance
NIL and the transfer portal have dramatically shifted how college football fandom works in the 21 century
'Super Agers' Have Genetic Edge For Brain Health, Study Suggests
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterWEDNESDAY, Jan. 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — So-called “super agers” have a couple of genetic advantages that help them maintain their brain health into late old age, a new study says. These folks are less likely to harbor the gene variant most associated with ...
Duke sues star QB Darian Mensah in wake of last-minute transfer portal entry request
Mensah led the Blue Devils to an ACC title in 2025 and is expected to be the transfer portal's most coveted quarterback upon entry
35th MLK Humanitarian Awards highlight tribute concert
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR COLORADO HOLIDAY COMMISSION Denver News: A charitable foundation that was founded in 1931 to address inequities for Black Americans, an Eaglecrest High School senior who plans to attend college in Japan and the Denver Police Department’s first female African American division chief were among those honored when the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Colorado […]
NVIDIA’s Laptop Chips, After a Long-Awaited Build-Up, Are Set to Debut This Year By Q2; N1/N1X SoCs to Challenge x86 Supremacy
NVIDIA plans to release ARM-based laptop chips as soon as this year, featuring the N1/N1X variants that are expected to dominate.
Lompoc students return to Dangermond Preserve for hands-on science learning
Students from the Lompoc Unified School District again participated in hands-on science learning at the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve, a 24,000-acre conservation area operated by The Nature Conservancy just
Global Citizen Appoints Industry Leaders in Entertainment, Business, Technology and Sports to Board of Directors
NEW YORK, January 19, 2026--Global Board Welcomes John Legend, Avie Glazer, Mariam Almheiri, Omar Al-joulani, and Ankur Jain to Board of Directors
Germany: A push to reduce the number of federal states
Bavaria's State Premier Markus Söder wants to change Germany's political map, but his proposal to merge federal states is meeting with resistance.
AMD Expected To Focus More On RX 9070 XT Than Its Non-XT Variant As It Needs Less Price Adjustments
AMD is reportedly going to focus more on the Radeon RX 9070 XT card instead of the RX 9070 amid DRAM shortages as it reduces the burden of price adjustments.
As Miami reportedly pursues Darian Mensah, Mario Cristobal doesn't want to talk about his future QB situation ahead of title game
AMD reportedly now prioritizes RX 9070 XT over non-XT variant
AMD reportedly shifts focus to RX 9070 XT, RX 9070 left behind The "memory panic" is starting to mess with GPU lineups. When memory gets pricier, cards
New Australian Kasatkina can 'finally breathe'
Russian-born Daria Kasatkina says she can "finally breathe" as she prepares for her first Australian Open as a home player.
Dallas mayor reveals why businesses are flooding Texas
Dallas Mayor Eric Jackson predicts big firms will quit working in the Big Apple on 'Maria Bartiromo's Wall Street.'
Pamela Anderson Joins Billy Bob Thornton & Ariana Greenblatt In Tucker Tooley Entertainment’s ‘Somedays’
Pamela Anderson Joins Billy Bob Thornton & Ariana Greenblatt In 'Somedays'
Duke concerned star QB Darian Mensah could enter transfer portal at last minute
The Blue Devils' star QB would be highly coveted should he decide to transfer
Trump economist Kevin Hassett: 'We're looking at one of the best years we've ever seen'
White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to outline President Donald Trump’s sweeping affordability agenda aimed at lowering mortgage rates, cutting credit card interest and boosting economic growth.
Venezuelan opposition leader visits White House. Here's how it went.
Maria Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela's opposition, has said she should lead the country. The White House doesn't seem to agree.
Big problems in a big world : The NPR Politics Podcast
Between pledging support for protesters in Iran, calling once again for the U.S. annexation of Greenland, and meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, it's been a busy week for President Trump on the global stage. We look at why the White House wants to be involved in so many geopolitical issues despite the president's campaign pledges to be less invested in global affairs, and what outcomes the Trump administration wants in each location.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national security correspondent Greg Myre.This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs. 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.
3 Democrats already challenging Neal Dunn see opportunity in CD 2 following retirement news
Nic Zateslo, Amanda Maria Green and Yen Bailey have all been on the trail since last year.
LBCC will soon offer its first bachelor’s degree, starting with library sciences
California cleared the way for community colleges to award four-year degrees, but the programs are still scarce. LBCC hopes to eventually offer more.
Trump to meet Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel peace laureate Maria Corina Machado later
Trump and his top advisers have previously hinted at their willingness to work with acting president Delcy Rodríguez
Marketing Science Pioneer David “Dave” Montgomery Dies at Age 87
An entrepreneur and culture-builder, he helped shape the field of business marketing.
Weight-Loss Surgery May Benefit Kidney Health in Obesity
Metabolic and bariatric surgery are associated with a reduced risk for adverse kidney outcomes in patients with obesity, regardless of type 2 diabetes status.
'My daughters are fans of Venus, so it was tough'
Tatjana Maria beats Venus Williams in straight sets in the first round at the Hobart Internationa.
Trump to meet Thursday with Venezuela opposition leader Machado
Trump declined to back opposition leader Maria Machado in the immediate aftermath of the US attack on Venezuela and ouster of its president.
Is the Sports World Finally Giving Up its Right to Remain Silent?
Last year, in the face of Trump’s authoritarianism, the sports industry remained quiet. Now with the killing Renee Good, it may be waking up to the dangers of this administration.
Decoding the perfect steak: The hidden DNA behind Wagyu’s legendary marbling
A groundbreaking cattle genome has given researchers their clearest look yet at what makes Wagyu beef so special. By uncovering hundreds of new genes and hidden genetic variations, scientists can now pinpoint traits linked to marbling, health, and productivity with far greater accuracy. The advance could boost profits for beef producers while improving breeding outcomes across many cattle breeds. It also sets the stage for even more comprehensive livestock genomes in the future.
POINT: Global entertainment industry is changing fast
The contest between Netflix and Paramount for Warner Bros. has storylines and personalities that would make gossip mongers from Louella Parsons to Maria Menounos gape.
Sudan war leaves millions hungry and displaced as health system nears collapse
Sudan’s protracted conflict has spiralled into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with hunger, displacement and the collapse of basic services exacting a daily toll on civilians.
Change of mind: Larian says it will not use gen-AI at all in relation to Divinity concept art after fan backlash
Change of mind: Larian says it will not use gen-AI at all in relation to Divinity concept art after fan backlash
Larian Says It Won’t Use GenAI Art Or Writing In ‘Divinity’ Development
Larian got in trouble for saying it would employ GenAI in some capacity during its development of Divinity, but they're walking that back now.
Larian will not use generative AI for Divinity concept art
"That way, there can be no discussion about the origin of the art"
Everything We Learned About Divinity From Larian's Reddit AMA
Larian’s Reddit AMA on Divinity has concluded, and with it comes a number of new details on the Baldur’s Gate 3 developer’s next game. Here's everything revealed.
Divinity Maker Revises AI Stance After RPG Fan Blowback
The Divinity maker elaborated on controversial comments about gen AI from last year
Trump says he plans to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado
The president also said that it would be a "great honor" if Machado decided to give him the Nobel Peace Prize that she won last year.
María Elvira Salazar joins Democrats in vote to extend health care credits for anotehr three years
But no other Florida Republicans supported the move, despite 4.7 Floridians benefitting from the subsidies.
Nintendo reveals its first Switch 2 Joy-Con color variant
Nintendo has unveiled the first color variants for the Switch 2 Joy-Cons in light purple and light green, set to arrive on February 12th alongside Mario Tennis Fever.
People in Brazil are living past 110 and scientists want to know why
Scientists are uncovering why Brazil may be one of the most important yet underused resources for studying extreme longevity. Its highly diverse population harbors millions of genetic variants missing from standard datasets, including rare changes linked to immune strength and cellular maintenance. Brazilian supercentenarians often remain mentally sharp, survive serious infections, and come from families where multiple members live past 100. Together, they reveal aging not as inevitable decline, but as a form of biological resilience.
Michigan flu cases surge; some kids on ventilators, health officials say
The state's top health official says flu cases 'increasing exponentially' while measles and whooping cough cases remain high.
Shreveport student honored as top 300 scholar in Science Talent Search
Maya Trutschl of Caddo Parish Magnet High School was awarded for her project, 'Automated Pressure Injury Risk Prediction and Prevention: Clinical Validation Study,' in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2026, which recognizes 300 scholars from 826 high schools across 46 states, Washington, D.C., Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and 16 countries.
Mercer Health announces next Community Health Education: Heart Disease Diagnosis & Treatment
The next free Community Health event, presented by Mercer Health, will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 6:00pm at Mercer Health’s Marion Campus, 8106 Booster Drive, Maria Stein. This session will include cardiologists Dr. Jerry Boley and Dr. Todd Brophy, along with emergency medicine physician Dr. Craig Dues, who will share insights on […]
Science seeks keys to human longevity in the genetic mixing of Brazilian supercentenarians
A study of 160 people over a century old includes some of the oldest humans on the planet
First-Year Rural Health Fund Awards Range From Less Than $100 Per Rural Resident in Ten States to More Than $500 in Eight
This policy watch evaluates state awards through the rural health fund in 2026, the first year of the program. The analysis shows relatively modest variations in total awards this year across states but wide variation in how much states will receive per rural resident.
Trump's health issue is growing. Maybe it's JD Vance time.
Nothing snuffs out questions about a near-octogenarian president’s health quite like that president repeatedly bragging about passing a dementia test.
OpEd: Health Care Keeps Our Economy Alive - Los Angeles Business Journal
Over the past 15 years, California has built one of the most robust health systems in the nation and in the process, it has strengthened the stability of
Who is Nicolas Maduro?
From humble beginnings in a working-class neighbourhood to an authoritarian presidency, here is a look at Maduro's life.
Local health officials warn of fast-spreading flu variant this season
Experts say symptoms may start mild but can still lead to serious illness
Donald Trump’s attacks on American academia hurt Europe’s scientists, says official
‘Science in the US being curtailed has an effect on all of us,’ says EU research funding chief Maria Leptin
How to Save a Democracy
Looking at how the Trump administration fits into a pattern of authoritarian governance can empower people to think about how to best resist the country’s slide to autocracy.
Sony faces an unfixable PS5 vulnerability as BootROM keys are dumped and shared publicly
A leaked set of PlayStation 5 BootROM keys, published online at the end of 2025, has exposed core hardware-level security secrets that researchers say Sony cannot simply patch on existing consoles. While the breach does not enable an immediate jailbreak, experts warn it significantly lowers the bar for future exploits, potentially paving the way for permanent hacks, homebrew software, and widespread piracy risks.
Year in Review: Arts & Entertainment
From a veteran locals show turning 20, to a new Shepard Fairey mural, the launch of AIR, and the return of native daughter, Maria Semple, Aspen’s arts and culture scene continued to excite and delight...
Family pleads for release of ICE detainee as disabled son’s health declines
Maher Tarabishi's family has been fighting to have him released from ICE custody on humanitarian grounds, calling him the primary caregiver for his disabled adult son.
Blog: Bridging science and humanitarian action – an internship at the Climate Centre
By Annalena Bacher (The Climate Centre is happy on New Year’s Day to open its coverage for 2026 with a young voice – that of its latest intern, Annalena Bacher, who worked with us from September to December 2025.) I have long been fascinated by climate change and extreme-weather events: their impacts on people, how […]
Chief Justice John Roberts pushes for judicial independence in history-heavy report
Chief Justice John Roberts touted the independence of the federal judiciary as a “counter-majoritarian check” and urged Americans rattled by partisan politics to keep faith with the Constitution.
The science of how (and when) we decide to speak out—or self-censor
The study's main takeaway: "Be bold. It is the thing that slows down authoritarian creep."
The barbarians are at Lululemon’s gate
Lululemon’s former CEO Chip Wilson is once again slamming the struggling company he founded, and he’s launching a campaign to shake up its board.
How Cameroon Fought to Save Its Malaria Program After the U.S. Cut Critical Funding
When the Trump administration slashed foreign aid, it gutted a program that had reduced malaria deaths world wide. In northern Cameroon, health workers tried to protect children in one last rainy season.
California woman delivers healthy baby after ‘essentially unheard of’ ectopic pregnancy
Suze Lopez found out she was pregnant only days before giving birth, due to fetus hiding behind 22lb ovarian cyst
Sapphire confirms RX 9070 XT NITRO+ Phantom Link specs and price
NITRO+ RX 9070 GPU with hidden power connector launches in China starting from $828 Sapphire has launched the NITRO+ RX 9070 XT PhantomLink, a new variant
‘Wicked: For Good’ is coming to Prime Video on December 30—here’s how to watch it
Watch the sequel to ‘Wicked,’ starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, on Prime Video.
Politics, violence, creeping authoritarianism and those who opposed it: 2025 year in review
I joined the Minnesota Reformer in April in a more regular capacity, as a photographer and social media runner, thanks to a grant from the Bush Foundation. I’ve been a freelancer for the past five years, and this is my first time belonging in some way to a newsroom since internship-hopping in college. It was […]
The Business of Watches Podcast: Audemars Piguet CEO Ilaria Resta Drives Double-Digit Sales Increase For Brand's 150th Anniversary Year
How AP managed to grow sales amid an industry downturn and how its Chief Executive is positioning the brand for the next century.
This Unusual Plant Might Be One Of Evolution’s "Weirdest Experiments"
It even shares similarities with the parasite that causes malaria.
New flu variant hits SoCal, raises concerns among public health experts
Holiday travel is in full swing and flu cases are ramping up. Some experts are worried about a new flu variant making its way to Southern California.
Shake Shack rolls out health-oriented menu
The ‘Good Fit’ lineup of curated items focuses on protein while also offering low-carb, vegetarian, and gluten-free options
Full-length Replay: Siena at Indiana
Darian DeVries' Indiana Hoosiers (8-3) host Gerry McNamara's Siena Saints (9-3).
Health experts warn of 'super flu' surge as Christmas approaches
As Christmas approaches, health experts are warning about a surge in flu cases driven by a variant dubbed the "super flu," which has already affected millions this year.
This cancer-fighting molecule took 50 years to build
MIT scientists have achieved the first-ever lab synthesis of verticillin A, a complex fungal compound discovered in 1970. Its delicate structure stalled chemists for decades, despite differing from related molecules by only two atoms. With the synthesis finally complete, researchers created new variants that showed strong activity against a rare pediatric brain cancer. The breakthrough could unlock an entire class of previously unreachable cancer-fighting molecules.
Winter Science Series brings hands-on learning to Flossmoor Library
The Flossmoor Public Library kicked off its new Winter Science Series on Dec. 18, welcoming young learners for an hour of hands-on experiments focused on the science behind snow, ice and everything winter. The program was created and organized by Youth Services Librarian Krystal Webb who designed the workshop to[Read More...]
This AI finds simple rules where humans see only chaos
A new AI developed at Duke University can uncover simple, readable rules behind extremely complex systems. It studies how systems evolve over time and reduces thousands of variables into compact equations that still capture real behavior. The method works across physics, engineering, climate science, and biology. Researchers say it could help scientists understand systems where traditional equations are missing or too complicated to write down.
See how players have qualified for the Masters
Players expected to compete in the 90th Masters on April 9-12 and how they qualified for their invitations. Players listed only in the first category for which they are eligible (a-amateur): Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Hideki Matsuyama, Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Danny Willett, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel, Phil Mickelson, Angel Cabrera, Zach Johnson, Mike Weir, Vijay Singh, Jose Maria Olazabal, Fred Couples. Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas.
Strengthening U.S.-Nigerian Health Cooperation under the America First Global Health Strategy - U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria
Strengthening U.S.-Nigerian Health Cooperation under the America First Global Health Strategy The United States signed a five-year, $5.1 billion bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Republic of Nigeria December 19 to advance the America First Global Health Strategy, supporting resilient, self-reliant, and durable health systems while promoting accountability and shared responsibility. Under the five-year MOU, the United States intends to commit nearly $2.1 billion in health assistance, with nearly $3.0 billion in new domestic health expenditures by the Government of Nigeria over the same five-year period. This represents the largest co-investment any country has made to date under the America First Global Health Strategy and underscore Nigeria’s commitment to greater national ownership of its health system. Under the MOU, the United States will continue to support surveillance and outbreak response, laboratory systems, health commodities; frontline healthcare workers, and data systems. Nigeria faces significant health challenges, including one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates globally and approximately30 percent of the global malaria burden. U.S. assistance under the MOU will expand access to affordable, preventive and curative services for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, polio, and maternal and child health, strengthening health outcomes across Nigeria. The MOU places a strong emphasis on Christian faith-based healthcare providers, recognizing their indispensable role in delivering care to communities in need. Nigeria’s more than 900 faith-based clinics and hospitals serve more than 30 percent of the country’s 230 million people, often in areas where healthcare facilities are limited or absent. The MOU provides approximately $200 million in dedicated support to strengthen and support these Christian facilities, enhance workforce capacity, and expand access to integrated HIV, TB, malaria, and maternal child health services. Investments in Christian faith-based health institutions are uniquely positioned to complement public-sector facilities and reinforce Nigeria’s overall health infrastructure. The MOU was negotiated in connection with reforms undertaken by the Government of Nigeria to prioritize the protection of Christian populations from extremist violence. As with all U.S. foreign assistance, the President and Secretary of State retain the right to pause or terminate programs that do not align with U.S. national interests, and the United States expects Nigeria to continue making measurable progress in combating religiously motivated violence against Christian communities. This five-year MOU is the latest of several health cooperation MOUs signed in Africa this month. The United States will continue to sign multi-year Bilateral Agreements on Global Health Cooperation with countries receiving U.S. health assistance to advance the America First Global Health Strategy.
Bowen Yang tearfully bids farewell to ‘Saturday Night Live’ with the help of Cher and Ariana Grande
Bowen Yang got teary-eyed during the final sketch on Saturday’s episode of “Saturday Night Live,” which was his last.
This “mushroom” is not a fungus, it’s a bizarre plant that breaks all the rules
Balanophora is a plant that abandoned photosynthesis long ago and now lives entirely as a parasite on tree roots, hidden in dark forest undergrowth. Scientists surveying rare populations across East Asian islands uncovered how its cellular machinery shrank but didn’t disappear, revealing unexpected similarities to parasites like malaria. Some island species even reproduce without sex, cloning themselves to colonize new habitats. This strange survival strategy comes with risks, leaving the plant highly vulnerable to habitat loss.
Bulgarian Chicago business owner dies in ICE custody, sparking calls for 'immediate investigation'
A Bulgarian man from Chicago arrested during an immigration enforcement 'blitz' has died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a Michigan private prison, the ABC7 I-Team has learned.
UN agencies welcome news that famine has been pushed back in the Gaza Strip, but warn fragile gains could be reversed without increased and sustained support
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis for Gaza confirms that no areas of the Strip are currently classified in famine following the October ceasefire and improved humanitarian and commercial access.
Larian Studios CEO Says "A Lot Has Become Lost in Translation" Over GenAI Backlash
Larian Studios Swen Vincke put out yet another statement over the backlash he and the studio received for using GenAI technology.
Larian announce plans to let folks ask anything about their generative AI use, asserting "a lot has become lost in translation"
Larian CEO Swen Vincke has announced the studio's plans host an ask me anything session about their generative AI use and Divinity's development process.
Evaluation of WHO’s coordination in health emergencies helps guide humanitarian reforms
The recent evaluation of the Global Health Cluster sheds new light on how WHO, in its unique role as the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Cluster Lead Agency (CLA) for health, coordinates life-saving health responses in humanitarian crises. It highlights how WHO works through partnerships to reach the most vulnerable crisis-affected populations and strengthen collective action in increasingly complex emergencies. Serving both learning and accountability purposes, the evaluation provided timely and actionable recommendations that are helping to strategically position WHO during the ongoing IASC Humanitarian Reset and the broader UN 2.0 reforms, where prioritization and new ways of working are taking shape. The evaluation was conducted between 2024 and 2025, at a time when humanitarian action funding was plummeting by more than 50%, triggering the launch of the IASC Humanitarian Reset. While restructuring and prioritization across the humanitarian landscape were underway, the evaluation, through iterative feedback loops, shared emerging findings that helped identify the most crucial coordination functions needed. This was especially important at a time when humanitarian needs and health risks due to armed conflict and natural hazards were increasing, while the capacity of health partners to support Member States to equitably reach all populations affected by crises and deliver response was at risk. The evaluation found that the Global Health Cluster (GHC) remains a highly relevant mechanism for strengthening health coordination in crises and has delivered efficiently despite limited resources. It noted strong collaboration with partners and highlighted opportunities to deepen integration within WHO structures and further enhance inter-cluster cooperation. The evaluation also identified areas where greater emphasis on transition planning, national coordination capacity and linkages between humanitarian response and health system strengthening would bring added value. While the GHC has achieved many of its strategic objectives, improvements in monitoring systems would help better demonstrate collective impact. The recommendations will help strengthen the IASC CLA coordination function across WHO, at all levels, and with all partners. It is noted that going forward WHO needs to continue to support capacity to fulfil coordination functions, in line with the IASC Humanitarian Reset whilst ensuring collective prioritization of health cluster action and quality coverage of the health response. The evaluation will help WHO strengthen locally-led action, national ownership and leadership of the sector, and linkages between health system strengthening activities. Additionally, the evaluation evidence will be used to optimize resource mobilization for the GHC and strengthen WHO’s capacity to deliver, plan for and monitor and evaluate results across the Organization. Read the evaluation Global Health Cluster https://healthcluster.who.int/ WHO’s work in health emergencies https://www.who.int/emergencies/overview