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Trump threatens to block opening of new US-Canada bridge
President Donald Trump threatened Monday to block the opening of a new bridge connecting the US and Canada, again lashing out at his country’s northern neighbor over a range of economic issues as the rift between Washington and Ottawa deepens.
Publicis forms new Influential Sports squad to hone its skills in the white-hot sports media arena
Publicis formed Influential Sports to tap into the creator marketplace to help brands connect with sports fans on a deeper level.
Cincinnati Curling Club keeps Olympic sport thriving close to home
Local curlers say it’s more than a game — it’s a welcoming community built on competition and connection.
What we know about science and tech figures named in the Epstein files
Newly released government records are now giving a much clearer look at how science and tech figures like Elon Musk may have connected to Jeffrey Epstein.
Hartford tattoo and coffee shop rebuilding after pipe burst flooded business
A Hartford business is in the middle of a major cleanup after cold weather burst a pipe in the front of their shop. Refuge Tattoo and Taza Coffee is a unique dream business for the owners, and though they have vowed to build back, they have a serious project on their hands. “It was like a loud thump,” said Jose…
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties review - a stuffed remake defined by its own grim connections
This is our review of Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties on PC.
Platforms, Politics, and the Crisis of Democracy: Connective Action and the Rise of Illiberalism -
Platforms, Politics, and the Crisis of Democracy: Connective Action and the Rise of Illiberalism By W. Lance Bennett, University of Washington, and Steven Livingston, George Washington University Democratic backsliding, the slow erosion of institutions, processes, [...]
Internships Connect Students Directly to Mission-Driven Science and Te
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is offering students at every stage, from high school through graduate school, the opportunity to contribute to cutting edge research that supports national
What Happens to Your Blood Pressure When You Eat Cheese Regularly
Eating cheese daily could spike your blood pressure—but the amount and sodium content matter. Here's what research says about the connection between cheese consumption and blood pressure.
UConn to Celebrate 40th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day - University of Connecticut Athletics
STORRS, CT — In recognition of the 40th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD), UConn will host a special NGWSD event on Monday, February 9, 2...
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for Feb. 9 #504
Here's today's Connections: Sports Edition answer and hints for groups. These clues will help you solve The New York Times' popular puzzle game, Connections: Sports Edition, every day.
Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for Feb. 9, 2026, puzzle No. 504
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
Making science more visible
As he enters a laboratory with saltwater pools full of fish, Luka Žuvić explains how climate change is affecting the feeding ecology and reproductive biology of Atlantic bluefin tuna, and how the species is adapting.It is a topic that may seem remote to many people. But in a country where fishing and aquaculture are important to the economy and national identity, Žuvić’s research is at the intersection of science and society. “In Croatia, marine and environmental science are closely connected to people’s lives because fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and coastal development are a big part of our lives,” explains Žuvić, a doctoral student working at the Croatian Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries in the Adriatic coastal city of Split. He also serves as one of Croatia’s ambassadors to Science Comes to Town (SCTT), a European Commission-funded project that aims to make scientific research more accessible, while inspiring young people to study the sciences. The project kicked off in Spilt on 20 January with a conference attended by partner institutions, community representatives, policymakers and scientists. Along with Split, Brest (in France) and Kiel (in Germany) will host a year of activities connecting scientists with the public.Žuvić, 31, is part of the Young Researchers' Career Development Project, a doctoral programme funded by the Croatian Science Foundation. His research on Atlantic bluefin tuna builds on a foundation-backed project focusing on the reproductive potential of farmed tuna, including their sexual maturation and spontaneous spawning in captivity, which has implications for the restoration of the Adriatic Sea's natural tuna populations. He also studies the tuna's feeding ecology through stomach-content analysis, using DNA metabarcoding and morphological approaches, and employs geometric morphometrics to improve the identification of juvenile tuna and related species. The research aims to enhance understanding of the tuna farming ecology, improve fish farm management and contribute to sustainable aquaculture and fisheries research.Engaging with local communitiesConnecting with the community is crucial for Žuvić’s research. Conversations with fishermen help him better understand the bluefin tuna's habits and how marine pollution affects the fish. “They are also curious about the biology and ecology of bluefin tuna,” he says of local fishermen, adding that sharing research with non-scientists benefits everyone. “Sometimes scientific research is invisible,” he explains. “That's why we as researchers need to go out from our institutions and labs to the public so that we can show them what we are working on. This helps create more trust in the scientists and their research.”Engaging the public also raises awareness about the anthropogenic changes to the marine environment resulting from human activities and pollution. Žuvić helps remove plastic and other rubbish from the Adriatic Sea that pose a direct threat to marine species. Predators, such as bluefin tuna, are especially vulnerable to ingesting waste churned up by fishing trawlers. “They are very opportunistic fish that follow trawlers and ingest everything,” he notes. To illustrate the impact, he has shown students the contents of bluefin tuna stomachs. “Finding a plastic bottle cap in the stomach of a bluefin tuna is concerning,” he says. "Science can be a powerful way to turn curiosity into practical solutions,” Žuvić adds, and sharing research outcomes “helps increase public awareness and improve understanding of human impacts on the marine environment.”The research also has implications for Croatia's economy. The Atlantic bluefin tuna’s rich, flavourful meat is highly valued for sushi and other raw fish dishes. However, overfishing nearly brought its population to collapse by the early 2000s. Although the species has made a comeback in the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions, catches continue to be managed through agreements with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Croatia was a pioneer in developing commercial aquaculture as an alternative to open-sea fishing and accounts for about 10% of the EU’s farmed production of the bluefin tuna, with Japan being a key export market.A history of European collaborationCroatia has participated in Europe’s framework programmes for research and innovation since 2007, six years before officially joining the EU. Žuvić believes that EU funding and collaboration with other European researchers is vital for Croatian science. As part of the SCTT opening conference, the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, the University of Split and other local institutions were part of a science fair to showcase research on topics, such as robotics and an EU LIFE project on the protection of sharks and rays in the Mediterranean. “I hope that Science Comes to Town will help increase scientific literacy and curiosity among citizens, particularly students, and show that science is not something that is distant or abstract, but something that directly affects everyday life,” Žuvić concludes. “Ultimately, I hope that projects like it contribute to building a society that values knowledge and critical thinking, and that we can think about long-term sustainability using knowledge from science.”Science|Business, which connects policymakers, academics and industry through its news reporting, analysis and events, is an SCTT partner.
Sustain CFO Develops Financial Resilience Framework for Maryland Businesses Experiencing “Growth-Induced Cash Crunch”
Ellicott City, MD, Feb. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Many Maryland business owners are seeing revenue rise while feeling increasingly constrained by cash. To address the disconnect, Sustain CFO, a fractional CFO in Maryland, has developed a financial resilience framework to help growth-stage companies that want to scale without undermining liquidity. Fractional CFO Team Delivers Financial Clarity The framework is designed to help founders and executives understand a common but often misunderstoo
93-year-old woman dead after wandering from health care facility in Windsor Locks
A 93-year-old woman has died after being found on the ground outside a health care facility in Windsor Locks early Sunday morning. Staff at the Bickford Health Care Center noticed the woman wasn’t in her bed around 4:45 a.m. and began to search for her, according to police. She was equipped with a device that is supposed to activate if…
GuliKit’s tiny USB dongle lets you connect your PS5 controller to your Switch 2
Like 8BitDo’s model, but cheaper and smaller.
Gurman: iPhone 17e Launch 'Imminent' With Four New Features
Apple's iPhone 17e is set to launch "imminently" with at least four new features, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the new lost-cost iPhone will feature the A19 chip first introduced with the iPhone 17 last year. The device will also address one of the most glaring omissions from the current generation and add MagSage connectivity.
Scientists may have found the brain network behind Parkinson’s
A new international study points to a specific brain network as the core driver of Parkinson’s disease. Scientists found that this network becomes overly connected, disrupting not just movement but also thinking and other bodily functions. When researchers targeted it with non-invasive brain stimulation, patients showed much stronger symptom improvement than with conventional stimulation. The discovery could reshape how Parkinson’s is diagnosed and treated.
CT health system to share ‘deeply personal journey’ in Super Bowl ad. See sneak peek before the game
“It’s a reflection of the care, compassion, and clinical excellence that surround our Connecticut communities every day.”
Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for Super Bowl-themed puzzle No. 503 on Feb. 8
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for Feb. 8 #503
Here's today's Connections: Sports Edition answer and hints for groups. These clues will help you solve The New York Times' popular puzzle game, Connections: Sports Edition, every day.
43rd Annual Business Women's Forum p/b Waterbury Regional Chamber
43rd Annual Business Women’s Forum Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Aqua Turf Club, Plantsville Join hundreds of professional women from across Connecticut for the 43rd […]
Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for Feb. 7, 2026, puzzle No. 502
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for Feb. 7 #502
Here's today's Connections: Sports Edition answer and hints for groups. These clues will help you solve The New York Times' popular puzzle game, Connections: Sports Edition, every day.
Fostering ocean leaders through science-policy support at U.S. academic institutions
npj Ocean Sustainability - The science enterprise faces growing challenges in the United States that require stronger connections between research and decision-making. Yet training at the...
Randy Groomes connects business and public service
From an early age, Randy Groomes found a connection between education and community. Groomes became active in 4-H as a sixth grader, and he’s carried
'A massive opportunity' - Drumaness skipper on cup trip to Glens
Drumaness Mills captain Gary Murdock says Saturday's trip to face Glentoran at the Oval promises to be a special day for everyone connected with the County Down-based Amateur League club.
Inside a family's custom multigenerational home in Oregon
Rather than living next door to her parents, Ana Ochoa and her family built one home with two distinct spaces that connect through a hallway.
Arlington Vendors: Learn About World Cup Business Opportunities
In preparation for the FIFA World Cup in 2026™, the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee is establishing the North Texas Business Connect Program to engage with local suppliers and maximize procurement opportunities for goods and services.
iPhone 17e Reportedly Set to Launch This Month With 4 Major Upgrades
The phone is expected to retain the iPhone 16e's design while offering faster performance, MagSafe support, and improved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Weeks Medical Center controversy puts North Country health care system under microscope
When North Country Healthcare formed in 2016 through the merger of four rural New Hampshire hospitals, it was viewed as a first-of-its-kind model. Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster, Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook, and Littleton Regional Healthcare in Littleton would all maintain independence and self-governance but combine administration, finance, […]
New business in Greece connects contractors with the community
Greece, N.Y. — A new co-working concept in Greece aims to better connect local contractors with the community.The Contractor Store has opened its doors on West
Google Home struggles with buttons as IKEA confirms Matter connectivity issues
IKEA’s smart home tech gets a lot of the basics – including price – right, but Matter connectivity issues are...
CVS Health-Aetna laying off 313 remote workers, 17 in CT
CVS Health plans to lay off more than 300 additional workers at Hartford health insurer Aetna, including 17 in Connecticut, by the end of July, raising the total number of layoffs in the past two years to more than 1,000 workers.
Could singing help people with MS? Louisiana patients find connection in a choir
Music activates multiple parts of the brain. For people with MS, a choir is exploring what singing together can offer.
Thousands of Maryland Health Connection customers waiting for insurance coverage
WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates has learned that a few thousand customers who signed up for health insurance through the state health exchange are still waiting for their insurance.
Faculty Spotlight: Marie Smith’s Commitment to Advancing Health Policy
When Marie Smith (Pharm.D.) isn’t at UConn fulfilling her professor and assistant dean roles, she can be found on a Connecticut legislative workgroup or com ...
Visa Introduces Visa & Main, A New Platform to Accelerate Small Business Growth Across the U.S.
New program aims to tackle biggest challenges for entrepreneurs across three pillars: Business Capital, Business Connect and Business Essentials Visa Main launches $100M working capital facility Visa (NYSE: V) today announced the launch of Visa Main , a new platform designed to give small business owners across the United States better access to the resources they need to succeed. Built in direct response to the most pressing challenges entrepreneurs face—access to capital, reaching customers and adopting modern business tools—the platform brings together capabilities across Visa’s network to help small businesses succeed. Attendees at Visa Main launch event in Atlanta “Small businesses are the heartbeat of local communities and represent nearly half of our country’s economic activity,” said Kim Lawrence, Regional President of North America, Visa. “With Visa Main, we’re connecting Visa’s products and in-house knowledge with the expertise of our clients and
Christian Barmore on Milton Williams connection: ‘We come to hunt’
Christian Barmore says his goal along with Milton Williams is to dominate every week — an approach that they will take into the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Connecticut business owner admits to defrauding 2 companies of more than $2.5 million
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) — A former business owner who was arrested almost five years after being indicted for wire fraud admitted to defrauding two companies he was doing business with of mo…
3,700-year-old DNA reveals a family secret that stunned scientists
3,700-year-old DNA found in a cave in Calabria reveals an extreme family connection that baffles scientists.
Overwatch Spotlight: The Reign of Talon Begins
Welcome to a new era. Follow the first fully-connected narrative arc in Overwatch history, play five new Heroes in Season 1, and enjoy expansive gameplay updates when Vendetta’s reign begins on Feb. 10.
Award-winning composer Adolphus Hailstork on art, politics, and social change
In the second hour of "Connections with Evan Dawson" on 2/4/26, Rochester native Adolphus Hailstork joins us for a conversation on how he has used his music to make political statements.
Most Christian leaders accept climate science
But many aren’t talking about it with their congregations.
National Girls & Women in Sports Day: Jordan Parent
MARQUETTE, Mich. -- Growing up with older siblings can sometimes be tricky. For Jordan Parent, her older siblings were the catalyst that enabled her connection to sports.
Why Greenland and Venezuela Are Really about AI
The connection between Greenland and Venezuela with AI may not be fully understood without considering the policies undertaken by Trump.
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.
Connections: Sports Edition hints for Feb. 4, 2026, puzzle No. 499
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
Deloitte Device Day returns to the Capitol to support Florida’s military families
Helping people stay connected to the voices that matter most, in the moments that matter most.
2 men charged with health insurance fraud, 1 charged with impersonating a doctor
Two men are facing a several fraud charges after police say a primary care medical doctor knowingly hired a non-licensed person who acted as a doctor at an East Hartford medical group. Police say in doing so, they then fraudulently billed the state Medicaid system. Police say Dr. Sultan Quraishi billed the state over $3,000 worth of fraudulent health insurance claims. Police are…
Medicaid cost, DCF oversight among CT lawmakers’ 2026 priorities
Connecticut legislators have lofty ambitions to tackle major health and human services challenges during the 2026 legislative session.
You Should Change These 3 Apple TV HDMI Settings For A Better Picture
For a better picture when using your Apple TV, change the HDMI settings for HDMI Output, Chroma, and Match Content. Be sure to check the HDMI connection first.
Google is finally fixing one of Pixel’s biggest connectivity headaches in Android 16
Android 16 QPR3 gives Pixel users clearer control over Adaptive Connectivity with two new toggles in the settings.
Business of aging certificate offers resume-building credentials for senior living
The certificate has recently been refreshed with new training modules benefiting anyone connected to or aspiring to work in the senior living industry.
Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced ‘CONNECT iX’ Copen mode update now available
Inti Creates has released an update for Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced that adds the new “CONNECT iX” mode to Azure Striker Gunvolt 3, in which Copen from Gunvolt Chronicles: Lu…
Android 16 QPR3: Pixel adds Adaptive Connectivity auto-switch, battery settings
With Android 16 QPR3, Google is introducing more granular Adaptive Connectivity settings on Pixel phones...
Jelly Roll admits 'dumb redneck' status when pushed on politics after bringing God to Grammys stage
Jelly Roll praised Jesus at the Grammy Awards, but avoided political talk, and called himself a "dumb redneck" who stays disconnected from current news and events.
Jeffrey Epstein's ties to politicians, business titans and other figures
The U.S. Justice Department's release of millions of internal documents related to Jeffrey Epstein has revealed the late financier and sex offender's ties to many prominent people in politics, finance, academia and business - both before and after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges, including soliciting an underage girl. Evidence in multiple legal and criminal cases has also shed light on these connections.
Scott Drake named CEO of Chuck E. Cheese owner CEC Entertainment
David McKillips, who had led the company for six years, is stepping down. Drake had been the company’s chief financial officer.
Jelly Roll Says He’s ‘Disconnected’ From Politics, But Will Be Ready to Speak Out ‘Soon’
Jelly Roll said he was largely 'disconnected' from what's going on in America, but planned to speak out 'soon,' after winning a Grammy last night.
Comcast Resets Connectivity Business As Legal And Sports Stakes Rise
Comcast (NasdaqGS:CMCSA) is overhauling its connectivity business, appointing Steve Croney as CEO of Connectivity & Platforms. The company is shifting its broadband and wireless approach, including simplified pricing and new partnership models. A recent patent ruling resulted in a US$240 million judgment against Comcast. Comcast is rolling out RealTime4K streaming and other products ahead of major sports broadcasts such as the Olympics and the Super Bowl. For you as an investor, the story...
Iran’s economy falters as internet shutdown hits people, businesses hard
The state-imposed blackout has disconnected Iranians from the world and choked off businesses.
Open for Business: Orange County Launches New Business Resource Office
Small business owners and entrepreneurs now have access to a new Orange County resource hub connecting them with programs, tools, financial assistance and training to help them grow and succeed.
Trump threatens to sue Trevor Noah over Epstein joke at Grammys
President calls host a ‘pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C’ after jibe about his connections to late sex offender at ceremony
UFC 325 Highlights: Mauricio Ruffy Knocks Out Rafael Fiziev
Lightweights Mauricio Ruffy and Rafael Fiziev collided on Saturday's UFC 325 main card in Sydney, Australia and the bout didn't disappoint. Fiziev took the fight to Ruffy, pressuring the Brazilian and saw success in the opening round. Late in the second frame, Ruffy connected with a right hand that ...
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for Feb. 2 #497
Here's today's Connections: Sports Edition answer and hints for groups. These clues will help you solve The New York Times' popular puzzle game, Connections: Sports Edition, every day.
SoxFest Live Day 2 brings familiar themes, renewed energy
From player meet-and-greets to the late-night hangout, Saturday’s event emphasized connection
Kamen takes leave of absence from FIRST
Dean Kamen agreed to take a leave of absence from FIRST Robotics, a nonprofit organization hosting programming for ages 5-18, while a private firm investigates his connection to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Drip Bar celebrates February Wellness & Heart Health Month
Looking for a way to boost your health this February? The DRIPBaR has unveiled its Heart Health Month specials, featuring deals on popular drips and shots and a special event called "Stay on the Beat." Check out a list of ongoing specials, as well as drip packages themed for the big game and Valentine's Day!
Entrepreneurship summit connects business owners with essential resources
An entrepreneurship summit hosted by Ald. Milele Coggs featured workshops, vendors and speakers to help local entrepreneurs thrive.
Connecticut Science Center temporarily closed due to burst pipe
The Connecticut Science Center is closed on Sunday due to a pipe burst in the building, the science center announced. “Our team has been working tirelessly to clean and restore the affected a…
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for Feb. 1 #496
Here's today's Connections: Sports Edition answer and hints for groups. These clues will help you solve The New York Times' popular puzzle game, Connections: Sports Edition, every day.
Connections: Sports Edition hints for Feb. 1, 2026, puzzle No. 496
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
Connecticut Science Center temporarily closed for burst pipe
The Connecticut Science Center is temporarily closed for a burst pipe in the building.
Researchers pinpoint source of black hole's 3,000-light-year-long jet stream using enhanced telescope network
A new study has connected the famous m87 black hole, the first ever imaged, to its powerful cosmic jet, revealing how it launches particles at near light speed.
Black Business Expo aims to connect, celebrate and inspire local entrepreneurs
The fifth Black Business Expo brought together 25 local businesses to connect and inspire future entrepreneurs
New emails show New York Giants owner asked Epstein to connect him with women
New York Giants owner and American filmmaker Steve Tisch sought out Jeffrey Epstein’s help connecting him with women more than a decade ago, according to emails released Friday by the Justice Department.
Inner plexiform layer substrata: Possible biomarker of retinal health | Ophthalmology Times - Clinical Insights for Eye Specialists
Ophthalmology Times connects eye care professionals with surgery, imaging, gene therapy, & diagnostic advances to enhance clinical and patient care.
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for Jan. 31 #495
Here's today's Connections: Sports Edition answer and hints for groups. These clues will help you solve The New York Times' popular puzzle game, Connections: Sports Edition, every day.
Scanlon’s campaign, Bronin endorsement: CT Politics news
Plus: Updates on the Connecticut Education Issues Summit, the Council of Small Towns, and the Planning and Development Committee.
Don Lemon Arrested in Connection with ICE Protest Coverage
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the former CNN anchor and three others — including another journalist — were taken into custody.
Public Health Student Association nurtures connection across disciplines - UT Health San Antonio
The Public Health Student Association at the Kate Marmion School of Public Health provides students a supportive, inclusive environment that encourages learning, professional development and networking opportunities.
Bouncy balls and beyond: Collaborative project connects science with community
Through “Mission: Materials Science,” a long-running outreach initiative supported by Penn State’s U.S. National Science Foundation–funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, graduate students from across disciplines have partnered with museum educators and media professionals to transform materials science research into free, hands-on learning activities.
What Happens to Your Mood When You Take Omega-3s Regularly
Healthy fats, happy mood? Here's what experts say about the connection between omega-3 and depression.
CT’s largest business group lays out top priorities. They sound familiar
Speakers said Connecticut is at a crossroads with a mixed economic picture, uncertainty due to federal policy changes, inflation and cost of living.
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for Jan. 30 #494
Here's today's Connections: Sports Edition answer and hints for groups. These clues will help you solve The New York Times' popular puzzle game, Connections: Sports Edition, every day.
CBIA spotlights affordability, workforce ahead of legislative session
Connecticut’s largest business association laid out a policy agenda Thursday that addresses the needs of the state’s small businesses.
Groups Back Larson Challenger, Calling for Generational Change
Three outside political groups are backing Luke Bronin in his primary challenge to Representative John Larson, the 77-year-old Connecticut Democrat.
Spring Health to buy Alma as AI rapidly reshapes mental healthcare market
Spring Health, a company that offers digital mental health care and navigation services, plans to acquire Alma to expand its offerings and tap into the startup's deep roster of health plan partners | Spring Health, a company that offers digital mental health care and navigation services, plans to acquire Alma to expand its offerings and tap into the startup's connections to health plans.
Connections: Sports Edition hints for Jan. 29, 2026, puzzle No. 493
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for Jan. 29 #493
Here's today's Connections: Sports Edition answer and hints for groups. These clues will help you solve The New York Times' popular puzzle game, Connections: Sports Edition, every day.
Disney Entertainment Television Unveils 2026 Directing & Writing Program Participants
EXCLUSIVE: Disney Entertainment Television has chosen its participants for the 2025-26 Directing and Writing Programs, talent development initiatives which connect emerging writers and directors with opportunities across DET’s scripted and unscripted television slate. “This year’s cohorts reflect the bold, original voices that will help shape the next era of television,” said Tim McNeal, senior vice …
Fake Moltbot AI Coding Assistant on VS Code Marketplace Drops Malware
A fake VS Code extension posing as a Moltbot AI assistant installed ScreenConnect malware, giving attackers persistent remote access to developer syst
Manu Ginobili among backers of new planned sports performance project in South Florida
Manu Ginobili is investing in South Florida’s potential with a new venture. The former San Antonio Spurs star is part of a group building the Sports Performance Hub in Homestead, Florida. It’ll be a next-generation sports, education and community development project. It will feature a 10,000-seat stadium for Miami FC, sports training facilities, a basketball facility, a boarding school and more. Groundbreaking is set for March, with plans to open in 2028. Ginobili, along with partners like Riccardo Silva and Juan Sebastian Veron, aims to connect sports training with academics. They believe Miami’s multicultural environment makes it an ideal location.
18 free agents with connections to Lions coach Mike Kafka
Taking a look at the 2026 NFL free agents who have connections to Detroit Lions coach Mike Kafka.
OpenAI digs in on a fundamental disconnect in new research: AI is ready for primetime, many businesses aren't
The real challenge isn't building better AI—it's actually using it.
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