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Toy firms look to US Supreme Court as tariffs keep them on edge
"You cannot go to sleep on this president," says one toymaker, of the ongoing uncertainty over trade policy.
Samsung confirms new release date for ultra-premium foldable
Samsung confirmed plans to begin selling its latest ultra-premium foldable again. Available soon, the device surpasses the Galaxy Z Fold7 with a significantly larger internal display. Samsung only plans to offer limited quantities of the Galaxy Z TriFold again, though.
Windows 11 update causing BSODs and Wi-Fi issues, Microsoft confirms
Fortunately, fixes for these issues have been implemented and are being rolled out to users.
Business Restructuring Review
In This Issue: The Year in Bankruptcy: 2025 A brief chronicle of the year's notable developments in corporate bankruptcy and restructuring, including business bankruptcy filings, significant court rulings, and legislative developments. [read more …] U.S. Bankruptcy Court Denies Chapter 15 Recognition of Maltese Liquidation Absent Evidence of Meaningful Activities Supporting Finding of COMI or Establishment in Malta In In re Geden Holdings, Ltd., No. 25-90138, 2025 WL 2484883 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. Aug. 28, 2025), stay pending appeal denied, No. 25-90138, 2026 WL 97993 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. Jan. 13, 2026), the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled that, for purposes of recognition under chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code, although a foreign debtor may have had its center of main interests ("COMI") or an establishment in Malta when a liquidation proceeding was commenced for it in a Maltese court in 2017, the absence of any meaningful activity by the debtor's liquidator from that time until the liquidator filed a chapter 15 petition in the United States more than five years later meant that the debtor had neither a COMI nor an establishment in Malta on the chapter 15 petition date. The court accordingly denied the petition for recognition. [read more …] The Ninth Circuit's Expansive Reading of "Financial Accommodations" that Cannot Be Assumed or Assigned in Bankruptcy It is generally well understood that agreements to extend credit or provide financing to a debtor cannot be assumed or assigned in bankruptcy. Even so, the provision of the Bankruptcy Code that precludes assumption or assignment—section 365(c)(2)—also extends to "financial accommodations," a term that is not defined in the Bankruptcy Code and has been the subject of relatively few bankruptcy and appellate court rulings. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit examined the meaning of the term in In re Svenhard's Swedish Bakery, 154 F.4th 1100 (9th Cir. 2025). The court of appeals ruled that a deeply discounted settlement of pension plan withdrawal liability is a "financial accommodation" that cannot be assumed or assigned, thereby extending the reach of section 365(c)(2) well beyond conventional lending arrangements. [read more …] Pennsylvania District Court Applies "Hypothetical Test" in Determining that Patent License Agreement Is Assignable in Bankruptcy In Crivella Holdings Ltd. v. Mesearch Media Technologies Ltd., No. 2:25-cv-333, 2025 WL 2443400 (W.D. Pa. Aug. 25, 2025), the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania affirmed a bankruptcy court ruling denying a software licensor's motion for relief from the automatic stay to terminate the license agreement. The court found the license was assumable in bankruptcy under the Third Circuit's hypothetical test as a result of language in the agreement stating that it could be assigned to a "successor in interest" of the debtor without the licensor's further consent, thereby overriding federal patent law's general prohibition against the assignment of patents. [read more …] New York Bankruptcy Court Denies Motion to Terminate Chapter 15 Recognition and Dismiss Chapter 15 Case In In re Oi S.A., No. 23-10193 (LGB), 2025 WL 2806591 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Oct. 1, 2025), the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York considered whether chapter 15 recognition of a debtor's Brazilian restructuring proceeding should be terminated and the case dismissed due to the debtors' financial deterioration and inability to satisfy its restructuring plan obligations after entry of the recognition order. The court denied the motion, concluding that recognition of the Brazilian proceeding and a court-approved restructuring plan for the debtors should not be terminated under section 1519(d) of the Bankruptcy Code—according to the court, the sole authority for revocation of chapter 15 recognition—because, among other things, the restructuring proceeding was still pending, the debtors might still need relief authorized under chapter 15, and the debtors' prospects for reorganizing under a hypothetical chapter 11 case were uncertain at best. It also found that no provision of the Bankruptcy Code authorizes the dismissal of a chapter 15 case. [read more …] Newsworthy Effective January 1, 2026, Jones Day welcomed Isel M. Perez (Miami), Andrew M. Butler (New York), Sid Pepels (Amsterdam), and Anna C. Bretting (Munich) to the partnership in the Business Restructuring & Reorganization Practice. Sid Pepels (Amsterdam) has been nominated for the Future Leader Award by the Global Restructuring Review, an organization that acknowledges and honors excellence within the global restructuring and insolvency sector. This award is designed to recognize exceptional contributions made by both individuals and firms in the field. The 2026 edition of Chambers UK recognized Ben Larkin (London) in the practice area Restructuring/Insolvency and Adam R. Brown (London) in the practice area Restructuring/Insolvency: Litigation. The 2026 edition of Chambers Asia-Pacific ranked Roger Dobson (Sydney) in the practice area Restructuring/Insolvency. An article written by Corinne Ball (New York) titled "Backstop Fees for Lenders in Chapter 11 Plans: Absent Market Test, Equality of Treatment Now Required in Fifth Circuit After 'ConvergeOne'" was published on November 12, 2025, in the New York Law Journal. An article written by Oliver S. Zeltner (Houston) titled "Delaware Bankruptcy Court: No Legal Authority for Chapter 11 Plan Gatekeeping Provision" was published on November 20, 2025, by Lexis Practical Guidance. An article written by Daniel J. Merrett (Atlanta) titled "First Impressions: Eleventh Circuit Rules that Annulment of Automatic Stay Does Not Violate U.S. Supreme Court's Prohibition of Nunc Pro Tunc Orders" was published on November 21, 2025, by Lexis Practical Guidance. An article written by Genna Ghaul (New York) titled "Iowa District Court: Avoidance Claims Cannot Be Encumbered by Pre-Bankruptcy Liens" was published on November 20, 2025, by Lexis Practical Guidance. An article written by Dan T. Moss (Washington/New York), Corinne Ball (New York), David S. Torborg (Washington), and Ben Rosenblum (New York) titled "New York Bankruptcy Court Rejects Challenge to Barnet Rule Permitting Foreign Debtors to Obtain Chapter 15 Recognition With Only Minimal U.S. Assets" was published on November 21, 2025, by Lexis Practical Guidance. The M&A Advisor has recognized the Silvergate Capital Corporation Bankruptcy case as the Chapter 11 Reorganization of the Year (over $5 billion) during its 20th Annual Turnaround Awards. Jones Day is listed among the professionals for the representation of Exploration Capital, which was led by Joshua M. Mester (Los Angeles). Lawyer Spotlight: Sid Pepels Sid Pepels, a partner in Jones Day's Amsterdam Office, litigates and advises clients on commercial and international insolvency matters, with a focus on complex restructurings and insolvencies. He has advised and litigated high-profile cases, including: the cross-border WHOA (Wet Homologatie Onderhands Akkoord) proceedings concerning Vroon Group and Diebold Nixdorf; proceedings on behalf of expropriated SNS Reaal bond holders against the Dutch State; the bankruptcy of Intertoys, the leading Dutch toys retailer; the restructuring of Oi, the Dutch finance vehicle of the Brazilian telecom giant; and Blokker, the leading Dutch home appliances retailer. Sid holds a Ph.D. in European insolvency law and regularly publishes in academic journals on topics of cross-border insolvency. He has been recognized in The Legal 500 Netherlands and was noted by his peers for being client-minded and a creative thinker with a "strong grasp of the law and strong interpersonal skills." Sid was also nominated for the "Future Leader" award at the Global Restructuring Review Awards 2025. He is a board member for the Netherlands Association for Comparative and International Insolvency Law and a NextGen member of the International Insolvency Institute.
South Florida leaders push crackdown on Cuba-linked firms, a lifeline for thousands of families
Miami-Dade and local leaders seek tougher action on Cuba trade, revoking licenses, urging federal probes and targeting flights, remittances and shipments.
New tech and AI set to take athlete data business to next level
From tracking the trajectory and speed of a footballer's strike to monitoring a Tour de France rider's real-time power output, performance athlete data is deepening its reach in sports, with specialised firms eyeing to score big business.Some firms use the cameras in stadiums and arenas to track individual players at all times, whether they have the ball or not.
New Tech And AI Set To Take Athlete Data Business To Next Level
From tracking the trajectory and speed of a footballer's strike to monitoring a Tour de France rider's real-time power output, performance athlete data is deepening its reach in sports, with specialised firms eyeing to score big business.
Microsoft confirms next Windows 11 feature drop with new Taskbar, Emoji, and Settings updates — here's what's coming to your PC very soon
Windows 11's latest Release Preview Channel update has given us our first look at Microsoft's next OS feature drop that's expected to begin rolling out imminently.
FinTechs Target Latin America Small Business Cash Flow Gaps
Latin America’s digital habits are no longer confined to retail shopping or person-to-person transfers. They are directly influencing how smaller firms
Northwestern Medicine takes AI accelerator program to Europe
Northwestern Medicine has a new partnership with London-based accelerator Founders Factory, aimed at exposing European AI firms to the U.S. health market.
Google confirms new Downloads backup feature for Android: Here's how it'll work
We've been tracking the feature for months and can tell you exactly what it can and can't do.
Florida Department of Health confirms sixth measles case in Duval County in 2026
The City of Jacksonville confirmed a 5th measles case in Duval County in 2026.
Pixel 10a carrier leak confirms some core specs ahead of this week’s launch
Google’s Pixel 10a is set to launch on February 18 – just a couple of days from now – and...
Will 2026 Be the Year of the ‘Soonicorn’?
As venture capital funding pours into start-ups large and small, more firms are pitching themselves as the next big thing.
Samsung Confirms Galaxy S26 Ultra Unpacked: How To Claim Your $900 Discount
The date and time of the next Galaxy Unpacked have been confirmed by Samsung with details of how to watch and early pre-order discounts.
Konami Confirms Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 Won't Have MGS4's Metal Gear Online, But Peace Walker Multiplayer Will Return
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 will not include the version of Metal Gear Online featured with the original release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra Is Almost Here: Samsung Confirms Unpacked Date And Pre-Order Perks
The date and time of the next Galaxy Unpacked have been confirmed by Samsung with details of how to watch and early pre-order discounts.
Claude’s AI Market Structure Disruption Business Leaders Must Watch
Specialized AI service firms face challenges as big players move in. Business users must consider vendor lock-in and pricing when setting AI strategy.
WEBTOON Entertainment (WBTN) Is Up 7.0% After Securities Fraud Case Proceeds Past Dismissal - Has The Bull Case Changed?
WEBTOON Entertainment is now facing an active securities fraud class action after a U.S. District Court in November 2025 denied its motion to dismiss allegations that it misled investors about Monthly Active Users at the time of its June 27, 2024 IPO. The court’s decision has prompted law firms to investigate potential breaches of fiduciary duty by WEBTOON’s officers and directors, raising fresh questions about its disclosure practices and governance controls. We’ll now examine how the...
Apple Confirms Revamped Siri is Still Coming in 2026
Apple is still planning to launch the smarter, more capable version of Siri in 2026, the company told CNBC today. Apple's statement comes just a day after Bloomberg reported Apple is having issues with the updated version of Siri, leading to potential delays of the feature. Apple initially intended to launch the Apple Intelligence-powered version of Siri in spring 2025, but right around when a debut was expected in March 2025, Apple said that Siri wasn't ready and needed more time.
New God of War Game Shadow Dropping Today, Greek Trilogy Remake Confirmed With Original Kratos
The original Kratos confirms that the Greek Trilogy is getting a remake and that fans can play a brand-new entry in the series right now.
US, Taiwan finalize deal to cut tariffs, boost purchases of US goods
Officials from the Trump administration signed a final agreement on reciprocal trade that confirms a 15% U.S. tariff rate for imports from Taiwan, while committing Taiwan to a schedule for eliminating or lowering tariffs on nearly all U.S. goods.
Rejecting science, Trump reverses conclusion that climate change is harming Americans
The 2009 endangerment finding affirms that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases pose a threat to human health and welfare. Its repeal marks one of the most significant deregulatory actions in U.S. history.
Microsoft Confirms Windows Is Under Attack
Attackers have not waited for Exploit Wednesday; the Microsoft Windows zero-day attacks have already started. Here’s what you need to know and do.
Gallup ends its presidential tracking poll, the latest shift in the public opinion landscape
Gallup, one of the country’s most well-known polling firms, announced Wednesday that they will no longer track presidential approval or favorability of political figures. The move ends the longest-running continuous effort to track US opinion of the nation’s president, dating back to the tenure of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the late 1930s .
Arm confirms Exynos 2600 will support SME2 at launch
In a new blog post, Arm has confirmed Samsung’s upcoming Exynos 2600 SoC will support its SME2 instruction set out of the box. It will allow the chip to process on-device AI tasks, such as object detection, faster.
New Trump administration rule will bar green card holders from applying for SBA loans
The new rule, which goes into effect March 1, says only firms owned by citizens or U.S. nationals will qualify for Small Business Administration loans.
Governors to have ‘business meeting’ with White House, Oklahoma governor confirms
All governors will be invited to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House next week, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said Wednesday.
Galaxy S26 Ultra Release Date: Samsung Confirms Event And Pre-Order Perks
The date and time of the next Galaxy Unpacked have been confirmed by Samsung with details of how to watch and early pre-order discounts.
Google confirms Android 17 Beta is coming soon
Just like last year, a beta version of Android's upcoming version will be released in the first quarter of the year. It will be Android 17.
First Android 17 Beta arrives soon for Pixel phones
Google confirms the next major beta cycle is near
Samsung confirms Galaxy S26 launch on February 25, up to $900 off with reservation
Samsung has confirmed the official launch date for the Galaxy S26 series, with reservations now open and up to $900 off, too.
Sony confirms new WH-1000XM6 release in official teaser
Sony has confirmed that it will be releasing a new version of the WH-1000XM6. Coinciding with the arrival of the WF-1000XM6, the new WH-1000XM6 release will mirror an equivalent refresh of the older WH-1000XM5, too.
CVS tops quarterly estimates, reaffirms profit outlook as turnaround plan takes effect
The results signal steady progress in the health-care giant's aggressive turnaround plan under CEO David Joyner, who stepped into the role in late 2024.
Amazon discusses AI content marketplace with publishers, The Information reports
Amazon has signaled to publishing industry executives that it is planning to launch a marketplace where publishers can sell their content to firms offering artificial intelligence products, The Information reported on Monday.
Sony's PS5 Fighter Marvel Tokon Confirms 20 Characters at Launch, Single Player 'Episode' Mode
12 to be revealed
Samsung almost confirms when it's unveiling the Galaxy S26 family
February 25 seems like a given at this point. Samsung has long been rumored to be unveiling the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra on February...
Samsung contest confirms something about the Galaxy S26 Ultra unveiling that we already knew
Samsung Gulf accidentally revealed something important about this month's Unpacked event.
Private credit worries resurface in $3 trillion market as AI pressures software firms
Artificial intelligence is adding a new layer of uncertainty to the private credit industry, raising concerns that some lenders may face rising defaults.
Faraday Future Founder and Co-CEO YT Jia Shares Weekly Investor Update: Reaffirms FF’s Commitment to Both the New Robotics Business and Existing Vehicle Business, Which Achieved a Milestone Relating to the FX Super One to be Announced Next Tuesday
LOS ANGELES, February 09, 2026--Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (NASDAQ: FFAI) ("Faraday Future", "FF" or the "Company"), a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company, today shared a weekly business update from YT Jia, Founder and Global Co-CEO of FF.
Don’t Let Greed Tarnish the Future of Sports Betting
Sports betting operators and responsible gaming firms must balance short-term profit with supporting long-term industry success of legal sports gambling.
Linus Torvalds Confirms The Next Kernel Is Linux 7.0
Following Linus Torvalds releasing Linux 6.19 stable, Linus Torvalds is now out with his customary release announcement
OC Health confirms second measles case at Disneyland
According to the Orange County Health Care Agency, the individual visited the parks on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026.
Record-Breaking One-Off Bugatti Brouillard Could Become the Most Expensive Bugatti Ever
A one-off aimed at a historic record Bugatti’s latest one-off, the Brouillard, steps onto the hypercar stage with the quiet confidence of a record-breaker. The brand’s tradition of bespoke excellence meets a bold new aesthetic, positioning this unique commission to potentially become the marque’s most expensive creation. Built on the proven underpinnings of the Chiron/Mistral architecture, yet transformed by distinctive craft, the Brouillard is both homage and innovation. A name born from equestrian legend More than a century ago, a striking white horse captivated Ettore Bugatti in Molsheim. That equine myth now informs the car’s name and its sensory identity. The result is an automotive portrait of athletic grace—surfaces that read like muscle, curves that suggest motion, and details that quietly speak of discipline and heritage. Embroidered horse motifs on door panels and seat backs echo the story, while a miniature glass sculpture of the steed crowns the shifter. Sculptural design with purpose The Brouillard’s silhouette favors sinuous surfaces over hard creases, allowing light to glide over its form like a tendon under skin. Aerodynamics inform elegance: an integrated ducktail replaces a deployable wing, cleansing the airflow and boosting stability at speed. Its stance is athletic, its volumes taut, and its visual language unmistakably Bugatti. “Sculptural, organic forms—like a tendon beneath the skin—hide immense power behind noble simplicity,” said design chief Frank Heyl, capturing the car’s philosophy in a single stroke. Craft elevated to an art The cabin embraces craftsmanship at an uncommon level. Custom-woven textiles from Paris introduce a discreet tartan pattern, while green-tinted carbon fiber nods to the exterior’s hue. A glazed roof creates a cathedral atmosphere, bathing the cockpit in natural light. A central spine appears to flow from exterior to interior, emphasizing continuity and structure. Highlights include: Custom textiles with subtle tartan motifs Green-tinted carbon fiber matched to the exterior finish A “cathedral” glass roof that elevates cabin ambience A sculptural centerline linking outside to inside Bespoke embroidery and glass equine detail W16 power at its absolute apex Under the sculpted skin, the final evolution of Bugatti’s 8.0‑liter, quad‑turbo W16 delivers a thunderous 1,600 hp at 7,050 rpm and 1,600 Nm of torque. This represents the pinnacle of nearly two decades of Bugatti engineering, honed to an ultimate state. The lightweight monocoque blends carbon fiber with aluminum, holding mass to around 1,900 kg for poise and control. Experts suggest the Brouillard could surpass the 282 mph (454 km/h) achieved by the Mistral, aided by more aerodynamic bodywork and the fixed ducktail. Whether or not it sets a new benchmark, its intent is clear: relentless speed paired with refinement. Exclusivity with an exacting timeline The commissioning process is intensive, with roughly 18 months of development leading to a 2027 delivery. Bugatti’s program limits itself to no more than two creations per year, ensuring focus and rarity. Each example leaves the atelier as a singular vision, shaped to the client’s collection and the brand’s ethos. An unveiling is planned for Monterey Car Week 2025, placing the Brouillard amid the world’s most discerning enthusiasts. Its patron is a European collector deeply invested in the Bugatti universe, from historic and modern cars to Carlo Bugatti furniture and Rembrandt Bugatti bronzes. A valuation poised to make history While Bugatti has not disclosed an official price, informed estimates place the Brouillard between €10 million and €30 million. Context matters: a series Mistral begins near €5 million, while the Brouillard adds profound personalization, sculptural changes, and a pace of production that keeps scarcity front and center. In an arena where uniqueness drives value, the path to a brand record is unmistakably open. What it signals for the marque The Brouillard crystallizes Bugatti’s dual identity: traditional savoir‑faire intertwined with boundary-pushing performance. It exhibits a narrative soul—the white horse of Molsheim—woven into modern materials and world-class aerodynamics. As a rolling statement, it reaffirms that the Bugatti idea is larger than speed alone; it is about story, craft, and the courage to pursue an ideal to its logical limit.
Samsung confirms Galaxy S26 launch date; Unpacked season officially begins
Samsung has yet to reveal the Galaxy S26 launch date, but a new Unpacked campaign has just done so. The Unpacked season has officially begun, and the event invite may be dropped next week, probably on Monday. Just recently, Samsung Gulf kickstarted an awarding campaign linked to the Unpacked, with its terms revealed Galaxy S26 […]
New Business Licenses: 2.6.26
Chesterfield reports two law firms, a wellness business, an outdoor adventure group and more. (BizSense Pro required)
CBER Report: Nevada Led the Nation in Post-Pandemic Small Business Growth
New analysis by UNLV's Center for Business and Economic Research shows that 40 percent of Nevada’s employer firms were created after COVID-19 as new entrepreneurs reshaped the state’s recovery.
Digimon Story Time Stranger Confirms 60FPS Performance Mode Coming to PS5
All in good time
Sony confirms WF-1000XM6 release date in first official teaser
Sony has confirmed the long-awaited release date of its WF-1000XM6 earbuds. Dubbed rather grandiously as the 'next generation of earbuds', Sony has offered a peek at its design too. The successors to the WF-1000XM5 can already be viewed in two colours though, thanks to recent leaks.
The AirDrop-to-Android expansion is finally happening: Here is what to expect
Google confirms Quick Share with AirDrop support is coming to more devices.
Oblivion, Skyrim And Fallout Switch 2 Physicals Will All Be Code-In-A-Box, Bethesda Confirms
Indy whips up a proper physical instead
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...
Google confirms AirDrop is coming to all Android devices
Apple's coolest feature will no longer be a Pixel-exclusive
Aqua-Tots Swim School Named a 2026 Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review
Independent Franchisee Survey Confirms Strong Satisfaction with Support, Leadership and Overall Performance Aqua-Tots Named a 2026 Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review Aqua-Tots ranks number one in Recreational and number fourteen in the Top Large Franchises, according to the 2026 Top Franchise list. Mesa, Arizona, Feb. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aqua-Tots Swim School has been named a 2026 Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review, an honor based entirely on feedback from the people who
New Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Leak Confirms Bad Battery News
A new Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra delivery more disappointing battery news for the upcoming flagship.
Pieter Mulier to Design Versace, Prada Group Confirms
The outgoing Alaïa designer and long-time lieutenant of Prada co-creative director Raf Simons will be tasked with revitalising Prada Group’s new acquisition, following the ouster of Dario Vitale in December.
New Mexico solar firms hope tax credit hike will help boost business
With the expiration of a federal tax credit, installation companies are feeling the strain. Customers are relying more heavily on state aid.
AMD Confirms Steam Machine in Early 2026, Xbox SoC Powered by RDNA 5 in 2027
AMD posted its record fourth quarter revenue of $10.3 billion in 2025, and during the earnings call, the company issued some guidance on the upcoming product portfolio. During the call, AMD confirmed that Valve's Steam Machine is on track and shipping early this year, while its custom SoC division t...
Google's February Android update confirms a big shift for older Pixels
Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 devices seem to be now following a quarterly update schedule instead of monthly patches.
GTA 6 Marketing Will Kick Off This Summer, as Take-Two Confidently Reaffirms November Release Date
Grand Theft Auto VI's November 19, 2026 release date is drawing nearer, and Take-Two Interactive is starting to sound more confident than ever that this time, it's really happening. So confident, in fact, it's announced that Rockstar will be spinning up its marketing beats this summer.
Top consulting firms test boundaries with China workarounds
Faced with a fraught geopolitical environment, global consultancies are turning to riskier ways to do business in China that some industry and legal experts say test the boundaries of Western sanctions and Beijing's drive to curb foreign involvement in sensitive sectors.
Legion Y700: Lenovo officially confirms next-gen compact Android gaming tablet
Lenovo has officially confirmed the next-generation Legion Y700, with promotional images showing the tablet's rear design in two color options and an RGB ring light. A leak has separately revealed the device's key specifications and launch month.
Newsmakers of the Year
Newsmakers are shaping how neighborhoods evolve, how firms navigate politics and how companies adapt to emerging technologies and economic uncertainty.
Leak confirms Galaxy Watch 9, Ultra 2, and Tab S12 are in the works
Model numbers for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Tab S12 series, Galaxy Watch 9, and Watch Ultra 2 are confirmed. Here's when they might debut.
EU reaffirms commitment to science-based multilateralism
Countries are meeting in Geneva for the first Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution plenary.
From PopMart to JD.com: Britain and China rush to forge business deals as diplomatic thaw takes hold
Chinese firms moved to pledge hundreds of millions of investment in the U.K. as Starmer's visit to China spurred a flurry of business deals and money flows.
Intesa Sanpaolo presents its 2026–2029 Business Plan: scaling a proven model with sustainable profitability and strong capital returns
MILAN, Feb. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intesa Sanpaolo unveiled its 2026–2029 Business Plan, setting out a strategy built on businesses already in place, investments already made and a proven operating model. The Plan targets a sustainable ROE >20%, confirms the Group’s Zero-NPL profile and is underpinned by a technology- and fee-driven business model. It is designed to be delivered with no execution risk, supported by Intesa Sanpaolo’s long-standing ability to extract intragroup synergies. Ov
Did artificial intelligence really drive layoffs at Amazon and other firms? It can be hard to tell
When Amazon announced it was cutting 16,000 corporate jobs, many assumed it was the latest phase of CEO Andy Jassy’s push to reduce the corporate workforce as AI brings more efficiency gains.
Alibaba to spend $431 million for Lunar New Year AI push as chatbot war heats up
Alibaba said on Monday it will spend 3 billion yuan ($431 million) to attract users to its Qwen AI app during the Lunar New Year holiday, heating up a race between China's largest tech firms.
Japan's top business lobby invites activist fund Elliott for governance talks
Japan's biggest business lobby, Keidanren, has invited activist investor Elliott Investment Management to a private meeting on March 5 to discuss issues of corporate governance, it told member firms in a notice seen by Reuters.
Musk confirms SpaceX success in preventing Russian military from accessing stolen Starlink units
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says his company successfully blocked Russia's "unauthorized" use of captured Starlink terminals in Ukraine on Sunday.
India hands Apple a win by letting foreign firms fund equipment for manufacturers
India's government on Sunday handed a major win to Apple by allowing foreign companies to freely provide machines to their contract manufacturers set up in certain areas for five years, without fearing any tax risk.
How Chinese short-video streaming firms are reshaping Latin America's media landscape
Short-drama apps, many with Chinese origins, are making significant inroads in Latin America as the region becomes more affluent, research shows.
Orange County confirms second measles case in traveler who visited Disneyland, California Adventure
New Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Leak Confirms Disappointing News
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra release date has been confirmed, but some of the new specifications reveal disappointing news.
Public Health Department confirms first 2026 measles case in Los Angeles County
The Department of Public Health confirms the first 2026 measles case in Los Angeles County, urges protection before traveling.
After Affirmative Action Win, Conservatives Sue to Push Change Everywhere
Lawyers have filed lawsuits against corporations, law firms, health care companies, art groups and nonprofits. And they are mostly winning.
LA County public health confirms first measles case in 2026
Orange County health officials confirms second measles case in toddler
The Orange County Health Care Agency on Friday confirmed a second measles case, this time in a toddler with no reported international travel. “Measles is highly contagious. The risk is particularly…
Oklahoma Health Department confirms measles case; possible exposure at Norman bar
The Oklahoma State Department of Health has confirmed a measles case in Cleveland County.According to OSDH, the individual visited Logie's on the Corner in Norm
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Release Date: Cancelled Model Confirmed
A brand new Galaxy S26 Ultra leak confirms Samsung's cancelled model and new camera design.
Jean-Philippe Mateta transfer news: Oliver Glasner confirms striker will not feature against Nottingham Forest amid AC Milan interest
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has confirmed Jean-Philippe Mateta will not feature against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, live on Sky Sports; AC Milan have made an offer worth £35m to sign Mateta and Nottingham Forests bid for him remains on the table
Starmer arrives in Shanghai as he looks to boost UK business opportunities
BEIJING (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in the Chinese financial center of Shanghai on Friday in his bid to boost business opportunities for U.K. firms in the world's second-largest economy, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a possible opposition to any deal...
Starmer arrives in Shanghai as he looks to boost UK business opportunities
BEIJING (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in the Chinese financial center of Shanghai on Friday in his bid to boost business opportunities for U.K. firms in the world’s secon…
Starmer arrives in Shanghai as he looks to boost UK business opportunities
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in the Chinese financial center of Shanghai in his bid to boost business opportunities for U.K. firms in the world’s second-largest economy, just hours after President Donald Trump signaled a possible opp...
Google confirms ‘Take a Message’ microphone bug, disabling on old Pixel phones
For a small number of users, the Pixel Phone app’s “Take a Message” feature inadvertently sent audio to the caller...
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
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