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Opinion | Political Chains, TACO, or the Art of the Deal?
He opens big, then whittles down.
Red Sox trade Jordan Hicks, David Sandlin to White Sox
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on Sunday that the pair of righties will be swapping the color of their Sox.
Studio Display refresh looms with three key upgrades
Studio Display shipping times are sliding into late February and early March, adding to mounting signs Apple’s long-rumored refresh is close.
Georgia Handles Business with In-State Emory at Home with Senior Day Sweep
Georgia controlled the meet from start to finish, piling up 32 victories while sweeping both the men’s and women’s duals in Athens.
Opinion: A vision for health care transformation in Alaska
The heart of it: Improved access to care.
This to-do app actually keeps up with my brain
Speaking is faster than typing, and it actually works
February is Heart Health Awareness Month
When it comes to your child's health, do you think much about their risks for heart disease? Probably not, since so much of keeping kids healthy means dealing with the sore throats, scraped knees, and other ailments happening now.
Liverpool 4-1 Newcastle — Match Report: Mid-Table Nightmare
Newcastle United’s return to Premier League action ended in frustration as Liverpool stormed back to earn a 4–1 comeback win at Anfield. The Magpies have now dropped 16 points from winning positions in the league, keeping just two clean sheets in their last 17 games. Eddie Howe’s boys made a promising start but left Merseyside […]
Price of consumer goods could surge as shipping costs soar, industry body says
CIPS warns of ‘cracks’ in global supply chain affecting computers, electrical machinery and transport equipment
Too afraid to see a doctor: Immigration enforcement upends care in Oregon
Immigrant families are skipping medical appointments and delaying care as they weigh health risks against fears of detention or deportation.
Trump's failed bid to elevate an Arab American ally shows cracks in his political coalition
Donald Trump credits the mayor of a small Detroit suburb with helping him win over Michigan’s Arab American community during the 2024 presidential campaign
A locally-produced health podcast returns with a spin-off show
After a monthslong hiatus, a local women's health podcast is back — and expanding.
Lake Street business owner joins with Latino nonprofit to raise $1M for families
Effort by Colonial Market one of many Minnesota fundraisers popping up to help people impacted by the immigration crackdown.
“Existential risk” – Why scientists are racing to define consciousness
Scientists warn that rapid advances in AI and neurotechnology are outpacing our understanding of consciousness, creating serious ethical risks. New research argues that developing scientific tests for awareness could transform medicine, animal welfare, law, and AI development. But identifying consciousness in machines, brain organoids, or patients could also force society to rethink responsibility, rights, and moral boundaries. The question of what it means to be conscious has never been more urgent—or more unsettling.
Science & Medicine: The biostatisticians who drive medical research
From COVID-19 research to Parkinson's disease therapies, these statistical experts turn numbers into answers, helping doctors make evidence-based decisions that improve patient care.
Healthcare experts warn 'people will die' unless state steps up amid federal cuts
As massive federal cuts are upending the health care system in California, analysts and health care professionals are urging the state to soften the blow by creating new revenue streams and helping residents navigate through the red tape.
Is it really possible to 'bank' sleep for later?
From helping you to focus more to improving sports performance, some scientists believe 'depositing' sleep for later use can bring a range of benefits.
Fairfield woman turns her Etsy business into a brick-and-mortar store
The building, painted blue with bright pink doors, reflects Ashby’s goal of creating a cheerful, welcoming space.
Amid FBI investigation, Trump's 2020 election obsession is still shaping Georgia politics
The FBI search of a Fulton County election office isn't the only sign that Trump's loss six years ago is echoing through Georgia. Just look at the race for governor.
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.
How the left can win back the internet – and rise again
In the final part of this series, we look at how infighting has ripped the left apart online while the right has flourished – and how some progressives are turning the tide, says digital media academic Robert Topinka
Democrat Taylor Rehmet flips a Texas state Senate seat Trump won by 17 points, CNN projects
Democrats notched another victory Saturday in special elections during President Donald Trump’s second term, flipping a seat in the Texas Senate that Trump won by 17 points in 2024.
Tigers Drop Close Section Battle To Rams
By: Jared Barton The North Allegheny girls’ basketball team hosted Pine-Richland for a section clash Saturday night from UPMC Court. Despite a back-and-forth battle, the Rams prevailed with a 33-30 win. The first half was a low-scoring affair, as senior Maddie Williams hit a triple for the Tigers, giving NA a brief 3-2 lead. Pine-Richland… More »
UFC 325 Highlights! Micallef Sleeps Elliott With Comeback Choke
Jonathan Micallef pushed his Octagon record to 2-0 earlier tonight (Sat., Jan. 31, 2026) at UFC 325 LIVE on Paramount+ from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, stopping welterweight Oban Elliott with a comeback second-round submission (rear-naked choke). Elliott, who came into Saturday as a betting underdog, was out for blood from the opening […]
Watsonville’s Guillen records five goals in trounce over King City
Watsonville senior forward Diego Guillen notched five goals in the Wildcatz's 7-2 thumping win over King City in Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division boys soccer action Friday evening.
'The party left me': Longtime Indiana lawmaker is leaving the GOP
Rep. Ed Clere said he won't run for re-election and will campaign for New Albany mayor as an independent.
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.
This IG Page Collects Funny Dating App Screenshots And These 43 Are The Best
People say that dating is hell nowadays. But after you look at these hilarious interactions on Hinge, you might change your opinion. There's no shortage of funny people on dating apps, and Bored Padna has collected the most interesting screenshots of unhinged and sweet chats to show you that not all has been lost in the dating scene. Fails, Funny
ENTERTAINMENT: Singer pays tribute to ‘Divas’; conductor comes ‘home’
Singer CeCe Teneal takes audiences on a musical journey through 50 years of chart-topping hits, “from the powerhouse anthems of Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner to the disco grooves of Donna Summer and the pop perfection of Whitney Houston,” in “Divas of Soul,” 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Center for Humanities and Arts Theatre, University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College.
How to save money at the grocery store
Smart grocery shopping isn’t about deprivation or perfection. Here's what to know.
How to eat healthy by shopping smarter at the grocery store
Grocery shopping is the foundation for steady energy, better digestion and long-term health.
NOCO Healthcare’s Greeley Primary Care Redefines Community-Focused Medicine
Women-Owned, Locally Operated Practice Earns Over 330 Five-Star Reviews While Expanding Patient-Centered Services NOCO Healthcare’s Greeley Primary Care Redefines Community-Focused Medicine Women-Owned, Locally Operated Practice Earns Over 330 Five-Star Reviews While Expanding Patient-Centered Services Greeley, CO , Jan. 31, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NOCO Healthcare is reshaping how patients experience medical care in Northern Colorado through its fast-growing Greeley Primary Care practice, known
In Londonderry's win over Pinkerton, Eacrett shows she's invaluable
LONDONDERRY -- While Sammie Sullivan and Gemma Murray get recognition, Brooke Eacrett is a vital part of the Londonderry High girls basketball program.
Youssef (26 points) leads Pinkerton boys past Londonderry
LONDONDERRY -- In typical fashion, Friday night’s rivalry game between the Pinkerton Academy and Londonderry boys basketball teams began with a tough and gritty feel to it.
How the right won the internet
In the second part of our series on digital politics, we look at how online provocateurs have advanced extreme political ideas – and watched them seep into the mainstream, says digital media academic Robert Topinka
California Attorney General Rob Bonta sues Rady Children's Health for dropping gender-affirming care
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Rady Children's Health on Friday for shuttering its gender-affirming care program for patients under the age of 19.
Good Sports: Reedley native now with Chivas at just 18 years old
Kevin Garcia was transferred to one of the most popular pro soccer clubs in Mexico, and for the Reedley native, it's still a "pinch me" moment.
Liquid Meta and STREAMSIX Enter into Business Combination Agreement
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 30, 2026) - Liquid Meta Capital Holdings Ltd. (Cboe CA: LIQD) (FSE: N5F) (OTC Pink: LIQQF) ("Liquid Meta") and STREAMSIX Inc., a private entertainment technology company, based in Toronto, Canada, are pleased to announce that, further to the press release issued on June 24, 2025, they have entered into a business combination agreement dated January 12, 2026, with an effective date of January 1, 2026 (the "Definitive Agreement") which outlines the terms
Why doing household chores may be better for your health than you think
Those tedious household chores might be doing more than just keeping your home clean; they could be improving your health, according to medical experts.
Opinion | Flirting is trickier than ever. Here’s how to approach it.
Dating and politics, in readers’ eyes.
Opinion | In Science We Trust. Or Do We?
Readers respond to a guest essay about the methods and reliability of science. Also: Opioid addiction; judges and presidents; cursive writing.
Protesters call for nationwide strike against Trump's immigration policies
The demonstrations are calling for “no work, no school, no shopping” on Friday.
HEINEKEN completes acquisition of FIFCO’s beverage and retail businesses
It's Official! Heineken & Imperial - It's Official Shaping what's next Heineken & Imperial - shaping what's next HEINEKEN completes acquisition of FIFCO’s beverage and retail businesses The closing of the landmark transaction reinforces HEINEKEN’s strategic position in Central America and unlocks significant new growth opportunities. Amsterdam, January 30th, 2026, Heineken N.V. (HEINEKEN) today announced the completion of its acquisition of FIFCO’s beverage and retail businesses, following the r
Are Bigger Wheels Actually Faster? What The Science Says
Before plunging into another big-wheel revolution, it's worth reviewing what we know from science about how wheel size affects performance.
9 Fruits With the Most Soluble Fiber for Lower Cholesterol and Weight Loss
Soluble fiber has special health benefits, including helping to lower cholesterol and keeping blood sugar steady. Try these fruits high in soluble fiber to meet your daily needs.
The Next Crisis Won’t Wait: Why Pandemic Preparedness Is a Business Imperative
Global health security —the ability to protect against the negative impacts of disease outbreaks — is too important to be left solely to the public sector. Industry has a vital interest in helping countries better prepare for future epidemics and pandemics.
Local Small Business Owner Opens Pak Mail Inside of His Existing Accounting Business in Springville, Alabama--Offering Shipping and Office Services
Annex Brands, Inc., one of the leading franchisors in the packing, shipping and office services industries, is excited to announce the opening of its newest Pak Mail location inside of Chapman Accounting Solutions in Springville, AL to new owner, Edward Chapman. This new Pak Mail is set to offer a wide range of essential shipping and office services to the local community, making it easier to provide more service to more people in more places.
Opinion | The Wyoming Business Council debate is missing one big piece
Wyomingites stand to lose much more than just a line item in the budget, writes the Wyoming Women’s Business Center Board of Directors.
Cramping Alcaraz beats Zverev in epic to reach final
A cramping Carlos Alcaraz draws on every physical and mental reserve to beat Alexander Zverev in a five-set epic and reach the Australian Open final.
How liberals lost the internet
In the first part of our series on digital politics, we look at how centrists have lost ground fighting disinformation – when the real battle is over emotion and attention, says digital media academic Robert Topinka
Friday’s Everton News: Blues prep for Brighton, Luis Henrique linked
Recapping all the Everton news from yesterday
The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics
Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.
Sports Take: Super Bowl shows why NFL teams shouldn’t give up on QBs so quickly
The NFL is witnessing a growing trend of teams dumping young quarterbacks after only a few seasons. Stories of some of these quarterbacks reviving their careers prove that teams should invest in these players to develop into pro-level passers. The trend also serves as a warning for up-and-coming college quarterbacks.
Northeast, Central Florida businesses say Google review bombers blackmailed them
Since opening his HVAC company in Jacksonville’s Pine Forest neighborhood less than two years ago, Aldi Gjeka has received 277 reviews on Google, 262 of which are five stars. The other 15 are one-star reviews, all of which were written within the same hour earlier this week.
Expert Comment: Computers can help us to do science, but they can’t
Dr Heloise Stevance, Schmidt AI in Science Fellow in Oxford University’s Physics Department, is a computational astrophysicist developing intelligent recommendation systems for sky surveys. In this
How scientists are making the power of invisibility a reality
“In my opinion, invisibility is no longer a science fiction concept.”
Large snow piles in Millvale keeping customers away, businesses say
Sam Raimi shares 'Doctor Strange 2' scene that made him want to work with Rachel McAdams again
Without 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,' 'Send Help' would've looked a lot different. Director Sam Raimi and star Rachel McAdams explained how Marvel was their stepping stone to the survival horror movie.
Honeywell's business and stock are looking good — Cramer has this advice for investors
Honeywell shares jumped on Thursday after the industrial conglomerate capped off 2025 with a strong fourth quarter and moved up its aerospace spinoff.
Barron Trump 'understands politics,' first lady says. Who is he?
Barron Trump, the youngest son of President Donald Trump, will be featured in the upcoming documentary 'Melania.' Who is he, and how tall is he?
Two New Pixel Buds 2a Colors Reportedly Leak Online
Two fresh color options for Google’s budget earbuds appear to be on the way, with leaked renders pointing to a lighter gray tone and a vivid pink or red
Your Halo Story
I’m obsessed with stories. This comes as a shock to many of you, I know. These days when we hear the term, the immediate association is likely with penwoven narratives underpinning myriad entertainment properties and creative content. Or perhaps some variation of a bite-sized window of life viewed through the lens of a social platform. […]
What happened when Starmer met Xi Jinping?
Pippa Crerar joins Kiran Stacey from Beijing as she follows Keir Starmer on his historic trip to China
House Republicans propose stricter voting requirements as Trump administration eyes the midterms
House Republicans are proposing sweeping changes to the nation’s voting laws
Columnist says ‘socialism can't succeed anywhere’ amid Venezuela’s political turmoil
Washington Post opinion columnist Carine Hajjar joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ to discuss Venezuela’s economic unraveling and its political future after U.S. forces captured Nicolas Maduro.
Glow Golf, Blind Boxes, and DIY Crafts Bring New Entertainment and Retail to South Shore Plaza - Boston Real Estate Times
Braintree, Mass.— South Shore Plaza, the premier shopping and dining destination south of Boston, has unveiled three new additions aimed at expanding its interactive and creative offerings: Aloha Mini Glow […]
Mastercard to Cut 4% of Full-Time Employees After Business Review
The company is the latest of several to announce plans for sweeping job cuts in recent days.
More KC businesses train workers on ICE protocols
Kansas City business owners are prepping staff for rising ICE activity in workplaces.
Scientists use AI to crack the code of nature’s most complex patterns 1,000x faster
Order doesn’t always form perfectly—and those imperfections can be surprisingly powerful. In materials like liquid crystals, tiny “defects” emerge when symmetry breaks, shaping everything from cosmic structures to everyday technologies. Now, researchers have developed an AI-powered method that can predict how these defects will form and evolve in milliseconds instead of hours. By learning directly from data, the system accurately maps molecular alignments and complex defect behavior, even in situations where defects merge or split.
Game Preview: Chicago Blackhawks @ Pittsburgh Penguins 1/29/2026
Who: Chicago Blackhawks (21-23-9, 51 points, 6th place Central Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (26-14-11, 63 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division) When: 7:00 p.m. eastern How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and CHSN in the local markets, streaming on ESPN+ Pens’ Path Ahead: It’s a week-long sprint to the Olympic break finish line for the Pens. […]
Driving Habits Provide Window Into Seniors' Brain Health
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, Jan. 29, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Larry Duncan valued driving as part of his independence. But Duncan — a retired business owner from Pinehurst, North Carolina — started to become more nervous behind the wheel prior to his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s ...
Google Chrome Gets Gemini Side Panel and Agentic Browsing Features
AI-powered browsing features have become a battleground among browser makers in recent months. OpenAI launched its Atlas browser in October, while Microsoft Edge and Opera have also introduced AI assistants and automated browsing capabilities. And now Google is upping the ante. The company has announced a slew of new AI features fro Chrome, including a persistent sidebar for the Gemini chatbot and "auto browse" capabilities that can perform web tasks on your behalf.
Opinion | A ‘Fringe Epidemiologist’ on What’s Wrong With Public Health
Jay Bhattacharya, the N.I.H. director, says authorities broke the public’s trust in the Covid era. Now it’s up to outsiders to restore it.
Opinion | A ‘Fringe Epidemiologist’ on What’s Wrong With Public Health
Jay Bhattacharya, the N.I.H. director, says authorities broke the public’s trust in the Covid era. Now it’s up to outsiders to restore it.
SBA programs for native businesses face scrutiny
The Native Hawaiian Organizations Association is urging President Donald Trump’s administration to distinguish between “isolated allegations” about the Small Business Administration’s program aimed at developing native-run businesses and its success expanding economic opportunity, as U.S. Rep. Ed Case calls for a formal review.
Opinion: Colorado’s plan to cut sexual health education funding would erase real gains for rural students
The statewide program is a key element in Colorado’s commitment to support the mental health and well-being of our young people.
Trump’s National Guard deployments have cost taxpayers nearly $500 million dollars
President Donald Trump’s sweeping deployment of National Guard troops to several major cities across the United States cost taxpayers approximately $496 million from June through December last year, according to an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office.
Pakistan becomes latest Asian country to introduce checks for deadly Nipah virus
Authorities in Pakistan have ordered enhanced screening of people entering the country for signs of infections of the deadly Nipah virus after India confirmed two cases, adding to the number of Asian countries stepping up controls.
Xavier 68-86 Seton Hall: What was that?
My first job in high school was cleaning bathrooms at a state park campground. Camping is a foul enough activity, but what people did in those bathrooms defies explanation. I say this to let you know I have stared into the dark heart of a man experiencing a bowel emergency and apparently the desire to […]
At World’s Busiest Port, China’s Unbalanced Economy Comes Into View
The shipping traffic and factories never stop in China’s port city of Ningbo, but the local housing market has crashed and nearby restaurants sit empty.
WSOC-TV & KFF Health News Win Prestigious duPont-Columbia Award
The SSA's practice left millions of Americans, including some in the Carolinas, facing unexpected financial hardship and prompted sweeping policy changes in the nation’s capital.
Get an Expert Guide to What’s Driving D.C.
In our newly relaunched Politics newsletter, Washington coverage chief Damian Paletta illuminates the people and powers shaping the nation’s capital
’Canes Science Bowl brings STEM education to more students
University of Miami student Sabrina Cuba and graduate Alberti Regalado started the ’Canes Science Bowl to build an interest in STEM education in current ’Canes and pre-college education students. Adriana Gonzalez and Aaliyah Davis, the new ’Cane Science Bowl presidents, are keeping the dream alive. They will host the annual spring ’Canes Science Bowl with
Tesla
Telsa’s revenue and profits tumbled in the fourth quarter, capping off the most difficult year for the electric automaker since it became profitable six years ago.
Republicans Gave ICE a Slush Fund. Democrats Want to Limit It.
The sweeping domestic policy law that Republicans muscled through Congress last year made ICE the highest-funded federal law enforcement agency in the country, with no strings attached.
Opinion | A defense of business leaders’ pragmatic letter about the events in Minnesota
"Maybe public vitriol isn’t the measure by which to judge the words of business leaders in today’s world and with this president," Tom Horner writes.
Everyone wants to copy the iPhone Fold; Honor developing its own ‘wide’ foldable too
The Android world is bracing for the debut of the first foldable from Apple, expected to be the “iPhone Fold.”...
Snap is Spinning Out Its Specs AR Glasses Business
The subsidiary, Specs Inc., will keep focusing on products that build on the company's Spectacles, which create mixed-reality experiences for wearers.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon retiring as retailer gains more wealthy shoppers amid inflation
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon retires after 40 years, leaving behind a transformed retail giant that attracts higher-income shoppers through convenience.
Shadowing program inspires future health care professionals
ECU Health’s shadowing program is shaping the next generation of caregivers.
Opinion | When Conservative Politics Hit Cash-Starved Universities
If college education is merely a transaction, educators — and facts — are vulnerable.
Snap is spinning off its AR glasses into a separate business
Snap’s augmented reality glasses business will now be its own entity, with the company establishing Specs Inc. as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
‘Rodent droppings, live roach’: Jefferson County’s worst January 2026 restaurant health ratings
In January, 11 restaurants, convenience stores and other food establishments received scores of 84 or below.
The surprising science behind how certain foods can make you smell more attractive
Beneath fancy perfumes and deodorants, our food choices may be quietly shaping our natural scent in unexpected ways
Investment and Statecraft: The International Politics of Sovereign Wealth Funds - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
In 1953, Kuwait established the world’s first sovereign wealth fund to invest the country’s oil revenues and generate returns that would reduce its reliance on a single resource. Since then, over 100 separate funds have been created to preserve national wealth and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Today, they manage over $10 trillion in global assets. In this discussion with GJIA, political economist Kathryn Lavelle explains the increasingly novel dynamics that surround fund behavior and what the world can come to expect from their growing presence in international financial markets. GJIA: When it comes to the roles sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) play in global markets and politics, what would you say makes them unique? Kathryn Lavelle: Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) operate on behalf of governments as investors. That in itself is a strange relationship. Within them, a core contest takes place between the state’s interests (or sovereign) part of the dynamic, and the money interests (or wealth) part of it, and these two aspects are frequently in contradiction, serving fundamentally different goals. SWFs are also quite fascinating because when you talk to the people who manage these funds, they have an interest in convincing you that the decisions are made almost exclusively on a financial basis—they really will go to great lengths to differentiate their government owners and those who make the management decisions. At the same time, these people ultimately answer to someone in power. Therefore, for most SWFs, it remains deeply unclear who is actually making the investment decisions and for what purposes. Of course, it is not always clear how other vehicles, such as hedge funds and private equity make the decisions they do, but I think what a lot of people find particularly disconcerting about SWFs is that they seem to act on behalf of people who have a different identity from their own. People who could be trying to manipulate politics and markets in a way that would have a long-term effect on their own populations. Regular investors come and go at will, and they only share an interest in profit as far as most of us understand. However, SWFs have that extra “sovereign” part right behind them that obscures their true interest. GJIA: These funds can be found in countries all across the globe, in both authoritarian states and democracies. Would you say SWFs differ in their goals and structures between regime-type? KL: It is not necessarily regime type that makes the goals and structures of SWFs different. It has to do with their economies. Let’s look at a country like China. There’s going to be a debate about exactly how to characterize the regime, but it is a country with many different kinds of sovereign wealth funds, and a particularly opaque state connection to each. At one time, some of the state-owned Chinese oil companies created specialized investment vehicles listed outside Chinese markets that excluded parts of the firms that were more associated with human rights violations. At the same time, the China Investment Corporation (CIC)—China’s largest SWF—draws a lot of concern, not necessarily because of its investment activities, but because of the dynamics of global politics. So, I wouldn’t really tie differences to regime types themselves in a wholesale way, but rather to how such funds are perceived and how they are structured. Saudi Arabia’s SWF is getting all kinds of attention for its involvement in Hollywood, and this takes me right back to when I was a student in the 1980s, when people were concerned about Japanese investment entities buying assets in Hollywood. They aren’t quite the same in financial terms, but it’s the same kind of concern about foreign investment that drives people to be suspicious, and the whole idea that “foreigners are influencing Hollywood.” This holds true across industries, and it reflects where politics are in places like the United States right now. One metric we can try to look at is transparency, where all the funds will tell you, “we are transparent.” The problem you’ll keep running into with this approach is how you value things. When trying to do comparative studies of equity markets, you’ll find that every country doesn’t use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles like we do in the United States. A fund may appear opaque politically and not want people to show what they’re invested in or what their intent with that investment is, but they could also just not be able to report it because of the way it was purchased, or the kinds of shares they purchased. There are some assets out there that really are difficult to put a monetary value on. GJIA: To what extent do domestic politics shape SWF behavior in both the investing “home” country and the recipient “host” country? KL: This depends on the type of fund present and also on the extent to which voters’ political views are able to influence the fund. For example, in a democratic home state like Norway, the SWF doesn’t invest in nuclear weapons or tobacco because of social concerns, but there is a continuing debate over whether it should invest in oil, even though that’s where most of the money comes from. The degree to which Norway will continue to make those investments, and whether they contradict the government’s overall climate goals, is an open question in Norwegian politics. Because of the way the fund’s governance is structured, it may not be easy to resolve. On the other hand, some people consider pension funds, like the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in Ohio, to be quasi-SWF. They have a very strict separation between the people who make up the management division and the fund owners. No teacher or professor would want to invest in things that may harm the future of their students. At the same time, a fund manager might see an opportunity in a diversified multinational corporation that offers a good return, despite it deriving part of its revenue from e-cigarettes. These contests are very apparent. Domestic politics can work in host countries too. A good example is Singapore’s SWF, Temasek, investing in Thailand’s telecommunications sector. If you study political economy, you already know that countries everywhere are uncomfortable with foreign ownership of their telecom sectors because a foreign entity could monitor or manipulate our communications with each other. In the case of Temasek, there was significant pushback from Thai citizens surrounding the deal, which went on to influence national political sentiment toward Singapore as a whole, underscoring the risks some SWFs may face with their investment choices. In this case, fund behavior led to the dissolution of the entire Thai government in 2006 and a subsequent coup d’état. GJIA: To address some of this unease, the Santiago Principles were established in 2009 to ostensibly promote trust and transparency. From your perspective, have these mechanisms actually changed fund behavior? KL: In international relations theory, we always like to have a clear set of norms and best practices—the orientation we want the proverbial ship to be going in. In that regard, the Santiago Principles at least got the discussion going about which direction SWFs should take at a time when people were very skittish about the growing size of these funds. Nobody wanted them to be out there and potentially destabilizing economies, so talks about disclosure, conditions for withdrawal, and the independence of managers were helpful when initiated. The biggest stumbling block was that there wasn’t exactly a good way to measure compliance with the Principles, let alone how to hold funds to them. If you read the Principles, they’re overall quite vague. In general, a fund doesn’t want to reveal how and why they make certain investment decisions because that information is proprietary—a fund makes money off of how and why it makes decisions—so how do you reconcile that with loosely-defined ideas of openness? Some decisions might have a political purpose. The bottom line is that trying to figure out and assign a score to compliance is not easy, and it is therefore the reason why the Santiago Principles never really got off the ground to the point where they could truly direct fund behavior. GJIA: Many emerging markets are looking to build their own SWFs from mineral and oil revenues. Historically, have funds shaped development trajectories in these countries? KL: I think the big story in international emerging markets investment is that the investment is increasingly no longer unidirectional. In the past multinational corporations of primarily Western background were the main form of foreign direct investment in a country. That has changed dramatically, to the point where you have companies from so-called “developing countries” taking over companies in the United States. Therefore, the landscape of international investment has changed, and I think SWFs are certainly a possibility to be the next step in the game. Historically, you didn’t need an entire financial vehicle to reinvest commodity revenues in your country, but as emerging markets get more financially sophisticated, their capacity to operate such funds has increased. SWFs would allow treasuries to move from relying on holding foreign exchange assets like cash or government bonds to having broader financial markets and targeted growth areas, while easing pressure on welfare expenditures. GJIA: With their increasing financial weight, do you see the presence of SWFs being a factor in the political choices leaders will have to make with regard to domestic and foreign policy? KL: It will depend on just how big the funds get. One of the reasons people are already apprehensive is because of their scale, and if certain SWFs in certain countries achieve a large-enough size, the presence will absolutely be cause for concern. The other factor political leaders will have to consider are their objectives. It’s not always clear how to define a SWF, or even where its activity is concentrated, but it is certainly a worry from the perspective of national security of opaque external investment. More than that, I think one of the most interesting questions going forward is whether the United States, the home to the world’s largest financial markets, will develop its own fund, for which the Trump administration announced a plan. There have also been several proposals in Congress. Were it to come into being, it would have tremendous weight. At the same time, one of the hallmarks of U.S. capitalism is a lack of government ownership of shares, so it would not be clear how such a fund would be received in domestic politics, or which direction it would take. Given how politically fragmented the country is, a Democratic administration would likely be concerned about different sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, and want investment there, rather than a Republican administration, which might prefer defense industries. No investment vehicle could thrive under conditions of such instability. Moreover, it remains unclear where the money to fund a theoretical U.S. SWF would come from. It would be a fundamentally different entity depending on whether it is financed with debt, economic surplus, commodities, or the sale of state companies, as in the case of Singapore. If it is debt, or government borrowing of some form, then the fund would have to outperform whatever the cost of that debt is, which is not an easy thing to do. I think our political leaders have enough on their plate. Our system has worked well keeping political and investment functions generally separate. We have seen different forms of business rise and fall, and even the perception of different countries, all of which funds are tied to. Unless a major SWF either starts—like in the case of the United States—or collapses—an issue that concerns the Saudis, I don’t see any political tsunamis on the horizon. . . . Kathryn Lavelle is the Ellen and Dixon Long Professor of World Affairs at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research explores the exchange between domestic and international and political institutions with a particular emphasis on political economy and multilateralism. Dr. Lavelle’s first book, The Politics of Equity Finance in Emerging Markets, explored the political circumstances that surround large issues of stock in the developing world. After being granted tenure at Case Western, she was awarded an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship and named the William A. Steiger fellow, a designation given to the most promising political scientist in her class of fellows. While in Washington during 2006-2007, she worked on the staff of the House Committee on Financial Services on issues related to domestic and international monetary policy. Dr. Lavelle holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University; an M.A. in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia; and a bachelor’s degree in international economics from Georgetown University. She is a permanent member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length. Interview conducted by Sid Mehrotra. Image Credit: Jason Leung, Unsplash Content Licenses, via Unsplash
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