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URI Political Science Professor Skip Mark discusses the definition and measurement of atrocities
Professor Mark recently published a peice in The Conversation titled, “Atrocities take place in democratic nations as well as autocratic ones – our database has logged them all.” The engaging and accessible story discusses how to define, measure, track, and address atrocities around the world and in the US. Link to the story: https://theconversation.com/atrocities-take-place-in-democratic-nations-as-well-as-autocratic-ones-our-database-has-logged-them-all-272879
Two found dead at Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital in apparent murder-suicide, police say
The hospital remained in lockdown as a security measure late Sunday evening.
Global webinar on core public health capacities to conduct ship inspections and issue ship sanitation certificates
Ships cross borders every day, connecting countries and serving as a backbone of the global economy. However, outbreaks onboard can disrupt maritime traffic, leading to significant economic and operational negative consequences. Without strong public health capacities to detect, prevent, and respond to public health risks on board ships, maritime travel can also become a pathway for the spread of infectious diseases. To support countries in strengthening these capacities, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a two-day webinar on 11–12 February, bringing together more than 700 ship inspectors, port health officers, and public health authorities, primarily from the African, Eastern Mediterranean, and European Regions. The webinar came at a pivotal time. With the amended International Health Regulations entering into force on 19 September 2025, the need to focus on public health preparedness has never been greater. Strengthening public health capacities at borders, including onboard conveyances, is a cornerstone of global health security and central to the amended IHR.“The high level of attendance and active participation throughout the two days of the webinar highlighted the growing demand for technical guidance and capacity-building support in ship inspection and issuance of ship sanitation certificates”, said Dr Ninglan Wang, Head of the Borders, Mass Gatherings and Health Protection Measures (BMM) Unit at the Health Emergency Preparedness Department at WHO headquarters. “The dynamic interactions among experts and countries underscored the value of continued cross-border collaboration in the maritime sector and knowledge exchange in this area”. Conducting regular public health inspections on board ships for the issuance of ship sanitation certificates (SSCs) in accordance with the IHR requirements is crucial for ensuring that ships meet specific health standards, thereby minimizing the risk of the international spread of diseases via maritime traffic. These certificates, mandated by the IHR, require ports to have trained personnel who can identify and control public health risks on board vessels and apply recommended control measures. This standardized global procedure not only ensures compliance with the IHR but also promotes consistency in health practices across ports worldwide. SSCs are the globally-recognized tool used to prevent and control known public health risks on ships, providing a common way to register and communicate public health events and measures taken on board between all stakeholders involved in this process, including public health authorities in ports and ship operators. Only SSCs issued by ports authorized by national authorities to issue such certificates are considered valid. As per the IHR, all States Parties are required to send to WHO their list of authorized ports (available here) and to keep it updated. However, many Member States continue to face practical challenges, such as limited resources, high staff turnover, and competing priorities. These realities underscore the value of platforms such as this webinar, which foster collective learning, peer-to-peer exchange, and practical solutions to help countries build and sustain the capacities required under the IHR.Over the two days, participants engaged in presentations and discussions covering a wide range of technical and operational topics, such as the overarching international legal framework governing ship sanitation; considerations for pre-inspection planning; risk assessment factors by type of vessel; the completion and issuance of SSCs and evidence report forms; or practical insights on the inspection of various technical areas, such as food safety, medical facilities, water systems, or vector control, among others. In addition, public health authorities from the Netherlands, Morocco, and Tanzania shared case studies to showcase their practical application of these IHR requirements in their respective countries. Given its success, WHO plans to replicate similar sessions in the future to reach additional time zones and regions and cover other pressing border health-related topics, ensuring that Member States can continue benefiting from these opportunities to share knowledge and expertise.
For the first time, light mimics a Nobel Prize quantum effect
Scientists have pulled off a feat long considered out of reach: getting light to mimic the famous quantum Hall effect. In their experiment, photons drift sideways in perfectly defined, quantized steps—just like electrons do in powerful magnetic fields. Because these steps depend only on nature’s fundamental constants, they could become a new gold standard for ultra-precise measurements. The discovery also hints at tougher, more reliable quantum photonic technologies.
Echoing RFK, Dr. Casey Means softens her social media persona in surgeon general bid
Means once said that birth control had “horrifying health risks” and newborns shouldn’t get hepatitis B vaccines. She adopted a more measured tone at Wednesday's Senate hearing.
Oregon poised to become first in US to remove cost barriers to cervical cancer detection
The measure would require insurers to fully cover follow-up tests for cervical cancer after an abnormal screening.
Bill changing IDs required to vote passes Florida House, would ban student IDs
If the Senate approves the measure and the governor signs it, portions would go into effect in July, 1-1/2 months before midterm primaries.
The more you fear aging, the faster your body may age
Worrying about getting older—especially fearing future health problems—may actually speed up aging at the cellular level, according to new research from NYU. In a study of more than 700 women, those who felt more anxious about aging showed signs of faster biological aging in their blood, measured using cutting-edge “epigenetic clocks.” Fears about declining health had the strongest link, while concerns about beauty or fertility didn’t appear to have the same biological impact.
Can degrowth save the climate?
Madeleine Finlay hears from Nick Stern, professor of economics and government at the London School of Economics, and Jason Hickel, a political economist and professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, two economists arguing for a change in how we measure a country’s economic success.
Anthropic is dropping its signature safety pledge amid a heated AI race
Anthropic said it will no longer "pause the scaling and/or delay the deployment of new models" when the updates would outpace its own safety measures.
Two of NBA's heavyweights finally meet as Pistons host Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Detroit Pistons have led their respective conferences most of the season, but they haven't measured up against each other. That changes on Wednesday night when the defending champions visit the Motor City.
Trump touts lower drug costs and anti-fraud measures in lengthy State of the Union
At SOTU, Trump touted health care wins even as more than half of Americans say health care has become more unaffordable for them and their families.
Louisiana ranks last in the U.S. for women and children health. See how other states compare.
A 2025 report on women and children's health finds encouraging gains in children's well-being across a range of measures, as well as in some maternal health behaviors. However, these advances were offset by worsening mortality rates among children of all ages and continued increases in maternal mortality. See the state data.
Democrats demanding ICE reforms lose airport escorts in shutdown they triggered
The government shutdown hit TSA operations as the Department of Homeland Security activated emergency measures and suspended congressional escorts while keeping PreCheck operational.
Centering children's voices in health research
Across much of modern health research, children are measured—but not always heard. For much of the past half-century, health research has prioritized the quantitative—numbers, test results, trial ...
UNM Researchers Link Heavy Wildfire Smoke Exposure to Poorer Mental Health Measures
University of New Mexico researchers report that acute exposure to wildfire smoke filled with ultrafine PM 2.5 particles is associated with poorer outcomes on mental health measures.
What Scientists Fear Most Is Happening in the Oceans - Futura-Sciences
To compile the report, 120 experts from around the globe analyzed satellite observations alongside direct measurements taken in the water. Their conclusion is stark. The rate of ocean warming has accelerated sharply since the 1960s and has nearly doubled since 2005. On average, global ocean temperatures are rising by +0.13°C...
Trump loses favorite negotiating tool he touted to make peace and money
President responds to Supreme Court ruling by announcing an immediate 10 percent global tariff under a different legal authority and warned that more drastic measures could follow.
Alabama sets limits on science used for regulations
The measure, which Gov. Kay Ivey agreed to Thursday, takes it cues from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
Chicago Bears take key step in proposed Indiana stadium move
The Chicago Bears on Thursday hailed the "most meaningful step" yet toward building a new stadium in Indiana, as the neighboring state passed a key measure to entice the NFL franchise to make a divisive cross-border move.Bears president and chief executive Kevin Warren warned in December that Indiana had become a serious option, and on Thursday the state unanimously passed a bill allowing it to issue bonds for the financing and construction of a new stadium.
This new Windows 11 taskbar tool lets you test your internet speed in seconds - how to try it
This new taskbar button lets you measure the speed of your internet connection.
Wisconsin poised to leave Arkansas as only state without expanded Medicaid for new moms
Wisconsin Republicans who long blocked a bipartisan measure to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage plan to pass the measure following pressure from Democrats
Amazon overtakes Walmart to lead the world in sales
Amazon has surpassed Walmart as the world’s largest company, measured by sales, breaking Walmart’s 13-year streak at the top of the list.
GOP lawmaker proposes measure to block key element of proposed California wealth tax
Kiley says he will introduce the 'Keep Jobs in California Act of 2026.' It would prohibit any state from levying taxes retroactively on people who no longer live there.
Colorado group pursues ballot measure to pave the way for a new congressional map
The group is aiming to bypass Colorado's independent redistricting commission to put a Democratic-friendly map in place for the 2028 and 2030 elections.
Five Berkeley Lab Scientists Receive DOE Early Career Research Awards
Five scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have received Early Career Research Program (ECRP) awards from the Department of Energy. The ECRP program, now in its 16th year, was established to bolster the nation’s scientific workforce by supporting exceptional researchers at the outset of their careers, when many scientists do their most formative work. Recipients use the funding to pursue projects that have the potential to solve scientific challenges and advance the country’s STEM capabilities. To be eligible for the program, a researcher must be an untenured, tenure-track assistant or associate professor at a U.S. academic institution, or a full-time employee at a DOE national laboratory or Office of Science user facility, who is within 10 years of having earned their doctorate. Awards to an institution of higher education will be approximately $875,000 over five years, and awards to a DOE national laboratory or Office of Science user facility will be approximately $2,750,000 over five years. This year’s Berkeley Lab awardees and their projects are listed below: Timon Heim: Better detectors for more powerful particle colliders Timon Heim is a staff scientist in the Physics Division. His ECRP project will develop a new type of detector that can track the particles generated by collisions in particle colliders with high spatial and temporal resolution. Current detectors in use at high-energy colliders, like the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, can track the trajectory and measure momentum of particles, but they can’t track a particle’s time of arrival with sufficient precision to discern from which of the many particle interactions they originate. Heim’s proposed technology — called a 4D tracking detector, because it captures data about particles’ positions in space and time — aims to solve this challenge, allowing researchers to glean more precise data from collision experiments to uncover new insights into fundamental forces and potentially discover new particles. The enhanced capabilities of 4D detectors will be a necessity for experiments at future colliders, such as the Muon Collider or Future Circular Collider. The project will develop custom microelectronics that process the signal of a pixelated silicon sensor that can register charged particles passing through it in an extreme radiation environment that these colliders produce during operation. The goal is to measure individual particles’ position with 50-micro-meter spatial and 50 pico-second (one trillionth of a second) temporal precision, for an incoming flux of around 1 billion particles per second per square centimeter. Harrison Lisabeth: Studying underground processes to unleash abundant energy Harrison Lisabeth is a research scientist in the Energy Geoscience Division focused on combining real-world experiments and AI to guide development of geothermal energy systems. His project will explore how deep underground rock formations – where geothermal wells are dug – are stressed by chemical reactions of the minerals and mechanical strain from movements in the Earth. A better understanding of subsurface stresses is essential to engineer safe and reliable geothermal wells that access the heat of deep rocks to produce electricity. It is estimated that the U.S. could generate ten times the amount of energy needed to power the grid using geothermal sources. Lisabeth plans to simulate how minerals grow, dissolve, and influence the behavior of surrounding rock in geothermal reservoirs by tracking chemical changes in rock samples under pressure in the lab. The project will also develop machine learning models to predict geologic strain based on field measurements and refine existing models that describe how common rock types deform under stress. Combining these approaches, Lisabeth hopes to develop a framework to predict stress to improve stability and longevity of geothermal wells. Daniel Carney: Pushing the quantum boundaries of particle measurement Daniel Carney is a staff scientist in the Physics Division who uses quantum information science to study particle physics and gravity. At very small scales, “quantum noise” — random fluctuations from the act of measurement — can drown out faint signals from rare processes. Carney’s ECRP project, “Fundamental Physics at the Quantum Limits of Measurement,” aims to build a new mechanical quantum sensor that can measure extremely small particle interactions below the limits of that quantum noise. The approach uses lasers to hold a tiny bead containing radioactive atoms; when one decays, the system measures the bead’s motion and the energy of any particles emitted. The experiment’s initial goal is to search for heavy sterile neutrinos, hypothetical particles predicted by some extensions of the Standard Model. The system could also help measure the mass of the neutrino, study the way particles interact through the electromagnetic and weak forces, and hunt for low-mass dark matter — all unsolved mysteries in particle physics. Callum Wilkinson: Using machine learning to demystify neutrinos Callum Wilkinson is a staff scientist in the Physics Division and part of the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) hosted by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. DUNE will create an intense beam of neutrinos that interact in detectors in Illinois and, after an 800-mile journey through the earth, in massive detectors in South Dakota. By precisely measuring neutrinos and how they change, researchers will get a better understanding of their fundamental properties and whether they are responsible for why there is so much more matter than antimatter in our universe. Wilkinson’s ECRP project will apply two machine learning techniques to improve the analysis of DUNE’s data and enhance the experiment’s precision. One approach will look for hidden patterns in how neutrinos interact and produce low-energy particles, while the other will help correct for distortions in what the detectors record. The methods will be tested on one of DUNE’s prototype detectors and could be used in other neutrino experiments, improving their measurements and helping scientists build better models. Aditi Krishnapriyan: Machine learning methods that scale as datasets grow Aditi Krishnapriyan is a faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Applied Mathematics and Computational Research Division (AMCR) and assistant professor at UC Berkeley. Her project, awarded through UC Berkeley, will develop machine learning methods that scale with dataset size for modeling complex, multi-scale phenomena. The resulting tools can be applied in a wide range of research, including the study of new electrolytes for batteries or the examination of molecular interactions. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
Colorado Democrats Push to Rip Up 2028 House Map for an Extra Edge
A proposed ballot measure to give Democrats more seats for the 2028 and 2030 elections signals that the nation’s gerrymandering fight is likely to persist for years.
Checkup Time! How Measurement Science Keeps You Healthy
From blood transfusions to broken bones, accurate measurements are a vital part of health care.
What Is VO₂ max? Why it matters for winter Olympians and regular people
VO2 max is an important measure of aerobic conditioning, whether you’re an Olympian or just a person hoping to stay healthy
This sport's athletes may be the fittest of them all, at least by one metric
Scientists have measured all kinds of athletes, and one sport consistently come out on top for maximizing the body's ability to convert oxygen to energy.
New Mexico lawmakers pass measure aimed at investigating Epstein’s Zorro Ranch
New Mexico’s House of Representatives has approved creating a bipartisan special committee to investigate the ranch that the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein owned in the state.
Science on the double: How an AI-powered 'digital twin' accelerates chemistry and materials discoveries
Understanding what complex chemical measurements reveal about materials and reactions can take weeks or months of analysis. But now, an AI-powered platform developed by researchers at the Department of ...
Opinion | The vital measure of senior health that Medicare ignores
Nursing facilities receive high marks for preventing falls even as patient mobility declines.
Effort to save, reform Business Council advances; Freedom Caucus presses to defund it.
A Senate committee passed a measure Monday to reform the agency, with an amendment to put lawmakers in charge rather than form a task force.
Iran seeks to get out of FATF blacklist amid domestic political divisions
North Korea and Myanmar are other two countries on global financial blacklist as Tehran promises countermeasures.
Sweeping Oregon health bill aims to fix everything from mushroom therapy to big hospital bills
Framed as a cleanup measure, the sweeping bill stitches together targeted fixes to everyday health care breakdowns.
Real-Time 3D Room Mapping With ESP32, VL53L5CX Sensor And IMU
ST’s VL53L5CX is a very small 8×8 grid ranging sensor that can perform distance measurements at a distance of up to 4 meters. In a recent video,[Henrique Ferrolho] demonstrated that this…
Oral bacteria may signal metabolic health and even contribute to obesity
It turns out your mouth may know more about your metabolism than your bathroom scale. New research shows that people with obesity host a distinct oral microbiome compared to individuals at a healthy weight. Rather than zeroing in on the gut microbiome, the study turns our attention to the mouth as a potential biological signal of metabolic health. It’s a shift that could challenge long-held assumptions about where obesity-related biomarkers can be measured.
Scientists discover a hidden gut bacterium linked to good health
A global study has uncovered a mysterious group of gut bacteria that shows up again and again in healthy people. Known as CAG-170, these microbes were found at lower levels in people with a range of chronic diseases. Genetic clues suggest they help digest food and support the broader gut ecosystem. Researchers say the discovery could reshape how we measure and maintain gut health.
Scientists discover a hidden gut bacterium linked to good health
A global study has uncovered a mysterious group of gut bacteria that shows up again and again in healthy people. Known as CAG-170, these microbes were found at lower levels in people with a range of chronic diseases. Genetic clues suggest they help digest food and support the broader gut ecosystem. Researchers say the discovery could reshape how we measure and maintain gut health.
Business Lookahead: Giddy Up
STORY: From bellwether Walmart reporting earnings... to new economic data out of the UK... these are the stories to watch in business and finance in the coming week.:: The trillion dollar clubFresh off hitting $1 trillion in market value, Walmart posts quarterly results on Thursday.Walmart's report offers a glimpse into consumer spending after recent data showed December U.S. retail sales were unexpectedly flat.A surprisingly strong employment report for January eased some concerns about economic weakening.Economic reports in the coming week include the advance reading of fourth-quarter GDP, a monthly consumer sentiment survey, and the personal consumption expenditures price index, a key inflation measure.:: Heavy metalsEurope's four largest mining companies report earnings in the coming week.Copper, gold, silver and other precious metals all recently hit records - but the January rally has given way to a sharp February sell-off.Last month's rally boosted the market values of Rio Tinto, Glencore, Anglo American and Antofagasta.Their earnings will test whether the momentum can be sustained.:: UK economic data UK labor market data and inflation readings will provide fresh fodder for markets, even though investors are still digesting the fallout from the recent government instability.Labor market numbers due on Tuesday will show if a gradual cooling of wage growth has continued.Then, January inflation data comes Wednesday.The political turmoil has set a tense backdrop, leaving markets highly sensitive to data swings. Fitch is also due to review its UK rating on Friday.
Women’s rights group sues to stop Nevada school sports ballot measure
Barbara Sharief bills strengthening safeguards against violence advance to Senate floor
The measures would create a new type of injunction for victims of serious violence by someone they know and expand confidentiality protections in court filings.
Sam Greco's memory care reforms ready to move to House floor
The measure is backed by advocates for senior citizens.
Publicis weds creator, sports marketing for new Influential Sports unit
The move is designed to help brands connect with sports fans at scale and measure creator-driven programs with greater speed and accuracy.
State Senate advances measure asking voters to authorize mobile sports betting
The South Dakota Senate voted 23-10 to approve a resolution that would ask voters to legalize mobile sports betting.
Partners discuss improving pooled procurement of emergency medical countermeasures
On 13 January 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA) brought together regional partners in Brussels for a workshop focused on pooled procurement of medical countermeasures – including diagnostics, treatments and vaccines – for health emergencies.
Gallup Will No Longer Track Presidential Approval Ratings
The monthly poll has been used to measure presidential performance for almost nine decades.
Board of Supervisors awards $12.4 million in Measure O and state funds for mental health and homeless services
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday awarded $12.4 million to support mental health and homelessness services across the county, the latest in a series of investments funded by Measure O, the quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2020.
U.S. House to consider new election restrictions ahead of November midterms
A similar measure passed the House twice - last April and in 2024 - with support from a handful of Democrats. But it died in the Senate.
City of LA asking voters to increase taxes on hotels, unlicensed cannabis businesses
The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday approved resolutions to place three tax-related measures on the June 2 primary ballot.
New Gallup poll reveals depth of Americans' gloom about the future
In 2025, only about 59% of Americans gave high ratings when asked to evaluate how good their life will be in about five years, the lowest annual measure since Gallup began asking this question almost 20 years ago.
‘Consistency and balance’: Nutrition, food science students share why nutrition is key to mental health
When people think of nutrition, their first thought may not always be its relationship with emotional well-being. Mental health is often left out of the food equation because it is not as visible or easily measured as physical health, according to the Food Science Club’s president, Emma Whitney, a senior majoring in food science. “Nutrition...
Scientists may have discovered a pulsar at the Milky Way’s heart—a result that could reveal new physics
If the pulsar is confirmed, it could enable more precise measurements of the space-time around the galaxy’s central supermassive black hole
Moving beyond money to measure the true value of Earth science information
They're all around us: sensors and satellites, radars and drones. These tools form vast remote sensing networks that collect data on the climate, the ground, the air, and the water. This information is ...
WHO Didn’t Recommend Lockdowns, Contrary to Health Officials' Suggestions
As the U.S. formally exited from the World Health Organization last month, Trump administration officials misleadingly claimed that the WHO “pushed” or “promoted” lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group did not explicitly recommend lockdowns, although it also did not advise countries not to implement them. It said it recognized that the measures might be needed in some cases.
Moving beyond money to measure the true value of Earth science information
Earth science information can do more than quantify the instrumental or monetary value of nature; it can be used to measure social good, say researchers
Drake Maye’s Super Bowl disaster left him in tears. And now comes the hard part
Drake Maye was the MVP runner-up in his second season, but against a dominant defense in the Super Bowl, he failed to measure up.
AI Will Crush Your Business In 2026 Without These 5 Protective Measures
AI is coming for lazy businesses in 2026. Build these 5 protective measures now or watch other companies eat your market share. It’s time to act.
Roma fans’ appeal to TAR over banned away games upheld
Following clashes on the highway between Roma fans and Fiorentina supporters, the Ministry of the Interior ordered the closure of the away section to Roma fans until the end of the season. The measure...
Oregon advocates drop ballot measure that would secure rights to transgender health care, abortion, same-sex marriage
One of the potential statewide measures vying for the November ballot is calling it quits.
Business Lookahead: Near, far, wherever markets are
STORY: From Japan's snap election to key U.S. data, these are the stories to watch in business and finance in the coming week. :: Japan votesJapan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is hoping for a stronger mandate as voters head to the polls on Sunday.The closely-watched lower house election is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in years.A strong showing by Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party would allow her to expand stimulus.That could heighten concerns about Japan's finances and push up government bond yields further in a selloff that could ripple out overseas.:: AI winners and losersCisco Systems and Germany's Siemens Energy report earnings on Wednesday.They've benefited from the AI boom in different ways, but now Barclays says that trade is "seeing extreme dispersion."That’s been evident in sliding software and data analytics stocks, which have plunged as traders focus on the existential threat posed by increasingly powerful AI models.AI enablers, companies contributing to the global AI data center build-out, meanwhile, have fared better. :: Delayed data dumpA double dose of major U.S. economic reports should give investors a critical view of the economy, following a delay by the recently ended three-day government shutdown.The January non-farm payrolls report, now due on Wednesday, is expected to show an increase of 70,000 jobs, according to a Reuters poll. Then, on Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release the January consumer price index, one of the most closely watched measures of inflation.
Mayor Lurie takes a stand against dueling S.F. business tax measures
Lurie said Friday that he does not support either of the labor- or business-backed tax measures headed to San Francisco voters in June.
S.F. Mayor Lurie takes no position on competing business tax measures
Lurie said competing measures are product of a "broken system" and called for making it harder for measures to be put on the ballot
Michigan House votes to ban foreign cash in ballot campaigns, election administration
The Michigan House voted in favor of a measure that would block foreign contributions to Michigan ballot campaigns and election administration.
Indian central bank raises loan limits for small businesses, backs REIT lending
India’s central bank on Friday announced measures to boost credit to small businesses and the real estate sector to improve access to formal financing and strengthen last-mile lending, Governor Sanjay Malhotra said in his policy address.
What Catalysts Are Reframing The Narrative For First Business Financial Services (FBIZ)
First Business Financial Services has seen its modeled fair value move from $58.20 to $67.25, with a slightly lower discount rate and more measured revenue growth assumptions sitting alongside a higher view of earnings efficiency. Supportive analysts argue this updated target lines up better with what they view as solid earnings quality and more consistent performance expectations, while more cautious voices see less room for error if those assumptions are not met. As you read on, you will...
NFIB Jobs Report: New Small Business Employment Index Shows Balanced Job Market
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 5, 2026) - NFIB’s January Jobs Report includes the launch of the new Small Business Employment Index, which measures the current state of the small business labor market. The new index integrates actual and planned changes in employment and employee compensation into a singula
Second House panel warms to Chase Tramont bill on heated tobacco regulatory change
The measure would establish a different taxing structure for heated tobacco products, which are considered a less harmful alternative to cigarettes.
Decatur schools launch new security measures and mental health support for students
In response to rising concerns over school safety, Decatur City Schools is rolling out a new 24/7 reporting system and expanding mental health services for students.
Prisma Health to implement additional measures in response to measles outbreak
Prisma Health will implement additional measures in its South Carolina hospitals starting Thursday in response to the nation's largest measles outbreak.
Tellus Science Museum opens interactive exhibit teaching children how to measure
Measuring might feel like math in the classroom, but at the Tellus Science Museum, it looks a lot more like playtime.
'Textbooks will need to be updated': Jupiter is smaller and flatter than we thought, Juno spacecraft reveals
Jupiter is smaller and flatter than scientists previously thought, new measurements of the gas giant reveal.
House passes budget bill to end partial government shutdown
The measure funds most of the federal government through Sept. 30, while providing the Department of Homeland Security with short-term funding for two weeks. Lawmakers will return to negotiate potential changes for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as Democrats demand more restrictions on its operations.
Maryland Moves to Give Democrats Extra House Seat, but Big Hurdles Remain
The state’s House of Delegates passed a new map that would be likely to eliminate Maryland’s lone remaining Republican seat in the U.S. House, but the State Senate may well block the measure.
A record breaking gravitational wave is helping test Einstein’s theory of general relativity
A newly detected gravitational wave, GW250114, is giving scientists their clearest look yet at a black hole collision—and a powerful way to test Einstein’s theory of gravity. Its clarity allowed scientists to measure multiple “tones” from the collision, all matching Einstein’s predictions. That confirmation is exciting—but so is the possibility that future signals won’t behave so neatly. Any deviation could point to new physics beyond our current understanding of gravity.
How One Father Challenged the Measure of Care and Crafted a Global Healthcare Solution
And in that convergence, Sunstone Health finds both its purpose and its promise.”
Deflated: Israeli scientists find Jupiter is smaller than previously thought
Using data from NASA's Juno spacecraft, Weizmann Institute of Science researchers make most precise measurement to date, say the gas giant is thinner and flatter than believed
Florida’s silent storm: Inside new science exposing how humidity can escalate a heat wave
A UF team has developed a measure of heat waves that considers how long the heat lasts and how far it spreads.
House minority leader says Republicans can’t rely on Democrats to pass funding bill, raising fears of longer shutdown
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told Speaker Mike Johnson on Saturday that Democrats won’t help Republicans pass a funding bill to reopen the government if they attempt to fast-track the measure Monday, according to two sources familiar with a call between the leaders.
Calais calls measure on law enforcement relationship mere ‘politics’
The City Council delayed a vote on a resolution urging the governor to veto the measure because several supportive councilors were absent.
Dueling S.F. ballot measures will pit unions against business leaders
The stage has been set for an expensive battle between labor unions and San Francisco’s business community over how the city should tax big businesses. Here’s what to know about the ballot...
US Senate scrambles to reach funding deal as partial shutdown deadline looms
Killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good prompted Democrats to block passage of a measure funding DHS
Why has Burkina Faso banned political parties, and what’s next?
It's the latest of several measures that rights groups say are shrinking the civic space in the Sahel nation.
CA groups seek local taxes to offset federal health care cuts
An L.A. health care coalition is trying to qualify a measure for the June ballot in order to head off impending health care funding problems.
Coalition seeks LA County sales tax vote to offset federal healthcare funding cuts
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider whether to place a half-cent sales tax measure in front of voters. Revenues would be used to create a coverage program for people who lose their Medi-Cal.
Will the government shut down this weekend? Latest updates
The country is facing a partial shutdown this weekend if lawmakers can't find a deal over a DHS funding measure.
Legionella detected in North Oakland Health Center and the Resource and Crisis Center in Oakland County
Oakland County is taking proactive measures after routine water testing detected Legionella bacteria at the North Oakland Health Center (NOHC) and the Resource and Crisis Center (RCC).
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.
Disaster Preparedness: How Measurement Science Can Help Your Community
Firsthand experience with natural disasters inspired a NIST researcher to study how communities prepare for — and recover from — disasters.
Teamsters California endorses proposed billionaires tax
Teamsters California, with 250,000 members statewide, becomes the largest union to back the proposed November ballot measure to enact a onetime billionaires tax.
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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