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San Francisco teachers strike over wages, health benefits and student resources
The San Francisco Unified School District closed all 120 of its schools Monday and offered independent study to some of the district’s 50,000 students.
Outside political groups launch hard-hitting ad blitz in Texas Senate race
Independent groups attack Democrat Jasmine Crockett and Republican Wesley Hunt, signaling a sharp escalation on both sides of the ballot in advance of March 3...
8 health systems finding success in physician recruitment, retention
From mentorship to well-being, health systems across the U.S. are finding creative ways to improve work environments to keep doctors engaged.
BUSINESS MONDAY: Spotlight on Berkshire Roll-Off—A Family Business Operating Out of Lenox Dale
The small, independent company provides waste management collection and disposal services for residential and commercial customers throughout the county.
OPINION: America’s runaway sports betting obsession ensures that ‘Everybody Loses’
OPINION: America’s runaway sports betting obsession ensures that ‘Everybody Loses.' Read more at The Nevada Independent.
Linux 6.19 Features Include Many Benefits For Intel & AMD Users
With the Linux 6.19 stable kernel expected to be released tomorrow (8 February), here is a reminder about the top features to expect from this next version of the Linux kernel.
County's Health & Sheriff Departments Warn Residents to Avoid Products Containing Kratom and 7-OH12
Credit: Courtesy (SANTA MARIA, Calif.) – The County of Santa Barbara Health Department and Sheriff’s Office are advising residents to avoid foods, dietary
Health costs are fueling voter stress
ATLANTA (AP) — President Donald Trump ’s second term has presented an array of opportunities for political opponents, from immigration crackdowns and lingering inflation to attacks on independent institutions and friction with overseas allies.
Health Costs Are Fueling Voter Stress
ATLANTA (AP) — President Donald Trump ’s second term has presented an array of opportunities for political opponents, from immigration crackdowns and lingering inflation to attacks on independent institutions and friction with overseas allies. But many Democrats are staying focused on health care,
After 30 years in business, this classic Portland restaurant is closing for good. Again.
The rising costs associated with running a small, independently owned restaurant were to blame.
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.
States’ mistrust of Trump’s fraud crusade could hinder fight against foreign influence in elections, federal officials fear
State and local election administrators’ growing suspicion of the Trump administration’s motives has triggered concerns among some federal officials that distrust of even routine moves by the FBI could hinder cooperation with states and give an opening for US adversaries trying to influence elections.
Dow closes above 50,000 for first time
The Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 50,000 points for the first time ever Friday. The index rebounded following a tech stock sell-off earlier in the week.
Harry Davis & Company Announces Retirement of Rick Rice, Director of Business Operations
PITTSBURGH, February 06, 2026--Harry Davis & Company, a third-generation leader in food and beverage asset advisory and transactional services, today announced the retirement of Rick Rice, who has served as Director of Business Operations since joining the firm in 2023. Rice’s nearly five-decade career in the industry has left an indelible mark on the company, its clients, and the broader food and beverage market.
Pine Park Health sees ROI from AI scheduling tool
Since artificial intelligence took over reminder calls, the mobile medical practice has given more than two FTE back to its medical assistant team. And a proactive scheduling agent has helped boost the number of visits per day.
Conor McGregor business partner makes bold claim about UFC star’s condition in training
McGregor, who has not competed since 2021, is desperate to return on the planned White House fight card
Bad Bunny is taking over the US. Does he want Puerto Rico to leave it?
The Super Bowl performer’s ties to a nascent independence movement are roiling Puerto Rican politics.
Weeks Medical Center controversy puts North Country health care system under microscope
When North Country Healthcare formed in 2016 through the merger of four rural New Hampshire hospitals, it was viewed as a first-of-its-kind model. Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster, Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook, and Littleton Regional Healthcare in Littleton would all maintain independence and self-governance but combine administration, finance, […]
Liverpool Champions League winner set to sign for Celtic
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Opens Talks With Celtic as Coaching Ambitions Take ShapeAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s next move in football may blend playing ambition with long-term planning, as discussions wit...
Lindenwood wins 79-74 over Little Rock
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) Anias Futrell had 24 points in Lindenwood's 79-74 victory against Little Rock on Thursday night.
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
Organic & Natural Health Association Honors SENPA’s Debra Short with Champion Award at Conference Shaping Policy, and the Future of Retail
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Organic & Natural Health Association’s 11th annual conference, “The United States of Health: Building Bridges to Opportunity,” concluded Jan. 22 with a celebration of industry and a clear message: the future of natural health depends on independent retailers, credible science and modernized policy grounded in transparency and consumer protection. The conference convened Organic & Natural Health members, board leaders, and industry stake
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
International science cooperation must go on, say research leaders
Science leaders in Europe and Canada say international cooperation must go on amid geopolitical turmoil. At the same time, Europe and like-minded countries should continue to enhance and diversify international partnerships, a Science|Business conference hears. Hugh Brady, president of Imperial College London, told delegates that Europe’s response to the current geopolitical climate should be to “diversify in terms of research partnerships and build resilience and scale into our own system.”A first priority should be for the EU to sort out the scope of the upcoming European Competitiveness Fund and ensure that, together with the next iteration of Horizon Europe, it can drive the development and scale up of new technologies. The EU and the countries associated to the Horizon Europe programme represent “the world's most successful research innovation ecosystem,” Brady said. In order to mitigate the negative effects of shifting geopolitics, the EU together with the UK, Switzerland, Canada, South Korea and others should talk about “building resilience” and address their own “regional needs,” he added. Responding to TrumpUnder Donald Trump’s leadership, the US government has slashed science budgets and shut down international research programmes. Nearly 8,000 grants at the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation have been frozen or terminated. Courts have overturned most of these cancellations, but the disruption caused remains significant. While Europe may persuade a few thousand disgruntled scientists to move across the ocean to work on topics that have been de-funded in the US, it’s unclear what should happen next with transatlantic scientific cooperation more broadly.“Now is the time for us to show [US researchers] our support as much as we can,” Brady said.The European Research Council (ERC), the EU’s basic science funder, has seen a surge in applicants from the US. According its latest data, US-based researchers submitted 347 proposals to the last three big funding rounds, up from 158 in the previous set of calls. The European Commission has also launched a €22.5 million pilot call in 2025 for the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions, the EU’s researcher training scheme. It plans to extend this support with a €51.25 million call in 2027 as part of the Choose Europe initiative, which is intended to make the continent a more attractive place to pursue a career in research. Related articlesData corner: US researchers are choosing EuropeEU-India deal highlights growing alignment on technology policyMeanwhile, in the private non-profit sector, the Volkswagen Foundation is experimenting with a new type of grant that would allow US researchers to split their time between the US and Germany. While these schemes are useful, Europe should not bet on an exodus of scientists from the US. “The idea that we might all see them flocking over to Europe is naïve and counterproductive,” said Maria Leptin, president of the ERC, also speaking at the Science|Business conference on February 5. “We need research in the US to be as healthy as possible. I really admire those who are staying there with a will to fight and an optimism that the world will turn into a better place again,” Leptin said. Preserving dataDespite political disruption, academics have found ways to continue cooperating and sharing research data. Leslie Weir, president of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and Canada’s national librarian, said the US cuts have raised concerns about research data security, after ideologically sensitive databases were limited or deleted by the Trump administration. But international organisations teamed up to ensure that the data is not lost. “It's interesting to see that researchers and libraries across North America are collaborating to make sure that data at risk is duplicated elsewhere outside [the US],” Weir said.
Julieta Bowyer Launches Global Pulse Entertainment
Julieta Bowyer has founded her own independent inflight and maritime entertainment distribution company, Global Pulse Entertainment.
Is Fashion Getting Political Again?
Independent brands and high-profile celebs are speaking up. Will the needle move for luxury fashion?
Serbia: Reform denounced as a political takeover of justice
In a rushed, opaque procedure, Serbia's ruling majority has pushed through legal amendments that critics say undermine judicial independence and are designed to neutralize the prosecutors investigating organized crime.
Everbridge Recognized in Business Continuity Management Software Landscape, Q1 2026 Report by Independent Research Firm
VIENNA, Va., February 04, 2026--Everbridge, Inc., the global leader in High Velocity Critical Event Management (CEM) and national public warning solutions, today announced its inclusion in Forrester’s The Business Continuity Management Software Landscape, Q1 2026. The report reflects renewed urgency around business continuity as organizations face more frequent disruptions, rising operational risk, and expanding regulatory expectations tied to resilience and preparedness – areas Everbridge suppo
Winter's low humidity and your health: How dry air leads to chapped lips, flaky skin and helps germs grow
Besides the bone-chilling cold, it's been unusually, uncomfortably dry this winter, boosting the misery index even more.
Junior scientists face a quandary when starting their own labs: How far to stray from the hive
A new study argues that overlap between advisers and advisees on research topics helps rather than hinders young life scientists.
Dem CA governor candidates seek daylight during first debate
A question about taxing billionaires created perhaps the most indelible moment at Tuesday night’s debate hosted by KTVU Fox 2 San Francisco
January Deep Freeze Impacts Small Business Foot Traffic, New Fiserv Data Shows
Fiserv Small Business Index declined 1 point to 143; year-over-year sales grew +0.7% MILWAUKEE, Feb. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology, has published the Fiserv Small Business Index for January 2026,
American high school student stuns scientists by mapping 1.5 million previously unknown space objects - Futura-Sciences
A young mind builds an AI breakthrough Matteo Paz, a student at Pasadena High School, joined the Planet Finder Academy in the summer of 2022. The program immerses students in real world astronomy challenges. Under the mentorship of Caltech scientist Davy Kirkpatrick at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC),...
India’s Neo Group Hires Veteran Banker To Boost Wealth Business
India’s Neo Group Ltd. hired senior banker Tajinderr Pal Singh Bhatia as a founding member and president of its wealth business, said people familiar with the matter, as demand for private bankers heats up in the the country’s fast-growing wealth management industry.
New poll shows 45% of US voters identify as independents, shifting away from major political parties
A growing share of Americans are distancing themselves from both major political parties, a trend that's reshaping the electoral landscape.
Football, politics, and protest: This year’s Super Bowl comes at a tinderbox moment in the US
The NFL faces pressure to take a stance against the Trump administration's immigration policies ahead of the Super Bowl.
Football, politics and protest: This year's Super Bowl comes at a tinderbox moment in the US
The NFL faces pressure to take a stance against the Trump administration’s immigration policies ahead of the Super Bowl
Football, politics and protest: This year's Super Bowl comes at a tinderbox moment in the US
The NFL faces pressure to take a stance against the Trump administration's immigration policies ahead of the Super Bowl
Football, politics and protest: This year's Super Bowl comes at a tinderbox moment in the US
Energy Department Announces Members of the Office of Science Advisory Committee, Strengthening Gold Standard Science in America
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the chair and members of the newly established Office of Science Advisory Committee (SCAC), a unified advisory body that will provide independent advice on complex scientific and technical challenges across the Department’s Office of Science.
Nicki Minaj stands up for Trump against ‘bullying,’ says she ‘couldn’t handle’ how he was being treated
Nicki Minaj revealed Trump "bullying" inspired her political awakening. The rapper says witnessing attacks on the president reminded her of her own experiences.
State Health Secretary: Measles outbreak serves as reminder about how contagious virus is
Washington state is seeing its first measles outbreak in years.And state health leaders say it's an important reminder about just how contagious the virus can
Linden Entertainment Appoints Jenna Jackson To New Role Of Chief Innovation & Brand Ventures Officer
Jenna Jackson has joined Linden Entertainment in the new role of Chief Innovation and Brand Ventures Officer, the company announced on Monday.
Linden Entertainment Taps Jenna Jackson as Brand Ventures Executive (Exclusive)
Jackson will seek out new opportunities for the firm and its clients as well as assist preexisting labels like Once Upon a Farm from Jennifer Garner and YSE Beauty from Molly Sims.
At a ‘Melania’ screening, cheers for Trump, snickers at Obama — and a reminder of our nation’s political divide
Having read a biography of her and learned almost nothing from it, I was looking forward to gaining insights about our First Lady. But nothing in the documentary has a true “behind the scenes” feel.
‘Ghost’ providers hinder access to health care for Medicaid patients
New OHSU-led study finds nearly one-third of physicians enrolled in Medicaid don’t actually care for patients.
Hopkinton Today for Monday, Feb. 2: HHS students gear up for Science and Engineering Fair on Wednesday
Good morning, Hopkinton! Welcome to the daily update we call Hopkinton Today — a quick recap of yesterday’s news, highlights of what’s on tap, and a photo
Indiana imaging group joins Strategic Radiology’s independent practice coalition
Evansville Radiology employs 23 physicians, all of whom live around Vanderburgh County in the vicinity of Indiana’s third largest city.
Six Nations 2026 schedule in full: Fixtures and results
Everything you need to know ahead of the tournament
Showcasing science to board members
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – Youngsters at Independence Middle School took their science knowledge directly to the board of education.
'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.
CVS Health Faces Antitrust Scrutiny As Valuation Flags Undervaluation Risk
U.S. House Judiciary Committee alleges CVS Health restricted independent pharmacies from using competing digital pharmacy hubs. The investigation cites cease and desist letters and network rule changes as potential antitrust issues. CVS Health disputes the findings and says some policies have been revised. For investors watching CVS Health (NYSE:CVS), the focus is shifting to regulatory risk around how its pharmacy network operates. The company’s shares closed at $74.52, with a return of...
Nottingham Forest set to sign Manchester City’s forgotten goalkeeper
Stefan Ortega is in the final months of his contract at City and is closing in on a move to midlands
Where older adults find all-in-one care and a place to belong
A new Seattle clinic offers an unusual model of health care for aging adults, with a goal of letting them live independently for as long as possible.
How gene loss and monogamy built termite mega societies
Termites did not evolve complex societies by adding new genetic features. Instead, scientists found that they became more social by shedding genes tied to competition and independence. A shift to monogamy removed the need for sperm competition, while food sharing shaped who became workers or future kings and queens. Together, these changes helped termites build colonies that can number in the millions.
Paul Joyce: Liverpool Won’t Allow Jones Departure
Liverpool stance firm as Curtis Jones interest surfacesLiverpool’s January posture has been defined by restraint, and the reporting from Paul Joyce of The Times sharpens that picture. With days left...
Commentary: Catherine O'Hara remembered in 10 indelible roles
The Canadian actor was a versatile performer whose decades-long career took her from a comedy troupe to box office and television hits.
Missouri sports betting tops $543M in first month but deductions leave state with only $521K
Missourians placed more than half-a-billion dollars in bets on sporting events in December but promotional offers offset the taxable profits.
Warsh's challenge: Navigating Fed independence and Trump's demands
Kevin Warsh has sought the job of Federal Reserve chair, off and on, since President Donald Trump first considered him for the position nearly a decade ago
Canon Fodder: Parasite’s Cake
Welcome back to ye ol’ Canon Fodder in 2026, a year of rather significant proportions as Halo will be celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. A whole quarter of a century—our very own and very first quadranscentennial! Indeed, it has already been over a month since Halo: Edge of Dawn released, and the latest novel from Kelly […]
A breakthrough that could make ships nearly unsinkable
Researchers have found a way to make ordinary aluminum tubes float indefinitely, even when submerged for long periods or punched full of holes. By engineering the metal’s surface to repel water, the tubes trap air inside and refuse to sink, even in rough conditions. The technology could eventually be scaled up into floating platforms, ships, or even wave-powered energy systems.
Williams has 21, Lindenwood knocks off Southern Indiana 73-60
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) Dontrez Williams' 21 points helped Lindenwood defeat Southern Indiana 73-60 on Thursday night.
Health Care Provider Consolidation
I. Issue Overview Ongoing consolidation among hospitals, physician practices, and other providers poses a serious challenge to the U.S. health care system—offering potential benefits to some but also with significant worrying impact on rising health care prices. Provider consolidation remains pronounced among both hospitals and physician practices. The share of hospitals operating independently declined from … Continued
Science, Innovation, and the National Institutes of Health
Failing to support independent agency science imperils the uptake of innovative drugs.
Joan Esmie MS ’26 Named PAEA Student Health Policy Fellow
Reflecting Ithaca College’s Commitment to Community-Minded Leadership
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 ...
Health Care Costs Tops the Public’s Economic Worries as the Runup to the Midterms Begins; Independent Voters Are More Likely to Trust Democrats than Republicans on the Issue
Heading into this midterm election year, the cost of health care tops the public’s economic anxieties and more than 4 in 10 voters say the issue will have a major impact on their vote, this KFF Health Tracking poll finds.
Blackstone's biggest hedge fund business returned 12% in 2025, sources say
Blackstone's biggest hedge fund platform, Absolute Return Composite (AR), returned nearly 12% last year, beating the benchmark HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index's 7.1% gain, two people familiar with the numbers said on Wednesday.
Newcastle get ‘justice’ after ‘ridiculous’ VAR penalty decision against PSG
Lewis Miley was bafflingly penalised for handling the ball as PSG were given an early spot-kick
Arlington-based REV Entertainment buys two independent professional baseball teams
Arlington-based REV Entertainment, the official sports and entertainment partner of the Texas Rangers, today announced it has purchased two independent...
Dispatch is censored on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch
Although there was initially speculation about Dispatch being censored on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch, it’s now confirmed that this is indeed the case. In the PC and PS5 versions, the game featured a “Visual Censorship” setting. This is gone on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch, so you’re always getting the censored experience. All scenes are in tact, but there...
Dave Chappelle, Jon Stewart to pair up for Ohio show
The two outspoken comedians will talk about independent journalism and other topics during an event benefiting Yellow Springs radio station WYSO.
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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