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National Girls & Women in Sports Day® Marks Nearly Four Decades of Progress and the Urgent Work Still Ahead
/PRNewswire/ -- National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) is more than a celebration, it is a nationwide movement rooted in equal opportunity, shaped by...
Greece Buy Now Pay Later Business and Investment Opportunity Report 2026: A $1.25+ Billion Market by 2031 from $434.7 Million Market in 2025 Featuring Viva Wallet & Klarna, PayPal, and Finloup
The BNPL market in Greece presents key opportunities in retail and e-commerce, driven by strong growth and consumer adoption. Opportunities exist across business models, sales channels, and end-use sectors like retail, travel, and healthcare. Understanding consumer behavior and leveraging KPIs offers strategic insights for market entry and expansion. Greek Buy Now Pay Later Market Greek Buy Now Pay Later Market Dublin, Feb. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Greece Buy Now Pay Later Business and
Annunciation steps up to raise money for teacher, staff mental health
Annunciation Catholic School is bringing the community together with an event features parents and community members, including Lt. Ryan Kelly, the first MPD officer on the scene of August's mass shooting, and Tom Forchas, whose daughter Sophia, was the most critically injured survivor.
Horry Co. approves controversial mental health facility despite community backlash
Horry County Council approved the Asha Vista Behavioral Institute's plan to open a new psychiatric hospital along Highway 707.
New LifeEvac base opens at VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital
The newly established VCU Health LifeEvac base in South Hill expands emergency air medical access, with a trained flight team supporting faster care for rural communities.
Community rallies to help Fayetteville business owner after pipe burst during storm
As the city of Fayetteville works to return to normal after a weekend winter storm, many residents are still dealing with its aftermath.
Queens police shooting of man in mental health crisis shows need for ‘Community Safety’ reform, Mamdani says
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that a 22-year-old Bangladeshi man shot multiple times by NYPD officers in Queens last week during a mental health crisis needs
Bill affirming St. Johns as Black History Museum site, creating Board, sent to Senate floor
Several public speakers urged safeguards to ensure historians and community voices, not politics, guide the museum’s narrative.
Oneida County Health Plan Targets Poverty, Anxiety, Prenatal Care
Oneida County is launching a new plan to improve community health by focusing on poverty, anxiety and stress, and prenatal care through 2030.
NIH Opens East Palestine, Ohio Health Research Office to Study Train Disaster
NIH opened the East Palestine Train Derailment Health Research Program Office to assess and address the long-term health outcomes stemming from the 2023 train derailment in the community.
Oneida County Releases New Community Health Assessment & Improvement Plan
February 3, 2026 - County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. announced today the release of Oneida County’s new Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan
Prep talk: City of South Gate offers glimpse into neighborhood sports worship
The community in South Gate comes out for high school sports, with three schools near one another. South Gate and South East will play in a Friday Eastern League basketball game.
Magic: The Gathering's Newest Product Says the Quiet Part Out Loud
The latest Secret Lair sold the same drop at different prices, drawing anger from the community.
25,000+ Votes Fuel Dallas Entertainment Awards Week as City’s Creative Scene Takes Center Stage
Experience the excitement of the Dallas Entertainment Awards Week kickoff event. Join the celebration of North Texas' vibrant creative community.
Western North Carolina plants new STEM educator research community
Society for Science is expanding access to STEM education in Western North Carolina through a new initiative. Sponsored by Appalachian…
Minorities in Sports Business Network hosts A Toast to Black Sports luncheon at Super Bowl LX
SAN FRANCISCO – Former NFL linebacker Takeo Spikes, NFLPA executive Carl Francis, and longtime corporate strategist Debra Langford will be honored for their community engagement at the fourth annual A Toast to Black Sports luncheon, a private gathering of Black sports leaders during the week before Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Sponsored by the […]
Community Health Systems Completes Divestiture of Three Pennsylvania Hospitals to Tenor Health Foundation
FRANKLIN, Tenn., February 02, 2026--Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) announced today that certain subsidiaries of the Company have completed the divestiture of 186-bed Regional Hospital of Scranton and 122-bed Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania, 369-bed Wilkes-Barre General Hospital in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and certain related businesses to affiliates of Tenor Health Foundation for $33 million of cash plus a $15 million promissory note from the buyer. Additional cash
Scholars application open to health professions students
The WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health and the West Virginia Area Health Education Centers are accepting applications for the WV AHEC Rural Community Health Scholars program. The deadline to apply for early admission is March 31.
TIVER HONORED BY NJ BUSINESS & INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION FOR SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESSES
TIVER HONORED BY NJ BUSINESS & INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION FOR SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESSES February 2, 2026 Senator Latham Tiver (R-Burlington, Atlantic) was honored by the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) with the Paul L. Troast Award, recognizing his outstanding public service to the business community and strong commitment to improving New Jersey’s[...]
Vanderbilt Health acquires Tennova’s Clarksville hospital and related physician clinics from Community Health Systems
Leaders with Vanderbilt Health announced today completion of the acquisition of Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville Hospital and freestanding emergency room Tennova ER-Sango, along with the hospital’s related businesses, including physician clinics and outpatient services, from Community Health Systems Inc. (CHS). Vanderbilt Health has held a 20% minority interest in these operations since 2021. Under Vanderbilt Health’s ownership, the 270-bed hospital will be named Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital (VCH) while the freestanding Sango ER will be named Vanderbilt Emergency Sango. Also joining the Vanderbilt Health system through the acquisition are physician practice locations in Clarksville, Dover, Pleasant View and Tiny Town offering, depending on location, orthopaedics, primary care, wound care, digestive health, urology and surgical services. Acquisition of the hospital and its related physician practices expands Vanderbilt Health’s ability to serve patients across the region, supporting its ability to provide high-quality care in more convenient, community settings that are also more cost-effective. “We are thrilled to welcome Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital into our health system. Providing exceptional care close to home is invaluable, and we are eager to serve the citizens of Clarksville and Montgomery County by expanding the hospital’s programs and services,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of Vanderbilt Health and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. This acquisition marks Vanderbilt Health’s fourth regional hospital expansion, further strengthening its presence across Middle Tennessee beyond its already extensive inpatient and ambulatory services in Nashville. VCH joins Vanderbilt Health’s network of regional medical centers that now include Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital in Lebanon, Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital in Coffee County, and Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital in Shelbyville. With a strong record of growth and investment in people, programs and services for its regional hospitals, residents of Clarksville, Montgomery County and the surrounding region can expect that Vanderbilt Health will bring a host of adult and pediatric services to the area. Initial plans for VCH over the upcoming year include increased staffing for the hospital’s emergency services, including the addition of pediatric emergency medicine specialists with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, along with increased surgical specialty offerings. Longer term, physicians and staff will be recruited to bring a broader array of adult and pediatric specialty services to the community. “I am delighted to welcome the physicians, nurses and staff of Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital into the Vanderbilt Health family and look forward to working closely with the hospital’s medical staff and members of the local health care community to ensure we excel at meeting their needs as caregivers as we pursue the goal of improving the health and wellbeing of the patients we serve,” said Jane Freedman, MD, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health System Officer for Vanderbilt Health. Currently, VCH employs approximately 1,100 staff and more than 30 physicians. Through this acquisition Vanderbilt Health has committed to hire substantially all current employees who are in good standing. Services already established by Vanderbilt Health at VCH include an OB-GYN hospitalist program, an array of oncology services provided by a multidisciplinary team with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and neonatal care in the hospital’s Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit provided by specialists with Monroe Carell. VCH has been designated as an Accredited Chest Pain Center and a Wound Care Center of Distinction and has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission. More information about Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital is available at: vanderbilthealth.com/hospital/vanderbilt-clarksville-hospital
Small Businesses in Minneapolis Serve a City in Crisis. ‘This Is Our New Normal.’
In Minneapolis and St. Paul, business owners work to lift up a community that has been roiled by the presence of thousands of immigration agents.
Small Businesses in Minneapolis Serve a City in Crisis. ‘This Is Our New Normal.’
In Minneapolis and St. Paul, business owners work to lift up a community that has been roiled by the presence of thousands of immigration agents.
A Cure For Sour Feelings About Politics? Get People To Love Their Hometowns
The positive feelings people have toward their community translate directly into civic engagement.
Exclusive | Classified Whistleblower Complaint About Tulsi Gabbard Stalls Within Her Agency
Congress hasn’t seen the complaint, which was filed eight months ago with the U.S. intelligence community watchdog’s office.
‘Ending the HIV Epidemic’ Health Fair set for Feb. 11
The Office of Community Advocacy and the Florida Department of Health (DOH) in Miami-Dade County will join various community providers to co-host the annual “Ending the HIV Epidemic” Health Fair....
Miami Dade College to Host 20th Anniversary Community Health Fair
Miami Dade College to Host 20th Anniversary Community Health Fair
The 2026 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards
From rebuilding communities in the post–Jim Crow era to leading Fortune 500 companies and public institutions today, Black business leaders have played a central role in shaping Virginia’s modern economy. Today, they are driving growth, innovation and opportunity across the commonwealth — leading major corporations, expanding small businesses, strengthening public institutions and driving progress across […]
Hundreds attend South Bend mental health event urging funding for crisis platform
Hundreds from the St. Joseph County community gathered at the Islamic Society of Michiana's Community Hall in South Bend on Sunday to celebrate the community's
Goalie Fight! Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman Drops Gloves In Stadium Series
Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman has been looking for a fight… for years. If you thought he was going to pass up an opportunity to finally drop the gloves on a national stage during the Stadium Series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, you’re even crazier than he is. Swayman, who kickstarted the tension by leaping […]
Inside the startup rush for Europe's new war chest
Europe fears it can't beat Russia's style of war — creating a golden opportunity for defense founders.
Tyranids swarm over our Iron Halo coin stash thanks to February’s free Miniature of the Month
Head in-store for a great miniature and coin this month.
The Science of “the Giggle”: Why Laboratory Rats Love Being Tickled
If you think laughter and comedy are reserved strictly for humans, you’d be wrong. A study in the late 1990s showed that creatures like rats emit ultrasonic vocalizations while playing with or anticipating the opportunity to play with other rats. To make matters sillier, rats emitted similar vocalizations when they were subjected to manual somatosensory
Building Hope Summit County launches behavioral health survey
The nonprofit Building Hope Summit County, in partnership with the Katz Amsterdam Foundation and Professional Research Consultants, is launching its behavioral health survey, inviting Summit County adults to share their experiences and perspectives on mental...
A new pro volleyball team wants in on San Francisco’s women’s sports boom
League One Volleyball is expanding to the Bay Area, and team president Stephanie Martin sees an opportunity to thrive.
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
Hibernian vs Rangers – Match preview and team news
Rangers will face Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday. With Hearts leading the table and Rangers climbing back into contention, this fixture presents a crucial opportunity for Danny Rohl’s side to cl...
Why Opportunity, Not Entitlement, Will Define Alabama Football's Next Team
Forget entitlement. Alabama's evolving team thrives on earned opportunity, where hunger, not hype, fuels players ready to seize their chance and prove their worth.
Wichita celebrates life of Army veteran, business owner Paul White, Sr.
He served northeast Wichita community for decades as a longtime business leader and Santa Claus.
The Sports Bra, Sport Oregon team up to celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day
The Sports Bra and Sport Oregon are teaming up to celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day with an event centered on community, and more.
Community Message From NASA Planetary Science Analysis/Assessment Group Chairs (AGs)
NASA Planetary Science Analysis/Assessment Groups
BREAKING: Police pursuit ends in arrest near Health, Science and Technology Building
An out-of-jurisdiction police pursuit ended in an arrest near the Health, Science and Technology Building, with officials saying there was no threat to the campus community.
Family-owned Seabrook restaurant shuts down after 25 years in business
A longtime Seabrook restaurant is preparing to close its doors after more than two decades of serving the community. Las Anita’s, a family-owned restaurant that has operated in Seabrook for 25 years, announced on Facebook that it would be shutting down. The restaurant’s final day of business was Saturday, Jan. 31.
MVCC Board of Trustees to meet Tuesday, January 20
UTICA — A meeting of the Mohawk Valley Community College Board of Trustees will take place at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, on the Utica Campus in the Stetson
Community health fair offers free screenings, honors Jackie Robinson
Dozens of families gathered at the Lincoln Neighborhood Service Center for a community health fair hosted by the Bethel AME Church Health Is Life Ministry.
Winter dessert series begins this weekend
After two weeks of dealing with Old Man Winter, Stokes folks looking to get out of the house will have three entertainment opportunities this coming weekend, as Stokes Arts Community
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
Trump claims Minnesota fraud exceeds $19B, faults Biden administration
President Donald Trump renews attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar and Gov. Tim Walz over the Minnesota fraud scandal linked to the Somali community.
People leaving Massachusetts pose new challenge for Healey, Paley, and the state
Like a true venture capitalist, state economic development secretary Eric Paley sees opportunity in the latest Census data. Even though it looks kind of gloomy.
Saturday Pre-orders – Chaos Space Marines and Marauders running wild
Check out today’s latest pre-orders.
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...
Unity, Video Game Stocks Fall as Google’s AI Tool Sparks Fears
Unity Software Inc. and video game stocks plunge Friday on fears of possible artificial intelligence disruption after Google began to roll out Project Genie.
What’s Up: February 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA
NASA's Artemis II mission has its first opportunity to launch to the moon, Orion the Hunter takes center stage, and a planetary parade marches across the night sky.
‘It wasn’t about the scale:’ Austin moms find community, mental health benefits through strength training
A 2024 study shows women who strength train lower their risk of death and see benefits faster than men.
Black History Month at Hofstra Showcases Art, Politics, Culture, and Business
Black History Month, and every month, is an opportunity to educate, listen, and lift one another. Hofstra University offers a comprehensive selection of events, covering the arts, politics, history, and culture. Our Unfinished Revolution(s)Hofstra University Museum of ArtOpening reception, Th
Denver’s First Asian Market to Pass Business to a Fourth Generation
The founder's great-granddaughter is taking the reins of the store's community legacy.
Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine Announces Leadership Transition and Next Phase of Growth
Tampa Bay Business & Wealth (TBBW) today announced a leadership transition and the start of a new chapter for the publication, marking a significant milestone in its continued evolution as a leading voice for the region's business community.
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.
Bouncy balls and beyond: Collaborative project connects science with community
Through “Mission: Materials Science,” a long-running outreach initiative supported by Penn State’s U.S. National Science Foundation–funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, graduate students from across disciplines have partnered with museum educators and media professionals to transform materials science research into free, hands-on learning activities.
Midwestern University Appoints One Health Initiative Coordinators
Dr. Karen Gruszynski and Dr. Tiffany Hughes chosen to educate the MWU community on the benefits of One Health
Minneapolis business owners create ‘community of kindness’
From fundraising for immigrant families to offering free food, local business owners in Minneapolis are doing what they can to help their community during increased federal immigration enforcement.
Eugene businesses close during nationwide economic shutdown
Portal Teas, Noisette Pastry Kitchen, Acorn Community Cafe, and more disrupt business as usual for protest on Jan. 30
Rule the Maelstrom with Huron and his crew’s spicy new datasheets
Rules revealed for the Masters of the Maelstrom.
Chicago business leader launches Bear Down Community Investment Group to spur regional economic development
Bear Down Community Investment Group will focus on housing, workforce training and economic development across the Greater Chicago region, with plans to eventually go nationwide.
Science Community Weighs in on Federal Plans to Accelerate US Innovation
Science groups call for stable funding and streamlined regulations.
Maine businesses to close Friday, make donations to support immigrant community
More than 50 shops and restaurants are participating in a nationwide strike, which will include a protest in Portland's Monument Square.
Here's Everything Apple Released This Week
Following a quiet start to 2026, the final week of January has been a busy one for Apple so far. There are new versions of the AirTag and the Black Unity band for the Apple Watch, and the Apple Creator Studio bundle is now available. Apple also released iOS 26.2.1 and watchOS 26.2.1 updates, and iOS 26.3 beta testing continues.
Beyond Entertainment: When Theatre Makes You Think
Three plays performed as stage readings February 6-8, features an audience talk back afterwards, with complimentary desert and coffee. A fundraiser as well for the Bear Theatre ($25 tickets, $50 for all three shows), located inside Community High...
The Next Era of Sports and Entertainment Technology: Info-Tech Research Group Partners With SEAT to Advance Innovation and Digital Excellence Across Industry
Info-Tech Research Group, a global leader in IT research and advisory, has announced a new partnership with SEAT, the Sports & Entertainment Alliance in Technology, to empower technology, marketing, and operations executives across the global sports and entertainment industry. The collaboration will bring Info-Tech's expertise to SEAT's influential community of North American entertainment venues, sports teams, and league leaders who are driving innovation in fan engagement, digital experience,
Buncombe County officials hold public health briefing to address rise in measles
Buncombe County Public Health officials will hold a media briefing Thursday morning to update the community on measles in the county and state.
Joan Esmie MS ’26 Named PAEA Student Health Policy Fellow
Reflecting Ithaca College’s Commitment to Community-Minded Leadership
Civic Science Media: Reimagining How We Communicate Science
A 2022 award winner of the National Academies’ Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, J.D. Allen discusses his civic science media framework, his nuclear energy broadcast initiative, and how incorporating community engagement and solutions-focused journalism improves science storytelling.
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.
Should We Treat Political Violence as a Public Health Crisis?
Thinking of political violence solely as a safety issue is not enough to address the harm that follows. “The patient is the community.”
Minneapolis small business supports strike against ICE, raises money
ICE activity and tariffs are making for an especially tough month for Perennial Cycle in Minneapolis. The owner is focusing on the community.
Highway 21 Dairy Queen closure sparks conversation amongst local business owners
some local business owners say despite the roadwork, they say the project is good for the community.
Tri-County Community Health Coalition releases first unified health report in Fox Valley
With the Unified Health Report, organizations across the Fox Valley now have the same information on local health problems and can plan together.
Winners of 2026 Southwest Wyoming Regional Science Fair Announced
ROCK SPRINGS — Western Wyoming Community College hosted 68 students from five different schools participating in the Southwest Wyoming Regional Science Fair Jan. 22. “The science fair gives students statewide a chance to showcase their scientific creativity and ingenuity. We deeply appreciate the participating students and the teachers and families who support them,” David Tanner,
Martens are focus of Yampatika community science program
Pacific martens are the focus of a community science program being offered by the local nonprofit Yampatika. “Caught on Camera: Using Trail Cams for Science” will teach attendees about the elusive Pacific marten, a small,...
ICE presence threatens small business in Minneapolis and Minnesota, some owners say: 'I can hardly do my normal job'
Some Minneapolis small-business owners say they fear for their personal safety, their community's safety and their businesses' survival amid ICE's presence in the city.
Geauga County’s largest behavioral health provider to merge with Ashtabula agency
Ravenwood Health will merge with Ashtabula County’s Community Counseling Center as longtime CEO Vicki Clark retires, expanding behavioral health services.
Pulaski County Sports & Entertainment Unveils Official Sportsplex Logo
New Facility Designed to Serve the Community and Welcome the World Pulaski County, Virginia – Pulaski County Sports & Entertainment is proud to unveil the official logo for the Pulaski County Sportsplex, a transformative new indoor sports complex that will serve as a premier destination for athletic competition while providing a year-round recreational asset for […]
Community invited to Terry Schools Science Fair Feb. 3
Terry Schools will host a 7th–12th grade Science Fair on Monday, Feb. 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the study hall at Terry High School.
Laredo Chamber sets 2026 vision to strengthen business
With a vision of strengthening the Laredo business community at all levels as the nation's largest port, Monica Y. Martinez of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce is looking ahead to 2026.
Manu Ginobili among backers of new planned sports performance project in South Florida
Manu Ginobili is investing in South Florida’s potential with a new venture. The former San Antonio Spurs star is part of a group building the Sports Performance Hub in Homestead, Florida. It’ll be a next-generation sports, education and community development project. It will feature a 10,000-seat stadium for Miami FC, sports training facilities, a basketball facility, a boarding school and more. Groundbreaking is set for March, with plans to open in 2028. Ginobili, along with partners like Riccardo Silva and Juan Sebastian Veron, aims to connect sports training with academics. They believe Miami’s multicultural environment makes it an ideal location.
On Data Privacy Day (and every day): Protect your small business
Cybercriminals target companies big and small. Today is Data Privacy Day — a great opportunity to take a look at how you keep your business and customer data protected. Get started with the FTC’s updated resources at ftc.gov/cybersecurity.
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment Event Colleagues Enjoy Special Celebration at Little Caesars Arena
Community
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.
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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