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Sphere Entertainment Co. to Host Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2025 Conference Call
Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR) will host a conference call to discuss results for its fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2025 on Thursday...
“Déjà vu”: what scientists have discovered is even stranger! - Futura-Sciences
Human memory still holds many mysteries. While déjà vu is a relatively well known experience, its lesser known counterpart, jamais vu, remains largely unfamiliar to the general public. Yet this intriguing cognitive phenomenon could teach us a great deal about how our brain works. A recent study, published in September...
Star of 'Southern Charm' to share small business tips with Iowans
A reality TV show star and entrepreneur will make two appearances in Iowa next week. Craig Conover is a founding cast member on “Southern Charm,” which launched on Bravo in 2013, following the lives of several young professionals in Charleston, South Carolina. Conover says he’s thrilled to be making his first trip to Iowa for […]
From feedlot to forecast: Building resilient beef businesses
What was the buzz from CattleCon 2026 along with the key takeaways? Tune in for all the details.
China Consumer Loyalty Business Report 2026: A $35.65 Billion Market by 2030 from $18.46 Billion in 2025 - 88VIP, JD.com, Meituan Black Card, and WeChat Infrastructure Anchor Platform-Led Models
The Chinese loyalty market presents prime opportunities in embedded, platform-driven loyalty models and membership-based systems across various sectors. Integration into super-app ecosystems, leveraging data-driven personalization within regulatory constraints, and blending offline-to-online experiences are key growth avenues. Chinese Loyalty Market Chinese Loyalty Market Dublin, Feb. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "China Loyalty Market Size & Forecast by Spend Value Across 100+ KPIs by Progra
Japan's Itochu posts record 9-month profit on consumer business strength
Japan's Itochu on Friday posted a 4% rise in nine-month net profit through December 31 to 705.3 billion yen ($4.5 billion), a record for the period, boosted by strong consumer businesses, including food, textile and its convenience-store chain.
Slotkin, Houlahan refuse to sit for DOJ interviews over ‘illegal orders’ video
Two Democratic lawmakers – Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania – said Thursday they will not sit for interviews with the Justice Department related to their involvement in a video urging service members to disobey illegal orders.
'You're Not Daddy. Daddy's Gone,' Dave Ramsey Says After 46-Year-Old Sells Business For $1.23M And Fears Family Will Come For The Money
A 46-year-old who sold his business for $1.23 million is worried about how family members will react to the money. The caller, John, told "The Ramsey Show" that he recently sold a construction services business he inherited from his late father and now feels torn between protecting the proceeds and managing family expectations. He said his father died 12 years ago, leaving him sole ownership of the company. After rebuilding the business, he completed the sale and is now preparing to sell his hom
Amazon.com Announces Fourth Quarter Results
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced financial results for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2025. Fourth Quarter 2025 Net sales increased 14%...
Local Facebook group supports Black business owners
A Facebook group created during the 2020 protests has grown to nearly 8,000 members and earned recognition for supporting Black-owned businesses in the 607 area code.
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
UW’s Seidel Named to DOE’s 21-Member Office of Science Advisory Commit
While a rancher may not be thinking about Einstein’s theory of relativity when using GPS to guide his tractor through a field or the proud owner of a new iPhone may not dwell over quantum mechanics, U
Politics Professor Speaks in the Great Hall at the Library of Congress
Brian Alexander, associate professor of politics at Washington and Lee University, participated in a moderated discussion at the John W. Kluge Center’s Member Dinner held Jan. 14 in the Great Hall …
ICYMI: NFIB Members Meet with South Dakota Lawmakers on Small Business Day
Small Business Day is an opportunity for small business owners to engage with South Dakota lawmakers
The Monkees Star’s Unforgettable Solo Song Was Originally a Flop
The Monkees singer’s 1971 single didn’t chart, but it became his most remembered TV moment.
Pieter Mulier to Design Versace, Prada Group Confirms
The outgoing Alaïa designer and long-time lieutenant of Prada co-creative director Raf Simons will be tasked with revitalising Prada Group’s new acquisition, following the ouster of Dario Vitale in December.
System76's COSMIC Desktop Planning Vulkan Renderer, Improved Gaming Experience
Following December's release of COSMIC Epoch 1 along with the Pop!_OS 24.04 release by System76, today they shared more of their feature plans for the next two major COSMIC desktop updates.
Alexa+ is Now Free to Amazon Prime Members
Amazon has rolled out its advanced AI-powered assistant, known as Alexa+, to all Prime members in the United States as of February 4, 2026. This marks a significant expansion following an early access phase that began nearly a year earlier and attracted tens of millions of participants. The upgraded assistant is now fully available without […]
Volunteer judges needed for Region 8 Science Fair
Volunteers can play a vital part in ensuring the success of the annual Illinois Junior Academy of Science Region 8 Science Fair on Feb. 24. Faculty, staff, SIU students and community member judges are needed as more than 150 students from across the region from grades 7-12 will be competing.
Small Business Owners to Missouri General Assembly: Curb Lawsuit Abuse Now
Annual small business survey finds the majority of Main Street members oppose the regulation of websites.
January 2026 Google Play system update just turned into November 2025? You're not alone
Android users report a Google Play system update bug that downgrades them from January 2026 version to November 2025. Here is what we know!
Alexa+ now available to everyone in the US—and free for Prime members
Alexa+ is the newest Prime benefit, giving members in the U.S. a powerful AI assistant accessible by voice, browser, and the Alexa app for no additional cost—and now anyone can try Alexa+ at Alexa.com.
Alexa+, Amazon's AI assistant, is now available to everyone in the U.S.
Amazon opens Alexa+ to everyone in the U.S. The AI feature is free for Prime members across devices, and free for everyone on mobile and web.
Microsoft actually does something useful, adds Sysmon to Windows
: After years of bolting AI onto everything, Redmond remembers admins exist
Nintendo Switch Online adds two more classic Game Boy games, including one developed by Game Freak
Nintendo Switch Online members can now get their hands on two more classic Game Boy games.
Trump plans to install Christopher Columbus statue outside White House
The president has worked to recognize the explorer, saying Italian-Americans should “remember” Trump’s efforts when they go vote.
2026 National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD)
Wednesday, Feb. 4 is National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and members of Tau Kappa shared their perspective in a series of videos on their Instagram page.
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.
Racial Debate Rattles Texas Democratic Primary for Senate
State Representative James Talarico used the word “mediocre” to describe a former House member who is Black. The controversy has repercussions for a key contest.
Kathy Seiden, St. Tammany council member, exits U.S. Senate race, endorses Julia Letlow
Kathy Seiden, St. Tammany Council member, dropped out of the race for U.S. Senate in Louisiana after President Donald Trump endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow.
Asteroid 2024 YR4's collision with the moon could create a flash visible from Earth, study finds
If the building-size asteroid 2024 YR4 crashes into the moon in December 2032, the impact will produce a bright flash that may be visible to the naked eye, a new study finds.
GTA 6 Marketing Will Kick Off This Summer, as Take-Two Confidently Reaffirms November Release Date
Grand Theft Auto VI's November 19, 2026 release date is drawing nearer, and Take-Two Interactive is starting to sound more confident than ever that this time, it's really happening. So confident, in fact, it's announced that Rockstar will be spinning up its marketing beats this summer.
Pioneer heart surgeon Vinay Badhwar elected STS president
Badhwar is a longtime STS member and world leader in robotic technologies. In fact, he and his team recently launched a 40-part educational video series to help educate other clinicians about robotic-assisted cardiac surgery.
Epstein files reveal close ties to Trump’s influential inner circle
The latest tranche of files reveal new details about the extent to which key members of President Donald Trump’s inner circle were interacting with Jeffrey Epstein for years after he was initially arrested and convicted.
Former Farming Leaders Warn U.S. Agriculture Could Face ‘Widespread Collapse’
A group of past government officials and the former heads of farming associations issued a dire warning to members of Congress.
Pro-ag or pro-development? Conservationist Travis Thompson asks Florida leaders to support Florida Farm Bill
'Remember this, the final crop will be houses if we don’t protect agriculture.'
What a Democratic upset that sent ‘shockwaves’ through the Texas GOP could mean for November
Democrat Taylor Rehmet flipped a Texas Senate seat in deep-red Tarrant County over the weekend. Now, the surprising win is raising alarms for Republicans in Texas — and beyond — ahead of November's midterm elections.
French prosecutors raid Paris office of Elon Musk’s X
Paris prosecutors said their cybercrime unit, with Europol support, searched the French office of Elon Musk’s X as part of an investigation opened last month.
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. Reports Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Results
NEW YORK, February 03, 2026--Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (NYSE: MSGE) ("MSG Entertainment" or the "Company") today reported financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended December 31, 2025.
Lewes still working toward home-based business regs
Lewes Mayor and City Council put the ingredients of a proposed reconstituted home-based business ordinance through a new blender Jan. 28. The ordinance was the main topic of the first working session, a new format designed to allow council members...
Nintendo net sales up 99.3% as Switch 2 shifts 17.37m units
The hardware sold 7 million copies in the three months ending December 31, 2025
The Science of Memory Goes to School
The distinction between what is true and what we remember complicates the work of education.
Radiology among the 5 highest paid professions, US News & World Report says
Members of the specialty earned a median salary of approximately $239,200 last year, based on survey data gathered by the media company last fall.
The Switch just surpassed the DS as Nintendo's best-selling console ever
The orginal Switch just became Nintendo’s best-selling console ever with 155.37 million units sold as of December 31, 2025.
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.
Buccaneers set to interview member of Indiana's offensive staff
The Buccaneers interviewed Chandler Whitmer for their quarterbacks coach position as Tampa Bay continues reshaping its offensive staff.
Patriots’ Drake Maye Gives Answer To Famous Tom Brady Question
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was asked a familiar question during Super Bowl Opening Night on Monday. “Who is your hero?” If that sounds familiar, it’s probably because you remember when that same question was asked to Tom Brady prior to Super Bowl LI. “Who’s my hero? That’s a great question. Well, I think […]
SF small business owners file class action lawsuit against PG&E after December outages
The class action lawsuit filed Monday claims the utility caused Sunset District businesses significant financial harm during a series of outages around the holidays.
High school sports bills would allow middle schoolers to compete; regulate name, image and likeness
On Monday, members of the public shared their thoughts on two bills that would change high school sports rules in Nebraska. The Unicameral’s Education Committee heard testimony on LB742, which would allow seventh and eighth grade students to compete on high school sports teams.
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.
Maryland Companies Celebrate Global Collaborations, Industry Honors and Local Partnerships
The Maryland Marketing Partnership, which helps drive Maryland's branding and marketing efforts to attract businesses, create jobs, and grow the state's economy, today shared a summary of the latest news from companies and organizations that invest in the partnership. "Maryland's marketing partners are starting the year with major investments in our state's workforce and economy," said Harry Coker Jr., Secretary for the Maryland Department of Commerce. "From clean energy to biopharma to higher education to commercial real estate, these investments are helping us build a stronger and more competitive Maryland economy." BGE , Maryland's largest natural gas and electric utility, along with the Exelon Foundation , announced a $250,000 grant for Civic Works' Baltimore Shines solar initiative to support solar installations for 30 homes in Baltimore. According to Civic Works, homeowners will receive free rooftop solar installations, adding clean energy to the grid and generating more than
San Francisco Small Businesses to Sue PG&E Over Losses From December Power Outages
Business owners and residents say the financial credits offered by the utility don’t reflect true financial damages.
Yet another judge rejects Trump effort to block offshore wind
It's the fifth such project put back on track after the Trump administration halted them in December.
The latest release of Jeffrey Epstein files: Who is mentioned and what they are saying in response
Here is a look at some of the notable names in the latest release of files from the U.S. Justice Department pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein. The list includes politicians, entertainment figures, business leaders and Royal Family members, with some releasing statements this past weekend about their interactions with the late accused child sex trafficker.
The Value of the Mays MBA is Higher Than Ever - Mays Business School News
As Mays Full-Time MBA students graduated in December, each one walked the stage with confidence, pride, and a job offer in hand. While recent reporting from The Wall Street Journal and The Economist highlights decreasing
Disney’s Entertainment Profits Fall Despite Higher Streaming Results
Walt Disney Co. reported a sharp drop in profits from its entertainment segment for the December quarter, as lower profits from its TV networks offset better results from its streaming business. Profits from Disney’s sports segment, which includes ESPN, also fell. Overall Disney reported 5% higher revenue but 9% lower operating income. The company’s entertainment segment, which includes the
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
House of Lords should strip Mandelson of peerage, says Starmer
PM believes ex-Labour minister should not be member of House of Lords or use title, No 10 spokesperson says
The Science of Memory Goes to School
The distinction between what is true and what we remember complicates the work of education
Mandelson quits Labour as Epstein documents reveal he promised to amend tax on bank bonuses
The peer said he resigned his membership of the party to avoid causing it ‘further embarrassment’
SA ready to host AFCON 2028, will be about 'fair play'
South African sports, arts & culture minister Gayton McKenzie told ESPN that his country seeks to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2028, and emphasised that he wanted the tournament to be remembered as one of "fair play".
Japan's top business lobby invites activist fund Elliott for governance talks
Japan's biggest business lobby, Keidanren, has invited activist investor Elliott Investment Management to a private meeting on March 5 to discuss issues of corporate governance, it told member firms in a notice seen by Reuters.
Democrat Taylor Rehmet flips historically red Texas Senate District 9 seat
The candidates will run again in November to determine who will take the seat for the 2027 legislative session.
New year, new perspectives: Greater Manchester Chamber welcomes 2026 board leadership
The Greater Manchester Chamber announces its 2026 Board of Directors, welcoming new leadership and fresh perspectives while maintaining strong continuity at the helm. Together, the officers and board members will
Health care workers hold vigil to honor and remember Alex Pretti
Hundreds of health care professionals, their families and other supporters gathered Sunday to remember and honor Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by federal agents last week. WeCare organized the event and said it was to offer a space to grieve, show solidarity and remember.
Showcasing science to board members
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – Youngsters at Independence Middle School took their science knowledge directly to the board of education.
Alzheimer’s scrambles memories while the brain rests
When the brain rests, it usually replays recent experiences to strengthen memory. Scientists found that in Alzheimer’s-like mice, this replay still occurs — but the signals are jumbled and poorly coordinated. As a result, memory-supporting brain cells lose their stability, and the animals struggle to remember where they’ve been.
A spider's web reminds me that wonder endures
Last December, in the quiet week between Christmas and January, I walked a few blocks to my office and put away the holiday decorations for another year. I knew the
Pols & Politics: Teamsters endorse Moulton, Shortsleeve picks up support
Saying that Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton “has never wavered in his support for our members,” the Massachusetts Teamsters union announced it endorses his bid for U.S. Senate.
LIVE! Watch UFC 325 Post-Fight Presser Here
With UFC 325 officially in the books after an exciting night (Sat., Jan. 31, 2026) of action LIVE on Paramount+ from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, fight fans can check out the post-fight press conference video above for all the best reaction and official bonus winners. Remember, there’s a new post-fight bonus system in place for 2026. […]
Governor picks three new members of JTA Board
DeSantis brings the board to full strength.
How viewers around the world responded to Melania Trump’s documentary
Marla Ailor attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration last year with her family, and remembered thinking it was a long day.
NVIDIA only gave minutes to buy the GeForce RTX 5090/5080 Founders Edition at MSRP, in the first drop since early December
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition restock hits Europe, sells out in minutes NVIDIA’s Marketplace saw its first Founders Edition restock in over a
A Predictor of a Good Social Life? Your Parents.
A decades-long study suggested that close relationships with family members during teenage years could lead to a rich network of friendships in adulthood.
Louisiana’s members of Congress grapple with budget fallout from Minnesota protester killing
President Donald Trump worked out a short-term deal with Democrats. It’s not clear how it will go over in the House.
Response to Melania Trump documentary reflects America’s political division
CARMEL, Ind. — Marla Ailor attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration last year with her family, and remembered thinking it was a long day. So she ...
2026 heart health faculty experts list
February is American Heart Month. The University of South Carolina is home to many faculty members who are available to offer their expertise in cardio care and research.
Catherine O’Hara remembered by Austin film, entertainment institutions
The sudden death of Catherine O’Hara on Friday shocked the TV and film industry, prompting countless social media tributes from co-stars, friends, and celebrities. Austin’s film institu…
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 $540 million in first month
Bettors in Missouri wagered more than half a billion dollars in December during the state’s first month of legalized sports betting, according to a new state report.
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.
As ACA subsidies expire, voters cite health costs as top economic worry, survey finds
Health costs are top of mind for voters as the 2026 midterm elections loom in November.
Tech Tidbits: Spring Sports Coaches Preview Seasons
Spring has felt like a distant dream around here this week due to the stubborn snow and ice surrounding us, but the beginning of the baseball, softball, tennis and golf seasons at Arkansas Tech University has arrived nonetheless. Members of the ATU Green and Gold booster organization gathered at The…
Fintech lender SoFi profit jumps on strong growth in fee‑based businesses
Consumers are shifting high-cost credit-card balances to fintech lenders to take advantage of low-interest personal loans. SoFi's financial services business, which includes credit card and investing products, saw revenue surge 78% in the quarter ended December 31 to $456.7 million. Fee-based businesses help insulate fintechs from interest-rate swings.
Here’s how Baton Rouge’s casinos fared in December
After two strong months in October and November, Baton Rouge’s casinos continued their upward trajectory in December. Collectively, the casinos posted $25.7 million in revenue for December, u… Already an INSIDER? Sign in. Already an INSIDER? Sign in
Livingston v Motherwell: Pick of the stats
Tawanda Maswanhise has scored in his past three league appearances, while a goal here would make him the youngest player (23 years 72 days) to net in four successive Scottish Premiership outings since Malik Tillman for Rangers in April 2023 (20y 308d), and youngest for Motherwell in the top flight since Nick Blackman in November 2010 (21y 9d). Motherwell have only lost one of their past 15 league games (W9 D5), a 1-0 defeat at Rangers in December.
Johnson says government will 'inevitably' shut down despite Senate deal
House Speaker Mike Johnson said that "logistics" for House members may force the federal government into a brief shutdown, despite a funding deal made in the Senate.
Inside Iowa Politics: Calls for leadership changes after ICE fatal shooting of protester
Iowa members of Congress are not calling for President Donald Trump to remove some of his top leaders involved in immigration enforcement.
Kennedy Overhauls Federal Autism Panel in His Own Image
The new panel, which advises the government on research and service priorities for people with autism, includes many members who have argued that vaccines cause the disorder.
AHA Committee on Behavioral Health names 2026 officers, new members
The AHA’s Committee on Behavioral Health today announced its officers and new members for 2026.
Spring Health Joins Forces with Alma, Expanding Access to Precision Mental Health Care
/PRNewswire/ -- Spring Health, a leading global mental health platform for employers and health plans, today announced it has entered into an agreement to...
Trump’s National Guard deployments have cost taxpayers nearly $500 million dollars
President Donald Trump’s sweeping deployment of National Guard troops to several major cities across the United States cost taxpayers approximately $496 million from June through December last year, according to an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office.
Geoff Mason, Sports Producer Thrust Into Covering Terrorism, Dies at 85
He played a critical role in ABC Sports’s reporting on the attack by a Palestinian group at the 1972 Summer Games in Munich that left 11 Israeli team members dead.
New York lawmakers join in calling for ICE’s removal from Minnesota
Dozens of New York state senators and assemblymembers released a joint statement Wednesday at the State Capitol.
The Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas marks two years and formally welcomes Bolivia and Uruguay as members
PAHO, the World Bank, and the IDB initiative has driven health system transformation and aligned more than one billion dollars in investments across five countries. Brazil expressed its support, signing a letter of intent.Rio de Janeiro, 28 January 2026 — The Alliance for Primary Health Care (PHC) in the Americas, a joint initiative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Bank (WB), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is celebrating its second anniversary with achievements in transforming health systems across the region.
Leadership turmoil returns to Hispanic Silicon Valley business group
For the second time in seven years, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley has found itself embroiled in a leadership dispute that has led to the sudden ouster and replacement of multiple board members.
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.
iPhone 18 Pro Could Feature Teleconverter Alongside Variable Aperture
Apple's rumored new variable aperture camera system for this year's iPhone 18 Pro models has reached the sampling stage, according to a new claim from a Chinese leaker. Posting on Weibo today, the account known as "Smart Pikachu" said the feature had entered late-stage engineering samples, while a teleconverter is also "under evaluation" for the device. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in September 2026.
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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