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Timing of Sorensen axe 'a surprise'
The timing of Everton's decision to sack Brian Sorensen came as a surprise, just hours after the transfer deadline closed and the addition of Roma midfielder Zara Kramzar to their ranks. Supporters have grown increasingly frustrated by their performances with Sorensen seemingly still unsure on his best XI and often using players out of position.
Mobile is fastest growing part of interactive entertainment business: Take-Two CEO
CNBC’s Jim Cramer sits down with Take-Two Interactive CEO and chairman Strauss Zelnick to discuss the company's latest earnings report, the potential of artificial intelligence in video gaming, outlook for the industry and more.
Mobile is fastest growing part of interactive entertainment business: Take-Two CEO
CNBC’s Jim Cramer sits down with Take-Two Interactive CEO and chairman Strauss Zelnick to discuss the company's latest earnings report, the potential of artificial intelligence in video gaming, outlook for the industry and more.
Businessowner says Oklahoma's medical marijuana industry can be fixed instead of abolished
An Oklahoma businessowner agrees there are bad actors but believes the industry can be fixed rather than abolished.
America’s Cows Are Making Too Much Butterfat
A dramatic increase in the fat content of milk is causing pains in the dairy industry.
Canada Services PMI Falls to 45.8 in January as Activity and New Business Decline
Activity in Canada’s services industry contracted even more sharply to start the new year, extending a downturn as tariffs and broader uncertain continue to weigh heavily, data released Wednesday showed.
'Strong leadership': FRLA rallies Florida hotel and restaurant industry behind Byron Donalds
'As Governor, I will continue fighting for policies that keep Florida open for business.'
How the Trump Administration’s Embrace of Oil, Gas, and Chemical Industry Interests Will Endanger Children’s Health
The Trump administration’s actions to eliminate lifesaving environmental protections would allow corporate polluters to emit more toxins and chemicals, exposing more than 2 million kids to pollutants that increase the likelihood of lifelong health concerns—such as asthma, autism, ADHD, and cancer—while undercutting the administration’s own “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
Claude is a space to think
Anthropic explains why Claude will remain ad-free—how advertising incentives conflict with building a genuinely helpful AI assistant users can trust.
The Good Old Days of Sports Gambling
Recent memoirs by the retired bookie Art Manteris and the storied gambler Billy Walters provide a glimpse of an industry in its fledgling form—and a preview of the DraftKings era to come.
Bundesliga opposition analysis after winter break
How our league rivals have spent the winterThis Friday at 20:30 CET, we finally kick off the 2026 Bundesliga spring season with our home encounter with FK Austria Vienna! Before we get started, let's ...
Tampa’s MOSI reinvents itself as the Museum of Science and Innovation
The landmark sheds “industry” from its name while expanding learning space and leaning into future-focused science education.
Becoming a parent pushed me to leave corporate life
Shawn Asselin explains how frustration with men's underwear led him to quit corporate life and build a fast-growing brand.
Business of aging certificate offers resume-building credentials for senior living
The certificate has recently been refreshed with new training modules benefiting anyone connected to or aspiring to work in the senior living industry.
The 37 rising stars shaping the future of venture capital in 2026
These up-and-coming venture capitalists are backing the next generation of startups as the VC industry resets after years of easy money.
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.
Top consulting firms test boundaries with China workarounds
Faced with a fraught geopolitical environment, global consultancies are turning to riskier ways to do business in China that some industry and legal experts say test the boundaries of Western sanctions and Beijing's drive to curb foreign involvement in sensitive sectors.
New bill would allow bets on entertainment and award shows in Illinois
ILLINOIS (WCIA) — An Illinois lawmaker wants to make sure the state and businesses aren’t missing out on extra revenue from a growing entertainment betting industry. A new bill, SB 2667, intr…
Revoking TPS for Haitians would create crisis for South Florida health care industry
An estimated 6,000 Haitians on TPS work in South Florida’s health care industry, most of them in nursing homes or in home health care.
From 'Wolverine' healing claims to health warnings: The unregulated rise of peptides
Peptides are one of the newest trends in the beauty industry. But how do they work and are they safe?
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
Nicki Minaj says Trump bullying pushed her into politics as MAGA supporter
Since aligning herself with the Trump administration, Minaj has garnered blow back from prominent voices in the entertainment industry.
Nursery industry chief navigates politics as 'friend accumulator'
As the Republican scion of Democrat parents, Jeff Stone is no stranger to political debate — nor to to reaching across the aisle.
From Park City to Boulder and Beyond, United for Business Keeps Festivals and Productions Moving With Travel Solutions
United supports the entertainment industry with specialized travel programs and high-touch service
Carlos Alcaraz makes history at Australian Open; Raiders, Cardinals pick coaches
Plus, LeBron James collects 22nd All-Star nod, but did it come at Kawhi Leonard's expense?
Xtalks Announces its Life Science Webinar Calendar for February 2026
Stay on top of current hot topics through free webinars presented by leading experts in the pharma, biotech, medical device and food industries. Access to all webinars is free, so be sure to register today to save your place! Participate in the discussion and stay relevant in your field!
MOSI reinvents itself as the Museum of Science and Innovation
TAMPA — The Museum of Science and Industry is no more.
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[...]
U.S. Physical Therapy Announces Strategic Alliance with NYU Langone Health
HOUSTON, February 02, 2026--U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. ("USPH") (NYSE, NYSE Texas: USPH), a national operator of outpatient physical therapy clinics and provider of industrial injury prevention services, announced a 10-year strategic alliance between its subsidiary partner, Metro Physical & Aquatic Therapy ("Metro Physical Therapy"), and NYU Langone Health, one of the nation’s top-ranked academic medical centers ("NYU Langone"). NYU Langone and Metro Physical Therapy will work together in Long
AT&T Completes Acquisition of Lumen’s Mass Markets Fiber Business
Deal extends AT&T’s industry-leading, award-winning fiber home internet service to 32 states, bringing millions of Americans the simple, seamless and trusted experience they can depend on, with the best Internet technology available today.
Study Reveals a Turning Point When Men's Heart Attack Risk Accelerates
It's much earlier than women.
MENALAC Awards 2026 to celebrate excellence across the MENA leisure, entertainment & attractions industry
DUBAI, U.A.E. — On 1 April 2026, the 8th MENALAC Awards Gala will bring together the region’s leisure, entertainment, and attractions industry for a landmark celebration of excellence. Taking place…
Expected rise in uninsured Ohioans could signal new stress for providers, poorer public health
Expiration of enhanced tax credits that helped hundreds of thousands of Ohioans afford health insurance has the health care industry bracing for new stress on already-challenged resources and a long-term decline in public health.
From Katrina to robotics: Mindy Núñez Airhart’s path in steel
SSE Steel Fabrication owner Mindy Núñez Airhart on growing a second-generation steel business in St. Bernard Parish — from post-Katrina rebuilding to robotics, AI and humanoid welding technology shaping the industry’s future.
AIF backs Blaise Ingoglia for CFO
The Associated Industries of Florida is endorsing Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia’s bid for a full term. “Blaise Ingoglia is exactly who Florida
UFC 325 Highlights: Mauricio Ruffy Knocks Out Rafael Fiziev
Lightweights Mauricio Ruffy and Rafael Fiziev collided on Saturday's UFC 325 main card in Sydney, Australia and the bout didn't disappoint. Fiziev took the fight to Ruffy, pressuring the Brazilian and saw success in the opening round. Late in the second frame, Ruffy connected with a right hand that ...
From Y’all Street to Y’allywood: Texas is becoming an entertainment power center
An entertainment industry is burgeoning in Texas.
VASVIK's Annual Industrial Research Awards: Celebrating Indian scientists for their innovation and achievements
VIVIDHLAXI AUDYOGIK SAMSHODHAN VIKAS KENDRA (VASVIK) hosted its 51st Annual Industrial Research Awards on January 31, 2026, at B. J. Hall, Vile Parle (West), Mumbai. BK Radhika Didi, Brahma Kumari, and Lord Dr Frank Mentrup, Mayor of Karlsruhe, Germany, honoured the event as Chief Guests.
Letters: Claims using data about environment and health should be viewed skeptically
A website called Louisiana Health Facts has been circulating recently, presenting parish-level health statistics to argue that concerns about Louisiana’s industrial corridor are overstated. The site relies on broad indicators
UF Health patients left confused, frustrated after gender-affirming care ban
The SHCC encouraged students utilizing gender-affirming care to seek alternative health care providers. It offered assistance in finding alternative providers and transferring medical records.
Companies reporting earnings are doing just fine, despite tariffs
Companies in the S&P 500 may be on track to report the highest net profit margins in at least 15 years, suggesting tariffs aren't harming industry.
This tiny pocket-friendly e-reader is packed with frustration and potential
The Xteink X4 is small enough to slip into a shirt pocket.
UFC 325 Bonuses! Ruffy Banks $100K For Nasty TKO
Alexander Volkanovski added another UFC featherweight title defense to his record last night (Sat., Jan. 31, 2026) at UFC 325 LIVE on Paramount+ from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, outworking Diego Lopes in a rematch from their first meeting back in April 2025. In co-main event action, lightweight contender Benoit Saint Denis put […]
Liverpool 4-1 Newcastle — Match Report: Mid-Table Nightmare
Newcastle United’s return to Premier League action ended in frustration as Liverpool stormed back to earn a 4–1 comeback win at Anfield. The Magpies have now dropped 16 points from winning positions in the league, keeping just two clean sheets in their last 17 games. Eddie Howe’s boys made a promising start but left Merseyside […]
Price of consumer goods could surge as shipping costs soar, industry body says
CIPS warns of ‘cracks’ in global supply chain affecting computers, electrical machinery and transport equipment
Carlos Alcaraz defeats Novak Djokovic to win Australian Open, becomes youngest player to complete career Grand Slam
Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic in straight sets to win the 2026 Australian Open on Sunday, dashing Djokovic's hopes of a 25th Grand Slam victory and cementing his status as the No. 1 player in the world.
Volkanovski outclasses Lopes to tie Aldo's record
Alexander Volkanovski outclasses Diego Lopes in a vintage performance to win by unanimous decision and retain his featherweight title at UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia.
Everton Women vs Aston Villa: WSL Match Preview
Sorensen understands fans’ frustration ahead of crunch clash
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. […]
UFC 325 Highlights! Salkilld Shines Again With Dominant Submission Win
Quillan Salkilld kept the hype train rolling earlier tonight (Sat., Jan. 31, 2026) at UFC 325 LIVE on Paramount+ from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, pushing his UFC record to 4-0 with a first-round submission (rear-naked choke) over battle-tested lightweight veteran Jamie Mullarkey. As expected, Salkilld was a large favorite heading into this […]
UFC 325 Highlights! Micallef Sleeps Elliott With Comeback Choke
Jonathan Micallef pushed his Octagon record to 2-0 earlier tonight (Sat., Jan. 31, 2026) at UFC 325 LIVE on Paramount+ from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, stopping welterweight Oban Elliott with a comeback second-round submission (rear-naked choke). Elliott, who came into Saturday as a betting underdog, was out for blood from the opening […]
IRS proposes using NAICS to determine lines of business for certain fringe benefit exclusions
The North American Industry Classification System, already in use for other tax purposes, replaces a specified manual that has not been updated since 1974.
Living in the US for decades changed me more than I realized
After living in the US for decades, returning to Australia brought unexpected culture shock and forced me to rebuild a sense of home.
Book Review: “Do Aliens Speak Physics?” asks whether science is truly universal or shaped by the limits of human experience
Andy Warner and Daniel Whiteson have created a witty, illustrated inquiry into what the search …
LaRussell joins Super Bowl 60 entertainment lineup with game-day performance
The Vallejo rapper’s rise has never followed the industry playbook. Now, his hometown ethos is taking center stage at Super
When “The Cost Of Doing Business” Stops Making Sense In Healthcare
The healthcare industry has normalized a decadent sales culture. It’s time to rethink these industry normas.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz’s Australian Open final and the weight of tennis history
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are pursuing sporting greatness of different kinds in Melbourne.
Rybakina beats Sabalenka for first Australian Open title
Elena Rybakina inflicts further Grand Slam final heartbreak on Aryna Sabalenka with a stunning third-set fightback to win the Australian Open.
Australian Open: Elena Rybakina defeats world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to win maiden title in Melbourne
Elena Rybakina outhits world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to win her maiden Australian Open; Watch the ATP and WTA Tours live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app
Student scientists share findings at 25th High School Science & Engineering Fair
Three hundred students from Westfield HIgh School and Westfield Technical Academy presented their science and engineering projects in the WHS auditorium to over 100 judges; scientists, industry professionals and educators with backgrounds in science and engineering at the 25th annual High School Science and Engineering Fair on Jan. 29.
GB's Skupski wins Australian Open doubles title
Great Britain's Neal Skupski and American partner Christian Harrison win the Australian Open men's doubles title in their first Grand Slam together.
The video games industry is killing itself and no one seems to care
After a week of bad news for games companies, a reader worries that Western publishers are too far gone for any kind of recovery to be possible.
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…
One in seven food delivery businesses in England are ‘dark kitchens’, study shows
University researchers say growth of the hidden fast food industry may pose risks to public health
Central Nebraska to host Ag Health and Safety Day Feb. 3
An agricultural health and safety event will take place Feb. 3 at the Dayspring Bank Event Center in Gothenburg, offering farmers and ranchers a comprehensive look at industry safety beyond traditional approaches.
2026 CBK, Heisman, Tennis Odds: Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica’s Expert Picks, Best Bets
“The Bear" is back with a few futures best, as well as a wager on one of his favorite sporting events, the Australian Open.
Sad News in the Entertainment Industry-actress Catherine O'Hara, has passed
Sad News in the Entertainment Industry-Catherine O’Hara, an actress best known for her roles in Home Alone, Schitt’s Creek, Beetlejuice, and The Studio has sadly passed away. Our thoughts and prayers go out to family, friends, and fans. #catherineohara
Bill Maher Says Hollywood Hurting Democratic Party: “Just Shut the F*** Up”
The HBO host and comic is blaming the "woke" entertainment industry for election losses and chiming in on the local state of play in California and L.A.
Oregon politician decries doxxing after stranger shows up at her home
“I am sad and frustrated that this has to be stated,” state Rep. Dacia Grayber wrote.
Australian Open: Novak Djokovic dethrones Jannik Sinner in five-set classic to set up final with Carlos Alcaraz
Novak Djokovic rolls back the years to reach his first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon in 2024, dethroning Jannik Sinner to set up a meeting with Carlos Alcaraz; watch the ATP and WTA Tours live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the app
The World’s Largest Biological Battle Is Being Fought in Space
But this evolutionary “arms race” looks a little different when playing out in microgravity.
The Next Crisis Won’t Wait: Why Pandemic Preparedness Is a Business Imperative
Global health security —the ability to protect against the negative impacts of disease outbreaks — is too important to be left solely to the public sector. Industry has a vital interest in helping countries better prepare for future epidemics and pandemics.
Local Small Business Owner Opens Pak Mail Inside of His Existing Accounting Business in Springville, Alabama--Offering Shipping and Office Services
Annex Brands, Inc., one of the leading franchisors in the packing, shipping and office services industries, is excited to announce the opening of its newest Pak Mail location inside of Chapman Accounting Solutions in Springville, AL to new owner, Edward Chapman. This new Pak Mail is set to offer a wide range of essential shipping and office services to the local community, making it easier to provide more service to more people in more places.
"Built On Theft And Plagiarism" - A Growing Number Of Game Developers Are Sick To Death Of Generative AI
"I'd rather quit the industry than use Generative AI"
Sports quiz of the week: Australian Open, Winter Olympics and Six Nations
Have you been following the big stories in football, rugby, cycling, tennis, cricket, NFL and winter sports?
Australian Open women's final: How to watch Sabalenka vs. Rybakina
Three years after Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina in the 2023 Australian Open final, they will face off in the Melbourne major final again.
UFC cancel fight after weigh-in mishap
Aaron Tau's flyweight bout against Namsrai Batbayar at UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia on Saturday is cancelled after a mishap at the weigh-ins.
‘Heated Rivalry’ can single-handedly save the entertainment industry
Ever since COVID and the rise of streaming services, the entertainment industry has been in a slump.
Cramping Alcaraz beats Zverev in epic to reach final
A cramping Carlos Alcaraz draws on every physical and mental reserve to beat Alexander Zverev in a five-set epic and reach the Australian Open final.
One third of surveyed US games industry workers were laid off in the last two years, GDC reports
A report from GDC states one third of surveyed US workers within the industry were laid off in the last two years.
Business frustrated with copper thefts at Oakland freeway overpass
Articles and videos about Business frustrated with copper thefts at Oakland freeway overpass on KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco.
Winter weather hits local businesses hard as snow forces closures
Local business owners are grappling with the financial strain of consecutive winter weather weekends, with closures significantly impacting service industry employees and small retailers.
More than 80 Maine businesses will be closed Friday as part of ICE protest
Dozens of Portland area businesses have signed on to close for the day as part of what's being called a service industry strike, which is happening nationwide.
Google disrupts IPIDEA residential proxy networks fueled by malware
IPIDEA, one of the largest residential proxy networks used by threat actors, was disrupted earlier this week by Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) in collaboration with industry partners.
Honeywell's business and stock are looking good — Cramer has this advice for investors
Honeywell shares jumped on Thursday after the industrial conglomerate capped off 2025 with a strong fourth quarter and moved up its aerospace spinoff.
Michigan State business school to host ‘Rails to the Future' conference
TROY, Mich. — Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business will host “Rails to the Future: 200 Year of Progress, Building What’s Next,” a conference featuring key rail industry officials May 11-13 at the MSU Management Education Center in Troy. Keynote speakers will include Federal Railroad Adminstration Administrator David Fink; Surface Transportation Board [...] Read More...
The Next Era of Sports and Entertainment Technology: Info-Tech Research Group Partners With SEAT to Advance Innovation and Digital Excellence Across Industry
Rapid advances in AI, analytics, and immersive technology are redefining fan experience and operational excellence across sports and entertainment...
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,
Rice Business launches new graduate healthcare certificate program to advance leadership in dynamic industry
Rice’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business today announced the launch of its Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management program, a 10-month, credit-bearing professional credential designed for current and aspiring leaders seeking deep expertise in the business of healthcare. Situated at the crossroads of Houston’s renowned Texas Medical Center and global healthcare innovation, the program blends rigorous business fundamentals with healthcare-specific strategy, operations and management.
Minnesota women business leaders respond to big company CEOs
In today's North Star Insider: The small business response to big company CEOs; First Ave.'s plea to music industry, and Travis Kelce invests in Sleep Number.
Trump directs team to beef up his public schedule to combat questions about his stamina
Vague descriptions of presidential signing ceremonies, policy meetings and industry executive sit downs — mostly behind closed doors — began peppering President Donald Trump’s public schedule at the end of last year.
Brown & Root shifts engineering hub to Metairie
Brown & Root Industrial Services has relocated its engineering and construction operations from Baton Rouge to Three Lakeway Place in Metairie, marking a strategic investment in the Greater Ne… Already an INSIDER? Sign in. Already an INSIDER? Sign in
Accelerating Science: A Blueprint for a Renewed National Quantum Initiative
Sustained U.S. leadership in quantum information science is critical to ensuring that breakthroughs in computing, sensing, networking and materials translate into secure technologies and industries, a skilled domestic workforce and long-term strategic advantage. To secure this future, Congress must act and reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative (NQI).
Trump’s immigration approach is gumming up the courts, frustrating his DOJ and judges
The Justice Department and federal courts are struggling to keep up with the exponential increase in federal court cases of immigrants in custody who are challenging their detentions, another result of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies across the country.
Learner Tien shuts down Trump question at Australian Open amid political grilling of American players
American tennis players at the Australian Open continue to face political questions about the Trump administration, with rising star Learner Tien becoming the latest to decline comment.
Australian Open semifinals set: Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner advance
The Australian Open bracket thinned out on the men's and women's side entering the final stage
Pegula beats fellow American Anisimova to finally reach Australian Open semis
It marked Pegula’s 14th win in her past 15 matches against fellow Americans.
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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