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What’s new in Android’s February 2026 Google System Updates
The monthly “Google System Release Notes” primarily detail what’s new in Play services, Play Store, and Play system update across...
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.
February brings live music, wine festivals and casino shows
Discover February concerts, wine events and casino shows across Northern California, from Thunder Valley to Lodi and Livermore.
Open thread: Maryland men’s lacrosse
Your open space to chat Terps men’s lacrosse.
RWJBarnabas Health Announces Standardized Visiting Hours Across Its Hospitals
To further support its commitment to delivering a consistent and positive patient experience, RWJBarnabas Health has implemented standardized visiting hours across its acute-care hospitals effective February 2, 2026. Under the updated guidelines, general visiting hours for all RWJBarnabas Health adult acute-care hospitals will be held 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Ring brings its 'Search Party' feature for finding lost dogs to non-Ring camera owners
Ring's Search Party feature for finding lost dogs is now available across the U.S. — even if you don't own a Ring camera.
Adobe Firefly offers unlimited image and video generations
Adobe is removing generation limits from Firefly, giving subscribers unlimited image and video generations across. But you have to act quick.
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
Vatican Sports Cross Arrives in Milan Ahead of 2026 Olympics
The Vatican’s Sports Cross arrived in Milan ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, highlighting faith, sport, peace, and fraternity.
HHS exploring how to bolster medical imaging exchange across healthcare ecosystem
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology recently released a call for public comment on the work of radiologists
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…
Indie critical darling Cairn climbs Steam charts, reaches 200k copies sold on PC and PS5 in first weekend
Mountain-climbing indie game Cairn has already sold over 200,000 copies across PC and PS5, studio The Game Bakers has announced.
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 […]
Are western New Yorkers spending more on digital entertainment as winter sets in?
As winter settles across Genesee County, colder evenings and shorter days are reshaping how households in Batavia and nearby communities spend their discretionary dollars. With outdoor options limited and heating
Meet the Class of 2025 Arizona Sports Hall of Fame
Seven standout athletes and leaders are being honored for shaping Arizona’s sports legacy across generations. Meet the Class of 2025 Arizona Sports Hall of Fame
2026 Marquette Women’s Lacrosse Season Preview: Three Big Questions
Sometimes the Big Questions heading into a season are just as simple as scoring, defending, and reaching the Big East tournament.
Escape from Tarkov ducks for its first major crossover event
Battlestate Games has confirmed its first major crossover event is on the way, and it's with Escape from Duckov.
St. Peter’s Health Partners Medical Associates Welcomes Dr. Olufemi Akinyede
St. Peter's Health Partners Medical Associates is pleased to welcome Olufemi Akinyede, MD, to St. Peter’s Family Medicine in Latham. An experienced family medicine physician, Dr. Akinyede, provides comprehensive primary care and family health services to individuals across all stages of life.
Employers are spreading raises like peanut butter – and workers are paying the price
These across-the-board raises to all employees versus individual performance-based raises are simply lazy
Medicaid expansion ballot campaign relaunches and is collecting signatures
'The relaunch comes as the healthcare crisis across the nation and particularly in Florida continues to deepen.'
'Bridgerton' Is Finally Back — And It Surprises In All The Right Ways
Season 4 of the Netflix series puts the spotlight on a cross-class love story.
Actor Shia LaBeouf spotted in El Paso again
The "Transformers" star was captured outside of El Paso's Finest, a souvenir and fine arts shop across from San Jacinto Plaza on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Feeling sick? Bad flu season gets worse as a 'second peak' looms.
Cases across the country had appeared to decline before new public health data showed upticks in infections.
Lifespan may be 50% heritable, study suggests
A new study suggests that lifespan might be 50% heritable — although for now, it's hard to know if the finding applies across diverse populations.
Israeli strikes kill at least 26 in Gaza, health ministry says, in deadliest day in months
Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 26 people on Saturday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the highest day’s death toll in over two months.
Today’s Wordle Hints for Feb. 1, 2026
Scroll down for hints and conversation about the puzzle for Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.
ICE Minneapolis crackdown: Rift between Target employees, leadership
Across Minneapolis, Target employees are marching and volunteering amid the immigration crackdown, while pressing company leadership to do more
San Francisco businesses prepare for influx of customers in Super Bowl week
The excitement is building across the Bay Area as Super Bowl week gets ready to kickoff in a matter of days.
Anti-ICE protests take place nationwide
Protesters across the nation participated in a general strike on Friday, demonstrating against ICE presence in some cities.
Senate passes government funding deal despite GOP backlash
President Donald Trump made a deal with Democrats to carve out Homeland Security funding and allow Congress to debate new restrictions on federal immigration raids across the country.
‘It’s a substantial amount’: BCBS faces criticism over $800 refund delay for Oakland County couple
An Oakland County couple said they were over $800 out because Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan wouldn’t refund their overpayment.
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.
‘ICE Out’ national event leads to protests, small business closures across Vermont
At least 15 small businesses closed Friday as part of a national movement in response to immigrant enforcement actions in Minneapolis.
Public Health Student Association nurtures connection across disciplines - UT Health San Antonio
The Public Health Student Association at the Kate Marmion School of Public Health provides students a supportive, inclusive environment that encourages learning, professional development and networking opportunities.
Businesses in Maine, across New England closed today for national ICE protest
Dozens of businesses in Maine and across New England will be closed on Friday as part of a national protest against recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Minneapolis and elsewhere. ICE was in Maine as recently as last week, and many Portland businesses have shut down for the day as a way of showing their solidarity with immigrant…
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.
CT’s largest business group lays out top priorities. They sound familiar
Speakers said Connecticut is at a crossroads with a mixed economic picture, uncertainty due to federal policy changes, inflation and cost of living.
Portland businesses closing Friday for 'National Shutdown' strike amid federal immigration concerns
Multiple businesses and restaurants across Portland are expected to close Friday, Jan. 30, in solidarity with a “National Shutdown” strike responding to growing concerns over federal immigration enforcement nationwide. The […]
Notre Dame Men’s Lacrosse Schedule…and other news
News and notes for Notre Dame Men’s Lacrosse
Newcastle United pushing hard to sign Barcelona youth team gem
According to a recent report from SPORT, a new name from Barcelona’s youth setup has begun attracting serious attention from across Europe. As such, Premier League side Newcastle United are making ...
The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics
Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.
Phoenix businesses join nationwide 'ICE Out' to protest immigration raids
Several local businesses across the Valley will close their doors Friday, Jan. 30, as part of a nationwide "ICE Out" shutdown to protest recent federal immigration operations.
“It was insane to see”: Owner reacts after car crashes into Kansas City, Kansas, business
A car crashed into a Kansas City, Kansas, business Thursday morning, sending debris across the block and leaving the storefront boarded up.
Falcons hiring Ian Cunningham as GM: Matt Ryan tabs popular candidate to complete braintrust
The general manager role in Atlanta is like most other GM gigs across the league with one exception.
Midtown businesses to close Friday as part of national ICE protest
Businesses in Minneapolis and across the country will close Friday to protest ICE activity.
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.
NASA considering alternatives for Gateway logistics
NASA is at a “crossroads” in deciding how to handle logistics for the lunar Gateway as it considers alternative approaches.
Three months after Hurricane Melissa: PAHO continues supporting health system recovery across the Caribbean
Washington, DC, 28 January 2026 (PAHO)- Ninety days after Hurricane Melissa swept across parts of the Caribbean, countries are transitioning from emergency response toward recovery—while continuing to confront public health risks linked to damaged infrastructure, disrupted services, and heightened vulnerability to disease. The Category 5 storm made landfall first in Jamaica on 28 October 2025, causing widespread damage in several Caribbean nations, mainly across Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti, and placing sustained pressure on national health systems.
Rochester businesses join Friday’s national strike against ICE
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – In response to the immigration crackdown taking place in Minnesota, businesses across the country and close to home are planning to go on strike this Friday. It’…
Thom Browne Is the King of the Sports-Fashion Crossover
From dressing LeBron and Serena to hosting an annual football game, few designers are as tapped in to the world of athletics as the shrunken-suit OG.
Multiple Upstate NY businesses to close Friday for national anti-ICE shutdown
Multiple cafes, restaurants and shops across Upstate New York will close their doors Friday in protest of recent federal immigration enforcement.
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,
FOX Sports Unveils Historic FIFA World Cup 2026™ Broadcast Schedule - Fox Sports Press Pass
Monumental Slate Features 340 Hours of Live First-Run Programming Across FOX Sports Platforms for This Summer’s Global Event All-New Record 70 Matches on Network Television and Unprecedented 40 Matches in Primetime Every Match will Stream Live and On-Demand in 4K on FOX […]
Xevant Named a 2025 Modern Healthcare Best in Business Company for AI
Xevant, a leader in real-time pharmacy benefits intelligence, today announced it has been named a 2025 Modern Healthcare Best in Business company in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) category. The recognition honors healthcare suppliers and technology partners whose innovations delivered measurable impact across the healthcare ecosystem in 2025.
Top 100 transfer portal players for 2026: Destinations and impact projections
There's a ton of talent on the move, and it has the potential to shift the balance of power across the college football landscape
35 undocumented immigrants arrested in Zipps Sports Grill operation
Federal agents executed search warrants at 15 Zipps locations across metro Phoenix.
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.
5 Costco TVs That Are Perfect For The Super Bowl
Here are 5 Costco TVs from different brands and across various price points to enjoy the Super Bowl. You can pick from multiple size options.
N-able Ushers in New Era of Business Resilience Fueled by AI
BURLINGTON, Mass., January 29, 2026--N-able, Inc. (NYSE: NABL), a global software company delivering an end-to-end cyber resilience platform, today announced enhanced AI capabilities across its platform to help organizations operate securely, efficiently, and resiliently as AI reshapes both cyberthreats and IT complexity.
Inside Maryland’s High-Stakes Bid for Trump’s $50 Billion Rural Health Fund
The White House asked states to compete for a rare pot of new money dedicated to transforming health care across rural America.
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.
Palat scores, assists in Islanders' 5-2 win over Rangers
Ondrej Palat scored the opening goal and added an assist in his debut with the New York Islanders, who defeated their cross-town rival New York Rangers 5-2 on Wednesday night. Simon Holmstrom had a goal and two assists, David Rittich made 14 saves, and the Islanders won their second straight game. Mathew Barzal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Emil Heineman also scored.
International Business Machines Q4 Earnings Call Highlights
International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) executives highlighted a year of accelerating growth and record cash generation during the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call, pointing to strong performance across Software and Infrastructure and outlining expectations to sustain momentum into 202
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.
How Ohio mayors are responding to ICE
The fatal shooting of two Minneapolis residents by federal agents this month has triggered protests in cities across the country, as well as a range of responses from local officials.
Federal court documents outlines allegations against Zipps Sports Grill
Newly obtained court documents are revealing more about why federal agent conducted searches at more than a dozen Zipps Sports Grill across the Valley.
Teen Mental Health and School-Based Services in California
About 3 in 10 California teens report serious psychological distress, yet significant gaps exist between the need for mental health care and receipt of services. This report examines teen mental health and access to care across demographic groups and describes how state and district funding have expanded school-based solutions.
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.
Pa. county commissioners call for $40M increase to support mental health services
HARRISBURG — County leaders from across Pennsylvania on Wednesday called on legislators and Gov. Josh Shapiro to provide an additional $40 million in funding for county mental health services in
Windows 11 will support resuming Spotify, web browsing, and other apps from Android
Microsoft might’ve ditched Android apps in Windows 11 a couple of years ago, but that doesn’t mean it’s abandoned cross-platform...
Roadkill is a surprising and untapped source for scientists
Millions of animals unfortunately die on roads each year, but the casualties hold important data.
Disney Entertainment Television Unveils 2026 Directing & Writing Program Participants
EXCLUSIVE: Disney Entertainment Television has chosen its participants for the 2025-26 Directing and Writing Programs, talent development initiatives which connect emerging writers and directors with opportunities across DET’s scripted and unscripted television slate. “This year’s cohorts reflect the bold, original voices that will help shape the next era of television,” said Tim McNeal, senior vice …
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.
Premise Health and Crossover Health sign an agreement to create one unified company
/PRNewswire/ -- Premise Health and Crossover Health today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to merge. The unified organization will...
AEYE Health Expands Epic Integration for Portable Fully-Autonomous AI Eye Screening Across the US Healthcare System
/PRNewswire/ -- AEYE Health, the leading company in retinal diagnostics and developer of AEYE-DS, the fastest growing solution for diabetic eye exams in the...
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
Movies and TV shows casting across the US
Backstage compiled a list of movies and TV shows casting across the US.
Three-time UT San Antonio graduate advances health research across South Texas
Alumna Rebecca Jones' path to public health research at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine began at UT San Antonio.
Parental firearm injury linked to increased mental health burden in children
Each year, 20,000 children and adolescents across the U.S. lose a parent to gun violence, while an estimated two to three times more have a parent who has been injured due to a firearm. To better understand ...
6 more Central Florida restaurants close over health violations
Last week, half a dozen eateries across Central Florida were forced to close after a visit from a health inspector, according to state records.
NI health: About 200,000 extra patients seen to tackle NI waiting lists
The Department of Health says across the past year, "significant gains have been achieved".
Vegas sportsbook invests ahead of packed 2026 sports calendar
With Super Bowl Sunday just days away, sportsbooks across the Las Vegas Valley are preparing for one of their busiest days of the year — and looking well beyond
Feds OK New Mexico's $382 million broadband expansion plan for homes, businesses
The funding is slated to serve more than 42,000 unserved and underserved homes and businesses across the state.
Zipps Sports Grill releases statement on federal raids
'WE ARE COOPERATING FULLY': One day after federal agents served more than a dozen search warrants at Zipps Sports Grill locations across the Valley, the company issued a response.
Caitlin Clark joining NBC Sports for its new Sunday night NBA pregame show
Clark's crossover appeal will be on display for a national NBA audience.
How One Business School In Minneapolis Is Navigating The ICE Surge
The University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business campus in downtown Minneapolis, where administrators say students have reported feeling safer on campus than in surrounding neighborhoods amid heightened federal immigration enforcement across ... The post How One Business School In Minneapolis Is Navigating The ICE Surge appeared first on Poets&Quants.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Trains Nearly 500 Professionals to Strengthen Special Pathogen Readiness across HHS Region 2 - NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue announced today that it has trained close to 500 health care and public health professionals across four jurisdictions in
National retail chain closing its clothing stores across LA, including at the Riverwalk outlets
Open since 1999, women’s clothing chain had more than 450 locations across the U.S.
Android adds ‘Failed Authentication Lock’ setting, boosts failed passcode lockout
Google today detailed the latest device theft protection features for Android across stronger authentication and enhanced recovery tools.
Range Sports Acquires Live Experiences Company Superfly
Range will launch a new live division with experiential opportunities across sports, entertainment, music and more. The deal does not include the company's ownership interest in Outside Lands.
Patriot League and CBS Sports Reach Multi-Year Television Extension
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League and CBS Sports announce a multi-year television deal that will extend their 23-year relationship. Under the agreement, CBS Sports Network will air Patriot League men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse and a variety of other sports.
How Climate Superfund Bills Use Science to Make Polluters Pay
This week, communities across the country are asking their state legislators for a common-sense solution—using a practice that's been around for decades—to make polluters pay. In 1980, following decades of high-profile disasters from toxic pollution, Congress passed the Comprehensive Environmenta
Launch of the United Advocacy Working Group for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH)
A new United Advocacy Working Group for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) has been officially launched to strengthen coordination and collective voice across global, regional and country levels. Established as a light-touch platform, the Working Group aims to align advocacy efforts, share evidence and political intelligence, and coordinate key messages and moments in support of EWENE-CSA priorities and the broader MNCH agenda.
Scientists Push for More Ambitious Climate Targets
Researchers say a line has been crossed. For systems like coral reefs and ice sheets, the climate is already past safe.
Zipps Sports Grill raided as federal authorities serve search warrants across metro Phoenix
Federal authorities say more than a dozen search warrants were served Monday in metro Phoenix in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation.
Want to Fly Business Class to Europe for Less? Try This Airline You've Never Heard of
When crossing the pond to Europe, there are a wide range of airline options. But some fly a bit more under the radar, as it were.
Federal agents target Zipps Sports Grill locations in criminal investigation
Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations and several partner agencies served 15 search warrants at Zipps Sports Grill locations across the Phoenix area Monday as part of a months-long criminal investigation.