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Tigers take care of business at Woodland Hills
North Allegheny traveled to Woodland Hills High School on Friday night to take on the Wolverines in a Section 1-6A battle. The Tigers took care of business defeating Woodland Hills, 44-11. NA jumped all over the Wolverines defensively only allowing one field goal in the opening frame to lead 15-3 after a quarter of play…. More »
Tigers take care of business at Woodland Hills
North Allegheny traveled to Woodland Hills High School on Friday night to take on the Wolverines in a Section 1-6A battle. The Tigers took care of business defeating Woodland Hills, 44-11. NA jumped all over the Wolverines defensively only allowing one field goal in the opening frame to lead 15-3 after a quarter of play…. More »
Planned Parenthood, reproductive healthcare could receive $90 million in new state funding
California will bolster funding for Planned Parenthood and other providers of reproductive health with a one-time infusion of $90 million, leaders of the state Legislature announced Friday.
Islanders seek fourth straight win against visiting Predators
Under head coach Barry Trotz, the New York Islanders reached the NHL semifinals in 2020 and 2021 - the deepest playoff trips for the Islanders since their run of five straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final ended in 1984.
Scanlon’s campaign, Bronin endorsement: CT Politics news
Plus: Updates on the Connecticut Education Issues Summit, the Council of Small Towns, and the Planning and Development Committee.
Another government shutdown looms -- what you need to know : The NPR Politics Podcast
After immigration officials killed two people in Minneapolis this month, congressional Democrats demanded funding for immigration action be separated from other government funding. That's leading to a potential, partial, government shutdown. We unpack the latest from Capitol Hill.Then, why did the FBI raid Fulton County, Ga.'s election center this week, and what does it have to do with President Trump's continued false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen?And, we bid a fond farewell to one of our podcast stalwarts.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, immigration policy correspondent Ximena Bustillo, political reporter Stephen Fowler, senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and political correspondent Sarah McCammon.This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
These New Orleans businesses and restaurants are participating in national ICE Out protest
“We're excited about the possibility of not only bringing attention to what we don't want to happen in our communities, and then hopefully, you know, raise some good money to give voice and enable those who are defending people who are our neighbors,” the owner of Flour Moon said.
Lapsed Milwaukee County health care contract poses 'catastrophic risk'
Milwaukee County is scrambling to address a lapse in one of its largest contracts, covering employee health care , after it expired in 2025.
A Secret Panel to Question Climate Science Was Unlawful, Judge Rules
The researchers produced a report a that was central in a Trump administration effort to stop regulating climate pollution.
Tuch sets Sabres' sights on Stanley Cup
The forward is not content with just making the playoffs.
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.
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.
HEINEKEN completes acquisition of FIFCO’s beverage and retail businesses
It's Official! Heineken & Imperial - It's Official Shaping what's next Heineken & Imperial - shaping what's next HEINEKEN completes acquisition of FIFCO’s beverage and retail businesses The closing of the landmark transaction reinforces HEINEKEN’s strategic position in Central America and unlocks significant new growth opportunities. Amsterdam, January 30th, 2026, Heineken N.V. (HEINEKEN) today announced the completion of its acquisition of FIFCO’s beverage and retail businesses, following the r
150-acre sports complex delayed after outcry from Wisconsin residents
After listening for hours of residents' opposition to the plan, the Big Bend Plan Commission tabled action on The Breck. It could still return.
The $2,900 Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold Phone Sells Out Online in Minutes
It might be shockingly expensive, but early signs suggest Samsung's phone with three screens is in demand.
Interim tag removed, Jordan Skolnick named Delaware athletic director
Skolnick has been part of Blue Hens' athletic staff since 2016 move from Michigan
Barry Manilow’s Upstate NY farewell shows are on sale now: Where to buy tickets
The farewell tour kicks off Feb. 27 and includes stops in Albany and Buffalo.
Don Lemon Arrested in Connection with ICE Protest Coverage
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the former CNN anchor and three others — including another journalist — were taken into custody.
Immigration enforcement drives possible U.S. government shutdown
The Senate has reached an impasse with a temporary spending plan due to debates over Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
Women Are More Likely Than Men to Endorse Political Violence
A new survey finding points to the dangers of digital outrage culture.
These Utah businesses will close — or donate from their sales — Friday to protest Minnesota immigration crackdown
One Salt Lake City bookstore will be closed Friday, but will reopen in the evening so people can gather to write letters or make safety kits. Another will stay open and donate a portion of its sales to a west-side school.
Whole Hog Politics: Georgia always on Trump’s mind
[Watch Whole Hog Politics live: Join us today at 9 a.m. ET at TheHill.com as Chris Stirewalt and host Bill Sammon break down this week’s political news and answer questions from a live online audie…
I Treat Pregnant Moms. I’ve Never Seen So Much Anxiety.
As our government abandons science, pregnant women are increasingly turning to unvetted online resources to soothe their worries.
LG's leaving Samsung unchallenged in a key next-gen TV category
There's only one big hitter left
S.F. opens health clinic to tackle pollution in Bayview-Hunters Point — a long time coming
Fears of exposure to radiation from the Hunters Point Shipyard prompted the Department of Public Health to open the clinic.
Lancaster County public sales: Jan. 30, 2026
Martin & Rutt Auctioneers LLC, of New Holland, conducted a public auction of real estate Jan. 21 at 181 Eastbrook Road, Smoketown. A three-bedroom brick rancher with one-car garage on
Sources: Main Street Sports facing real possibility of liquidation
Unless 11th-hour financing can coerce its nine MLB teams to stay put, Main Street Sports Group could have little choice but to file for Chapter 7 and immediately liquidate its business next week
How the Miami RedHawks became college basketball's most unlikely undefeated team
At 21-0, the Miami (Ohio) men's basketball team is one of just two remaining undefeated Division I men's teams. Here's how the RedHawks got here
How Trump's Tom Tiffany endorsement scrambles Wisconsin governor race
Tom Tiffany is now running alone in the Republican field for governor while seven Democrats battle it out. Here's how that changes the race.
March Madness bubble watch: Indiana becomes NCAA Tournament contender
The NCAA men's tournament bubble will only get shorter as February rolls around, and Indiana has inserted itself into the March Madness conversation.
Friends basketball star wins Week 8 Delaware Online Athlete of the Week, presented by Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists
Athlete of the Week voting runs Monday through Thursday each week.
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.
Genes play a big part in driving lifespan, scientists find
How long a person lives may not only be down to their lifestyle - but their genetic makeup too, research suggests.
Fantasy Bundesliga: Scout squads for Matchday 20
Bulinews' Fantasy Bundesliga writers have each put together a squad of 10 outfield players for the upcoming matchday.Managers have full freedom with formations, but squads can’t exceed 110M, can onl...
Science Fair spotlights student talent in STEM
The Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance Science Fair, returning Feb. 12, is an annual event that not only inspires young minds in Green Country but also showcases the potential of Oklahoma’s
Sports Take: Super Bowl shows why NFL teams shouldn’t give up on QBs so quickly
The NFL is witnessing a growing trend of teams dumping young quarterbacks after only a few seasons. Stories of some of these quarterbacks reviving their careers prove that teams should invest in these players to develop into pro-level passers. The trend also serves as a warning for up-and-coming college quarterbacks.
Some businesses that closed for Minnesota general strike won't shut down for national one
Illinois overscomes clunky start, extends winning streak to 10
CHAMPAIGN — Illinois freshman sensation Keaton Wagler was welcomed with an especially loud cheer from the State Farm Center crowd as he was introduced on Thursday night. And for a microscopic moment, it appeared history could continue to follow him as he was the only Illini to score points through the first six-plus minutes of […]
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.
Possible measles exposure at UNC Nash County Health Department after child tests positive
Nash County health leaders are sending out a warning about a potential measles exposure after a child who visited the UNC Health Nash Emergency Department on Tuesday tested positive for the disease. Anyone who was at the health department between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. Tuesday may have been exposed.
Louisville Defeats Stanford 84-66
Louisville played a balanced game against Stanford and never trailed and racked up another 20-win season. They finished with five players in double figures with Mackenly Randolph and Laura Ziegler having career highs. However, Coach Jeff Walz was not impressed with his team’s outing. Coach Walz said, “Actually I don’t think we played well at […]
Windows 11 KB5074105 25H2 adds Android Resume feature, direct download links for .msu (offline installer)
Windows 11 KB5074105 is now rolling out, and it's a feature-packed update with Android Resume for version 25H2 or 24H2.
U.S. News recognizes Loyola's online Master of Science in Data Science
Loyola University Maryland’s Master of Science in Data Science was named one of the “Best Online Master’s in Info Tech Programs for 2026" by U.S. News & World Report, ranking No. 34 out of 106 universities chosen for the list. Loyola rose 17 spots after ranking No. 51 last year.
Stephanie Grace: Washington Mardi Gras attempts to bypass politics. It only somewhat succeeds.
If there’s a key word to the annual Washington Mardi Gras, it’s camaraderie. Yet as columnist Stephanie Grace reports from the nation’s capital, politics are never far from the surface.
Josh Allen Disrespects Patriots In New Sore Loser Comments
It’s always unlikable when a pro athlete plays the “shoulda, woulda, coulda” game during interviews, and that’s what Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen just did. In a new presser, Allen insinuated that if he’d made one more play against the Denver Broncos in the Divisional round, the Bills would be headed to the Super Bowl […]
Which Portland businesses are participating in the Jan. 30 general strike?
Some Portland restaurants, bookstores and cafes are shuttering for the day as part of a nationwide protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement following recent shooting deaths by federal agents.
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.
Minnesota shooting blurs political lines around guns : The NPR Politics Podcast
Alex Pretti was carrying a permitted gun when he had a confrontation with federal agents who ultimately shot and killed him. While the Trump administration pointed to his gun as a reason for agents to fear for their safety, pro-gun groups argued Pretti had a right to carry. We discuss the rhetoric around guns and how marginalized communities in Minneapolis have been increasingly turning toward gun ownership.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, domestic extremism correspondent Odette Yousef, and senior political editor and correspondent Mara Liasson.This podcast was produced and edited by Lexie Schapitl and Bria Suggs.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
East Derry business owners add to their collection
An East Derry couple has added one more local business venture to their list.
Google Project Genie lets you create interactive worlds from a photo or prompt
Project Genie lets you generate new worlds 60 seconds at a time, but only if you pay for AI Ultra.
Google gives Pixel Tablet another two years of Android OS updates
Google’s mostly-forgotten Pixel Tablet is getting a new lease on life, as the company is giving its one and only...
Shaw’s ‘diamond in the rough’ goes from basketball-only to committing to LSU for football
Jackson Williams’ future appeared to be on the basketball court, but a transfer from Newman to Shaw put him on a new path to LSU football. Here’s his story.
Out West Midland launches as new live entertainment promoter in West Texas
A new chapter in West Texas live entertainment is underway as Out West Midland, led by partners Sean Elphick, Ariel Herrera, Aidan Acosta, and Logan Acosta, launches with a commitment to continue the growth of live events in the Permian Basin. The 2026 Out West Midland concert season will feature a limited run of live [...]
Trump Says He Only Appeared to Nod Off in Last Cabinet Meeting Because It Was ‘Boring’
Mr. Trump’s allies have strenuously insisted that he was alert and attentive at the meeting last month. The president said he had only closed his eyes.
Make an Honest Living in Three New GTA Online Odd Jobs
Join the ranks of the Los Santos Fire Department as a Firefighter, load up delivery vans for Alpha Mail as a Forklift Operator, or deliver the old-fashioned printed version of the Los Santos Meteor with a Paper Route in three new Odd Jobs now available...
Two New Pixel Buds 2a Colors Reportedly Leak Online
Two fresh color options for Google’s budget earbuds appear to be on the way, with leaked renders pointing to a lighter gray tone and a vivid pink or red
Trailer: Dirty Rotten Scandals Coming Soon To E! Entertainment
E!’s new documentary series exposes the dark side of our pop culture obsessions! The Dr. Phil Show, America’s Next Top Model, and The Price is Right. Dirty Rotten Scandals premieres Wednesday, March 4th on E!
Samsung’s confusing Galaxy S26 pricing raises base model cost, but makes Ultra cheaper
New reports reveal that Samsung is, in fact, planning to raise the price of the Galaxy S26 series, but only...
HIV: A Treatment Triumph Still Searching For Basic Science Answers
Molly Ohainle was growing up in the Bay Area when the AIDS crisis hit. She lost both of her uncles to HIV. Now, she researches HIV as a professor of immunology and molecular medicine at UC
Beyond Entertainment: When Theatre Makes You Think
Three plays performed as stage readings February 6-8, features an audience talk back afterwards, with complimentary desert and coffee. A fundraiser as well for the Bear Theatre ($25 tickets, $50 for all three shows), located inside Community High...
Meta Stock Jumps After AI 'Book of Business' Hits $12.5B
META Shares Climb on Strong Advertising and AI Growth
Survey: Parents a top reason youth coaches quit
Most of America's youth-sport coaches are feeling burned out and fed up with verbal harassment and abuse, mainly from parents of athletes, according to a national survey released Thursday by the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
Hy-Vee launches a new food health tool. How does it work?
A new online tool for Hy-Vee aims to help customers simplify evaluating their food choices for better health.
Newport News creates a new vibe: City forms nonprofit to support entertainment events
Newport News will create a nonprofit called NNVibes to help coordinate large-scale entertainment events. This comes after Mayor Phillip Jones announced the city will host a major music festival lat…
More KC businesses train workers on ICE protocols
Kansas City business owners are prepping staff for rising ICE activity in workplaces.
Tomodachi Life™: Living the Dream for Nintendo Switch
Buy Tomodachi Life™: Living the Dream and shop other great Nintendo products online at the official My Nintendo Store.
Small Business Promotion Week: WashSmart Laundry
You won’t find any coins at this laundromat. WashSmart Laundry in North Arlington prides themselves not only on being coinless, but they also offer the latest high-powered, energy-efficient washers and dryers that not only clean faster but leave clothes “feeling softer.”
The Joy Rematch: How can sports win over non-fans?
How can sports leagues attract non-fans? Download The Joy Rematch to see how leagues can secure this untapped market.
Why is India’s Nipah virus outbreak spooking the world?
The virus spreads from animals to humans, via person-to-person contact or through consuming contaminated food.
Hampton Town Meeting preview: Voters to weigh ICE pact, business trash
Should the town budget and proposed money articles gain approval, a homeowner with a $600,000 property will see a $301.24 increase in their tax bill.
AirTag 2 vs. AirTag 1: Comparing Apple's Upgraded Tracker
Two AirTag generations enter the ring, only one leaves (but don't worry, both are easily found later).
Popular streaming service is shutting down. Here’s when it will start going offline
Nintendo might have accidentally revealed when the shutdown will be begin.
ACU Sports Podcast: Wildcat Annual Fund Director Anthony Egbo
Anthony Egbo, former ACU football player and current director of the Wildcat Annual Fund, talks about ACU Athletics' unique approach to philanthropy, what to expect for ACU Gives, and shares stories of how ACU has impacted student-athletes' lives even if they are only a Wildcat for a year or two.
Are men being misled over testosterone?
In part one of a miniseries exploring the popularity of testosterone, Madeleine Finlay hears from Professor Channa Jayasena of Imperial College London, who is chair of the Society for Endocrinology, about how this craze is manifesting in NHS clinics, and from ‘Sam’ who tells Madeleine about his own journey with the hormone
Titans reportedly to hire Greg Lewis as wide receivers coach
The Tennessee Titans have reportedly found their new wide receivers coach.
LeBron James scores only 11 points in what could be his final game in Cleveland, as Cavs throttle Lakers
It wasn't LeBron's night, although Bronny James scored eight points down the stretch of the blowout.
The President Sees Iran as a Gas Station with a Flag
Get ready—Trump is going to be talking about the country for a while to cover for the fact that he’s backed down on Greenland and Minneapolis.
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.
Online Gambling Corrupts Sports—And Americans, Too
The legalization of sports betting, especially at the college level, is a corruption not only of athletics and of education but of American society in general.
Business Coach Arnaud CZ Releases Free Course to Help Corporate Fathers Build Side Income Amid Rising Job Uncertainty
PRAGUE, CZECHIA, Jan. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arnaud CZ, founder of the $100k Dad system, specializing in corporate-to-entrepreneur transit...
Open Gaming Collective (OGC) formed to push Linux gaming even further
An exciting new announcement is the formation of the Open Gaming Collective, a collaborative organisation between many names in the Linux sphere.
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.
Big businesses back Trump accounts
Companies will match government contributions to investment accounts for newborns after a push from the White House.
Betly expands online casino offering through new partnership with Inspired Entertainment
Delaware North’s Betly iCasino in West Virginia today announced a new partnership with Inspired Entertainment, a leading provider of innovative online casino content.
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
Internal review contradicts Trump administration on Alex Pretti shooting : The NPR Politics Podcast
An initial internal review into federal immigration officers’ fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last weekend contradicts the description of the incident by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. We discuss President Trump’s shifting messages on immigration policy and how his administration’s efforts to restrict legal immigration pathways are changing the political environment. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, immigration policy correspondent Ximena Bustillo, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Bria Suggs and Lexie Schapitl, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
Kansas basketball joins CBS Sports Classic event through 2029
Kansas basketball is still in the midst of its 2025-26 season, but the team’s schedule for 2026-27 — and the future — is taking shape. Here’s more.
High school roundup: Hastie’s shot lifts Pelham boys
Gavin Hastie’s jumper in the lane with 1.5 seconds remaining lifted the Pelham boys basketball team past host Lebanon, 50-48, in a Division II contest on Tuesday night.
From Clawdbot to Moltbot: How This AI Agent Went Viral, and Changed Identities, in 72 Hours
An AI tool that can text you and use your apps? It blew up online. What came next involved crypto scammers, IP lawyers and more.
Ray J says he has only a short time left to live after hospitalization: 'Heart is only beating, like, 25 percent'
Ray J says he was notified by doctors that he only has a short time left to live after his recent hospitalization: 'My heart is only beating, like, 25 percent.'
Marco Rubio admits Trump confused Iceland with Greenland
Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted during a Senate hearing on Jan. 28 that his boss confused Iceland with Greenland during a speech last week.
Footy Fix: Catch Champions League action only on Paramount+
All eyes will be on Napoli where Chelsea chase top 8 and the hosts look to sneak into the top 24
Arctic scientists 'feel pretty uncomfortable' on Greenland
Science in the Arctic — and Greenland — is on the frontline of pressing challenges facing humanity, like climate change and genetics. Some researchers worry international collaboration is at risk.
Health insurers dodge Trump's pricing crackdown, for now
While the president's ire can return on a whim, the prospect of an Oval Office dressing down appears, for the moment, off the table.
Samsung teases new privacy feature to hide your Galaxy phone screen from onlookers
Samsung said that the upcoming feature will let you protect selected parts of the screen like notification popup area.
Getting yelled at comes with the job. Why Sacramento youth sports officials still show up
Youth sports officials in the Sacramento region face unsportsmanlike fans that make them sometimes question the work.
Leaker makes unlikely claim about improved iPhone 18 telephoto lens
A leaker better known for posting about Android smartphones has made a claim potentially pointing to improved telephoto performance in...
What to Know About Skimo, the 2026 Olympics' Only New Sport
Ski mountaineering makes its debut at the Milano Cortina Winter Games
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