SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " pending " 1,862 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Ravens TE Isaiah Likely on impending free agency: Baltimore is home but business is business
After four years in Baltimore, Isaiah Likely is potentially a few weeks away from testing free agency for the first time in his NFL career. While Likely recently noted his affinity for the Ravens, he also recognizes the other opportunities out there.
Business Lookahead: Nvidia earnings take center stage
STORY: As global markets react to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on President Trump's tariffs, Nvidia earnings head for center stage. These are the stories to watch in business and finance in the coming week. :: Nvidia's momentMarkets will be watching for Nvidia's quarterly results Wednesday...as investors worry about returns on AI spending and industry disruptions caused by the emerging tech.Nvidia shares have soared following the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022.But shares of the company and others in the "Magnificent Seven" have stalled so far in 2026.:: Anniversary angstTuesday marks the four-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.While the push for a ceasefire continues, getting one over the line remains difficult.Ukraine has faced sustained pressure to agree to a deal that could mean painful concessions, as Russian forces pound its power grid and slowly advance on the battlefield.The International Monetary Fund looks set to rubberstamp extended support, meaning Kyiv's bonds are flying high.:: Key Australia dataAustralia's consumer price reading Wednesday will be closely watched by investors, who are betting the central bank will hike rates at least once more this year.Earlier this month, Australia's central bank became the only one in the G10 outside Japan to tighten policy, as it struggles to bring inflation under control in a supply-constrained economy.:: British uneaseBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a reckoning Thursday in a Manchester special election.Investors will be watching the results closely. Friday could be another volatile day for British markets and Westminster.British gilts and the pound wobbled earlier this month as a crisis engulfed Starmer over what he knew of Peter Mandelson's links to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein when he appointed the former as U.S. ambassador.
Red-state auditor's report flags Democratic gov's 'concerning' spending on 'luxury' expenditures
Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear is facing heat from the state's Republican auditor, who released a report outlining questionable spending from the executive branch.
Svetlana Lipyanskaya, MPA, FACHE to be Appointed CEO of Maimonides Health, Pending Final Approval of Partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals - NYC Health + Hospitals
New York, NY — NYC Health + Hospitals today announced that Svetlana Lipyanskaya, MPA, FACHE will be appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Maimonides
With federal dollars secured, Salango details next steps for Capital Sports Center project
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito announced $7 million in congressionally directed spending on Wednesday.
After leaving WHO, Trump officials propose more expensive replacement to duplicate it
HHS proposes spending $2 billion a year to re-create systems the U.S. accessed through the WHO at a fraction of the cost, according to officials briefed on the matter.
Walmart's sales are increasingly driven by higher-income shoppers
Families making less than $50,000 are stretched, though. "In some cases, people are managing spending paycheck to paycheck," the discount chain's CEO said.
Donor moved indoor ASU football practice facility forward
ASU football got some help with its indoor practice facility in the form of a big-spending donor, coach Kenny Dillingham told Arizona Sports.
United States Gift Card Business and Investment Report 2026: A 320+ Billion Market by 2030 Featuring Walmart, Amazon, Costco, Home Depot, Target, Apple, CVS, Sycamore Partners, Kroger, Publix
The US gift card market offers opportunities in four main areas: repositioning gift cards as ecosystem instruments to enhance brand loyalty, embedding them in apps for seamless transactions, using them as controlled corporate spending tools, and bolstering fraud controls. Focus on digital transformation and integration into payment ecosystems is key. U.S. Gift Card Market U.S. Gift Card Market Dublin, Feb. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "United States Gift Card Business and Investment Opportun
Meta's money trickles into Texas elections
The Menlo Park-headquartered company is spending on Republicans and Democrats.
Healthy life expectancy falls across Scotland
New figures show people in Scotland are spending a greater proportion of their life in poor health than previously.
Key piece of Sports Center funding comes through; officials wait on mall outcome
Almost two years after a demolition crew tore down the former Macy’s department store at the Charleston Town Center Mall to make room for the Capital Sports Center Complex, the project has received a key portion of the funding plan: $7 million of Congressionally Directed Spending funds. Officials say they are waiting to see what happens to the Charleston Town Center Mall to move forward.
Colorado’s Medicaid crisis was years in the making
By Greg D’Argonne As the Joint Budget Committee meets to finalize spending decisions for the coming fiscal year, one truth should guide the conversation: Colorado’s health care budget strain did not appear overnight — and it is not the fault of hospitals, doctors, or any medical provider. Health care spending itself is at the heart […]
Vivo V70 is officially here with impressive Zeiss cameras: you're invited to the flagship party!
Spending a ton of cash on Ultras and Pros is not the only way to enjoy mobile photography.
Mike Trout Expected to Move Back to Center Field
Mike Trout is expected to move back to center field for the Los Angeles Angels after spending last season as a right fielder and designated hitter.
US core capital goods orders and shipments increase solidly in December
New orders for key U.S.-manufactured capital goods increased more than expected in December and shipments of these products surged, cementing economists' expectations that business spending on equipment remained solid in the fourth quarter.
Business Restructuring Review
In This Issue: The Year in Bankruptcy: 2025 A brief chronicle of the year's notable developments in corporate bankruptcy and restructuring, including business bankruptcy filings, significant court rulings, and legislative developments. [read more …] U.S. Bankruptcy Court Denies Chapter 15 Recognition of Maltese Liquidation Absent Evidence of Meaningful Activities Supporting Finding of COMI or Establishment in Malta In In re Geden Holdings, Ltd., No. 25-90138, 2025 WL 2484883 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. Aug. 28, 2025), stay pending appeal denied, No. 25-90138, 2026 WL 97993 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. Jan. 13, 2026), the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled that, for purposes of recognition under chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code, although a foreign debtor may have had its center of main interests ("COMI") or an establishment in Malta when a liquidation proceeding was commenced for it in a Maltese court in 2017, the absence of any meaningful activity by the debtor's liquidator from that time until the liquidator filed a chapter 15 petition in the United States more than five years later meant that the debtor had neither a COMI nor an establishment in Malta on the chapter 15 petition date. The court accordingly denied the petition for recognition. [read more …] The Ninth Circuit's Expansive Reading of "Financial Accommodations" that Cannot Be Assumed or Assigned in Bankruptcy It is generally well understood that agreements to extend credit or provide financing to a debtor cannot be assumed or assigned in bankruptcy. Even so, the provision of the Bankruptcy Code that precludes assumption or assignment—section 365(c)(2)—also extends to "financial accommodations," a term that is not defined in the Bankruptcy Code and has been the subject of relatively few bankruptcy and appellate court rulings. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit examined the meaning of the term in In re Svenhard's Swedish Bakery, 154 F.4th 1100 (9th Cir. 2025). The court of appeals ruled that a deeply discounted settlement of pension plan withdrawal liability is a "financial accommodation" that cannot be assumed or assigned, thereby extending the reach of section 365(c)(2) well beyond conventional lending arrangements. [read more …] Pennsylvania District Court Applies "Hypothetical Test" in Determining that Patent License Agreement Is Assignable in Bankruptcy In Crivella Holdings Ltd. v. Mesearch Media Technologies Ltd., No. 2:25-cv-333, 2025 WL 2443400 (W.D. Pa. Aug. 25, 2025), the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania affirmed a bankruptcy court ruling denying a software licensor's motion for relief from the automatic stay to terminate the license agreement. The court found the license was assumable in bankruptcy under the Third Circuit's hypothetical test as a result of language in the agreement stating that it could be assigned to a "successor in interest" of the debtor without the licensor's further consent, thereby overriding federal patent law's general prohibition against the assignment of patents. [read more …] New York Bankruptcy Court Denies Motion to Terminate Chapter 15 Recognition and Dismiss Chapter 15 Case In In re Oi S.A., No. 23-10193 (LGB), 2025 WL 2806591 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Oct. 1, 2025), the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York considered whether chapter 15 recognition of a debtor's Brazilian restructuring proceeding should be terminated and the case dismissed due to the debtors' financial deterioration and inability to satisfy its restructuring plan obligations after entry of the recognition order. The court denied the motion, concluding that recognition of the Brazilian proceeding and a court-approved restructuring plan for the debtors should not be terminated under section 1519(d) of the Bankruptcy Code—according to the court, the sole authority for revocation of chapter 15 recognition—because, among other things, the restructuring proceeding was still pending, the debtors might still need relief authorized under chapter 15, and the debtors' prospects for reorganizing under a hypothetical chapter 11 case were uncertain at best. It also found that no provision of the Bankruptcy Code authorizes the dismissal of a chapter 15 case. [read more …] Newsworthy Effective January 1, 2026, Jones Day welcomed Isel M. Perez (Miami), Andrew M. Butler (New York), Sid Pepels (Amsterdam), and Anna C. Bretting (Munich) to the partnership in the Business Restructuring & Reorganization Practice. Sid Pepels (Amsterdam) has been nominated for the Future Leader Award by the Global Restructuring Review, an organization that acknowledges and honors excellence within the global restructuring and insolvency sector. This award is designed to recognize exceptional contributions made by both individuals and firms in the field. The 2026 edition of Chambers UK recognized Ben Larkin (London) in the practice area Restructuring/Insolvency and Adam R. Brown (London) in the practice area Restructuring/Insolvency: Litigation. The 2026 edition of Chambers Asia-Pacific ranked Roger Dobson (Sydney) in the practice area Restructuring/Insolvency. An article written by Corinne Ball (New York) titled "Backstop Fees for Lenders in Chapter 11 Plans: Absent Market Test, Equality of Treatment Now Required in Fifth Circuit After 'ConvergeOne'" was published on November 12, 2025, in the New York Law Journal. An article written by Oliver S. Zeltner (Houston) titled "Delaware Bankruptcy Court: No Legal Authority for Chapter 11 Plan Gatekeeping Provision" was published on November 20, 2025, by Lexis Practical Guidance. An article written by Daniel J. Merrett (Atlanta) titled "First Impressions: Eleventh Circuit Rules that Annulment of Automatic Stay Does Not Violate U.S. Supreme Court's Prohibition of Nunc Pro Tunc Orders" was published on November 21, 2025, by Lexis Practical Guidance. An article written by Genna Ghaul (New York) titled "Iowa District Court: Avoidance Claims Cannot Be Encumbered by Pre-Bankruptcy Liens" was published on November 20, 2025, by Lexis Practical Guidance. An article written by Dan T. Moss (Washington/New York), Corinne Ball (New York), David S. Torborg (Washington), and Ben Rosenblum (New York) titled "New York Bankruptcy Court Rejects Challenge to Barnet Rule Permitting Foreign Debtors to Obtain Chapter 15 Recognition With Only Minimal U.S. Assets" was published on November 21, 2025, by Lexis Practical Guidance. The M&A Advisor has recognized the Silvergate Capital Corporation Bankruptcy case as the Chapter 11 Reorganization of the Year (over $5 billion) during its 20th Annual Turnaround Awards. Jones Day is listed among the professionals for the representation of Exploration Capital, which was led by Joshua M. Mester (Los Angeles). Lawyer Spotlight: Sid Pepels Sid Pepels, a partner in Jones Day's Amsterdam Office, litigates and advises clients on commercial and international insolvency matters, with a focus on complex restructurings and insolvencies. He has advised and litigated high-profile cases, including: the cross-border WHOA (Wet Homologatie Onderhands Akkoord) proceedings concerning Vroon Group and Diebold Nixdorf; proceedings on behalf of expropriated SNS Reaal bond holders against the Dutch State; the bankruptcy of Intertoys, the leading Dutch toys retailer; the restructuring of Oi, the Dutch finance vehicle of the Brazilian telecom giant; and Blokker, the leading Dutch home appliances retailer. Sid holds a Ph.D. in European insolvency law and regularly publishes in academic journals on topics of cross-border insolvency. He has been recognized in The Legal 500 Netherlands and was noted by his peers for being client-minded and a creative thinker with a "strong grasp of the law and strong interpersonal skills." Sid was also nominated for the "Future Leader" award at the Global Restructuring Review Awards 2025. He is a board member for the Netherlands Association for Comparative and International Insolvency Law and a NextGen member of the International Insolvency Institute.
Atlassian Freezes Hiring Amid Business Software Market Turmoil
Atlassian, which sells software that developers and other teams inside companies use to track projects, has frozen hiring for engineers and similar roles, the Australian Financial Review reported . The hiring freeze comes amid a broad selloff in enterprise software stocks driven by fears that companies could use AI to reduce their spending on traditional business applications, or replace them
A major question in Iran talks: How long will Trump keep the diplomatic window open?
Iranian and American negotiators departed their indirect talks in Geneva with an agreement to keep talking, doing little to ease fears of an impending regional war.
Casagrande: Take that 24-team College Football Playoff plan and shove it
The Big Ten tried to tease us with a plan that was about as enticing as spending January in the Midwest.
Kevin O'Leary Warns '80% Of Businesses Fail In The First 36 Months' As High Customer Acquisition Costs Drain Startups
Investor Kevin O'Leary highlighted that excessive spending to acquire customers is the leading cause of early-stage startup failures and a critical factor for growth potential. High Customer Acquisition Costs Top Reason Startups Fail On Tuesday, O'Leary posted on X, sharing a clip from one of his recent talks, emphasizing the role of customer acquisition costs, or CAC, in startup survival. "Why do 80% of businesses fail in the first 36 months? Customer acquisition cost," O'Leary wrote. He added,
Farm use of PFAS-laden sludge raises health concerns. But, some ask, where else can it go?
A resourceful solution to repurpose waste and nourish farmland, or a poisonous and permanent mistake? Depending on whom you ask, the practice of spreading treated sewage, or sludge, on New Hampshire farmland might be either.
Big tech stocks lose billions as AI spending fears hit valuations
The world's most valuable technology stocks have suffered sharp declines in market value this year after years of outsized gains, as investors question whether heavy spending on AI will generate sufficient returns to justify the lofty valuations.
Padres' Manny Machado praises Dodgers' for spending big on free agents: 'I f***ing love it'
‘I thought they were just going to execute me’: American held in Venezuela during Maduro’s last days tells all
James Luckey-Lange has been spending a lot of time looking at the names he carved on a bar of soap he smuggled out of a Venezuelan prison in his underwear.
Business Lookahead: Giddy Up
STORY: From bellwether Walmart reporting earnings... to new economic data out of the UK... these are the stories to watch in business and finance in the coming week.:: The trillion dollar clubFresh off hitting $1 trillion in market value, Walmart posts quarterly results on Thursday.Walmart's report offers a glimpse into consumer spending after recent data showed December U.S. retail sales were unexpectedly flat.A surprisingly strong employment report for January eased some concerns about economic weakening.Economic reports in the coming week include the advance reading of fourth-quarter GDP, a monthly consumer sentiment survey, and the personal consumption expenditures price index, a key inflation measure.:: Heavy metalsEurope's four largest mining companies report earnings in the coming week.Copper, gold, silver and other precious metals all recently hit records - but the January rally has given way to a sharp February sell-off.Last month's rally boosted the market values of Rio Tinto, Glencore, Anglo American and Antofagasta.Their earnings will test whether the momentum can be sustained.:: UK economic data UK labor market data and inflation readings will provide fresh fodder for markets, even though investors are still digesting the fallout from the recent government instability.Labor market numbers due on Tuesday will show if a gradual cooling of wage growth has continued.Then, January inflation data comes Wednesday.The political turmoil has set a tense backdrop, leaving markets highly sensitive to data swings. Fitch is also due to review its UK rating on Friday.
San Francisco 49ers' Kendrick Bourne makes free agency plans clear
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is a pending free agent this offseason but made it quite clear where he wants to go.
Trump boasts of over $1.5B in political funds. His spending tactic could shape the midterms
He claims to have raked in that much just between Election Day 2024 and last August, though details on the exact figure are unclear.
Northwell Health lays off 'under 4%' of IT staff
The job cuts were made in an effort to reduce spending, a spokesperson for Northwell Health said Friday.
Paris says 'oui' to booming business of romantic proposals
STORY: This Texan couple have been dating for one year.And Josue Perales wanted extra special celebrations with his girlfriend Kayla Balboa. On a candlelit terrace, overlooking the Eiffel Tower, she says "yes".Balboa had always wanted a Paris proposal. "She's always been mentioning how...""This is my dream place.""This is her dream... well, here we are."To make sure every detail was perfect, Perales employed the help of a local marriage proposal planning agency.And he's not the only one.Paris is seeing a surge in demand for elaborate marriage proposals like this one.Thanks to social media, TV shows and events showcasing the "City of Love", the entire industry catering to love-struck couples willing to pay thousands for unforgettable moments is booming.Les Entremetteuses, or "The Matchmakers", helped Perales get his "yes".Founder Pauline Le Tendre says Valentine's Day is her "busiest day of the year."But she says she's busy all year round - after demand started growing in 2019, with a brief lull during the pandemic."Once the borders reopened, it steadily increased. After that, there were a couple of boosts with (the TV show) 'Emily in Paris,' the Paris Olympics also. We had a lot of work after the Games."The company's proposal packages start at 590 euros, or just under $700, for a proposal on the Seine river banks.The average spend can go up to $2,400 - with some clients spending more for extras, like performers.:: Kiss Me in Paris/Artem Martynov & Anastasia KalynaFor those wanting to splurge even more, Kiss Me in Paris has them covered.The agency says its clients typically spend an average of about $12,000 on their experiences - or as much as some $118,000.:: Kiss Me in Paris/Tuan Nguyen FilmsLuxurious proposals are choreographed in high-end hotels, aboard yachts on the Seine, or in authentic French chateaux."To just be able to, in your social circles, say, 'We got engaged in Paris,' is great, right? It has prestige, it has cachet." That's Cengiz Ozelsel, who co-founded Kiss Me in Paris with his wife Chantelle Marie Streete.They say bookings have more than doubled since 2015.While the more budget-friendly Oui Love Paris agency told Reuters, its bookings have quadrupled since 2020.For many planners, though, the payoff is more than just numbers."I absolutely love it because... people are inviting you into their lives at one of the most special times in their lives."
Valentine’s 2026: How Galentine’s And Friendship Spending Are Expanding The Business Of Love
Valentine’s 2026 shows Galentine’s and friendship spending reshaping February, as shared wellbeing, dining and reciprocal gifting expand the modern relationship economy.
Budget insights: Charter school maintenance funding rises to $260M in House spending plan
Charter schools would again receive the largest dedicated maintenance allocation in the education capital budget.
Senate budget chief: No spending proposals this week
This is the second time Hooper has announced a delay to the expected budget rollout.
Homeland Security Shutdown Draws Nearer as Democrats Block Funding
Senate Democrats refused to move ahead with a spending bill needed to keep the Department of Homeland Security running because it lacked limits they have demanded on federal immigration agents.
Contributor: Congress may finally touch the third rail of U.S. politics
Legislators hope they can endlessly borrow to avoid unpopular votes on spending cuts or tax hikes, but inflation won't wait for debt to pile up this time.
RFK Jr. promised to restore trust in US health agencies. One year later, it’s eroding
NEW YORK (AP) — Since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services one year ago, he has defended his upending of federal health policy by saying the…
The business of not ageing: Why people are spending $1,300 on longevity treatments
The growing longevity industry is selling a big aspiration – the ability to slow your biological clock, but how credible is this?
Chargers rumor from CBS Sports pinpoints Ravens $70 million Pro Bowler as top free agent target
A Los Angeles Chargers rumor from CBS Sports pinpoints a pending Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl free agent as a top target for Jim Harbaugh's squad.
Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launches dark-money group to influence California politics
The Y Combinator CEO announced "Garry's List," a new big-money group spending and operating in races across the state.
Hospital Spending Accounted for 40% of the Growth in National Health Spending Between 2022 and 2024
This data note analyzes the extent to which hospital spending has contributed to the growth in national health expenditures in recent years and over the long term using data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) National Health Expenditures Accounts (NHEA).
Jersey and Guernsey business leaders seek closer collaboration
Industry bosses say working together will enhance the islands' economies and reduce public spending.
Retail sales were unexpectedly flat in December
US consumers unexpectedly held their spending steady in December as the labor market stagnated and feelings about the economy slipped.
Congressional Researchers Analyze Whether Denying Marijuana Business Tax Deductions Under 280E Is Unconstitutional
As a federal marijuana rescheduling decision remains pending, congressional researchers have released an analysis of tax implications for cannabis businesses under current law—including a review of the idea that depriving the industry of the ability to take federal tax deductions amounts to a constitutional violation. In a report published on Friday, the Congressional Research Service […]
Budget cut fallout: After Idaho cut a critical Medicaid mental health service, two patients died
Idaho Medicaid contractor Magellan cut the service in December, after Gov. Brad Little ordered state agencies to cut spending.
How the Epstein files are upending U.K. politics : Consider This from NPR
The latest disclosure from the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation of Jeffrey Epstein is threatening the U.K. ruling government.New documents have led Peter Mandelson, a former ambassador to the U.S., to resign from Britain’s House of Lords and from the Labour Party.The fallout has already claimed two key staff members close to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and some in his own party are calling for him to step down too.Edward Luce, chief U.S. commentator for the Financial Times, helps explain the scandal – and why the reaction in the U.K. differs from the U.S.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Jordan-Marie Smith and Connor Donevan, with audio engineering by Hannah Gluvna. It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon and Michael Levitt. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
District commits 40% of spending for RFK campus development to DC businesses
Mayor Muriel Bowser unveiled her Green Book for this fiscal year.
Spending package includes limit on Trump's ability to cut health grants
The language in the bipartisan bill is specific, and in many ways, unprecedented, Baldwin told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
On Harvey Elliott, the Business of Sport, and Loyalty
Liverpool are a club that, for the big spending that took place over the summer, look a bit light given a string of injuries across different departments of the first team. While the biggest concerns are on the defensive end, with right-back and center-back being particularly light with injuries to Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong, and […]
Last minute Super Bowl party shopping ticks up business for local stores
While the average person might be spending more this year, the big game is also a good time for stores to use discounts to draw customers in.
YouTube TV is Offering $20 Off a Month to Current Subscribers - Here is How to Claim It
In a move to bolster subscriber loyalty during the quieter months following the football season, YouTube TV has introduced a promotional discount offering $20 off monthly plans for select current subscribers. The offer, which varies in duration from two to four months depending on individual account profiles, aims to encourage users to maintain their subscriptions […]
Alabama tackles rival Auburn with Charles Bediako case pending
Alabama split back-to-back games against Southeastern Conference co-leaders Florida and Texas A&M.
Following advocacy from Columbia affiliates, Trump reverses course on effort to ‘strangle’ science research funding
Following recent advocacy efforts by Columbia affiliates, President Donald Trump signed a spending deal Tuesday that includes billions more in funding for the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention than his 2026 budget proposal. The increase marks a major break from the president’s previous efforts to gut science agencies that fund research at Columbia and universities across the nation.
Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft boost AI spending, stocks react
Big Tech's capital expenditures soar with Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft at the forefront, ushering a new era of AI infrastructure spending.
Congress rebuffs Trump’s $33B in cuts to health, human services
Congress approved the first public health funding bill in Trump's second term. In it, lawmakers largely rejected his proposed spending cuts.
Comparing States’ Rural Health Fund Allotments to Medicaid Spending Cuts Can be Misleading
This issue brief explains why it can be misleading to compare the first year of Rural Health Transformation Program allocations with estimated Medicaid cuts, which will be implemented on a gradual basis and not fully take effect until 2027, after the rural health fund is exhausted.
She’s Upending Japanese Politics With Two Words: ‘I’m Pregnant’
Hikaru Fujita, who’s running in Sunday’s parliamentary election, is a standout in a country where expectant mothers rarely enter national politics.
Amazon projects $200 billion in capital spending this year
Amazon.com on Thursday joined its Big Tech peers in projecting massive capital expenditures in 2026, the freshest sign yet that tech companies will not be hitting the brakes on their hefty AI investments anytime soon.
Google earnings: AI spending jumps, Gemini and subscriptions get boost
Alphabet's Q4 results beat estimates. Google plans to double capex in 2026, while search and cloud remained strong.
Google parent Alphabet forecasts sharp surge in 2026 capital spending
Alphabet said on Wednesday it was targeting capital expenditure of $175 billion to $185 billion this year, in yet another aggressive ramp-up in spending from the Google parent as it deepens its investments to push ahead in the AI race.
In Spending Talks, Senators Clash Over Immigration Crackdown
Democrats’ push to rein in federal agents, and Republican opposition, reflect opposite views of whether the deportation drive should be bound by standard law enforcement rules.
Spending package signed by Trump includes money to shore up WTC Health Program
A bipartisan deal was ushered by Rep. Andrew Garbarino in the House and Democrats Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand in the Senate.
CA Democrats blast spending plan without health insurance subsidies as Trump pushes alternative
The spending package approved this week keeps the federal government funded, but it does not address the expiration of key Affordable Care Act health care subsidies.
US House passes $1.2 trillion spending package to end government shutdown
The spending package only funds the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks, through February 13.
Congress passes spending bill amid DHS funding debate, Minnesota deaths
Congress narrowly passed the final spending package, averting a prolonged shutdown amid fierce debate over homeland security funding following fatal Minnesota shootings.
House passes funding bill to reopen government and sends it to Trump for his signature
The House on Tuesday passed a sprawling spending package that will end the partial government shutdown — but created another funding cliff for the Department of Homeland Security in two weeks.
House set to vote on spending package to end shutdown
The Senate voted on Friday to pass the legislation
Budget director says addressing health care cost, access key for Whitmer
Flood said the governor's budget proposal will seek to address federal cuts to Medicaid spending while maintaining health care access in Michigan.
Florida State Became College Sports’ Debt King in FY25
FSU saw athletics related debt balloon to $437 million in a fiscal cycle after issuing bonds to cover stadium renovations and a new football center.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker spends $5 million to boost his pick for Senate in his state
As early voting starts in the Democratic primary, the billionaire governor is spending big to help his lieutenant governor, Juliana Stratton, overcome a massive fundraising deficit.
France adopts 2026 budget after two no-confidence votes fail
New budget includes a $7.6m military spending increase and aims to cut the deficit to 5 percent by end of 2026.
Here’s What to Know About the Partial Government Shutdown
A bipartisan spending deal couldn’t clear Congress in time to prevent a lapse in federal funding for some departments. The House must pass it to fully reopen the government.
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
U.S. Bank Business Shield™ Visa® Card Offers Intro 0% APR for up to 18 Billing Cycles
New business credit card offers rewards and access to Spend Management platform to monitor, track, and control spending U.S. Bank, a leading provider of payment services and solutions, today announced a new business credit card designed to help small business owners navigate fluctuations in finances and resources: the U.S. Bank Business Shield™ Visa® Card . The U.S. Bank Business Shield™ Visa® Card offers small business owners a new solution for navigating expected and unexpected expenses. This new business credit card offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles when applying at any U.S. Bank branch and 12 billing cycles when applying in digital channels – all with no annual fee. Plus, cardholders can enjoy a suite of benefits to help navigate the foreseen - and the unforeseen - needs of their small business. “The Business Shield Visa card is designed to help business owners navigate the unpredictable financial and resource challenges that
Anchorage parents, students react to potential sports cuts amid ASD budget snag
Anchorage School District superintendent Dr. Jharrett Bryantt’s announcement Friday about its impending $90 million deficit included a myriad of proposed cuts - many of which are athletics.
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
House Speaker Johnson says he has votes to end partial shutdown by Tuesday
The deal approved by the Senate would separate the Department of Homeland Security from the broader spending package.
Healthcare experts warn 'people will die' unless state steps up amid federal cuts
As massive federal cuts are upending the health care system in California, analysts and health care professionals are urging the state to soften the blow by creating new revenue streams and helping residents navigate through the red tape.
Macau Gaming Revenue Beats Estimate on Entertainment Offerings
Macau’s gaming revenue rose 24% in January, beating analyst estimates as casinos in the world’s biggest gambling hub continued to rely on perks like free concert tickets and entertainment offerings to lure high-spending travelers.
US government shuts down partially over homeland security funding
Democratic senators refuse to vote for bill authorizing continued DHS spending after killings of two US citizens
Dodgers World Series Champion Linked to Yankees
The New York Yankees reportedly “checked in” on Dodgers free agent Michael Kopech this offseason, per the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. Kopech entered free agency after spending a majority of 2025 on the injured list with the Dodgers. The…
Some Republicans Lament the Spending Deal Trump Has Blessed
Hard-right Republicans have criticized an agreement they see as capitulating to Democrats on their party’s strongest issue: immigration.
Chicago-area retail sales rose amid tariff threats
Threats of tariffs had Chicago-area consumers spending big on clothing and appliances, retail sales tax data from the first half of 2025 shows.Retail sales in the Chicago area jumped 16.1% year over year in the first six months of 2025, rising to nearly $97.5 billion, according to a report from…
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.
Tech CFOs face a new challenge: Selling unprecedented capex as ‘disciplined’
Meta and Microsoft CFOs frame AI spending as disciplined, demand-driven.
CA groups seek local taxes to offset federal health care cuts
An L.A. health care coalition is trying to qualify a measure for the June ballot in order to head off impending health care funding problems.
Democrats Block Spending Package as D.H.S. Talks Continue
With about 36 hours to go before a shutdown deadline, the funding legislation stalled while Democrats sought a deal with President Trump to rein in his immigration crackdown.
Senate blocks massive funding bill, with critical talks underway to avoid government shutdown
Bipartisan senators blocked a massive spending bill Thursday, as eleventh-hour talks continue to avoid a costly partial government shutdown that looms at the week’s end.
Where Eagles' pending free agents rank on NFL-wide lists
The Eagles have some big-name free agents this year. Here’s a look at where they rank among the entire NFL.
Prosecution requests July 1 state trial for Mangione in health care executive's killing
Defense attorneys for Luigi Mangione, charged with fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024, said the date is unrealistic with a federal case also pending.
Meta Says Revenue to Beat Estimates, Supporting AI Spending
Meta Platforms Inc.’s better-than-expected sales outlook helped ease Wall Street concerns about plans for unprecedented spending on artificial intelligence this year.
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
Another government shutdown? ICE debate jeopardizes spending deal.
The killing of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents upended a federal spending deal at the last minute, virtually guaranteeing a partial shutdown.
The shootings in Minneapolis are upending the politics of immigration in Congress
Democrats have awakened to what they see as a moral moment for the country.
The shootings in Minneapolis are upending the politics of immigration in Congress
The shooting deaths of two American citizens at the hands of federal law enforcement in Minneapolis have upended the politics of the Trump administration’s deportation agenda
Fashion Enters Its Wellbeing Era
Fashion brands are opening wellbeing-adjacent ‘third spaces’ and seeking other opportunities to integrate wellness as shoppers devote more spending to their health, according to the BoF-McKinsey State of Fashion 2026.
Senate Democrats threaten partial government shutdown over DHS funding after Minnesota shooting
Democrats will block a government spending bill following the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis man by a Border Patrol agent, the Senate minority leader said Saturday – dramatically increasing the chances of a partial government shutdown next week.
TOTO (TSE:5332) Is Up 8.8% After Goldman Highlights AI-Focused Electrostatic Chuck Business
Earlier this week, Goldman Sachs upgraded Toto Ltd. to a buy rating, highlighting the company’s electrostatic chucks used in NAND chipmaking and AI-related data centers as a potential profit driver. This spotlight on Toto’s lesser-known semiconductor equipment business underlines how a traditional bathroom-fixture manufacturer is increasingly tied to AI infrastructure spending. Next, we’ll examine how Toto’s growing role in electrostatic chucks for AI data centers shapes its investment...
Freeze of public health funds for states, then reversal, sows confusion
A sense of whiplash spread across state public health agencies after the Trump administration paused $5 billion in federal spending, only to quickly say it would lift the pause on Saturday.