SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " acr " 9,034 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
ICYMI: Paper Mario-Styled RPG 'Escape From Ever After' Has Launched On Switch
And it's riding high on Metacritic
Newsom leads resistance to RFK Jr.’s public health upheaval
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is making California the frontline in the resistance to the Trump administration’s revamped healthcare policies under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, in what…
HHS exploring how to bolster medical imaging exchange across healthcare ecosystem
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology recently released a call for public comment on the work of radiologists
MENALAC Awards 2026 to celebrate excellence across the MENA leisure, entertainment & attractions industry
DUBAI, U.A.E. — On 1 April 2026, the 8th MENALAC Awards Gala will bring together the region’s leisure, entertainment, and attractions industry for a landmark celebration of excellence. Taking place…
Indie critical darling Cairn climbs Steam charts, reaches 200k copies sold on PC and PS5 in first weekend
Mountain-climbing indie game Cairn has already sold over 200,000 copies across PC and PS5, studio The Game Bakers has announced.
The 2026 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards
From rebuilding communities in the post–Jim Crow era to leading Fortune 500 companies and public institutions today, Black business leaders have played a central role in shaping Virginia’s modern economy. Today, they are driving growth, innovation and opportunity across the commonwealth — leading major corporations, expanding small businesses, strengthening public institutions and driving progress across […]
Norfolk eyes Harbor Park entertainment district
An entertainment and nightlife district could be in the cards for the area surrounding Norfolk‘s upcoming $750 million waterfront resort casino near Harbor Park. The city owns most of the property around the casino site and the ballpark, controlling almost seven acres in an area bordered by the Elizabeth River, railroad tracks and Interstate 264. […]
Knicks boost win streak to six by beating LeBron's Lakers
The New York Knicks spoiled what might have been LeBron James's last game at Madison Square Garden, stretching their win streak to six games with a 112-100 victory.Washington rookie Will Riley scored 18 points off the bench to lead the host Wizards over Sacramento 116-112, stretching the Kings' losing streak to six games.
Are western New Yorkers spending more on digital entertainment as winter sets in?
As winter settles across Genesee County, colder evenings and shorter days are reshaping how households in Batavia and nearby communities spend their discretionary dollars. With outdoor options limited and heating
Meet the Class of 2025 Arizona Sports Hall of Fame
Seven standout athletes and leaders are being honored for shaping Arizona’s sports legacy across generations. Meet the Class of 2025 Arizona Sports Hall of Fame
2026 Marquette Women’s Lacrosse Season Preview: Three Big Questions
Sometimes the Big Questions heading into a season are just as simple as scoring, defending, and reaching the Big East tournament.
Apple's Foldable iPhone Rumored to Feature Unrivaled Battery Life
Apple's first foldable could feature the biggest ever iPhone battery and eclipse rival devices, according to a known leaker. In a new post, the Weibo user known as "Fixed Focus Digital" says that the foldable's battery could be over 5,500 mAh in size, which would make it the largest capacity of any current or previous iPhone. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the biggest iPhone battery to date at 5,088 mAh.
New PS5 Exclusive Is the Highest-Rated Game of 2026
A new PS5 console exclusive game is the 2nd highest-rated of 2026, according to review scores on Metacritic.
St. Peter’s Health Partners Medical Associates Welcomes Dr. Olufemi Akinyede
St. Peter's Health Partners Medical Associates is pleased to welcome Olufemi Akinyede, MD, to St. Peter’s Family Medicine in Latham. An experienced family medicine physician, Dr. Akinyede, provides comprehensive primary care and family health services to individuals across all stages of life.
Employers are spreading raises like peanut butter – and workers are paying the price
These across-the-board raises to all employees versus individual performance-based raises are simply lazy
New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "A new MacBook Pro is planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in the intro to his Power On newsletter today. We are still waiting for the full newsletter, so this post will be updated when more details are available.
Medicaid expansion ballot campaign relaunches and is collecting signatures
'The relaunch comes as the healthcare crisis across the nation and particularly in Florida continues to deepen.'
Actor Shia LaBeouf spotted in El Paso again
The "Transformers" star was captured outside of El Paso's Finest, a souvenir and fine arts shop across from San Jacinto Plaza on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Feeling sick? Bad flu season gets worse as a 'second peak' looms.
Cases across the country had appeared to decline before new public health data showed upticks in infections.
Lifespan may be 50% heritable, study suggests
A new study suggests that lifespan might be 50% heritable — although for now, it's hard to know if the finding applies across diverse populations.
Apple Changes How You Order a Mac
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an iPad. This change was spotted by Macworld and the French blog Consomac, among others.
In Londonderry's win over Pinkerton, Eacrett shows she's invaluable
LONDONDERRY -- While Sammie Sullivan and Gemma Murray get recognition, Brooke Eacrett is a vital part of the Londonderry High girls basketball program.
Israeli strikes kill at least 26 in Gaza, health ministry says, in deadliest day in months
Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 26 people on Saturday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the highest day’s death toll in over two months.
ICE Minneapolis crackdown: Rift between Target employees, leadership
Across Minneapolis, Target employees are marching and volunteering amid the immigration crackdown, while pressing company leadership to do more
San Francisco businesses prepare for influx of customers in Super Bowl week
The excitement is building across the Bay Area as Super Bowl week gets ready to kickoff in a matter of days.
Boston Celtics overthrow Sacramento Kings, win 112-93 (PHOTOS)
The Celtics won the shot attempt battle 93-83 while holding the Kings to just 32% from beyond the arc.
Jaylen Brown-less Celtics dethrone Kings in 112-93 win
The Boston Celtics dominated the lowly Sacramento Kings on Friday night without star guard Jaylen Brown active.
Anti-ICE protests take place nationwide
Protesters across the nation participated in a general strike on Friday, demonstrating against ICE presence in some cities.
Senate passes government funding deal despite GOP backlash
President Donald Trump made a deal with Democrats to carve out Homeland Security funding and allow Congress to debate new restrictions on federal immigration raids across the country.
What’s Up: February 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA
NASA's Artemis II mission has its first opportunity to launch to the moon, Orion the Hunter takes center stage, and a planetary parade marches across the night sky.
‘ICE Out’ national event leads to protests, small business closures across Vermont
At least 15 small businesses closed Friday as part of a national movement in response to immigrant enforcement actions in Minneapolis.
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.
Public Health Student Association nurtures connection across disciplines - UT Health San Antonio
The Public Health Student Association at the Kate Marmion School of Public Health provides students a supportive, inclusive environment that encourages learning, professional development and networking opportunities.
Businesses in Maine, across New England closed today for national ICE protest
Dozens of businesses in Maine and across New England will be closed on Friday as part of a national protest against recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Minneapolis and elsewhere. ICE was in Maine as recently as last week, and many Portland businesses have shut down for the day as a way of showing their solidarity with immigrant…
Bouncy balls and beyond: Collaborative project connects science with community
Through “Mission: Materials Science,” a long-running outreach initiative supported by Penn State’s U.S. National Science Foundation–funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, graduate students from across disciplines have partnered with museum educators and media professionals to transform materials science research into free, hands-on learning activities.
Leading scorer Jaylen Brown may miss Celtics' matchup vs. Kings
The Boston Celtics will be looking to avoid back-to-back home losses and may be without leading scorer Jaylen Brown when they face the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.
Portland businesses closing Friday for 'National Shutdown' strike amid federal immigration concerns
Multiple businesses and restaurants across Portland are expected to close Friday, Jan. 30, in solidarity with a “National Shutdown” strike responding to growing concerns over federal immigration enforcement nationwide. The […]
Notre Dame Men’s Lacrosse Schedule…and other news
News and notes for Notre Dame Men’s Lacrosse
Newcastle United pushing hard to sign Barcelona youth team gem
According to a recent report from SPORT, a new name from Barcelona’s youth setup has begun attracting serious attention from across Europe. As such, Premier League side Newcastle United are making ...
Johnson scores 27, Sacramento State downs Montana State 83-80
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Prophet Johnson scored 27 points as Sacramento State beat Montana State 83-80 on Thursday night.
The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics
Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.
Phoenix businesses join nationwide 'ICE Out' to protest immigration raids
Several local businesses across the Valley will close their doors Friday, Jan. 30, as part of a nationwide "ICE Out" shutdown to protest recent federal immigration operations.
“It was insane to see”: Owner reacts after car crashes into Kansas City, Kansas, business
A car crashed into a Kansas City, Kansas, business Thursday morning, sending debris across the block and leaving the storefront boarded up.
Falcons hiring Ian Cunningham as GM: Matt Ryan tabs popular candidate to complete braintrust
The general manager role in Atlanta is like most other GM gigs across the league with one exception.
Midtown businesses to close Friday as part of national ICE protest
Businesses in Minneapolis and across the country will close Friday to protest ICE activity.
Chicago business leader launches Bear Down Community Investment Group to spur regional economic development
Bear Down Community Investment Group will focus on housing, workforce training and economic development across the Greater Chicago region, with plans to eventually go nationwide.
Three months after Hurricane Melissa: PAHO continues supporting health system recovery across the Caribbean
Washington, DC, 28 January 2026 (PAHO)- Ninety days after Hurricane Melissa swept across parts of the Caribbean, countries are transitioning from emergency response toward recovery—while continuing to confront public health risks linked to damaged infrastructure, disrupted services, and heightened vulnerability to disease. The Category 5 storm made landfall first in Jamaica on 28 October 2025, causing widespread damage in several Caribbean nations, mainly across Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti, and placing sustained pressure on national health systems.
Rochester businesses join Friday’s national strike against ICE
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – In response to the immigration crackdown taking place in Minnesota, businesses across the country and close to home are planning to go on strike this Friday. It’…
Multiple Upstate NY businesses to close Friday for national anti-ICE shutdown
Multiple cafes, restaurants and shops across Upstate New York will close their doors Friday in protest of recent federal immigration enforcement.
Monkey Business: Using Genetics to Understanding Decision-Making in Monkeys
Abigail Morris first visited the Peruvian Amazon when she was 6 years old. Now, as a Ph.D. candidate in the Animal Behavior Graduate Group, she has returned to study how seasonal flooding affects the behavior, diet and population genetics of two species of monkey: monk sakis (Pithecia monachus) and large-headed capuchins (Sapajus apella macrocephalus).
AirTag 1 vs. AirTag 2 Buyer's Guide: All 15+ Differences Compared
Apple's new AirTag introduces a series of small improvements, so how does it compare to the original model from 2021? The second-generation...
Here's Everything Apple Released This Week
Following a quiet start to 2026, the final week of January has been a busy one for Apple so far. There are new versions of the AirTag and the Black Unity band for the Apple Watch, and the Apple Creator Studio bundle is now available. Apple also released iOS 26.2.1 and watchOS 26.2.1 updates, and iOS 26.3 beta testing continues.
The Next Era of Sports and Entertainment Technology: Info-Tech Research Group Partners With SEAT to Advance Innovation and Digital Excellence Across Industry
Rapid advances in AI, analytics, and immersive technology are redefining fan experience and operational excellence across sports and entertainment...
The Next Era of Sports and Entertainment Technology: Info-Tech Research Group Partners With SEAT to Advance Innovation and Digital Excellence Across Industry
Info-Tech Research Group, a global leader in IT research and advisory, has announced a new partnership with SEAT, the Sports & Entertainment Alliance in Technology, to empower technology, marketing, and operations executives across the global sports and entertainment industry. The collaboration will bring Info-Tech's expertise to SEAT's influential community of North American entertainment venues, sports teams, and league leaders who are driving innovation in fan engagement, digital experience,
Apple Stops Selling $200 'Pro Apps' Bundle With Final Cut Pro and More
Following the launch of Apple Creator Studio this week, Apple has quietly stopped selling its valuable "Pro Apps Bundle for Education" (archived link). "Pro Apps Bundle for Education" included one-time-purchase versions of Apple's Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage apps at a steep discount, with U.S. pricing set at $199.99. Purchasing each of the included apps separately costs $629.95, so the bundle provided more than $400 in savings.
FOX Sports Unveils Historic FIFA World Cup 2026™ Broadcast Schedule - Fox Sports Press Pass
Monumental Slate Features 340 Hours of Live First-Run Programming Across FOX Sports Platforms for This Summer’s Global Event All-New Record 70 Matches on Network Television and Unprecedented 40 Matches in Primetime Every Match will Stream Live and On-Demand in 4K on FOX […]
Xevant Named a 2025 Modern Healthcare Best in Business Company for AI
Xevant, a leader in real-time pharmacy benefits intelligence, today announced it has been named a 2025 Modern Healthcare Best in Business company in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) category. The recognition honors healthcare suppliers and technology partners whose innovations delivered measurable impact across the healthcare ecosystem in 2025.
Top 100 transfer portal players for 2026: Destinations and impact projections
There's a ton of talent on the move, and it has the potential to shift the balance of power across the college football landscape
35 undocumented immigrants arrested in Zipps Sports Grill operation
Federal agents executed search warrants at 15 Zipps locations across metro Phoenix.
5 Costco TVs That Are Perfect For The Super Bowl
Here are 5 Costco TVs from different brands and across various price points to enjoy the Super Bowl. You can pick from multiple size options.
N-able Ushers in New Era of Business Resilience Fueled by AI
BURLINGTON, Mass., January 29, 2026--N-able, Inc. (NYSE: NABL), a global software company delivering an end-to-end cyber resilience platform, today announced enhanced AI capabilities across its platform to help organizations operate securely, efficiently, and resiliently as AI reshapes both cyberthreats and IT complexity.
Google Chrome Gets Gemini Side Panel and Agentic Browsing Features
AI-powered browsing features have become a battleground among browser makers in recent months. OpenAI launched its Atlas browser in October, while Microsoft Edge and Opera have also introduced AI assistants and automated browsing capabilities. And now Google is upping the ante. The company has announced a slew of new AI features fro Chrome, including a persistent sidebar for the Gemini chatbot and "auto browse" capabilities that can perform web tasks on your behalf.
Inside Maryland’s High-Stakes Bid for Trump’s $50 Billion Rural Health Fund
The White House asked states to compete for a rare pot of new money dedicated to transforming health care across rural America.
Trump’s National Guard deployments have cost taxpayers nearly $500 million dollars
President Donald Trump’s sweeping deployment of National Guard troops to several major cities across the United States cost taxpayers approximately $496 million from June through December last year, according to an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office.
International Business Machines Q4 Earnings Call Highlights
International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) executives highlighted a year of accelerating growth and record cash generation during the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call, pointing to strong performance across Software and Infrastructure and outlining expectations to sustain momentum into 202
Tri-County Community Health Coalition releases first unified health report in Fox Valley
With the Unified Health Report, organizations across the Fox Valley now have the same information on local health problems and can plan together.
How Ohio mayors are responding to ICE
The fatal shooting of two Minneapolis residents by federal agents this month has triggered protests in cities across the country, as well as a range of responses from local officials.
Federal court documents outlines allegations against Zipps Sports Grill
Newly obtained court documents are revealing more about why federal agent conducted searches at more than a dozen Zipps Sports Grill across the Valley.
Teen Mental Health and School-Based Services in California
About 3 in 10 California teens report serious psychological distress, yet significant gaps exist between the need for mental health care and receipt of services. This report examines teen mental health and access to care across demographic groups and describes how state and district funding have expanded school-based solutions.
'Halide' Co-Founder Sebastiaan de With Joins Apple's Design Team
Sebastiaan de With, co-founder of the popular iPhone camera app Halide, today announced that he has joined the Human Interface Design team at Apple. "So excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products," he said. This marks a return to Apple for de With, who previously worked on things such as iCloud, MobileMe, and the Find My app. He has also completed design work for other companies, such as Sony, Mozilla, Oracle, HP, and EA, in the past.
The Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas marks two years and formally welcomes Bolivia and Uruguay as members
PAHO, the World Bank, and the IDB initiative has driven health system transformation and aligned more than one billion dollars in investments across five countries. Brazil expressed its support, signing a letter of intent.Rio de Janeiro, 28 January 2026 — The Alliance for Primary Health Care (PHC) in the Americas, a joint initiative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Bank (WB), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is celebrating its second anniversary with achievements in transforming health systems across the region.
Pa. county commissioners call for $40M increase to support mental health services
HARRISBURG — County leaders from across Pennsylvania on Wednesday called on legislators and Gov. Josh Shapiro to provide an additional $40 million in funding for county mental health services in
Sacramento Bee adds political reporting firepower at California Capitol
Ben Paviour will join The Bee next month as California Political Power Reporter, delivering exclusive storytelling on Statehouse politics.
Disney Entertainment Television Unveils 2026 Directing & Writing Program Participants
EXCLUSIVE: Disney Entertainment Television has chosen its participants for the 2025-26 Directing and Writing Programs, talent development initiatives which connect emerging writers and directors with opportunities across DET’s scripted and unscripted television slate. “This year’s cohorts reflect the bold, original voices that will help shape the next era of television,” said Tim McNeal, senior vice …
Trump’s immigration approach is gumming up the courts, frustrating his DOJ and judges
The Justice Department and federal courts are struggling to keep up with the exponential increase in federal court cases of immigrants in custody who are challenging their detentions, another result of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies across the country.
‘A sacred space of healing’: Church of Jesus Christ transforms health center in Liberia
A health center in Liberia was in ruins until it was transformed into “a sacred space of healing” through a project funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Apple's 'Creator Studio' App Bundle Now Available for $12.99 Per Month
Apple today launched the new Creator Studio that was initially unveiled two weeks ago, providing content creators with access to six Apple apps for $12.99 per month or $129 per year. Creator Studio includes Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro on Mac and iPad, along with Motion, Compressor, and MainStage on the Mac. Final Cut Pro is Apple's video editing software, Logic Pro is for audio editing and creation, and Pixelmator Pro is an image editing app that Apple purchased in 2024.
AEYE Health Expands Epic Integration for Portable Fully-Autonomous AI Eye Screening Across the US Healthcare System
/PRNewswire/ -- AEYE Health, the leading company in retinal diagnostics and developer of AEYE-DS, the fastest growing solution for diabetic eye exams in the...
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.
Scientists turn tumor immune cells into cancer killers
Scientists at KAIST have found a way to turn a tumor’s own immune cells into powerful cancer fighters—right inside the body. Tumors are packed with macrophages, immune cells that should attack cancer but are usually silenced by the tumor environment. By injecting a specially designed drug directly into tumors, researchers were able to “reprogram” these dormant cells to recognize and destroy cancer.
iPhone 18 Pro Could Feature Teleconverter Alongside Variable Aperture
Apple's rumored new variable aperture camera system for this year's iPhone 18 Pro models has reached the sampling stage, according to a new claim from a Chinese leaker. Posting on Weibo today, the account known as "Smart Pikachu" said the feature had entered late-stage engineering samples, while a teleconverter is also "under evaluation" for the device. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in September 2026.
Investment and Statecraft: The International Politics of Sovereign Wealth Funds - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
In 1953, Kuwait established the world’s first sovereign wealth fund to invest the country’s oil revenues and generate returns that would reduce its reliance on a single resource. Since then, over 100 separate funds have been created to preserve national wealth and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Today, they manage over $10 trillion in global assets. In this discussion with GJIA, political economist Kathryn Lavelle explains the increasingly novel dynamics that surround fund behavior and what the world can come to expect from their growing presence in international financial markets. GJIA: When it comes to the roles sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) play in global markets and politics, what would you say makes them unique? Kathryn Lavelle: Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) operate on behalf of governments as investors. That in itself is a strange relationship. Within them, a core contest takes place between the state’s interests (or sovereign) part of the dynamic, and the money interests (or wealth) part of it, and these two aspects are frequently in contradiction, serving fundamentally different goals. SWFs are also quite fascinating because when you talk to the people who manage these funds, they have an interest in convincing you that the decisions are made almost exclusively on a financial basis—they really will go to great lengths to differentiate their government owners and those who make the management decisions. At the same time, these people ultimately answer to someone in power. Therefore, for most SWFs, it remains deeply unclear who is actually making the investment decisions and for what purposes. Of course, it is not always clear how other vehicles, such as hedge funds and private equity make the decisions they do, but I think what a lot of people find particularly disconcerting about SWFs is that they seem to act on behalf of people who have a different identity from their own. People who could be trying to manipulate politics and markets in a way that would have a long-term effect on their own populations. Regular investors come and go at will, and they only share an interest in profit as far as most of us understand. However, SWFs have that extra “sovereign” part right behind them that obscures their true interest. GJIA: These funds can be found in countries all across the globe, in both authoritarian states and democracies. Would you say SWFs differ in their goals and structures between regime-type? KL: It is not necessarily regime type that makes the goals and structures of SWFs different. It has to do with their economies. Let’s look at a country like China. There’s going to be a debate about exactly how to characterize the regime, but it is a country with many different kinds of sovereign wealth funds, and a particularly opaque state connection to each. At one time, some of the state-owned Chinese oil companies created specialized investment vehicles listed outside Chinese markets that excluded parts of the firms that were more associated with human rights violations. At the same time, the China Investment Corporation (CIC)—China’s largest SWF—draws a lot of concern, not necessarily because of its investment activities, but because of the dynamics of global politics. So, I wouldn’t really tie differences to regime types themselves in a wholesale way, but rather to how such funds are perceived and how they are structured. Saudi Arabia’s SWF is getting all kinds of attention for its involvement in Hollywood, and this takes me right back to when I was a student in the 1980s, when people were concerned about Japanese investment entities buying assets in Hollywood. They aren’t quite the same in financial terms, but it’s the same kind of concern about foreign investment that drives people to be suspicious, and the whole idea that “foreigners are influencing Hollywood.” This holds true across industries, and it reflects where politics are in places like the United States right now. One metric we can try to look at is transparency, where all the funds will tell you, “we are transparent.” The problem you’ll keep running into with this approach is how you value things. When trying to do comparative studies of equity markets, you’ll find that every country doesn’t use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles like we do in the United States. A fund may appear opaque politically and not want people to show what they’re invested in or what their intent with that investment is, but they could also just not be able to report it because of the way it was purchased, or the kinds of shares they purchased. There are some assets out there that really are difficult to put a monetary value on. GJIA: To what extent do domestic politics shape SWF behavior in both the investing “home” country and the recipient “host” country? KL: This depends on the type of fund present and also on the extent to which voters’ political views are able to influence the fund. For example, in a democratic home state like Norway, the SWF doesn’t invest in nuclear weapons or tobacco because of social concerns, but there is a continuing debate over whether it should invest in oil, even though that’s where most of the money comes from. The degree to which Norway will continue to make those investments, and whether they contradict the government’s overall climate goals, is an open question in Norwegian politics. Because of the way the fund’s governance is structured, it may not be easy to resolve. On the other hand, some people consider pension funds, like the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in Ohio, to be quasi-SWF. They have a very strict separation between the people who make up the management division and the fund owners. No teacher or professor would want to invest in things that may harm the future of their students. At the same time, a fund manager might see an opportunity in a diversified multinational corporation that offers a good return, despite it deriving part of its revenue from e-cigarettes. These contests are very apparent. Domestic politics can work in host countries too. A good example is Singapore’s SWF, Temasek, investing in Thailand’s telecommunications sector. If you study political economy, you already know that countries everywhere are uncomfortable with foreign ownership of their telecom sectors because a foreign entity could monitor or manipulate our communications with each other. In the case of Temasek, there was significant pushback from Thai citizens surrounding the deal, which went on to influence national political sentiment toward Singapore as a whole, underscoring the risks some SWFs may face with their investment choices. In this case, fund behavior led to the dissolution of the entire Thai government in 2006 and a subsequent coup d’état. GJIA: To address some of this unease, the Santiago Principles were established in 2009 to ostensibly promote trust and transparency. From your perspective, have these mechanisms actually changed fund behavior? KL: In international relations theory, we always like to have a clear set of norms and best practices—the orientation we want the proverbial ship to be going in. In that regard, the Santiago Principles at least got the discussion going about which direction SWFs should take at a time when people were very skittish about the growing size of these funds. Nobody wanted them to be out there and potentially destabilizing economies, so talks about disclosure, conditions for withdrawal, and the independence of managers were helpful when initiated. The biggest stumbling block was that there wasn’t exactly a good way to measure compliance with the Principles, let alone how to hold funds to them. If you read the Principles, they’re overall quite vague. In general, a fund doesn’t want to reveal how and why they make certain investment decisions because that information is proprietary—a fund makes money off of how and why it makes decisions—so how do you reconcile that with loosely-defined ideas of openness? Some decisions might have a political purpose. The bottom line is that trying to figure out and assign a score to compliance is not easy, and it is therefore the reason why the Santiago Principles never really got off the ground to the point where they could truly direct fund behavior. GJIA: Many emerging markets are looking to build their own SWFs from mineral and oil revenues. Historically, have funds shaped development trajectories in these countries? KL: I think the big story in international emerging markets investment is that the investment is increasingly no longer unidirectional. In the past multinational corporations of primarily Western background were the main form of foreign direct investment in a country. That has changed dramatically, to the point where you have companies from so-called “developing countries” taking over companies in the United States. Therefore, the landscape of international investment has changed, and I think SWFs are certainly a possibility to be the next step in the game. Historically, you didn’t need an entire financial vehicle to reinvest commodity revenues in your country, but as emerging markets get more financially sophisticated, their capacity to operate such funds has increased. SWFs would allow treasuries to move from relying on holding foreign exchange assets like cash or government bonds to having broader financial markets and targeted growth areas, while easing pressure on welfare expenditures. GJIA: With their increasing financial weight, do you see the presence of SWFs being a factor in the political choices leaders will have to make with regard to domestic and foreign policy? KL: It will depend on just how big the funds get. One of the reasons people are already apprehensive is because of their scale, and if certain SWFs in certain countries achieve a large-enough size, the presence will absolutely be cause for concern. The other factor political leaders will have to consider are their objectives. It’s not always clear how to define a SWF, or even where its activity is concentrated, but it is certainly a worry from the perspective of national security of opaque external investment. More than that, I think one of the most interesting questions going forward is whether the United States, the home to the world’s largest financial markets, will develop its own fund, for which the Trump administration announced a plan. There have also been several proposals in Congress. Were it to come into being, it would have tremendous weight. At the same time, one of the hallmarks of U.S. capitalism is a lack of government ownership of shares, so it would not be clear how such a fund would be received in domestic politics, or which direction it would take. Given how politically fragmented the country is, a Democratic administration would likely be concerned about different sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, and want investment there, rather than a Republican administration, which might prefer defense industries. No investment vehicle could thrive under conditions of such instability. Moreover, it remains unclear where the money to fund a theoretical U.S. SWF would come from. It would be a fundamentally different entity depending on whether it is financed with debt, economic surplus, commodities, or the sale of state companies, as in the case of Singapore. If it is debt, or government borrowing of some form, then the fund would have to outperform whatever the cost of that debt is, which is not an easy thing to do. I think our political leaders have enough on their plate. Our system has worked well keeping political and investment functions generally separate. We have seen different forms of business rise and fall, and even the perception of different countries, all of which funds are tied to. Unless a major SWF either starts—like in the case of the United States—or collapses—an issue that concerns the Saudis, I don’t see any political tsunamis on the horizon. . . . Kathryn Lavelle is the Ellen and Dixon Long Professor of World Affairs at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research explores the exchange between domestic and international and political institutions with a particular emphasis on political economy and multilateralism. Dr. Lavelle’s first book, The Politics of Equity Finance in Emerging Markets, explored the political circumstances that surround large issues of stock in the developing world. After being granted tenure at Case Western, she was awarded an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship and named the William A. Steiger fellow, a designation given to the most promising political scientist in her class of fellows. While in Washington during 2006-2007, she worked on the staff of the House Committee on Financial Services on issues related to domestic and international monetary policy. Dr. Lavelle holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University; an M.A. in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia; and a bachelor’s degree in international economics from Georgetown University. She is a permanent member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length. Interview conducted by Sid Mehrotra. Image Credit: Jason Leung, Unsplash Content Licenses, via Unsplash
Movies and TV shows casting across the US
Backstage compiled a list of movies and TV shows casting across the US.
Three-time UT San Antonio graduate advances health research across South Texas
Alumna Rebecca Jones' path to public health research at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine began at UT San Antonio.
Parental firearm injury linked to increased mental health burden in children
Each year, 20,000 children and adolescents across the U.S. lose a parent to gun violence, while an estimated two to three times more have a parent who has been injured due to a firearm. To better understand ...
6 more Central Florida restaurants close over health violations
Last week, half a dozen eateries across Central Florida were forced to close after a visit from a health inspector, according to state records.
NI health: About 200,000 extra patients seen to tackle NI waiting lists
The Department of Health says across the past year, "significant gains have been achieved".
Vegas sportsbook invests ahead of packed 2026 sports calendar
With Super Bowl Sunday just days away, sportsbooks across the Las Vegas Valley are preparing for one of their busiest days of the year — and looking well beyond
Feds OK New Mexico's $382 million broadband expansion plan for homes, businesses
The funding is slated to serve more than 42,000 unserved and underserved homes and businesses across the state.
Zipps Sports Grill releases statement on federal raids
'WE ARE COOPERATING FULLY': One day after federal agents served more than a dozen search warrants at Zipps Sports Grill locations across the Valley, the company issued a response.
Apple's Next Launch is Tomorrow
Apple Creator Studio launches this Wednesday, January 28. The all-in-one subscription provides access to the Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage apps, with U.S. pricing set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. A subscription to Apple Creator Studio also unlocks "intelligent features" and "premium content" in apps like Pixelmator Pro, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, and later Freeform.
Deal Ticker: Loews to Add Third Hotel in Arlington Entertainment District
Plus: Dubai's Sobha Realty buys 100 acres in Frisco, Partners Real Estate taps former Stream Realty exec to lead Dallas market, and more.
How One Business School In Minneapolis Is Navigating The ICE Surge
The University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business campus in downtown Minneapolis, where administrators say students have reported feeling safer on campus than in surrounding neighborhoods amid heightened federal immigration enforcement across ... The post How One Business School In Minneapolis Is Navigating The ICE Surge appeared first on Poets&Quants.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Trains Nearly 500 Professionals to Strengthen Special Pathogen Readiness across HHS Region 2 - NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue announced today that it has trained close to 500 health care and public health professionals across four jurisdictions in
Google Brings Cheaper $7.99 'AI Plus' Plan to 35 Countries, Including U.S.
Google today announced that it is expanding its more affordable Google AI Plus subscription plan to 35 countries and territories, including the United States. In the U.S., Google AI Plus is priced at $7.99, giving Google Gemini users a more affordable option for accessing upgraded AI services. Prior to now, Google AI Pro was the most affordable AI subscription plan at $19.99 per month.
National retail chain closing its clothing stores across LA, including at the Riverwalk outlets
Open since 1999, women’s clothing chain had more than 450 locations across the U.S.
Android adds ‘Failed Authentication Lock’ setting, boosts failed passcode lockout
Google today detailed the latest device theft protection features for Android across stronger authentication and enhanced recovery tools.
Range Sports Acquires Live Experiences Company Superfly
Range will launch a new live division with experiential opportunities across sports, entertainment, music and more. The deal does not include the company's ownership interest in Outside Lands.
Patriot League and CBS Sports Reach Multi-Year Television Extension
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League and CBS Sports announce a multi-year television deal that will extend their 23-year relationship. Under the agreement, CBS Sports Network will air Patriot League men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse and a variety of other sports.