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Tennessee out to handle opportunity vs. LSU
Despite winning six of its past eight outings, Tennessee has had to weather two stinging losses because of blown leads.
Women in Science: Climate Scientist Gisela Winckler
Winckler focuses on the history and causes of past, present and future climate variability, as well as the ocean’s role in the climate system and the carbon cycle.
Oral Comprehensive Examination, Joseph Thomas Pastina, Sport and Exercise Science
Joseph Thomas Pastina will take his oral comprehensive examination. Research Advisor: Laura Stewart; Committee: D. Hydock, N. Pullen, J.
Health chief Kennedy says he’s no germaphobe, recalls snorting cocaine off toilet seats
The Kennedy scion divulged his old drug habits on comedian Theo Von’s podcast “This Past Weekend.
Archbishop of Baltimore calls for renewal of US political life
Ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore releases a pastoral letter inviting Americans ...
Could lab monkeys soon become a thing of the past?
The Trump administration might actually — yes, really — change science for the better.
WEBTOON Entertainment (WBTN) Is Up 7.0% After Securities Fraud Case Proceeds Past Dismissal - Has The Bull Case Changed?
WEBTOON Entertainment is now facing an active securities fraud class action after a U.S. District Court in November 2025 denied its motion to dismiss allegations that it misled investors about Monthly Active Users at the time of its June 27, 2024 IPO. The court’s decision has prompted law firms to investigate potential breaches of fiduciary duty by WEBTOON’s officers and directors, raising fresh questions about its disclosure practices and governance controls. We’ll now examine how the...
Sumler's 16 lead Charleston Southern past Presbyterian 84-67
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) A'lahn Sumler's 16 points helped Charleston Southern defeat Presbyterian 84-67 on Thursday.
Brock Nelson Leads USA Hockey Past Latvia In Commanding Victory
Despite a chaotic first period with two overturned goals in favor of Latvia, the United States orchestrated an explosive second period as they settled into their game to establish an insurmountable lead.
Samsung’s dirt-cheap Galaxy A07 has a bigger battery than the Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra is rocking the same 5,000 mAh battery as the past five generations of the company’s...
2026 NFL MVP Odds: Josh Allen Opens as Favorite
After a close race this past season, who is the early favorite to win NFL MVP next year? See the odds.
St. Pete nurse turns pandemic pastime into booming DIY jewelry bar business
What started as a pandemic pastime has turned into a creative business, helping others make their own sparkle.
Knoxville attorney withdraws from Appeals Court quest amid partisan politics
Knoxville lawyer Rachel Hurt dropped a bid for the Court of Appeals after Republican senators questioned her past support for Democrats.
Athan Koutsiouroumbas: Pennsylvania's way behind on women-owned businesses
In Pennsylvania, women are less inclined to own small businesses. The Keystone State ranks in the bottom five of states in its percentage of women...
Hall's 23 lead New Mexico past Grand Canyon 70-64
PHOENIX (AP) Jake Hall scored 23 points as New Mexico beat Grand Canyon 70-64 on Wednesday night.
Cunningham on target as depleted Pistons down Raptors
Cade Cunningham finished with 28 points as the Detroit Pistons shrugged off the suspensions of Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart to cruise past the Toronto Raptors 113-95 on Wednesday.But the absence of the two Pistons centers had little effect on Detroit as they coasted to a wire-to-wire victory in Toronto.
Whitlock scores 33, Lehigh takes down American 90-82
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) Nasir Whitlock's 33 points led Lehigh past American 90-82 on Wednesday.
The Business We’ve Chosen
I know this winter seems like it’s been a harsh one of extreme cold, especially, but the cold is more “normal” than what we’ve been experiencing in the past decade. […]
Spring Training open thread: February 11
Well, nobody went on the 60-Day IL today so I’d consider that a success! The night is still young so I’m definitely knocking on wood here but hopefully we’re past the bad injury luck for the time being. That clubhouse needs it and the fanbase needs it as well. Phew. Anyways, here’s a random clip. […]
The sports bar Athletic Club Oakland has closed
A game-day destination for Oakland sports fans poured its last beers on Super Bowl Sunday. The bar is the latest in a string of closures in in the city over the past few months.
Past audit findings spur scrutiny of how Oklahoma will manage $223.5M rural health funds
It's set to be a huge shot in the arm for healthcare in rural and small-town Oklahoma. Our state is awarded $223.5 million in federal grant money in the first
Romeo Is A Dead Man slyly parodies multiverse nonsense before playing it too straight
The sci-fi action game Romeo is a Dead Man delivers SUDA51's trademark strangeness before playing things a bit too straight.
Will Commodity Sports Last?
If you wanted to bet on the Super Bowl this past weekend, you had options. You may have bet with a friend. If you live in a state where it’s legal, you could have gone to a casino or used a casino’s app. Or, starting last year, you could have entered into an event contract […]
Williams, Wessler guide UNC Wilmington past Charleston 76-64
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) Greedy Williams scored 16 points and Patrick Wessler posted a double-double as UNC Wilmington beat Charleston 76-64 on Monday night.
Just look at Ayaneo's absolute unit of a Windows gaming "handheld"
The Ayaneo Next II pushes past 3 pounds, 1 inches wide, and costs up to $4,300.
GOP, Dems agree prices are higher over past year
Bringing down costs for middle-class Americans was a core tenet of President Donald Trump’s reelection bid in 2024. Since returning to office last January, the president has repeatedly insisted that he’s righted the economy and driven down inflation.
Is Kansas basketball in top 10 of USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll?
Kansas basketball picked up a pair of wins this past week. Here’s what that’s meant for KU in the top 25 of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
Team Science Showcase: The People and Partnerships Moving Microplastics Research Forward
Public concern about microplastics and health has grown sharply over the past several years. Questions like “Are plastic cutting boards safe?” and “Should I drink out of plastic water bottles?” are prevalent, but...
Bradshaw's 16 lead Memphis past Charlotte 77-54
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Aaron Bradshaw scored 16 points, Julius Thedford had 11 points and 11 rebounds and three steals, and Memphis beat Charlotte 77-54 on Sunday.
NFL rumors: Why Vikings lost Sam Darnold to Seahawks
The Minnesota Vikings let Sam Darnold walk this past offseason, and looking back, it may have been a big mistake.
Trump says it's 'terrible' Bill Belichick wasn't elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot
In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Trump said Hall of Fame voters should look past a “controversial” two-year stretch for Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as a head coach.
10 Cool New Gadgets to Keep on Your Radar
Catching you up on the past week’s most notable product releases.
Retro Recap: All The Classic Gaming News From The Past Week (February 8th 2026)
Rave Racer! Nobuo Uematsu! Top Speed! Space Station Silicon Valley!
Colorado issues health and safety notice over marijuana with yeast and mold
Colorado health officials have issued a safety notice over batches of marijuana contaminated with yeast and mold sold in 31 stores across the state over the past two-and-a-half months.
Ashburn’s All American Steakhouse is back in business
Good news to report today. The All American Steakhouse restaurant in Ashburn reopened its doors this morning – Saturday, February 7 – two days after it closed amidst a dispute with its landlord. The restaurant – long a staple of the Broadlands Village Center shopping plaza – closed suddenly and with no notice this past
FULL SPECIAL: Celebrating Girls and Women in Sports
Welcome to our 2026 Women in Sports special. For the past several years, we’ve had the privilege of celebrating International Girls and Women in Sports Day with a show dedicated
Zambia bishops instruct clergy and faithful to stay out of partisan politics
“The Church is not and must never be a mouthpiece for any political party or candidate,” the Zambian bishops stated. Read more in this roundup of world news that you may have missed this past week.
Something supercharged Uranus when Voyager 2 flew past
Voyager 2’s flyby of Uranus in 1986 recorded radiation levels so extreme they baffled scientists for nearly 40 years. New research suggests the spacecraft caught Uranus during a rare solar wind event that flooded the planet’s radiation belts with extra energy. Similar storms have been seen near Earth, where they dramatically boost radiation levels. The discovery reshapes how scientists think about Uranus—and why it deserves another visit.
Which preview magazine predicted Alabama’s 2025 season most accurately?
Here's where the experts thought Alabama football would finish this past season.
Steph Curry gives blunt reaction to Giannis Antetokounmpo staying with Bucks past NBA trade deadline
Steph Curry shared his blunt reaction to the Golden State Warriors' inability to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo before the NBA trade deadline.
Lundblade's 24 lead Belmont past UIC 68-62
CHICAGO (AP) Tyler Lundblade had 24 points in Belmont's 68-62 win against UIC on Friday night.
Boxing great Mike Tyson discusses health turnaround, junk food past and Trump relationship
Former undisputed heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson detailed past health struggles and reflected on the early years of his relationship with President Donald Trump.
Looming Epstein Deposition Plunges Clintons Into Yet Another Scandal
Unlike in the past, top Democrats aren’t lining up in defense of the former president.
An Oral History Of Fallout
We spoke to many of the most instrumental people in the franchise’s past and present to tell Fallout’s story in their own words.
Rocket CEO says U.S. mortgage industry is a 'tale of two cities.' His booming business shows a broader reality for American homebuyers
“Mortgage rates dropped to the lowest that they've been in the past three years,” Varun Krishna said, “and Rocket was right there to capitalize.”
CVS Health to lay off 300 Hartford Aetna HQ
CVS has been rolling out layoffs semi frequently over the past few years, with over 1,000 having been laid off by early 2025.
CVS Health-Aetna laying off 313 remote workers, 17 in CT
CVS Health plans to lay off more than 300 additional workers at Hartford health insurer Aetna, including 17 in Connecticut, by the end of July, raising the total number of layoffs in the past two years to more than 1,000 workers.
Exclusive: Sports ticket prices soar as teams chase premium clientele
Ticket prices rose significantly more than inflation across leagues over the past 10 years.
A tumultuous two decades in Thailand's politics
Thailand has seen two coups, multiple rounds of street protests and court rulings that have brought down five prime ministers in the past two decades, underlining the intractable power struggle between conservatives, reformists and populists in the Southeast Asian country.
2/5 Big Ten Basketball Preview: Penn State at Michigan
There’s a doubleheader tonight on FS1 with a pair of Big Ten games set to take place this Thursday. Let’s take a look at the upcoming action. Penn State Nittany Lions at #2 Michigan Wolverines In the first game tonight Michigan is set to host Penn State. The Wolverines have won their past six games, […]
What NJ chains were hit by bankruptcies in the past few years?
Data by the Wall Street rating agency S&P Global showed that there were 785 bankruptcies in 2025 — the third consecutive year that the number rose.
Weekly sports quiz: Who did Liverpool agree to sign?
How much attention have you paid to what's happened in the world of sport over the past seven days?
Lewis' 22 lead Georgetown past Creighton 76-68
WASHINGTON (AP) KJ Lewis' 22 points helped Georgetown defeat Creighton 76-68 on Wednesday.
Williams, Dixon lead Duquesne past George Mason 71-65
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) Alex Williams led Duquesne with 25 points and David Dixon secured the victory with a layup with 41 seconds left as the Dukes took down George Mason 71-65 on Wednesday.
New Politics Project – European Council on Foreign Relations
European politics is undergoing a long-term process of transformation. The mostly stable, big-tent party systems of past decades have given way to more fragment
'Win within Edinburgh's grasp but for poor kicking'
Edinburgh have played four games in the past two seasons that have been officiated by Andrea Piardi and have lost all of them. On paper, we should have had a chance against Leinster but by now we all know that the paper lies. A few decisions felt like they went against Edinburgh, least of all the chalked-off try on the 25 minute mark.
Former Farming Leaders Warn U.S. Agriculture Could Face ‘Widespread Collapse’
A group of past government officials and the former heads of farming associations issued a dire warning to members of Congress.
Women's health clinic Midi Health closes $100M series D as it aims to scale a national healthcare company
Virtual women's health clinic Midi Health banked a $100 million series D round, hitting "unicorn" status. | Midi Health has grown rapidly in the past five years with a clinician network that spans 500 providers across 50 states serving more than 230,000 patients.
In Pictures: Sporting photos of the week
A selection of some of the most striking sports photographs taken around the world over the past seven days.
In Pictures: Sporting photos of the week
A selection of some of the most striking sports photographs taken around the world over the past seven days.
Elon Musk Calls Billie Eilish ‘Hypocrite’ Over Grammys Speech
Elon Musk weighed in on Billie Eilish’s controversial Grammy Awards speech, where she denounced ICE and declared “F*** ICE” on stage. The tech billionaire responded publicly, sparking fresh debate over the singer’s political activism and past comments. Elon Musk calls out Billie Eilish over her speech At the 2026 Grammy Awards, Billie Eilish used her […] The post Elon Musk Calls Billie Eilish ‘Hypocrite’ Over Grammys Speech appeared first on Reality Tea.
Business Image Lift and Francis Santa Reach 10-Year Milestone in Digital Reputation Protection.
Boca Raton, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - February 3, 2026) - Business Image Lift, a leading online reputation management firm, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Founded in 2016 by Francis Santa, the company has spent the past decade helping businesses and individuals reclaim control over their digital footprint and restore confidence in their online identity.Francis SantaTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please...
The latest release of Jeffrey Epstein files: Who is mentioned and what they are saying in response
Here is a look at some of the notable names in the latest release of files from the U.S. Justice Department pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein. The list includes politicians, entertainment figures, business leaders and Royal Family members, with some releasing statements this past weekend about their interactions with the late accused child sex trafficker.
How Team USA has evolved mental health services for Olympians
U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes will benefit from a robust mental health program despite scrutiny it faced in past years, according to the USOPC.
This global health leader praises Trump's aid plan -- and gears up to beat malaria
Bill Steiger, who served in the George H.W. Bush and first Trump administrations, reflects on the past year's changes in the U.S. role — and his new job as head of Malaria No More.
With an ACA fix uncertain in the Senate, Republicans replay old health care fights
Things are looking bleak for a fix in Congress for ACA premiums that doubled, on average, this month. And Republicans are making arguments against the law that haven't worked in years past.
12 Cool New Gadgets to Keep on Your Radar
Catching you up on the past week’s most notable product releases.
Josi's late goal lifts Predators past Islanders, 4-3
NEW YORK (AP) Roman Josi scored with 1:14 remaining in the game to lift the Nashville Predators past the New York Islanders 4-3 on Saturday night.
Jennings' 33 lead Appalachian State past Troy 66-44
TROY, Ala. (AP) Kasen Jennings' 33 points led Appalachian State past Troy 66-44 on Saturday.
Djobet's 27 lead Omaha past Denver 84-82
DENVER (AP) Paul Djobet scored 27 points as Omaha beat Denver 84-82 on Saturday.
Local Business Spotlight: Borderland Lodge
When guests arrive at Borderland Lodge, owners Dave and Stephanie Shea say they want visitors to experience what many find along the Gunflint Trail, a “sense of magic and wonder.” For the past five years, they have been doing just that. When guests call to book a room or cabin, Dave, Stephanie, and their staff...
Carroll, Borovicanin lead Xavier past DePaul, 68-66
CINCINNATI (AP) Tre Carroll led Xavier with 21 points and Filip Borovicanin hit the game-winning buzzer beater as the Musketeers defeated DePaul 68-66 on Saturday.
Jim Cramer Discuses Halliburton’s (HAL) Infrastructure Business
We recently published 11 Stocks on Jim Cramer’s Radar. Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s radar. Oil and gas exploration equipment provider Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL)’s shares, like those of its peer SLB, have also performed well recently. They are up by 28.8% over the past year and by 13% year-to-date. […]
Cloud storage payment scam floods inboxes with fake renewals
Over the past few months, a large-scale cloud storage subscription scam campaign has been targeting users worldwide with repeated emails falsely warning recipients that their photos, files, and accounts are about to be blocked or deleted due to an alleged payment failure.
Youssef (26 points) leads Pinkerton boys past Londonderry
LONDONDERRY -- In typical fashion, Friday night’s rivalry game between the Pinkerton Academy and Londonderry boys basketball teams began with a tough and gritty feel to it.
We’ve got rhythm — but why? What science can explain about dance
Dancing uses overlooked senses and may tie to our deep evolutionary past. Knowing that can only make it more magical.
Nino's Family Restaurant Closes After 30+ Years of Business
It was a true family operation, known for massive portions, freshly made pasta and take-home salad dressings.
Feedback Friday: ‘Closer Look’ listeners react to intensifying daily politics, protests
This comes as tensions continue to rise in Minnesota after the shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Earlier this month, Lemon and Fort both reported on a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. It has been alleged that an ICE official serves as a pastor of the church, which sparked the protest. Following the incident, the Trump administration promised retaliation against Lemon.
A 65km hike into Norway's vanishing rural past
The Stølstruta offers hikers a responsible, respectful way to witness a pastoral tradition that has disappeared almost everywhere else in Europe.
Livingston v Motherwell: Pick of the stats
Tawanda Maswanhise has scored in his past three league appearances, while a goal here would make him the youngest player (23 years 72 days) to net in four successive Scottish Premiership outings since Malik Tillman for Rangers in April 2023 (20y 308d), and youngest for Motherwell in the top flight since Nick Blackman in November 2010 (21y 9d). Motherwell have only lost one of their past 15 league games (W9 D5), a 1-0 defeat at Rangers in December.
Eugene businesses close during nationwide economic shutdown
Portal Teas, Noisette Pastry Kitchen, Acorn Community Cafe, and more disrupt business as usual for protest on Jan. 30
Gambling could become a mental health crisis for teen boys
A new report from Common Sense Media found that more than a third of boys ages 11 to 17 have gambled in the past year. NBC News Now Daily anchor Kate Snow joins the "Here's the Scoop" to discuss the rise in gambling among teenage boys and why some experts worry it could cause a mental health crisis.
DC Wrap: Tentative deal struck to avoid shutdown; Trump touts past year
A look at the day's biggest stories in national politics
Will Cain: Celebrities pushing politics seems like a ‘relic of the past’
Fox News host Will Cain rails against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for his comparisons of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation in his state to the Battle of Gettysburg and the story of Anne Frank on ‘The Will Cain Show.’
Amy Klobuchar Announces Run for Minnesota Governor
The Democratic senator, who signaled her bid after Gov. Tim Walz said he wouldn’t run again, talked about moving past political divides in a video announcement.
Are These Unprecedented Times for Science, Really?
A science historian looks to the past to understand our current moment, and how ghostwriting in scientific papers is harming public trust.
Müller Lifts Boston Past New York In Shootout
Alina Müller’s pair of shootout goals helped the Fleet edge the Sirens and extend its lead atop the standings.
Floods push crocodiles into Mozambican towns as health concerns rise
Floods in Mozambique have led to a new threat. Crocodiles are appearing in submerged towns and have killed at least three people. Torrential rains and severe flooding over the past month have killed more than 100 people in Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Thousands of homes have been destr...
'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.
High school roundup: Hastie’s shot lifts Pelham boys
Gavin Hastie’s jumper in the lane with 1.5 seconds remaining lifted the Pelham boys basketball team past host Lebanon, 50-48, in a Division II contest on Tuesday night.
Some of ‘Star Search’s’ biggest losers became megastars. Can the revival live up to its past?
Aaliyah, Britney and Beyoncé famously lost when they appeared on “Star Search” back in the day. Those who bested them look back as a new reboot takes off.
Pegula beats fellow American Anisimova to finally reach Australian Open semis
It marked Pegula’s 14th win in her past 15 matches against fellow Americans.
Analysis: Trump’s team almost never backs down from its false claims. This past week has been different
From the start, this has been a say-anything presidential administration.
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
How scientists predict big winter storms : Short Wave
This past weekend, Winter Storm Fern struck the States. Sleet, snow and ice battered Americans all the way from New Mexico to New York. Scientists predicted its arrival in mid-January, and in anticipation of the storm, more than 20 state governors issued emergency declarations. But how did scientists know so much, so early, about the approaching storm? NPR climate reporter Rebecca Hersher says it has to do with our weather models… and the data we put into them. Which begs the question: Will we continue to invest in them?Interested in more science behind the weather? Check out our episodes on better storm prediction in the tropics and how the Santa Ana winds impact the fire season this time of year. Have a question we haven’t covered? Email us at shortwave@npr.org. We’d love to consider it for a future episode! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.This episode was produced by Hannah Chinn. It was edited by our showrunner Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones and Rebecca Hersher checked the facts. The audio engineer was Robert Rodriguez. News clips were from CBS Boston, Fox Weather, Fox 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, and PBS Newshour.
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".
Is Teladoc Health (TDOC) A Potential Opportunity After Prolonged Share Price Weakness
If you are wondering whether Teladoc Health at around US$5.91 is a bargain or a value trap, this breakdown is designed to give you a clear, structured view of where the stock stands today. The share price has retreated recently, with a 2.6% decline over the last 7 days, a 17.0% decline over 30 days, a 16.2% decline year to date, and a 43.8% decline over the past year, on top of a much larger 79.9% decline over 3 years and 97.8% over 5 years. Recent coverage around Teladoc Health has focused...
Harley's late goal lifts Stars past Blues, 4-3
Thomas Harley’s goal with just over a minute left short-circuited a late rally by the St. Louis Blues and lifted the Dallas Stars to a 4-3 win on Tuesday night. Matt Duchene scored a pair of goals for his first multigoal game since Feb. 8. Roope Hintz also scored and Jake Oettinger made 23 saves, as the Stars won for the third time in their last four games and improved to 10-2-1 against St. Louis going back to Nov. 28, 2022.