News•Feb 17, 2026
The Votes Are In! Here Are The 15 Legal Tech Startups Selected For The 2026 Startup Alley At ABA TECHSHOW
The ABA TECHSHOW’s 2026 Startup Alley has selected 15 legal‑tech startups to pitch on opening night, after a public voting process narrowed a panel‑chosen shortlist of 25. Winners will showcase their AI‑driven solutions—from immigration case management to email automation and settlement analytics—during the conference’s exhibit hall. The competition awards the top pitch with a marketing prize package, while all finalists gain exposure to a national audience of law‑firm leaders and investors. The event runs March 25‑28 in Chicago, positioning these innovators at the forefront of legal‑technology adoption.
By Above the Law
News•Feb 17, 2026
Gilead-Genhouse Tie-Up Among Several Spanning Pacific: Deals Report
Gilead Sciences has agreed to pay $80 million upfront to Suzhou Genhouse Bio for worldwide rights to GH31, a clinic‑ready oncology molecule. GH31 employs synthetic lethality to inhibit the MAT2A enzyme, a target implicated in several cancers. The deal follows regulatory...
By BioCentury
Blog•Feb 17, 2026
How Clashes Between Sean Duffy and Bryan Bedford Intensified FAA’s Year of Turmoil
Sean Duffy entered the Transportation Secretary role just hours before a tragic mid‑air collision killed 67 people, thrusting him into the public eye as the FAA’s crisis manager. Five months later, President Trump’s pick, Bryan Bedford, assumed the FAA Administrator...
By The Air Current
Social•Feb 17, 2026
AMC Refires $2.5B to Trim Maturity Wall
AMC moving to clean up its maturity wall. $2.5B package taking out 2027 notes (12.75%) and 2029 TL If it prices well, decently lower interest burden. $AMC
By JunkBondInvestor
News•Feb 17, 2026
AI Transforms Accounting at Bonadio
Bonadio Group, a Rochester‑based accounting firm, is scaling artificial intelligence across its core services. CEO Bruce Zicari says AI now handles data‑entry tasks in reconciliations, financial reporting, tax preparation and expense management, freeing professionals for higher‑value advisory work. The firm...
By Accounting Today
News•Feb 17, 2026
Pelagic Credit Plc: Update on Contemplated Private Placement and Listing on Euronext Growth Oslo
Pelagic Credit Plc issued an update on its planned private placement and intended listing on Euronext Growth Oslo. The company reports strong investor interest and is revisiting the offering’s structure, which could diverge from the February 9 outline. Size, timing and...
By Euronext
News•Feb 17, 2026
Bank of Canada Orders XTM to Cease Retail Payment Activities After Investment Regulator Halts Trading of Its Stock
The Bank of Canada ordered fintech XTM and its affiliates to stop all retail payment activities after customers of its Everyday Payments subsidiary reported missing funds. Simultaneously, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization halted trading of XTM’s PAID stock, causing the...
By BetaKit (Canada)
Blog•Feb 17, 2026
Short Takes #17: Time's Unfolding
In Short Takes #17, the host reflects on a personal "functional freeze" triggered by a severe snowstorm and broader societal stressors, linking it to anxiety, seasonal affective disorder, and trauma. The episode highlights two policy issues: the need for a...
By Work Futures
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Rent to Your Business Tax-Free—Only With Proper Paperwork
Influencers: “Rent your house to your business and boom — tax-free money.” What they don’t tell you: 📂 Fair market rent. 📝 Real agendas and minutes. 👥 Actual humans in attendance. 💼 A separate legal entity. 📸 Documentation that doesn’t look like it was created during...
By Prof. Victoria J. Haneman
Blog•Feb 17, 2026
Jimmy Kelly Steps Down as CEO of Lone Wolf
Jimmy Kelly has stepped down as CEO of Lone Wolf Technologies after a seven‑year run marked by an aggressive acquisition strategy that added five companies, including W+R Studios, within nine months. The privately‑held firm, which powers a platform used by...
By Vendor Alley
News•Feb 17, 2026
Genmab Announces Initiation of Share Buy-Back Program
Genmab A/S announced a share buy‑back program to repurchase up to 342,130 ordinary shares, representing a maximum spend of 725 million Danish kroner. The program, designed to fulfill obligations under its Restricted Stock Unit plan, will run from February 18 to March 31 2026...
By The Manila Times Business
News•Feb 17, 2026
Qatar PM Arrives in Venezuela on First Trip Since Maduro’s Ouster: What to Know
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani arrived in Caracas, marking his first visit since the U.S. raid that ousted President Nicolás Maduro. The trip focuses on strengthening bilateral ties, including agriculture and investment, while Qatar positions...
By Al-Monitor – All
News•Feb 17, 2026
Greenbriar to Acquire AIT Worldwide Logistics
Greenbriar Capital Partners announced it will acquire AIT Worldwide Logistics, a global freight forwarding firm. The transaction will be financed by Greenbriar’s existing investors, with The Jordan Company, the private equity backer of Greenbriar, set to exit upon closing. The...
By PE Hub
News•Feb 17, 2026
PRESS RELEASE: BIGBEN ANNOUNCES IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE PARTIAL REPAYMENT OF ITS BOND LOAN
Bigben Interactive announced that its banking pool unexpectedly refused to honor a drawdown notice for the partial refinancing of its senior bonds, leaving the company unable to execute the planned €43 million partial repayment on the February 19 maturity date. The...
By Euronext
News•Feb 17, 2026
Corporate Health Outlook: Improvement Broadens as Expectations Rise
Loomis Sayles’ Credit Analyst Diffusion Indices (CANDIs) survey shows analyst optimism at its highest in several quarters, driven by stronger profit margins and declining leverage across most industries. Margin expectations rose sharply for both services and manufacturing, while leverage fell to...
By Loomis Sayles — Blog
News•Feb 17, 2026
Why Coal May Outlast Natural Gas in the Electricity Market
The article argues that as renewables displace fossil generation, coal may outlast natural gas in U.S. electricity markets. Coal’s proximity to mines allows on‑site storage and reduces logistical complexity compared with gas pipelines. Winter reliability concerns for gas, such as...
By OilPrice.com – Main
News•Feb 17, 2026
The Myth of More Time
The article debunks the common belief that leaders simply need more hours, arguing that the real shortage is a lack of systems to protect existing time. It stresses that without structured processes, executives become bottlenecks, reacting rather than strategizing. High‑intent...
By Inc.
News•Feb 17, 2026
New York Enacts Chapter Amendment to “Trapped at Work Act,” Clarifying Scope, Creating Targeted Exceptions, and Delaying Effective Date
Governor Hochul signed a chapter amendment to New York’s Trapped at Work Act, narrowing its coverage to employees and redefining repayment obligations. The amendment postpones the law’s operative provisions to December 19 2026, effectively delaying compliance for a year. It introduces targeted...
By Littler – Insights/News
News•Feb 17, 2026
3 Questions For A Litigation Funding Startup Founder (Part II)
The interview with Signal Peak founder Lauren Harrison highlights a critical shortage of trial‑ready talent in IP law firms, noting that fewer than 10% of litigators have ever tried a case. She explains that funders favor firms that can confidently...
By Above the Law
News•Feb 17, 2026
Papa John's Franchisee Loses Power to Compel Arbitration After Missing AAA Payment
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled that Papa Texas, a Papa John’s franchisee, cannot compel arbitration after it failed to pay its share of the American Arbitration Association fees. The company missed multiple payment deadlines despite settlement...
By HRD (Human Capital Magazine) US
News•Feb 17, 2026
QuadSci Receives $8M Series A Funding Round
QuadSci announced an $8 million Series A round led by Crosslink Capital, with participation from Alumni Ventures, Correlation Ventures, and several angel investors. The startup’s AI platform uniquely ties product usage telemetry to revenue outcomes, enabling firms to predict churn, uncover growth,...
By VC News Daily
News•Feb 17, 2026
Surging China Auto Exports to Counter Carrier Overcapacity Fears: Wilhelmsen CEO
Wallenius Wilhelmsen CEO Lasse Kristoffersen said China will ship an additional 2.3 million vehicles this year, boosting total exports to roughly 8.2 million units. The surge aligns with an 8% increase in roll‑on/roll‑off carrier capacity, adding 67 new vessels to a fleet of...
By Journal of Commerce (JOC)
News•Feb 17, 2026
Seventh Circuit Strikes Down Religious Accommodation Claim Lacking Specific Beliefs
The Seventh Circuit upheld the dismissal of religious‑accommodation claims by three Illinois school employees who refused COVID‑19 vaccination and weekly testing. The court ruled that invoking a vague moral conscience without linking the objection to a specific religious belief does...
By HRD (Human Capital Magazine) US
News•Feb 17, 2026
Australia’s Energy Transition Hits a Permitting Wall
Australia’s renewable rollout is stalling as planning and environmental permitting delays choke new generation projects. State‑level approval processes are taking years, pushing back construction of solar farms, wind parks and battery storage. Although the federal government has introduced streamlined pathways,...
By Infrastructure Investor (PEI Group)
News•Feb 17, 2026
TEKsystems Loses Overtime Battle: Court Says Recruiters Are Producers, Not Admins
A Pennsylvania federal judge ruled that TEKsystems misclassified its recruiters as exempt, finding they perform core sales functions and are therefore entitled to overtime. The decision highlights that actual job duties, not titles, determine exemption status under the Fair Labor...
By HRD (Human Capital Magazine) US
News•Feb 17, 2026
ChipAgents Completes $50M Series A1 Round
ChipAgents announced the close of an oversubscribed $50 million Series A1 round, raising its total capital to $74 million. The round was led by Matter Venture Partners, a TSMC‑backed HardTech VC, with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners, Micron, MediaTek and Ericsson. ChipAgents’ Agentic...
By VC News Daily
News•Feb 17, 2026
PCCI CEO Steve Miff on the 4 Pillars of a Trustworthy AI Framework
Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI) unveiled a four‑pillar framework—prediction transparency, performance transparency, security transparency, and compliance—to ensure trustworthy AI throughout model lifecycles. The framework underpins 14 production models and several in testing, supported by tools like the Islet visualizer...
By Healthcare Innovation
News•Feb 17, 2026
Court Rules Medicare Compliance No Defense Against OSHA Workplace Violence Citations
A Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals decision rejected Cedar Springs Hospital's claim that Medicare compliance shields it from OSHA workplace‑violence citations. The Colorado psychiatric facility was cited for seven safety deficiencies and fined $13,494. The court clarified that CMS regulations...
By HRD (Human Capital Magazine) US
News•Feb 17, 2026
As Agentic Commerce Emerges, Services Providers Are Rewriting Commerce Playbooks End To End
The episode explores how commerce‑services providers are reshaping traditional commerce strategies to accommodate both human shoppers and AI‑driven agentic buyers. It highlights three critical capabilities: dual optimization for humans and agents, AI‑powered operations that enhance resilience in brick‑and‑mortar and online...
By Forrester Blogs
News•Feb 17, 2026
Portland General Electric Acquires $1.9B Worth of Utility Operations and Assets From PacifiCorp
Portland General Electric (PGE) announced a $1.9 billion acquisition of utility operations and assets from PacifiCorp. The deal encompasses transmission lines, generation facilities, and related infrastructure across the Pacific Northwest. PGE expects the purchase to add roughly 200,000 new customers and...
By Renewable Energy World
News•Feb 17, 2026
Law Professors Sue EEOC to Expose Secret BigLaw DEI Settlement Terms
Two law professors have filed a lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission seeking the release of secret settlement agreements the agency reached with several major law firms over their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. The settlements, signed between...
By HRD (Human Capital Magazine) US
News•Feb 17, 2026
‘Millionaires Tax’ Clears Washington Senate
Washington state senators approved a 9.9% income tax on earnings above $1 million, marking the first legislative hurdle for the so‑called “millionaires tax.” The measure, passed 27‑22, is projected to generate about $3.5 billion annually and would affect roughly 30,000 high‑income taxpayers....
By CPA Practice Advisor
Blog•Feb 17, 2026
Coffee Break: Armed Madhouse – Requiem for Nuclear Arms Control
With the New START treaty lapsing on Feb. 5, 2026, the United States and Russia lost the last binding caps on their strategic nuclear forces. The article warns that the primary instability stems not from overt arsenal growth but from three...
By Naked Capitalism
News•Feb 17, 2026
BP Is Running on Empty As Energy Giant Scraps Buyback Program
BP announced suspension of its share buyback program and raised its cost‑cutting target by $1.5 billion, aiming for $5.5‑$6.5 billion of savings by 2027 to fund oil production. The move follows a turbulent year that saw the ouster of CEO Murray Auchincloss...
By OilPrice.com – Main
News•Feb 17, 2026
Trump Justice Dept. Launches Bunk Investigation Of Netflix Merger As a Favor To Larry Ellison
The Department of Justice has launched a wide‑ranging investigation into Netflix’s planned $82.7 billion merger with Warner Bros., citing antitrust concerns over media consolidation. Critics argue the probe is a political maneuver to aid billionaire Larry Ellison’s competing bid for Warner’s...
By Dealbreaker
News•Feb 17, 2026
Pinterest and Maven Team up to Provide Menopause Support to Employees
Pinterest has partnered with Maven Clinic to launch a unified menopause, fertility and parenting support platform for its workforce. The initiative aims to curb the $1.8 billion productivity loss attributed to menopause‑related disruptions in 2023. By consolidating care into a single...
By Employee Benefit News
Podcast•Feb 17, 2026•7 min
Why Inclusion Fails Before Leaders Engage
The episode explores why diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives often collapse before leadership even engages, focusing on three core problems: misaligned incentives, the chicken‑and‑egg dilemma of proving value, and the lack of a commercial business case. It argues that risk‑averse...
By The Element of Inclusion
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Stop AI Lies: Four Prompt Tricks for Accurate Research
Everyone's using AI to do data analysis. Almost everyone is getting answers full of lies. Made-up quotes. Invented evidence. Completely wrong conclusions—all presented with total confidence. Today post by UXR veteran Caitlin Sullivan shares four prompting techniques that will prevent and catch...
By Lenny Rachitsky
Social•Feb 17, 2026
SEO's Alive: Prioritize Quality, Update for AI
Stop thinking SEO is dead. It's just different. You're not ranking mediocre AI content anymore. Update legacy pieces, embed expert quotes, target LLMs AND Google. Quality > Quantity. https://t.co/LbqxucBTcZ
By Ross Simmonds
News•Feb 17, 2026
Divided FTC Finalizes Rule to Ban Noncompete Agreements
The Federal Trade Commission finalized a rule banning most non‑compete agreements, approved by a 3‑2 vote and set to take effect 120 days after publication. The regulation spares only senior executives earning over $151,164, preserving existing clauses for that group....
By Law.com (ALM)
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Paramount Skydance Open to Talks, No Bid Increase Confirmed
Paramount Skydance ‘Prepared to Engage’ With Warner Bros. Discovery on Takeover Talks, but Doesn’t Indicate Whether It Will Raise Price of Its Hostile Bid https://t.co/UtIQUrAntR via @variety
By Todd Spangler
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Ford Pays Millions in Tariffs After Supplier Fire
"Tariffs, supplier fire continue to batter Ford" https://t.co/3FKQwD9ycE That Ford is having to pay millions in aluminum tariffs simply bc its domestic supplier caught fire is one of the better/stupider examples of US tariff policy today: https://t.co/eOL1o1zgXf
By Scott Lincicome
News•Feb 17, 2026
KDDI Selects Oracle Cloud Scale Charging and Billing for Telecom Billing Modernization
Japanese telecom KDDI selects Oracle Cloud Scale Charging and Billing to replace its legacy billing system. The cloud‑native platform on OCI will handle real‑time charging for mobile, broadband and digital services, aiming to cut costs and boost agility. KDDI expects...
By ERP Today
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Central Banks Amass Record Gold, China Adds 357 Tonnes
Central banks around the world have spurred one of the largest gold-buying waves in history. The top 15 buyers added ~2,000 tonnes. China alone added over 357 tonnes since 2020. BUY GOLD, WEAR DIAMONDS. https://t.co/8Gm9M05oo3
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Executive Ownership Drives Successful Business Transformations
Business transformations require strong executive ownership and decisive decision-making. Don't delegate all choices; leaders must guide consensus to navigate the inherent risks and ensure success beyond just a tech upgrade. #BusinessTransformation #Leadership #ChangeManagement https://t.co/3eDHQ4CWSO
By Eric Kimberling
Podcast•Feb 17, 2026•39 min
The Small Behaviors That Build Trust (and the Common Ones That Destroy It) with Dr. Paul Zak
In this episode, behavioral neuroscientist Dr. Paul Zak explains how trust is rooted in oxytocin and how everyday actions—like granting autonomy, giving fast, personal recognition, and showing vulnerability—can boost it. He shows that moderate stress, the "adjective hack," and the...
By Transform Your Workplace
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Unfocused AI Experiments Waste Time, Trust, and Money
RT Chaotic AI experiments feel exciting, but they're quietly burning time, trust, and budget. Without focus, governance, and integration into real workflows, "innovation" becomes noise, not value. #AI #CIO #DigitalTransformation @Star_CIO https://t.co/VtuS5rQ0ZG
By Isaac Sacolick
Social•Feb 17, 2026
AI Firms, Data Centers to Issue $220B Debt, Outpace Banks
AI cos and data centers are expected to issue $220 billion of debt this year, making up 15% of JPM's high-grade bond index (and making them bigger issuers than banks) https://t.co/LPkxfJGhNK
By Gunjan Banerji
News•Feb 17, 2026
Inside Palantir’s Sudden HQ Move to Miami—And What It Signals for the Tech Industry
Palantir announced it is moving its corporate headquarters from Denver, Colorado to Miami, Florida. The relocation follows a broader wave of tech companies gravitating toward Florida, drawn by the state’s no‑income‑tax policy and lower regulatory pressures. Miami has emerged as...
By Inc.
Social•Feb 17, 2026
UK Unemployment Peaks Since COVID, Youth Jobless at 16%
#UKWatch🇬🇧: UK unemployment levels have reached their HIGHEST LEVEL since COVID. Youth unemployment ROSE TO 16.1%. RUSSOPHOBE STARMER’S GOVERNMENT IS FLOUNDERING. https://t.co/4jk4KQ1Q5I
By Steve Hanke