News•Feb 18, 2026
Jacksepticeye Apologizes For Criticizing Life Is Strange 2’s Political Message: ‘I’ve Learned A Great Deal In The Last 8 Years’
Jacksepticeye, the popular YouTuber, apologized in February 2026 for his 2019 criticism of the political themes in Don’t Nod’s episodic game Life Is Strange 2. In his original Let’s Play, he claimed the narrative pushed a specific agenda and lacked depth, prompting backlash from the game’s community. The apology, posted on X, acknowledged his naivety and expressed a desire to learn more about the issues the game portrays. The controversy underscores the heightened sensitivity to social‑justice content in video games amid real‑world debates on policing and immigration.
By Kotaku
News•Feb 18, 2026
Xbox RPG Avowed Snubs PS5 Pro Support
Xbox‑published RPG Avowed launched on PS5 and runs solidly, offering three visual modes—Quality (1440p/30 fps), Performance (1080p upscaled/60 fps), and Balanced (40 fps with 120 Hz support). The port mirrors the Xbox Series X experience but provides no PS5 Pro‑specific enhancements such as dedicated PSSR upscaling....
By Push Square
News•Feb 18, 2026
Successfully Implementing AI in Banking: Insights From Allica Bank CEO Richard Davies
Allica Bank CEO Richard Davies outlined how the UK fintech is scaling AI across its organization, emphasizing company‑wide adoption, engineering productivity, and cultural change. He highlighted that AI tools have delivered productivity improvements of two to ten times for engineers...
By Finovate
News•Feb 18, 2026
Remote Working Down, Mid-Level Contraction, and Eastern Migration: The Signals We're Seeing in Games Job Data
Sorcery.gg’s hiring data shows a modest 4% global contraction in games‑industry jobs in 2025, driven largely by a 25% drop in U.S. openings. Meanwhile, China posted a 25% increase, overtaking the U.S. as the top source of new roles. Mid‑level...
By GamesIndustry.biz
News•Feb 18, 2026
Why Insider Threats May Make Satellite Hacking Significantly Easier
The article argues that insider threats could dramatically lower the barriers to satellite hacking, as insiders can bypass air‑gap protections and exploit the growing use of off‑the‑shelf Linux hardware. It highlights how complex supply chains, contractor relationships, and recent geopolitical...
By Via Satellite
News•Feb 18, 2026
Apiary Hotel Belleview Station Opens in South Denver
Apiary Hotel Belleview Station, a 175‑room Residence Inn by Marriott, opened in South Denver’s Belleview Station neighborhood. The all‑suite property blends extended‑stay comfort with boutique design, featuring bee‑inspired décor, a multi‑sided fireplace lobby, and a complimentary hot breakfast. Adjacent Apiary...
By Hotel Business
News•Feb 18, 2026
Ambient AI in the Exam Room: For Better Care and Better Caring
Leonard Calabrese argues that ambient artificial intelligence—low‑cost, always‑on tools integrated into the exam room—can free clinicians from the constant EMR distraction and restore genuine face‑to‑face interaction. By handling routine documentation and patient‑message drafting, AI lets physicians focus on non‑verbal cues...
By Healio – All News
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Demand Surge Compresses Bond Spreads Despite Record Issuance
Record bond issuance. Record trading volumes. Tighter spreads. More supply should widen spreads. Instead buyers are so hungry that more issuance actually improves liquidity and compresses risk premiums. This works until it doesn’t.
By JunkBondInvestor
News•Feb 18, 2026
Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo Continues Expansion of Luxury Glamping
Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo announced the addition of five new luxury glamping tents, each exceeding 500 square feet and equipped with climate‑controlled interiors, king‑size beds, and full ensuite bathrooms. The tents also feature a kitchenette, VIP concierge service,...
By Green Lodging News
News•Feb 18, 2026
Former Capcom Developer Has Spent Over $500K On Microtransactions In His Own Gacha Game
Yoshiki Okamoto, the former Capcom producer behind Street Fighter II, disclosed on Japanese television that he has spent over ¥80 million (about $520 000) on microtransactions in his own gacha title, Monster Strike. The mobile RPG, which he launched after founding Game Republic, is...
By TheGamer
News•Feb 18, 2026
Phasmophobia Development Preview 21 Outlines Upcoming Changes
Kinetic Games announced that the long‑awaited Player Character Update for Phasmophobia has been delayed to the first quarter of 2026. The patch will replace the game’s stiff early‑access avatars with lifelike models and introduce visual customization options. The studio also...
By VideoGamer.com
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
Former SEC Deputy Director and Top Trial Lawyer Antonia Apps Joins Paul, Weiss’s Litigation Department | Paul, Weiss
Paul, Weiss announced that Antonia M. Apps, former SEC Deputy Director of Enforcement and ex‑federal prosecutor, has joined the firm as a partner in its New York Litigation Department. Apps is renowned for high‑stakes securities and white‑collar litigation. Her arrival...
By Securities Docket
News•Feb 18, 2026
5 Ways QR Codes Help Grow Restaurant Catering
QR codes are emerging as low‑cost, trackable tools for restaurant catering growth. Kelly Grogan outlines five intentional placements— in‑store contests, bag stuffer flyers, local leave‑behinds, catering order collateral, and thank‑you cards— each designed to capture leads and drive repeat business....
By Fast Casual
News•Feb 18, 2026
UNITE HERE Releases Report Showing Immigration Policies Are Devastating U.S. Tourism Industry
UNITE HERE’s new "Inhospitable" report links recent White House immigration crackdowns to a sharp downturn in U.S. tourism. The study documents more than 2.5 million fewer international visitors in 2025, a $1 billion drop in travel receipts, and 98,000 lost hospitality jobs....
By Green Lodging News
News•Feb 18, 2026
Various Project Ramp-Ups Set to Boost Global Lithium Output in 2026
Global lithium production surged 19.7% in 2025 to 338,300 tonnes and is projected to climb another 15% in 2026, reaching 389,100 tonnes. The acceleration is driven by rapid ramp‑ups in Argentina, China, Australia, Mali and Zimbabwe, each adding new projects...
By Mining Technology
News•Feb 18, 2026
Davidson Hospitality Group Reorganizes Commercial Services Team
Davidson Hospitality Group has reshaped its commercial services by promoting Patrick Broderick and Harry Carr to newly created senior vice‑president roles overseeing commercial optimization, while appointing Kathryn Collins as vice‑president of marketing. The reorganization consolidates sales, revenue management and marketing...
By Hotel Business
News•Feb 18, 2026
AI Claim Assistant Now Taking Auto Damage Claims Calls at Travelers
Travelers Companies has launched an AI Claim Assistant, an agentic voice service built on OpenAI’s models, to field auto‑damage claim calls. The system guides callers from initial consultation through claim submission, provides policy details, and enables photo uploads, appraisals, rental...
By Carrier Management
News•Feb 18, 2026
Architecting Agentic Operations for Supply Chain – A Practical View of A2A and MCP
The article proposes a layered architecture—Agent‑to‑Agent (A2A) for coordination and Model Context Protocol (MCP) for capability—to move AI in supply chains from isolated pilots to production‑scale operations. By publishing Agent Cards, A2A lets specialized agents discover and invoke each other...
By Logistics Viewpoints
News•Feb 18, 2026
Last Payment for Production Employees in the Motion Picture Industry
California’s Labor Code section 201.5 creates a tailored final‑pay regime for workers engaged in motion‑picture production and broadcasting. The statute requires that terminated employees receive all earned wages by the next regular payday, with payment permissible by mail or at a...
By National Law Review – Employment Law
News•Feb 18, 2026
If You Can't Beat AI, Become One in Hooded Horse Strategy RPG Heart of the Machine, Which Hits 1.0 Release...
Arcen Games and Hooded Horse are set to launch the 1.0 version of Heart of the Machine in March 2026. The sci‑fi strategy RPG lets players assume the role of a super‑advanced AI tasked with reshaping a crumbling civilization, promising...
By Rock Paper Shotgun
News•Feb 18, 2026
AIAA Identifies Top Technologies Transforming Aerospace
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) released a new report identifying ten technologies that will reshape aerospace by 2045, based on a survey of over 700 experts and interviews with senior leaders. The list includes AI‑aided design, alternative...
By AIAA – Industry News (Aerospace)
News•Feb 18, 2026
U.S. Firms Test Venom Autonomous Strike Aircraft
Divergent Technologies and Mach Industries unveiled Venom, an autonomous strike aircraft prototype that reached flight readiness in just 71 days. The rapid development leveraged Mach's modular open‑systems architecture and Divergent's Adaptive Production System, which uses additive manufacturing to produce monolithic...
By Defence Blog
News•Feb 18, 2026
CleanChoice Energy Triples Capacity with Solar Acquisitions in North Carolina
CleanChoice Energy announced the acquisition of two utility‑scale solar projects in North Carolina—Sumac (103.92 MW) and Sweetleaf (118.3 MW)—adding 222.2 MW of capacity and tripling its portfolio. Construction is slated to start early 2027 with grid interconnection to the PJM market expected in...
By POWER Magazine
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
Compassion Isn't Fatiguing. It's Energizing.
In this episode the host challenges the notion of "compassion fatigue" by arguing that genuine compassion, not fake empathy, is energizing for professionals like lawyers and social workers. Drawing on insights from the host's sister, a social worker, the discussion...
By The Business of Criminal Law (Substack)
News•Feb 18, 2026
Minecraft Java Is Switching From OpenGL to Vulkan for the Vibrant Visuals Update
Mojang announced that Minecraft Java Edition will transition its rendering pipeline from OpenGL to Vulkan as part of the upcoming Vibrant Visuals update. The switch aims to unlock modern graphics features, boost frame rates, and extend visual fidelity across Windows,...
By GamingOnLinux
News•Feb 18, 2026
Digital Path Practices Reflected in Latest Checklist Changes
The College of American Pathologists issued the 2025 accreditation checklist on Dec. 9, adding a new “Digital Pathology Including Remote Data Assessment” section. The revision requires laboratories to validate digital pathology systems, document remote review locations, and treat remote CLIA‑certified sites...
By CAP Today
News•Feb 18, 2026
Connecting Africa Podcast: S4 Ep. 3 – What You Need to Know to Build an MVNO
The Connecting Africa Podcast’s fourth‑season episode features Calvin Collett, founder and CEO of Melon Mobile, who details the gritty reality of launching a digital‑first mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in South Africa. He explains how building customer‑centricity into the company...
By Connecting Africa (Informa)
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Social Meals, Sustainable Diets,
This week on Lifers, Dr. Zeke Emanuel thinks you can eat the ice cream. Timestamps: (00:00) Preview (00:59) Intro (02:25) The inspiration behind the book (04:20) The importance of socialization and shared meals (07:33) Sustainability versus the short-term hustle (08:30) The truth about supplements and regulation (12:04) Sponsor:...
By Christina Farr
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Hubble Discovers One of the Darkest Known Galaxies
NASA’s Hubble Identifies One of Darkest Known Galaxies https://t.co/CCUrV0EXzB Explore Hubble Hubble Home Overview About Hubble The History of Hubble Hubble Timeline Why Have a Telescope in Space? Hubble by the Numbers At the Museum FAQs Impa… https://t.co/abJljA2mN4
By Stage Zero Studio
News•Feb 18, 2026
Employers Push Critical Illness Plans Amid Health Risks
Employers are increasingly adding critical‑illness insurance to their benefits portfolios to offset gaps left by high‑deductible health plans. A recent Equitable survey shows 31% of American workers filed a critical‑illness claim in the past year, yet only 49% feel confident...
By Employee Benefit News
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Exobrake Deployment Detected via Sharp Decay Spike
TechEdSat-11 was a 6UXL cubesat from NASA-Ames and San Jose State to test an exobrake drag device, launched on 2024 Jul 4. It reentered Feb 15; the decay rate increased sharply on Jan 16, likely marking the exobrake deployment. https://t.co/qEcoxQwW7c
By Jonathan McDowell
Podcast•Feb 18, 2026•39 min
Ep 38: Interview with Lt. General (Ret.) David Buck, President, BRPH Mission Solutions
In this episode, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) David J. Buck discusses how his three‑decade Air Force career—spanning strategic missile, space launch, satellite command, and cyber operations—shapes his work leading BRBR Mission Solutions, a firm that designs and builds mission‑critical infrastructure for...
By The Spacepower Podcast
News•Feb 18, 2026
Fenix Composites CFRTP Road Bike Featuring Lugged Frame Resolves Repairability Challenges
Fenix Composites unveiled a carbon‑fiber‑reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) road‑bike frame that uses titanium lugs joined by induction heating, eliminating adhesives and fasteners. The reversible joint design allows defective components to be removed and replaced, extending the frame’s service life. Joint strength...
By CompositesWorld
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
The Anticipated Criminal Law Decisions and Arguments for the Rest of This Term
The Supreme Court’s 2025‑26 term is poised to issue several high‑profile criminal law rulings, with five pure criminal cases and six related cases among the 23 arguments slated for the next two months. Pending opinions include Villareal v. Texas on...
By SCOTUSblog
News•Feb 18, 2026
Walter Pritzkow OCMC Becomes Key Lightweight Enabler for Jetoptera Drone
Jetoptera is partnering with Walter E.C. Pritzkow Spezialkeramik (WPS) to integrate lightweight oxide ceramic matrix composite (OCMC) thrusters into its DARPA LIFT Challenge aircraft. The OCMC thrusters deliver 90 pound‑force of thrust while keeping the propulsion system light enough to meet...
By CompositesWorld
News•Feb 18, 2026
AI in Healthcare Starts Long Before the Exam Room
AI-driven clinical tools are rapidly improving diagnosis and treatment, but they leave patients exposed to hidden financial risks. A case of an autonomous AI ER physician resulted in a $37,000 out‑of‑network bill, highlighting systemic navigation failures. While clinical AI promises...
By Employee Benefit News
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
Viridien Partners with NVIDIA to Advance HPC for Seismic Imaging Workflows
Viridien announced a partnership with NVIDIA to accelerate its seismic imaging workflows using NVIDIA's high‑performance computing platforms. The collaboration will optimize Viridien’s algorithms for GPU accelerators, including tensor cores and mixed‑precision techniques, aiming to boost imaging speed, accuracy, and efficiency....
By HPCwire
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
Antimony Price Spike Puts Critical Mineral in Spotlight as Jim Atkinson Advances Antimony Resources’ Bald Hill Project
Antimony Resources Corp. is accelerating development of its Bald Hill project after a serendipitous discovery of the Marcus Zone, a new stibnite‑rich mineralized area. The metal’s price has rocketed from roughly $12,000 to $60,000 per metric ton, driven by defense...
By Jack Lifton @ InvestorNews (Critical Minerals & Rare Earths)
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Chief of Air Staff Fireside Chat Highlights at RAeS
Cool video round-up of yesterday's Fireside Chat by @ChiefofAirStaff at RAeS HQ. #avgeek #defence https://t.co/2UyfTpsJ4R
By Tim Robinson
News•Feb 18, 2026
Plaid Promises Welsh Communities Share of Renewable Energy Profits
Plaid Cymru announced that a future Welsh government would require renewable projects larger than 10 MW to allocate a 15‑25% community‑ownership stake, ensuring locals share in profits. The party also plans to create a national energy body to manage large‑scale wind...
By BBC News – Science & Environment
Social•Feb 18, 2026
EU Parliament Approves Digital Euro for All Transactions
EU Parliament Backs Digital Euro for Both Online and Offline Use - Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH https://t.co/mgf2DlIs9B
By Oliver Bussmann
News•Feb 18, 2026
UP Rail Gang 9001 Completes Rail Replacement Project in Arizona
Union Pacific’s Engineering Rail Gang 9001 finished an eight‑mile rail‑replacement project in Arizona in just 16 days, showcasing the speed of the Class I’s $3.3 billion 2026 infrastructure program. The crew deployed 24 pieces of heavy equipment and employed a rail‑heating technique to...
By Railway Track & Structures (RT&S)
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Russia's Pipeline Strike Sparks Absurd Diesel Bans
Russia: bombs Ukraine, damages an oil pipeline to Europe. The collaborator regimes in Hungary and Slovakia: banning diesel shipments to Ukraine because Russia damaged the pipeline. The level of inhuman grotesque borders on stupid comedy.
By Illia Ponomarenko
Social•Feb 18, 2026
IEA Backs Ukraine’s Energy Resilience Amid Infrastructure Attacks
Important exchange with Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister @Denys_Shmyhal We discussed 🇺🇦's efforts to ensure energy security this heating season and beyond – amid ongoing attacks on critical infrastructure @IEA will continue to closely support 🇺🇦's energy sector resilience https://t.co/tQQpcbUtpO
By Fatih Birol
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
Work Product Vs. Evidence: Why Your Firm’s DMS Is Not an eDiscovery Platform
The article clarifies that a firm’s document management system (DMS) is not a substitute for a dedicated eDiscovery platform. While DMS tools excel at storing and retrieving files, they typically lack features such as legal holds, privilege tagging, and forensic...
By Legal Tech Daily
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Dow Shuffle: Exxon's Rise, Salesforce's Decline
One August 31, 2020, Exxon Mobil was kicked out of the Dow. It was replaced by Salesforce. Exxon is up 271% and Salesforce is down 32%. https://t.co/euMlopjZdV
By Ryan Detrick
News•Feb 18, 2026
Nicole Brizan Joins Donohoe Hospitality Services
Donohoe Hospitality Services has appointed Nicole Brizan as vice president of finance and accounting, tasking her with steering corporate and property‑level financial strategy for its hotel portfolio. Brizan brings more than two decades of hospitality accounting experience, most recently as...
By Hotel Business
News•Feb 18, 2026
University of Illinois Chicago Unveils New Study Highlighting Economic Value of Rural Transit
The University of Illinois Chicago’s Urban Transportation Center released a study quantifying the economic impact of rural public transit. It finds that every $1 invested generates roughly $4 in societal benefits, driven by better health outcomes, higher workforce participation, and...
By Mass Transit Magazine
News•Feb 18, 2026
Deploying AI 'Allows Doctors to Be Doctors' Again
Innovaccer released the whitepaper "Autonomous Healthcare" outlining AI’s role in alleviating clinicians’ administrative load. The report highlights AI‑powered documentation, scheduling, and data integration tools that can reclaim up to 30% of physicians’ time. CEO Abhinav Shashank argues that these efficiencies...
By Healthcare Finance News (HIMSS Media)
News•Feb 18, 2026
SFRTA Breaks Ground on Link at Boca TOD Project
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) broke ground on the Link at Boca transit‑oriented development adjacent to the Tri‑Rail Boca Raton station. The eight‑story mixed‑use project, built through a public‑private partnership with 13th Floor Investments and Rockpoint, will deliver...
By Mass Transit Magazine