2025 in Review: United States
International arbitration in the United States remained relatively quiet in 2025, but the Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) does not require a separate minimum‑contacts analysis for personal jurisdiction. The D.C. Circuit clarified that challenges to the existence of an arbitration agreement are jurisdictional, while disputes over its scope belong to the merits. The Second Circuit reinforced that U.S. courts cannot vacate foreign‑seat awards, limiting secondary judicial review. A pending petition by Spain underscores a circuit split over sovereign consent to arbitration, setting the stage for 2026.
Risk Mitigation and Casual Nihilism Were the Main Themes at the 2026 European Film Market
The 2026 European Film Market was dominated by a pervasive focus on risk mitigation, with producers and financiers prioritising tax credits, long‑term rights structures and cross‑sector partnerships to hedge against uncertainty. At the same time, the market’s schedule has compressed,...
Transocean to Acquire Valaris in $6.5 Billion Offshore Merger – Merger Arbitrage Mondays
Transocean Ltd. announced an all‑stock acquisition of Valaris Limited for $6.51 billion, offering a 31.6% premium and an exchange ratio of 15.235 Transocean shares per Valaris share. The combined entity will operate 73 rigs across ultra‑deepwater, harsh‑environment, and jackup segments, creating...
Privatizing Air Traffic Control: Why Canada’s Success Story Won’t Work Here
Recent commentary reignites calls to privatize the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic control system, citing Canada’s NAV CANADA as a benchmark of efficiency and cost savings. The article argues that while Canada’s model reduced delays and operating expenses, the United...
How to Lead Through Uncertainty: What Mining’s Hardest Decisions Reveal About Leadership
Mining’s inherent volatility forces leaders to prioritize organisational resilience over precise forecasting, according to a recent CIM dialogue. Former Anglo American CEO Mark Cutifani and industry veteran Doris Hiam Galvez emphasized that adaptive structures, safety culture, and rapid decision‑making are essential...
Webber Wentzel Reshapes Fusion as Standalone Subsidiary
Webber Wentzel has spun off its Fusion unit into a standalone limited‑liability subsidiary to meet rising regulatory, cost and AI challenges across Africa. The new entity will deliver a broader suite of services, including custom AI workflows, digital playbooks, contract...
Does that Use a Lot of Energy?
In this episode, the host discusses the challenge of gauging the scale of household energy use and carbon emissions without solid data, and introduces an interactive web tool that lets users compare the energy consumption of everyday products and activities....
Cognitive Warfare Fails the Cognitive Test
The article critiques the emerging label “cognitive warfare,” arguing it is merely a re‑branding of traditional political warfare. It traces the concept’s roots to Cold‑War era strategies and highlights a persistent “Maginot mentality” that over‑emphasizes military solutions while sidelining diplomatic,...
Driving PME Transformation for the Total Force: CGSS’s Modernization of the ADL Common Core
The U.S. Army Command and General Staff College has overhauled its Asynchronous Distance Learning Common Core, slashing the program from 36 months to 12 months and introducing a three‑phase, scaffolded curriculum. The redesign adds multimodal instruction, cohort advisors, and a...
Sword Intelligence Launches in the UK, Bringing Proven National-Scale AI Care Operations Set to Transform Healthcare in Greece
Sword Intelligence has launched its AI‑driven care‑operations platform in the UK, aiming to automate triage, coordination and scheduling to ease NHS waiting‑list pressures. The company is also building one of Europe’s first AI‑powered healthcare “front doors” in Greece for a...
Beyond Swarming: Documenting Harassment, Assault, and ICAD by Chinese Maritime Militia
A new study documents 270 harassment, assault and ICAD incidents by China’s People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM) in the South China Sea between 2012 and 2025. The research shows that nearly half of these events occurred alongside Chinese Coast...
A ‘Corruption Perceptions Index’ for Your Own Co.
Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index shows a global decline in clean governance, prompting compliance leaders to look inward. The article proposes building a corporate‑level corruption perception index to gauge how employees view ethical standards and misconduct. It outlines the...
Is Your Brand Scented?
The episode explores the booming scent‑marketing industry through conversations with Evin Ellis of ScentAir and Caroline Fabrigas of Scent Marketing, Inc., highlighting how brands translate core values into signature aromas for hotels, retail, and public spaces. It details the custom...
Is It Still Windowing if We Never Stream? Or Is It a Strike?
An emerging debate questions whether the traditional "windowing" model applies when music is never streamed, as artists and unions push back against streaming platforms' royalty structures. Dr. David C. Lowery highlights growing concerns over AI‑generated music, opaque royalty calculations, and...
Who Qualifies for the New FDA PreCheck Pilot Program?
The FDA has opened submissions for its PreCheck Pilot Program, targeting new U.S. drug‑manufacturing facilities that will begin construction by the March 1 2026 deadline. Eligible sites must be stand‑alone plants, located in the United States or its territories, and commit to...
Real-World Fuel Savings Vs. Fuel Economy: What’s the Difference?
Fleet managers often receive aerodynamic device claims of 5 % fuel‑economy improvement, but those figures stem from controlled tests that may not reflect daily operations. Real‑world fuel savings emerge when test results are combined with a fleet’s specific speed, mileage, load,...
CMS Posts Proposed NBPP 2027. Be Afraid; Be Very Afraid (Part 1)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released its proposed 2027 Notice of Benefit & Payment Parameters, a 577‑page rule outlining changes to ACA implementation. Key proposals include stricter marketing restrictions, removal of the gender‑identity definition of sex, lowering the...
TSA Scolded Woman For ‘Inappropriate’ Hoodie — She Had Nothing On Underneath
A traveler was reprimanded by TSA for wearing a hoodie with no shirt underneath, prompting a pat‑down because the garment is considered a bulky item. The incident highlights the contrast between airline dress‑code enforcement and TSA’s limited authority over passenger...
Pilots of SAS Flight To Malaga Forced To Divert After Passengers Spot Rodent Stowaway
SAS pilots diverted a Stockholm‑Malaga Airbus A320 after passengers spotted a mouse aboard, turning the aircraft back after roughly two hours in flight. This marks the second rodent‑related diversion on a SAS Malaga route within eighteen months, following a similar incident...
Nanopillar-Studded Plastic Films Physically Destroy Viruses, Cutting Infectivity by 94% without Chemicals
Researchers at RMIT and international partners engineered flexible acrylic films stamped with dense nanopillar arrays using ultraviolet nano‑imprint lithography. The 60 nm pitch configuration reduced human parainfluenza virus type 3 infectivity by up to 94 % within one hour, achieving mechanical rupture of...
Linear Leads Way as NBA Remains up at All-Star Break
NBA viewership surged entering the All-Star break, with linear TV partners driving the rebound. Average audience across NBCUniversal, ESPN/ABC and Prime Video hit 1.80 million, a 16% year‑over‑year rise and the strongest mid‑season average since 2018. NBC, returning to broadcast after...
Dutch Defence Secretary Boldly Claims F-35 Software Could Be ‘Jailbroken’
Dutch Defence Secretary Gijs Tuinman told Dutch radio that the F‑35’s software could potentially be “jailbroken,” hinting at a future where the Netherlands might operate the jet without U.S. approval. He stopped short of confirming any concrete plan, noting the...
Mobile Wound Care in 2026: Navigating Regulatory Pressures
Mobile wound‑care providers face tighter Local Coverage Determinations, heightened CMS surveillance, and expanded documentation mandates in 2026. These regulatory shifts narrow reimbursement, limit visit frequency, and force clinicians into defensive practices. The burden disproportionately impacts high‑acuity, home‑bound patients who rely...
Government Reports on Healthcare Require a Closer Look
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 3.6% rise in hospital compensation costs and a 3.2% increase for nursing homes in 2025, while January 2026 saw healthcare add 82,000 jobs, the bulk of total payroll growth. The January CPI showed...
That Other Stuff – The Citi Strata Elite Benefits We’re Using and Ignoring
The article reviews the Citi Strata Elite credit card, highlighting the benefits the author actually uses—6x weekend dining points, a $200 annual splurge credit, a $300 hotel credit, Admirals Club passes, and a partial Blacklane credit. It also lists perks...
Why Smaller Hospitals May Be Faster for Cancer Diagnosis
A rural Taiwanese patient faced a 20‑day wait for a diagnostic mammogram at a large tertiary hospital, while a community hospital in Taipei provided immediate evaluation and treatment. The article attributes the delay to fragmented administrative structures, global‑budget constraints, and...
Will We Eventually See A Mega Streaming Bundle? | What’s On Disney Plus Q&A
In a weekly community Q&A, Disney addressed speculation about a future mega streaming bundle, explained the strategic benefits of its new partnership with Sky, and outlined why the company is promoting next year’s Super Bowl early. The discussion also covered...
Missed Diagnosis Visceral Leishmaniasis: A Tragedy of Note Bloat
Louis‑Hunter Kean, a 34‑year‑old, died in November 2023 after a year of high fevers, organomegaly, and multiple hospitalizations. Although clinicians repeatedly noted “visceral leish” and ordered a PCR, the test was never completed and his travel to Tuscany was buried in...
From Pain Points to Progress: Medtronic’s Procurement Evolution
Medtronic is revamping its indirect procurement model to become a strategic, business‑focused function. By segmenting its supplier base, the company concentrates resources on high‑risk, high‑spend vendors while using digital pathways for low‑complexity suppliers. Leadership emphasizes speaking the language of EBITDA...
65th and 151st Mechanized Brigades Reassigned Between Army Corps
The Ukrainian army has swapped the 65th and 151st Mechanized Brigades between the 12th and 17th Army Corps. The 65th, seasoned on the Zaporizhzhia front and the 2023 Robotyne offensive, now supports the 12th Corps defending Kyiv. The 151st, formed...
Jimmy Dempsey's Frontier Airlines
The episode examines Frontier Airlines’ turnaround under new CEO Jimmy Dempsey, focusing on his four‑point strategy: rightsizing the fleet, tightening cost discipline, cutting cancellations and boosting on‑time performance, and deepening customer loyalty. Analysts debate the merits of increasing frequency on...
The Future Of Local Television — And Why It Matters To You
Broadcast television is undergoing a major upgrade as local stations adopt ATSC 3.0, the NextGen TV standard. The new IP‑native system promises clearer pictures, better sound, mobile reception, interactive features, and more robust emergency alerts. Broadcasters argue that this transition...
Carl Zeiss Meditec: When the Thesis Gets Punched in the Mouth
In this episode, the host revisits his deep‑dive analysis of Carl Zeiss Meditec, using the company’s Q1 FY2025/26 earnings call as a live case study to demonstrate how investment theses should evolve with new data. He critiques the common practice...
IHG One Rewards Qualifying Rates & Booking Channel Changes + Reward Night Gifting
IHG has refined the terms of its One Rewards program, clarifying which travel agents qualify as authorized partners and outlining the rate categories that earn points. Qualifying stays now include bookings made through directly contracted agents, the IHG website, app,...
"Unscripted" Producer MEGUMI Signs Exclusive Partnership with Netflix
Netflix has inked a multi‑year exclusive agreement with Japanese unscripted creator MEGUMI to develop a slate of original series. Her debut unscripted show, Badly in Love, quickly rose to No. 8 on the Global Weekly Top 10 (Non‑English Series) and topped Japan’s...
Mifepristone Restrictions: How Bans Force Patients Into Riskier Care
Mifepristone is banned in 14 states and restricted in another 10, forcing patients to rely on misoprostol‑only regimens. The dual‑drug protocol achieves 95‑98% success with less than 0.5% serious complications, while misoprostol monotherapy raises emergency department visits to 7.9% and...
Engineered Income: The Hidden Mechanics Behind DNP’s Monthly Payout
The episode dissects DNP Select Income Fund Inc., a closed‑end fund that targets utilities and promises a steady monthly payout via a managed distribution plan that can draw from income, gains, or return of capital. It explains how the fund’s...
Pediatric Care in Ghana: Addressing Malnutrition and Sickle Cell Disease
In Ghana, child mortality has fallen but remains high, with 37 per 1,000 children not reaching age five and neonatal deaths at 21 per 1,000. Malnutrition still affects roughly 17‑18% of under‑five children, while 15,000‑20,000 newborns are born with sickle...
Flickstop
On February 15, 2026, a blog post announced the first deployment of the Toumai robotic surgery system at Orsi Academy. The post features an image of a surgeon in blue scrubs operating the robot from a console, underscoring the hands‑on...
AI, the SEC, and the 2026 Reporting Season | The D&O Diary
The SEC announced an AI Task Force led by a newly appointed Chief AI Officer to centralize responsible AI integration across the agency, backed by a 2025 AI Compliance Plan aligned with OMB guidance. This internal effort signals a durable,...
Rewriting History: Chicago Makes Navy Pier the New Starting Point of Historic Route 66
Chicago’s City Council approved a resolution moving the official starting point of historic U.S. Route 66 to Navy Pier. The dedication ceremony is set for March 25, 2026, and a new Route 66 sign will be installed at the waterfront attraction. The shift...
KLM Flight Cancellation Bonanza Due To Winter Weather On February 15, 2026
KLM cancelled more than 150 flights on February 15, 2026 after heavy snowfall reduced landing capacity at Amsterdam Schiphol, with short‑haul services bearing the brunt while most long‑haul flights remained on schedule but with fewer passengers. The airline announced rebooking...
‘The Last Kingdom’ Will Begin to Leave Netflix Throughout 2026
Netflix will begin removing the historical drama *The Last Kingdom* from its library in 2026, starting in Canada on March 9, 2026, followed by the United States on December 9, 2026, and later in the UK, Australia and most of Europe on April 1, 2028. The...
B-58 Navigator Recalls Nose-High Stall During Night Training Mach 2 Bomb Run over Dallas. His Hustler Pilot Turned in His...
Richard “Butch” Sheffield, a B‑58 Hustler navigator, recounts a night Mach‑2 training run over Dallas that ended in a nose‑high stall when the altitude‑hold was left on. The stall caused a loss of power, autopilot lock‑out, and a rapid descent,...
The Multifamily Tip of the Day: Complaints Are Gold Mines
Mike Brewer’s latest Multifamily tip frames resident complaints as a strategic asset rather than a nuisance. By aggregating complaints into thematic patterns, property managers can uncover systemic weaknesses that individual tickets miss. Addressing root causes instead of symptoms turns free...
![Sabbaticals Provide a Critical Lifeline for Sustainable Medical Careers [PODCAST]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://kevinmd.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Podcast-by-KevinMD-WideScreen-3000-px-3-scaled.jpg)
Sabbaticals Provide a Critical Lifeline for Sustainable Medical Careers [PODCAST]
Physicians rarely receive formal sabbaticals, yet burnout data shows they need extended breaks. A 2021 American Journal of Medicine survey found only 51% of medical schools reported any faculty sabbaticals, typically senior white‑male researchers rather than clinicians. Christie Mulholland’s experience...
Curing versus Caring in Medicine: Bridging the Gap in Patient Trust
The article argues that modern medicine’s obsession with cures has sidelined genuine caring, eroding patient trust. It highlights how women experience chronic pain yet often have their symptoms dismissed, and how minority groups remain invisible in clinical research. Evidence shows...
Box Office: 'GOAT' Roars With $7M Friday as 'Crime 101' Stumbles and 'Don't Die' Survives
The episode breaks down the latest box‑office numbers, highlighting Sony’s animated comedy GOAT’s strong $7.1 million Friday debut and projected $23‑$29 million weekend, while noting the modest performance of Crime 101 and the steady hold of titles like Don’t Die. It contextualizes GOAT’s success...
'Wuthering Heights' Box Office: Why U.S. Moviegoers Won't Determine Its Fate
The episode breaks down the opening performance of Warner Bros.’ R‑rated romantic drama *Wuthering Heights* over the President’s Day/Valentine’s Day weekend, noting it will likely be 29% down from last year’s holiday frame and will capture only a fraction of...
DNA Nanomachine Inside Living Cells Measures How Aggressive a Cancer Is
Researchers at Wenzhou and Fuzhou Universities unveiled a three‑wheel DNA nanomachine (TW‑harvester) that rides a gold‑nanoparticle track inside living tumor cells. The device uses a DNA tetrahedron with an aptamer targeting nucleolin and miR‑21‑triggered wheel activation to cleave fluorescent substrates,...