Velera’s Chuck Fagan: ‘Speed to Member Impact’ Is the Only KPI That Matters for Credit Unions
Chuck Fagan, CEO of Velera, told PYMNTS that credit unions must make "speed to member impact" their primary KPI, measuring how quickly they deliver solutions from concept to market. He warned that the term "credit" alienates millennials and Gen Z, who are now focused on affordability amid rising housing and auto costs, demanding rapid, data‑driven tools such as budgeting dashboards and responsible BNPL tied to existing credit lines. Smaller credit unions, lacking in‑house tech, must partner with fintechs to achieve this speed without compromising regulatory safety. Fagan predicts that in 2026, a credit union’s relevance will be judged by how swiftly members feel a tangible benefit, not just traditional loan or asset metrics.
Digest: Disney Takes On Bytedance Over AI Video App; Alliance of Independent Agencies Launches Middle East Chapter
ByteDance announced tighter safeguards for its AI video generator Seedance after Disney served a cease‑and‑desist alleging unauthorized use of Marvel and Star Wars characters. The move follows a surge of hyper‑realistic clips that raised copyright concerns across Hollywood. Meanwhile, the...
What CFOs Need From Banks and FinTechs in Cross-Border Payments
Cross‑border payments are undergoing a structural shift as CFOs demand more predictable, liquid, and compliant solutions. FinTech firms have accelerated speed and API‑driven usability, opening new corridors and transparent pricing. At the same time, banks are investing in modern settlement,...
Nairagram Completes ₦10 Billion Capital Raise to Deepen Financial Connectivity Across Africa
Pan‑African payments firm Nairagram completed a ₦10 billion commercial paper issuance, fully subscribed within 48 hours after regulatory clearance from the Central Bank of Nigeria. The capital will fund operations across 37 African countries, accelerating expansion in key markets such as Nigeria,...
Russia in the High North
Russia’s strategic calculus in the High North is being reshaped by NATO’s expansion and the ongoing war in Ukraine. While the Arctic remains a hub for nuclear assets, resource extraction and contested sea routes, Moscow has redirected conventional forces to...
Export Controls on Artificial Intelligence and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
The report examines how the United States and China are racing to dominate artificial intelligence (AI) and uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), highlighting a widening technology gap in the U.S. defense industrial base. It finds that current export‑control regimes—EAR, ITAR, and...
Trump’s Diego Garcia Fears Miss the Strategic Point
On February 5 President Trump said talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on returning the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius were productive. The pending May 2025 agreement would transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while granting the UK a 99‑year lease of Diego Garcia to...
Australian Vanadium, Sumitomo Electric Partner for Bid in Western Australia’s 500MWh Flow Battery Procurement
Australian Vanadium Limited has formed an exclusive partnership with Japan’s Sumitomo Electric to compete for Western Australia’s AU$150 million, 500 MWh Kalgoorlie vanadium flow‑battery project. The deal makes Sumitomo the sole provider of its flow‑battery technology, engineering services and technical support for...
Japan to Get Factory for Marine Hydrogen Engines in 2029
Yanmar Power Solutions, a Yanmar Holdings subsidiary, will construct an 8,000 m² factory on a 33,898 m² site in Amagasaki, Hyogo, to conduct test runs of marine hydrogen engines. Operations are slated to begin in March 2029, complementing the company’s recent ClassNK type‑approval...
Trainee Solicitors Among Record Number Seeking Mental Health Support
LawCare’s 2025 Impact Report shows the charity supported a record 753 legal professionals, surpassing pandemic levels. Trainee solicitors accounted for 13% of contacts, second only to private‑practice solicitors at 42%. Stress, career concerns and anxiety were the top reasons callers...
RCV Engines Secures £4 Million European Deal & Bolsters UK Manufacturing
RCV Engines has secured a £4 million supply agreement with a European partner to deliver its mission‑critical propulsion systems. The contract was awarded after a competitive evaluation, highlighting the company’s 4‑stroke rotary valve engines that can run on heavy fuels such...
Energy Security Drives New Innovation Wave
The International Energy Agency’s 2026 State of Energy Innovation report shows that energy security has become the primary catalyst for new technologies, eclipsing affordability and emissions concerns. Energy patents now cover roughly one‑tenth of all global filings, with batteries alone...
Ams OSRAM and Meizhi Settle Patent Disputes over LEDs Used in Spider Farmer Luminaires
ams OSRAM and Shenzhen Meizhi Optoelectronics have reached a settlement ending pending LED‑related patent disputes in the United States and Germany. The agreement resolves litigation concerning ams OSRAM's patents used in Spider Farmer horticultural lighting systems. Under the deal, Meizhi...
Leonardo Funding Development of Earth Observation Constellation
Leonardo is investing roughly €500 million to develop a 20‑satellite Earth observation constellation slated for launch in 2027‑28. The system will combine high‑resolution optical, synthetic‑aperture radar and communications payloads, built by Thales Alenia Space using its NIMBUS modular bus. The project...
Siemens Energy Investors Urge Wind Focus
Three of Siemens Energy’s largest shareholders are urging the company to focus on stabilising its loss‑making wind turbine unit, Siemens Gamesa, before considering any spin‑off. The call follows activist investor Ananym Capital’s proposal to separate Gamesa, which it values at...
The Division 2 Y7S3 Mutiny Week 12 Manhunt HVT: Scout 12 Solutions
The Division 2 Y7S3 Mutiny Week 12 Manhunt is live, focusing on the Scout 12 objectives. Players must eliminate 25 True Sons, prevent a public execution, and hunt the high‑value target Lieutenant Colonel Kernel at the Museum of Native People. The...
Sewa-II Hydropower Project Generates ₹3,674 Crore Revenue in Jammu & Kashmir
The 120 MW Sewa‑II hydropower plant in Kathua has amassed ₹3,674 crore in revenue since its commissioning in July 2010, under the operation of NHPC. The state government reported that only ₹32 crore—about 1 % of the total—has been transferred to the Local Area Development...
CESC Seeks KERC Nod to Bridge Revenue Deficit
Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) has asked the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) to approve a plan that bridges a ₹528.1 crore net revenue deficit for FY 2024‑25. The shortfall stems from higher power procurement costs, rising finance expenses and a 5.8%...
Fintech Treyd Targets Doubling UK Customer Base as It Hits £200m Lending Milestone
Swedish fintech Treyd has surpassed £200 million in UK lending since its 2022 launch, making Britain its biggest market with more than 500 customers. The company plans to double its UK client base by 2027, targeting underserved SMEs that need rapid...
Power Dept Launches Maintenance Campaign in Banda Ahead of Summer
The Banda electricity department has launched a month‑long maintenance campaign from Feb 15 to Mar 14 to safeguard power supply ahead of the summer peak. Chief Engineer Arvind Nayak detailed that 107 substations, 1,379 distribution transformers and 353 lines will undergo inspection...
Sony Pictures Networks India Trims Workforce Amid Restructuring
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has trimmed its workforce by more than 100 employees, roughly ten percent of its staff, as part of a broader restructuring effort. The cuts span multiple functions, including middle‑ and senior‑management roles in distribution and...
AI Can Help Optimise Clean Energy Save Lives and Livelihoods: Ceew CEO
Ceew CEO Anurabha Ghosh highlighted how artificial intelligence can fine‑tune renewable energy dispatch, forecast storm surges and flood risks, and make agriculture more climate‑resilient. She warned that AI’s own resource footprint—energy and water for data centres—must be managed intentionally. India’s...
Commission Launches Investigation Into Shein Under the Digital Services Act
The European Commission has opened formal proceedings against fast‑fashion giant Shein under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The probe targets Shein’s addictive design features, opaque recommender‑system algorithms, and the sale of illegal items, including child sexual abuse material. Regulators will...
Two Years of Digital Services Act Allows 50 Million Content Moderation Decisions by Platforms to Be Reversed
The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) has enabled users to overturn nearly 50 million content‑moderation decisions in its first two years. About 30% of the 165 million appeals filed through platform internal mechanisms have been reversed, showing the law’s enforcement strength. In...
Orbital Paradigm: Ill-Fated PSLV’s 4th Stage Ignited. KID Taught Us A Ton
India’s PSLV‑C62 suffered a third‑stage anomaly, yet its fourth stage ignited while the vehicle was already descending. Spanish firm Orbital Paradigm’s KID demonstrator survived the uncontrolled re‑entry, separated, and transmitted telemetry back to Earth. The post‑flight report reveals that intense...
My Garden Tale: How to Contact the Customer Support Service
The guide explains how My Garden Tale players can contact customer support through four main channels: the in‑game chat, the official website, the developer’s social‑media pages, and a dedicated support email. It provides step‑by‑step instructions, required details such as Player...
Overseas and E-Commerce Payments to Be Made Easier in Ethiopia
The National Bank of Ethiopia announced sweeping foreign‑exchange reforms, letting exporters retain 100% of their foreign‑currency earnings in designated accounts and permitting banks to issue payment cards linked to those accounts. The minimum $100 requirement for foreign‑exchange savings accounts has...
Fibe Crosses Rs 1,200 Cr Revenue in FY25; Profit Spikes 13%
Fibe, the former EarlySalary, posted FY25 operating revenue of Rs 1,228 crore, a 49% increase from the prior year, while net profit rose 13% to Rs 114 crore. Interest on loans remained the dominant revenue stream, exceeding Rs 1,000 crore and representing over...
IHG Premier Card 175K Points Limited Time Welcome Bonus: Worth Applying
Chase’s IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card now offers a limited‑time welcome bonus of 175,000 points after $5,000 spend in the first three months, a 35,000‑point increase over the prior offer. The $99 annual‑fee card grants instant Platinum elite status,...
Sneak Preview: Finder?s Feat: Optimizing Search & Discovery With Metadata & Machine Learning at Streaming Media Connect
At Streaming Media Connect, a panel titled “Finder’s Feat: Optimizing Search & Discovery With Metadata & Machine Learning” will examine how structured metadata and AI‑driven tools transform content discovery into a revenue engine. Panelists include Tom Gennari (Fabric), Jamie Mackinlay...
DSK 2026 Set to Showcase AI & Autonomous Defense Systems
The 2026 Drone Show Korea (DSK) opens Feb. 25 in Busan, covering 26,508 m² with 318 companies from 23 nations. The event’s AI‑centric theme showcases autonomous, manned‑unmanned combat systems, with dedicated Army, Navy and Air Force pavilions. Major players such as...
Crimson Desert Isn't A Soulslike, But That Doesn't Mean It's Not Difficult
Crimson Desert, Pearl Abyss’s upcoming open‑world action RPG, is being positioned as a difficult title that deliberately avoids Souls‑like combat mechanics. Marketing director Will Powers emphasized that while boss fights look reminiscent of Elden Ring, the game lacks narrow dodge...
New London Tribunal Centre to Open as Backlog Exceeds 66,000 Cases
The UK’s largest dedicated tribunal centre in London will begin hearing cases in March, adding 30 hearing rooms and capacity for up to 60 judges. The move responds to a growing backlog of more than 66,000 tribunal cases across employment,...
Trump’s New Arms Rules Will Hit Southeast Asia
President Trump issued an executive order establishing an “America First” arms export strategy that rewards allies who invest in self‑defense, occupy critical geography, or contribute to U.S. economic security. The rubric pushes the Philippines, Singapore and Cambodia toward priority status...
How Should Publishers Respond to AI Models ‘Hoovering up’ Copyrighted Content?
Publishers face mounting pressure as AI developers scrape copyrighted material to train large language models. At the Definitive AI Forum in London, leaders from The Guardian, Alvarez & Marsal, and the PPA argued that no single solution exists, but collective action,...
‘Swim, Soak, Switch Off’: An Off-Grid Cabin Stay in the Scottish Borders
Off‑grid tiny‑home operator Tiny Home Borders opened a second two‑person cabin on its Hawick farm, offering a solar‑powered, hemp‑insulated retreat with sauna, hot tub and lake access. The eco‑friendly design uses reclaimed oak, hemp insulation and battery storage, and deliberately...
DSS Files Charges Against El-Rufai Over Alleged NSA Phone Interception
The Department of State Services has filed a three‑count criminal charge against former Kaduna governor Nasir El‑Rufai for allegedly intercepting the telephone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. Prosecutors say El‑Rufai admitted the illegal interception during a televised interview on 13 February 2026,...
Is Risk the Main Ingredient in Ultra-Processed Food?
Convenience has made ultra‑processed foods a staple, but emerging scientific evidence links them to chronic diseases and early‑onset cancers. A CDC study shows children obtain roughly 62% of daily calories from these products, prompting early product‑liability and public‑nuisance lawsuits. Casualty...
Udtara Ventures Announces Rs 250 Cr Growth Fund
Udtara Ventures has launched a Rs 250 crore Udtara Growth Fund aimed at taking sizable ownership stakes in defence, deep‑tech and frontier engineering firms. The fund will back 8‑10 growth‑stage companies with proven product‑market fit and existing order books, using a blend...
Comcast Business Powers February’s Biggest Broadcast Events
Comcast Business is again partnering with NBCUniversal to provide the backbone network for three marquee February events: Super Bowl LVII, the 2026 Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics, and the 2026 NBA All‑Star Game. The company will deliver dedicated, high‑capacity fiber connections linking...
![Chabelley Airfield Adds On-Site Firearms Training Capability [Image 4 of 4]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2602/9523570/250w_q95.jpg)
Chabelley Airfield Adds On-Site Firearms Training Capability [Image 4 of 4]
The U.S. Air Force has opened a new small‑arms range at Chabelley Airfield in Djibouti, four months ahead of its planned schedule. The facility enables the 776th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron to conduct handgun qualification, sustainment training, and forward‑deployed mission...
![Chabelley Airfield Adds On-Site Firearms Training Capability [Image 3 of 4]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2602/9523569/250w_q95.jpg)
Chabelley Airfield Adds On-Site Firearms Training Capability [Image 3 of 4]
The U.S. Air Force has opened a new small‑arms range at Chabelley Airfield in Djibouti. The $1.6 million facility provides on‑site handgun and rifle training for the 776th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron and partner forces. By bringing live‑fire capability to the...
![Chabelley Airfield Adds On-Site Firearms Training Capability [Image 2 of 4]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2602/9523568/250w_q95.jpg)
Chabelley Airfield Adds On-Site Firearms Training Capability [Image 2 of 4]
The U.S. Air Force inaugurated the first on‑site small‑arms range at Chabelley Airfield in Djibouti on Jan. 31 2026, four months ahead of schedule. The facility provides dedicated capability for weapons qualification, sustainment training, and forward‑deployed mission rehearsals. Its rapid completion underscores...
AI Is the Future of Warfare and US Is in the Lead
Artificial intelligence is reshaping modern warfare, with the United States far ahead in funding, infrastructure, and operational deployment. The Pentagon now spends at least $2 billion annually on AI‑enabled weapons and billions more indirectly through procurement, while private investment tops $109 billion....
Sources: US Healthcare Manufacturer Danaher Is Nearing a Deal to Buy Medtech Company Masimo for ~$10B; Masimo Is in an...
Danaher, a US healthcare conglomerate, is close to finalizing a roughly $10 billion acquisition of Masimo, the maker of pulse‑oximetry and other medical monitoring devices. The deal, still subject to antitrust clearance, would add Masimo’s sensor technology to Danaher’s Life Sciences...
Biopharma Must Cope With The Fetal Bovine Serum Squeeze
Biopharma faces a tightening fetal bovine serum (FBS) market as U.S. cattle inventories hit record lows and European disease outbreaks curb supply. Prices have surged more than 300% over five years and release timelines have lengthened from weeks to months...
Red Light Therapy Shows Promise for Treating Brain Injuries
A University of Utah Health study examined red‑light photobiomodulation (PBM) as a preventive therapy for repetitive head acceleration events in collegiate football. Twenty‑six Division I athletes were randomized to active or sham transcranial and intranasal PBM over 16 weeks, receiving three...
Visual Intelligence Powering Next-Generation Robotics
Machine vision has transitioned from simple part detection to a measurement‑grade sensory core for industrial robots. Advances in high‑resolution cameras, 3D imaging, edge AI and deep‑learning enable sub‑millimeter positioning, real‑time defect recognition and adaptive path correction. This vision‑driven intelligence lets...
Deephouse, Lee to Lead IIHS and HLDI Boards
Brian Deephouse, chief actuary at Auto Club Enterprises, was elected chair of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) board for 2026, succeeding Allstate’s Ginger Purgatorio. Dawn Lee, PEMCO Mutual’s chief product and underwriting officer, will continue as chair of...
OpenAI Deleted Word ‘Safely’ From Its Mission – Its New Structure Is A Test
OpenAI’s latest IRS filing removed the word “safely” from its mission, replacing it with a broader pledge to benefit all of humanity. The change coincided with a legal restructuring that split the organization into a nonprofit foundation and a for‑profit...