SAG-AFTRA & Studios End First Week Of Contract Talks In Silence. That’s Probably A Good Thing.
SAG‑AFTRA wrapped up the first week of contract talks with the AMPTP under a mutually agreed media blackout, signaling a tentative but positive start. Both sides exchanged opening statements and refined initial proposals, laying groundwork for deeper bargaining next week. The union’s primary concerns remain health and pension deficits, AI‑related protections, and streaming residuals as its current contract expires on June 30. A strike has not been ruled out, and negotiations will unfold alongside upcoming talks by the WGA and DGA.
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game Global Closed Alpha Test Announced for Later This Month Including Toph
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game will hold a global closed alpha from February 27 to March 1, expanding beyond its initial North and South America test. Registration is open until February 20, with previous participants automatically re‑invited. The PC‑only Steam test will feature...
Enemy Weapons Detector in the Hands of Soldiers Five Years Early
The British Army will field Leonardo UK’s SONUS acoustic weapon‑locating system five years ahead of schedule, with a rollout to frontline units within the next 12 months. Weighing 70% less than its predecessor, SONUS can be deployed in under three...
Trump Reveals US Helicopter Pilots Were Wounded in Maduro Raid
President Donald Trump publicly disclosed that U.S. helicopter pilots were seriously wounded in the February raid aimed at capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The operation, dubbed Absolute Resolve, deployed more than 200 troops and 150 aircraft, with pilots sustaining severe leg...
Paramount Hires Ex-Trump Official to Lead Policy as Battle for WBD Heats Up
Paramount Pictures has hired former Justice Department antitrust official Rene Augustine as Senior Vice President of Global Public Policy. Augustine, who served under the Trump administration and led international antitrust matters, will report to Chief Legal Officer Makan Delrahim. The...
Measles Outbreak Hits Ave Maria University in Florida
More than 40 measles cases have been confirmed at Ave Maria University, marking the largest campus outbreak in recent memory. The incident follows similar exposures at Clemson, Anderson, the University of Wisconsin‑Madison and the University of Florida, indicating a broader resurgence....
Spectrum Acquires New England Cable News From NBC
Charter Communications' Spectrum News has agreed to acquire New England Cable News (NECN) from NBC Universal, merging its Maine and Massachusetts newsrooms into a single operation called Spectrum News NECN. The rebranded channel will serve viewers across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,...
Taiwan Commits to $69 Billion US Energy Trade Pact
Taiwan's state-owned enterprises have signed a trade agreement with the United States committing to purchase $44 billion in liquefied natural gas and crude oil and $25.2 billion in power‑generation equipment by 2029. The deal, announced on Feb. 12, creates a $69 billion energy trade...
As Fractured Conquest Test Invites Go Out, We Get a Snapshot of Who's Interested and What They Want From a...
Happy Cauldron opened sign‑ups for Fractured Conquest's first pre‑alpha test, receiving hundreds of applications each day. About one‑third of applicants are newcomers to the franchise, while the rest are seasoned MMO, survival, and sandbox players. Respondents highlighted frustrations with grindy...
Konami's Octopus Game Has a Demo You Can Play Right Now
Konami announced the April 2, 2026 launch of "Darwin’s Paradox," an octopus‑themed side‑scrolling adventure developed by French indie ZDT Studio. A free "Tactical Octopus Action" demo, blending Metal Gear Solid stealth mechanics with unique underwater movement, is now live on Switch, PC,...
Oil Prices Level Out Despite Possible Opec-Plus Supply Growth
Oil prices closed Friday largely unchanged after a session marked by sharp swings between macro‑economic headwinds and geopolitical support. Traders weighed the prospect of OPEC‑plus expanding output against lingering demand concerns. The market’s equilibrium suggests that supply‑side expectations have not...
CMS Provides More Leeway to Medicaid State-Directed Payments Before New Limits Kick In
CMS issued new guidance that widens the grandfathering window for Medicaid state‑directed payments (SDPs), allowing states to lock in higher rates through business‑day calculations. The expanded windows—Oct 11 2024 to July 3 2025 and July 7 2025 to March 27 2026—let providers preserve rates above the caps that...
Providence Cedars-Sinai Nurses Plan 5-Day Strike
Registered nurses and licensed staff at Providence Cedars‑Sinai Tarzana will begin a five‑day strike on Feb. 16, organized by SEIU Local 121RN, which represents more than 11,000 California healthcare workers. The union’s grievances include unsafe staffing levels, poor environmental conditions, workplace harassment,...
Are AI Data Centers a Scapegoat for Rising US Energy Costs?
US retail electricity prices have spiked, prompting criticism of new AI data center projects. While AI‑driven facilities consume large amounts of power, they represent a modest slice of total grid demand. The backlash threatens a key source of future natural‑gas...
Largest US Gas Producer Expand Ousts CEO, Heads to Houston
Expand Energy, the United States' largest gas producer, announced the removal of CEO Nick Dell'Osso. The leadership change coincided with a plan to relocate the corporate headquarters from Oklahoma City to the Houston metropolitan area. Analysts say the ouster is...
Delfin LNG Explosion Prompts Lawsuit, Broader Safety Concerns
On February 3, a pipeline explosion at the Delfin LNG export project in the Gulf of Mexico halted construction and triggered a lawsuit alleging negligence by the developers and contractors. The incident adds to a history of delays that have already...
Market View: For Gas Prices, a Tale of Two North Americas
The Northeastern United States is enduring its coldest winter in over three decades, pushing spot gasoline prices to a significant premium. In contrast, Western Canada is enjoying its warmest winter in a century, easing local fuel costs. The divergent weather...
Green Lumber Holding, LLC Issues Consumer Alert on Counterfeit Products Following FDA Findings
Green Lumber Holding, LLC issued a consumer alert after the FDA found undeclared tadalafil in products marketed as Green Lumber. The agency’s testing revealed that a former employee had diverted authentic packaging to distribute counterfeit, adulterated goods. Green Lumber confirmed...
Rivalry to Scale Back Operations
Rivalry Corp., a TSXV‑listed esports betting operator, announced it will dramatically scale back operations while evaluating strategic alternatives. The board approved immediate cost reductions, including a significant workforce cut and a pause on player activity with withdrawals permitted. Rivalry is...
NASCAR’s Reset Has It Yelling ‘Hell Yeah’ Ahead of Daytona 500
NASCAR entered the 2024 season after settling a 16‑month charter dispute that secured permanent slots for teams and a leadership transition following the commissioner’s exit. The series unveiled a revamped 2026 playoff format, eliminating automatic qualifications for race winners and...
Sabra CEO: Skilled Nursing M&A Remains Relationship-Driven and Limited in 2026
Sabra Health Care REIT sold seven skilled‑nursing properties for $51 million in Q4, signaling a sharp pullback in nursing‑home M&A for 2026. The REIT’s pipeline will focus almost entirely on senior housing, which represents roughly 95% of its investment opportunities and...
How to Get the Simcalibur in The Sims 4
The Simcalibur, a legendary sword in The Sims 4 Royalty and Legacy, is hidden in the Verdemar district of Ondarion’s main square. To claim it, a Sim must reach Swordsmanship level 8 and hold the Champion of the People status, which requires...
Oil Prices, Feb. 13, 2026
Oil prices rose on Feb. 13, 2026 as OPEC+ announced an extension of its production cuts through 2027, supporting a tighter market. U.S. crude inventories dropped by 3.2 million barrels, further tightening supply. Brent crude settled at $84 per barrel,...
Special Report – The Future of Media Buying
AI is reshaping media buying as Meta and Google report massive ad‑revenue growth driven by proprietary AI tools. The surge forces agencies and publishers to confront a widening data and automation advantage held by big‑tech. Publicis suggests agencies can stay...
SEGA / Atlus Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch Sale Live, Lowest Prices Ever for Sonic Origins, Etrian Odyssey HD, More
Nintendo has launched a SEGA/Atlus sale on both the Switch 2 and original Switch eShops, slashing prices on dozens of titles. Flagship discounts include Sonic Origins at $8.99, the Etrian Odyssey HD series under $16, and Persona 3 Reload at $41.99. The promotion...
Hatsune Miku Honkai: Star Rail Art Shared Ahead of 4.0
Ahead of Honkai: Star Rail's version 4.0 update, Crypton and HoYoVerse unveiled official crossover artwork featuring Hatsune Miku and the game's conductor Pom‑Pom. The piece, drawn by Vocaloid specialist KEI, blends the Planarcadia aesthetic with both characters in mirrored poses....
Battlefield Season 2 Roadmap And Game Changes Shared Ahead Of Next Week's Launch
EA announced Battlefield 6 Season 2 will drop on February 17, unveiling a three‑phase roadmap that adds new maps, limited‑time modes, and a Battle Royale duos experience. Phase 1, Extreme Measures, introduces the Contaminated map and a hallucinogenic VL‑7 smoke mechanic. Phase 2, Nightfall, delivers an...
Friday Footnotes: Italian Tax Cops Go Sniffing Around KPMG’s Office; Depreciation Is AI’s Latest Victim | 2.13.26
The latest Friday Footnotes roundup highlights three intertwined trends reshaping accounting and finance. Big‑tech firms’ $3 trillion cap‑ex plans are prompting aggressive depreciation adjustments, as Meta’s $2.6 billion earnings boost shows the earnings‑management risk. Meanwhile, Italian tax authorities have raided Amazon managers’...
DAZN Offering 20% Garcia Vs. Barrios PPV for 24 Hours Only
DAZN is running a 24‑hour flash sale that gives a 20% discount on the Ryan Garcia vs. Mario Barrios pay‑per‑view, lowering the price from $70 to $56 for purchases made by Feb 14. The promotion also bundles a 7‑day free trial...
Zscaler-SquareX Deal Boosts Zero Trust, Secure Browsing Capabilities
Zscaler announced the acquisition of Singapore‑based startup SquareX, adding its Chromium‑based browser extension to the Zero Trust Exchange platform. SquareX’s browser detection and response (BDR) technology provides real‑time threat detection inside browsers on managed and personal devices. The deal, closed...
From Capital Deployment to Investor Understanding: Jay R. Young on Oil & Gas Investing Through Structure and Transparency
Jay R. Young, CEO of King Operating Corporation, is championing a shift from single‑well oil‑gas investments to unitized drilling structures that spread risk across larger acreage. He pairs this structural innovation with an education‑first approach, highlighted in his book *The...
Mesosil’s Infection-Fighting Dental Tech Gets FDA Clearance
Toronto‑based health‑tech startup Mesosil has secured FDA 510(k) clearance for its antimicrobial dental additive, allowing U.S. dental manufacturers to embed the technology in products such as composites and cements. The clearance follows a four‑year development program and validates the company’s...
"It's Important that Our Game Doesn't Just Feel Like FromSoftware": Lords of the Fallen 2 Dev Says What Too Many...
CI Games’ creative strategist Ryan Hill explains that Lords of the Fallen 2 will not merely imitate FromSoftware’s formula. The studio is redesigning heavy attacks to break enemy guards and create meaningful combat choices. Director James Lowe emphasizes micro‑loops, enemy‑first tempo,...
Riley Departs RSI
Railway Supply Institute (RSI) abruptly dismissed President Jim Riley after just under a year in the role, citing the need for a leadership change amid a volatile economic and geopolitical environment. Board Chair Greg Dalpe announced the decision and praised...
World of Warcraft Previews Midnight's New Hub, Silvermoon City
Blizzard previewed Silvermoon City, the central hub for the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion Midnight. The rebuilt city will host both Horde and Alliance players, with roughly one‑third reserved for Horde‑only activities. A dense network of profession trainers, vendors, portals,...
How a Virtual ICU Saved a Rural Hospital
WVU Medicine’s virtual ICU program, piloted at Potomac Valley Hospital, used daily remote rounds to connect critical‑care physicians with local staff, preventing patient transfers and boosting occupancy. The low‑cost model required roughly $5,400 in startup expenses and quickly raised daily...
US Army to Debut FPV Bumblebee V2 Drone Interceptor Next Month
The U.S. Army’s Global Response Force will start evaluating the Bumblebee V2 drone interceptor in March after a $5.2 million contract with Perennial Autonomy. The FPV quadcopter uses AI to autonomously detect and physically collide with hostile UAVs, delivering a kinetic...
‘My Dream Job Has Turned Into a Nightmare’: Ex-Feds and Public Service Experts Testify to Congress on How to Rebuild...
House Democrats held a hearing on the Trump administration’s Schedule P/C, a rebranded version of Schedule F that removes civil‑service protections for thousands of policy‑related federal workers. Former officials and experts warned that politicizing the workforce erodes merit‑based hiring and could deter...
Neil Huber: Building Pulse Radiology Education Into a Modern Training Leader
Neil Huber founded Pulse Radiology Education in 2015 to give working radiologic technologists a flexible path to advanced certification. The company now operates two arms—Pulse Radiology Education and Pulse Radiology Institute—offering ARRT‑approved coursework, clinical placement, and an MRI associate degree....
U of Minnesota Physicians Taps CEO
University of Minnesota Physicians has appointed Dr. Greg Beilman, a critical‑care surgeon and retired Army Reserve colonel, as its permanent chief executive officer. Beilman, who served as interim CEO since July, will oversee the 4,500‑strong clinical enterprise and guide it...
GSA Aims to Publish Results on USAi Program, Official Says
The General Services Administration announced it will publish documentation on the USAi program, detailing how federal agencies are testing and deploying artificial‑intelligence tools. Chief AI Officer Zach Whitman said the agency will release a six‑month performance report and form a...
Front Row with BioCentury: Competition in the Obesity Market
Obesity has shifted from a behavioral label to a high‑growth biopharma arena, driven by breakthrough GLP‑1 drugs and emerging oral formulations. Stephen Hansen of BioCentury highlights how these agents mirror Type II diabetes treatments, creating a lucrative market and reshaping clinical...
Don't Lose Aggro Is a MMO-Style Roguelite Where You Play As A Tank, Demo Out Now
Don’t Lose Aggro is an indie roguelite that puts players in the tank role typical of MMORPGs, letting them protect companions or go solo against endless enemy waves. Developed by former MMO player Oren Koren, the game is currently showcased...
US Army Leaders Say Future European Fight Could Mean 1,500 Targets Daily
U.S. Army leaders warned that a future large‑scale war in Europe could generate up to 1,500 targets per day, a pace drawn from observations in the Russia‑Ukraine conflict. The projection, shared during the Dynamic Front 26 multinational exercise, underscores the...
Banks Effectively Deputized in Trump's Immigration Fight
President Trump’s Treasury Department has launched an aggressive AML campaign targeting Minnesota and U.S.–Mexico border regions, using new Geographic Targeting Orders and high‑performance data analytics to flag cartel, fraud and immigration‑related transactions. FinCEN now requires banks and money‑service businesses to...
Nektar, Evommune Capitalize on Positive Phase II Readouts in Atopic Dermatitis: Public Equity Report
Nektar Therapeutics announced robust Phase II results for its IL‑2R modulator rezpegaldesleukin in atopic dermatitis, propelling its stock 51% higher. Leveraging the momentum, the company closed an upsized $400 million PIPE financing consisting of common stock and pre‑funded warrants. Evommune also secured...
Peacock Strikes Gold With Outsized Olympics, Super Bowl Audiences
Peacock recorded its biggest week ever, powered by the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics and the Super Bowl. The platform logged 6.3 billion minutes of Olympic streaming, a 60% increase over the 2022 Games, and helped NBCUniversal reach 25.7 million total Olympic viewers, double...
Licenses at Risk in Michigan, Georgia for Unpaid FCC Fees
The FCC has issued pay‑or‑show‑cause orders to two broadcasters over unpaid regulatory fees. In Michigan, Sovereign Communications faces potential revocation of six stations for roughly $37,000 in delinquent fees, though it can apply a $9,200 overpayment credit. In Georgia, Core...
BATT Charges Ahead as Storage Steals the Spotlight
The Amplify Lithium & Battery Technology ETF (BATT) has surged 14.5% year‑to‑date, outpacing the Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (LIT) and other pure‑play mining funds. Its 0.59% expense ratio and $117 million assets give investors exposure across the entire...
Cronos: The New Dawn "Iron Rider" Skin Now Available, "Temporal Diver" Mode Coming Soon
Bloober Team has released a free Iron Rider skin for its survival‑horror title Cronos: The New Dawn. The update also teases the upcoming Temporal Diver mode, which will provide a lower‑difficulty option for Switch 2 players. Cronos continues to draw attention...