Pentiment Director: Experimenting During a Game's Production Is 'Extremely Risky'
Josh Sawyer, director of Obsidian’s indie title *Pentiment*, warned that experimenting during the production phase is extremely risky and can add six months to a year and a half to a game’s schedule. He emphasized keeping big‑picture experimentation confined to pre‑production, then proceeding scrappily and reusing assets during production. *Pentiment* was built by a 15‑person team in three years, while larger Obsidian projects like *Avowed* and *The Outer Worlds 2* exceeded six years, missed sales forecasts, and suffered inflated budgets. Sawyer’s stance underscores disciplined scope management as a safeguard against costly overruns.
African Bunkering Hubs Gain as Ships Reroute Around the Cape
War in the Middle East and Houthi attacks have forced carriers to avoid the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, prompting a surge of vessels rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope. This shift has dramatically increased demand for ship‑refuelling...
Latin America’s Lithium, Copper Boom
Global demand for copper and lithium is surging as electrification, AI data centers, and defense spending accelerate, pushing copper prices up 53% to around $13,000 per ton and keeping lithium in a $11,500‑$28,500 range. Analysts forecast a copper production deficit...
El Salvador Real Estate Takes Off
El Salvador’s real estate market is experiencing a rapid boom after President Nayib Bukele’s security crackdown and generous fiscal incentives. Official data show more than $5 billion invested in construction last year, fueling high‑rise towers and luxury beachfront projects. New tax‑free...
What Natural Gas End Users Should Focus on as Fundamentals Shift
Rising demand from LNG terminals, industrial plants, petrochemicals and power generators is tightening U.S. pipeline capacity, forcing natural‑gas end users to rethink supply strategies. The surge pushes LNG feed‑gas deliveries toward 20 billion cubic feet per day, creating price spikes during...
Guatemala: Connecting The Oceans
Guatemala is advancing a $7 billion private "dry canal" called the Guatemalan Interoceanic Corridor (GIC), a 372‑kilometer land route linking a new Pacific port at San Luis with the Caribbean port of San Jorge. The project, backed by the Guatemalan Interoceanic...
Portugal Edges Closer to Declaring Energy Crisis as Gas Prices Surge
Portugal is close to meeting EU criteria for declaring an energy crisis as natural‑gas wholesale prices surge past €180 per megawatt hour (about $195) and are 85% above pre‑war levels. If the European Council confirms the crisis, the government could...
International Business Briefs | German Court Rejects Bid to Ban Mercedes’ and BMW’s Fossil-Fuel Cars
Germany’s highest appeals court rejected environmentalists’ attempt to force Mercedes‑Benz and BMW to stop selling new combustion‑engine cars after 2030, ruling no company‑specific carbon budget exists. Abu Dhabi’s AD Nov announced temporary LNG production adjustments at its Das Island plant due...
Bay FC Announces Multi-Year Partnership with Victory+ as the Official Streaming Partner
Bay FC has signed a multi‑year deal with free streaming service Victory+ to become the club’s exclusive local streaming partner through the 2027 NWSL season. Victory+ will broadcast 16 Bay FC matches, including six games restricted to Bay Area viewers,...
Russia’s Ivan Rogov-Class Assault Vessel Nears Completion in Crimea
Satellite imagery from March 11 shows Russia’s first Ivan Rogov‑class amphibious assault ship nearly finished in the Zaliv drydock in occupied Crimea. The vessel’s superstructure is complete, with work ongoing on the helicopter deck and central elevator. Defensive nets and...
Letter From 220 Economists and Legal Scholars to Colombian President Gustavo Petro Calling for Action on ISDS
A coalition of 220 leading economists and legal scholars has written to Colombian President Gustavo Petro urging the country to withdraw from investor‑state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms. They argue ISDS undermines climate action by allowing corporations to sue over non‑discriminatory...
Arson of Ukrainian Facilities in Czechia
Archer‑LPP, a Ukrainian‑origin manufacturer of thermal imaging optics, saw its Pardubice, Czech Republic facility deliberately set ablaze on March 20, 2026. The CEO Oleksandr Yaremenko confirmed the arson was carried out by masked individuals, with the Earthquake Faction claiming responsibility....
Comparing New and Resale Prices: 4Q25
In Q4 2025 the median price of a new single‑family home was $405,300, about $9,600 lower than the $414,900 median for existing homes. This marks the third straight quarter where existing‑home prices exceed new‑home prices, a reversal of a decade‑long premium....
Legend Internet Is Merging with Spectranet in a Broadband Consolidation Play
Legend Internet Plc, Nigeria’s first listed ISP, announced a merger with market‑leader Spectranet, targeting completion in Q2 2026 pending FCCPC and NCC approval. The deal combines Legend’s listed status and fibre footprint with Spectranet’s strong wireless brand, aiming to boost network...
North Korean Hacker Lands Remote IT Job, Caught After VPN Slip
A North Korean hacker answered a generic help‑wanted ad, passed standard background checks, and was hired for a remote IT role handling sensitive Salesforce data on August 15, 2025. Ten days later, a login from an unmanaged device in St. Louis,...
FBI Says Iranian Hackers Are Using Telegram to Steal Data in Malware Attacks
The FBI warned that Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) hackers are leveraging Telegram bots as a command‑and‑control channel to exfiltrate data from dissidents, opposition groups, and journalists. Attackers first send phishing links masquerading as Telegram or WhatsApp apps,...
New B2B Marketplaces Target Construction, Equipment and Data Center Sourcing
During Q1 2026, a wave of B2B marketplaces entered the U.S. targeting construction materials, equipment rental, and data‑center infrastructure. Platforms such as MatBook, DOZR, Kwipped and Start Campus Marketplace aim to replace phone‑calls and spreadsheets with real‑time pricing, inventory visibility, and...
SEBI Eases Norms for InvITs, REITs to Boost Operational Flexibility
SEBI has amended regulations for Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to increase operational flexibility. The changes let InvITs retain stakes in special purpose vehicles after project completion, provided they exit or acquire new assets within...
13 Years on, Surcharging Remains Complex for Acquirers
Thirteen years after merchants gained permission to surcharge credit‑card transactions, the practice remains tangled in divergent rules from card networks and state regulators. Visa limits surcharges to 3% while Mastercard allows up to 4% but typically mirrors Visa’s cap, and...
What Happened to Kingdoms of Amalur? The Rise and Fall of 38 Studios
In 2010 Rhode Island pledged a $75 million loan guarantee to lure Curt Schilling's 38 Studios to Providence, aiming to spark a tech boom. The studio released *Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning*, selling roughly 1.5 million copies and earning strong reviews, but folded within...
Vietnam: VinBus Deploys 169 Electric Buses in Ho Chi Minh City
VinBus, Vietnam’s public‑transport arm of Vingroup, has introduced 169 electric buses into Ho Chi Minh City, sourced from its sister firm VinFast. The new fleet operates across nine routes, replacing conventional diesel units with the compact EB 6 and larger EB 8 models. Both...
ASEAN LV Market Set to Decline in 2026 Despite Strong January Sales
ASEAN light‑vehicle (LV) sales are projected to dip 1% YoY to 3.20 million units in 2026, despite a 31% surge in January driven by strong performance in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. The Philippines remains the outlier, with LV demand weakening as...
EToro Enables Oil Trading 24/7
eToro has launched a new product, $OIL.24‑7, that lets clients trade crude‑oil contracts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. The broker imposes a maximum leverage of ten‑times and a fixed stop‑loss set at 75 %...
From Sales Channel to Growth Platform: Rethinking Affiliate in Retail
Affiliate marketing is moving beyond vouchers and cashback to become a strategic growth platform, as illustrated by MediaMarkt Spain’s multi‑pillar programme. By aligning cashback, content, student, loyalty and B2B publisher segments under one framework, the retailer achieved a 15% rise...
EKA Mobility Bags Order for 915 E-Buses in Hyderabad
EKA Mobility, a Pune‑based EV firm, received a Letter of Award to supply and deploy 915 electric buses in Hyderabad. The fleet will consist of 100 nine‑metre and 815 twelve‑metre non‑AC buses, delivered through a consortium with GreenCell Mobility. The...
VicScreen Appoints Director of Content and Talent
Sacha Gregson has been appointed director of content and talent at VicScreen, commencing on April 7. She arrives with more than two decades of senior leadership experience at the ABC, most recently as head of production in its Screen division. In...
Construction on Brussels Shopping Center Broeklin to Begin This Fall
Construction of the Broeklin mixed‑use complex in Brussels will break ground this fall, with a target opening in the third quarter of 2028. The development comprises roughly 55,000 square meters of retail and office space, a 3,500‑seat theater, 23,500 square meters of...
Rheumatology Enters the Gut-Brain-Immune Axis
Healio’s latest editorial highlights the expanding role of GLP‑1 receptor agonists in immune‑mediated inflammatory diseases, emphasizing weight‑independent anti‑inflammatory mechanisms. Emerging data suggest central nervous system GLP‑1 activation can modulate peripheral immunity, linking the gut‑brain‑immune axis. The FDA’s recent approval of...
Attackers Keep Spinning up VMs to Hide From EDR. What's the Answer?
Hackers are increasingly launching QEMU virtual machines at system startup to conceal malicious activity from endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools. Microsoft observed this method in recent attacks on exposed SolarWinds Web Help Desk instances, where a scheduled task creates...
SCOTUS Won't Hear Search Advertiser Appeal Against Google, Apple
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear California Crane School’s appeal accusing Google and Apple of a paid‑search antitrust conspiracy. Earlier rulings dismissed the case against Apple and sent Google‑related claims to arbitration, while upholding the arbitration clause in Google’s...
Hyde, Legal & General Launch UK Affordable Housing Joint Venture
UK pension‑backed developers Hyde and Legal & General have formed a joint venture to deliver affordable housing. The partnership launches with a portfolio of 1,000 homes and a commitment to expand the pipeline over the coming years. Leveraging L&G’s financing...
Top Vulnerability Scanning Tools for Security Teams
Vulnerability scanning tools have matured from simple network probes to sophisticated platforms that assess hosts, applications, cloud environments, and code. Leading solutions such as Burp Suite, Intruder, Nessus, OpenVAS, and Snyk now embed AI features to prioritize findings and reduce...
China Eases Planned Increase to Gas Prices for 300 Million Drivers
China's National Development and Reform Commission trimmed a planned gasoline hike, setting the average pump price at $4.70 per gallon instead of the slated $5.10. The adjustment follows a 20% price surge since the Iran conflict began and aims to...
Sam Altman-Backed Fusion Startup Helion in Talks to Sell Power to OpenAI
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stepped down as chair of Helion, the fusion startup he backs, as the two companies negotiate a power‑purchase agreement. The tentative deal would give OpenAI access to roughly 12.5% of Helion’s output—targeting five gigawatts by 2030...
San Diego School District Plans to Build 3,000 Homes for Employees
San Diego Unified School District announced a plan to construct nearly 3,000 workforce‑housing units for its employees. The initiative aims to provide homes for 10% of its 13,559 staff by 2030, exceeding the 1,350 units needed to meet that target....
The M-Trends 2026 Report Shows How to Strengthen Business Cybersecurity.
Mandiant’s M‑Trends 2026 report reveals a pivotal shift in cyber‑criminal tactics, moving from pure data theft to actively disrupting business operations. The research shows attackers increasingly embed themselves within the very technologies that power enterprises, creating hidden attack vectors. By mapping...
ATC Manufacturing, U.S. Air Force Contract Grows Larger-Scale, High-Rate TPC Capabilities
ATC Manufacturing secured a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory contract to develop a large‑format hydraulic press capable of high‑rate thermoplastic composite (TPC) processing for parts up to 10 ft × 5 ft. The program, partnered with Anduril Industries and Toray Advanced Composites, aims to...
The Phone Call Is the New Phishing Email
Voice‑based phishing surged in 2025, representing 11% of the incidents Mandiant investigated, while email phishing dropped to just 6% of initial‑access vectors. Exploited software vulnerabilities remained the dominant entry point, featuring in 32% of attacks. The rise reflects attackers’ willingness...
Uncle Nearest Founder’s Bankruptcy Attempt Is Denied: Trial Balance
Federal Judge Suzanne Bauknight denied founder Fawn Weaver's request to place Uncle Nearest into Chapter 11 bankruptcy after the brand was placed in receivership following a $108 million default lawsuit by Farm Credit Mid‑America. The judge ruled only the court‑appointed receiver, Phillip Young,...
Iceland Offering Shoppers £5 Free During School Holidays
Iceland and The Food Warehouse are giving Bonus Club members a £5 (≈ $6.40) credit during the Easter school holidays. Customers who spend at least £15 (≈ $19) on school‑meal vouchers between 24 March and 13 April 2026 receive the top‑up, and more than...
Chicago Sports Network, WCIU To Simulcast 10 White Sox Games
Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) and Weigel Broadcasting’s WCIU will simulcast ten Chicago White Sox games during the 2026 season, marking the second consecutive year of their partnership. The slate features four matchups against the Chicago Cubs and includes CHSN’s full...
Bark Won’t Go Private, for Now
Bark announced it will not pursue two recent take‑private offers, opting to remain a public company. The board’s special committee concluded that the existing standalone strategy best maximizes long‑term shareholder value. The first proposal from Great Dane Ventures was withdrawn...
Telangana HC Dismisses Fino Bank MD Rishi Gupta’s Plea
The Telangana High Court dismissed a writ petition filed by Fino Payments Bank MD and CEO Rishi Gupta, denying his request for bail after his arrest on GST evasion allegations. Authorities estimate the alleged evasion at roughly ₹840 crore (about $100 million)...
Hanley Investment Group Arranges $7 Million Sale of Victor Town Center in Victorville, California
Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors facilitated the all‑cash sale of Victor Town Center in Victorville, California, for $7 million. The 47,650‑square‑foot retail complex houses three tenants: dd’s DISCOUNTS, a Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic, and a 16‑stall Tesla Supercharger...
DEEP Manufacturing Accelerates Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing Expansion in U.S.
DEEP Manufacturing will launch a 50,000‑sq‑ft wire‑arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) facility in Houston, Texas, in May—one year ahead of schedule. The plant will start with four WAAM platforms capable of printing carbon steel, nickel‑based alloys and Inconel 625, and will expand...
MIB Cancels Registrations of 114 MSOs in Compliance Crackdown
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting cancelled the registrations of 114 multi‑system operators, bringing the total number of active cable operators in India down to 756 after 1,159 exits since early 2025. The move is part of a year‑long crackdown...
Is FDA Opening the Long‑shut DSHEA ‘Innovation Door’?
The FDA will convene a March 27 public meeting to revisit the DSHEA “innovation door,” specifically the phrase “dietary substance for use by man to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake.” Industry leaders from the Natural Products Association,...
A New Connection Lets PayPal Open Venmo to International Transfers
PayPal has linked its Venmo service with its global PayPal network, enabling Venmo users to send and receive money in 90 countries. The integration comes with a promotional waiver of international transfer fees through August 24, 2026. PayPal says the move...
Monday Memo: “What Matters Next” For Radio?
Kate O’Neill’s new book *What Matters Next* argues that AI is not the primary disruptor for radio; human behavior is. The author contends that stations that stay relentlessly human—curious, adaptive, and empathetic—will thrive, while those that double‑down on automation risk...