Daily News Summary – 2026-02-14 – en

NASA's CLPS initiative contracts commercial companies to deliver scientific payloads to the Moon, supporting Artemis with missions planned through 2028 and creating a sustainable lunar logistics market.

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission successfully launched, carrying four astronauts to the ISS for an eight-month stay to conduct research on pneumonia bacteria, plant health, and life support systems.

NASA's commercial lunar strategy involves 13 companies delivering over 60 instruments to the Moon, highlighting a shift to service-based models and addressing policy challenges for lunar economies.

Major cities like Dallas and Miami are expanding autonomous vehicle pilots, with market projections reaching $763.7 billion by 2034 and new federal legislation like the SELF DRIVE Act of 2026.

Waymo partners with DoorDash and Honk to have gig workers close doors on its robotaxis, highlighting operational challenges in autonomous vehicle deployment while maintaining service efficiency.

Novatron Fusion Group's NOVATRON 1, inaugurated in Stockholm, represents the EU's first private integrated fusion plasma system, advancing clean energy with over $18 million in funding and regulatory support.

A fire at the Nico Lopez refinery exacerbates Cuba's fuel shortages due to US sanctions blocking Venezuelan oil, leading to university closures, reduced transportation, and tourism disruptions.

Federal approval of offshore wind projects advances renewable energy, addressing grid integration challenges, environmental assessments, and creating jobs while supporting clean energy targets.

NATO's updated Cyber Defense Pledge introduces real-time threat intelligence sharing, standardized capabilities, and expanded cooperation with Asia Pacific partners, impacting a $159 billion cybersecurity market.

Platforms like Meta and TikTok implement tools against AI-generated deepfakes, with fact-checking initiatives and civic outreach programs to protect election integrity amid rising disinformation threats.

The 2025 film 'Echoes of Empire' ignites nationwide discussions on historical representation, with educational guides downloaded over 50,000 times and some school districts banning classroom discussions.

Two men planning an ISIS-inspired attack on Manchester's Jewish community were sentenced to life, with the plot involving AK-47s and highlighting rising antisemitic incidents in the UK.

A parliamentary probe examines the mysterious death of justice official Christian Pilnacek, with allegations of political interference and a last phone call to former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline undergoes a $285 million expansion to address workforce shortages, with enhanced staffing plans and performance tracking to meet growing demand.

An avalanche in the Swiss Alps near Airolo killed two Belgian skiers, with the region under orange warning levels and safety experts urging precautions amid a deadly European winter season.

Five European countries confirmed Alexei Navalny was killed by epibatidine, a neurotoxin from poison dart frogs, violating chemical weapons treaties and implicating the Russian state.

A multilateral agreement facilitates grain exports from conflict zones with coordinated port operations and humanitarian exemptions, helping stabilize global food prices and deliver aid.

A sophisticated phishing attack on Odido customer service reps led to a data breach affecting 6.2 million people, with stolen information including bank details and identification data.

Southeast Asia is emerging as a key hub for semiconductor manufacturing, with projected market growth to $55 billion by 2033 and investments from companies like Infineon and Intel.

The Transit app launched real-time accessibility features, including elevator outage alerts and bus ramp tracking, reducing missed connections by 30% for disabled users across multiple cities.

New research suggests Earth's core holds massive hydrogen reservoirs, equivalent to up to 45 oceans, challenging theories of water origins and indicating hydrogen was incorporated during planetary formation.