Oil Extends Gains As US-Iran Peace Deal Hopes Fade
Oil prices rose for a third straight session as uncertainty over U.S.-Iran negotiations deepened. Brent August futures climbed 2.2% to $98.15 a barrel and WTI July futures jumped 2.3% to $95.93. The U.S. military reported thwarting Iranian missile attacks and highlighted Iran’s mining of large sections of the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of supply disruptions. Both Washington and Tehran claim talks continue, but stalled dialogue keeps the market on edge.
Factorial Raises $150M at a $2.5bn Valuation, with General Catalyst Betting Twice
Factorial, the Barcelona‑based HR software firm, closed a $150 million Series D that lifts its valuation to $2.5 billion, positioning it among Europe’s most valuable AI scale‑ups. The round, led by General Catalyst, also introduces a $540 million Customer Value Fund that ties returns...
701x Closes $10M Series B to Scale Beef Cattle Technology Ecosystem
701x, a Fargo‑based ag‑tech firm, closed an oversubscribed Series B round exceeding $10 million, funded solely by regional investors and rancher‑users. The company claims to operate the only full‑stack technology ecosystem for beef cattle, covering on‑ranch software, breed‑association tools, GPS‑enabled ear tags,...
Factorial Raises €129 Million, Reaching €2.1 Billion Valuation to Become on of Europe’s Most Valuable Scale-Ups
Spanish HRTech unicorn Factorial closed a €129 million ($150 million) Series D round, lifting its valuation to €2.1 billion ($2.5 billion) and placing it among Europe’s top‑20 scale‑ups. The round was led by General Catalyst, which also pledged up to €465 million ($540 million) via its Customer...
Deerpoint Group Names Mike Hemman as CEO to Lead Specialty Crop Nutrition Expansion
Deerpoint Group announced Mike Hemman as its new chief executive officer, tasking him with scaling the company’s specialty‑crop nutrition platform across California and Arizona. Hemman brings more than 20 years of agricultural leadership, including senior roles at global irrigation firm...
Book Review: Rewriting Leadership for a More Human Workplace
Ron Sosa’s *Rewriting the Rules* challenges the conventional view that leadership problems stem from flawed employees, arguing instead that many workplace systems reward conformity and mask neurodivergent talent. Drawing on his veterinary background and personal experience with ADHD and autism,...
ESAs Publish the First Report on DORA Major ICT-Related Incidents
The European Supervisory Authorities released their first annual overview of major ICT‑related incidents under the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). The report catalogued 3,383 incidents, with roughly one‑third spilling over borders, highlighting the sector’s growing interconnectivity. System failures and external...
Nexfibre and the Next Chapter in UK Fibre
nexfibre’s £3.5 billion (~$4.4 bn) acquisition of Substantial Group (Netomnia) is under CMA review. Assembly Research’s new report shows nexfibre’s XGS‑PON footprint grew to 2.62 million premises, while Substantial’s rose to 3.12 million, and giffgaff is expanding services via nexfibre’s wholesale platform. The report...
New Trump Administration Tariffs, This Time on Forced Labor, Could Come Into Force as Existing Ones Roll Off
The Trump administration has proposed new tariffs targeting forced‑labor goods from about 60 economies, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, timed to replace the Section 122 tariffs that expire on July 24. The proposal follows a February 10% tariff under Section 122 after the...
Ampol to Acquire Fuel Retailer EG Australia
Ampol has secured ACCC approval to acquire UK‑owned EG Australia in a cash‑settled transaction valued at A$1.1 bn (about $780 mn). To address competition concerns, the regulator will require Ampol to divest 41 EG fuel stations, which will be sold to Metro...
Surge in M&As Driven by Patent Expirations
M&A activity in healthcare and life sciences surged, with EY reporting an 81% jump in deal value to $240 billion in 2024. Acquisition premiums fell 40% in 2025, reflecting a more disciplined approach focused on pipeline renewal rather than short‑term gains....
Gigaton Raises £19.3m to Build Autonomous Plants in Energy-Intensive Industries
Gigaton announced a $26 million Series A round led by Plural to accelerate its AI‑driven control platform for energy‑intensive plants. The software simulates, forecasts and autonomously adjusts process parameters, promising lower fuel costs and reduced emissions in cement, steel, glass and chemicals....
How Dhar Mann Turned After-School Specials Into A Billion-View Business
In this episode of Channels, host Peter Kafka sits down with Dhar Mann, the creator behind a digital studio that churns out short, moral‑driven dramas—often dubbed modern after‑school specials—for a global, multi‑generational audience. Mann explains how he built the operation...
Under Pressure
The OECD’s June 2026 Economic Outlook warns that the escalating Middle‑East conflict is now the chief drag on the global economy. While 2025 growth was revised to 3.4%, the outlook projects a slowdown to 2.8% in 2026 under a short‑term disruption...
Up the Ranks: The Wendy's Company Promotes Michael DeSantis to Role of Vice President, Human Resources
Michael DeSantis, a nearly decade‑long Wendy’s veteran, has been promoted to Vice President of Human Resources effective April 2026. Previously Senior Director – HR, he will now steer talent strategy, employee experience, and organizational capability across the fast‑food chain. The Ohio‑based...
Energean’s Angola Deal with Chevron Faces Pre-Emption Challenge
Energean announced that Etu Energias has exercised pre‑emption rights over Chevron’s proposed sale of its stakes in Angola’s Blocks 14 and 14K. The original agreement, disclosed in March, called for Energean to buy Chevron’s 31% operated interest in Block 14 and 15.5% non‑operated...
Kirsten Hasler Appointed Unilever ANZ CMO
Unilever Australia and New Zealand has named Kirsten Hasler as its new chief marketing officer, effective 1 September 2026, succeeding Anna Tracey. Hasler arrives from IKEA ANZ, where she led the marketing team and oversaw IKEA’s entry into New Zealand in 2025. In her...
Covenant Trends – 6/1/2026
Covenant Trends released its June 1 2026 data set, highlighting the share of syndicated loans that incorporate uncapped synergies and cost‑savings EBITDA add‑backs. The chart shows a gradual rise in such flexible covenant structures compared with the prior quarter. The data, available...
The Pulse of Private Equity – 6/1/2026
Private equity assets under management (AUM) are projected to hit $8.8 trillion globally by the end of 2030 in the base case, with a downside range of $7.6 trillion and an upside potential of $10.2 trillion. The forecast attributes the past decade’s growth...
This Database Company Wants to Take on Palantir
Neo4j, the graph‑database specialist, announced the acquisition of a bootstrapped startup that generated about $10 million in revenue and serves roughly 15 national‑security clients. The deal gives Neo4j an immediate foothold in the government analytics space, positioning it as a direct...
A Bank of England Rate Hike in July Can’t Be Ruled Out
The Bank of England’s June rate‑hike probability has evaporated, with markets now pricing a pause in policy. A drop in natural‑gas futures toward pre‑war levels is easing inflation pressures, allowing the CPI outlook to peak near 3.7% in September—below the...
Ooh Media Drops as Bidder Backs Off
Ooh Media’s shares dropped 8.2% after The Australian reported that I Squared Capital, one of two bidders, is losing interest in the outdoor‑advertising firm. ARN Media fell 9.5%, pushing its market capitalisation below AU$70 million (about US$46 million). The declines came amid broader weakness...
Global Oil Stockpiles Could Fall to ‘Critical Levels’ by Summer, IEA Warns
The International Energy Agency warned that global oil inventories could fall to critical levels before the peak summer demand season, driven by ongoing supply disruptions and dwindling imports. Global crude stocks dropped by 250 million barrels in March‑April, while Chinese onshore...
Trump’s Tariff Comeback? The White House Finds a New Route After Court Setbacks
The White House is reviving country‑specific tariffs by proposing an additional 10‑12.5% duty on imports from India and 53 other economies under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act. The move follows a Supreme Court ruling that blocked the use of...
Shipowners Urged to Stay Nimble as Geopolitics Reshapes Global Shipping
Shipping executives at Posidonia’s TradeWinds Shipowners Forum warned that geopolitics is reshaping markets, not just causing operational hiccups. They cited the US‑China trade war, Ukraine conflict, Red Sea attacks and Gulf tensions, which have shifted trade routes, trapped over 200...
Even if Oil Prices Peak Soon, the Global Economy Will Slow This Year
The OECD warned that the ongoing Middle East war will curb global growth to 2.8% in 2026, down from 3.4% in 2025, before a modest rebound to 3.1% in 2027. The organization assumes oil and gas prices have peaked and...
OECD Predicts Spate of Recessions Globally if Iran Conflict Drags Into 2027
The OECD’s latest Economic Outlook warns that a prolonged Iran‑U.S. standoff lasting until 2027 could slash global GDP growth to 2.1% in 2026, down from 3.4% in 2025, pushing several economies into recession. Energy shortages would trigger rationing, higher fertilizer...
Kier Appoints Chief People Leader to Support Growth Plans
Kier Group has appointed Niki Steel as chief human resources officer and executive committee member, joining in August from IMI where she was chief people officer. The move follows a series of senior leadership changes, including a merger of two...
Five Reasons Workplace Change Fails, According to Neuroscience
A Gartner 2025 survey found only 32% of leaders reported successful employee adoption of recent workplace changes, echoing the long‑standing 70% failure rate. The global change‑management consulting market is worth about $2.12 billion, yet the failure rate remains unchanged despite the...
How to Lead when You Don't Fit in - Dave Martin (CPO, Fractional)
In this episode, Dave Martin, a neurodivergent product leader and author of the white paper "Leadership for Neurodivergent Folks," discusses the unique challenges neurodiverse professionals face in leadership, such as masking, communication drift, and the "detail trap" that can hinder...
How AI Is Reshaping TA Roles and Team Structure
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping talent acquisition by collapsing traditional specialist silos and enabling a single recruiter to own the end‑to‑end hiring process for routine roles. Companies such as ClickUp already operate with AI‑powered generalists, while a new "Talent Engineer"...
Hormuz Crisis Strains Global Trade as Cost Pressures Spread
Greek shipping magnate Evangelos Marinakis says he would pay up to $200,000 per voyage to transit the Strait of Hormuz rather than endure prolonged delays. The statement underscores a shift toward accepting predictable tolls as a cost of doing business amid...
How Likely Is a U.S. Debt Crisis?
The 2026 UBS Global Family Office Report shows rising anxiety about the U.S. dollar, with about 30% of respondents cutting or considering cutting dollar exposure. The dollar’s reserve share slipped modestly to 56.8% by end‑2025, yet it still handles roughly...
Currys Names Fredrik Tønnesen as New Group Chief Executive
Currys announced that Fredrik Tønnesen will succeed Alex Baldock as group chief executive, effective August 3, 2026. Tønnesen, who joined the retailer as a sales assistant 20 years ago, most recently led the Nordics division, tripling its operating profit. Baldock is departing after...
George Economou: A Life in Shipping
George Economou, the self‑made Greek shipping magnate, recounted his rise from an $800,000 start‑up to the public‑market frenzy of DryShips and the costly offshore drilling foray that erased roughly $2 billion. He highlighted the 1998 bond workout, the 2005 IPO that...
Google Traffic Down. 7 Solutions From 11 Years of Selling Media Companies.
Songbird.Group, after 11 years of brokering media exits, announced it will stop acquiring any new businesses that rely primarily on Google organic traffic, citing a universal decline in Google Analytics data across its portfolio. The firm’s internal analysis shows 100%...
World Cup Growth Faces Sustainability and Fan Experience Challenges
The FIFA World Cup has enjoyed remarkable commercial growth over recent editions, cementing its position as one of the most valuable properties in global sport. But as the tournament continues to expand, questions are emerging about how sustainable that growth is. With...
Abu Dhabi Seizes T10 Cricket, Aims Global Expansion
Comments in.. Abu Dhabi government takes control of T10 cricket competition, plans to take it global The move folds cricket into Abu Dhabi’s wider sports investment strategy, which has seen it build a portfolio around sports like golf, UFC, and Formula 1 https://t.co/r2Vdw6gcce...
Lumine Buys Synamedia Video Net Business
Lumine Group announced the acquisition of Synamedia’s video network business, which will continue operating under the Quortex brand. The deal represents Lumine’s sixteenth carve‑out transaction and deepens its media ecosystem across video processing, broadcast delivery and live streaming. Financial terms...
Home Bargains Eyes Rescue of Historic Denby Pottery Brand
Home Bargains is weighing a rescue deal for the historic Denby pottery brand after Denby entered administration in March 2026. The discount retailer may acquire the Denby name and select assets while the business has been kept alive by FRP...
Leagues Cup Launches New Gaming Hub With $1 Million Bracket Challenge
Leagues Cup announced the launch of a new Gaming Hub, a free‑to‑play fan platform that will run through the 2026 tournament. The hub’s headline feature is a $1 million Bracket Challenge, sponsored by Coors Light, where fans can win the top...
Quantum Startup Quobly Raises €115m Backed by STMicroelectronics
French quantum‑computing startup Quobly announced a €115 million (≈$124 million) Series A round led by Bpifrance, Sealsq and STMicroelectronics, with participation from the European Innovation Council and Air Liquide’s venture arm. The funding will shift Quobly’s silicon‑based qubit production from a pilot line...
Prime Video’s NASCAR Coverage Is Driving Sales Results for Sponsors
Amazon’s Prime Video entered its second year as the official streaming partner for NASCAR, building on a successful NBA debut. The platform’s coverage enabled Logitech to launch its G‑brand racing simulators to a captive audience. Internal data shows branded searches...
InMobi, Scope3 Debut Sell-Side Agent for Autonomous Media Buying
InMobi and ad‑tech platform Scope3 have unveiled a sell‑side AI agent that automates the purchase of Glance’s premium lock‑screen, app and TV inventory. The agent leverages the open Ad Context Protocol (AdCP) to connect brands directly with Glance’s 300 million active...
How U.S. Bank Stock Prices Respond to Geopolitical Risk
A new research note finds that U.S. bank stock prices react unevenly to geopolitical risk, with sharp equity declines tied to specific bank characteristics. Banks that post weaker earnings, hold smaller liquidity buffers, and maintain larger operations in geopolitically stressed...
From AI Anxiety to AI Advantage: 9 Big Learnings for HR Leaders on the Future of Work in Thailand
The Transform Talent Thailand 2026 conference highlighted that AI can accelerate work, but human judgment, trust, and compassion remain essential. HR leaders were urged to act as regional "control towers," blending global standards with local compliance while leveraging AI for tasks...
Interview: Michael Cole, Chief Technology Officer, DP World Tour
DP World Tour’s CTO Michael Cole outlined a multi‑phase digital transformation aimed at bridging the experience gap between on‑course spectators and armchair fans. The tour has signed a global partnership with HCLTech to build a new AI‑enhanced website and mobile...
How Sting and Leo Thailand Built a Campaign Around Six Seconds of Energy
Leo Thailand devised a Cannes‑Lions‑submitted campaign for Sting energy drink that hinges on six‑second video placements to instantly convey the feeling of energy. The strategy bypassed Thai advertising rules that forbid overt consumption shots by employing AI‑driven targeting to reach...
Google Search Console AI Performance Reports and Controls to Block Your Content in AI Responses
Google Search Console is introducing a Generative AI performance report that tracks impressions, pages, countries, devices and timeframes for content appearing in AI‑driven search features. The report, currently limited to a subset of UK site owners, does not include click‑through...
YouTube Launches Landmark Creator Consultation Across 27 EU Countries
YouTube has launched a European Creator Consultation that will survey creators in all 27 EU member states. The initiative follows a successful pilot in the United Kingdom and aims to collect data on business setup, skill development, and regulatory hurdles....