Global PE Firm Advent International Eyes 25% Stake in Potato-Maker Iscon Balaji
Advent International is in early talks to acquire a 25% stake in Iscon Balaji Foods, valuing the Indian potato processor at roughly ₹5,000 crore (about $600 million). The deal highlights growing private‑equity interest in India’s frozen‑potato and quick‑service‑restaurant supply chain. IBF supplies frozen fries and related products to major QSR chains, benefitting from rising demand for convenient, ready‑to‑cook foods. If completed, Advent could apply its global scaling expertise to accelerate IBF’s domestic growth and export ambitions.
DBS Joins Buzzing India IPO Space with Mandate in US$1 Billion Offering
DBS Group has entered India’s equity capital market by winning its first IPO mandate from Manipal Health Enterprises, a $1 billion offering. The Singapore‑based lender is establishing a full‑service investment‑banking platform under its merchant‑banking licence, with an on‑shore ECM team led...
Innovate UK Announces Recipients of Agentic AI Pioneers Prize
Innovate UK, in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, awarded the Agentic AI Pioneers Prize to four UK firms. Danu Insights won the overall prize, receiving £500,000 (≈$635,000) for its Agentic Digital Twin Builder targeting life‑science research....
Sustained Rise in Crude Oil Prices May Hit Remittances, Stoke Inflation: Finmin Report
The Finance Ministry’s latest Monthly Economic Review warns that sustained crude‑oil price hikes could dampen India’s remittance inflows, which rose to $36.9 billion in Q3 FY26. Gulf Cooperation Council nations, accounting for about 38% of total remittances, face fiscal strain from...
What It Takes to Run Jaeger-LeCoultre, From the Man Who Has Done It Twice
Jérôme Lambert, who first became CEO of Jaeger‑LeCoultre at 33 and later led Richemont, has returned to helm the historic watchmaker. He emphasizes the brand’s 235 in‑house crafts, where only two to three artisans master each high‑skill, creating a delicate...
CoM 2026, Committee of Experts - Opening Remarks by Deputy Executive Secretary Mama Keita
Deputy Executive Secretary Mama Keita opened the 2026 Committee of Experts, emphasizing the theme “Growth through innovation: harnessing data and frontier technologies for economic transformation in Africa.” She highlighted that while Africa’s GDP has averaged 3.5% growth since 2000, productivity gains...
WEEKEND READING: ‘Things Must Change so Everything Can Stay the Same’: The Paradox of University Transformation
Lee Sanders argues that university transformation in the UK must be purpose‑driven rather than a reaction to financial crises. He outlines overlapping pressures—rising costs, dwindling home‑fee income, AI disruption, demographic shifts, and geopolitical uncertainty—that have made change feel inevitable. The...
South India Will Lead the March to a $5-10 Trillion Economy: CII Chairman
South India is positioned to drive India’s march toward a $5‑10 trillion economy, according to CII Southern Region chairman P Ravichandran at the Kochi convention. The six southern states generate roughly 38‑40% of the nation’s merchandise exports, about $124 billion, and have been...
One Month Into Iran War, only Hard Choices for Trump
One month after the U.S.-Israeli strike campaign against Iran, President Donald Trump is wrestling with two stark choices: negotiate a rapid exit or intensify military action that could drag the United States into a prolonged conflict. Iran’s missile and drone...
Handpumps Bring Water to Rural African Communities, but Many Are Broken – Study Models How Best to Maintain Them
Handpumps supply water to over 184 million people in sub‑Saharan Africa, yet between 100,000 and 1.3 million units are broken, creating a hidden crisis. Researchers examined 3,584 pumps across Ethiopia, Malawi and the Central African Republic and built a dynamic optimisation model...
The Philippines Loves Jollibee. Overseas Filipinos Love It Even More
Jollibee has become a cultural anchor for the Filipino diaspora, offering familiar comfort food that bridges home and abroad. The chain now runs over 1,600 stores in 17 countries, including more than 80 locations in the United States. Brand Finance...
Iran Threatens to Use 'Gate of Tears' If US Deploys Ground Troops
Iran warned it will target the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait—dubbed the "Gate of Tears"—if the United States deploys ground troops, adding a potential second choke point to the Middle‑East conflict. The Iran‑aligned Houthi rebels have already demonstrated the ability to strike...
EU Trade Commissioner Discusses Critical Minerals, Tariffs with US
EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic confirmed progress on a critical minerals agenda and a resolution of tariff disputes with the United States. Both sides settled on a 15% import tariff for most EU goods, halving the rate previously threatened by...
German Chemicals Groups Boost Prices as Iran War Adds to Industry Woes
German chemical giants such as BASF, Covestro and Evonik announced price increases of up to 5% for a range of products. The hikes come as the Israel‑Iran conflict tightens supply chains, raises energy costs and limits feedstock imports. Companies cite...
Iran War, Crude, Rupee Among 8 Factors to Steer D-Street in Holiday-Shortened Week
The NSE Nifty slipped 2.09% to 22,819.60, trading below its 21‑hour EMA as bearish momentum builds. A month‑long Iran‑Israel conflict has driven WTI crude to $101 per barrel and Brent to $115, stoking global inflation worries. Indian equities faced heavy...
Vedanta to Split Into Five Listed Companies Next Month
Vedanta Ltd. will split into five listed companies early next month, completing a restructuring plan aimed at reducing debt. The demerger will create Vedanta Limited for base‑metals and four spin‑offs—Vedanta Aluminium, Talwandi Sabo Power, Vedanta Steel and Iron, and Malco...
SPAB: Why Stepping Out On The Duration Risk Spectrum Now Makes Sense
State Street’s SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF (SPAB) has earned a buy rating as its yield‑to‑maturity climbs to roughly 4.7%, outpacing money‑market and Treasury rates by about 1.1 percentage points. The fund offers low‑cost, diversified exposure to high‑grade U.S. investment‑grade...
Philippines Pushing for WTO Dispute System Reforms
The Philippines is championing reforms to the World Trade Organization’s dispute‑settlement system at the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé. Trade Secretary Cristina Roque argued that a functional, accessible mechanism is essential for restoring confidence, especially for developing economies. WTO...
Why Accounting Firms Feel So Unstable Right Now | Accounting Voices
Accounting firms are experiencing unprecedented instability as private‑equity firms, national roll‑up groups, and regional mergers reshape the landscape. Partners are departing, new leadership emerges, and titles, policies, and strategies shift without clear communication. Advisory practices are being carved out, tax...
Daughter of Ifugao Rises to Lead Major Gold Miner
Joan Adaci‑Cattiling, an indigenous Ifugao descendant, became president of OceanaGold Philippines (OGP) in 2024, leading the country’s second‑largest gold and copper producer. Under her guidance, OGP has deepened community ties through a 1% revenue Community Development Fund and a 0.5%...
SMEs’ Loan Access to Improve
Thailand’s government unveiled a loan‑guarantee scheme to help small and medium‑sized enterprises acquire commercial pickup trucks, including electric models. The Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation will back loans up to 1.5 million baht (≈ $43,000) per borrower, with a total guarantee pool of...
MONEY THOUGHTS: Curbing, Capping and Curtailing Lifestyle Creep
The escalating Iranian conflict has pushed crude oil prices above $100 per barrel and raised the specter of a Strait of Hormuz closure, which could choke one‑fifth of global oil flow. Such a supply shock would amplify fuel costs, trigger...
AI in Recruitment: Transforming Employer Branding and Talent Attraction Strategies
AI-driven creative platforms are reshaping employer branding by automating the production of job descriptions, social posts, visuals, and video content. Recruiters can generate multiple, platform‑specific variations in minutes, ensuring a unified tone and visual identity. Personalization at scale, powered by...
Drillers See Triple-Digit Crude and Hit the Brakes
Brent crude has surged past $100 a barrel and WTI topped $90, creating a price environment that comfortably exceeds shale breakeven levels. Yet U.S. oil drillers remain hesitant, citing the ongoing Middle East conflict as a major obstacle to investment...
SEC Extends Fee Discounts to Boost MSME Growth
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended fee discounts for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to promote growth and lower compliance costs. Under Memorandum Circular No. 13, Series of 2026, a 20% discount on corporate registration fees will...
Windows Wrap — 4 Steps to Save the Surface Brand
Microsoft is poised to unveil new Surface devices this spring, but industry analysts warn that the timing is poor for current‑generation buyers. The article argues that Surface’s fragmented launch schedule, processor‑specific feature gating, and lack of standout design risk eroding...
Singapore’s Tazapay Secures $36m Series B to Expand Cross-Border Payment Rails
Singapore fintech Tazapay closed a $36 million Series B extension led by Circle Ventures, bringing its total Series B to $36 million. The round added new backers Coinbase Ventures, CMT Digital and others, while existing investors like Ripple also participated. Funds will fuel licensing...
Sponsored Video at PDAC: Prince Silver Targets 100Moz at Nevada Past-Producer
Prince Silver Corp. announced at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference that it aims to define a 100‑million‑ounce silver resource at its Nevada past‑producer property. CEO Derek Iwanaka emphasized the project's existing infrastructure and near‑term drilling plans...
K-12 EdTech Startup Qweebi Raises $500k To Bring Hands-On STEM & Robotics To Millions Of Students
Qweebi, a Singapore‑based EdTech startup, secured $500,000 seed funding led by Inflection Point Ventures, with participation from industry veterans. The browser‑based platform now serves over 5,200 U.S. schools—about 4% of the market—and more than 100,000 K‑12 students, delivering hands‑on STEM...
Iran Clears 20 Pakistan-Flagged Vessels Through Hormuz
Iran announced it will clear twenty Pakistani‑flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing two ships per day after months of near‑total closure due to regional tensions. The move follows earlier passages of two tankers carrying roughly 500,000 and 600,000...
Why Most Organizations Talk About Innovation but Quietly Kill It
Organizations often launch innovation programs and invest in AI tools, yet meaningful results rarely materialize because existing systems suppress creative effort. Managers frequently question employees’ use of time for idea generation, and performance metrics continue to reward only delivery and...
Don't Strike a Deal with Iran's Current Leaders, Opposition Figure Pahlavi Warns
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s former shah, warned at a CPAC rally that negotiating with Iran’s current leaders would merely postpone threats to the United States. He urged Iranians to resume street protests and presented himself as the most...
US Job Market Likely Thawed Out This Month After February Chill
U.S. employment is projected to rebound in March after February’s sharp 92,000‑job loss, the steepest payroll decline since the pandemic began. Bloomberg’s median survey predicts roughly 60,000 new jobs for the month, while the unemployment rate is expected to hold...
Exposed: How Communications Evolution Is Changing What It Means to Lead
The article argues that today’s CEOs face an unprecedented communications environment where real‑time digital channels expose them instantly to public scrutiny. Traditional CEO job descriptions remain unchanged, yet smartphones, cloud work, LinkedIn, and social media have eliminated the protective buffers...
Why Most Leadership Teams Mistake Communication for Alignment
Research by Dr. Rebecca Homkes of London Business School shows that most leadership teams mistake frequent communication for genuine alignment. In a study of over 400 firms, only one‑third of senior executives could name the top three strategic priorities, and...
Beyond Management: How Holistic Leaders Create Movement, Not Just Results
The article argues that traditional management, focused on metrics and short‑term results, is insufficient for modern organizations. It highlights that 95 % of employees do not fully grasp their company’s strategy, creating a gap between intent and execution. Holistic leadership, defined...
Is It Time for Energy Rationing to Return?
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has urged governments and consumers to slash energy use as the U.S.–Israeli attack on Iran fuels the biggest oil disruption in history, with the Strait of Hormuz closed for weeks. To blunt price spikes, the...
Asian Paints, Berger Paints, Dabur, HUL, TCS : Are the Famed Consistent Compounders in for a Lost Decade?
The article examines how Indian stalwarts such as Asian Paints, HUL, TCS, Dabur and others—once hailed as "consistent compounders"—have delivered dismal total returns over the past six years, lagging far behind the Nifty 50’s 10.6% CAGR. While these firms still...
What Is YouTube’s Dominance Doing to Us? We Asked Its C.E.O.
YouTube is now the dominant video platform in the United States, reaching 90% of American teens and two billion daily users, with YouTube TV overtaking many cable operators. CEO Neal Mohan highlighted the platform’s growth, its role as a podcast hub,...
Mike Durbin Reunites with His Fidelity/eMoney Running Mate, Ed O'Brien as No. 2 at Cetera, in Part to Help 'RIA...
Cetera Financial Group announced that CEO Mike Durbin has appointed former Fidelity and eMoney executive Ed O’Brien as the firm’s chief operating officer, effectively making him the No. 2 leader. The hire is aimed at shaping Cetera’s newly created “RIA &...
Gulf War May Push Beverage Prices Up
PepsiCo and Coca‑Cola warned that the Gulf conflict is driving up key input costs, especially PET resin, which has jumped about 65% to roughly $1,580‑$1,744 per metric ton since late February. Container freight from East Asia to the U.S. West...
Exploring Non-Traditional Labour Markets to Source Farm Employees
Canada’s agriculture sector faces a chronic labour shortage intensified by low wages, limited rural transit and an aging workforce. While automation and mechanisation offset some gaps, they also demand new technical skills and extensive up‑skilling. Organizations such as CAHRC, AITC...
India's Economic Ties with Azerbaijan Improve Despite Political Drift
India’s outbound investments to Azerbaijan surged in 2025, reaching $56.0 million, a 29.8% increase over the prior year. Cumulative Indian capital in Azerbaijan has climbed from $480 million in 2016 to $1.26 billion by mid‑2025, reflecting a decade‑long expansion. While Azerbaijan assisted in...
From Reviews to Revenue: Proactive Guest Feedback Strategy Leads to Loyalty and Sales Growth
Restaurant operators are shifting from reactive review replies to proactive guest insight collection using QuickFeedback’s QR‑code system. The platform lets diners submit anonymous, real‑time comments without logging in, feeding data directly to managers. AI then clusters feedback into trends, highlighting...
The Dollar Is Still the Main Character in Both Forex and Crypto
Despite talk of decentralisation, the US dollar continues to be the core reference point for both traditional foreign‑exchange markets and digital‑asset trading. In forex, the greenback anchors major currency pairs, risk sentiment and reserve holdings, while in crypto, prices, stablecoins...
GLORIA CAVALERA, Manager Of SOULFLY & CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, Launches New Publishing Company
Gloria Cavalera, longtime manager behind heavy‑metal acts such as Sepultura and Cavalera Conspiracy, has launched Maximum Cavalera Music Publishing. The new entity will serve as the dedicated publishing home for the entire Cavalera family catalog. Gloria has hired veteran rights...
Indie Games Will only Save Us if Anyone Funds Them
Epic Games recently laid off more than 1,000 developers, sparking hopes that indie studios could revitalize a struggling industry. However, the shutdown of Ivy Road—founded by The Stanley Parable creator Davey Wreden—illustrates that indie developers still grapple with the same...
India Supports Draft WTO Fish Declaration, Says Subsidised Industrial Fleets Cause Overfishing
India backed the WTO’s draft decision to keep negotiating fisheries‑subsidy rules, arguing that heavily subsidised industrial fleets drive overcapacity and overfishing. The draft calls for comprehensive discipline on such subsidies and includes special and differential treatment for developing countries. Commerce...
The Doctor Is In—Breach: Five Pitfalls in Physician Employment Agreements
The article outlines five common pitfalls in physician employment agreements, ranging from overbroad restrictive covenants to vague compensation formulas, misclassification of physicians, unclear termination terms, and insufficient regulatory clauses. State-by-state limits on non‑competes—such as bans in Alabama and Rhode Island...
What the Legendary Bell Labs Can Teach Us About Innovation
Bell Labs celebrated its centennial in April 2025, marking a century of breakthroughs that shaped modern technology. Founded in 1925 and later moving to Murray Hill, the lab produced the transistor, laser, and information theory, among countless other innovations. Now...