The US Exports Oil, but that Won’t Shield Americans From Higher Gas Prices
Energy Secretary Chris Wright claimed the United States is a net oil exporter, but the reality is more nuanced. While the U.S. does export more crude oil and petroleum products than it imports, it remains a net importer of crude oil itself, importing about 6.2 million barrels per day versus exporting roughly 4 million in 2025. A longstanding refinery mismatch—most U.S. refineries designed for heavy, sour crude—forces continued reliance on foreign crude. Because gasoline prices are set on global markets, the net‑export label does little to protect American drivers from price spikes caused by events like the Hormuz blockage.
Mantashe Pushes Oil and Gas Drive as Global Tension Raises Fuel Price Risks
Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe warned that soaring global crude prices—now above $100 a barrel—expose South Africa’s reliance on imported fuel and urged a rapid acceleration of domestic oil and gas development. He highlighted significant offshore prospects in...
Listen: What to Expect From the Provisional Application of the EU–Mercosur Agreement
After 25 years of negotiations, the EU‑Mercosur free‑trade agreement is set to be provisionally applied within weeks, following a rare EU signing without France’s formal approval. The deal reduces tariffs on a range of agricultural products while retaining quotas for...
HRDA Frankly Speaking: Solve for Uncertainty, Not Complexity
Betsy Lopez‑Riley, speaking ahead of SPARK HR 2026, argues that HR leaders should focus on eliminating uncertainty rather than simplifying complexity. She notes that people can manage intricate tasks, but unclear trade‑offs erode confidence during change. Lopez‑Riley will present sessions on immediate...
Guidance: Government Financial Reporting Manual: Application Guidance
HM Treasury’s Government Financial Reporting Manual offers detailed IFRS application guidance for public‑sector entities, supporting the preparation of central‑government annual accounts. The repository includes over twenty guidance documents covering IFRS 16 leases, IFRS 17 insurance contracts, IFRS 9 financial instruments, and sector‑specific topics...
West Sussex's Oracle Rollout Pushed Back Again as Costs Balloon 15 Times
West Sussex County Council has pushed the Oracle Fusion HR and payroll rollout to October 2026, marking a five‑year delay and a cost explosion from the original £2.6 million estimate to roughly £41 million. The project, intended to replace an aging SAP system...
Sidebrief, Diligence Africa and Impact Hub Launch ‘Signal’ a Quarterly Event Series Bridging Founders, Investors and Regulators in Africa’s Startup...
Sidebrief, a regulatory‑tech platform, has launched Signal, a quarterly event series co‑hosted with Diligence Africa and Impact Hub Lagos. The inaugural edition will take place on March 27, 2026, at Impact Hub Lagos and features 20 speakers across five moderated...
The New Reality of Worksite Enforcement: Navigating I-9 and E-Verify Shifts in 2026
In 2025, ICE revived large‑scale worksite enforcement targeting I‑9 compliance, while the Department of Homeland Security dismantled key immigration programs, ending humanitarian parole, destabilizing TPS, and terminating automatic EAD extensions. Simultaneously, states such as Iowa and Ohio introduced mandatory E‑Verify...
FabHotels Parent Travelstack Tech Gets SEBI Green Light for IPO
FabHotels' parent Travelstack Tech has secured SEBI approval to launch its IPO, featuring a Rs 250 crore fresh equity issue and an offer‑for‑sale of up to 2.68 crore shares. Early investors such as Accel, Goldman Sachs, Qualcomm and founder Vaibhav Aggarwal will offload...
The United States Is Losing Its Grip on Canada's Steel Market
U.S. steel exports to Canada fell 22% in 2025, dropping the United States' share of Canadian steel imports to 36% from 39%. Overall Canadian steel imports contracted 16% to 2.4 million tonnes as protectionist measures and retaliatory tariffs reshaped trade flows....
Global Experience Gave CEOs Like Expedia’s Ariane Gorin Essential Leadership Traits
A recent Modern CEO newsletter argues that boards should prioritize agility over résumé credentials, citing international experience as a reliable proxy. Heidrick & Struggles research shows one in five Fortune 500 firms will appoint CEOs with cross‑border experience by 2025, and...
We All Made Epstein Island Possible
The article argues that Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes were enabled by normalized institutional cultures rather than isolated actions of a single individual. It highlights how elite organizations—academia, finance, and global forums—repeatedly praised Epstein, creating an environment where warning signs were ignored....
Uncle Sam Goes Mining in the Congo
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, together with Abu Dhabi’s ADQ and New York‑based Orion Resources, signed a non‑binding MOU to acquire a 40% stake in Glencore’s Kamoto and Mutanda cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The move...
Senate Democrats Push Social Security on Employee Reassignments to Phone Line
Twelve Senate Democrats have sent a letter to the Social Security Administration demanding detailed answers about its recent practice of moving hundreds of employees from processing, technology and financial units to the agency’s phone line with only a few hours...
Nigeria to Provide up to ₦1 Billion ($735,000) in Funding for 100 Startups Through iDICE Startup Bridge
Nigeria’s government launched the iDICE Startup Bridge, a programme to fund and mentor early‑stage tech and creative startups. The 12‑week Founders Lab will award up to ₦10 million grants to the top 100 applicants, representing a total of ₦1 billion in funding....
Interview Panic | What 756,000 Google Searches Reveal About Candidate Anxiety
HR software firm Ciphr analyzed 756,000 UK Google searches for “interview questions” in the past year, highlighting widespread candidate anxiety. The most frequent query, “What questions should I ask the interviewer?”, averaged 17,520 monthly searches, underscoring a desire to control...
Why Global Treasurers Are Realigning Financing with RMB Exposure
Global corporates are confronting a pronounced mismatch between their Renminbi (RMB) operating exposure and the currency composition of their debt. While roughly a quarter of revenues and costs are RMB‑denominated, only 14% of corporate debt is issued in the currency,...
Pay Increases, Training Allowances, and More: MOM Accepts Recommendations on PWM for Food Services Sector
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has approved the Tripartite Cluster for Food Services’ recommendations to tighten the Progressive Wage Model. From 1 July 2026 the sector’s entry‑level wage rises to S$2,220 and will climb to S$2,500 by 2028, with annual increases of up...
Ministers Allow ‘Full Flexibility’ on Pace of Youth NMW Rise
Britain’s Low Pay Commission has been granted full flexibility to decide how quickly the 18‑20‑year‑old minimum wage will converge with the national living wage. The youth rate jumps to £10.85 per hour on 1 April, while the NLW for workers 21...
Harena Signs Exclusivity Agreement to Acquire US Rare Earth, Uranium Permits
Harena Rare Earths has signed an exclusivity agreement to evaluate buying 100% of Paradigm Critical Minerals, which holds heavy‑rare‑earth and uranium exploration permits in San Bernardino County, California. The assets boast historic drilling that returned up to 2 % total rare‑earth oxide...
JF Lehman Targets $3.25bn Across New Flagship Fund, Sophomore Credit Vehicle
JF Lehman & Company has re‑entered the fundraising market with a new flagship private‑equity fund and a sophomore credit vehicle. The firm is targeting roughly $3.25 billion in commitments, including about $2.75 billion for the flagship fund and $500 million for the credit...
Unpaid Overtime: Employer Pays $293K in Back Wages – Plus $24K Fine
Speedy’s Framing LLC, a residential construction firm in Idaho, was ordered by the U.S. Department of Labor to pay $293,698 in back wages to 56 employees for failing to provide overtime premiums and for not compensating travel time. The Wage...
RevOps Roundup: Week 11, 2026
The RevOps Roundup for week 11, 2026 curates the latest thought leadership across blogs, podcasts, and webinars. It spotlights the ACE framework for aligning cross‑functional teams, a step‑by‑step guide to automate SaaS quote generation with CPQ, and LeanData’s blueprint for...
Why English-Only AML Monitoring Misses Critical Risks
Many AML monitoring programs rely solely on English-language sources, missing critical risk signals that appear in local media. Real‑world examples from Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America show adverse media alerts being overlooked because they are published only in...
Is There Anyone Middle Managers Can Trust?
Middle managers are caught between unrealistic strategic goals and limited authority, forcing them to mask contradictions and hide capacity constraints. This isolation, termed Organizational Latchkey Syndrome, erodes psychological safety and turns emotional intelligence into a liability. The article argues that...
Strait of Hormuz Marks First Full Day’s Pause as No Ships Cross Amid Iran War
Maritime tracking data recorded zero commercial transits through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, marking the first full day without traffic since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. Vessels were observed clustering just outside the narrow...
Many Founders Waste Time and Money Solving the Wrong Problems. Here Are 3 Big Ones
Founders often chase obvious fixes—more marketing, hiring, or capital—while the real issue lies elsewhere. Two case studies illustrate this: a SaaS startup wasted resources on acquisition despite an unbuildable product, and another over‑engineered features that customers found unnecessary. In both...
EQT Completes Final Exit From Galderma with Record $5bn Block Trade
EQT has completed its final exit from Galderma Group AG, selling roughly 34 million shares for about CHF 4.9 billion ($5.5 billion) in what the firm calls the largest sponsor‑backed block trade on record. The accelerated book‑building process on 13 March generated CHF 1.3 billion for the...
SBS Misses Debt Deadline, In Creditor Standstill After Default
Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) missed its March 1 deadline on $310 million senior secured notes and entered a 30‑day creditor standstill. Majority holders of the 9.750 % notes have agreed to forbear while negotiations explore new financing, term extensions or restructuring. SBS reported...
5 Simple Ways To Boost Your Sales 10% By the End of the Month
Radio sellers can add roughly 10% more revenue before month‑end by focusing on speed and leveraging existing advertiser relationships. The article outlines five practical levers: re‑engage current accounts, sell urgency‑focused packages, chase recent "almost buyers," expand single campaigns, and use...
Marcos to Teachers: Teach with Skill and Compassion
President Ferdinand Marcos addressed more than 3,300 newly promoted teachers and school heads in Cebu, urging them to lead with empathy, skill, compassion, and integrity. He highlighted the Department of Education’s Expanded Career Progression (ECP) system, which aims to promote...
Indexes’ Uncertain Response in a Volatile Container Market
The Iran‑related conflict in the Arabian Gulf is creating sharp uncertainty in container markets, with analysts reporting divergent rate trends. Drewry’s spot‑rate data shows double‑digit increases on Asia‑North America and Asia‑Europe lanes, while Xeneta’s regional data points to stagnant or...
Confusion over Malaysia-US Trade Deal as ‘Null and Void’ Claim Retracted
Malaysia’s highly publicised tariff reduction agreement with the United States has hit a political snag after a senior minister mistakenly announced that a U.S. Supreme Court ruling rendered the deal null and void. The ministry quickly retracted the statement, clarifying...
Baltimore Names TJ Mayotte as New CIO
Baltimore announced TJ Mayotte as its new Chief Information Officer, taking charge of the city’s Information Technology Office. Mayotte arrives with more than two decades of government technology and cybersecurity leadership, most recently serving as CIO for Howard County with...
Spotlight Pathology Secures £1.4 Million Seed Investment for AI Blood Cancer Diagnostics
Liverpool‑based Spotlight Pathology has closed a £1.4 million seed round to accelerate its AI‑driven blood cancer diagnostic platform. The round was co‑led by the UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund and the Liverpool City Region Seed Fund, earmarked for product development,...
Traveller Made Highlights Branding as Key to Luxury DMC Growth
Traveller Made’s CEO Quentin Desurmont warns luxury destination management companies (DMCs) that superior logistics alone no longer secures profitability; they must develop distinct brand identities. He suggests borrowing branding tactics from the luxury goods sector, where desirability and exclusivity have...
NatWest: We're Raising Our Fair Value Estimate as We See Bank's Franchise Value Strengthening
Morningstar lifted NatWest Group's fair‑value estimate to GBX 710 per share, up from GBX 550, after a strong fourth‑quarter 2025 showing 18% return on tangible equity and expanding deposit margins. The firm raised its mid‑cycle profitability assumptions, citing a durable structural hedge...
Parental Access to Paid Sick Leave
A new analysis of National Health Interview Survey data from 2010 to 2024 shows that family‑level paid sick leave (PSL) access for children has risen sharply, reaching over three‑quarters of all U.S. children by 2024. The study confirms the overall...
Ugg Brings Back the Fluff Yeah Sandal With a Sci-Fi-Inspired Twist
UGG has revived its popular Fluff Yeah fluffy sandal for a limited Spring 2026 run after strong fan demand. The brand launched a sci‑fi‑inspired campaign starring comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, featuring a hand‑crafted miniature Los Angeles set and a Venice Beach pop‑up on...
Profitable Growth Is Getting Harder for CPG Brands. Here’s Where to Look First.
CPG brands are finding profitable growth increasingly elusive as rising input costs, omnichannel complexity, and retailer demands compress margins. The article outlines six focus areas—high‑margin SKU prioritization, channel‑specific P&L analysis, frequent COGS reviews, cash conversion cycle mapping, disciplined funding, and...
5 Jobs that May Disappear in the Next 25 Years, According to Reader’s Digest
Reader’s Digest warns that five occupations—ride‑share drivers, warehouse workers, payroll clerks, delivery drivers, and basic accounting staff—could vanish within 25 years as automation and AI mature. Autonomous vehicles and driverless delivery systems threaten transportation roles, while robotics and intelligent software...
'Sensible' | Government 'Pauses' Plans for Race & Disability Pay Gap Lawsuits
The UK Government has put on hold a set of reforms that would let workers bring lawsuits over race and disability pay gaps. The measures, first outlined in Labour’s election manifesto and referenced in the King’s Speech, were slated for...
Introducing the Contractor Management Platform
Papaya Global has launched a full‑stack Contractor Management Platform that unifies onboarding, contracts, invoicing, approvals, payments and reporting into a single finance‑grade system. The solution promises sub‑one‑day invoice‑to‑payment initiation, guaranteed payment landing dates, and flat global transaction fees with transparent...
Galliford Try: A Building Firm That's Worth a Punt
Galliford Try, a UK‑based construction group, operates across building, infrastructure and specialist services, limiting reliance on any single market. The firm has accelerated growth through targeted acquisitions and a push into affordable housing, driving revenue up 67% and more than...
The Real Cost of Payment Downtime No One Talks About
The article highlights that payment system downtime costs extend far beyond immediate lost sales, affecting customer trust, brand reputation, cash flow, and employee productivity. It details how outages force teams into crisis mode, create communication gaps, and expose operational weaknesses...
Long Beach Tech Leader Eriksen Joins Culver City
Lea Eriksen, Long Beach’s technology director since 2014, will depart next month to become Senior Assistant City Manager in Culver City. During her tenure, the Department of Technology and Innovation grew to nearly 200 staff, managed a $90 million annual budget,...
Excello Launches AI Platform to Help Founders Turn Strategy Into Weekly Execution
Excello unveiled an AI‑powered executive intelligence platform that turns a founder’s long‑term vision into disciplined weekly actions. The system blends strategic planning, performance tracking, and personalized AI coaching calibrated through a DISC‑based assessment. Users can set North Star goals, cascade...
'Concerning Reading' | NHS Staff Report Increasing Pressure on Staffing Levels, Wellbeing & Engagement
The 2025 NHS Staff Survey of more than 760,000 employees shows only 33 percent feel there are enough staff, a slight dip from 34 percent in 2024 but still higher than 27 percent in 2021. Burnout rose modestly to 31 percent and work frustration...
PhonePe Puts IPO on Hold as Iran–Israel–US War Rattles Public Markets
PhonePe, one of India’s largest digital‑payments platforms, has temporarily halted its planned initial public offering due to heightened geopolitical tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States. The company cited volatility in global capital markets and said it will resume...
Strengthening Romania’s Competitiveness
Romania has closed much of the gap to OECD income levels over the past twenty years, driven by market integration, capital inflows, and broad reforms. Labor productivity now sits close to the OECD average, though wages have begun outpacing productivity...