
Analysts Have a Message for Gold Investors Before the Fed Meeting
Gold investors face a pivotal Fed meeting on March 17‑18, with spot gold slipping below $5,050 and losing more than 1% for the week as a strong dollar and mixed economic data weigh on the metal. The Fed’s rate decision and Chair Jerome Powell’s language on inflation and oil will likely dictate gold’s direction, with a hawkish stance potentially driving prices toward $4,400 and a dovish tone lifting them to $5,400‑$6,300. Despite short‑term volatility, central‑bank buying provides a structural floor for the market.

Rivian’s RJ Scaringe Thinks We’re Doing Robots All Wrong
Rivian founder RJ Scaringe has launched Mind Robotics, a new venture focused on industrial robots that prioritize advanced hand dexterity over humanoid complexity. The company raised a $500 million Series A round led by Accel and Andreessen Horowitz, bringing total funding to...

Democrats Propose Erasing Income Tax for Half of U.S. Workers
Senators Cory Booker and Chris Van Hollen introduced separate bills that would essentially erase federal income tax for households earning under $75,000, expanding the tax‑free income shield to as much as $92,000 for married couples. Van Hollen’s Working Americans’ Tax...

Why Agile Transformations Fail Without L&D Rewiring Its Operating Model
Agile transformations often stall because Learning and Development (L&D) does not evolve at the same speed as the new squad‑based structure. While organizations adopt sprints and backlogs, L&D still operates as a request‑driven service, creating misalignment between learning delivery and...

‘Cruel Hoax’ or ‘Work-Life Balance Nirvana’: Whatever Happened to the Four-Day Work Week?
The four‑day work week re‑emerged after Covid‑19 as a promise of better work‑life balance, sparking pilots worldwide from Iceland to Australian firms like Medibank and Grant Thornton. While some companies report higher satisfaction and productivity, major players such as Bupa,...
Fixing the Forecasting Problem in Manufacturing Sales with Liz Heiman
Liz Heiman explains why manufacturing firms accept sub‑percent defect rates in production yet tolerate 25% or higher errors in sales forecasts. She argues that sales should be managed with the same disciplined, measurable process used on the shop floor, starting with...
Amid Soaring Aluminium Imports, India Brings in New QCO
India has introduced a new Quality Control Order (QCO) that obliges both domestic and foreign manufacturers of aluminium and alloy products to adhere to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications. The move comes as imports from China surged from $1.47 billion...

ASML Workers Still in the Dark Seven Weeks After 1,700 Management Cuts Announced — Cuts Represent 4% of Its Global...
ASML announced it will eliminate 1,700 management positions, roughly 4% of its global workforce, with 1,400 cuts in the Netherlands and 300 in the United States. Seven weeks later, employees remain uncertain about their job security as unions push back...

Interest Rates Hold ‘Almost Certain’ as Trump Rules Out Deal with Iran
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee is expected to keep the base rate unchanged at 3.75% as the Middle‑East war fuels higher energy prices and fresh inflation risks. Economists had pencilled in a rate cut after January’s inflation dip...

The Iran War Is a New Test of America's Economic Superpower
Despite the Iran‑Iran war threatening oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz and pushing crude prices above $103 a barrel, the United States economy continues to show resilience. Recent data show unemployment at 4.4% and Q1 2025 GDP growth projected...

France and Italy Seek Safe Passage Deal with Iran
France and Italy have opened diplomatic talks with Iran to secure safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit chokepoint. The initiative follows recent French casualties and heightened military presence that underscored the risks...

Chasing the Digital Nomad Dream? Beware of Global Current Events
The article recounts a Seattle employee’s remote stint in Mexico that was cut short by cartel‑related violence after a U.S.-backed killing. It uses this anecdote to illustrate how sudden geopolitical events—from Mexican drug‑war flare‑ups to U.S. strikes on Iran—can jeopardize...

Paramount+ Is Merging With BET+ and HBO Max to Form a Super Streaming Service – Here Is What We Know...
Paramount Global announced a plan to merge its Paramount+ streaming service with BET+ and HBO Max, creating a single super‑streaming platform. The move follows Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and aims to combine libraries, technology and subscriber...

Mana Projects Names Ranbir Kapoor Brand Ambassador Amid Rebranding
Mana Projects, a Bengaluru‑based developer, has appointed Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor as its brand ambassador while unveiling a refreshed brand identity. The rebrand spotlights design‑led living, sustainability and community‑centric spaces aimed at millennial homebuyers. Mana plans to roll out an...

This Taiwanese Restaurant Group Hopes to Build a National Chain in the U.S. Specializing in Elevated Thai Food
Taiwanese restaurant group TTFB launched its first U.S. concept, Very Thai, in Los Angeles’ Westfield Century City mall. The 5,000‑sq‑ft venue offers an elevated Thai menu, family‑style sharing plates and a bar with Thai‑infused cocktails, with average checks of $60‑$70. TTFB,...
This 18-Year-Old College Student Accidentally Emailed Thousands of Classmates—It Turned His Pet-Sitting Business Into a Valuable Side Hustle
College sophomore Hector Gutierrez unintentionally sent his professor’s recommendation letter to a university listserv, exposing his pet‑sitting venture to thousands of students. The mishap turned Hec’s Pet Sitting into a campus sensation, earning media coverage, a meeting with the university...

This 18-Year-Old College Student Accidentally Emailed Thousands of Classmates—It Turned His Pet-Sitting Business Into a Valuable Side Hustle
18‑year‑old Hector Gutierrez mistakenly sent a professor’s recommendation letter to a university listserv, reaching thousands of students. The mishap turned him into a campus celebrity, boosting his pet‑sitting venture, Hec’s Pet Sitting, into a recognized LLC with ten part‑time staff...

Weekend Round-Up: Oracle's Q3 Earnings, Adobe's CEO Transition, Meta's Potential Job Cuts And More
Oracle posted a strong Q3 fiscal 2026, delivering $17.19 billion in revenue and $1.79 earnings per share, beating forecasts and highlighting multi‑year AI tailwinds. Adobe’s first‑quarter results showed $6.40 billion in revenue, a 12% YoY rise, with subscription revenue up 13% as...

Vita Coco CEO Mike Kirban on Why Your Competitive Advantage Is the Speed of Your Recovery
Vita Coco co‑founder Mike Kirban argues that the speed of recovery—how quickly a company rebounds from setbacks—defines its competitive advantage. He highlights the daunting scale of the U.S. liquid‑refreshment market, which hit 36.4 billion gallons in 2024, and the harsh reality that...
$20 Billion Club: Slow & Steady Funded Status Progress
The $20 billion club of the largest U.S. defined‑benefit sponsors has seen funded status rebound strongly since the 2008 crisis, driven by disciplined risk management and liability‑hedging tactics. Sponsors have embraced LDI overlays, derivatives, and a higher share of fixed‑income to...

Sheryl Sandberg Says Silicon Valley’s Hypermasculine Rhetoric Is ‘Terrible’—Contributing to ‘One of the Worst’ Corporate Climates She’s Ever Seen
Former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg told CNBC that Silicon Valley’s hyper‑masculine rhetoric has created "one of the worst" corporate climates she has ever seen. She linked the cultural shift to Mark Zuckerberg’s public calls for more "masculine energy" and to...

Kyodo News Digest: March 15, 2026
The United States and China launched high‑level trade talks in Paris, setting the stage for a Trump‑Xi summit in Beijing at the end of March. Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party signaled a cautious stance on a potential Self‑Defense Forces ship‑escort...
The Growing Importance of Writing Skills in Remote Hiring
The article highlights that writing proficiency has become a decisive factor in remote hiring as most collaboration now occurs through emails, chat, and documentation. Employers are increasingly using writing exercises and AI‑based authenticity checks to gauge candidates’ communication style. Strong...

Bill Ackman Wants a Little Berkshire of His Own. Piper Sandler Says There's a 'Secret Sauce'
Bill Ackman filed to list Pershing Square Capital Management on the NYSE and raised its stake in Howard Hughes Holdings to about 47%, aiming to turn the REIT into a Berkshire‑style conglomerate. Piper Sandler says the venture’s success hinges on acquiring...

West Asia Conflict : Plastics Manufacturers Raise Concerns About Polymer Price Hikes, Seek Survival Package for MSME Units
The All India Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA) warned that polymer prices have surged 59% in just 11 days amid the West Asia conflict, threatening the viability of India’s plastic‑processing sector. Over 90% of the roughly 50,000 units in the industry...

The Man Behind the Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger
David Ellison, Skydance Media chief and son of Oracle co‑founder Larry Ellison, is spearheading a merger that would combine Paramount and Warner Bros. into a single entertainment powerhouse. The deal, valued at roughly $30 billion, promises up to 30 theatrical releases...
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Turkey’s Inflation Fight Stands Exposed to a Trump Wrecking Ball
Turkey’s inflation remains above 30% as the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) paused its tightening cycle on March 12, sparking criticism from analysts who argue a rate hike was warranted. The country’s $50 bn annual energy import bill and...

India-EU Ties in Focus as Jaishankar Starts 2-Day Visit to Brussels
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar began a two‑day visit to Brussels, the first high‑level Indian delegation since the EU‑India free‑trade agreement was signed in January. He will meet EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, attend the EU Foreign Affairs Council,...

Burned-Out Workers Sick of Toxic Bosses Are Using Medical Leave as a Sneaky Extended Vacation to Job Hunt—And It’s Not...
Burned‑out employees are turning to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) as a legal way to take up to 12 weeks off, often using the time to recover and search for new jobs. Viral TikTok videos show workers posting...
New Labour Codes to Drive Wider Adoption of Fixed-Term Employment: Report
A Genius HRTech survey of 1,459 Indian firms shows 75 percent anticipate a surge in structured fixed‑term employment as the country’s new labour codes take effect. Only 40 percent say they are fully ready to implement the four consolidated codes, while 46 percent have...

Launch Your Own Private-Label Brand
Retailers are increasingly launching private‑label brands to capture higher margins, tighten supply‑chain control, and create exclusive product assortments. By sourcing directly from manufacturers, merchants can eliminate intermediaries, set unique specifications, and differentiate their shelves from competitors. The article outlines a...

One of Britain’s Last Major Chemical Plants at Risk as Energy Prices Surge
Huntsman Corp. warned it will close its Teesside aniline plant if current gas prices persist for three months, citing the recent surge driven by the Iran conflict. The Wilton facility, employing about 80 workers, is one of the last remaining...
KCB Identifies Entity for 2026 Ethiopia Entry
KCB Group aims to enter Ethiopia by the end of 2026, planning to acquire control of a local bank that fits its cultural and strategic objectives. The deal must navigate Ethiopia’s 49% foreign‑shareholding ceiling, though the regulator can grant exceptions...

Rohini Laya Venkateswaran Appointed Executive Director at Gillette India
Rohini Laya Venkateswaran has been named executive director of Gillette India Pvt. Ltd., while continuing as chief sales officer for the Indian Subcontinent. The veteran brings more than two decades of Procter & Gamble experience, including senior roles in sales...

UPL Global Integrated Operations to Be Cost-Effective, Says InGovern
UPL Ltd plans to spin off its integrated crop‑protection platform, UPL Global, via a scheme of arrangement expected to complete in 12‑15 months, with NCLT approval projected for Q2 FY2027. The demerger will create one of the world’s largest listed...
JPMorgan Says Higher Oil Prices Could Spark a 'Domino Effect' That Tanks the S&P 500 by 15%
JPMorgan warned that Brent crude staying above $90 a barrel could trigger a 10‑15% correction in the S&P 500, creating a domino effect across global equities. The bank estimates the equity decline would shave about 1% off U.S. consumer spending through...
Why the Founder of Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Decided to Sell Her Business and Retire at 53
Monica Nassif, the Iowa‑raised founder of Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day and its upscale sibling Caldrea, sold both brands to SC Johnson in 2008 after struggling to scale distribution. The brands, inspired by her mother Thelma Meyers' garden herbs, had moved from niche...
I Left Tech to Become an Influencer. I Had $6,000 in My Savings when I Took the Leap, but It's...
Camillia Nwokedi quit her crypto‑startup job in 2025 after the company’s sale, taking $6,000 in savings and a 60‑day TikTok trial to test the waters. Within a year she built a personal brand, secured brand deals, consulting and coaching clients,...

Air India Finds Large-Scale Misuse of Its Leisure Travel Policy for Staff, Initiates Corrective Actions
Air India discovered large‑scale misuse of its Employee Leisure Travel policy, affecting over 4,000 staff members, some of whom sold free tickets for profit. The airline, under Tata Group’s ownership and amid a costly transformation, is imposing refunds, heavy penalties,...
Applied Intuition Is Worth $15 Billion. The CEO Still Wants Staff to Clean Their Own Office.
Applied Intuition, the AI software firm behind autonomous‑driving tools for manufacturers like Toyota, announced a $15 billion valuation after a $600 million Series F round. CEO Qasar Younis insists employees wipe their own desks, remove shoes at the door, and participate in a...

What if the Corner Store Funded the Community? A Cleveland Business Is Exploring the Model
Cleveland’s Be at Ease Convenience Store has reopened with a “Spending With Purpose” model that earmarks a negotiated slice of every purchase for rotating local nonprofits. Partnerships shift every 90 days, currently involving Seeds of Literacy and Community of Hope,...

I Found the 007 First Light Coca-Cola Cans to Get Free Rewards, but What James Bond Gifts Can You Get?
Coca‑Cola has teamed with the James Bond franchise for a limited‑edition 007 First Light line of Zero‑Sugar cans and two‑litre bottles now appearing in the UK, Germany, Sweden and other markets. Each product bears a QR code that directs shoppers to upload their...

The AI Upgrade That Could Finally Make Legal Help Easy for Entrepreneurs
The article launches the "Big Tools for Small Business" series, spotlighting an emerging AI solution that promises to simplify legal assistance for entrepreneurs. It notes that while marketing, accounting, and analytics tools have become ubiquitous, legal support remains under‑served. The...

James Caan: Give British Business a Big Boost
James Caan warns that AI‑driven automation will slash graduate entry‑level roles, with some firms expecting intake to fall by half. He argues that the traditional management model will shrink, favoring data‑savvy, analytical leaders. Caan also criticises the UK education system...

Electric Vehicles Could Soon Be Cheaper than Petrol Cars in Africa – if Financing Barriers Fall
New research from ETH Zürich and PSI finds that electric vehicles paired with off‑grid solar can already be cheaper than petrol cars in many African markets, especially where financing conditions are favorable. Falling battery prices and expanding global EV production...

Manish Shrivastava Joins Kotak Neo as Executive Vice President – Growth
Manish Shrivastava has been appointed executive vice president of growth at Kotak Neo, the digital securities trading platform of Kotak Mahindra Bank. He will steer marketing journeys, onboarding and user conversion initiatives to accelerate platform adoption. Shrivastava brings nearly two...

‘No One Saw This Coming’: Will the Surprise Telegraph Winner Change the Paper’s Direction?
Axel Springer outbid Lord Rothermere with a £575 m offer to acquire the Telegraph, ending a three‑year ownership saga. The German media group promises editorial independence while pledging a digital‑first, AI‑driven strategy. CEO Mathias Döpfner has already visited the newsroom, signalling potential...

Kevin O'Leary Says Iran's Strait Of Hormuz Threat Shows World Still Depends On Oil, Alternative Energy 'Didn't Deliver'
Kevin O'Leary warned that Iran's threat to mine the two‑mile‑wide Strait of Hormuz underscores the world's ongoing reliance on oil. He highlighted that oil is the only commodity used across every sector, including by adversarial nations. O'Leary noted that securing...

The Hidden Problem with Feeling ‘Overworked and Underpaid’
The article argues that feeling “overworked and underpaid” is often a symptom of under‑positioning rather than exploitation. It urges professionals to replace exhaustion‑based self‑valuation with a commercial audit that quantifies problem‑solving, revenue impact, risk reduction, and unique capabilities. By translating...

Prabowo Open to Breach Indonesia Deficit Cap Only During Crisis
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto said his administration would only exceed the statutory 3% of GDP budget‑deficit limit in a short‑term emergency, such as a sustained oil‑price surge linked to the US‑Israel conflict in Iran. He compared any potential breach to...