Wyatt Gilmore of Grant Stone
In this episode, host Jeremy Kirkland chats with Wyatt Gilmore, founder of Grant Stone, about his unconventional path into footwear—growing up with a family legacy at Alden, then moving to China and Taiwan at 19 to learn manufacturing from the ground up. Gilmore shares insights on factory relationships, the importance of genuine sourcing versus superficial "Made in America" branding, and the craftsmanship details that make shoes like loafers, suede, and shell cordovan stand out. He also discusses how cultural immersion shaped his approach to quality and brand building, and teases an upcoming Grant Stone collaboration with Blamo.
Oman Offers 5 Oil and Gas Leases
Oman's Energy and Minerals Ministry announced the opening of bidding for five new oil and gas concession areas, covering more than 53,000 square kilometres across the Greater Barik, Sharqiyah Sands Basin, and Eastern Flank provinces. The blocks—12, 16, 42, 45,...
TotalEnergies Finds More Hydrocarbons Offshore Congo
TotalEnergies EP Congo announced a new hydrocarbon discovery on the Moho license offshore Congo, where the MHNM‑6 NFW well intersected a 160‑metre column of high‑quality Albian oil and gas. The find sits near the existing Moho production infrastructure, allowing a...
Iran: No Security for Persian Gulf Ports if Own Is Threatened
Iran warned that any threat to its Persian Gulf ports will trigger a collapse of regional shipping safety, effectively threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz to vessels linked to the U.S. blockade. Tehran called the U.S. naval restrictions illegal...
Home Prices Stay High Amid Supply Shortages and Mortgage Lock-In
Home prices have stayed elevated into early 2026 despite mortgage rates above 7% last year, because the market is constrained more by a chronic inventory shortage than by demand. The United States faces a supply gap of roughly 4.0 million homes...
Hong Kong Issues 53% More IPO Banker Licenses to Ease Shortage
Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) issued 43 new licenses for IPO‑banking advisers in March, a 53 percent increase from February’s low‑volume month. The rise suggests a tentative easing of the licensing bottleneck that followed a regulator‑led crackdown on substandard...
China’s TCL Is Said to Consider Stake Sale in India TV Business
TCL Electronics Holdings Ltd. is exploring a sale of a stake in its Indian TV manufacturing unit, targeting at least $200 million from local investors. The move mirrors a recent transaction by fellow Chinese maker Haier, which sold 49% of its...
NearLink’s Next Phase: From Smartphones to Peripherals, but Still China-Centric
NearLink, branded as SparkLink, is gaining traction in China’s IoT market, anchored by an estimated 12 million NearLink‑enabled smartphones slated for 2026, primarily within Huawei’s ecosystem. Peripheral categories such as earbuds, smartwatches and PC accessories are projected to add another 11 million...
Boehringer Ingelheim Introduces LENZELTA®: A New Vaccine Advancing Mastitis Prevention in Dairy Cows
Boehringer Ingelheim has launched LENZELTA®, a new mastitis vaccine for dairy cows that requires two doses during the dry‑off period. The oil‑free formulation targets Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, delivering the earliest onset of immunity and protection lasting up to...
Kenya's Jambojet to Add Dar, Resume Entebbe by 2027
Kenya’s low‑cost carrier Jambojet announced plans to launch flights to Dar es Salaam and to restart its Entebbe service by early 2027. The airline will receive two additional DHC‑8‑Q400 aircraft—one by September 2026 and another by March 2027—bringing its fleet to 11...
Sirius Posts Double-Digit Rental Growth, Cites Strong Demand
Sirius, a European commercial‑real‑estate firm, announced double‑digit rental growth in its latest reporting period. The surge reflects robust demand for industrial space tied to rising defence budgets across the continent. The company’s strategy targets assets that serve the defence supply...
Massive Copper and Uranium Demand Fuels Global Rebuild
Forward Looking - How much copper - uranium? 1. Ukraine / Iran Rebuild 2. US Power Grid Rebuild 3. Nuclear Plants incoming — 100 China + USA 4. 100m Robots 5. India, 1B people no air conditioning 2026 vs. 750m in 2036 6. 800...
Using AI and Human Expertise to Reduce Global Expansion Risk
Global firms are moving from basic HR automation to tackling complex legal and regulatory risks in overseas expansion. While AI can streamline routine hiring and compliance tasks, the article argues that human expertise remains essential for nuanced decisions such as...
Iceland Offers Free Same-Day Delivery This Week in Online Growth Push
Iceland Foods is rolling out free same‑day delivery for orders over £40 (approximately $51) from now until Thursday, 16 April. The service, available until 9 pm each day, promises delivery within two hours and applies to the full range of Iceland and...
Fintech Landscape in the Caribbean: The Bahamas in 2026
In 2026 the Bahamas, a $15 billion economy of just over 400,000 people, has cemented its reputation as a Caribbean fintech pioneer. The Central Bank’s Sand Dollar, the world’s first retail CBDC, has expanded into government payments, retail transactions and financial‑inclusion...
Big4Travel, Horizon FCB Launch Campaign for Those Who’d Rather Miss the FIFA World Cup 2026
Big4Travel, a leading Bangkok travel agency, teamed with Horizon FCB Dubai to launch a contrarian campaign ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Instead of joining the flood of football‑centric promotions, the brand offered a travel guide to "Non‑Qualified Countries" and...
The Morning Briefing: Royal London Broadens Income Protection Reach; Is Megafund Reform a New Dawn?
Royal London has updated its Income Protection occupation classes to include freelancers, gig workers and people with multiple jobs, reflecting the shift toward non‑linear careers. The Pension Schemes Bill’s megafund reforms are under scrutiny, with the Pensions Policy Institute questioning...
Ruttenberg Family Office Acquires UK Aerospace Group Senior Plc
Tinicum Incorporated, the Ruttenberg family office, teamed with Blackstone to acquire UK‑listed Senior plc in a cash offer valuing the aerospace and defense components maker at roughly £1.4 billion ($1.9 billion). The board unanimously accepted the 300 pence per share proposal, citing the...
USDOT Launches National Crash Responder Training Programme
The U.S. Department of Transportation hosted its inaugural National Day of Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Responder Training, a cornerstone of a federal effort to certify one million emergency responders in traffic‑incident practices. More than 100 law‑enforcement officers, first responders and...
IESO Signs 20-Year Contracts for 14 Renewable Energy Projects
Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has awarded 20‑year contracts to 14 renewable projects—12 solar and two wind—under its Long‑Term 2 Energy Stream 1 RFP. The projects will deliver more than three terawatt‑hours of electricity each year, a capacity aimed at meeting...
BCW on the Block as WPP Weighs Exit From PR
WPP is reportedly preparing to sell its Burson Cohn & Wolfe (BCW) unit after a recent divestiture of a majority stake in FGS Global for roughly £1.3 bn ($1.65 bn). The move follows a 6% drop in PR revenue in WPP’s latest...
Health-Care Spending Surge Threatens Provincial Balance Sheets, Desjardins Warns
Desjardins Group’s latest report warns that soaring health‑care costs are outpacing economic growth and threatening the fiscal health of Canada’s provinces. Per‑capita spending has already eclipsed pandemic‑era peaks and continues to rise faster than GDP, while an aging population will...
Europe Is Dismantling Its Own Rulebook to Compete with America
On 19 November 2025 the European Commission unveiled a Digital Omnibus package that amends the AI Act, GDPR, ePrivacy Directive, Data Act and several cybersecurity rules. The proposal delays high‑risk AI obligations by up to 16 months, adds a GDPR “legitimate‑interest” basis for...
Orbital Launches Its Own Real Estate Law Firm
Orbital, the legal‑tech and prop‑tech platform, is launching Farringdon, a UK‑based residential conveyancing law firm. The six‑person team, including three AI‑focused conveyancing engineers, will start taking instructions in May. Orbital plans to feed every AI‑driven workflow insight from Farringdon back...
TechnipFMC: Get Out While The Getting Out Is Good
TechnipFMC plc provides offshore and subsea services to the oil‑and‑gas sector, an industry known for sharp cycles and rapid technology shifts. Despite a long‑term trend of demand contraction, the stock trades at a premium with a price‑to‑earnings multiple above 20....
South Korean Airlines Make Changes to Thai Flights
South Korean low‑cost airlines are slashing Thai services as jet‑fuel prices surge amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. T'way Air will trim its Bangkok‑Incheon schedule to two weekly flights after May 10 and has lifted its passenger fuel surcharge from 1,900...
Drone Delivery Is Taking Off in the US, Could 2026 Be the UK’s Breakthrough Moment?
Walmart announced a 150‑store expansion of its Wing‑partnered drone delivery program, bringing the total to 270 stores by the end of 2027 and putting roughly 40 million Americans within reach of ultra‑fast aerial shipments. The move underscores a shift from pilot...
Jupiter, AMPIN Open 1.3 GW Solar Factory in India
Jupiter International and AMPIN Energy Transition have opened a 1.3 GW solar cell and module manufacturing plant in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, under their joint venture AMPIN Solar One. The facility, inaugurated by Odisha’s chief minister, was developed under India’s Production‑Linked Incentive (PLI)...
The Greatest FPS Masterpieces Of All Time
GameRant’s Sharon Smith ranks the ten most influential first‑person shooters, from Battlefield 3’s large‑scale destruction to Half‑Life 2’s seamless storytelling. Each entry highlights a breakthrough—whether it’s Far Cry 3’s outpost‑liberation mechanics, BioShock’s environmental narrative, or Titanfall 2’s fluid movement and mech combat. The list underscores...
People’s Trust Enters Catastrophe Bond Market for Debut $100m GWS Re Named Storm Deal
People’s Trust Insurance Company, a Florida homeowner specialist, has entered the catastrophe bond market with its inaugural $100 million GWS Re Limited Series 2026‑1 issuance. The Bermuda‑based structure will issue a Class A tranche that provides fully‑collateralized named‑storm reinsurance for three years, beginning...
Miracell Reports US FDA 510(k) Clearance for SMART M-CELL PRP and Bone Marrow Concentration Systems
Miracell announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted 510(k) clearance for its SMART M-CELL PRP Concentration System and Bone Marrow Concentration System, including the related kits. The clearance was based on substantial equivalence to the previously cleared SmartPReP...
Freely Opens New Revenue Stream for CTV OS Partners with Spotlight Channels
Freely, the free‑to‑air TV guide owned by BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5, will roll out "Spotlight Channels" later this year, allocating channel 31 and channels 90‑99 to CTV operating‑system partners. V, the company behind the VIDAA OS used on Hisense smart TVs, is...
California Bill Would Limit EV-Charging Access in Affordable Housing
California requires new multifamily developments to include EV‑charging outlets for residents with parking, a policy hailed as the nation’s most equitable. A February‑introduced bill, AB 2748, would suspend this requirement for affordable‑housing projects until at least 2036, reverting to the...
This Ohio County Put a Ban on Wind and Solar. Will Voters Reverse It?
Richland County, Ohio, used Senate Bill 52 to ban large‑scale wind and solar projects in 11 of its 18 townships last July. A grassroots coalition gathered thousands of signatures to place a referendum on the May 5, 2026 primary ballot, letting voters...
Diverging Paths: How Capital Markets Are Repricing Sports Technology Segments
Over the past five years sports technology has become core infrastructure, but public markets are now valuing its sub‑segments differently. The TSC SPIN 100 shows Technology & Digital Innovation delivering 215% total return and 96% year‑over‑year growth, while Data, Analytics &...
Scottish Public Buildings Framework Extended
LHC Procurement Group has prolonged the £750 million (≈$960 million) Scottish Public Buildings and Infrastructure Framework (PB3) by 19 months, keeping it active until 30 April 2027. The extension bridges the gap while the successor framework, PB4, is finalized, and no new projects will...
Critical Fires up Hunt for Hidden Lithium in Canada
Critical Resources is launching a focused lithium exploration program across a five‑kilometre corridor at its Corona pegmatite field in Ontario. The campaign aims to uncover concealed spodumene systems that could expand the flagship Mavis Lake deposit, which already hosts 8 million...
Women of Influence: Healthcare 2026 – Kavitha Bhatia
Kavitha Bhatia, President and Chair of the Prime Healthcare Foundation and Chief Medical Officer of Strategy at Prime Healthcare, drives systemwide value creation and health‑equity initiatives. Under her leadership, Prime Healthcare has tripled in size, expanding its network through urgent‑care,...
US Navy’s New Arleigh Burke-Class Guided-Missile Destroyer Enters Service
The U.S. Navy commissioned the new Arleigh Burke‑class destroyer USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG‑124) at Naval Station Norfolk, marking the first warship named for a Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient. Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan and senior leaders highlighted the ship’s...
Congrats Artemis II—NASA’s Backup Crew Ready for Artemis III
Congrats on Artemis II. Just in case you need a backup crew for Artemis III... @nasa
InfinityCranes Boost Space Efficiency in Industrial Lifting
Revolutionizing Industrial Lifting: InfinityCranes by CeiliX #Technology GmbH Maximizes Space and Efficiency by @IntEngineering #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/6rqtM11722
Women of Influence: Healthcare 2026 – Jacqueline Bracy
Dr. Jacqueline Bracy, a veteran OB/GYN with roughly 30 years of service, was among the first female physicians elected chief of staff at Foothill Presbyterian Hospital. In 2013 she became president of Emanate Health Medical Group, overseeing a network that...
Guidance: Military Low Flying: RAF Operational Low Flying Training Timetable
The UK Ministry of Defence has released the RAF Operational Low Flying Training timetable extending through April 2026, detailing weekly five‑day low‑altitude flight windows. The schedule is published in advance, with each entry specifying the exact dates for training periods. Updates...
Entire Pokemon Champions Season M-2 Battle Pass Leaked
A dataminer leak has revealed the full Season M‑2 battle‑pass lineup for Pokémon Champions, the competitive spin‑off launched in February 2025. The pass offers three free Pokémon—Skarmory, Kangaskhan and Gengar—along with their Mega Stones, a suite of Quick Coupons, Teammate Tickets, and...
Women of Influence: Healthcare 2026 – Alexandra Busto
Alexandra Busto, a partner at Nixon Peabody, is a leading corporate and regulatory healthcare attorney. She advises providers on long‑term strategies, fee structures, and outpatient solutions that lower inpatient costs. Busto recently led the legal work for Tenor Health Foundation’s acquisition...
Women of Influence: Healthcare 2026 – Anita Chou
Anita Chou was appointed finance officer for Adventist Health’s Southern California network in January 2026, becoming the first woman to hold the role across its four hospitals. With more than 25 years of experience, she now oversees financial strategy, operational...
Centerbase Launches AI-Powered Business Intelligence Tool That Gives Firms Citation-Backed Answers From Their Own Data
Centerbase, the practice‑management platform for midsized law firms, announced the limited release of Centerbase IQ, an AI‑powered business intelligence tool that answers firm‑specific questions using the firm’s own data and provides citation links to source documents. The solution leverages a...
US Targets Iran’s Maritime Trade with Port Blockade
U.S. Central Command announced an immediate blockade of all vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports, escalating tensions that have already left the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut. The move follows President Biden’s earlier threat of a blanket maritime blockade...
Stadler Opens New Austrian Workshop to Support Westbahn High-Speed Fleet
Stadler has inaugurated a 4,600 sqm high‑speed train workshop just outside Vienna, officially opened on 10 April after operating since March. The facility currently maintains Westbahn’s Stadler KISS double‑deck EMUs and is positioned to service other operators’ rolling stock. Built with STRABAG...
Webinar: Energy Security Under Strain - Why Cutting Europe’s Gas Dependency Won’t Be Easy
A webinar on 17 April will examine Europe’s heavy reliance on imported gas—about 70 % of its consumption—against the backdrop of renewed Middle‑East tensions. Speakers from ING will assess short‑term tools to mitigate supply risk and explain why a swift shift to...