New Jersey Bans Sale of Sensitive Data and Creates Public Registry for Data Brokers and Collectors

Quick Hits On June 30, 2026, New Jersey Governor Sherrill signed legislation that bans the sale of sensitive consumer data by nearly all individuals and entities, with limited exceptions for HIPAA-covered entities and Gramm-Leach-Bliley-covered financial institutions. Violators of the sensitive data sale ban face civil penalties of $50,000 for each record sold, offered for sale, or licensed. Data brokers and data collectors must register with the New Jersey Division of…

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Demand or supply-driven? How firms view inflation right now

29 July 2026By Niccolò Battistini and Giovanni TrebbiEnergy prices are surging again, pushing up inflation in the euro area. This ECB Blog post examines whether firms are attributing this to a demand surge or to supply constraints. Two approaches – textual analysis and empirical models – can help make the picture clearer.For central banks, whether inflation stems from demand or supply makes a crucial difference. Demand-driven inflation (sometimes called demand-pull…

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From Mailbox to Inbox: DOL Proposes New Electronic Disclosure Safe Harbor for Group Health Plans

Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 23, 2026, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued proposed regulations that would significantly expand the ability of group health plans to furnish required ERISA disclosures electronically (“Proposed Rule”). The proposal would create a new electronic disclosure safe harbor for group health plans modeled largely after the DOL’s 2020 electronic disclosure framework for retirement plan notices.  For too long, plan administrators  have been required to comply with…

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DOJ’s Recent Small Business Administration FCA Settlement Highlights Risks for Contractors

The settlement arrives as the SBA is simultaneously overhauling the eligibility standards for its 8(a) Business Development Program, moving away from race-based presumptions of social disadvantage toward a new, discrimination-based test. Together, these developments underscore why businesses participating in SBA set-aside programs must stay current on evolving eligibility rules and ensure their certifications are well-documented to avoid inadvertent misrepresentations that could expose them to FCA liability. Quick Hits The DOJ…

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The Possibility of ‘Both/And’: Talking Paradox with Dr. Wendy K. Smith

Organizational leaders are often under constant pressure to deliver simple solutions in the face of deeply complex challenges, with confidence and speed. You may experience this as a kind of “either/or” decision-making, a tension between doing things this way or that way. A leader pressured to decide quickly may miss insights that emerge from sitting with the tension within the paradox they face. Amidst these dynamics, can leaders hold the…

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Middle School Students Explore Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics Through CMU Partnership

This summer, middle school students from Pittsburgh's Hazelwood neighborhood stepped inside world-class research laboratories at Carnegie Mellon University, explored advanced manufacturing technologies, discovered robots that have traveled to the moon and built robots of their own — all within blocks of their homes. For many students, the experience offered something even more powerful: a chance to imagine themselves as future engineers, researchers and innovators. Ph.D. mechanical engineering student Gala Solis…

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What does it take to make defence alliances perform?​

Building high-performing defence alliances: What separates success from failure Modern defence programmes depend on strong alliances between government, industry and technology partners, but collaboration alone isn’t enough. In this discussion, Q5’s Helena Simister and Joel Grundy explore the leadership, culture and operating models that enable defence partnerships to adapt, perform and deliver successful outcomes in increasingly complex environments. Reading time: 2 minutes The scale and complexity of modern defence programmes…

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Russia-Africa Economic Cooperation: A Promising Future

From power generation and agriculture to infrastructure development, Africa is a continent of immense potential for external economic engagement. Now, the very character of Russia’s trade and investment on the continent is undergoing change as African economies mature and develop. Denis Degterev, Professor at the Higher School of Economics, explores the hopeful prospects for economic cooperation between Russia and the countries of the continent. The Russian Federation is entering a…

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Colorado’s New Strict Requirements on Employment Eligibility Verification

Quick Hits Colorado now prohibits employers from retaining original versions of employee government identification documents for longer than ten hours. There is an express carveout for employers making and retaining copies of government identification documents. Employers must notify employees of the new prohibitions on retaining government identification documents when employment eligibility is verified, even if the employer does not require or retain original identification documents. Violations of the new law…

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Safeguarding a CMU Tradition After Acts of Vandalism and Non-Student Paintings at the Fence

As Carnegie Mellon prepares to welcome thousands of students back to campus in the coming weeks, the university is reminding the community about the longstanding traditions and expectations governing the Fence following several recent troubling incidents.Over the last several weeks, the university has received multiple reports of vandalism and reports of non-CMU students and individuals unaffiliated with the university participating in painting the Fence. Officers routinely patrol campus and may…

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Darline Graham’s Bill: Are There ‘Black Swans’?

Let's return to Darline Graham's bill. It has a fairly large number of co-sponsors – 62 senators, including both Republicans and Democrats. Some of the sponsors have previously co-sponsored bills on sanctions against Russia. These include Senators Richard Blumenthal, James Lankford, Ted Cruz, Jeanne Shaheen, and others. US President Donald Trump has periodically expressed support for the bill, including suggesting that it include sanctions against Iran. No such revisions have…

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Meet the graduating UoM Humanitarian Scholars overcoming the challenges of conflict displacement

The scholarships were created in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine but were open to any international applicant who has suffered because of armed conflict or is at serious risk of persecution or violence.The graduating scholars reflect this diversity, with two Ukrainians joined by other students from Myanmar and Sudan.One of these graduates, Yefym, is graduating with a 2:1 in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Yefym joined us in Manchester…

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Energy shock: why oil and gas prices have risen less than expected

27 July 2026By Lea Demuth, Ana-Simona Manu and Arthur Stalla-BourdillonWhy have energy prices risen less during the Iran war than after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? This ECB Blog post compares the two episodes and explains the role of market buffers, demand and competition for LNG shipments.The wars in Ukraine and Iran have both led to significant energy shocks and, as a result, rising energy prices. Yet the two shocks differ…

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DOL Issues Two Detailed Opinion Letters on Compensable Commute and Travel Time

Quick Hits The WHD issued two companion opinion letters, FLSA2026-9 and FLSA2026-10, that together explain how it analyzes whether commute and pre-commute time is compensable under the FLSA. The unifying test is the “primary beneficiary” analysis—time predominantly for the employer’s benefit is work, time predominantly for the employee’s benefit is not—applied to the totality of the circumstances. FLSA2026-9 recognizes the ordinary commute as a third category of noncompensable time that…

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Venezuela’s Commercial Reopening: New Oil Regulations, Expanded Sanctions Authorizations and Heightened Compliance Expectations

Venezuela’s legal and commercial environment is entering a new phase. Recent hydrocarbons reforms and implementing regulations have expanded opportunities for private participation across the oil value chain, while the United States has issued a series of general licenses permitting defined categories of energy, minerals, financial-services and investment-related activity. These developments may create meaningful opportunities for Venezuelan businesses seeking foreign capital, technology, services, financing and access to international markets. They do…

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D.C. Circuit Rejects NLRB’s Post-Merger Bargaining Rule

Quick Hits The D.C. Circuit ruled that the NLRB’s “successor bar” rule violates the NLRA when it forces employers to recognize unions despite evidence of lack of majority support. The ruling reinforces employees’ rights to choose their representatives or to be union-free and challenges the NLRB’s authority to create additional barriers to change or remove union representation. This decision signals increased judicial scrutiny of NLRB decision-making, following the Supreme Court’s…

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Children and Monkeys Share a Common Understanding of Geometry

With their ability to use tools, remember faces and even learn how to communicate with humans through sign language, non-human primates are considered to be among the smartest creatures on earth. However, some concepts — geometry, for instance — have traditionally been thought of as beyond the abilities of humanity’s closest cousins.But a new study from Carnegie Mellon University published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences calls that…

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How Much Is Crawling Your Content Worth to an AI Bot?

“Best recipe for banana bread.” “How to fix running toilet.” “Is Harry Styles engaged?”For decades, a well-established business model allowed internet users to answer big life questions like these. Search engines directed readers to content on other websites—and those visits helped support content through advertisements, subscriptions, and product sales.AI-assisted search is already threatening the once-symbiotic relationship between search engines and content producers. On Google, for example, many queries now result…

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Loper Bright Strikes Again

In a July 21, 2026 decision, the D.C. Circuit struck down the National Labor Relations Board’s “successor bar” doctrine, holding that it is inconsistent with the National Labor Relations Act. In doing so, the majority opinion in Hospital Menonita de Guayama v. NLRB relied on Loper Bright and the court’s obligation to independently interpret statutes rather than to defer to an agency’s own interpretation of its statutory authority. The decision…

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Mexican Government’s Increased Workplace Inspections Raise Compliance Stakes

Quick Hits Employers must comply with obligations related to: (i) the prevention of discrimination and violence against women, (ii) NOM-035-STPS-2018 Psychosocial Risk Factors, and (iii) the Chair Law (“Ley Silla”). The government has increased workplace investigations, raising the importance of ensuring that employers are in compliance with employment-related laws.  Key Obligations Prevention of discrimination and violence against women. As a result of several amendments to guarantee an environment free of…

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Macroprudential policy and productivity: friends not foes

24 July 2026By Ellen RyanAmid ongoing concerns over European productivity growth, this ECB Blog post looks at the relationship between macroprudential policy and productivity.Recent years have seen rising – and well-founded – concerns over European productivity growth. As these concerns grow a suspicion emerges: is regulation to blame for the sluggish economy? This post looks at this question in the context of macroprudential regulation and argues that macroprudential policy can…

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Workplace Safety and the Offboarding Process: Strategies for Managing Employment Terminations

After the employment termination, employers may wish to continue monitoring for potential workplace safety threats and have strategic communication and crisis-response plans in place to address them. Quick Hits A pre-termination risk assessment and a carefully planned employment termination meeting can protect the safety and dignity of everyone involved. Prompt revocation of a departing employee’s system and building access, along with a coordinated return of company property, can help prevent…

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NJDOL Issues FAQs Making Clear That TDI/FLI Recipients Have Job Protection Under the NJFLA

Quick Hits The NJDOL has issued long-awaited guidance/FAQs on recent NJFLA amendments, which became effective on July 17, 2026. The guidance clarifies that employees receiving TDI or FLI benefits, whether through the state or a private insurance plan, are entitled to job protection for as long as they receive those benefits while on an otherwise unpaid leave of absence. The job protection is separate from reinstatement rights already provided under…

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Iran Hasn’t Collapsed. The Analytical Model for Understanding It Has

Why the 2026 War Has Become a Reason to Revise the Analytical Model for Understanding Iran Part I Every war tests more than just armies. It also tests the analytical models through which states, societies, and international crises become objects of political analysis. Some wars change borders. Others reshape the balance of power. But there are wars that, above all, reveal the limits of the explanatory power of the analytical…

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AI chatbots can be as effective as humans at emotional support – and sometimes better

Co-author Dr Belén López-Pérez, Lecturer in Psychology at The University of Manchester, said: “Our findings suggest that what makes emotional support effective is less about who provides it, and more about how it is delivered. Providing people with specific, actionable steps, rather than general reassurance, is a key ingredient for effective support, whether that comes from a person or a chatbot.She added: “While a human might typically suggest going for…

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Solar for All Grantees Fight for Return of Funding in Federal Claims Court

WASHINGTON – Several nonprofit solar grantees have now filed claims against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Court of Federal Claims, challenging the agency’s decision to break grant agreements that had been awarded competitively under a nationwide program, Solar for All, meant to accelerate deployment of solar on residential homes and slash energy bills for millions of Americans. The Southern Environmental Law Center, Lawyers for Good Government, Seyfarth…

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Washington State Employers Face Major Changes to Background Checks

Quick Hits As of July 1, 2026, employers in Washington State with fifteen or more employees anywhere that inquire about or consider criminal history in employment decisions have significant new requirements under the Washington Fair Chance Act. The law applies to all sources of criminal history information. The amended law expands protections to current employees. The amendments also expand employer obligations to notify employees of their rights. The WFCA amendments…

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Carnegie Mellon Researchers Lead Three DOE Genesis Mission Awards to Advance the Future of AI-Enabled Scientific Discovery

Carnegie Mellon University, working with researchers, partners and collaborators at Department of Energy national laboratories and other universities, will lead three projects selected for funding(opens in new window) through the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Genesis Mission, positioning CMU at the forefront of a national effort to transform how scientific breakthroughs are made. Carnegie Mellon researchers will also contribute to five Genesis Mission projects led by partner institutions, extending the university's…

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Powering the Future of Cosmology With AI

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and partners at the University of Washington are collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory on a new Genesis Mission-funded project to help scientists use artificial intelligence to better understand the universe.Modern astronomy is producing more data than ever before. Powerful telescopes and instruments from around the world are collecting detailed information about billions of stars, galaxies and other cosmic objects.…

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Harnessing AI to Find Critical Minerals

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University will develop a new artificial intelligence framework to better identify critical minerals in the ground, increasing America’s access to these valuable materials and reducing the cost and time for exploration and extraction. The CMU research team will work with Sandia National Laboratories, Colorado School of Mines and the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center(opens in new window) to use AI to identify geologic and biological clues that could indicate…

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Connecting Autonomous Laboratories to Speed Scientific Advancement

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University will develop AI-based tools that will enable autonomous laboratories to work together as one connected research ecosystem. The project has been selected to receive funding by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the Genesis Mission. The CMU research team, led by Herman Herman(opens in new window), director of CMU’s National Robotics Engineering Center(opens in new window) (NREC), will partner with Argonne National Laboratory…

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Fathers who take solo parental leave remain more involved parents years later

Fathers who take sole responsibility for caring for their baby during parental leave are more likely to remain actively involved in childcare years later, according to major new research from The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.The five-year study found that periods of solo caregiving helped fathers develop confidence, practical parenting skills and a deeper understanding of the demands of childcare, leading to more equal sharing of work and…

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To Reduce Emissions, the Carbon Offsets Market Needs One Crucial Fix

Over the past decade, thousands of companies have taken public positions on climate change. Airlines, banks, tech giants, and consumer brands have pledged to reach “net zero,” promising to bring their greenhouse gas emissions down to nothing—or close to it—by some future date.But few companies can actually eliminate all of their emissions. Some activities—flying planes, making cement, running global supply chains—are difficult or impossible to fully decarbonize with today's technology.…

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EEOC Unveils Proposed Rule to Eliminate EEO Reporting Requirements

Quick Hits The EEOC has proposed rescinding federal EEO reporting requirements, including mandatory annual EEO-1 filings. As of the publication date of this article, the proposed rule has not yet been formally published in the Federal Register and remains subject to public comment. Current reporting obligations remain in effect unless and until the EEOC issues a final rule; the EEOC would retain authority to seek relevant records during investigations. The…

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Jodrell Bank demonstrates live radar observations of satellites and space debris

Dr Chris Blount at the UK Space Agency said: “The Long Baseline Multistatic Radar (LMBR) project has been a fantastic example of innovation and collaboration by incredible UK and international talent, and an exemplar case of the capability multiplication through collaboration the International Bilateral Fund (IBF) seeks to achieve. The LBMR team have taken the thorny challenge of real time on-demand monitoring of space objects on geostationary orbit, and through…

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What is Russian Сivilisation?

When discussing Russian values, concepts such as collectivism, service, the primacy of the spiritual over the material, and other concepts are often mentioned. Such values are more than significant for us. But they are also present in other civilisations and are common to many ethnic groups. They can be found in abundance even in the seemingly individualistic and materialistic West. Ultimately, any community is based, to varying degrees, on collective…

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