University of Oxford

Four Oxford academics receive ERC Synergy Grants to address complex scientific problems

Four Oxford University academics are to co-lead ambitious new research projects backed by European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grants, part of the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. Synergy Grants foster interdisciplinary and international collaboration between outstanding researchers, enabling them to combine their expertise, knowledge, and resources to push…

15 November 2024

MIT Sloan – Management Review

The Myth of the Sustainable Consumer

Tania Yakunova/Ikon Images Sustainability has become a powerful driver of consumer behavior. People are changing what they consume, how they consume, and how they lead their day-to-day lives, motivated by a concern for sustainability. Our research has identified a consumer-driven megatrend that holds tremendous strategic opportunity for companies if they…

15 November 2024

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Seyfarth Shaw LLP

PAGA Paraphrased — Rodriguez v. Lawrence Equip., Inc.

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Second District again held that issue preclusion barred plaintiff’s PAGA claim because he failed to establish any violation of the Labor Code and arbitral findings have a preclusive effect on a plaintiff’s standing in a stayed PAGA claim. The Second District again grappled with the issue…

15 November 2024

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Ogletree Deakins

Prospective Employees May Sign Louisiana Noncompete Agreements if They Contain an Effective Date During Employment

Quick Hits In 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Rouses Enterprises, L.L.C. v. Clapp, held that Louisiana law does not allow an employer to enforce a noncompete agreement signed by a prospective employee. In Gallagher & Co. v. Annison, the Louisiana Court of Appeal, First…

15 November 2024

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OSC short-selling prosecution dismissed

The Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal (the CMT) dismissed the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) prosecution in Re Cormark Securities Inc. The CMT held that the OSC “failed to prove any of its allegations”, that the transactions in issue were not an illegal distribution, and that the respondents’ conduct did not engage…

15 November 2024

Civility Partners

Your CEO thinks HR is operational, not strategic?

Do these comments resonate with you? Owners don’t understand that we’re not just paperwork. HR is a punching bag expected to resolve everyone’s mess. There’s no HR budget, no support, and a team of 2 for 300+ employees. Even after a workforce survey, leadership still won’t listen to me! …

15 November 2024

Valdai Discussion Club

Relations between Russia and South Africa at the Current Stage

On the other hand, the current partners of the ANC in the ruling coalition embrace, as noted above, pro-Western and/or right-wing political views. In order to maintain unity within the coalition, certain compromises between the ANC and its partners in the government cannot be ruled out, including on foreign policy…

15 November 2024

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McKinsey & Company

The cybersecurity provider’s next opportunity: Making AI safer

The rapid advancement of AI and generative AI (gen AI) is fundamentally transforming the cybersecurity landscape, presenting both opportunities and challenges for cybersecurity providers. As more organizations in both the private and public sectors use AI to enhance their operations, they risk inadvertently introducing new cyber-related threats. This is creating…

15 November 2024

MIT Sloan – Management Review

Five Tips on Avoiding ‘Terminal Niceness’: Former Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst

Topics Culture Champions Building a healthy culture is one of the most important — and hardest — leadership jobs. These articles, based on a webinar series and research by Donald Sull and CultureX, share actionable advice from leaders whose cultures produced exceptional business results and a world-class employee experience. More…

15 November 2024

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Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Top Six Q&As for Government Contractors on Procurement Fraud and Compliance Risks

In celebration of the recent release of the 6th Edition of the Government Contracts Compliance Handbook (authored by the Seyfarth Government Contracts Group), we’re sharing six essential questions and answers that every government contractor should be prepared to address regarding procurement fraud. This milestone edition dives into the complexities of…

15 November 2024

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Ontario’s newly proposed pilot program for automated commercial vehicle testing

Ontario has a new proposed pilot program for testing automated vehicles on Ontario’s public roads. While the initial program commenced in 2016 was restricted to non-commercial automated vehicles (such as passenger vehicles, light-duty delivery trucks/vans, and small shuttles), the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) announced on Oct. 16, 2024…

15 November 2024

McKinsey & Company

What are AI guardrails?

A pair of red and white concrete road barriers aligned on a street against a light blue background. You know about guardrails on the highway: barriers along the edge of the road that protect vehicles from veering off course and into danger. With the advent of generative AI (gen AI),…

14 November 2024

MIT Sloan – Management Review

Five Ways Predictive AI Can Improve Sales Performance Management

Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images When it comes to maximizing growth and revenue, you may be missing something — something big. It’s the harnessing of predictive AI to enhance and deploy sales performance management (SPM). Companies with sizable sales forces — whether in the technology, medical device, pharmaceutical, industrial,…

14 November 2024

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Seyfarth Shaw LLP

FTC Amends Pre-Merger Notification Rules Affecting Use of Restrictive Covenants

Rock Staar, Unsplash As we previously reported, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced that it is amending and reorganizing the document requirements for pre-merger notifications under the Hart Scott Rodino Act (“HSR Act”), 15 U.S.C. 18a, which also includes a requirement for buyers to indicate the existence of non-compete and…

14 November 2024

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Canadian product liability class actions – Case highlights

*This article was originally published on the American Bar Association website There have been several significant new developments in product-related class actions in Canada in the past two years. These decisions, arising from Ontario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia provide important insights into how courts are deciding product liability class actions,…

14 November 2024

INSEAD Knowledge

Could More Human-Like AI Undermine Trust?

From virtual assistants to self-driving cars to medical imaging analysis, the use of modern AI technologies based on deep-learning architectures has increased dramatically in recent years. But what makes us put our faith in such technologies to, say, get us safely to our destination without running off the road? And…

14 November 2024

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McKinsey & Company

Adding a powerful new tool to the field mechanic’s toolbelt: AI

On this page: Opportunity | Solution | Impact 0Kdocumentseasily searchable in database$0K+per hourestimated saved via recouped downtime0%improvement inapprox. 1st-time resolution rates The Opportunity Enhancing field service support with generative AI Ascendum is a Portugal-based global provider of machinery and equipment for the construction, infrastructure, haulage, and agriculture sectors. The company…

14 November 2024

Valdai Discussion Club

Valdai Club to Discuss Relations Between Russia and Africa

On November 18 at 12:00 noon Moscow time, the Valdai Club will host a presentation of the Valdai Paper "Russia-Africa: Overcoming Challenges". Today, Russia is pursuing an active policy of expanding cooperation with African countries. The first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum was held in Sochi on November…

14 November 2024

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McKinsey & Company

Steering Indian insurance from growth to value in the upcoming ‘techade’

As India embraces digital transformation, inclusion, and a new role as a tech leader exemplified by a decade of technology transformation, or “techade,” new opportunities open up for the insurance sector and the wider financial services industry. With strong valuations and a significant growth trajectory, India’s insurance industry is poised…

14 November 2024

European Central Bank - Publications

Quantitative Tightening: How do shrinking Eurosystem bond holdings affect long-term interest rates?

14 November 2024 By Yıldız Akkaya, John Hutchinson, Kasper Jørgensen and Emanuel SkeppåsThe Eurosystem has started to reduce its bond holdings. This ECB Blog post investigates how strongly the shrinking balance sheet affects long-term interest rates. Estimates based on the Survey of Monetary Analysts suggest: an expected €1 trillion reduction…

14 November 2024

MIT Sloan – Management Review

Building Human Connection in a Remote World

Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images Employee engagement — the measure of individual commitment to organizational success — positively correlates with discretionary effort and meaningfully impacts every individual and organizational performance metric that matters. However, despite significant investments across most industries, leading engagement studies have never found more than 36%…

14 November 2024

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Seyfarth Shaw LLP

New Rules for HSR Premerger Notification Filings Take Effect February 10, 2025

On November 12, 2024, the final rule issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) amending premerger notification requirements under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Act was published in the Federal Register. The HSR Act typically requires parties to mergers and acquisitions over a certain size ($119.5 million in 2024) to provide…

14 November 2024

Read more about the article New Rules for HSR Premerger Notification Filings Take Effect February 10, 2025

5 ways Microsoft Copilot can help you finish your school term strong

Discover prompts for educators to manage last-minute tasks efficiently and keep students engaged as the term winds down. The weeks before a term ends and break begins are filled with opportunities for growth and creativity. Final assessments, lesson prep, and keeping students engaged as they eagerly anticipate the coming break…

14 November 2024

Black Swan Financial Planning - UK

Why your financial plan could benefit more than you by creating a legacy

You might think of your financial plan as being a way to help you reach your life goals. But it could benefit more than just you. As a financial plan focuses on your goals, you might choose to include ways to create a legacy for your loved ones. It could…

14 November 2024

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McKinsey & Company

The CEO’s essential checklist: Questions every chief executive should be able to answer

A great aviator is constantly aware of their surroundings. Watching for changes in the weather and in the paths of other aircraft is vital. The same is true for being a great CEO, which is why the business press is full of information about what’s happening in the business environment:…

13 November 2024

University of Oxford

Redefining net zero will not stop global warming, new study shows

Professor Myles Allen, Oxford University Physics, Head of Climate Science. Credit: Martin Small. The science of net zero, developed over 15 years ago,* does not include these natural carbon sinks in the definition of net human-induced CO2 emissions.Natural sinks play a vital role to moderate the impact of current emissions…

13 November 2024

Black Swan Financial Planning - UK

Are your loved ones relying on an inheritance to reach life goals?

Research suggests that a worrying number of families are putting off major life decisions until they receive an expected inheritance. It could place their long-term finances at risk, but talking to your loved ones may identify ways you could offer support. According to a Canada Life survey, more than 1…

13 November 2024

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University of Cambridge

Time alone heightens ‘threat alert’ in teenagers – even when connecting on social media

People in their late teens experience an increased sensitivity to threats after just a few hours left in a room on their own – an effect that endures even if they are interacting online with friends and family.This is according to latest findings from a cognitive neuroscience experiment conducted at…

13 November 2024

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Valdai Discussion Club

Why Doesn’t the US Change Its China Policy?

Since 2016, strategic competition between the United States and the People's Republic of China has become a prominent feature of the evolution of the international system. Analysing the reasons for this rivalry is an important task in understanding contemporary international relations. Despite the recent 2024 US presidential election, which resulted…

13 November 2024

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Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Taking a Slice Out of Parker: District Court Rejects Sixth Circuit’s Reimbursement Standard for Pizza Delivery Drivers

Taking a Slice Out of Parker: District Court Rejects Sixth Circuit’s Reimbursement Standard for Pizza Delivery Drivers | Wage & Hour Litigation Blog Skip to content

13 November 2024

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HBS Working Knowledge

Inside One Startup’s Journey to Break Down Hiring (and Funding) Barriers

Launching a social justice startup takes more than a moving story. Ask Harley Blakeman, the 32-year-old founder of Honest Jobs.He has perfected his elevator pitch, but that doesn’t mean launching his business has been easy. A once-homeless teenager from Florida, Blakeman turned to selling drugs—a lucrative gig that taught him…

13 November 2024

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Black Swan Financial Planning - UK

The voice cloning AI scam you need to be aware of

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is providing scammers with new ways to try and dupe you. One type of scam that’s on the rise that you should be aware of is “voice cloning”. Voice cloning uses AI technology to replicate the voice of a friend or family member. Fraudsters then use this…

13 November 2024

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McKinsey & Company

Elevating the risk function in insurance: Building a strategic advantage

Today, banks use risk management to help drive strategic development for growth. This is a comprehensive approach to risk that insurers should aspire to emulate, especially as new risks are emerging more quickly and creating new challenges. According to a 2023–24 benchmarking survey from McKinsey, leading European insurers should look…

12 November 2024

MIT Sloan – Management Review

When Qualified Women Resist the Leader Label

Topics Leadership Talent Management Frontiers An MIT SMR initiative exploring how technology is reshaping the practice of management. More in this series Alex Nabaum/theispot.com Sarah, a manager in a bustling tech company, consistently delivers top results. Her team outperforms others, her strategic insights drive innovation, and her emotional intelligence allows…

12 November 2024

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Black Swan Financial Planning - UK

Investment market update: October 2024

While inflation is stabilising in many major economies, markets continue to experience some volatility, which may have affected your investment portfolio. According to the latest International Monetary Fund’s Global Financial Stability Report, markets could be underestimating the risks of conflicts and upcoming elections. Indeed, the rising price of gold suggests…

12 November 2024

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Credit Agricole

New Caledonian nickel on a razor edge

Yet the industry powers the New Caledonian economy, accounting for 20% of private sector jobs and 94% of exports. A nickel giant… Yet New Caledonia is one of the world’s top three producers of nickel, accounting for 6% of global production in 2023, albeit far behind Indonesia (50%) and the Philippines…

12 November 2024

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European Central Bank - Publications

Christine Lagarde: Mind the gap: what it takes to finance a greener future

12 November 2024Christine LagardeComplacency in fighting climate change and preserving biodiversity is endangering our economic survival. The longer we wait, the higher the costs will be. Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, warns of the growing gap between the commitments made and the investment needed.We’ve all heard it…

12 November 2024

Valdai Discussion Club

A Historical Perspective of Bilateral Relations between Indonesia and Russia

The Nusantara Archipelago has long been known to the Russian people. A merchant from the city of Tver, Afanasy Nikitin, mentioned a mysterious country in Southeast Asia called Shabot in his travel notes “Journey Beyond Three Seas” (1466-1472). According to historians, it could have been one of the kingdoms on…

12 November 2024

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McKinsey & Company

Active portfolio management: Five practical insights for value creation

Active portfolio management should always be “Plan A.” Corporations that consistently refresh their business mix outperform their peers in TSR by 3.5 percent over the long term, honing their portfolios to develop, acquire, and divest businesses to realize their enterprise strategy. The goal, after all, is not growth for growth’s…

12 November 2024

The Basile Law Firm P.C.

Can a deSPAC be used to Combat Counterfeit Shares and Naked Short Selling?

In a deSPAC transaction, the SPAC raises money through an initial public offering (IPO) with the intention of acquiring a company within a certain timeframe. When a suitable target is found, the SPAC and the target (could be a public company issuer) company merge, allowing the target company to go…

12 November 2024