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Oxford shares ambitious plans to support transformative social and economic change locally

Beyond Town and Gown: Working Towards a More Inclusive Oxford outlines the collegiate University's commitment to making a positive contribution and creating opportunities for all in the city and county.    A new report detailing Oxford University’s ambitious plans to support positive social, economic and environmental change in the city and county has been released.   Through our research, hospitals, museums and parks, commitment to lifelong learning and schools’ outreach programmes, contribution to the regional…

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Oxford and GSK launch £50million immuno-prevention programme to advance novel cancer research

The agreement establishes the GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Programme, aimed at exploring the potential of cancer prevention through vaccination.The programme leverages the complementary expertise of GSK and Oxford in the science of the immune system, vaccine development and cancer biology. It is hoped that the insights generated through the programme into how cancer develops could inform new approaches to vaccination for cancer prevention, offering fresh hope in the fight against the…

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Botanic Gardens must team up to save wild plants from extinction

A major study of botanic gardens around the world has revealed their struggles with one fundamental aim: to safeguard the world’s most threatened plants from extinction.Researchers analysed a century’s worth of records - from 1921 to 2021 - from fifty botanic gardens and arboreta currently growing half a million plants, to see how the world’s living plant collections have changed over time.  The results suggest that the world’s living collections…

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Paul Yock receives National Medal of Technology and Innovation

Emeritus Professor Paul Yock, MD, formerly the Martha Meier Weiland Professor in the School of Medicine, a professor of bioengineering and of cardiology, and founding director of Stanford Biodesign (now the Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign), traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier this month to receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in a ceremony at the White House.The medal was awarded to Yock in recognition of his work in…

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California Pay Data Report Filing Platform Opens on February 3, 2025: A Preview of What Is to Come

Quick Hits The deadline for filing the 2024 California pay reports is May 14, 2025, and the filing platform will open for new filings on February 3, 2025. California requires covered employers to file payroll employee reports for their own employees and requires covered employers to file labor contractor employee reports for their labor contractor employees. The California Civil Rights Department has taken legal action against employers that have failed…

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Best practices from the Ontario Securities Commission: Crypto asset trading platforms

This article summarizes the Ontario Security Commission’s guidance on best practices for crypto asset trading platforms to ensure compliance with know-your-client, account appropriateness assessment, and client limit requirements. On December 10, 2024, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) released OSC Staff Notice 33-757, arising from a review of six registered crypto asset trading platforms (CTPs) based in Ontario and registered as restricted dealers. The review was designed to assess compliance with…

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Cancer-fighting compound shows immense potential to eradicate HIV

A compound with the unpresuming designation of EBC-46 has made a splash in recent years for its cancer-fighting prowess. Now a new study led by Stanford researchers has revealed that EBC-46 also shows immense potential for eradicating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. Compared to similar-acting agents, EBC-46 excels at activating dormant cells where HIV is hiding, the study found. These “kicked” cells can then be targeted (“killed”) by immunotherapies to fully clear…

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FTC and DOJ Jointly Issue ‘Antitrust Guidelines for Business Activities Affecting Workers’ on Eve of Trump Administration

Quick Hits On January 16, 2025, the FTC and DOJ issued their “Antitrust Guidelines for Business Activities Affecting Workers.” The guidelines identify five nonexhaustive types of agreements and policies that may constitute violations of antitrust laws by hindering commercial competition and restricting the free movement of employees. The dissenting statement issued by two FTC commissioners indicates the guidelines may be short-lived. Following the recent change in presidential administrations, employers are…

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Alberta Court of Appeal curtails enforcement of arbitration clauses on third-party beneficiaries

In the recent decision of Husky Oil Operations Limited v Technip Stone & Webster Process Technology Inc., 2024 ABCA 369, the Court of Appeal of Alberta cautioned against the enforcement of arbitration provisions on third-party beneficiaries to contracts. The Court declined to pronounce whether such enforcement was possible at all, but held that, at minimum, the requirement to arbitrate would need to be manifest and expressed in clear and explicit…

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Author Talks: How women can overcome the ‘broken rung’

In this edition of Author Talks, McKinsey Global Publishing’s Alexandra Mondalek chats with McKinsey senior partners Kweilin Ellingrud, Lareina Yee, and María del Mar Martínez about their new book, The Broken Rung: When the Career Ladder Breaks for Women—and How They Can Succeed in Spite of It (Harvard Business Review, March 2025). The “broken rung” is the missing step on the career ladder that keeps women from reaching their first…

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How medtech companies can create value via inventory optimization

Access to cash is critically important for medtech companies. Cash allows medtech leaders to acquire emerging technologies and develop their own new products, which in turn drives the kind of innovation that improves patient outcomes and boosts shareholder value. But many medtech organizations have too much of their cash tied up in excess inventory on shelves in too many locations. Typically, medtech companies hold as much as three times more…

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Alberta overhauls its public sector access and privacy regime

I. Background In December of last year, the Alberta legislature passed a major overhaul of Alberta’s access and privacy legislation. Upon proclamation, Bill 33 and Bill 34 will split the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act) into the new Access to Information Act (AIA)1 and Protection of Privacy Act (PPA).2 The AIA will come into force at a time when public bodies in Alberta and across…

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Gain transformation momentum early by optimizing working capital

When companies embark on transformations, they naturally focus on the big picture: how a transformation will allow them to perform better through cost-out measures or how they can implement high-impact growth strategies to become bigger, leaner, and better. In companies’ rush toward change, however, they often end up overlooking or deprioritizing the impact that improving their net working capital can have as they begin the transformation journey, potentially thwarting early…

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Media Storms and Maximalist Bar: International Relations in the South Caucasus

On January 23, 2025, the Valdai Club hosted an expert discussion dedicated to Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and Russia’s policy in the South Caucasus. The discussion was moderated by Oleg Barabanov, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club. Nikolay Silaev, Leading Researcher at the Institute for International Studies at MGIMO University, called for the media agenda to be separated from the diplomatic one and for focus to not be fixated on intermittent…

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Commemorating MLK’s 1967 speech at Stanford

Almost 58 years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech on poverty and racism, “The Other America,” at Stanford. This month – on King’s actual birthday, Jan. 15 – the Stanford community commemorated the event with a screening and discussion of King’s speech. Projected on a 16-foot-wide movie screen constructed on stage in Memorial Church, the black-and-white film made the slain civil rights leader feel present to the…

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Why the Global South Needs No Leaders

A highpoint of India’s G20 was the “Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS)” held in virtual format. The first online VOGSS held in January 2023 with over 100 Global South nations participation helped India to get their views, some of which were incorporated in the Delhi Declaration released at the G20 summit in September 2023. This incentivized India to get the African Union included as the 21st member of G20.…

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Federal Judge Halts Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order

The judge described the executive order as “blatantly unconstitutional.” The executive order limiting birthright citizenship asserts that children born in the United States on or after February 19, 2025, who do not have at least one lawful permanent resident or U.S. citizen parent, will not have a claim to birthright citizenship. Quick Hits A federal judge in Washington recently granted four states a temporary restraining order halting enforcement of President…

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Canada’s mandatory PFAS reporting deadline: Be cautious relying on prior compliance

The deadline for meeting reporting requirements of the Notice with respect to certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances issued by Environment Canada and Climate Change (ECCC) is Jan. 29, 2025 (the Notice). The reporting obligations and other details about the Notice can be found in our other article found here. With the deadline to respond around the corner, companies captured under the Notice such as users, importers, and manufacturers, as well…

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Get Buy-In From the Top! Email To Your Boss

When you’ve discovered a valuable resource or service that could benefit your organization, getting buy-in from leadership is critical.  Use this email template to propose Civility Partners’ services to your boss. Simply customize the placeholders with your own insights and ideas.   Email Template Dear [Boss’s Name], Recently, I participated in a webinar hosted by Civility Partners, titled _______________. During the session, I gained valuable insights, including insert profound nugget(s)…

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The 14th Middle East Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club and the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences

On February 4-5, the Valdai Discussion Club, in collaboration with the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, will hold its fourteenth Middle East Conference. The theme of the conference is “The Middle East – 2025: Learning Lessons from the Past, Surviving the Present, and Designing the Future” The event will take place at the Club’s headquarters in Moscow, located at Tsvetnoy Boulevard, 16/1.The conference will bring…

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Boosting auto sales productivity: A playbook for excellence

US auto retailers have embraced multiple new technologies over the past decade, from next-generation core systems to AI and digital sales platforms. Yet, despite sometimes significant investments, dealer productivity has remained stuck in a rut, with vehicle sales per employee averaging between 14 and 16 each year. To boost technology’s impact, a new playbook is required—one that shifts the focus away from point solutions and toward collaboration and deeper tech…

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Building a Data-Driven Culture: Four Key Elements

Topics Column Our expert columnists offer opinion and analysis on important issues facing modern businesses and managers. More in this series subscribe-icon Subscribe Share Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images Thanks to the deafening buzz around data science and AI, enterprise leaders no longer doubt the transformative potential of this powerful duo. Yet, a striking statistic reveals a bigger leadership challenge: More than 57% of companies struggle to build a…

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Mastering Middle Eastern Markets: 8 Essential Tips for Global Employers

Quick Hits Expanding business into the Middle East may require global employers to navigate unique challenges such as establishing a physical office presence, adhering to distinct workweek structures, and understanding regional tax policies. Employers must comply with requirements around hiring local nationals, employing public relations officers (PROs) for government interactions, and providing specific statutory benefits like reduced Ramadan hours and end-of-service gratuity. Additionally, the process of discharging expat employees involves…

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Mandatory supply chain due diligence: Canada pledges sweeping reforms to forced labour and child labour laws

On Dec. 16, 2024, the Government of Canada released its long-awaited 2024 Fall Economic Statement. The Statement reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to combatting modern slavery in global supply chains, currently given effect by the existing import ban on goods made with forced or child labour and the mandatory supply chain reporting requirement for certain businesses and government entities. The Statement further announced the Government’s intention to introduce four new measures…

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Donald Trump Has the Opportunity to End the Ukraine War

This commentary originally appeared in Time. President Donald Trump revealed on his first day that he may be closer to delivering on a campaign promise than skeptics believed. As we show in our new, original economic analysis, Trump has the levers to force Vladimir Putin to end the Russia-Ukraine war promptly if he dispenses with the Biden Administration’s tepid, inconsistent economic pressure.‌ On Trump’s first day in office, he publicly…

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Robert Hormats on how today’s geopolitics affects companies

For Robert Hormats, two of the biggest geopolitical stories of the past decade are the retrenchment of globalization and the rise of a multi-polar world. He is well positioned to make that judgment. Hormats has been a senior official in the administrations of five different American presidents, including most recently as the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment from 2009 to 2013. He is also…

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Susan Mayne: Keeping Food Safe

Harlan Krumholz: Welcome to Health & Veritas. I’m Harlan Krumholz.‌ Howard Forman: And I’m Howie Forman. We’re physicians and professors at Yale University and we’re trying to get closer to the truth about health and healthcare. Our guest today is Dr. Susan Mayne, but first we’re always checking in on the hot topics in health and healthcare. What do you have for us today, Harlan?‌ Harlan Krumholz: Hey, Howie, you…

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Jane A. Lauder elected to Stanford Board of Trustees

Jane A. Lauder, a former senior executive of the Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) and a current member of its board of directors, has been elected to the Stanford University Board of Trustees. Her five-year term begins Feb. 1.“It’s an honor to join the board,” Lauder said. “Stanford has played such an important role in my life and shaped me. I am thrilled to be able to contribute to its continued…

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Cambridge researchers developing brain implants for treating Parkinson’s disease

As part of a £69 million funding programme supported by the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA), Professor George Malliaras from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering will co-lead a project that uses small clusters of brain cells called midbrain organoids to develop a new type of brain implant, which will be tested in animal models of Parkinson’s disease.The project led by Malliaras and Professor Roger Barker from the Department of Clinical…

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SCC clarifies how the honour of the Crown affects (re)negotiation of “reconciliation-based” agreements with Indigenous groups

Case Summary - Québec (Attorney General) v. Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan, 2024 SCC 39 In Québec (Attorney General) v. Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan (Pekuakamiulnuatsh), the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) ruled that Québec’s refusal to renegotiate funding terms violated the principles of good faith and the honour of the Crown. The SCC ordered Québec to pay damages in line with reconciliatory justice to restore the relationship between the parties. I. Background This case concerns…

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Study shows plants are more likely to be ‘eavesdroppers’ than altruists when tapping into underground networks

Our results indicate that it is more likely that plants will behave deceptively toward their neighbours, rather than altruistically...Plants can gain a benefit from dishonest signalling because it harms their local competitors, by tricking them into investing in costly herbivore defence mechanisms.Lead author Dr Thomas Scott, (Department of Biology, University of Oxford)Land plants can be connected to a complex, underground fungal network known popularly as ‘the wood wide web.’ Networks emerge…

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Autistic perspectives sought for new study on comics and inclusion

The study will lead to new guidance encouraging both the comics industry and enthusiasts to make comics communities better places for neurodivergent fans and artists. It is being led by academics at the University’s Faculty of Education and will begin this month with an open, online survey aimed at autistic comics fans.Research by the Comics Cultural Impact Collective (CCIC) – which will also be part of the collaboration – indicates…

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Fostering Civil Conversations at Work

SHRM’s Civility Index Research shows that U.S. workers collectively experience 223 million acts of incivility per day and U.S. organizations collectively lose about $2 billion per day in reduced productivity and absenteeism because of it.  You’ve probably seen it firsthand: disagreements turn personal, tempers flare, and teams fracture.  When a tense moment happens, you’re often brought in as the referee. You’re handed complaints that aren’t fully formed—“They’re difficult to work…

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The real estate industry can solve problems with data—if it asks the right questions

Data powers AI solutions, but developing the capabilities to gather, structure, and deploy the right data is a daunting challenge. For the real estate industry, the task becomes a lot easier when leaders know which questions they are trying to answer. Katy McLaughlin: Let’s say a real estate leader wants to take advantage of some of the new AI tools. How do they approach working with data to get started?…

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Generate Value From GenAI With ‘Small t’ Transformations

Topics How to Maximize the Business Value of Generative AI The promise of generative AI is value — higher revenue, streamlined efficiencies, and more innovative decision-making. Achieving this value isn’t easy. Maximizing it is even harder. This MIT SMR Executive Guide offers expert insights into the strategies needed to get the most out of GenAI. Brought to you by: More in this series Neil Webb Less than two years ago,…

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Key Developments in German Labor and Employment Law for 2025

Quick Hits The Fourth Bureaucracy Reduction Act, effective January 1, 2025, simplifies requirements for giving written evidence of employment contracts, allowing now digital agreements for open-ended contracts while maintaining written form for fixed-term contracts. The EU’s AI Act, effective from August 2024, introduces regulations on AI systems, with initial provisions on unauthorized AI use starting February 2, 2025, and further regulations on general-purpose AI models and sanctions taking effect on…

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A tariff-ying new world: Unpacking Canada’s latest tariff policies

Introduction The Liberal government’s Fall Economic Statement arrived last month in the midst of an increasingly uncertain political landscape. Among its many offerings, in the trade sphere, the Statement presents a commitment to use the full range of Canada’s “toolkit” to protect its economic security against unfair conduct from trading partners and to promote reciprocity across Canada’s trading partnerships. This represents a departure from Canada’s traditional approach to international trade…

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Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, December 2024

Economic uncertainty is on the rise due to widespread geopolitical changes. While global growth remains mostly stable for now, businesses and investors are closely monitoring these developments for potential disruptions to the economic landscape (Exhibit 1). With President Trump taking office in January, businesses and analysts are seeking clarity on what his second term might bring in terms of economic policies. The US Federal Reserve and other leading central banks…

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Oxford researchers advocate for comprehensive framework to study AI’s impact on youth mental health

Young people are already adopting new ways of interacting with AI, and without a solid framework for collaboration between stakeholders, evidence-based policy on AI will lag behind, as it did for social media. Dr. Karen Mansfield, postdoctoral researcher at OIIIn a new paper published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, the research team calls for a critical re-evaluation of how researchers study the impact of internet-based technologies on youth mental health, and outlines…

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In the hunt for new and better enzymes, AI steps to the fore

Enzymes are crucial to life. They are nature’s little catalysts. In the gut, they help us digest food. They can enhance perfumes or get laundry cleaner with less energy. Enzymes also make potent drugs to treat disease. Scientists naturally are eager to create new enzymes. They imagine them doing everything from drawing greenhouse gases out of the skies to degrading harmful toxins in the environment.That age-old quest for new enzymes…

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