Smart cities and digital water management solutions

The article explores the opportunities in digital water space and the challenges in implementing digital water, for which they also provide their proposed solutions. They suggest PPP, mass awareness building and stakeholder training as the way forward to navigate this ecosystem. There is an opportunity to use smart metering and…

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IP Basics: Introduction to advertising law

Kate Hawkins: I'm Kate Hawkins, a principal associate in the Intellectual Property team. I specialise in advertising and marketing law. I'll be talking through the basics of advertising regulation in the UK. All marketing communications must comply with UK advertising laws, codes and regulations. If a brand produces advertising that…

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Battery – Charting the Course for Data Privacy. Strategic Investment

In this digital age, where every online transaction, interaction, and click leaves a data trail, the imperative for organizations to maintain robust data-privacy programs has never been clearer. This also has led to a myriad of new data-privacy laws and regulations all over the globe. While these new laws no…

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Climate risks, the macroprudential view

12 December 2023By Ludivine Berret, Jean Boissinot, Marianna Caccavaio, Michael Grill, Paul Hiebert and Fabio TamburriniThis is the fifth post in our series accompanying COP28.Climate change can endanger financial stability. The ECB Blog looks at how a common macroprudential policy framework could complement microprudential initiatives to make the financial system…

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When Companies Reverse Their Climate Commitments

Should we hold accountable companies that fail to meet their climate commitments? There is important research by Professor Kelly Shue that shows in some cases, investing in “brown firms”—or firms that are transitioning to lower emissions in greenhouse gas-intense sectors—has a greater benefit to the environment than investing in firms…

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Mondays are blue, obviously

Imagine Thursday. Does Thursday have a color? What about the sound of rain — does that sound taste like chocolate? Or does the sound of a saxophone feel triangular to you? For about 3% of the population, the sharp lines between our senses blend together. Textures may have tastes, sounds, shapes,…

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Most people (don’t) understand how money works

Americans aren’t good at managing their money — and there are signs that the problem is getting worse. Already saddled with record levels of student debt, young adults today, for example, are even more unlikely to monitor their credit card debt and bank balances. Some people trick themselves into thinking…

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Ecocide – A new criminal offence to be created in England and Wales?

Last week a Private Members' Bill was introduced to the House of Lords which creates a new criminal offence of "ecocide". While Private Members' Bills rarely receive Royal Assent, because they are not sponsored by government ministers and therefore struggle for time, they frequently raise important issues of the day…

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The Israel-Hamas War and the Fundamental Flaws of Social Media

Today, the images and videos circulating, especially across social media, are offering a very poor representation of the truth of what happened on October 7 in Israel. This is partly due to the Israeli government’s understandable efforts to protect the privacy and dignity of the victims, and abstaining from publishing…

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Profit is (not) a dirty word

How addressing contractor profits builds a stronger construction sector that can deliver better infrastructure outcomes for society. Paul Royds Director, Advisory paulroyds@hka.com +61 402 318 441 Profit has long been a whispered word in government corridors as bloated project teams, commercially compromised evaluation ensembles and acquiescent steering committees wave their…

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“Facing” the possibility of registering human faces as trade marks – EUIPO clears up the issue

It is well known that one of the main functions of a trade mark is to identify a person or trader’s products or services. In this way, trade marks must be unique or distinctive.  What if then, a person or individual is the product being sold? Could they, for example,…

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Lonely at the Top – The Challenge of Connection for Senior Leaders

Perceptyx research reveals that approximately 4 in 10 workers experience loneliness at work. Yet, senior leaders are twice as likely to report feelings of isolation when compared with employees at more junior levels. This phenomenon, encapsulated by the adage "it's lonely at the top," highlights a paradoxical reality in which…

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Regarding Green lending: Do banks walk the talk?

Banks are talking more about the environment. But does such talk go hand in hand with greener lending? The ECB Blog finds a disconnect: banks talking more about their environmental policies and goals tend to lend more to brown industries. Banks have a crucial role to play in financing the…

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An Expert knows better: Just stop oil is easy to shout but it cannot just happen – and not ‘justly’

  That may not be a popular approach right now – to stop fossil fuels from causing further global warming before we stop using fossil fuels. But it is going to be a major topic of debate in the UAE because, if we do not reach agreement on this, then 1.5 will most definitely be dead. We…

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Emphasis on Self-Care is Transforming the Beauty Industry

As society transitions to a more xintrospective and health-focused world, we’re seeing growth in skincare trends, wellness-oriented products, and new market segments within the beauty industry. This new integrated approach to wellness is impacting the beauty community as consumers focus on products that incorporate both natural ingredients and non-traditional products…

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Designing for growth, cost, speed, (and everything in between)

The article provides a versatile approach to organisational design that effectively balances multiple strategic priorities, such as growth, cost, and agility. It offers concrete advice for reconciling conflicting business priorities within an operating model redesign. Drawing on Q5’s proven methodologies and tools, a practical blueprint is also given for establishing…

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A revolution in food packaging

How (and why) Product Lifecycle Management will transform the industry Food packaging is an integral part of the modern food industry, ensuring the safety, freshness, and quality of products as they make their way from the manufacturer to the consumer’s table. Over the years, food packaging has evolved significantly, driven…

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key considerations when investigating and reporting white-collar crime

In late 2022, the Canadian Bar Association released the Guide for Internal Investigations of White-Collar Crime (the Guide)1, which consolidates and clarifies best practices for corporations conducting an internal investigation in response to suspicions or allegations of criminal activity. While the Guide will help to promote consistency in approach, practitioners…

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Ways and Examples of How Digital Disruption Impacts Businesses

We live in a time of radical business evolution. Technological innovations are fundamentally changing industries, businesses, and customer journeys. This major shake-up is aptly named digital disruption for its ability to do everything from disturbing to reinvigorating how we do business. And there is no time like now to ask, “How does digital disruption impact […] The post How Digital Disruption Impacts Businesses: Ways & Examples appeared first on Accelare.

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A Light into the Black Box of the Art Market

Q: What’s the state of the art market? Over the last decade, the size of the art market has maintained a relatively constant level, remaining close to the $60 billion mark. Although this seems like a large number, it significantly falls short when compared to FedEx’s revenue, which exceeded $90…

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Fines and Penalties for Non-Compliance: DSA, GDPR, CRD

In the digital age, regulations and directives have been established to protect consumers and ensure a level playing field for businesses. Three significant pieces of legislation in this realm are the Digital Services Act (DSA), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the Consumer Rights Directive (CRD). This article provides…

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Navigating the Elevator Services Market: Trends, Dynamics, and Investment Considerations

Stax possesses significant recent experience in evaluating elevator service providers. This expertise has prompted discussions about current interest in the elevator services market—a growing sector with a strong potential for investment. There are currently over 1M vertical transportation units in the U.S., which are expected to slightly increase each year…

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What if Santa damages your chimney this Christmas?

Has a child ever asked you how Santa fits down the chimney? Has this ever made you wonder who would be liable if the chimney stack collapsed and your party wall was damaged in the process?! If so, continue reading this article for an overview on party walls and how…

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Politics Keeps Consumers on a Short Leash

Former Federal Minister of Finance Ueli Maurer described lowering the value exemption limit as a “mission impossible”. This is the maximum amount up to which foreign goods can be imported without paying VAT in Switzerland. The limit is currently at 300 francs per person per day. However, a reduction is…

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Too leveraged to reduce emissions?

29 November 2023By Olimpia Carradori, Margherita Giuzio, Sujit Kapadia, Dilyara Salakhova and Katia VozianThis post is the second in our series accompanying COP28.European firms need to invest in new technologies to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. This often requires them to take on debt. But what if a company is…

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Avoiding common pitfalls of workplace investigations

Workplace investigations are a crucial tool for maintaining a safe and fair work environment. A failure to conduct such investigations with tact and sensitivity, however, could compromise the entire process, and potentially expose your organization to liability. To help employers, including general counsel and HR teams, refine their workplace investigation…

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Christine Lagarde: Now is the time to climate-proof Europe’s economy

  Europe must push the green transition forward if it wants to remain competitive in the world. New technologies and green energy aren’t just better for the environment, they also make good economic sense. To be successful, however, the transition needs to be just and inclusive. Climate change is accelerating.…

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Tax and VAT Implications – Functions and Staff Gifts

With the festive TV adverts appearing on our screens, thoughts inevitably turn to staff Christmas parties and gifts.   In this this article we look at the often misunderstood tax and VAT consequences of functions and staff gifts. Entertainment In general, the cost of business entertainment, e.g. treating a client to…

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Divorce Finances critical questions – Will I have to share my inheritance?

Many clients contemplating divorce ask whether they will have to share a current or future inheritance. The answer is that it depends. Monies or assets inherited or gifted before or during a marriage, are not automatically excluded from the matrimonial pot. In other words, they are not automatically ring-fenced and…

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‘When people don’t trust science, that’s bad for society’

Science has a replication problem. In recent years, it has come to light that the findings of many studies, particularly those in social psychology, cannot be reproduced by other scientists. When this happens, the data, methods, and interpretation of the study’s results are often called into question, creating a crisis…

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As if you had a choice

Over the past decade, Robert Sapolsky—a Stanford professor of biology, of neurology, and of neurosurgery, as well as a bestselling author of popular science books—has added another line to his CV: witness in murder trials. The hours waiting outside courtrooms are long, the pay beside the point. But the role allows…

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The Three Next-Generation Marketing Skills You Need

The marketing landscape is undergoing a remarkable transformation, driven by the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT). In 2019, the estimated number of IoT-connected devices stood at 8.6 billion, but by 2030, this figure is projected to soar to 29.4 billion. This exponential growth is blurring the boundaries…

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How to beat a sexual assault charge

The question of how to beat a sexual assault charge is one that criminal defence lawyers field on a regular basis. In today’s climate, defending these allegations has become extremely difficult. This is due to a range of factors such as the onset of the ‘metoo’ movement, changing attitudes to…

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A (casual) Interview with Helena Naaman, General Manager of ‘Accountants in Cyprus’ and ‘Lawyers in Cyprus’

When someone searches over the Internet for very important (and difficult to rank) terms such as 'Lawyers in Cyprus', 'Accountants in Cyprus' and other similar, they get some very interesting suggestions as search results, 2 being managed by Sedinvest Enterprises Ltd. The 2 sister websites, Accountants in Cyprus and Lawyers…

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Legal Framework for Lotteries, Competitions, and Prize Draws in the UK

In the United Kingdom, promotional activities like lotteries, competitions, and prize draws are common marketing tools used by businesses to attract customers. However, these activities are governed by specific laws and regulations to ensure fairness and transparency. Understanding the differences between these promotions and the relevant legal framework is crucial…

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Do Hiring Managers Discriminate against Stay-at-Home Fathers?

It is well documented that women suffer disadvantages in the labor market due to motherhood and gender stereotypes. The “motherhood penalty,” for example, causes mothers to be perceived as having lower competence and commitment, which in turn leads to lower likelihood of hiring and promotion, and lower recommended salaries, as…

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That is funny: Jack Daniel’s loses trademark dispute against comedians

The well-known Tennessee whiskey business, Jack Daniel’s, failed in its attempt to oppose a UK trade mark application for the mark “Jack & Victor”. The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) ruled in favour of Greg Hemphill and Ford Kiernan, the creators of the Jack & Victor brand, and said their…

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Protecting your financial wellbeing

Financial wellbeing is an important consideration when it comes to managing your money. Ensuring that you’re at ease with your financial position and feel like you have everything under control is a key step. George Howard, one of our Chartered Financial Planners based in Dubai, shares her insights into how…

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Employee Negativity Is Like Wildfire. Manage It Before It Spreads.

Regulating our own emotions in stressful situations is difficult enough, but business leaders face the added challenge of attempting to regulate the collective emotions of the groups they lead to guide them toward success. Now, research by Harvard Business School Assistant Professor Amit Goldenberg explores how emotions intensify within groups…

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Purpose-driven organisations: Moving beyond profit-driven strategy

Many traditional organisations are profit-driven, but we believe that to keep up as the world evolves, businesses need to become more progressive. One of the key characteristics of a progressive organisation is a common purpose and set of values that look beyond just making money. Money is to an organisation…

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