The world looks quite different from when Frank Mars started selling candy out of his Tacoma, Washington, kitchen in 1911. Today the family-owned business is driven by what consumers want and prioritize. The company’s Food & Nutrition segment is focused on making food that is not just tasty but also…
How does an Academy Award nomination or win affect a film’s profitability? Are studios right to spend heavily to get them? Studios do spend heavily, investing millions of dollars and sometimes tens of millions of dollars, in Oscar campaigns promoting their films, going back to the notorious (for other reasons)…
What is driving the new ‘interdisciplinary turn’? As Director of TORCH, an interdisciplinary research centre based in Oxford’s Humanities Division, my frequent conversations with global counterparts oscillate between gloom over global crises and excitement over our new interdisciplinary initiatives. These two subjects are closely related.Several factors have driven interdisciplinarity’s current revivification,…
APPOINTMENTS WITHOUT LIMIT OF TIME:Kerr, Orin, Professor of Law, effective January 1, 2025Morrison, Matthew , Associate Professor of African and African American Studies, effective February 16, 2025Wakefield, Claire , Professor of Pediatrics, effective June 1, 2025APPOINTMENTS FOR A TERM OF YEARS:Adams, Leslie, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, for…
Quick Hits If signed into law by Governor Youngkin, Virginia’s High-Risk Artificial Intelligence Developer and Deployer Act (H.B. 2094) will go into effect on July 1, 2026, giving affected businesses plenty of time to understand and prepare for its requirements. The legislation applies to AI systems that autonomously make—or significantly…
This month, we feature four papers that challenge assumptions with real-world evidence. Regulatory restrictions can either stifle or spark innovation depending on specific circumstances; seeking customer feedback creates dramatic spillover benefits that boost profits; and activist pressure can decrease corporate compliance with sustainability regulations. Finally, our professors found that the conventional…
Today’s environment is giving US manufacturers even more reasons to reassess their footprint strategies. For some, localization of production may now seem increasingly attractive—particularly amid rising volatility in tariff and trade policy, evolving incentives for domestic manufacturing, and realigning global trade corridors (Exhibit 1). Manufacturers know, however, that building new factories—and…
What would be the best framework for effective Russia-India cooperation? The two countries have built a solid foundation for their cooperation, and have gone to great lengths recently to reach new heights in their relations and ensure that their regulators and institutions back these efforts. However, they have a lot…
This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.How is the procurement function changing? Roman Belotserkovskiy: The role of the procurement organization and the position of procurement leader have been elevated to a much more visible and impactful position across most companies, in almost every industry. Jennifer Spaulding Schmidt: Right now…
CDOs are under fire due to ROI pressures, evolving operating models, and GenAI disruption — and must brace for change in their role. Ryan den Rooijen, Wade Munsie, and Randy Bean February 24, 2025 Reading Time: 13 min Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images The rise of generative AI has…
TBI is a critical public health issue, with severe and long-term neurological consequences. In forensic investigations, determining whether an impact could have caused a reported injury is crucial for legal proceedings, yet there is currently no standardised, quantifiable approach to do this. The new study demonstrates how machine learning tools…
Will generative AI live up to its hype? On this episode of At the Edge, tech visionaries Navin Chaddha, managing partner at Mayfield Fund; Kiran Prasad, CEO and cofounder of Big Basin Labs; and Naba Banerjee, McKinsey senior adviser and former director of trust and operations at Airbnb, join guest…
Speaking to parents of undergraduates on Friday morning, President Jonathan Levin noted the unique and special environment that Stanford offers its students.“The kind of culture and spirit of the American West – where we’re located – it just opens up your mind to different opportunities,” he said.He explained that at…
Democracy is under threat worldwide. In 2023, global freedom declined for the 18th consecutive year across all regions and levels of democratic performance. In historically democratic strongholds such as Europe and the United States, growing political polarisation and the rise of populist authoritarian movements pose significant challenges. In response, the University…
Three years ago, on 24 February 2022, Russia illegally invaded Ukraine. While Ukraine was largely ignored in international discourses and policy debates prior to late 2021, it was a sovereign state at the time of Russia’s invasion, as it has been since 1991 and remains today. Like all fifteen of…
The year 2024 was another noteworthy year for class actions in British Columbia. In this article, we provide an overview of key developments and trends from 2024, and areas to watch in 2025. Key legal developments of 2024 1. Supreme Court of Canada confirms constitutionality of government-led class actions The…
My answer: Homo sapiens’s most impressive accomplishments, from building the pyramids to developing Covid-19 vaccines, are not individual achievements. They were possible only because many people worked together effectively. “How to organise groups to attain goals” is our oldest general-purpose technology (GPT!). But there is more. To humans, organisations don't just…
After a period of exceptional profits, commodity trading markets are starting to normalize, causing industry-wide margins to stagnate or even recede. Our research shows commodity traders generated more than $100 billion EBIT in 2023, and 2024 earnings indicate industry value pools decreased by more than 30 percent year over year,…
The strategic future of Africa is not predetermined, and understanding the in-depth factors of prosperity and decline allows us to outline a prognostically probable and original trajectory of its renaissance, writes Nikita Ryabchenko, researcher of international relations and world development (Belarus). The author is a participant of the Valdai – New Generation project. The…
Seyfarth Synopsis: On Friday, February 21, 2025, a federal district court in Maryland issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of several key provisions of the January 2025 executive orders targeting DEI programs. The nationwide injunction blocks the federal government from requiring federal contractors and grantees to certify they do not…
When a landlord in British Columbia terminates a lease for non-payment of rent, the tenant can seek relief from forfeiture. Tenants often believe that if they cure this default, relief will be granted. However, as shown in the recent Supreme Court of British Columbia decision of Delta Automotive Ltd. v…
Quick Hits On February 19, 2025, Québec Minister of Labour Jean Boulet introduced legislation that would ensure necessary services are maintained during strikes or lock-outs to protect public well-being. The bill would empower the government and the Administrative Labour Tribunal to ensure necessary services are maintained during work stoppages, balancing…
A recent transaction has illustrated how creative deal-making, in the right circumstances, can address Canadian governmental concerns with respect to foreign investment in the critical minerals sector. Canada’s federal government announced in 2022 that under its new “Critical Minerals Policy” (Policy), investors considered to be owned or influenced by “non-likeminded foreign…
Quick Hits Updated interview waiver criteria limits eligibility to those seeking a visa renewal in the same category and only if their most recent visa expired within twelve months prior to the application. Visa appointment wait times are likely to increase. Consulate action such as scheduling interviews for those already…
The rapid adoption of machine learning-enabled medical devices (MLMDs) is transforming patient care, offering unprecedented opportunities to enhance diagnostics, treatment, and healthcare efficiency. However, the regulatory landscape is evolving to address the novel challenges these technologies introduce, particularly regarding safety, effectiveness, and adaptability. In response, after releasing draft guidance in…
Overview President Trump’s February 10th Executive Order (EO) titled “Pausing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Enforcement to Further American Economic and National Security,” has introduced significant uncertainty into FCPA enforcement. Despite this companies should remain committed to their compliance efforts and consider whether this is an appropriate time to amplify to staff…
Quick Hits A federal court in Maryland preliminarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing executive orders that seek to eliminate DEI programs and initiatives in the federal government and private sector. The court found the executive orders are likely unconstitutionally vague, lack clear definitions, and potentially discriminate against certain viewpoints…
BLG vient d’obtenir un deuxième jugement favorable pour sa cliente, Kleen-Flo Tumbler Industries Limited. Dans l’affaire Desaulniers c. Kleen-Flo Tumbler Industries Limited, 2025 QCTAT 471, la terminaison d’emploi d’un cadre supérieur mettait en cause des allégations de détournement de cartes-cadeaux et de divulgation d’informations confidentielles et sensibles appartenant à l’employeur.…
Quick Hits On February 21, 2025, Michigan Governor Whitmer signed an amendment to the Earned Sick Time Act, providing several employer-friendly changes. Employers with ten or fewer employees now have until October 1, 2025, to comply. Highlights of the amendment include clarifications regarding covered employer qualifications, benefit accruals, employee eligibility,…
Determining country of origin From a customs perspective, determining the country of origin of imported goods are crucial for several reasons, including: determining whether imported goods are entitled to most-favoured-nation (MFN) or preferential tariff treatment; determining whether imported goods are subject to tariffs or safeguard measures (e.g., anti-dumping or countervailing…
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Azure AI Foundry Labs, a hub for developers, startups, and enterprises to explore groundbreaking innovations from research at Microsoft. Today we’re launching Azure AI Foundry Labs, a hub for developers, startups, and enterprises to explore groundbreaking innovations from research at Microsoft. Foundry Labs…
This commentary originally appeared in Newsweek. The views expressed are the author’s own. Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency is not about reforming anything. It’s about cutting costs indiscriminately and gaining control over all the levers of government power. The result is that vital activities are being hastily cut…
After six years, the Global Lighthouse Network (GLN) has expanded from 16 to 189 Lighthouses, representing factory, sustainability, and end-to-end value chain categories across 33 countries and 35 subsectors—four times greater than the number of subsectors in 2018 (Exhibit 1). The latest 36 Lighthouses—awarded in October 2024 and January 2025—have…
On a scale of one to five, how was your omelet? Your car rental experience? Your dentist, your doctor? How was your water bottle purchase? Your shoe purchase? Your microwave purchase and your home purchase? “These ratings are not only ubiquitous but take many forms,” says Prof. Tristan Botelho.…
The Faculty Senate approved proposed modifications to the Research Policy Handbook from the Committee on Research and received an update from the president and provost on federal policy matters during its meeting Thursday.Federal policy updatePresident Jonathan Levin highlighted concerns about federal support for university research that have been exacerbated by…
Development of digital currencies Aside from the payment systems, digital currencies, including central bank digital currencies (CBDC) and cryptocurrencies, constitute another pillar of the economic resilience of the SCO. China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Russia have already launched CBDC operation and Belarus is in the pilot phase. The SCO is…
Quick Hits Alabama’s “‘What Is a Woman?’ Act” applies “wherever state law classifies individuals on the basis of sex or otherwise mentions individuals as being male or female, men or women, or boys or girls.” According to the act, there are only two sexes: male and female. Under the act,…
With growing consumer demand for Canadian-made products, companies are choosing to make various forms of Canadian country of origin claims on products, e.g. “Product of Canada”, “Made in Canada” etc. (Canadian Product Claims). Companies should be aware that different laws and regulations1 may apply to Canadian Product Claims, and this…
We’re excited to announce the next phase of the 2025 Imagine Cup – meet the startups who were selected to advance to the Semifinals! These student founders are the future, and their innovative ideas are sure to capture your interest and perhaps spark your own new idea. The semifinalists will…
An organization’s culture—or the common set of behaviors, mindsets, and beliefs that shape how people work and interact—is a driving force for its success. In companies with strong cultures, employees at all levels understand the business’s mission and purpose, how decisions are made, how performance is measured, and individuals’ roles…