EU AI Act Amended: Parliament Votes to Delay Key Deadlines

The changes—part of a broader EU simplification push following a provisional agreement reached between the Parliament, Council, and Commission on 7 May 2026—push back key compliance deadlines, introduce an outright ban on artificial intelligence (AI) tools used to generate nonconsensual intimate imagery, and resolve a long-standing overlap in the rules governing AI used in industrial machinery. The EU Council still needs to sign off before any of this takes legal…

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New CCDC Progressive Design-Build Contract (the CCDC32)

The Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) recently released a new collection of contracts, including the CCDC 32 – Progressive Design-Build Contract. This eagerly awaited template contract presents the CCDC’s view of a progressive design-build model (PDB) and makes using a PDB delivery model more widely accessible to the industry. In this article we discuss PBD and the CCDC 32, including its benefits and challenges. Overall, the new CCDC 32 provides…

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What separates firms that use AI intensively from firms that don’t?

24 June 2026David Chaloupka, Tibor Lalinský and Paloma Lopez-Garcia The adoption rate of AI is rising rapidly, but the intensive use that drives transformation and generates macroeconomic gains remains rare. This blog explores what sets intensive AI users apart and what firms need to deeply integrate AI into their production processes.The advent of AI has been widely hailed as a driver of productivity growth. Yet simply adopting AI does not…

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Take It Or Leave It Podcast Episode 48: Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Has Arrived – A Discussion with Sarah Brydon

Take It or Leave It is the only law firm podcast focused exclusively on workplace leaves, absence management, and accommodations. Host Josh Seidman, Employment attorney and leader of Seyfarth’s Leave of Absence Management & Accommodations team, explores the latest legal developments, forecasts new laws, identifies workplace trends, and offers practical, business-oriented considerations within the leave, absence management, and accommodations space. Follow us on:           Episode 48: Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Has…

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What the Binance Decision Means for Ontario Workplace Safety Investigations

Quick Hits Regulatory inspections and investigations under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) take several forms, including proactive and reactive visits by Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MOL) inspectors who are empowered to enforce compliance with the OHSA and protect worker health and safety. MOL inspectors have broad enforcement powers, including entering a workplace without a warrant or prior notice. Beyond the obligations established by the…

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SCC leaves the door open to tort claims against election officials

In Resler v. Anglin, 2026 SCC 23, the Supreme Court of Canada held that an unsuccessful provincial election candidate may continue his civil action in misfeasance in public office against Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for alleged bad faith conduct during an election campaign. The Court confirmed that such claims were not barred by the doctrine of collateral attack, abuse of process, parliamentary privilege, or a statutory immunity clause, given…

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A Eurasian Alignment of Strategies: Security and Development

Among the unique features of Eurasia as a political and economic space is the autonomy that regional states retain in domestic and foreign policy. While this freedom of maneuver may play a positive role in the development of the continent, it also renders the articulations of common political aims impossible. What does remain within reach is a middle ground composed of complementary approaches to regional security and development, writes Timofei…

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AI won’t transform your organisation, your culture will

Six cultural enablers that unlock AI’s full potential The biggest barrier to AI success isn’t technology, data, or investment – it’s culture. While organisations focus on deploying new tools, the real challenge is creating an environment where people feel confident, accountable, and empowered to work alongside AI. Here’s what the most successful organisations are doing differently. Reading time: 7 minutes For many organisations, AI adoption is progressing faster than their…

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FOIA Suit Seeks EEO-1 Data the EEOC Wants to Stop Collecting

Quick Hits A nonprofit has sued DOL under FOIA to compel disclosure of federal contractors’ 2021 and 2022 Type 2 EEO-1 data, the most recent reporting years targeted by such a request. The suit mirrors an earlier case in California, Center for Investigative Reporting v. U.S. Department of Labor, where the same type of FOIA request for contractor EEO-1 data led to disclosure of the 2016 through 2020 reports. The…

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Urine drug test may boost adherence to blood pressure medications

This showed a promising sign that it may improve medication adherence.The findings highlight the challenges of tackling hidden non‑adherence, a problem that affects up to one in three people with high blood pressure and costs the NHS millions of pounds in unnecessary tests and treatments.The authors argue that larger trials are urgently needed to understand whether CAT‑based interventions could play a role in improving long‑term outcomes for people with hypertension.They…

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Seyfarth Continues to Grow Dallas Office with Addition of Matthew Huntsman as Partner

June 22, 2026 – Seyfarth Shaw LLP has further bolstered its Labor & Employment practice with the move of noted labor lawyer Matthew Huntsman to the Am Law 100 firm as a partner in its expanding Dallas office. Huntsman is the fourth partner to move to Seyfarth in Dallas so far this year. Jonathan Bull, Jeff Cash, and Deborah Ryan all joined the firm’s Dallas office in lateral moves in…

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Compliance Cue: New Batch of State Employment Laws to Take Effect July 1, 2026

Quick Hits A number of states passed new laws in 2026 related to paid and unpaid leave, employment discrimination, child labor, noncompete clauses, and pay transparency, among other things. These new state laws will take effect on July 1, 2026, unless otherwise noted. See our article, “2026 Midyear State and Local Minimum Wage Increases,” for a roundup of changes to state minimum wage rates taking effect in mid-2026. Arkansas In…

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The Islamabad Memorandum: A Ceasefire in Search for Credibility

The true significance of the Islamabad Memorandum may therefore lie not in what it resolves but in what it reveals. After years of failed diplomacy and a costly war, the central question is no longer whether Iran and the United States can negotiate. They clearly can, Daniyal Meshkin Ranjbar writes. The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the United States and Iran on 17 June 2026 has been widely interpreted as…

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Tombs reveal Ancient Egyptian religion was constantly evolving, book reveals

Ancient Egyptian religion was not as fixed and unchanging as many people imagine, according to new research by Manchester Egyptologist Dr Huw Twiston Davies. His new book reveals that beliefs and funerary practices evolved even within a single generation, showing that ancient Egyptian religion was dynamic, adaptable and shaped by changing social priorities.The study focuses on tombs at Saqqara, one of Egypt’s most important burial sites, and explores how tomb owners…

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USCIS Expands AR-11 (Change of Address Form): Elevates Employer Exposure

On May 7, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a 60-day notice proposing to amend Form AR-11, Alien Change of Address. The proposal would significantly expand the scope of information that foreign nationals must provide when reporting a change of address. The new form includes a requirement to list the “Alien’s” employer. The public comment period is open until July 6, 2026.  The impact on employers is nuanced…

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July 2026 Visa Bulletin Shows Unavailability in India EB-2 Final Action Dates

Quick Hits USCIS will continue to accept adjustment of status filings based on the Final Action Dates for Filing Chart in July 2026. Visas are unavailable for the remainder of the fiscal year for EB-2 applicants from India. EB-4 Certain Religious Workers (SR) is showing priority dates again due to the program’s extension to September 30, 2026. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that it would continue to…

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ICC Arbitration Rules 2026: Towards enhanced flexibility and procedural efficiency

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has introduced a revised set of Arbitration Rules, effective for arbitrations commenced on or after June 1, 2026 (the 2026 Rules).  These revisions build on the 2021 framework while introducing targeted reforms aimed at addressing concerns around cost, delay, and procedural rigidity. While the overall structure of ICC arbitration remains familiar, the 2026 Rules reflect a clear recalibration: a move away from formalistic procedural…

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Trump and Iran: How to Pass Off a Draw as a Victory

A memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran on a cessation of hostilities and the basic parameters for the resolution of the conflict has been signed. However, it wasn’t signed in the way that was promised. There was no face-to-face meeting between high-ranking American and Iranian representatives; the document was signed remotely, separately. On the one hand, this diminished the media impact of this event, which had been…

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UK urged to learn from EU deforestation law as study reveals global beef trade challenges

The UK could face significant challenges if it follows the European Union's lead and introduces tougher restrictions on imports linked to deforestation, according to new research from The University of Manchester.The study examines how the EU's landmark Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) is likely to work in practice in Brazil's beef sector, which is one of the world's largest sources of beef exports and a major driver of tropical deforestation.Researchers…

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Indonesia in the Current World Order: A Middle Power or Regional Leader?

As global governance enters a period of ‘rupture’, the traditional architecture of power is being rewritten. Marked by profound fragmentation, the US attacks on Venezuela and Iran have led to a chaotic multipolar structure. This shift is shaping a new international architecture based on power. Traditional multilateral frameworks are increasingly being sidelined in favour of minilateralism: ad hoc coalitions of the willing which prioritise functional efficiency over universal consensus. States…

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Q5 welcomes Kirsty Miller as Director in Melbourne

Strengthening Q5’s workforce transformation, organisation design and people performance capability across Australia and New Zealand Q5 has appointed Kirsty Miller as Director in Melbourne and a member of the Australia & New Zealand Leadership Team, strengthening its expertise in workforce transformation, organisation design and people performance. With more than 15 years of experience helping organisations navigate complex workforce, organisational and transformation challenges, Kirsty brings a powerful combination of consulting expertise…

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La Cour Suprême tranche: Sorry Your Honour N.B. Lieutenant Governor. Vous devez parler français!

Le 12 juin 2026, la Cour suprême du Canada a rendu sa décision dans l’affaire Société de l’Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick c. Canada (Premier ministre), 2026 CSC 22, confirmant que le lieutenant-gouverneur du Nouveau-Brunswick (N.-B.) doit être fonctionnellement bilingue. Dans cette décision, la Cour a dû interpréter le paragraphe 16(2) de la Charte canadienne des droits et libertés, qui prévoit que le français et l’anglais sont les langues officielles du N.-B.…

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How Early Life Experiences Shape Schizophrenia Risk

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and University of California, San Francisco found that childhood trauma, poverty, social isolation and other adverse life experiences are associated with brain changes linked to schizophrenia-spectrum disorders — findings that could help researchers identify people at risk earlier and develop interventions before severe symptoms emerge.The idea that social determinants of health — nonmedical conditions in which people are born, grow, live and work — have an outsized…

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University honours four outstanding individuals with honorary degrees

Honorary graduates 2026  Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell served as President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester from 2010 to 2024, becoming the first woman to lead the institution. Her leadership strengthened the University’s role as a leading global-civic university, deepening its engagement with the city, region and international partners. An internationally recognised neuroscientist, her research has advanced understanding of brain injury and contributed to improved treatment outcomes. Alongside her academic work, she…

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Sahara-Sahel Region: Multipolarity in Action and a New Pan-Africanism

On June 18, the Valdai Club’s Moscow venue hosted the presentation of Valdai Paper No. 128, The Sahara-Sahel Region: In Search of a New Security Architecture Amid the Collapse of the Neo-Colonial System. Moderating the discussion, Timofei Bordachev emphasised that, although the subject of the paper is not at the forefront of Russia’s foreign policy agenda, it is of great importance in the context of the development of the World…

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Valdai Club to Discuss the SCO’s Past, Present, and Future

On June 29 at 11:00 Moscow Time (GMT +3), the Moscow venue of the Valdai Discussion Club will host a discussion entitled “The SCO Turns 25: Achievements, Challenges, and Looking Ahead”. This year, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) marks its twenty-fifth anniversary. The rapidly changing international environment requires the Organisation to adapt to new realities. The SCO is gradually consolidating its position in both the political and economic spheres. This…

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Ingrid Katz: What Would It Take to Eradicate HIV?

Howie and Harlan are joined by Ingrid Katz, director of the Yale Institute for Global Health, to discuss why HIV continues to spread despite the existence of cheap and effective treatment, what AIDS activism can teach us about tackling chronic diseases like hypertension, and what outbreaks like Ebola reveal about the consequences of fragile health systems. Harlan reports on a breach of UK Biobank data and what it means for…

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Global Mutual Separation Agreements: A Strategic Guide for Employers

Quick Hits An MSA is a contract in which both the employer and the employee agree to end the employment relationship by mutual consent, often involving an additional payment from the employer in exchange for a release of claims. MSAs are particularly useful in jurisdictions with stringent termination laws and can help employers avoid prolonged disputes or litigation by securing releases of potential employment claims. A best practice for employers…

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Pre-seed to exit: takeaways from Toronto Tech Week 2026

Toronto Tech Week 2026 provided a clear view into how Canada’s technology ecosystem is evolving across the full company lifecycle, from early formation to scale and exit. Key takeaways from the week Documentation quality is now a differentiator at pre-seed and seed - clean cap tables and properly assigned IP materially affect a company's ability to close. Defence-adjacent and applied AI opportunities arrive with complex IP, export control and contracting…

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Sahara-Sahel Region: In Search of a New Security Architecture Amid the Collapse of the Neo-Colonial System

Over the past decades, the Sahara-Sahel Region has been building its security architecture by primarily focusing and relying on pro-Western frameworks and approaches.  This was largely attributable to the fact that even having put the decolonisation behind it, this part of the African continent remained under France’s tutelage and within its sphere of influence. France developed a system of influence channels, both formal and informal, which are known as the…

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SBA’s Proposed 8(a) Rule Flips the Script: DEI Programs Could Now Be Evidence of Social Disadvantage

In doing so, the proposed rule appears to flip the old presumption on its head, allowing the existence of the prior presumption to serve as evidence of discrimination against those who were excluded from it. Quick Hits The proposed rule replaces the old eligibility framework with a new test requiring applicants to show that a governmental or private entity discriminated against or was biased against their racial, ethnic, or cultural…

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Canada moves to regulate online safety: Understanding the Safe Social Media Act (Bill C-34)

What Canadian companies need to know (if enacted): Bill C-34 is broader than previously proposed online safety legislation and targets regulated social media services, certain online services, and AI chatbot services, with a focus on protecting children and supporting victims of online harms. Regulated services, as applicable, have a duty to act responsibly, a duty to protect children, a duty to be transparent, and a duty to make certain content…

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University of Manchester plays leading role in £50m Local Innovation Partnerships Funding for Greater Manchester

Atom Valley Innovation District The University is lead delivery partner in the £16.4m invested in the Atom Valley Innovation District, (AVID) a nationally significant advanced materials and manufacturing cluster. The investment will help to activate the innovation ecosystem needed to support the growth of materials-focused companies at Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale.  Through the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS) within the new Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC), the programme will provide technical support, business…

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EU Nears Approval of Agreement to Delay Rules for AI Use in Employment Decisions

Quick Hits The European Union has provisionally agreed to delay the implementation of high-risk AI regulations in employment decisions until December 2, 2027. Subject to formal adoption, the agreement would delay the requirements for “high-risk” systems, which include those intended to be used to make decisions affecting employment terms, promotion, termination, task allocation, and monitoring or evaluating workers’ performance. Although the revised deadline is expected, employers may still want to…

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World-leading research receives cash boost in Manchester

Recently appointed Director of the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Professor Samra Turajlić hugely welcomes the boost in funding.She said: “Having recently left London to move to Manchester, I am delighted that Cancer Research UK recognises the level of expertise at the Institute and the power of our cancer research partnerships in Manchester.“The extra investment will make a huge difference moving forwards and will help us continue to attract the…

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India’s Eurasian Turn: Why Central Asia Matters More Than Ever

For years, Central Asia has remained strategically important to India but difficult to access. Pakistan blocks direct land routes, Afghanistan remains unstable, and Eurasian connectivity remains limited. India’s “Connect Central Asia” policy recognised these constraints early, placing physical connectivity at the centre of its regional approach. Today, however, geopolitical shocks are pushing New Delhi to think about Eurasia in far more urgent terms. Earlier the Red Sea crisis and now…

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