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

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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AI may unlock early disease clues hidden in routine eye exams

One of the key contributions of the study is the work around the biological pathways that might link the eye to disease in the brain, blood vessels and heart.Genetic analyses showed that eye features are linked to genes involved in neurodegenerative disease pathways, including those related to Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and broader neurodegeneration.Physiological analyses linked eye features to blood pressure, blood vessel stiffness, and the function of the heart.‘Radiomic analyses’…

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Carnegie Mellon University Announces $3 Million Investment in Pittsburgh Community Initiatives

Carnegie Mellon University today announced a $3 million investment over the next five years to support initiatives that will directly benefit residents, students, educators and workers across the City of Pittsburgh. The investment reflects CMU’s longstanding commitment to the city and underscores the deep connection between the university’s success and the vitality of the region.The $3 million commitment will see Carnegie Mellon supporting projects and answering Mayor Corey O’Connor’s call…

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No Safe Harbor: DOT Rejects State-Licensed Marijuana as Basis to Overturn Positive Drug Test Results

Seyfarth Synopsis: In late May 2026, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance and the Office of the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a new Question and Answer (Q&A) addressing how its drug testing regulations apply considering the recent rescheduling of certain marijuana products under federal law. The Q&A provides important clarification for employers with safety-sensitive employees subject to DOT regulations—and reinforces that,…

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Philadelphia Publishes Fair Chance Hiring Update: What Employers Need to Know

In October 2025, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker signed amendments to the FCRSSO, effective January 6, 2026. As enacted, the amendments authorized, but did not require, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations to create a form of required pre-adverse action notice, an updated summary of rights, and a statement concerning evidence of error or rehabilitation. The Commission has now published a document, titled, “Notice: 2026 amendments to Fair Chance Hiring Law,”…

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Sanctions Pass the House. What’s Next?

The US House of Representatives has passed H.R. 2548, a bill imposing sanctions against Russia in connection with the Ukrainian conflict. Its passage in the House alone increases, but does not guarantee, the chances of it being ratified into law. This is especially true given that it is being sponsored primarily by Democrats. However, even if the bill is supported by the Senate and the President, it is unlikely to…

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Seyfarth’s Strategic Miami Expansion Drives Widespread Industry and International Press Coverage

Seyfarth’s launch of its Miami office has generated widespread media attention across leading legal, business, and international publications, reinforcing the significance of the firm’s strategic expansion into a key US–Latin America business hub. Coverage included feature stories in Law360, Daily Business Review (American Lawyer/Law.com), International Employment Lawyer, and Latin Lawyer. Other coverage included Latinvex, Global Legal Chronicle, Global Legal Post, Corporate Counsel Business Journal, and Europe Says, among others. Collectively, the coverage highlights the firm’s continued investment in…

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Trump Administration Appeals Ruling Striking Down $100,000 H-1B Fee Requirement

Quick Hits On June 8, 2026, a Massachusetts federal district court vacated the Trump administration’s $100,000 H-1B fee requirement. On June 11, 2026, the administration filed an appeal of the district court’s decision and on June 12, 2026, asked the district court to stay its decision. With multiple pending challenges in different circuits, the Supreme Court will likely weigh in. Background On September 19, 2025, President Donald Trump issued Proclamation…

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CMU’s Software Engineering Institute and Accenture Release New Framework To Help Organizations Realize AI’s Promise

As organizations invest billions of dollars in artificial intelligence, most still struggle to translate those investments into measurable results. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute(opens in new window) (SEI), working with Accenture(opens in new window), have developed a new framework(opens in new window) to help organizations adopt AI in ways that deliver predictable, meaningful value. Despite growing investment and optimism around AI(opens in new window), 95% of companies report realizing little or no return(opens…

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Today’s housing emergency is nearly 200 years in the making, says new report

Many of the problems facing the more than 134,000 households living in temporary accommodation in England today - including more than 176,000 children - are part of a pattern of failure stretching back nearly 200 years, according to a major new report.The research reveals that poor conditions, lengthy stays, placements far from schools, work and support networks, fragmented responsibility and weak accountability have been recurring features of England's temporary accommodation…

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Washington Human Rights Commission’s Antisemitism Resolution Clouded by Commissioner’s Remarks Invoking Anti-Jewish Tropes

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Washington State Human Rights Commission recently adopted a resolution reaffirming its commitment to protecting Jewish Washingtonians from violence, threats, intimidation, discrimination, and harassment. That effort, however, was quickly overshadowed by remarks from a commissioner that many viewed as invoking longstanding antisemitic tropes. The incident has raised questions about the credibility of an agency tasked with enforcing civil rights—and whether it can maintain public trust when concerns about…

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Valdai Club to Hold Expert Dialogue “From Global ‘Fighting With No Rules’ to a Dialogue of Civilisations”

On June 23-24, the Valdai Discussion Club, in partnership with Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, will hold an expert dialogue in Kaliningrad entitled “From Global ‘Fighting With No Rules’ to a Dialogue of Civilisations”. The event will take place at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University. The purpose of the Valdai expert dialogue is to exchange views on how to reduce conflict and the level of chaos in international relations, from…

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ILO Adopts First Global Labor Standard for Platform Work: What U.S. Companies Need to Know

Quick Hits ILO Convention No. 193 is the first international labor standard specifically designed for platform and gig economy work. Under the Convention, core protections including minimum wage, social protection, and occupational safety and health (OSH) rights apply to all platform work, regardless of a platform worker’s formal employment classification (e.g., “independent contractor” or “employee”). Algorithmic management is addressed in a binding international instrument for the first time: platforms must…

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Employment Updates from the End of New York’s 2026 Legislative Session

Seyfarth Synopsis: With the 2026 New York State legislative session complete, several employment-related bills have passed both chambers, and now await possible consideration by Governor Hochul. The 2026 New York State legislative session, which concluded in early June, saw a number of bills that passed both the Assembly and Senate and may become law. The ultimate fate of the bills, however, remains in flux, as it is uncertain whether they…

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New Colorado Law on Demographic Reporting May Signal Larger Changes

Quick Hits Governor Jared Polis recently signed legislation that requires employers in Colorado to provide EEO-1 data to the Colorado secretary of state beginning July 1, 2027, even if federal EEO-1 reporting is repealed or discontinued. The new Colorado law may signal a broader trend of state-level action to preserve demographic reporting obligations as the EEOC proposes to eliminate federal EEO-1 reporting. The elimination of federal EEO-1 reporting would create…

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Philosophy as a Practice of Self-Cultivation with Robin Dembroff

In this episode, Heidi Brooks talks with Robin Dembroff who invites us to notice the confining, prescriptive categories we get boxed into and the opportunity to maybe name or nudge our way to a more enlivened self. Robin challenges us to see gender fundamentally as a verb rather than a noun–an active, ongoing process of “gendering” rather than an immutable, biological trait. By looking at the “windshield of consciousness” that…

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Pretext or Mixed Motive? Practical Guidance After Robinson v. Marshfield

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) recently upheld a $1.4 million jury verdict in Robinson v. Marshfield in favor of a fire chief who alleged retaliation after complaining that his niece, a probationary firefighter, was being discriminated against on the basis of her gender. On appeal, the town challenged the lower court’s blending of pretext and mixed-motive instructions to the jury, when only a pretext instruction was warranted.…

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Alabama Establishes Private-Employer Voluntary Hiring Preference Program for Veterans and Spouses

Quick Hits Effective January 1, 2027, private employers in Alabama may voluntarily adopt written hiring and promotion preference policies for veterans, spouses of veterans, and spouses of active-duty service members. Employers that implement such policies must notify the Alabama Department of Workforce. The Alabama law’s definitions of veterans and active-duty service members may be narrower than those under USERRA. HB 307 On April 16, 2026, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed…

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Real Estate: Market Pulse (June 2026)

CRE Enters a Selective Cycle as Growth Becomes More Targeted Seyfarth’s real estate team provides a bird's-eye view of the current state of commercial real estate throughout the country—highlighting which markets and major asset types are active, slowing down, or experiencing shifts. Seyfarth’s Take: What to Know ✔ Opportunities: Data centers remain the primary growth engine, with continued acceleration in Texas, the Midwest, and key coastal markets. Industrial has stabilized…

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2026 Is a Reporting Year Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

Quick Hits Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), companies with twenty or more employees in Ontario must file an accessibility compliance report by December 31, 2026. The AODA applies to provincially regulated organizations in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Failure to submit the report may lead to potential enforcement action. Background Facts Enacted in 2005, the AODA is Canada’s oldest and most fulsome accessibility legislation. Provincially regulated…

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Online reviews, real risks: A closer look at RIBO’s guidance on online conduct

On June 1, 2026, the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) released Guidance 006 – Online Conduct (Social Media and Review Manipulation) (Guidance). This article summarizes the key expectations and practical implications for brokerages. Scope of guidance The Guidance confirms that brokers’ online activities are subject to the same professional standards as their offline conduct. The Guidance applies to public-facing digital activity connected to insurance brokering, including social media posts,…

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Student-Athletes Step Forward as Partners in Football’s Next Era of Safety

Carnegie Mellon University football players are essential partners in a groundbreaking study led by neuroscientist Brad Mahon(opens in new window), a professor of psychology at CMU. The research is developing new ways to understand how routine hits on the field impact the brain. While Mahon refines predictive models and explores future innovations like digital twins, the Tartans are providing something no lab alone can generate: authentic game data and firsthand insight…

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Silent Impact: What If Routine Hits Are Football’s Biggest Threat to the Brain?

With every collision in football, the stakes rise — fueling the urgency for researchers like Brad Mahon(opens in new window), a professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, to answer a pressing question: How can we protect the brain without sidelining the sport? Mahon is tracking football players across multiple seasons to understand how they can stay healthy while playing hard. By partnering with athletes and leveraging cutting-edge neuroscience, he’s helping to…

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Science, Policy, and Power

Transcript 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. We’re trying to get closer to the truth about health and healthcare. Ordinarily, we have a guest, but at least once a month we like to do a deeper dive on health and healthcare. There’s a lot going on in the world right now, Harlan. So what…

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Organisational culture lessons from professional football

Why culture is the ultimate performance advantage Elite football teams invest heavily in strategy, talent and analytics, yet performance gaps remain. The difference often lies in culture. This article explores how high-performing football organisations create alignment, accountability and resilience, and what leaders in any sector can learn to build cultures that drive sustained performance and success. Reading time: 4 minutes In performance environments, culture is the edge​ From podcasts to…

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New Jersey Appellate Court Questions Whether Firm’s Workplace Investigation Docs Are Privileged

Quick Hits A New Jersey appellate court ruled that employers may be able to claim privilege over certain law firm investigation documents from an investigation initiated prior to a lawsuit under New Jersey law. The court noted that timing of an investigation does not negate privilege if the investigation aims for legal advice or litigation preparation. The court stated that raising an affirmative defense may waive privilege over certain relevant…

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Trademark scams: How to spot them, avoid them, and protect your brand

Trademark scams are becoming increasingly common in Canada. Both the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) and the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents (CPATA) have warned that business owners and trademark holders are being targeted by phishing emails, calls, and texts from people pretending to be intellectual property lawyers, agents, service providers, or even CIPO itself. These messages often use details taken from public records, create urgency, and pressure…

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New survey of 610 businesses shows major prize from aligning business, universities and policy

The findings also present a significant opportunity – the UK has world-leading universities, strong research capability and businesses operating at the technological frontier. The UK can build on these by strengthening talent pipelines, improving collaboration and aligning policy with business needs.Talent and skillsBusinesses reported that the constraint on talent and skills is largely one of availability, not quality.Survey responses indicate that around one in five businesses (19%) are currently experiencing…

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The Sanctions Paradox

Paradoxically, the more sanctions are employed, the stronger the incentives become for targeted states, and even neutral ones, to develop mechanisms for bypassing them, Lorenzo Maria Pacini writes. Between theory, promises and reality Following the launch of Russia’s Special Military Operation in Ukraine in February 2022, the United States, the European Union, and their allies imposed the most extensive package of economic sanctions ever levied against a major power. The…

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