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Do government subsidies drive global imbalances?

14 August 2026By Maria Grazia Attinasi, Lukas Boeckelmann, Isabella Moder, Til Pommer and Tajda SpitalWidening global imbalances draw attention to policies shaping international trade. Using firm-level data, the ECB blog compares government support in China, the United States and the euro area. We find that subsidies drive Chinese exports in strategically important sectors.Concerns about imbalances in the flow of goods and money have recently resurfaced.[1] The main cause of global…

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What Cyprus Leadership Teams Should Demand from Marketing Measurement in 2026

A practical framework for turning marketing reports into better commercial decisions By Themis Christou | Co-Founder, Uveler Marketing Marketing measurement should help a leadership team decide what to fund, what to fix and what to stop. Too often, it does none of those things. Executives receive dashboards filled with impressions, clicks, engagement rates and channel summaries, yet still cannot answer a basic commercial question: is marketing creating profitable demand? This…

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The future DNA of work: building the conditions for organisational performance

Why high-performing organisations will be built by design, not by chance. The future of work isn’t being shaped by technology alone. As AI, demographic change and evolving workforce expectations transform organisations, leaders must rethink operating models, culture, leadership and capability together.  Download the full insights below to explore how organisations can create the conditions for sustainable organisational performance in an increasingly complex and fast-changing world. Reading time: 6 minutes  Every organisation is asking the same questions.…

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CTA Endgame: FinCEN Final Rule Closes the BOI Chapter for Most US Companies

After years of rulemakings, filing deadlines, court challenges, injunctions, extensions, and client alerts, the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) appears to have reached its conclusion for most US businesses. On August 11, 2026, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) released a final rule adopting, with limited changes, the March 2025 interim final rule narrowing the CTA’s BOI reporting requirements. Most importantly, the final rule permanently removes BOI reporting requirements for US…

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Hurricane Season 2026: Key Considerations for Employers

Quick Hits The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts below-normal hurricane activity for 2026 but emphasizes that employers should prepare before storms threaten. Federal wage and hour rules are not suspended during natural disasters. Airport closures, flight cancellations, and ground stops can strand traveling employees and trigger unexpected wage obligations. Although NOAA forecasts a below-normal hurricane season—with a 55 percent chance of below-normal activity and only a 10 percent…

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Trump Administration Issues Executive Orders on Birthright Citizenship and Birth Tourism

Quick Hits On August 6, 2026, President Trump issued two executive orders aimed at limiting birthright citizenship under certain circumstances and ending “birth tourism.” The first executive order expands the recognized exceptions to birthright citizenship, narrowing who qualifies for U.S. citizenship at birth. The second executive order directs the State Department and DHS to deny or revoke nonimmigrant visas when there is reason to believe the purpose of travel is…

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America in the Hormuz Trap

The military strategy of the US administration has reached an impasse. The chaotic alternation of military strikes and ceasefires has had no effect whatsoever on Iran’s firmly stated determination to pursue its objectives. The Hormuz trap, at least for the time being, provides the necessary conditions for it to do so, writes Alexander Maryasov. The escalation of US armed aggression against Iran, accompanied by the serious weakening of regional pro-Iranian…

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Is your organisation fit for your strategy?

Your organisation has changed. Just not in the way your strategy needed. Many organisations have become better at strategy but still struggle to turn ambition into results. The problem may lie in how the organisation itself is designed. We explore why traditional restructuring falls short, how organisational systems constrain performance, and how leaders can diagnose what really needs to change. Reading time: 6 minutes For many organisations today, strategy is…

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OMB Extends Disability Self-ID Form for Covered Federal Contractors to July 2029

Quick Hits The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), through the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), has renewed Form CC-305, which invites applicants and employees of covered contractors to identify their disability status through July 31, 2029. The renewal means covered contractors subject to Section 503 self-identification requirements should continue using the OMB-approved form bearing the new expiration date. On July 16, 2026, OMB approved Form CC-305 (Voluntary…

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Rare Ventures, a First-of-its-kind Platform for Accelerating Rare Disease Therapies, Launches in Pittsburgh

Developing treatments for rare diseases presents many challenges: small patient populations, fragmented data and long, complex paths to new therapies. But rare doesn’t mean few. More than 400 million people worldwide live with a rare disease, yet about 95% of the 10,000+ rare diseases don’t have an approved treatment.To help change that, Carnegie Mellon University is a founding partner in a Pittsburgh-based partnership that brings together leaders in medicine, biotechnology…

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DHS Proposes Rule to Eliminate 60-Day Grace Period for Certain Nonimmigrants

Quick Hits DHS has proposed a rule to eliminate the sixty-day grace period afforded to certain nonimmigrants, such as E, H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, and TN visa holders and their dependents. The full text of the proposed rule has not yet been published, and its exact details remain unknown. The rule is undergoing review by OMB before being published in the Federal Register for notice and comment. The sixty-day grace period…

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Major gaps in follow-up care after acute kidney injury, study finds

Despite national efforts to improve acute kidney injury (AKI) care, thousands of patients in England are missing vital follow-up care after leaving hospital, according to new research by The University of Manchester.The kidneys have a vital role in continuously clearing toxins from the body. AKI is a common clinical syndrome in which the kidneys stop working properly. It affects up to 1 in 5 people in hospital, usually as a…

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How can we manage our energy more intelligently at work?

2-minute read  When work gets busy, our instinct is often to push harder: focus more, apply more discipline, reach for another coffee. But what if sustainable productivity is less about willpower and more about understanding how our energy actually works?  That was at the heart of Q5’s webinar with Clemence Cleave and Julie Newman, exploring personal productivity and resilience through the lens of how our bodies and brains actually work.  Rethinking productivity and energy at…

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California Bill Links Security Guard Training to Workplace Violence Prevention

Quick Hits California SB 1203 would increase required initial security guard training from thirty-two hours to forty-two hours and require sixty hours of annual training. The bill would require eight hours of initial and annual training to focus on practicing de-escalation skills through in-person, interactive training. Employers would be required to pay for required training and compensate security guards for time spent completing the training. The proposed requirements may also…

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Who Trains Junior Employees in the Age of AI?

This commentary originally appeared in K. Sudhir’s Substack newsletter The Slow Part. The views expressed are the author’s own.Many senior people are noticing the same thing lately: their junior staff are doing better work than ever—cleaner drafts, faster models, fewer mistakes—because AI now handles the grinding first pass, the rough draft that used to eat a junior’s week. And then, often in the same breath, comes the hesitation: they’re not…

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Sexual role identities among gay and bisexual men vary by age and region

A new study has found that sexual role identities among men who have sex with men vary systematically by age and geographic region.Written by Dr Morten Thomsen, University of Oxford; Dr Francesco Rampazzo, The University of Manchester and Associate Member, University of Oxford; and Milan Kovačič; the paper argues that these labels are shaped by social and cultural contexts rather than being fixed or universal.The findings challenge assumptions that younger…

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Labour’s AI revolution risks making UK inequalities worse, study warns

Unequal benefits and risksResearchers Nathan Critch and Darcy Luke say years of short-term and fragmented policymaking by successive governments have left the UK with significant infrastructure and capacity gaps which could undermine Labour’s plans.The Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan includes plans to increase UK AI computing capacity twentyfold by 2030, develop AI Growth Zones, establish a National Data Library and expand the use of AI across government and the wider…

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Government’s Manchester led mental health digital innovation scheme launches

A University of Manchester led national initiative aims to connect people with lived experience, industry, researchers and the NHS to transform mental health innovation across the UK.The Mental Health Digital Innovation (MHDI) workstream has been launched as one arm of the UK Government’s Mental Health Goals Programme as a new national initiative designed to accelerate the infrastructure and development to support adoption of digital technologies that improve mental health outcomes…

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The Cold War: Legitimacy and Rules in Great Power Rivalry

As the uncertainty of the contemporary international landscape makes us look back on the Cold War-era international system with a certain admiration and nostalgia, it must be pointed out that the 1946-1991 epoch was no time of peace. Timofei Bordachev, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club, explores the nature of the Soviet-American competition and its relevance for world affairs in our day and age. This year, 2026, marks the…

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Two More Down as the Bell Continues to Toll for TPS

Just hours after publication of our earlier alert, USCIS issued updated guidance confirming that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for both Burma (Myanmar) and South Sudan is terminated effective August 7, 2026. USCIS stated that TPS-based Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued under categories A12 and C19 for beneficiaries from both countries are no longer valid, and employers must reverify affected employees who previously presented those documents. The announcements supersede all prior…

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California Appellate Court Affirms Restraining Order Based on Harassment

Quick Hits In Adelanto Elementary School District v. Krause, a California appellate court upheld the bulk of a restraining order against a former school district superintendent who later was elected to the school district’s board of trustees. The court found the former superintendent exhibited a pattern of stalking and harassing texts that were “alarming and frightening” to employees. The court shortened the duration of the restraining order and removed a…

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The CMU Data Helping Pittsburgh See Heat and Air Pollution More Clearly

As Pittsburgh faces hotter summers and persistent air quality problems, Carnegie Mellon University researchers are turning environmental data into tools that residents, advocates and policymakers can use to identify risks, make smarter planning decisions, and improve the health of the city and its residents.  New environmental research from CMU offers new insights into which areas of Pittsburgh are the warmest and how different kinds of buildings and road surfaces can affect…

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Africa-Russia Academic Mobility: From Soviet Legacy to New Horizons

Graduates of Soviet higher education institutions have shaped contemporary Africa, returning home with invaluable skills in spheres ranging from medicine and agriculture to energy and mining. Today, Russia is once more emerging as an educational and academic hub for African students, with much to offer aspiring specialists from the continent. Yet, tapping into this potential will require more than just political will on its own, writes Souleymane Anta Ndiaye, Former…

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The Bell Rings Louder: TPS Deadlines Draw Near

The pace of change in employment authorization policy has long been relentless, but the developments of the last several days have been particularly significant. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released updated guidance, courts permitted several Temporary Protected Status (TPS) terminations to proceed, and a stay was denied in litigation challenging the TPS provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Judge Lifts Haiti Stay; USCIS Issues Additional Guidance…

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CCAA vesting orders and Crown royalty arrears: Alberta Court of Appeal confirms finality

In Alberta (Energy and Minerals) v Spartan Delta Corp,1 the Court of Appeal held that Alberta Energy’s claims for both pre-filing and post-filing royalty arrears under leases sold subject to a CCAA vesting order were barred by operation of the joint, but not several, liability created under the Mines and Minerals Act, RSA 2000, c M-17 (MMA) and the wording of the vesting order. Spartan has important implications and provides…

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Senate Confirms 2 NLRB Members, Creating 3–1 Majority

Quick Hits The U.S. Senate confirmed two nominees for the NLRB to new five-year terms. The confirmations give the Board a 3–1 Republican majority that will allow it to overturn precedential decisions. Despite the new additions, one vacancy on the five-member Board remains. The Senate confirmed Republican James Macy, a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) official and former management-side labor attorney, and Democrat David Prouty, who was renominated for a…

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Build Canada Homes’ first moves: 4,000 direct-build units and a controversial B.C. condo conversion push

On Sept. 14, 2025, the Canadian government launched Build Canada Homes, a new federal agency designed to increase Canada’s housing supply by building affordable housing at scale. Build Canada Homes will work with provinces, territories, municipalities and Indigenous communities to build affordable community housing for low-income households, while also partnering with private developers to deliver affordable housing for middle-class Canadians. The federal government introduced Bill C-20, the Build Canada Homes…

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Texas Pauses Pending Data Center Grid Interconnections for Project-by-Project Audit

Key Takeaways Governor Greg Abbott has directed the PUCT and ERCOT to pause pending data center interconnection requests until each project completes a comprehensive audit. The audit will examine project power demand and generation strategy, water use, public incentives, community impacts, and ownership. ERCOT’s existing Batch Zero schedule calls for initial project classifications by August 7, but neither ERCOT nor the PUCT has publicly announced how the new audit will…

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Senate Confirms 2 New NLRB Members, Creating 3–1 majority

Quick Hits The U.S. Senate confirmed two nominees for the NLRB to new five-year terms. The confirmations give the Board a 3–1 Republican majority that will allow it to overturn precedential decisions. Despite the new additions, one vacancy on the five-member Board remains. The Senate confirmed Republican James Macy, a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) official and former management-side labor attorney, and Democrat David Prouty, who was renominated for a…

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Ontario Court of Appeal rules on ESA termination clauses: The Baker and Li decisions

Two recent Ontario employment law decisions, Baker v. Van Dolder’s Home Team Inc., 2025 ONSC 952, and Li v. Wayfair Canada ULC, 2025 ONSC 2959, have renewed scrutiny of termination provisions that limit employees to minimum statutory entitlements under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the ESA). Although both cases address “ESA only” drafting, the lower courts had reached opposing conclusions. Both appeals were argued on March 25, 2026, and the Court…

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DOL Opens 2026 VETS-4212 Filing Platform: Covered Contractors and Data Requirements

Quick Hits The 2026 VETS-4212 reporting platform opened on August 1, 2026. All 2026 VETS-4212 filings are due by September 30, 2026. Federal contractors and subcontractors with a single covered contract of $200,000 or more are required to file VETS-4212 reports. Who must file VETS-4212 reports? Federal contractors or subcontractors with a single contract of $200,000 or more for the procurement of personal property or nonpersonal services, regardless of the…

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From oil to electrons: lessons from the 1970s energy crises

7 August 2026By Daniela Arlia and John HutchinsonEurope’s electricity mix has become cleaner and less exposed to fossil fuel price swings. The challenge now is to extend electrification to transport, heating and industry. The lesson from the 1970s is that we must not just diversify energy supply but push for structural change too.Europe is once again confronting the macroeconomic consequences of its dependence on imported energy. This is not a…

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India and the SCO

India’s CHS presidency India assumed the presidency of SCO CHS (the Council of Heads of State) on September 16, 2022 at the Summit in Samarkand and virtually hosted the SCO-CHS Summit on July 4, 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi articulated India’s priorities as moving towards a ‘SECURE’ SCO – Security, Economic Development, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as environmental protection. During the course of its…

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Seyfarth Further Expands National Trial Capabilities by Adding Leading Litigator Nathan Muyskens in Washington, DC

August 6, 2026 -  Seyfarth Shaw LLP continues to extend its litigation and investigations platform with the addition of nationally recognized trial lawyer Nathan Muyskens as a partner in Washington, DC. Muyskens will serve as co-chair of Seyfarth's White Collar practice and as a key member of the firm's national Trial team. Muyskens’ arrival at Seyfarth follows months after another preeminent trial lawyer, Marc Mukasey, moved to Seyfarth along with…

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Ontario Court of Appeal Clarifies Interpretive Framework for Termination Clauses in Employment Contracts

Quick Hits In Baker v. Van Dolder’s Home Team Inc. (2026 ONCA 568), the Ontario Court of Appeal unanimously held that without-cause termination provisions containing the words “at any time” or “at any time and for any reason” are not, by that language alone, inconsistent with the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and are therefore enforceable. The decision provides an authoritative interpretive framework: termination provisions must be read in context,…

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Why Soft is One of the Most Expensive Words in Your Business

Everyone says culture matters.   Very few organisations account for it that way.  Culture is the first thing cut when money gets tight and the last thing measured when it doesn’t. Not because leaders stop believing in it, but because they can’t defend it and tell you what it’s worth. Marketing has revenue forecasts. Technology has business cases. Operations have productivity metrics. Every significant investment arrives with a number attached. Culture arrives with an engagement score.   And anything that everyone agrees matters, but no one…

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State Department Finalizes Visa Bond Program for B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa Applicants

Quick Hits On August 3, 2026, the State Department published a final rule, effective immediately, that establishes a permanent visa bond program. The rule allows consular officers to require certain B-1/B-2 visa applicants from designated countries to post bonds of $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 based on an applicant’s individual circumstances. A visa bond may be forfeited if the visa holder violates the bond’s terms and conditions, including by overstaying or…

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