Every creative process begins with an idea—and that idea starts with you. Today we’re announcing that the Microsoft Designer app is now generally available with a personal Microsoft account, with new features that help you create and edit like never before. You can express yourself in brand new ways and bring your most creative ideas to life in seconds—all with the help of AI. A blank canvas no longer has to be…
The team say that while these experiences can be very positive, that is not always the case. Mindfulness teachers and students need to be aware that they can be a side-effect of training, and students should feel empowered to share their experiences with their teacher or doctor if they have any concerns.Mindfulness-based programmes have become very popular in recent years. According to recent surveys, 15% of adults in the UK…
The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, took their inspiration from electric eels, which stun their prey with modified muscle cells called electrocytes.Like electrocytes, the jelly-like materials developed by the Cambridge researchers have a layered structure, like sticky Lego, that makes them capable of delivering an electric current. The self-healing jelly batteries can stretch to over ten times their original length without affecting their conductivity – the first time…
As climate change intensifies, homeowners are increasingly looking to retrofit their homes to make them more resilient and energy efficient, with projects such as hurricane-proof windows and doors, or solar panels on roofs. But not everyone can afford these important upgrades that would help them ready their homes against extreme weather and give them some buffer against rising home insurance premiums. A small but growing program known as PACE (Property…
The job market in the United States may have grown stronger in the past few months, but a closer look at the data suggests retailers face difficulties. As of May 2024, there were about 2.5 million more job vacancies than job seekers. That spells trouble for retail executives, who continue to see higher-than-average attrition rates within their frontline workforces. Based on responses from more than 1,000 US frontline retail workers,…
Two weeks ago, we wrote that business leaders are not flocking to GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, with no Fortune 100 CEOs having donated financially to Trump this year—a pattern broken only now by Elon Musk’s pronouncement Monday. While we commendably saw a surge of statements of sympathy from business leaders in the hours following the despicable, horrendous assassination attempt on Trump this weekend, Trump’s selection of freshman Ohio Senator…
A recent decision of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Board (the “Board”) reinforces why auto manufacturers need to ensure they have a proactive process in place to address the timely renewal of expiring dealer agreements. Based on the Board's recent decision, OEMs cannot and should not assume that the terms of an expired dealer agreement remain enforceable, particularly when the issue is being decided by a dealer board, as one OEM…
Ask board members their most important duty, and they will likely say it is appointing and overseeing the CEO. Yet many boards fail to make appropriate choices, often because they don’t prepare candidates for the challenges they will inevitably face after stepping into the role.When CEO appointments go wrong Let’s begin by taking a look at three examples of poor leadership at public companies and addressing what went wrong. Then,…
Apparently, at least according to my family’s social media feeds, the secret is simple — all you need to do is wish for something hard enough and the universe will provide it. Manifesting works on the assumption that the universe is a place of boundless abundance and that it’s listening to you. So all you need to do to get wherever you want is to ask the universe hard enough, and it…
How strict are the requirements for proving acquired distinctiveness throughout the EU? This question has been bothering trade mark owners for years. In a recent decision, the General Court raises the bar for evidence of acquired distinctiveness. The Background In 1998, well-known Champagne producer Veuve Clicquot sought protection for “wines from Champagne” in class 33 for the following colour: In the “Description” section of the trade mark application, the following…
The findings highlight the urgent need for monitoring and support for the mental health of young people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.According to the charity JDRF, there are 8.7 million people living with type 1 diabetes around the world, including over 400,000 people in the UK. It is a chronic, life-threatening condition, usually diagnosed in childhood, that has a life-long impact. Currently, people with type 1 diabetes rely on a…
The global aerospace and defense (A&D) sector is booming. The return of air travel to prepandemic levels is one factor behind soaring demand. Another is greater geopolitical instability, which has led to growing national defense spending (in Europe, for example) and rising demand for ammunition. Order volumes across products have increased significantly, and a burst of talent recruiting is under way in the sector. However, headwinds persist. Matching the growing…
If Armenia wants to take steps to reduce its military and defence obligations to Russia by withdrawing from the CSTO, France has a difficult road ahead filling the military and defence vacuum there, writes Valdai Club expert Vali Kaleji. In his article, Dr. Vali Kaleji, a Tehran-based expert on Central Asia and Caucasian Studies, postulates that Nikol Pashinyan’s rise to power in Armenia in May 2018, the decline of relations…
We launched Threads with the belief that everyone has something valuable to say. It’s been a year now, and we’re seeing it become a place where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. In fact, India is one of the most active countries for Threads globally. To celebrate this moment, we’re sharing new updates and insights, as well as some highlights from this journey. One Year For Threads: New…
The African elites have formed a strong desire to achieve a prominent position both in the global hierarchy and in international trade and the overall distribution of global goods, writes Valdai Club Chairman Andrey Bystritskiy.When we say that the world is beginning to move, and a new world order is emerging, it’s important to understand that all relationships are undergoing change and transformation, including those between continents, regions and countries.…
The study found that UPF consumption was highest among adolescents from deprived backgrounds, those of white ethnicity, and younger adolescents.UPFs are food items that are manufactured from industrial substances and contain additives such as preservatives, sweeteners, colourings, flavourings, and emulsifiers. UPFs vary greatly, but tend to indicate poor dietary quality, with higher levels of added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium, as well as decreased fibre, protein, and micronutrient content. They…
Traditional productivity metrics are used by many companies to assess the value that employees bring to the organisation. These tangible, quantifiable and results-based measurements include work quality and output, efficiency and the number of projects completed on time and on budget. Some managers rely solely on these metrics to determine promotions, salary increases and performance bonuses. However, some companies and managers may take this too far. It becomes problematic when…
Despite challenging overall market conditions in 2023, continuing investments in frontier technologies promise substantial future growth in enterprise adoption. Generative AI (gen AI) has been a standout trend since 2022, with the extraordinary uptick in interest and investment in this technology unlocking innovative possibilities across interconnected trends such as robotics and immersive reality. While the macroeconomic environment with elevated interest rates has affected equity capital investment and hiring, underlying indicators—including…
Research Highlight Disrupt or adapt: Which is the best choice for your company? Here’s how to frame the decision. Murat Tarakci, Fabian J. Sting, Jan Recker, and Gerald C. Kane July 16, 2024 Reading Time: 8 min Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images The Research The authors conducted numerous interviews and onsite observations during a period of six years at Australian retail chain Woolworths as it engaged in strategic competition…
When private equity (PE) firms buy a company, they typically follow a standard playbook to create value—streamlining operations, restructuring debt, changing management, and cutting costs. However, as digital technologies and artificial intelligence allow companies to drive productivity and innovation, PE firms are discovering new sources of value creation, new research shows. Moreover, the PE industry itself has become more competitive as the number of PE firms grows, prompting firms to…
Electrifying heat production is not just good for the planet; it is also technically feasible and increasingly cost competitive. However, enduring perceptions of industrial heat as “difficult to electrify” have hindered progress toward the decarbonization of heat. Electrification can be an accessible and viable option to decarbonize most low- and medium-temperature heat needs across multiple sectors, including food and beverages, manufacturing, and chemicals. High-temperature heat electrification is also ongoing, as…
It is January 2025 and two people are sitting at the departure gate at Heathrow waiting for their (inevitably) delayed flight to the Bahamas. They start a conversation and talk about why they are flying to this Caribbean island. Person A, Mrs Sunseeker, explains to Person B, that she had lived in the UK for a long time as a resident “non-dom,” but that expected changes to the tax rules…
What if instead of trying to win an argument, you aimed to truly understand your opponent? Imagine a world where disagreements were seen as opportunities to expand your own perspective and build empathy – a pathway to cultivating compassion, grace, and humility. This radical approach to conflict was at the heart of PHIL 3: Democracy and Disagreement, a spring quarter course taught by Debra Satz, the Vernon R. and Lysbeth…
Africa is both heavily dependent on nature and experiencing rapid nature loss. Some 62 percent of African GDP is moderately or highly dependent on the services that nature provides and 70 percent of communities in sub-Saharan Africa depend on forests and woodlands for their livelihoods. In parallel, momentum is building in the African financial sector in response. This new joint report by McKinsey Sustainability and FSD Africa consolidates the findings…
Founded in 2013, Flexport is a global supply chain technology platform and logistics provider. Flexport describes its technology platform as providing services “from factory floors to customer doors,” helping cargo owners manage and monitor end-to-end shipments via sea, air, rail, and road, with customs brokerage, direct-to-consumer fulfillment, wholesale distribution, and other services. In 2023, a year in which Flexport’s technology and services were used to move more than $32 billion…
Brian Kenny: On March 21, 2006, Jack Dorsey, founder of Twitter, launched a communications revolution with the phrase, "just set up my twttr" all lowercase. Little did he know that 15 years, hence almost to the day, those 16 characters would net him $2.9 million. More specifically, a digital image of this first ever tweet was sold at auction as an NFT or Non-Fungible Token. If you're not sure what…
Of cottages and capital gains vbois July 4, 2024
It is important that efforts be made in a more tangible and practical way to bolster our common humanity should we seek a shared destiny. Drawing upon the uneven distribution of knowledge competences, it could prove useful for the BRICS+ to utilise their capacities and capabilities in science and technology to provide information and technical solutions on a more socialised basis, Rasigan Maharajh writes.World history is characterised by geopolitical tensions,…
Revenues from embedded finance (EF)—the delivery of financial products by nonfinancial entities within their broader offerings—could surpass €100 billion in Europe by the end of the decade, according to McKinsey forecasts. The distribution of financial products and services, such as loans and insurance, in third-party channels is gaining importance as technology and data allow for instant and seamless customer journeys, and customers increasingly expect to find financial services when and…
When not designed with children’s needs in mind, Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have an “empathy gap” that puts young users at particular risk of distress or harm, according to a study.The research, by a University of Cambridge academic, Dr Nomisha Kurian, urges developers and policy actors to make “child-safe AI” an urgent priority. It provides evidence that children are particularly susceptible to treating AI chatbots as lifelike, quasi-human confidantes, and…
Rising water prices are forcing many households in the United States to choose between rationing water or risking shutoff by leaving bills unpaid. A new study in Environmental Research Letters shows government agencies and water utilities may be underestimating the true number of households at risk of losing affordable access to basic water service – and offers a solution. “Water affordability is a growing problem and we need new tools…
Topics Social Responsibility Sustainability Dan Page/theispot.com Leaders can’t escape the global imperative to reduce the contributions businesses make to environmental degradation, but deep down, many harbor doubts: Can a profit-driven organization also be sustainable? Pressure to grow revenue and control costs is constant. How can a leader feel confident in pursuing more sustainable choices and defending them to boards and shareholders sensitive to the often higher costs of greener approaches?…
Protecting your financial position when you’re unmarried may be slightly more complicated. But with some careful checks you and your partner can take steps to ensure you’re not financially disadvantaged. Ed Read Cutting, our Director in Belgium, looks at the key areas to consider. More couples today are co-habiting or in same sex relationships, with marriage rates continuing to fall. As a result there are now 3.6 million unmarried couples…
Inheritance Tax is one of the most punishing elements in the UK tax system, and many families are keen to do everything they can to reduce or eliminate it. One of the options available is to use a family heirloom to offset an Inheritance Tax bill. Steve Wright, our Estates Director, explains what’s possible. When it comes to dealing with Estates, one of the main areas of concern is Inheritance…
Only 36 percent of the 500 largest companies in the United Kingdom are publicly listed, a marked shift that has been under way for many years, so a thorough understanding of today’s UK corporate landscape requires looking beyond the “UK plc”. Our research, which goes beyond publicly listed companies to consider the entire UK corporate landscape, indicates that top performers are more adept and purposeful in creating the conditions to…
The wave of layoffs in Silicon Valley in the past two years is far from over. After a brutal 2023 that saw over 100,000 tech workers laid off in the United States, 2024 shows no signs of letting up.While the headlines are shocking, the human stories behind the numbers are just as important. How do tech professionals respond to layoffs? Do they view it as an opportunity for exploration or are they…
The run up to hitting the deadline for go live can be stressful. Pressure from stakeholders, concerns about the budget or worries the project team will lose face are all key concerns. You might be launching a new product, pressing the green light on a new system or introducing a new service – but guaranteed, the eyes of the business will be on you and you need to get it…
The key to sustained growth relies on an ability to innovate reliably and sustainably. At Skarbek, we are embarking on a journey to unravel the mystery behind what makes the best excel at this. Leveraging our experts’ vast experience and highlighting attributes from our Innovation Fitness Index, we aim to provide unique insights into some of the core factors impacting innovation success. Today’s article is focused on the specific Innovation…
In a rapid-fire response, the Ryan Court in the Northern District of Texas this morning denied Plaintiff and Plaintiff-Intervenors’ Expedited Motion for Limited Reconsideration of the Scope of Preliminary Relief, and Plaintiff and Plaintiff-Intervenors’ Motion for Expedited Consideration of their Motion for Limited Reconsideration of the Scope of Preliminary Relief (for more on these motions, see here). In a three-sentence Order, the Court provided no explanation except that Plaintiff and…
Quick Hits An advocacy organization recently submitted signatures to put forth a ballot measure to raise the state minimum wage to $18 per hour. Arizona voters will decide a separate ballot measure to alter way the minimum wage is calculated for tipped workers. If passed by voters, both measures would take effect immediately. Arizona voters appear poised to decide on two wage increases via voter ballot initiatives in November. Raise…