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Scientists map how deadly bacteria evolved to become epidemic

P. aeruginosa is responsible for over 500,000 deaths per year around the world, of which over 300,000 are associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). People with conditions such as COPD (smoking-related lung damage), cystic fibrosis (CF), and non-CF bronchiectasis, are particularly susceptible.How P. aeruginosa evolved from an environmental organism into a specialised human pathogen was not previously known. To investigate this, an international team led by scientists at the University of…

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The Ultimate Leader Checklist

Just past the midpoint of the calendar year, July is frequently a month when leaders are looking to refresh their professional goals, thinking about new ways of working, new ideas for connecting with and leading their teams, and even new ways to define their organization’s culture or mission. To support these resolutions for leaders, Perceptyx has compiled insights from our Research and Workforce Transformation teams. Use these recommendations to form…

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Best of Pioneers and Pathfinders: Cindy Cohn

In honor of Independence Day, we're revisiting our discussion with Cindy Cohn, executive director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). For many years, Cindy has been a champion for civil liberties in the digital space. In our conversation, she spoke about the EFF's history and mission, as well as the human rights issues she focuses on today. We hope you enjoy the holiday this week. We will return next week…

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  • Reading time:2 mins read
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Mexico Amends Human Trafficking Law to Include Excess Work Shifts as a Crime of Labor Exploitation

Quick Hits Mexico’s Human Trafficking Law has been amended to define overtime work generated beyond legal limits as a form of labor exploitation. When overtime is generated, employers will have to pay for it and may be liable for fines and penalties. The Human Trafficking Law establishes a penalty of three to ten years of imprisonment and a fine of 5,000 to 50,000 fine days. The penalties increase to four…

  • Post category:Ogletree Deakins
  • Reading time:4 mins read
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5 Skills Your Managers Need (But Probably Don’t Have) to Effectively Interview Job Applicants

Did you know that 76% of hiring managers admit that attracting the right job candidates is their greatest challenge? Why? Because many managers lack key skills needed for effective interviewing. Culture matters to employees, but it’s just as crucial for hiring. Keep in mind that you’re not alone in searching for the best people, and employees are equally on the lookout for the best workplaces. Keep the application process simple,…

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  • Reading time:3 mins read
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What does the future hold for India?

3D image of people forming the shape of India and organized based on their clothing color creating the pattern of the national flag. India is a place of superlatives. It’s home to the world’s fifth-largest economy. Its population, at over 1.4 billion people, has surpassed China’s to become the largest in the world. And that population is young: at a median age of 27.6, Indians are on average more than…

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From the Fall of USSR to the Rise of a Multipolar World. And Now What?

The fall of the USSR in 1989-91 provoked a sense of omnipotence in the dominant circles of Western capitalism, all the more so as it was preceded by a decade in which neoliberalism triumphantly ascended in the West itself (1980-90), as well as the decline of a series of Third World regimes that had emerged from anti-colonial, national liberation movements and revolutions. This feeling was captured by Francis Fukuyama in…

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How Africa Can Embrace Venture Capital

According to the African Development Bank, 11 African countries currently feature in the top 20 fastest-growing global economies. The organisation’s latest Outlook Report estimates that real GDP (gross domestic product) growth for the continent is expected to average 3.8 and 4.2 percent in 2024 and 2025 respectively. That compares favourably to projected global averages of just 2.9 and 3.2 percent in the same time periods. By actively seeking out and supporting African-led…

  • Post category:INSEAD Knowledge
  • Reading time:8 mins read
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When Being Responsive is a Responsibility

If a company manages to double the demand for its products, it will undoubtedly celebrate its outstanding performance. But when demand for a company’s products increases 10 times, there’s no time to celebrate. Instead, a supply chain shock ensues. This was the experience of Kenvue at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, when demand for much of its range of self-care and essential health products spiked. Over the…

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  • Reading time:6 mins read
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Supply chain ‘goes rouge’: Inside Coty’s makeover

Among tens of thousands of products, millions of customers, and an infinite number of outside forces shaping demand, how does one identify the next “it” beauty product—and get it in shoppers’ hands as quickly as they want it? While those questions were top of mind for Coty before the COVID-19 pandemic, the company first had to contend with stagnating revenues, inefficient operations, and runaway costs. The international beauty business—which owns…

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How euro area firms’ inflation expectations affect their business decisions

4 July 2024By Ursel Baumann, Annalisa Ferrando, Dimitris Georgarakos, Yuriy Gorodnichenko, Judit Rariga and Timo Reinelt Firms’ inflation expectations are key for monetary policy makers. The ECB Blog presents new survey data on these expectations, evidence on what influences them, how they change when new information becomes available, and if they matter for the plans and choices firms make. Setting prices, negotiating wages, deciding how much to invest or how…

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10 ways to impact business velocity through Azure OpenAI Service

Organizations across industries are leveraging Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service and Copilot services and capabilities to drive growth, increase productivity, and create value-added experiences. The phrase, “time is money,” is commonly attributed to Benjamin Franklin, who first used it in his essay “Advice to a Young Tradesman,” published in 1748. Franklin was addressing the economic value of time, a concept increasingly relevant when discussing AI’s impact on business today. AI is…

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The ‘evergreen economy’: Harnessing the power of healthy longevity

The majority of people can now expect to grow older. By 2050, 1.6 billion people will be over the age of 65. The challenge—and opportunity—that comes with increased life expectancy is ensuring that those extra years are as healthy and productive as possible. It’s an attainable goal, asserts British economist Andrew J. Scott, if the global focus shifts from the notion of an aging society to that of a longevity…

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The Need for Mindfulness, Reflection, and Inquiry in Our Busy World

Can a mindfulness practice help us at work? In a season focusing on how we learn through experience, I wanted to make sure that we heard about some of the social science that supports the practices. My guest on this episode has lived a fascinating life and has so much wisdom to share on this topic. Lindsey Cameron is an assistant professor of management at the Wharton School, University of…

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The European Health Data Space – What lies ahead?

In March 2024, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached a deal on a provisional agreement for the European Health Data Space (“EHDS”) regulation as part of the broader EU data strategy. The Council of the European Union published the compromise text of this agreement as a work-in-progress, providing insights into the forthcoming regulation and its implications. What is the EHDS about In a nutshell, the…

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  • Reading time:10 mins read
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Redundancy Dismissal Found to Be Unfair Following Failure to Consult Employee on ‘Pool of One’

Quick Hits The employer had not engaged in “meaningful consultation” with the employee, rendering the dismissal “procedurally unfair.” A fair redundancy process requires that employers adhere to a thoughtful and well-documented pooling and consultation process, which includes clear communication with affected employees. Background Zubair Valimulla worked for Al-Khair Foundation as a masjid liaison officer (MLO) employed at the charity’s Bolton branch. Three other employees performed the same or similar roles…

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The Six Most Popular Stories of 2024 — So Far

Catch up on articles you might have missed and get expert advice on hard truths about meetings, AI and data science, return-to-office mandates, and more. Laurianne McLaughlin July 02, 2024 Reading Time: 3 min  subscribe-icon Subscribe Share When I interviewed Phillip G. Clampitt in early 2024 about how leaders could better handle employee pushback, I sensed that he had much more wisdom to offer on the topic. One particular pain…

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Rhode Island Legislative Update 2024: New Laws on Leave Entitlements, Minimum Wage Exemptions, and Arbitration Agreements

Quick Hits Workers in Rhode Island will receive up to seven weeks of paid time off to bond with a new child or care for a sick family member in 2025. That number will increase to eight weeks in 2026. Domestic workers are now eligible for minimum wage and overtime protections. Independent contractors must file an annual notice of designation under the workers’ compensation law for every entity that retains…

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Microsoft Flight Simulator update includes Buffalo, Allentown and Washington, D.C.

Microsoft Flight Simulator: City Update IX highlights select locations throughout the northeastern United States with updated aerial imagery, new digital elevation models, and TIN (triangulated irregular network) surface texturing. The update includes the Washington, DC region; Buffalo, New York; Allentown, Pennsylvania area; and the East End of Long Island, New York. They are the latest enhancements to the immersive and ever-improving Microsoft Flight Simulator world experience!Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia)…

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Five Essential Elements to Build the Capital You Need to Lead

To aspiring entrepreneurs and other business practitioners looking to advance their careers, the path to a leadership role may seem daunting. Yet anyone with a dream to open a business, start a nonprofit, or simply move up the ranks at work can indeed get where they want to go, as long as they learn to recognize and build their leadership capital—the resources and influence needed to realize their goals, says…

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Genetic study points to oxytocin as possible treatment for obesity and postnatal depression

Obesity and postnatal depression are significant global health problems. Postnatal depression affects more than one in 10 women within a year of giving birth and is linked to an increased risk of suicide, which accounts for as many as one in five maternal deaths in high income countries. Meanwhile, obesity has more than doubled in adults since 1990 and quadrupled in adolescents, according to the World Health Organization.While investigating two…

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Doing What You Love Doesn’t Always Pay for Women

It’s a clichéd staple of commencement speeches and family dinners: “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” This advice is particularly resonant in a culturally individualistic country such as the U.S., where the idea of “following your passion” guides many young people as they choose their educational path and subsequent career. But new research suggests that this advice could have different consequences for women…

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Cutting-edge genomic test can improve care of children with cancer

The study, published today in Nature Medicine, is the first time that the impact of using whole genome sequencing in current NHS practice has been assessed. It was led by researchers at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Wellcome Sanger Institute and Great Ormond Street Hospital.The team analysed the use of routine genome sequencing, through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service, at Cambridge University Hospitals, where such tests…

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What to read next: McKinsey’s 2024 annual book recommendations

As publishers of insights, we believe that reading books can be a powerful tool for learning, growing, and navigating the landscape of today’s complex business environment. And books can both illuminate and provide moments of respite from the demands of daily life. McKinsey Global Publishing leader Raju Narisetti returns with McKinsey’s 2024 annual book recommendations list—a McKinsey Global Publishing tradition—featuring suggestions from 50-plus CEOs and global leaders in media, nonprofit,…

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Legal Regulation Issues in the Area of Information Technologies and Artificial Intelligence in Africa

Legal regulation of IT by the AU  In 2014, the AU approved its own Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection similar to the CE document. The AU was certainly based on the European experience but it also took into consideration its own record and African realities. This explains why the African Convention includes 38 articles grouped into four large chapters, whereas the European Convention has only 27 articles…

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Navigating shifting risks in the insurance industry

Today’s insurers are exposed to multiple risks, from financial risks, such as shifting interest rates, changing costs and sources of capital, and increasing claims levels due to consecutive years of significant inflation, to an array of nonfinancial risks, including extreme climate events and generative AI (gen AI). This uncertain environment has spurred leaders to be more cautious but also more innovative in a way that still supports a path to…

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How the apparel industry could refashion itself

A bit of retail therapy can feel like harmless fun. Yet getting a great deal on a new shirt or pair of shoes may come with a hidden price tag: greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and the mistreatment of workers and animals. The average cotton T-shirt, for example, requires about 700 gallons of water to make. A fast-fashion polyester top is made from petroleum, sheds microfibers, and may spend decades…

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Should Your Brand Take a Stand?

Leaders face tough choices on whether and how their businesses should take a public stance on current events. Today’s conflicts may be particularly precarious to navigate. Cynthia E. Clark July 01, 2024 Reading Time: 3 min  Topics Leadership Corporate Social Responsibility Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images Growing concern over polarizing culture wars points to the need for leaders to understand when it makes sense for their company to speak…

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Can You Collaborate With Someone You Compete Against?

In December 2022, the world watched in awe as Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappé lit up the World Cup final. Playing at a top international tournament for their national team is the pinnacle of any footballer’s career. But what happens when they returned to their club, where their teammates are often their rivals on the international stage? Can team members who compete in another context resume their initial levels…

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Microsoft Dynamics 365 Contact Center is now generally available 

On June 4, 2024, we introduced the latest milestone in our journey towards modernizing customer engagement: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Contact Center, a Microsoft Copilot-first contact center solution that delivers generative AI to every customer engagement channel. This standalone Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) solution enables customers to maximize their current investments by connecting to preferred customer relationship management systems (CRMs) or custom apps.   Dynamics 365 Contact Center A complete…

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Embracing generative AI in credit risk

Some technologies are so compelling that they quickly take on a life of their own. Generative AI (gen AI) made the leap from the laboratory to the mainstream in late 2022, when Open AI launched a public beta of its ChatGPT service. Within two months, it had more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing product in human history. By the first quarter of 2023, big technology companies were…

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AI Tools Reshape Job Application Process

Artificial intelligence rapidly changed the ways that companies screen applicants for positions, and now job seekers themselves use generative AI to navigate this evolving career landscape. According to Sean McGowan, director of employer relations at Carnegie Mellon University’s Career and Professional Development Center(opens in new window) (CPDC), generative AI can be a speedy and powerful tool in the job search process — when used ethically and responsibly — yet traditional approaches…

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Cambridge spin-out’s sportscar prototype takes ultra-fast charging out of the lab and onto the road

In addition to ultra-fast charging times, the batteries developed by Nyobolt – which was spun out of Professor Dame Clare Grey’s lab in the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry in 2019 – do not suffer from the degradation issues associated with lithium-ion batteries.Tests of the first running Nyobolt EV prototype will be used to validate the company’s battery performance in a high-performance environment. Cambridge-based Nyobolt has used its patented carbon…

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Largest ever genetic study of age of puberty in girls shows links with weight gain

In the largest study of its kind to date, an international team led by researchers at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, studied the DNA of around 800,000 women from Europe, North America, China, Japan, and Korea.Published today in Nature Genetics, the researchers found more than 1,000 variants – small changes in DNA – that influence the age of first menstrual period. Around 600 of these…

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Transformation of BRICS: From Symbolic Power to a Real Financial Pole in The Modern World

This year, Russia will be hosting the BRICS summit in October in Kazan. Our governmental circles, our ministries and our NGOs are all preparing for the summit. It is considered the key foreign policy event in Russia this year. The top political question, as I personally see it, could be with regards to greater solidarity between the BRICS countries in the wake of the enlargement, and as new members have…

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The decisive edge: 5 steps to improve organizational decision making

In a landscape where big and small decisions can have meaningful impacts on an organization’s strategic and cultural direction, building intentional and healthy decision-making habits is essential. What makes for “healthy” habits is determined by the company’s growth stage and current needs. For mid-size companies, the balance between rapid growth and operational efficiency can be particularly challenging. Changing roles, evolving leadership expectations, and shifting customer demands put pressure on the…

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Look-alikes and trade dress protection: guidance from Italian Court on how brand owners can take enforcement action against third party imitators  

22nd May 2024 To what extent can product packaging be an illicit look-alike of a competitor’s product packaging?  A ruling by the Court of Turin provides some guidance on look-alikes and trade dress protection.  Look-alikes are deemed to contravene Italy’s unfair competition rule. Consequently, the Court granted a preliminary injunction in favor of the applicant. This case provides an insight into how Italian courts will assess infringing products of this nature. The…

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‘You’re not a wave. You’re water,’ – Melinda French Gates

Throughout her life, philanthropist and businesswoman Melinda French Gates has navigated difficult transitions, including career changes, having children, and losing a close friend. In each case, she felt terrified that life as she knew it would end." hroughoutThroughout her life, philanthropist and businesswoman Melinda French Gates has navigated difficult transitions, including career changes, having children, and losing a close friend. In each case, she felt terrified that life as she…

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Minnesota Ban on Staffing Agency Nonsolicitation Provisions to Take Effect July 1, 2024

Quick Hits Minnesota’s new ban on the use of nonsolicitation agreements by service providers or staffing agencies takes effect on July 1, 2024. The law will prohibit service providers from restricting in any way its employees from being solicited or hired by user companies. The law will render such provisions void and enforceable. The new law, which was contained in Minnesota’s Labor and Industry Policy Omnibus bill signed by Governor…

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