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Transformation in power and utilities with the Microsoft Cloud and AI 

Driven by population and economic growth, global energy demand is expected to continue increasing in the coming years. With elevated awareness around fossil fuels and climate impact, investors are dedicating financial resources toward more sustainable methods of generating and consuming energy. For power and utility providers, that means a growing interest in renewable energy, which saw a 30% increase last year, compared to just 13% in the same period the…

  • Post category:Microsoft
  • Reading time:8 mins read
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Simplification for success: Rewiring the biopharma operating model

Mounting headwinds in recent years have prompted biopharmaceutical companies to redefine how they create and sustain value. Over the past decade, the industry has produced major scientific breakthroughs, leading to improved outcomes for patients and strong shareholder returns of roughly 9 percent annually. However, companies are increasingly competing within crowded therapeutic spaces, asset life cycles are compressing, and major patents are expiring—all of which are compounded by stagnant R&D productivity,…

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Lord Patrick Vallance, Science Minister and Oxford-Cambridge Innovation Champion, visits Cambridge

During his visit he saw the proposed city-centre site of Cambridge’s new flagship innovation hub, which was endorsed by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves earlier this year, and heard about plans for the space to support venture-backed, rapidly scaling companies. The hub will connect entrepreneurs, investors, and corporates, serving as the UK’s equivalent to Lab Central in Boston or Station F in Paris – a beacon for global talent and capital.While…

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Jon and Rick Levin discuss generational shifts and university life after retirement

At an event hosted by the Stanford Emeriti/ae Community, President Jon Levin and his father, Yale President Emeritus Rick Levin, discussed the continued role of emeriti/ae faculty in university life, technology, and generational shifts in student communities.While much of the conversation, moderated by Iris Litt, chair of the Emeriti Council and professor emerita of pediatrics, focused on emeriti/ae concerns, they also touched on other aspects of campus life as well,…

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Managing labour cost: Insights and lessons for the resource and other sectors for 2025

Employers in the resources sector are watchful of legal developments in 2025 that could significantly impact their labour strategies, particularly their ability to engage, utilise and remove contractors. With non-labour costs rising and commodity prices remaining below their 2022 peaks, companies are under pressure to find ways to reduce labour costs. In this two-part series, I will look at three cases before the Australian courts and Fair Work Commission, which…

  • Post category:Seyfarth Shaw LLP
  • Reading time:4 mins read
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AI adoption and employment prospects

21 March 2025By António Dias da Silva and Marco WeisslerAI is already part of many workers’ daily routines. Some fear losing their jobs, but most don’t. The ECB Blog looks at how workers are using AI tools, how they feel about it and what that means for work in the future.This post is part of a miniseries related to the ECB conference “The Transformative Power of AI”, on 1-2 April…

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Trump’s Success Expands Orbán’s Room for Manoeuvre

Until then, Hungary will have to endure growing pressure on sovereign forces within the EU, primarily targeting itself. With changes in America, the centre of gravity for progressive globalist politics is shifting to Western Europe by default, complicating the position of patriots. At the same time, Trump’s return has a clear positive effect for European sovereigntists, particularly Orbán. Good relations with the US president could not only help the Hungarian…

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Virtual Meetings and Your Brain: Four Ways to Refresh

Research Highlight Online meetings are still wearing us out. Neuroscience research shows that they are uniquely fatiguing, but there are ways to make them more manageable. Eoin Whelan, René Riedl, Markus Salo, and Henri Pirkkalainen March 20, 2025 Reading Time: 10 min  Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images Summary: “Virtual meeting fatigue” is no longer just a buzz phrase — it’s a measurable neurological phenomenon. Brain- and heart-monitoring experiments have…

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Q5 Foundation Impact Report 2024

How our pro-bono consulting is making a real difference for charities, communities, and young people In FY23/24, we provided £1 million in pro bono consulting to 24 charities and not-for-profits through the Q5 Foundation. Our four pillars Pop-Up Consulting, Community Partnerships, Young People, and Research Collaborations drive lasting social impact. Looking ahead to FY25/26, we’re committed to expanding our reach and continuing to support those who need it most. Download…

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Reminder: New York Cybersecurity Reporting Deadline April 15, 2025; New Regulations Effective May 1, 2025

Quick Hits Covered entities in New York must submit their annual cybersecurity compliance forms to the NYDFS by April 15, 2025, either certifying material compliance or acknowledging material noncompliance. Starting May 1, 2025, new requirements will be implemented, including enhanced access management protocols, vulnerability management through automated scans, and improved monitoring measures to protect against cybersecurity threats. In November 2023, NYDFS amended its comprehensive cybersecurity regulations with the changes set…

  • Post category:Ogletree Deakins
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New biopsy technique found to improve prostate cancer detection

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the developed world. The most widely used method of diagnosing prostate cancer involves a biopsy that passes a needle through the lining of the lower bowel (the rectum) and into the prostate gland, which is performed under local anaesthetic. This is called the transrectal route. Researchers and doctors have been looking for ways to improve the needle biopsy process, largely due to…

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Fully AI driven weather prediction system could start revolution in forecasting

The system, Aardvark Weather, has been supported by the Alan Turing Institute, Microsoft Research and the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts. It provides a blueprint for a new approach to weather forecasting with the potential to transform current practices. The results are reported in the journal Nature.“Aardvark reimagines current weather prediction methods offering the potential to make weather forecasts faster, cheaper, more flexible and more accurate than ever…

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RAISE fellowship supports doctoral students pursuing social impact work

Stanford’s Research, Action, and Impact through Strategic Engagement (RAISE) fellows spend the greater part of three years fostering and building deep connections with communities, both locally and abroad. That work, completed over the course of the three-year fellowship, is supported through tuition, a stipend, and funding to support the partnership of a community-based organization.As the first of Stanford’s RAISE fellows cohort complete their projects this year, feedback from their community…

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World Happiness Report 2025 shows people are much kinder than we expect

This year’s report pushes us to look beyond traditional determinants like health and wealth. It turns out that sharing meals and trusting others are even stronger predictors of wellbeing than expected. In this era of social isolation and political polarisation we need to find ways to bring people around the table again — doing so is critical for our individual and collective wellbeing. Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, director of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre and…

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Join our FREE WEBINAR – Fostering a Workplace Where Feedback Fuels Change

Imagine this: A senior leader makes an offhanded, inappropriate remark in a team meeting. The room tenses, eyes drop, and a few uncomfortable chuckles fill the silence. No one speaks up. You’re caught off guard, unsure what to do. Later, someone from that meeting comes to you. Frustrated, upset. “Why didn’t anyone say anything? Why does this keep happening?” You’ve heard it before. Employees see the problem, but they don’t…

  • Post category:Civility Partners
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The contact center crossroads: Finding the right mix of humans and AI

While it is increasingly clear that the contact center of the future is likely to be an AI-led environment, the pace at which companies will arrive at this future state is far less certain. Today’s leaders are faced with the difficult choice of just how far to go with their automation plans to retain the right balance between humans and AI as they build toward this AI future. There is…

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Eight Ways to End Meeting Misery

subscribe-icon Subscribe Share Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images Summary: Do your organization’s meetings continually drain people’s energy? Many leaders don’t know how to end the grind — and drive actual collaboration and results. Whether you’re looking to sharpen decision-making, spark real dialogue, or hold fewer (but better) meetings, use this expert advice to start down a more productive path. Meetings should be where work happens, not where productivity goes…

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Forward Movement Seen in April 2025 Visa Bulletin

Quick Hits The April 2025 final action dates in the EB-1 categories are unchanged for all countries except India, which has moved ahead by two weeks. The April 2025 final action dates in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories for all countries have moved forward. USCIS has confirmed it will accept adjustment of status applications based on the final action dates chart in April 2025. Source: US Department of State, April…

  • Post category:Ogletree Deakins
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Stormzy among eight nominated for honorary degrees

Michael Omari Owuo Junior, better known as Stormzy, will receive a Doctorate in Law in recognition of his philanthropic work and impact in a number of fields, including education, music, sport and literature. He launched his Scholarship programme at the University of Cambridge in 2018 funding two Black British students per year covering both their tuition fees and maintenance costs. Three years later, the programme was expanded after HSBC UK…

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Researchers and volunteers unite to uncover spectacular space discoveries in new satellite data

This early data release showcases the amazing images that we will receive from the Euclid telescope. Even in this tiny area (less than 0.5% of the Euclid survey), Euclid has revealed millions of galaxies in exquisite detail.Dr Aprajita Verma (Department of Physics, University of Oxford)The release of the first survey data from the European Space Agency’s pioneering Euclid satellite – made public this week – has led to a flurry…

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Three Years of Stress Test: Interim Results for Russia

Each party at the negotiating table holds a strong position in its own regard, and neither approaches the dialogue from a place of weakness. Each understands its interests and is ready to engage in discussions about them. It appears to be the first time in a very long while that Russia and the US are entering negotiations with such a mindset, writes Valdai Club Programme Director Ivan Timofeev. The negotiations…

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Healthy Living spring registration

Create, Connect, Flourish Drawing for Mindfulness - The Zentangle Journey Fri 04/11 $35 From Mindset to Motion - Practical Tools to Transform Your Life and Career Tue 05/27-06/10 $125 NEW: Experience the Beauty of Nature Through Drawing Wed 06/11 $50 Enhance Your Well-being NEW: Aging Wisely - Successful Caregiving Wed 04/09 FREE Discerning Self-Care from Self-Sabotage - Neutralizing the Inner Critic Mon 04/14-04/21 $100 Reaping the Psychological Benefits of Mid-Life…

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Reskilling the Workforce With AI: Harvard Business School’s Raffaella Sadun

Topics Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy The Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy initiative explores the growing use of artificial intelligence in the business landscape. The exploration looks specifically at how AI is affecting the development and execution of strategy in organizations. In collaboration with More in this series Harvard Business School professor Raffaella Sadun’s research has historically focused on digital reskilling. Now, rapid technological changes — like AI — are…

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Significant Workforce Reductions at the U.S. Department of Education and Their Potential Implications

Quick Hits The Department of Education announced a RIF for nearly 50 percent of its workforce. Impacted staff will be placed on administrative leave starting March 21, 2025. Affected employees will receive full pay and benefits until June 9, 2025. Employees are not expected to work during the deferred resignation, voluntary buyout, or RIF periods. The impact of the RIF on the overall operations and responsibilities of the department is…

  • Post category:Ogletree Deakins
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When Psychological Safety Has a Seat on the Board

In a conference room at its leafy campus in Seattle, Microsoft's board members engage in what might appear to onlookers as intellectual combat. Directors challenge assumptions, disagree openly with the CEO and occasionally upend conventional wisdom. Beneath this seeming friction lies something revolutionary: carefully cultivated psychological safety that transformed Microsoft from a tech giant losing its edge into a trillion-dollar innovator. Under the stewardship of CEO and board chair Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s board abandoned…

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France: Banque de France says slightly lower growth and inflation in 2025 and 2026

The findings of the Banque de France Monthly Business Survey – Start of March show that industrial activity continued to grow in February, contrary to last month’s expectations. Conversely, there was little growth in market services and construction. Business leaders expect modest growth in market services in March but little growth in industry and construction. There is some good news: after rising the previous month, the monthly uncertainty indicator has…

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  • Reading time:5 mins read
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Pakistan-Russia Relations in the New World (Dis)Order: Policy Options

Both Russia and Pakistan are significant in terms of their population size, but their social and economic profiles diverge sharply. Fortunately, in 2023 and 2024, the economic partnership between Pakistan and Russia moved beyond rhetoric into tangible progress. In October 2024, Moscow hosted the inaugural Pakistan-Russia Trade and Investment Forum, an event that drew over 70 Pakistani business leaders as well as representatives from more than 100 Russian companies. The…

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Dementia patients and their carers to be asked about direction of drug research

Today sees the launch of the POrtal for Patient and Public Engagement in Dementia Research (POPPED) website, where anyone can give their feedback on dementia research projects.Dementia affects 50 million people worldwide and 1 million people in the UK. Current treatments are limited, but research has led to some significant recent advances. For example, the first drugs which slow down the disease are now licensed in the UK and potential…

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What Leaders Still Get Wrong About Customer Portfolio Management

subscribe-icon Subscribe Share Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR Summary: In traditional market segmentation, unique populations of customers are segmented and targeted using differentiated products and services — be it a soup that is thicker or a bank that is friendlier. But in this article, drawn from the book Customer Portfolio Management: Creating Value with a Large Leaky Bucket of Customers, the authors make the case that the best way to start understanding…

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Cultivator Not Entitled to Use Easement for Cannabis Purposes Absent Landowner Consent

On October 29, 2024, the Second District Court of Appeals of California decided against the County of Santa Barbara (“the county”) in JCCRandall LLC v. County of Santa Barbara. The Court held, contrary to popular belief, that marijuana is still illegal in California because it is illegal federally. Thus, the Court sided with a private landowner (“plaintiff”) who objected to the county issuing a conditional use permit (“CUP”) for the…

  • Post category:Seyfarth Shaw LLP
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Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Proposes Rules on Statewide Earned Sick and Safe Time Law

Quick Hits The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry issued proposed rules stating that employees anticipated to work over 50 percent in Minnesota in an accrual year would accrue earned sick and safe time leave (ESST) for all hours worked despite location. The proposed rules would allow employers to “advance” ESST hours. The proposed rules also clarify that employees have a choice to use paid ESST or take unpaid and…

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Sustainable style: How fashion can reduce Tier 2 emissions

Translating fashion’s decarbonization targets into action has proved difficult, as we wrote in our March 2024 article. At the time, we outlined six actions fashion brands could take to become more sustainable. Among those, one stands out as having the highest potential impact: working with Tier 2 suppliers to reduce emissions. Tier 2 production—the stage in which fabrics are produced and treated before being assembled by Tier 1 suppliers—typically accounts…

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University of Oxford establishes Oxford EARTH, a new programme for sustainable resource research

Oxford EARTH is the University tackling the critical challenges of our time through our world-leading, interdisciplinary research. Sustainable resource use is fundamental to long term prosperity, and this programme brings together expertise from across the sciences, engineering, and social sciences to pioneer innovative solutions. By fostering collaboration between academia, industry, policymakers, and communities, Oxford EARTH will help shape a more prosperous and sustainable future.Professor Jim Naismith, Head of Mathematical, Physical,…

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How Finance Shapes Your World with Song Ma

Hosted by Blake Eskin A few weeks ago, I got a message from my bank.‌ Hello, this is Fraud Prevention Services. You know the kind. More than $1,000 charged in three different states in less than an hour. And I am not a sneakerhead.‌ It is important that you call us back at your earliest convenience. Thank you and goodbye. I canceled my debit card, and the bank promised to…

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Sierra Club leader calls for broad alliances to enact environmental progress

Ben Jealous was born into the Sierra Club. His parents were members of the organization’s Ventana chapter in central California and he grew up with the coastal redwoods as his playground. He organized his first protest – to stop the clear-cutting of an old-growth redwood forest – as a teenager. But today’s organization is not the Sierra Club of his youth, Jealous told students, staff, faculty, and community members at…

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March Madness Bracket Pools in the Workplace: Legal Compliance Tips Before Tip-Off

Quick Hits Employers considering hosting NCAA bracket pools should be aware of state gambling laws, as the structure of these pools could potentially classify them as illegal gambling. Sweepstakes, as free-to-enter contests, may face fewer legal concerns, but businesses must still comply with specific state regulations that govern such promotional activities. Millions of Americans will fill out brackets for the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s college basketball tournaments, often…

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The Boardroom Mindset Blocking Climate Action

As the world's sustainability concerns increasingly become corporate concerns, boards are often left wondering where their responsibility begins and how far it should extend. While we may not be personally responsible for the climate crisis, we are all part of the system that created it. Anyone advising boards and sitting on them has contributed to the machinery that got us here.Regulations that hold companies accountable for climate change, like the…

  • Post category:INSEAD Knowledge
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Genetic study reveals hidden chapter in human evolution

Using advanced analysis based on full genome sequences, researchers from the University of Cambridge have found evidence that modern humans are the result of a genetic mixing event between two ancient populations that diverged around 1.5 million years ago. About 300,000 years ago, these groups came back together, with one group contributing 80% of the genetic makeup of modern humans and the other contributing 20%.For the last two decades, the…

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Claudia Buch, Isabel Schnabel: Managing liquidity in a changing environment

18 March 2025By Claudia Buch and Isabel SchnabelAs the normalisation of the Eurosystem balance sheet progresses, the aggregate amount of central bank liquidity available to banks in the euro area will fall over the coming years. This blog explains the role played by the Eurosystem’s refinancing operations within the operational framework for monetary policy implementation. The ECB, both as a monetary policy authority and as a supervisor, expects that banks…

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