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Georgia Governor Signs Bill to Strengthen Religious Exercise Protections, but Lawmakers Leave Anti-DEI Bill on the Table

Quick Hits Senate Bill 36, known as the Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act, aims to protect the free exercise of religion by imposing a “compelling interest” test for government actions that may burden religious practices. The bill has significant implications for Georgia schools, including state higher education institutions, as Georgia lawmakers seek to align the state with broader federal policies pushed by the Trump administration. Despite being advanced by the…

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The ultimate guide to Microsoft Security at upcoming RSAC 2025

So you just finished watching Microsoft Secure. That means by now, you’ve heard about our new protections for AI and Microsoft Security Copilot agents. These innovations will be the focus of Microsoft Security’s sessions and activities at RSACTM 2025 Conference (RSAC 2025).  The can’t-miss conference is just around the corner. Microsoft Security is bringing an exciting lineup of sessions, expert panels, and exclusive networking opportunities to empower security professionals in the…

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Global Lighthouse voices: A talk with LCFC CEO and Lenovo VP Xiaohui Ding

LCFC, Lenovo’s Hefei factory, was designated as a member of the Global Lighthouse Network in 2023. By accelerating the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and committing to R&D and innovation, LCFC has crafted a “peak manufacturing” paradigm, achieving a leap in manufacturing capabilities. In a talk with McKinsey’s Forest Hou, LCFC CEO Xiaohui Ding shares insights into the factory’s digital transformation journey. Highlighting the challenges of managing a highly personalized…

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Two Oxford researchers awarded Quantum Technology Fellowships

The Fellowships are designed to accelerate researchers’ careers and fast track them towards world-leading positions in the future, ensuring the UK maintains its position as a global force in quantum technology. The investment provides an invaluable opportunity to advance their research and innovation, and will provide opportunities to build connections with industry and end-users, reducing the gap between research and commercialisation.Professor Charlotte Deane, EPSRC Executive Chair and a Professor in…

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Former trustees recognized for volunteer service

Two former Stanford trustees, Jeffrey S. Raikes, ’80, and Mindy Basham Rogers, ’84, MBA ’88, are this year’s recipients of the Gold Spike Award, Stanford’s highest annual honor for volunteer service. President Jonathan Levin conferred the awards on March 29 at a dinner held on campus. The Gold Spike Award is presented by Stanford Associates, an honorary organization of Stanford alumni who have demonstrated significant and long-standing volunteer service to the…

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Cambridge research: First global bond index to address fossil fuel expansion

This is a critical – and hugely challenging – moment for climate action. Legal and political pressures have paralysed asset managers and other financial service providers, leading to a recent wave of actors leaving investor climate coalitions. However, asset owners are increasingly seeing the need to take a leadership role in addressing climate change, which threatens the long-term future of their portfolios and the wider economy.That’s why we are delighted…

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India: The promise and possibilities for global companies

India is drawing attention as a global business hub. With a strong talent base, a large pool of consumers, and continuously improving infrastructure, the country offers many opportunities for multinational companies over the next decade. According to one estimate, India could gain up to $0.8 trillion to $1.2 trillion from trade-flow shifts by 2030 and boost the country’s GDP share for manufacturing from 16 percent in 2023 to 25 percent…

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New Maryland Laws—Delay to Paid Family and Medical Leave, Expanded Military Protections, and Parental Leave Clarification

Quick Hits The Maryland General Assembly passed legislation delaying the implementation of the paid family and medical leave insurance (FAMLI) program, with contributions starting on January 1, 2027, and benefits beginning by January 3, 2028. The Employment and Insurance Equality for Service Members Act would expand employment protections to include all uniformed services and reserve components, effective October 1, 2025. Legislation amending the Parental Leave Act to clarify that employers…

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Harmful effects of digital tech – the science ‘needs fixing’, experts argue

Scientific research on the harms of digital technology is stuck in a “failing cycle” that moves too slowly to allow governments and society to hold tech companies to account, according to two leading researchers in a new report published in the journal Science.Dr Amy Orben from the University of Cambridge and Dr J. Nathan Matias from Cornell University say the pace at which new technology is deployed to billions of…

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Cambridge victorious in Women’s and Men’s Boat Races 2025

Cambridge make it eight wins in a row in the Women's Boat Race and claim a third successive victory in the Men's Boat Race. Crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge returned to the famous Championship Course on Sunday 13 April 2025 for a sporting event that boasts nearly 200 years of competition.A great afternoon on the river with all crews making their universities proudVice-Chancellor, Professor Irene…

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Enhancements simplify logistics for research and teaching-related travel

In briefli]:su-m-0">Improved tools and processes are in the works to ease logistics for Stanford travelers.The new Stanford Travel program offers more flexible booking options.The Stanford Travel Connect portal lets users sync airline accounts and book travel directly.A new visitor travel reimbursement process reduces payment processing time.New technology and streamlined administrative procedures are making travel – from field research in remote areas to collaborations in specialized labs – and the related…

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Scientists create ‘metal detector’ to hunt down tumours

In a paper published today in Nature Genetics, scientists at the University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre analysed the full DNA sequence of 4,775 tumours from seven types of cancer. They used that data from Genomics England’s 100,000 Genomes Project to create an algorithm capable of identifying tumours with faults in their DNA that makes them easier to treat.The algorithm, called PRRDetect, could one day help doctors…

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Celebrate Diversity With Music: A Playlist for Inclusivity

A few years back, we put together a playlist for inclusivity to play in the office and it quickly became one of our most popular blogs, proving that something as simple as music can strike a big chord (pun intended) as people find solidarity in it. So we thought, why not do it again? April is Diversity Month, and while the calendars are packed with initiatives, trainings, and panel discussions,…

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Russia’s Solidarity with African Countries in the Struggle against Neocolonialism

Neocolonialism is the main means by which Africa is dominated by its former metropolises and other Western countries. By supporting African countries’ struggle against modern neocolonialism, Moscow is returning to the traditions of international solidarity it inherited from the Soviet era, which in some respects were established during an earlier stage of Russian history. Neocolonialism is the main, although not the only form of Western domination in Africa. Not all…

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Author Talks: How to lead in a polarized world

In this edition of Author Talks, McKinsey Global Publishing’s Rochelle Toplensky chats with Karthik Ramanna, professor of business and public policy at the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, about his new book, The Age of Outrage: How to Lead in a Polarized World (Harvard Business Review Press, Fall 2024). Ramanna provides a new framework for how to sustainably manage during the “era of outrage” built on fear, lack…

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Why AI Demands a New Breed of Leaders

Many CIOs lack the bandwidth and authority to solve the tough cultural and organizational change challenges that can block AI success. It’s time for an expanded leadership role. Faisal Hoque, Thomas H. Davenport, and Erik Nelson April 09, 2025 Reading Time: 11 min  Andrew Baker/Ikon Images Summary: Artificial intelligence is changing how humans and machines work together. But most organizations still focus on the technical aspect of AI implementation because…

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Allocating the Risk of Tariff Price Increases

As the Trump Administration’s tariffs are now in effect, owners, developers, and contractors managing pending construction projects face questions about who is ultimately responsible for impacts (both time and cost) resulting from those tariffs. Those negotiating contracts for upcoming projects face the predicament of allocating this future risk of material price increases and delays flowing from the new tariff regime. Despite recent legal challenges to the tariff regime,[1] the enforceability…

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California’s Wait Is Nearly Over: New AI Employment Discrimination Regulations Move Toward Final Publication

Quick Hits The California Civil Rights Department finalized modified regulations for employers’ use of AI and automated decision-making systems. The regulations confirm that the use of such technology to make employment decisions may violate the state’s anti-discrimination laws and clarify limits on such technology, including in conducting criminal background checks and medical/psychological inquiries. On March 21, 2025, the Civil Rights Council, a branch of the California Civil Rights Department (CRD),…

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Mass terminations in Ontario: Rights, risks and responsibilities

With President Trump imposing tariffs on Canadian goods, many employers are asking about their obligations in the event of an economic downturn, with the potential for layoffs or mass terminations. The Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the ESA) layoff and mass termination provisions can be technical and complex. It is important to understand and comply with the rules and obligations under the ESA to avoid potential increased and unexpected liabilities.  ESA temporary…

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How cyberattackers exploit domain controllers using ransomware

In recent years, human-operated cyberattacks have undergone a dramatic transformation. These attacks, once characterized by sporadic and opportunistic attacks, have evolved into highly sophisticated, targeted campaigns aimed at causing maximum damage to organizations, with the average cost of a ransomware attack reaching $9.36 million in 2024.1 A key catalyst to this evolution is the rise of ransomware as a primary tool for financial extortion—an approach that hinges on crippling an…

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Dude, where’s my AI agent?

Recently I was talking with Harish Mohan, president of Narvar* and former Battery executive-in-residence about the rise of AI agents. We riffed that it seems at many B2B vendor websites we visit, we’re met with the companies’ AI agent—Jack, or Missy or Sam. We both find these agents great. They collect all the necessary information from visitors like questions about the product, use cases, pricing, competitors and so on. While…

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When Is It OK to Use Connections to Land a Job?‌‌

There are two different logics that we bring into our job search. One tells us to use our social ties, and the other tells us that using those ties would constitute an unearned advantage, so we have an icky feeling about it. Everyone knows relationships can go a long way in a job search: a family member or a former colleague puts in a call, and your CV makes it…

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Finding a grounded approach to the restaurant business

In this episode of The Committed Innovator, restaurateur John McDonald, the founder and CEO of Mercer Street Hospitality, speaks with McKinsey senior partner and innovation leader Erik Roth about maintaining success and equilibrium in the notoriously difficult hospitality industry. This is an edited transcript of their conversation. For more discussions on the strategy issues that matter, follow the series on your preferred podcast platform. Erik Roth, McKinsey: Why did you…

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Student-led program redefines spring break with a focus on volunteer service

This year during spring break, junior Yana Kim and some of her classmates traveled to Miami. Not for the sunny Florida beaches, but to learn how the city is planning for the impacts of climate change.“We studied the effects of rising sea levels on the communities in Miami, and specifically how that’s going to affect the city’s land use and planning and residents’ access to affordable housing,” she said.Kim is…

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Automotive tariffs: The U.S. Presidential Proclamation and the Canadian response

The Automotive Sector continues to grapple with the impact of tariffs and in particular with the sector specific tariff measures, marking another turning point in the ongoing tariff landscape affecting the sector in North America and globally. On March 26, 2025, the U.S. president issued Proclamation 10908 to impose an additional 25% tariff on imports of passenger vehicles, light trucks, and certain automobile parts into the United States. The new 25%…

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Market Perspectives April 2025

By Algernon Percy | 08 Apr, 2025 The outlook for interest rates Bond yields around the world are diverging. Looking at the returns from bond markets over the last three months (+0.5% from gilts, and +1.5% from the global market broadly, in sterling terms), one could be forgiven for thinking it was an uneventful quarter. However, there was considerable diversity between different countries, with Japanese yields going relentlessly up as…

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Empowering everyday convenience

People want food delivered to their homes, and they want it nowArne Gast: To kick us off, please tell us a little bit about your business, and how it has evolved since you founded the company in 2000. Jitse Groen: It all started in my attic. We began operating in the Netherlands with Thuisbezorgd.nl, an online food delivery platform. The business grew rapidly, and we rebranded it as Takeaway.com in…

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Consolidation of the BRICS Value Platform and Progress Towards Multipolarity

On April 8, 2025, the Valdai Discussion Club hosted a presentation of the report titled “The Evolution of the BRICS Value Platform.” The discussion was moderated by Oleg Barabanov, the author of the report and programme director of the Valdai Club, who proposed discussing what the BRICS values ​​are and how they are used in real political activity. Pavel Knyazev, Sous-Sherpa of Russia to the BRICS, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian…

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The Middle East as Part of the ‘Global Majority’

Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, Middle Eastern countries have increasingly figured into the international agenda as mediators in the dialogue between the West and Russia. Not only do they actively participate in humanitarian initiatives, such as prisoner exchanges, but they also influence key aspects of the negotiation process. Against this background, Riyadh stands out in particular, having become the venue for the first round of high-level talks…

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J&J’s Ashita Batavia on advancing oncology clinical-trials with data

In this episode of Eureka!, McKinsey’s podcast on innovation in life sciences R&D, hosts Navraj Nagra, Alex Devereson, and Meredith Langstaff speak to Ashita Batavia, head of hematology and oncology data sciences, R&D, at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine (J&J). They discuss how real-world data can better inform clinical trials, the shifts in mindsets and capabilities needed to support AI in biopharma, and how to navigate the complexity of clinical…

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RTO Mandates Won’t Fix a Broken Culture

Topics Column Our expert columnists offer opinion and analysis on important issues facing modern businesses and managers. More in this series Subscribe Share Jamie Jones/Ikon Images Summary: As the return-to-office debate continues, many executives still think of culture as something that only happens inside office walls. But real culture is how we work. This includes everything from the dynamics of leaders and teams to the presence (or absence) of trust…

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Q5 Media Monthly: March 2025

Insights from the Q5 Media Team From the rise of news influencers to the evolving definition of ‘digital first,’ the Q5 media team shares key insights into the challenges shaping the publishing and broadcasting landscape. Drawing on industry experience and client work, these thought pieces explore how newsrooms can adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing media environment. Reading time: 4 minutes Recently, the Q5 media team has taken to…

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Six Essential Tips for Navigating Buy American Compliance in Government Contracts

In celebration of the release of the 6th Edition of the Government Contracts Compliance Handbook, we are sharing six essential tips for understanding and navigating Buy American compliance in government contracts. These requirements are critical for contractors working with the U.S. federal government, as failure to comply can lead to penalties, contract disputes, and potential disqualification from future procurement opportunities. This article offers practical guidance to help contractors navigate the…

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There is no foundation in the Class Proceedings Act, 1992 for conditional certifications

In Knisley v Canada (Attorney General), 2025 ONCA 185, the Court of Appeal was asked to consider whether a motions judge hearing a certification motion can conditionally certify a class proceeding where neither the parties nor the court at the hearing can provide a workable class definition capable of satisfying s. 5(1)(b) of the Class Proceedings Act, 1992 (CPA). The Knisley class action was brought on behalf of veterans who…

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What we shared about Microsoft Azure Storage at KubeCon Europe 2025

Wow, KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2025 in London was a fantastic time! Our Azure Storage team was thrilled to exchange insights and success stories at this vibrant community event. If you missed it, don’t worry! We are here to share what we showed off at the con: how we are enhancing performance, cost-efficiency, and AI Wow, KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2025 in London was a fantastic time! Our Azure Storage…

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Selex drives growth by tailoring assortments and formats to local needs

For Selex, the key growth driver in the coming years will be investments in new capabilities.Franck Laizet: Selex has shown success over the course of the past several years. What are the factors driving that development? Maniele Tasca: The most important factor is the quality of our companies. In 2005, our group consisted of 34 companies, and our market share was between 6 and 7 percent. Today, we have 18…

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Oxford researchers awarded ARIA funding to develop safety-first AI

As part of the Technical Area 3 (TA3) of the programme, nine research teams across the UK will focus on developing mathematical and computational methods to provide quantitative safety guarantees for AI systems. This will help ensure that advanced AI can be deployed responsibly in safety-critical sectors and domains such as infrastructure, healthcare, and manufacturing. Two of these projects are led by researchers at the University of Oxford:Towards Large-Scale Validation…

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Expert Comment: Ethical and legal challenges of uterus transplants in Mexico

Discussions about maternal health and rights in Mexico tend to focus on health outcomes and access to healthcare. Academics and activists have long campaigned for the government to invest more resources in maternal health. Unfortunately, healthcare provision for women who want to have a child and are struggling to conceive hasn’t received enough attention. Uterus transplantation is a procedure where a woman who doesn’t have a functioning uterus receives one either from a…

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Oxford Humanities team delivers framework for tackling modern slavery and human trafficking

Written for the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, the comprehensive Framework is designed to assist international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) in identifying potential victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, and to help them better understand the underlying cultural and societal norms that push people into situations in which they are exploited.In order to ensure that the Framework is widely adopted as a…

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Indian journalist Mitali Mukherjee named Director of the Reuters Institute

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism is dedicated to exploring the future of journalism worldwide through debate, engagement, and research. Their activities include a flagship Journalist Fellowship programme, leadership programmes, and research programmes to provide timely, evidence-based analysis of issues facing journalism and news media around the world. Mitali Mukherjee. Mukherjee has led the Journalist Programmes since September 2022 and represented the Institute in conferences and events around the…

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