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Eighty Years On: Remembering the Defeat of Fascism—or Witnessing Its Return?

As we approach a major anniversary, 80 years since the defeat of fascism, a strange silence hangs over my country, Macedonia, and the broader region we now call the “territory of former Yugoslavia.” National authorities have been under sustained external (Western) pressure for years: May 9 must no longer be associated with the victory over fascism. Year after year, in both public memory and the education system, May 9 has…

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Foreign workers: a lever for economic growth

8 May 2025By Oscar Arce, Agostino Consolo, António Dias da Silva and Marco WeisslerForeign workers play an increasingly important role in the euro area labour markets. This ECB blog analyses the effects migrants had on growth across the largest countries in recent years. It also discusses changing labour market participation patterns among foreign workers.Sluggish productivity growth and weak capital accumulation have hampered post-pandemic recovery in the euro area.[1] Amid this…

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3 Remote-Specific Challenges & How to Overcome Them (Excerpt from For Dummies)

May 1st is International Workers’ Day. Hooray! I don’t know about you, but I am so thankful and grateful for my overseas team members. They are the wheels that keep this company moving forward! Now that that’s out of my system, let’s talk about you. Whether you have remote international workers, or local workers who are remote or hybrid, this flexible work option can create some problems for your culture…

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Pursuing insurance growth in Latin America

Latin America is consolidating as the world’s fastest-growing and most profitable region for insurance. Insights from McKinsey’s Global Insurance Report 2025 find that while it accounts for just 3 percent of the world’s insurance market, gross written premiums grew at 11 percent annually from 2019 to 2024, and the region retains significant room to grow. Penetration levels across Latin America remain lower than in other major markets (Exhibit 1). Claim levels have…

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The CEO as chief resilience officer

Resilience is critical in today’s organizations, given the state of uncertainty and permacrisis in which most teams and individuals operate. Yet McKinsey research suggests that many leaders and organizations aren’t spending enough time building that resilience. A full 84 percent of leaders report feeling underprepared for future disruptions, and 60 percent of board members say their companies are not ready for the next major event. Discussions with global CEOs reveal…

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Removing ovaries and fallopian tubes linked to lower risk of early death among certain breast cancer patients

Women with certain variants of the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 have a high risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer. These women are recommended to have their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed at a relatively early age – between the ages 35 and 40 years for BRCA1 carriers, and between the ages 40 and 45 for BRCA2 carriers.Previously, BSO has been shown to lead to an 80% reduction in the…

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Mandatory front-of-package labelling compliance by 2026 — Are you prepared?

In June 2022, Health Canada introduced new nutrition labelling regulations for prepackaged foods. A key feature of these regulations is the mandatory use of a front-of-package (FOP) nutrition symbol on products high in saturated fat, sugars, or sodium. This symbol is intended to help Canadians quickly identify less healthy food options, encouraging informed choices and reducing health risks associated with overconsumption of these nutrients. Although the regulations came into effect…

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Having Your Performance Misjudged Distorts How You Assess Others‌‌

If you’ve ever been denied a promotion or award you believed you earned, you know the sting can linger—as can the glow of unexpectedly receiving recognition. ‌ In fact, such instances of misrecognition may influence how you evaluate others in the future, according to new research from Yale SOM’s Tristan L. Botelho, with co-authors Mabel Abraham of Columbia and James T. Carter of Cornell. The researchers found that, whether positive…

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Significant gaps in NHS care for patients who are deaf or have hearing loss, study finds

A team of patients, clinicians, researchers and charity representatives, led by the University of Cambridge and the British Society of Audiology, surveyed over 550 people who are deaf or have hearing loss about their experiences with the NHS – making it the largest study of its kind. Their findings, reported in the journal PLOS One, highlight systemic failures and suggest changes and recommendations for improving deaf-aware communication in the NHS.“The…

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Chinese consumption amid the new reality

Now that the second quarter of 2025 is fully underway, it is increasingly evident that China’s consumer market has settled into a “new reality” characterized by single-digit consumption growth. Citing Chinese consumers’ “lack of confidence” and “trading down” behavior, market analysts continue to raise a series of challenging questions: Have pockets of growth narrowed? Has lower sentiment dampened spending intent? Our latest research reveals that, while challenges do remain, the…

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The French Memory of WWII Victory and the Long Road to Its Total Reinvention

It appears that the Victory of May 8th and 9th in France is more and more viewed by the present generations as a US victory, as if memory and history had been defeated by another, more powerful, level of “consciousness”: fame, Olivier Roqueplo writes. May 9th is Victory Day in Russia and it should unite most Europeans. But unfortunately, even in victorious France, history, real memory and the public imagination…

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‘We can change diet to generate a healthier microbiome and a healthy individual’

In the “Research Matters” series, we visit labs across campus to hear directly from Stanford scientists about what they’re working on, how it could advance human health and well-being, and why universities are critical players in the nation’s innovation ecosystem. The following are Justin and Erica Sonnenberg’s own words, edited and condensed for clarity. Their responses have been combined into a unified voice, with their approval.When we first joined microbiome…

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Seyfarth Names New Leaders to Continue Strategic Growth of Corporate and Litigation Departments

May 5, 2025 – Seyfarth Shaw LLP has appointed Giovanna (“Gina”) Ferrari as chair of the firm’s Litigation Department and Andrew Lucano as the next Corporate Department chair. “Gina and Andrew are outstanding leaders whose appointments reflect Seyfarth’s commitment to deepening client service, strengthening collaboration, and advancing our strategic growth,” said Lorie Almon, chair and managing partner of Seyfarth. “As we continue to expand the breadth and depth of the…

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Strong mayor powers and duties are widely expanded in Ontario

On May 1, 2025, the province expanded “strong mayor” powers and duties to a further 169 municipalities in Ontario, identified as those single and lower-tier municipalities with councils of six members or more. This means that out of the 444 municipalities in Ontario, almost half of them will be subject to strong mayor powers. Prior to the most recent amendments, a total of 46 municipalities in the province had permanently…

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Flexible work’s enduring appeal affects workers, employers, and real estate

The popular yarns about “work from home” and “return to the office” tend to be absolutist. First, there’s the notion that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone was in the office every day. Next, the idea is that during and after the pandemic, no one went in at all. Lately, the story goes that offices are packing up to the rafters yet again. The truth, underscored by the findings from…

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Remembering the Lessons of History

On May 6, 2025, the Valdai Club presented a Valdai Paper titled “Immortal Letters of Victory” on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet people’s victory in the Second World War. It included previously unpublished handwritten materials from the war – fragments of the front-line diary of Guard Sergeant Petr Nosov, letters from partisan Tamara Avalyan, orphanage worker Nina Mayer, and senior lieutenant Vasily Lazarevsky. Oleg Barabanov, the moderator…

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Remember the future: The next frontier for African telcos

The telecommunications (telco) industry has become an indispensable driver of economic growth worldwide. Mobile phones have transcended their traditional role as communication devices and developed into powerful tools that drive social and economic progress. From facilitating remote education and healthcare to empowering small businesses and boosting agricultural productivity, the impact of mobile technology is far-reaching—and expanding—especially in Africa. While African operators face headwinds, including regulatory complexities and infrastructure gaps, the…

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Spring 2025 Brings Changes to Minnesota Contractors’ State Affirmative Action Requirements

Quick Hits MDHR has revised multiple compliance-related documents for Minnesota government contractors. Key changes include new terminology, workforce certificate application form signature requirements, and more structured reporting periods for annual compliance reports. An annual compliance report must be submitted to MDHR each year, even if the Minnesota contractor does not currently hold a state government contract. Background Companies contracting with Minnesota state departments and agencies, certain metropolitan agencies, and the…

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A new threat to U.S. national security: the imminent demise of Hollywood

The president of the United States announced, in a Sunday afternoon social media post, his intent to declare incentives by its trading partners to their film industries a “national security threat” to the United States. In his social media posts, the president authorized the Department of the Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to institute a 100% tariff on “any and all Movies coming into our Country that are…

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London & Capital and Waverton appoints Nick Hammond to lead the Private Wealth and US Private Wealth businesses

By London & Capital | 06 May, 2025 The strategic hire comes as the merged firms prepare to formally unite under a single brand, W1M, in June.  London & Capital and Waverton Investment Management the newly merged wealth and investment management firm, which is formally rebranding to W1M in June is pleased to announce the appointment of Nick Hammond as Head of Private Wealth and US Private Wealth. Reporting to…

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Nurse managers: The backbone of a strong nursing workforce

There is an adage that people don’t leave their jobs; they leave their managers. This reality is particularly critical given how important managers are to the overall success of an organization and its people. Indeed, middle managers are the heart of any organization, deeply influencing talent, culture, and employee experience. They are the face of leadership for the front lines and the bridge from executive strategy to implementation. Middle manager performance…

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The Science and Politics of Vaccines Collide‌‌

This commentary was adapted from episode 172 of the Health & Veritas podcast. The views expressed are the author’s own. Subscribe for weekly doses of expert insight on health and the healthcare industry.‌ The Papanicolaou test, or Pap smear, was introduced in the 1940s. Its use over the eight decades since has saved many lives from cervical cancer. Our progress against this disease, which kills hundreds of thousands worldwide. accelerated…

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CO2RE funds seven artists to create greenhouse gas removal inspired projects

Seven CO2RE Artists have been hand-picked to create a diverse range of works designed to engage the public in the potential of Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR), with funding provided by the UKRI backed-initiative.Our hopes for CO2RE Arts expand beyond the projects we’ve funded, as CO2RE believes science and engineering, including their conceptualisation, design and delivery, as well as innovations that follow, are cultural practices. Meaning that artists, creative practitioners and the arts…

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Q5 Receive A King’s Award

We’re incredibly proud to share that Q5 has been awarded a prestigious King’s Award for International Trade in recognition of our ongoing commitment to helping businesses thrive across the globe. This year marks the 59th edition of the King’s Awards for Enterprise, celebrating exceptional UK businesses that are achieving remarkable growth and innovation. This award only goes out to the select few, and we are one of just 197 organisations…

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SCC denies leave to appeal in landmark case subjecting climate change regulation to Charter scrutiny

On May 1, 2025, the Supreme Court of Canada decided that it would not hear an appeal of the Court of Appeal for Ontario’s landmark decision in Mathur v. Ontario, 2024 ONCA 762. The Court of Appeal unanimously found that a Charter challenge to Ontario’s greenhouse gas emission (GHG) target was not a “positive rights” claim imposing freestanding positive obligations on the provincial government - because Ontario voluntarily assumed a…

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Immortal Letters of Victory

Turned yellow over time, soldier’s letters – pieces of paper folded into triangular shapes sent from the frontlines with field post office postmarks – and diaries are unique witnesses of the unparalleled feat. They still hold the warmth of our compatriots’ hands, their faith in and hopes for peaceful life, and the truth of 1,418 sleepless nights. Simple, and occasionally sad, these documents, imbued with the spirit of heroism, have…

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Author Talks: What’s new in Valuation?

In this edition of Author Talks, McKinsey Global Publishing’s Roberta Fusaro speaks with McKinsey Partner Tim Koller about the latest edition of the seminal practitioner guide, Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies (Wiley, May 2025), coauthored with Marc Goedhart and David Wessels. Now in its eighth edition, Valuation has been a trusted resource for executives, financial professionals, and others seeking a deeper understanding of the valuation process and…

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How to Lead Through Market Uncertainty

Uncertainty has long been part of the business landscape — and it’s one we’ve helped our clients navigate time and again. Over the years, we’ve worked alongside leadership teams through global financial crises, Brexit, political turbulence, and a pandemic that fundamentally reshaped global commerce. What we are facing today, however, is not a temporary disruption or a single event. It is a more persistent, structural shift — one that is…

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Washington’s Fair Chance Act: New Amendments Transform Employer Background Check Policies

In 2018, Washington enacted a Fair Chance Act, requiring covered employers to wait until after considering an applicant to be “otherwise qualified” for the position at issue to inquire about or consider criminal history when making hiring or other employment decisions. There are exceptions for, among others, financial institutions and certain regulated employers. Starting on July 1, 2026, however, unless an exception applies, Washington employers with 15 or more employees…

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Washington Lawmakers Pass ‘Mini-WARN Act’ to Require Notice of Site Closings and Mass Reductions in Force

Quick Hits Washington State is on track to enact a “mini-WARN Act” requiring employers with fifty or more employees to provide at least sixty days’ notice before business closures or mass reductions in force. The Washington bill’s notice requirements would go beyond the federal WARN Act. The legislation includes protections for employees on paid family or medical leave, preventing them from being included in mass reductions, except in limited situations.…

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Labour relations in the world of tariffs: The need for cooperation, not confrontation

A continuation in our series for Canadian employers addressing the U.S. tariff effect. For more information, check out BLG's Tariffs and Trade Resource Centre. The recent imposition of tariffs, and the resulting “tariff uncertainty”, is posing real and immediate challenges to employers and unions in industries that rely on the exportation of their goods, products and materials, such as automotive, manufacturing, steel, aluminum, agriculture and forestry. At least for the…

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Adolescents with mental health conditions use social media differently than their peers, study suggests

Young people with a diagnosable mental health condition report differences in their experiences of social media compared to those without a condition, including greater dissatisfaction with online friend counts and more time spent on social media sites.This is according to a new study led by the University of Cambridge, which suggests that adolescents with “internalising” conditions such as anxiety and depression report feeling particularly affected by social media. Young people…

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New federal support for Canadian businesses affected by U.S. tariffs

On April 15, 2025, the federal government announced three new measures to aid Canadian businesses and entities affected by the ongoing tariff dispute with the U.S. These measures are: conditional remissions on CUSMA-compliant auto imports; temporary tariff relief on goods for critical industries; and a loan program for large businesses. Remissions for automakers The government intends to implement a performance-based duty remission framework for automakers. The measure will allow Canadian…

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How enduring high energy prices could affect jobs

5 May 2025By Gert Bijnens, John Hutchinson and Arthur Saint Guilhem Lasting high energy prices are putting pressure on industries all across Europe. This is hitting some regions, such as southern Germany, the Ruhr and northern Italy, harder than others. The ECB Blog examines the implications for employment. High energy costs threaten the competitiveness of European firms and weigh on employment. Based on firm-level data, we estimate that a permanent…

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Canada’s mandatory Federal Plastics Registry reporting: What you need to know

On April 20, 2024, the Government of Canada issued a Notice pursuant to section 46 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) mandating that certain entities report information on the quantities and types of plastics that they manufacture, import, produce and place on the Canadian market. Reporting requirements are being rolled out in three phases with the first reporting due by Sept. 29, 2025. Those caught by the reporting…

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Stanford expert explains breakthrough skin graft treatment for rare disease

Patients with severe dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, or EB, have skin so fragile, the slightest touch can lead to blistering and, eventually, large, open wounds that never heal, causing immense pain.A treatment developed at Stanford Medicine, skin grafts, can treat those large, open wounds. Genetically engineered from a patient’s own cells, the grafts were granted approval as an EB therapy on April 29 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “I’m…

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CIRO’s handful of proposals: Phase 5 of the rule consolidation project

On March 27, 2025, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) published for comment Phase 5 of its Rule Consolidation Project (the Proposals) relating to the consolidation of the two sets of rules currently applicable to investment dealers (IDPC Rules) and mutual fund dealers (MFD Rules) into one. Our assessment is that the Proposals – which address significant differences between the IDPC Rules and MFD Rules that could have potential material impacts…

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Florida Legislature Passes Restrictive Covenants Bill

Quick Hits On April 24, 2025, the Florida Legislature passed legislation (HB 1219) to permit two new forms of allowed noncompete provisions under Florida law. The new provisions include a covered garden leave provision and a provision limiting a noncompete to a specific geographic area and time period, both of which would be enforceable through injunctive and other relief. If enacted, HB 1219 will become effective on July 1, 2025.…

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