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Venezuela’s TPS Designation: Federal Judge Issues Nationwide Order Temporarily Reinstating Program

Quick Hits On March 31, 2025, a U.S. district court judge issued an order temporarily reinstating Venezuela’s TPS pending further litigation.  Shortly after taking office, Secretary of Homeland Security Noem canceled the extension of the 2021 and 2023 TPS designations for Venezuela and the overall 2023 TPS program for Venezuelans. This court order ensures that Venezuelan TPS holders retain their legal status and employment authorization through October 2, 2026, while…

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You really know intelligence has been commoditized when CEOs start vibe coding! GitHub Copilot Agent Mode & MCP support is rolling out to all VS Code users.

You really know intelligence has been commoditized when CEOs start vibe coding! GitHub Copilot Agent Mode & MCP support is rolling out to all VS Code users: https://lnkd.in/g6s8HDC2 …more Like Comment Share Copy LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Transcript Transcript Transcript So we're going to learn a little bit about Microsoft's history with its first product or the creation of its first product. Let's go to Copilot. First product, I'll tear basic…

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Understanding the Healthcare Impact of Mass Firings in Washington‌‌

This commentary was adapted from episode 168 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. Now is a good time to explain what we know about the early policy and personnel changes of the new administration and what they mean for health and healthcare. This is neither meant to be exhaustive nor…

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Honing leadership excellence in the public sector

Much is known about what makes private sector CEOs successful. But research is lacking on the practices of public sector leaders—even though they manage one-third of the global workforce, around a quarter of global GDP, and services that are essential for societies. To help close this knowledge gap, McKinsey has built a database of public service leaders who have excelled, drawing on a global survey of over 750 senior leaders…

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Are Companies Abandoning Climate Action?‌‌

Does the drop in discussions of sustainability on earnings calls represent a real shift in companies’ activity, or just a change in emphasis in their public statements?‌ Let’s dive into the structure of an earnings call. The call usually begins with some prepared remarks by the company and then Q&A for investors. Sustainability topics tend to be strategic and not a major part of the quarterly reporting (if sustainability is…

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Six big ideas to help avoid a U.S. electricity crisis

After about 20 years of scant growth, U.S. electricity demand is expected to grow about 15-20% in the next decade and double by 2050, according to the Department of Energy. In light of these predictions, more than 80 U.S. energy experts met at Stanford in February to discuss how to avoid the U.S. electricity grid being overwhelmed by rising demand. This meeting, which was organized by the Stanford Doerr School of…

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Split Decisions on Standing: Courts Diverge on Pension Risk Transfer Class Actions

Ed 259, Unsplash Two courts. Two opposite rulings. One critical question: Do plaintiffs have standing to challenge pension risk transfers under ERISA? In the first two decisions to address Article III standing in this rising wave of class actions, federal courts in Maryland and D.C. have landed on opposing sides. One case will head to discovery; the other was dismissed outright. At stake is whether moving pension obligations from plans…

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Minnesota Employment Legislative Update 2025, Part I: Breaking the Tie to Make the Law

Quick Hits The Minnesota Legislature’s party divide creates uncertainty for employers, with amendments to key labor laws like Paid Family and Medical Leave and Earned Sick and Safe Time potentially facing delays or requiring bipartisan compromise. Proposed amendments to Minnesota’s Earned Sick and Safe Time Law include delaying penalties for violations before January 1, 2026, making Earned Sick and Safe Time permissive, and changes to leave notice requirements and documentation…

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Threat actors leverage tax season to deploy tax-themed phishing campaigns

As Tax Day approaches in the United States on April 15, Microsoft has observed several phishing campaigns using tax-related themes for social engineering to steal credentials and deploy malware. These campaigns notably use redirection methods such as URL shorteners and QR codes contained in malicious attachments and abuse legitimate services like file-hosting services and business profile pages to avoid detection. These campaigns lead to phishing pages delivered via the RaccoonO365…

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New, cutting-edge microscope will boost imaging capabilities

The University of Oxford’s Department of Materials celebrated a new chapter in its microscopy facilities with the arrival of a bespoke £3 million Transmission Electron Microscope. The JEOL GrandARM300F instrument will support cutting-edge research across the University’s Departments and Divisions, besides teaching the next generation of microscopists. The instrument was officially launched during the 100 birthday celebrations of Professor Peter Hirsch, one of the University’s foremost materials scientists. Housed in…

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Expert Comment: Why has Trump launched so many tariffs and will it cause a recession?

In a Q&A originally published in The Conversation, Dr Linda Yueh, Fellow in Economics at the University of Oxford, explores some of the most pressing questions triggered by Trump’s  ‘liberation day’.   Donald Trump has always talked about how much he likes tariffs. And on April 2 2025, he showed that he meant it. For the president it was ‘liberation day’, but for his fellow world leaders it was a tense…

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When investors move in: new dynamics in European housing markets

4 April 2025By Emil Bandoni, Giorgia De Nora, Margherita Giuzio, Ellen Ryan and Manuela StorzInstitutional investors are increasingly active in housing markets across Europe. The ECB blog examines implications for house price growth and the transmission of monetary policy. Institutional investors have been shaking up Europe’s housing markets over the past decade: if you are renting in major cities like Paris, Dublin or Madrid, there is a good chance your…

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ASEAN in Search of Central or Peripheral Role in the Region

The degradation of US-China relations and ASEAN’s inability to effectively cope with the most sensitive security challenges have called into question the central role of the Association and created a fundamental dilemma for the ASEAN - how to organically fit into the emerging regional and global order and not lose its relevance, writes Alexander Korolev. During the Cold War, the centre of gravity of the confrontation between the US and…

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Russia-China: A Space of Opportunities for Joint Development

On March 31 – April 1, 2025, the Russian-Chinese conference titled "Space of Joint Development: Global and Eurasian Dimensions” was held in Shanghai, organized by the Valdai Discussion Club and the Centre for Russian Studies at East China Normal University. The event served as an important platform for discussing the strategic aspects and prospects for the development of the partnership between Russia and China. The main focus of the conference…

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Restricted: How export controls are reshaping markets

As geopolitical tensions continue to mount, governments around the world are expanding restrictions on what domestic companies can sell abroad. Most business leaders are familiar with export controls affecting military or dual-use items (those that have both military and civilian applications). What is harder to untangle are the complex export control restrictions that governments can implement, or have already implemented, to promote policy goals affecting their countries’ technological and economic…

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April Is Workplace Violence Awareness Month: Navigating the Latest in Workplace Violence Prevention

Quick Hits Several states have proposed legislation in 2025 to enhance workplace violence prevention. An OSHRC administrative law judge vacated an OSHA citation against a private security company, ruling that the fatal shooting of a mall security officer was unforeseeable and that the company had adequate workplace violence policies and training. Cal/OSHA will propose a detailed workplace violence prevention standard by December 31, 2025. Proposed State Laws on Workplace Violence…

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Words matter: A reminder for drafters and contracting parties

In Chemtrade Electrochem Inc v Superior Plus Corporation, 2025 ABCA 31, the Court of Appeal of Alberta set aside a trial judgment of $25 million based on the lower court’s palpable and overriding error related to the court’s interpretation of a “Reverse Terminating Fee.” The Court of Appeal held that trial judge’s findings were based on the parties’ subjective intentions rather than the words of the agreement. The Court of…

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Tamar Yehoshua on product leadership in the age of AI

In this episode of McKinsey on Building Products, McKinsey partner Rikki Singh speaks to Tamar Yehoshua, president of product and technology at Glean, an AI platform that helps automate work by connecting and understanding a company’s entire knowledge base. Throughout her years of experience at large software companies, Yehoshua has learned how to build digital products that customers love and how to approach the change management needed for employees to…

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Alexi Nazem: Building Healthcare Solutions

Howie and Harlan are joined by Alexi Nazem, a Yale-trained internist who co-founded the healthcare staffing company Nomad Health and now leads healthcare investments at AlleyCorp. Harlan reports on new research from the American College of Cardiology meeting; Howie examines the consequences of vast staffing cuts in the federal healthcare infrastructure. Links: Research from the American College of Cardiology Meeting “Semaglutide and walking capacity in people with symptomatic peripheral artery…

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Evolution of the BRICS Value Platform. Speakers

On April 8 at 15:00 Moscow Time (GMT+3), the Valdai Club will host the presentation of a new report, titled “The Evolution of the BRICS Value Platform”. BRICS has become a significant association for the leading countries of the global majority, and has attracted more and more participants, partners and observers. From the very beginning, the image of BRICS as an alternative to the West has prevailed in the perception…

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The role of Job Architecture

Beyond People Data: how a Job Architecture can supercharge skills across your organisation Even the best people data can’t fully reveal workforce skills. This article explores how a Job Architecture, organising roles by skill and activity, enables better workforce planning, career development, and performance management. Real-world examples show how this framework helps organisations identify gaps, allocate resources, and support employee growth effectively. Reading time: 5 minutes Organisations we work with…

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Québec reduces access to its simplified process for temporary foreign workers in professions facing labour shortages

A new list of the occupations eligible to the facilitated Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) process required for issuance of work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker program for foreign workers destined to the province of Québec was issued by the Ministère de l’immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) on Feb. 24, 2025. Québec-based employers must take good notice of the reduction of occupations eligible to the facilitated…

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AI revolutionizes search: Key insights from Microsoft Accelerate

AI took center stage at this year's Microsoft Advertising Accelerate, our flagship event for advertisers. Held in the vibrant Dominican Republic, industry leaders, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts gathered to explore the forefront of digital marketing innovations, with this year’s event heavily focused on AI and its transformative impact on the industry. Microsoft Bing’s Fabrice Canel unveiled several transformative strategies designed to enhance AI search capabilities and help marketers deliver more precise,…

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Fast Track to Sustainable Mobility

Motor sports enthusiasts and thrill-seekers would be familiar with the Formula One races held around the world. But beyond fast cars, a legendary test of endurance, innovation and speed has been taking place annually in the town of Le Mans in France, capturing the world’s imagination since 1923. The 24-hour motor race sees drivers, teams and engineering capabilities stretched to their limits to win. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is…

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Author Talks: Face your fear of public speaking

In this edition of Author Talks, McKinsey Global Publishing’s Emily Adeyanju chats with Michael Chad Hoeppner, founder and CEO of GK Training, about his book Don’t Say Um: How to Communicate Effectively to Live a Better Life (Balance/Hachette Book Group, Winter 2025). Hoeppner reveals the common mistakes that hinder effective public speaking and provides the steps you can take to enhance your communication skills. An edited version of the conversation follows,…

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Building resilience for global leadership: The path forward for India’s chemicals industry

The global chemicals industry, which outperformed broader capital markets on returns to shareholders for most of the past two decades, is no longer an outperformer. Fundamental shifts reshaping the landscape have caused a downturn in growth and profitability that could persist in this new era, stemming from lower demand, overcapacities, and global macroeconomic conditions. At this time, the Indian chemicals industry has delivered over 10 to 12 percent total shareholder…

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Why You Can’t Hire for Skills Without a Skills-Based Culture

Andrew Baker/Ikon Images Summary: Skills-focused hiring approaches need time to take root, given that any cultural transformation takes consistent effort over years, not months. Four key elements of successful skills-based talent practices are organizationwide buy-in, realigned incentives, ongoing training, and inclusive practices. Building a skills-based culture is a strategic investment that can deliver substantial benefits to both employers and workers. Skills-based hiring has, in some ways, become a victim of…

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Six Essential Tips for Navigating the Contract Claims Process in Government Contracting

In celebration of the release of the 6th Edition of the Government Contracts Compliance Handbook, we are sharing six essential tips for successfully navigating the contract claims process under federal procurement regulations. Even with careful performance, disputes over scope, pricing, and contract performance can arise between contractors and the government. Understanding how to properly submit, price, and negotiate claims under the Contract Disputes Act (CDA) and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)…

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Wyoming Enacts Law to Restrict the Use of Noncompete Agreements

Quick Hits Wyoming enacted legislation that will void noncompete agreements with employees with limited exceptions. Noncompete agreements will remain permissible in certain contexts, such as the sale of a business, the protection of trade secrets, the recovery of employers’ costs to relocate or train employees, and to restrict post-employment activity of executive or managerial personnel and their key staff. The law also prohibits noncompete clauses in agreements involving physicians and…

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Late registration of a class action to the National Class Actions Database does not render the action a nullity

When two or more putative class proceedings are commenced and involve the same or similar subject matter and some or all of the same proposed class members, a representative plaintiff may, if they are unable or unwilling to cooperate with the other representative plaintiffs, move to have the court determine which proceeding would best advance the claims of the class (i.e. a carriage motion). A carriage motion is a procedural…

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Streamlining everyday tasks in education with Microsoft 365 Copilot

Transform daily tasks with ideas from the Copilot Scenario Library for education. Education professionals bring creativity, dedication, and expertise to work every day, shaping meaningful experiences for their school community. With Copilot, you can build on these strengths—boosting productivity, amplifying creativity, and securely empowering everyone. Explore these possibilities and more with the Copilot Scenario Library for education—a collection of real-world examples that demonstrate how educators and leaders can easily use…

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When AI Is the Editor, Consumer Complaints Are More Likely to Succeed‌

Consumers who want to submit a complaint to an agency such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau face a task that, for some, can be daunting: they must fill out a form that requires them to explain the issue, clearly and convincingly, in their own words. Those who are not native English speakers or simply don’t regularly communicate in writing may lack the skills needed to convincingly make their cases.‌…

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‘Second Nature’ photo exhibit examines a world reshaped by human influence

Second Nature: Photography in the Age of the Anthropocene at the Cantor Arts Center is the first major exhibition of contemporary photography to examine our current era through the framing of the Anthropocene – a period defined by human impact on the global climate significant enough to signify the dawn of a new geologic and historic age.On view through Aug. 3, this expansive, global exhibition brings together the work of…

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Speed, Ease, and Expertise With AI: Lenovo’s Linda Yao

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 Linda Yao, chief operating officer and head of strategy for Lenovo’s Strategy, Solutions, and Services Group and vice president of hybrid cloud…

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First Rulings on Pension Risk Transfer — ERISA Class Actions Reach Opposite Conclusions on Article III Standing

Seyfarth Synopsis:  The first two district court opinions deciding whether plaintiffs have Article III standing to challenge pension risk transfers have reached opposite conclusions.  One case will proceed to discovery, and the other has been dismissed without leave to amend.  Many other motions to dismiss are pending in other courts and it is too early to tell which view will prevail; more rulings are expected soon. For context, in a defined…

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Carrot and stick: How Bill 32 may decrease proposed tax savings in Alberta Budget 2025

Alberta’s Bill 32: Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 (Bill 32), received royal assent (i.e., passed into law) on December 5, 2024. Bill 32 came into force on January 1, 2025 and contained a suite of amendments to various pieces of legislation including the Alberta Personal Income Tax Act, which determines the rate of provincial taxes for residents of Alberta.1 Prior to the creation of the new tax bracket in the…

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AI innovation requires AI security: Hear what’s new at Microsoft Secure April 9 digital event

When you’re secure—innovation happens. But, the fast pace of AI often outpaces traditional security measures, leaving gaps that bad actors can take advantage of. As a security professional, you’re the hero in this battle between protecting vast amounts of data while ensuring AI systems remain transparent and compliant. What you need in this time of new threats and complexity in securing interconnected AI applications is a proactive, innovative approach to…

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The Age of Intelligence: Questions That Shape A New World

I asked our panelists which blind spot concerned them most. Veloso zeroed in on workforce transformation, drawing a parallel to the Industrial Revolution: “We're going to be replacing routine cognitive tasks with intelligent systems,” he said. Just as mechanisation reshaped work through Taylorism and assembly lines, AI will fundamentally change “the skill set, the organisation of firms, the fabric of what it means to be a worker”. This isn’t just about…

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