At the beginning of each publication on Eurasian security, it is inevitably written that this term was first heard in the speeches of Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2024 — first in his address to the Federal Assembly, and then at a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Gradually, this concept is acquiring some content, and the process of its formation is in full swing. But if…
How AI, pragmatism, and purpose are shaping the future of HR in Saudi Arabia At the HRSE – HR Expo in Riyadh, Q5 joined HR leaders to explore the evolving world of work in Saudi Arabia. From AI’s rising influence to a renewed focus on pragmatic, people-first solutions, the Kingdom is embracing bold change with energy, purpose, and a hunger for impact-driven innovation. Reading time: 3 minutes Our team had…
At a glance Amid pressure on US–China trade, firms may look to rearrange sourcing to alternative suppliers. If they cannot, firms might instead reduce purchases, replace imported products with something similar, or ramp up domestic production. These alternatives require a combination of sacrifice, resources, know-how, and time. We introduce a “rearrangement ratio” to quantify how hard the change might be. Thirty-five percent of US imports from China have a ratio…
The outbreak of the war between Israel and Iran on June 13 took all players by surprise - both regional and major powers with interests and a presence in the Middle East. Russia today, despite regime change in Syria, remains a key player. It has a strategic partnership with Iran and close trade and investment relations with the monarchies of the Persian Gulf. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates are…
This scenario assumes a status quo in the tariff confrontation with the US on 4 June, ie, an across-the-board increase in tariffs to 10%, with the exception of exempted products, 25% on automobiles and 50% on steel. The risks associated with this central scenario are bearish. The stagnation scenario could materialise if the trade confrontation with the US were to intensify, if the competitiveness constraints were to bite further, if…
This interview is part of the Leading Asia series, which features in-depth conversations with some of the region’s most value-creating leaders on what it takes to realize bold ambitions and take them further.In this Leading Asia interview, McKinsey’s Gautam Kumra talks to Mukesh Ambani about what it takes to lead in Asia. They discuss how Ambani’s focus on vision and unique leadership style has brought Reliance Industries from a small…
Today, Peter Berkowitz offers insights into his popular Stanford seminar on the history and varieties of American conservatism; Amit Seru shines a light on an underappreciated source of potential systemic risk in the US financial system; and Steven J. Davis speaks with Richard Baldwin about recent shocks in US trade policy and their consequences for the American and global economies. Revitalizing American Institutions Historical Roots of American Conservatism Explored in…
Quick Hits The Trump administration has sought to end both federal enforcement of antidiscrimination laws based on disparate impact theories and to eliminate employer DEI programs. Even with these shifting priorities, it remains critically important for employers to collect and study applicant and employee demographic data to maintain compliance with equal opportunity and antidiscrimination laws, as well as to be prepared for scrutiny under the Trump administration’s shifting policies. Employers…
The years since 2020 have been a time of upheaval for consumers and companies alike, and packaging players are no exception. A global pandemic shifted consumption patterns, many countries went through a period of high inflation, and geopolitical uncertainty continues to reshape trade flows—sometimes profoundly. How have these factors affected the choices consumers make and especially their attitudes and sentiments toward packaging? To answer this question, in the first quarter…
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So say a team of researchers who have uncovered significant weaknesses in two of the art protection tools most used by artists to safeguard their work.According to their creators, Glaze and NightShade were both developed to protect human creatives against the invasive uses of generative artificial intelligence. The tools are popular with digital artists who want to stop artificial intelligence models (like the AI art generator Stable Diffusion) from copying…
The question of how Europe is faring is fatefully linked to the centre of the continent, Germany. The demonstrative shift in focus of its new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, towards NATO and Berlin’s transatlantic ally, the United States, should not obscure the fact that Europe's largest economy is currently struggling with a multitude of problems at home. However, anyone concerned with Germany's immediate future must analyse precisely these parameters. “Germany is…
A conceptual depiction of a blue vehicle traversing a lengthy, curving pathway in a spiral form. The backdrop is a uniform, pale blue hue. Running out of gas while you’re driving is a major inconvenience. It can leave you stranded, sometimes miles away from the nearest service station. It can take hours of your day to reach your destination. And depending on where your vehicle has stopped, it can put…
Quick Hits The appellate court confirmed that, under the law as it existed prior to July 2024, a former employee could file PAGA claims even eighteen months after leaving employment, regardless of the one-year PAGA statute of limitations for civil penalties. The decision focused on the definition of “aggrieved employee” under the former version of Labor Code Section 2699, emphasizing that standing depended on whether the claimant suffered a Labor…
Most executives know that they need to communicate early and often with long-term intrinsic investors. Compared with, for instance, mechanical investors and traders, intrinsic investors are paying closer attention to companies’ performance metrics, potential to create value over the long term, and strategic decisions—and making their investment decisions accordingly. Long-term intrinsic investors are also the ones most likely to champion a company’s prospects in the market, influencing other investor segments…
On Wednesday 25 June, eight exceptional individuals whose achievements have made lasting contributions to the world were recognised at Oxford University’s Encaenia - an annual ceremony at which honorary degrees are conferred and the University's benefactors are commemorated.The day started with a Procession, including University dignitaries and the honorands in full academic dress, which made its way from Exeter College through Catte Street and the Bodleian Library quadrangle. Sir Mo Farah signing the Honorary…
Climate and sustainability are the defining challenges of the 21st century, and the newest graduates of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability are uniquely prepared to meet the moment.That was the message of Dean Arun Majumdar as he congratulated the third class of graduates from Stanford’s newest school during its diploma ceremony, held on the Mitchell Patio June 15.“The challenges ahead are immense, but so are the opportunities,” Majumdar said.He…
The Rubin Observatory, jointly funded by the US National Science Foundation and the US Department of Energy’s Office of Science, has released its first imagery, showing cosmic phenomena at an unprecedented scale.In just over 10 hours of test observations, the NSF-DOE Rubin Observatory has already captured millions of galaxies and Milky Way stars and thousands of asteroids. The imagery is a small preview of the Rubin Observatory’s upcoming 10-year scientific…
A new study from researchers in the University of Oxford’s Department of Computer Science has found that Uber’s use of dynamic pricing has led to higher fares for passengers and lower earnings for drivers, whilst increasing Uber’s share of revenue. The research also found that Uber concentrates its higher “take rate”, or commission, on higher-fare trips.Lead author Associate Professor Reuben Binns (Department of Computer Science) said: ‘The higher the value…
The government of Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a threat to economic relations with three partners at once - the US, the EU and Great Britain. Despite their different measures of influence on Israel, they are united by their focus on solving Western, rather than Middle Eastern problems, while demonstrating the critical level of Israeli dependence on Europe and the US, which hinders West Jerusalem’s search for foreign trade alternatives. The…
Chinese Biotech Is Having a ‘DeepSeek Moment’by Chen Xi and Han Weivia Caixin Global on June 16, 2025 Trade With China Is Becoming a One-Way Streetby Jason Douglas and Clarence Leongvia Wall Street Journal on June 14, 2025 Chinese brands extend global reachby Tessa Thornileyvia Financial Times on June 17, 2025 Chinese Spenders Open Wallets as Factories Slowby Jason Douglasvia Wall Street Journal on June 16, 2025 China retail sales…
Quick Hits The Supreme Court held that students bringing ADA and Rehabilitation Act claims related to their education are not required to make a heightened showing of bad faith or gross misjudgment. Claims under these statutes “based on educational services should be subject to the same standards that apply in other disability discrimination contexts.” Claims are subject to the same standards as in other disability discrimination contexts: injunctive relief does…
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 the researchers’ own words, edited and condensed for clarity. One thing that I find really striking is that you can have a terrible, debilitating disease, but you’re…
Quick Hits The UK’s Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled that employers must actively seek and consider alternative employment for employees facing redundancy, as highlighted in Hendy Group Ltd v Mr D Kennedy. The EAT’s decision underscores that simply providing a job vacancy list may be insufficient to meet employers’ obligations during redundancy processes. Employers should consider taking proactive steps to support employees facing redundancy, beyond just posting job advertisements, to avoid…
In May 2025, the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta released its judgement on the judicial review of a decision of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta. The judgment was significant and signals (i) the legitimization of data scraping and AI model training from publicly available information on the internet and potential protection of these types of automated processes under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, (ii) the…
New rules governing how businesses can use trademarks, display signage and advertise have now come into effect in Québec, following the adoption of new provisions in the Regulation respecting the language of commerce and business. In fact, the final version of the regulation has taken a step back from the amendments proposed earlier and reinstated more flexible provisions. Here's what you need to know. Trademark translation requirements The trademark exception…
The innovation challenge: Good ideas are harder to find Innovation has been the driver of the extraordinary progress from which humankind has benefited for a couple of centuries, but it faces a largely hidden threat: Innovation is becoming harder and more expensive. Innovation is an enabler of human progress It’s instructive here to take the long view. For most of recorded human history, improvements in human welfare from generation to…
At the dawn of the digital age, when cybersecurity became a top-level concern, predictions of catastrophic harm were common. The Economist in 2010 featured a mock-up Manhattan-type skyline suffering a 9/11 style atrocity under the headline Cyber War: The Threat from the Internet. US Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta warned of Cyber Pearl Harbor, one of many such warnings from world leaders. Professor Ciaran Martin But while there have been many…
The Xiongnu, who established a steppe empire in the 3rd century BC, and the Huns, who threatened Roman Europe in the 4th and 5th centuries AD, have long fascinated scholars. But their precise linguistic and ethnic identities have remained elusive due to a paucity of written records.Our study shows that alongside archaeology and genetics comparative philology plays an essential role in the exploration of human history. We hope that our…
Recently, the Ontario Superior Court delivered a rare win for the employer in Taylor v. Salytics Inc., 2025 ONSC 3461. The issue before the Court was whether a temporary lay-off provision in an employment agreement constituted a “termination” provision, such that the principles established over the recent years by the Ontario Court of Appeal with respect to the enforceability of termination provisions must be applied to a temporary lay-off provision.…
Now, an international group of astronomers led by the University of Cambridge have shown that we will be able to learn about the masses of the earliest stars by studying a specific radio signal – created by hydrogen atoms filling the gaps between star-forming regions – originating just a hundred million years after the Big Bang.By studying how the first stars and their remnants affected this signal, called the 21-centimetre…
20 June 2025By David BarkhausenMemories of hyperinflation live on in public debates on money. In the case of Germany, the trauma of 1923 is widely seen as the source of the country’s preference for fiscal discipline and stability-oriented central banking. Historical analysis sheds new light on the collective memory and its genesis.How we think, feel and talk about money is shaped by the past. And depending on where we grow…
Dr Alex Tsompanidis, senior researcher at the Autism Research Centre in the University of Cambridge, and the lead author of this new study, said: “Small variations in the prenatal levels of steroid hormones, like testosterone and oestrogen, can predict the rate of social and cognitive learning in infants and even the likelihood of conditions such as autism. This prompted us to consider their relevance for human evolution.”One explanation for the…
Quick Hits Washington State’s HB 1213 expands job protection rights under the state’s paid family and medical leave program. The amended leave program reduces the minimum increment of time off from eight consecutive hours to four consecutive hours. HB 1213 also broadens health insurance coverage requirements, along with a variety of other miscellaneous changes. HB 1213 expands the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WPFML) program, which is a state-administered…
Howie and Harlan discuss health and healthcare issues making headlines, including public attitudes toward the Medicaid cuts in the budget bill making its way through Congress, a one-time gene therapy that could cure high cholesterol, “ambient” AI in the exam room, and the replacement of the the CDC’s entire vaccine advisory board. Links: Remembering Atul Butte “Atul Butte, a biomedical and bioinformatics pioneer, dies at 55” Marina Sirota on LinkedIn…
Stanford GSE students received their diplomas in a joyous ceremony that honored their perseverance and purpose – and urged them to stay flexible in a rapidly evolving learning landscape.“There are many winds of change, and they’re very strong,” said Professor Emeritus Decker Walker, PhD ’71, who delivered the Commencement address. “You need to be adaptable.”Walker, an expert in curriculum and instruction who also started the technology in education program at…
3. Securing a Stable and Strategically Aligned Neighbourhood India’s immediate neighbourhood is undergoing a significant shift. The small nations are on their path of gradual democratisation, accompanied by a rise in nationalism.This has heightened their sensitivities around sovereignty, which is often expressed in reaction to the region’s dominant power i.e. India. Further, China’s expanding footprint in the region poses significant strategic challenge. Beijing has become primary arms exporter to Pakistan…
Quick Hits The MDHR conducts audits (including on-site visits) of workforce certificate holders’ efforts to comply with the MHRA and contractors’ compliance plans. The MDHR is likely to conduct audits of workforce certificate holders at least once during each four-year certification period. How Does the MDHR Analyze Workforce Certificate Compliance? In determining a contractor’s workforce certificate compliance, the MDHR may analyze: the contractor’s compliance with Minnesota’s anti-discrimination laws, MN Rules…
However, diffusion capacity is not always as apparent. It’s about the proportion of companies using AI; the flow of talent between universities, R&D labs, start-ups, industry and government; sectoral adoption rates; links between frontier firms and application firms; and the degree of competition.Scale mattersDiffusion is taking place quietly but surely in China, thanks to its integrated digital foundations. Ubiquitous platforms such as WeChat and Alipay provide ready-made rails for AI…
I just got an email from a spammer offering SEO help for my very old website — www.NoWorkplaceBullies.com. I hadn’t thought about that site in ages, so I typed in the link… and there it was. The original website I built the day I started my business — though it wasn’t called Civility Partners yet. Seeing it brought back a flood of memories. I was reminded that this has truly…