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DHS Proposes New $103,265 Fee for H-1B Cap Petitions: What Employers Need to Know

In a move that could dramatically alter the economics of hiring foreign talent in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new $103,265 filing fee for H-1B cap-subject petitions. If implemented, the fee would apply to all H-1B petitions filed under the annual cap, including those eligible for the advanced-degree exemption, and would be charged in addition to all existing filing fees. While the proposal…

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Canada Announces $7.5 Billion Support Package for Tariff-Affected Employers

Quick Hits On August 25, 2026, Canada announced new support programs to help employers impacted by the latest round of U.S. tariffs retain workers, fund training, and avoid layoffs. Extended Employment Insurance (EI) measures allow laid-off or separated employees to access benefits sooner and alongside severance payments. Employers may want to assess eligibility for workforce, EI, and financial support programs when planning staffing or separation decisions. Here is a summary…

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Valdai Club to Present the Report ‘Brazil-Russia Cooperation: Strategic Guidelines for Overcoming Structural Constraints’

On 17 September at 16:00 Moscow Time (GMT+3), the Valdai Club will host a presentation of the report titled “Contemporary Brazil–Russia Cooperation: Strategic Guidelines for Overcoming Structural Constraints.” Brazil’s diplomatic stance on the Ukrainian crisis has helped maintain dialogue with Russia and ensured unprecedented growth in trade flows. Both countries have managed to adapt to the crisis: bilateral trade figures for 2022–2026 were the highest ever recorded, with trade turnover exceeding…

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What the Iturup Shock Means for Asia

The Russian president’s visit to Iturup Island, a territory that is subject to a long-standing territorial dispute with Japan, has sent shockwaves throughout the Asia-Pacific. As Russia’s move highlights Moscow’s role in the complex regional web of strategic competition, Georgy Toloraya explores the implications of the Iturup visit for the Asia-Pacific region as a whole. The Russian President’s visit on 13 August to Iturup Island, which Japan regards as one…

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EU Pay Transparency Directive Update: Legislative Progress in Spain and Portugal

Quick Hits Spain published its draft Royal Decree on 4 August 2026, and Portugal published its draft proposal on 5 August 2026. Consultation for both drafts closed recently—24 August for Spain and 25 August for Portugal. Further legislation is expected to provide greater clarity on unaddressed provisions. Despite being published within days of each other, the approaches taken by the two governments vary considerably. Both drafts have been open for…

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Hidden hormone spikes may reveal high blood pressure condition, study shows

A common but often overlooked cause of high blood pressure may be hiding in plain sight – and data from a pioneering wearable device could hold the key to its earlier diagnosis, according to new research.The study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, concerns a condition called primary aldosteronism – a hormone disorder which affects up to one in five people with high blood pressure and puts them at…

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Did your transformation actually deliver value?

Organisations invest heavily in transformation, but often struggle to show what that investment actually returned. This article explores the gap between transformation activity and measurable value – and what leaders can do to close it. Estimated reading time: 4 minutes While the cost of transformation is always visible, the value can be much harder to find. Programme costs, consultants, technology, change teams… run-rate can quietly build for two or three…

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Florida Court Reinforces Employer’s Ability to Enforce Marijuana Policies in Public Union Contract

Quick Hits In Hillsborough County v. Giambrone, a Florida appellate court overturned a lower court’s unprecedented ruling that required a county to accommodate a firefighter-paramedic’s off-duty medical marijuana use after a positive random drug test. The court emphasized that the language in the parties’ collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and drug-free workplace policies must be carefully considered. The court also held that Florida’s medical marijuana framework does not: 1) create a…

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Artificial Intelligence and the Struggle for Intellectual Sovereignty in Central Asia

On April 7, 2026, Anthropic announced the launch of Project Glasswing and publicly acknowledged that its new model, Claude Mythos Preview, was capable of autonomously finding and exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities in every major operating system and every major web browser on the planet. The reaction was predictable: shares of leading cybersecurity companies plummeted by 5-11%, experts began talking about a new arms race, and politicians about a threat to national…

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Missouri Enacts Law Expanding Job Protections for National Guard Members

Quick Hits On July 9, 2026, Governor Mike Kehoe signed a law extending legal protections under USERRA to Missouri National Guard members and Missouri employees of other states’ National Guards. The law extends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to Missouri National Guard members and Missouri employees of other states’ National Guards called to active state duty for more than thirty consecutive days. National Guard members who are public employees…

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DHS Proposes New $103,265 Fee for Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions

Quick Hits DHS is proposing a $103,265 fee for every new fiscal year (FY) 2028 H-1B cap-subject petition on top of all existing fees. The fee would apply to all cap-subject employers, regardless of size. The fee would not apply to cap-exempt petitions (i.e., those filed by universities, nonprofit research organizations, and government research organizations) or to petitions to extend or amend existing H-1B status or to change an existing…

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Valdai Club to Discuss the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty on Its Thirtieth Anniversary

On 10 September at 15:00 Moscow Time (GMT+3), the Valdai Club will host an expert discussion titled “Thirty Years of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty: What’s Next?” 10 September marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by the UN General Assembly. The treaty has been signed by 187 countries and ratified by 178. However, given the Trump administration’s conflicting statements regarding the possible resumption of…

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No sick days? How remote work is changing the way we work when ill

Presenteeism is no longer just about physical presenceThe researchers propose redefining presenteeism as the “behaviour of attending work in the state of suboptimal health, with varied location choices and degree of engagement”.This means that presenteeism should be understood not simply in terms of whether someone turns up to work, but also where they work, what health problem they are experiencing and how much effort they put into working.The authors argue…

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AI adoption and the productivity promise: what workers report

26 August 2026By António Dias da Silva, Laura Lebastard and David Sondermann Use of artificial intelligence at work has doubled over the last two years and people report significant time-savings. But an ECB survey shows that perceived productivity gains vary widely and there are still barriers preventing many from adopting this new technology.How will AI affect employment and productivity?That is one of the most pressing questions given AI’s potential to…

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The Mecca Defense Pact and the Search for a New Regional Security Architecture

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are not simply announcing another defense agreement; they are testing whether regional powers can build credible deterrence without abandoning existing alliances, Hasan Selim Özertem writes. When Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed a defense pact in Mecca on August 7, the symbolism was difficult to miss. Three influential Muslim-majority powers—one a NATO member with a rapidly developing defense industry, one a major energy-rich state with…

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What did your transformation actually return?

Organisations invest heavily in transformation, but often struggle to show what that investment actually returned. This article explores the gap between transformation activity and measurable value – and what leaders can do to close it. Estimated reading time: 4 minutes While the cost of transformation is always visible, the value can be much harder to find. Programme costs, consultants, technology, change teams… run-rate can quietly build for two or three…

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Cal. Appellate Court Rejects Implied Cap on ‘Usual’ Emotional Damages

Quick Hits A California appellate court reinstated a $13.1 million jury verdict in a gender discrimination case, rejecting trial court limits on noneconomic damages. The court found the trial court had erroneously found a cap on damages for noneconomic damages, even when limiting claims to “usual” distress. The court further held that witnesses are competent to testify to their own retirement plans to support future economic damages. In Glick v.…

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Valdai Club to Present Report on Middle Powers in a Polycentric World

On 4 September at 1:00 PM Moscow Time (GMT+3), the Valdai Club will host the presentation of a joint report with the TRENDS Research & Advisory (UAE), titled “Middle Powers in a Polycentric World: The Quest for Strategic Autonomy?” The unipolar era of American primacy has exhausted itself. As the world reverts to polycentrism, middle powers are stepping into the spotlight—increasingly charting independent courses to safeguard their security and economic…

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What does your strategy say you’ll do less of?

Strategy is about making choices, but those choices only become meaningful when they change how an organisation invests, resources and prioritises. This article explores how organisational performance can help leaders decide what to back, what to change and, crucially, what to do less of. Estimated reading time: 4 minutes Most strategies are much clearer about what an organisation wants to do more of than what it is prepared to do…

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The Meccan Alliance as a Response to Strategic Challenges and Threats

As the post-1991 US security architecture in the Middle East undergoes political transformation in the wake of region-wide hostilities with Iran, regional states are coming forward with security initiatives of their own. The brand-new Meccan Alliance and its implications are explored by Kamran Gasanov, Senior Lecturer at RUDN University. The Meccan Alliance: Building a Security Architecture Atop Ruins of Old Order While the major players are locked in their own…

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No More Six-Month Baby Steps: San Francisco Cuts PPLO Eligibility Period in Half

By: Mecole Tate and Chelsea Hoffman Seyfarth Synopsis: San Francisco just delivered a bundle of joy for new parents. The city reduced the employment tenure requirement under its Paid Parental Leave Ordinance from 180 days to 90 days, meaning eligible employees can start accessing employer-paid supplemental compensation benefits faster. Covered employers may want to start baby-proofing their policies now, ahead of phased-in compliance beginning January 1, 2027. New parents in…

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Congrats to New Parents: San Francisco Reduces PPLO Eligibility Period

Seyfarth Synopsis: San Francisco just delivered a bundle of joy for new parents. The city reduced the employment tenure requirement under its Paid Parental Leave Ordinance from 180 days to 90 days, meaning eligible employees can start accessing employer-paid supplemental compensation benefits faster. Covered employers may want to start baby-proofing their policies now, ahead of phased-in compliance beginning January 1, 2027. New parents in San Francisco have a reason to…

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Canadian Securities Administrators propose new amendments to the listed issuer financing exemption (LIFE)

The CSA have published for comment certain proposed amendments (the Proposed Amendments) to National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions (NI 45-106) that would, among other things, codify increased financing limits, revise the dilution calculations, expand issuer eligibility and streamline certain conditions and disclosure requirements under the listed issuer financing exemption in Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the LIFE Exemption). Many of the Proposed Amendments, including the increased financing limits and revised…

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DOL Rescinds Section 503 Disability Utilization Goal and Data Collection Requirements

Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) has issued a final rule substantially revising the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. Most notably, the rule rescinds the longstanding 7% disability utilization goal under 41 C.F.R. § 60-741.45 and the disability-related data collection requirements under 41 C.F.R. § 60-741.44(k). The rule reflects the DOL's opinion that the prior framework created tension with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”),…

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Canada’s foreign influence registry is now in effect: Here’s what you need to know

On Aug. 4, 2026, the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act, S.C. 2024, c. 16, s. 113 (FITAA), and Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Regulations, SOR/2026-152, came into force. What you need to know: FITAA establishes a registration regime intended to increase transparency concerning foreign interference and influence in Canada. Individuals and organizations must register certain arrangements with foreign principals involving activities intended to influence political or governmental processes in…

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Legal Update: Colorado Releases Proposed Rules for Its AI and Chatbot Safety Laws: These Create More Operational Work than the Statutes Suggest

On August 11, 2026, the Colorado Department of Law released a single set of proposed rules  substantially building out two 2026 statutes: the Automated Decision-Making Technology Act (“ADMT Act”) and the Conversational Artificial Intelligence Service Operator Requirements (the “Chatbot Safety Act”). Both laws take effect January 1, 2027, and the proposed rules would become effective the same day. The Rules are not yet final – for covered organizations and interested parties the weeks until September…

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How the Right Business Model Can Fuel Creativity

Would you each introduce your company and your role?Snow Rui: I’m president, CFO, and general counsel of Hooded Horse, a video game publisher that I co-founded in 2019 with my husband, Tim Bender, who is CEO. Our first release was in 2022. Today, we have about 40 people distributed globally. We’ve released 30 games with several of them selling over a million copies. I wear a lot of hats because…

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OFCCP Issues Final Rules Upending Federal Contractors’ Affirmative Action Obligations

Quick Hits OFCCP finalized three rules rescinding and revising federal contractors’ and subcontractors’ affirmative action obligations following the 2025 revocation of EO 11246. The final rules significantly modify obligations under Section 503 by rescinding disability self-identification invitations and the 7 percent utilization goal, rescinding OFCCP’s race- and sex-based regulations, and making technical amendments to the VEVRAA regulations. The rules have varying effective dates, which means that contractors will need to…

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The Makkah Agreement: A New Experiment in Regional Strategic Autonomy

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed on August 7, 2026 by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, should not be viewed merely as another military arrangement in an already fragmented Middle Eastern security environment. Its significance lies less in the immediate military capabilities of the three signatories than in the model of regional security that it potentially represents. The agreement may mark a transition from reliance on individual external security providers…

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San Francisco Further Limits Background Checks by Employers

Quick Hits San Francisco recently amended its Fair Chance Ordinance to prohibit employers from making adverse employment decisions based on out-of-state criminal convictions or arrests for abortion, miscarriage, gender-affirming care, and drag performances. If an employer sends notice to a candidate or employee regarding an intent to take adverse action based upon a criminal history and the candidate or employee timely responds, the employer must send a reply within fourteen…

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Fibrinogen discovery reshapes our understanding of how wounds heal

Scientists have redefined how the key blood‑clotting protein fibrinogen behaves when it contacts air, overturning two decades of scientific consensus on wound healing.It is the culmination of over a decade of international collaboration by Dr Richard Campbell of The University of Manchester, Professor Juan Ruso of the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain and Dr Natalia Hassan of the Metropolitan Technological University in Chile.The discovery could have far reaching…

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Central Asia and the New Logic of Regional Agency

As intense great power rivalry sweeps the international system, middle powers increasingly tend to find themselves between a rock and a hard place. Ulugbek Khasanov explores how Uzbekistan maintains equilibrium in its foreign policy and strikes a balance between external powers seeking influence in Central Asia. In the fifth book of his History of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides describes the negotiations between Athenian envoys and the inhabitants of the island…

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New Maryland DOL Resources Help Employers Prepare for FAMLI

Quick Hits Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance will soon take effect, with contributions commencing on January 1, 2027, and benefits starting no later than January 3, 2028. The MDOL’s FAMLI Division has released new guidance documents covering employer registration, equivalent private insurance plan (EPIP) options, and quarterly wage and hour reporting to help businesses prepare. Employers considering an EPIP must file a declaration of intent (DOI) between September 1…

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An Employer’s Guide to Filing a Declaration of Intent for a Maryland FAMLI Private Plan

Quick Hits Employers that wish to pursue an EPIP rather than participate in the FAMLI state plan must file a DOI between September 1 and November 15, 2026, in order to be exempt from making contributions to the state plan during the 2027 calendar year seeding period. The DOI process requires employer registration through the FAMLI Portal, a consultation with and attestation from a licensed insurance agent, and completion of…

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‘Say It Right’: Toponymical Prescriptivism and Identity Assertion

The existence of different names for the same geographical features across languages and cultures is a natural phenomenon, shaped by historical, social, and linguistic factors. Yet under certain circumstances, toponymical issues transcend linguistics, becoming a potent—and often explosive—element of domestic and foreign policy. We have previously addressed the “name correction” that Donald Trump initiated shortly after his return to the White House, exemplifying one of the two main scenarios for…

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California’s Updated AB 2321 Awaits Vote in State Senate

The bill was introduced in February 2026 by Assembly Member Liz Ortega (D–District 20), chair of the California State Assembly’s Committee on Labor and Employment, with Assembly Members Ash Kalra (D–District 25) and Alex Lee (D–District 24) signing on as coauthors. As introduced, the bill would have applied statewide, expanding the role of local district attorneys in investigating serious workplace injuries and fatalities across California. Since then, the bill has…

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Putting a Price on Climate Risk

Your recent work has focused on unpriced risk. Would you explain what that is?It’s a risk that’s apparent—it’s not hidden or unrealistic, it doesn’t require a black-swan event to be relevant—but for some reason, there’s a lag in pricing it. Maybe the data needed to price it is difficult. There might be significant cost to quantifying the risk. Or the complexity of the issue might be daunting.There is often unpriced…

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Stability and Security Threats in the South Caucasus: A View from Pakistan

The South Caucasus has entered a phase of de facto peace, but not yet one of settled security. The Armenia-Azerbaijan breakthrough and new connectivity plans offer a historic opportunity, while incomplete legal normalisation, unresolved border and humanitarian questions, corridor rivalries, Georgia's enduring conflicts, and spillover from surrounding wars keep the regional order fragile. Pakistan’s strategic partnership with Azerbaijan, newly established relations with Armenia, and growing engagement with the Eurasian Economic…

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Cal/OSHA Updates Draft Heat Illness Regulations to Align Indoor and Outdoor Rules

Quick Hits On August 14, 2026, Cal/OSHA released an updated draft of its heat illness regulations that aligns both the indoor and outdoor regulations to be more consistent in language and terminology. The draft outdoor regulation removes the exception which allowed industries other than agriculture, construction, landscaping, oil and gas extraction, and some transportation companies to be exempt from the high-heat procedures. The deadline for submitting comments is September 21,…

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