global

Global skirt market trends: Resilient growth amid challenges

Skirts, spanning casual to formal styles and materials like cotton, denim and silk, are a significant part of women's clothing export market. Notably, skirts saw an 8.47 per cent growth in 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The US and Germany are leading skirt import markets, with the US showing 18 per cent growth. Despite geopolitical and economic challenges in 2024, recovery is expected by 2025.




global

Global cotton prices steady amid marginal decreases in key markets

Global cotton markets saw slight declines and stabilisation in recent weeks, with NY/ICE December futures trading between 67–75 cents/lb since June, now at 71 cents/lb. The global A Index dipped from 85 to 83 cents, while China's index dropped from 101 to 97 cents due to a weaker yuan. Indian and Pakistani spot prices also declined, but both rupees remained stable against the dollar.




global

MMWR: Current Cigarette Smoking, Access, and Purchases from Retail Outlets Among Students Aged 13–15 Years — Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 45 Countries, 2013 and 2014

Data regarding smoking, quantity and access to cigarettes by youth in 45 countries during 2013 and 2014.




global

Lucidworks shares results from a global survey about GenAI adoption, fears, and strategies in 2024

Sinoway defines GenAI as it applies to the business environment as an extension of how AI and machine learning have been used for decades, which had been primarily numeric. GenAI now allows for the same applications, but with text, video, and audio. The same tools we applied to numbers we're now applying to words. GenAI analyzes literally millions, even billions, of data-points and makes predictions about the next letter in a word, the next word of the sentence, or the next sentence in a paragraph. It then comes up with a response to answer a query. Its predictive qualities usually produce good answers, but the possibility of hallucinations, which is what incorrect predictions resulting in wrong answers are called, is worrying.




global

5 health technology start-ups finalists in global heart disease solution competition

DALLAS, Nov. 8, 2024 – High blood pressure, obesity and other risk factors contribute to high rates of heart disease and stroke worldwide, including in the U.S. where cardiovascular disease is the leading killer.[1] While experts work to improve outcomes...




global

A Guide to Accessibility Resources for Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is May 16, 2024! GAAD was created to help bring attention and awareness to digital inclusivity. No matter your role on a project team, digital accessibility should always be a priority from start to finish. Why is accessibility so important?

  • Over 1 billion people worldwide have a disability, and that number is growing every day
  • 15% of people with disabilities say they never go online, compared to 5% of people without disabilities, according to Pew Research Center
  • According to a survey by Click-Away Pound, 71% of disabled users are forced to leave a website if they find it difficult to use

Digital accessibility directly impacts people’s ability to access information, buy products, apply for jobs, engage in discussion, and everything else that people do online that is becoming critical for modern life. Accessible spaces even benefit people without disabilities, as it allows anyone to take in content though their preferred method (reading the captions on a video instead of listening in a noisy environment, for example), and often breeds innovation as engineers work to find the best way to be sure everyone can access information equally.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has developed the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) in an effort to standardize digital accessibility. However, many websites unfortunately fail to meet these standards, leading to a lesser-quality user experience. WebAIM’s yearly report has highlighted some surprising statistics about WCAG across the top 1,000,000 home pages:

  • The most common accessibility failure across home pages is low contrast text
  • 98.1% of home pages have at least one WCAG 2.0 failure
  • On average, there are 56.8 accessibility errors per page (this increased 13.6% from 2023!) 
  • 16.8% of home pages had more than one <h1> tag

As you can see, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to create a more accessible web for everyone. If you’re interested in learning more about digital accessibility and how to improve accessibility on your own projects, there are plenty of resources and online courses available. Resources range from free, to paid courses, to professional certifications. Below are some courses and resources that we recommend.

Free Courses and Resources

If you’re looking to introduce yourself to digital accessibility, these free resources are a great place to start:  

  • A11ycasts with Rob Dodson - A series of video tutorials on YouTube that highlights topics including semantics, focus, the correct way to use a button, and a11y testing
  • The Beginner’s Guide to Web Accessibility - An article by Dequeue University that summarizes why digital accessibility should be a priority, and how to determine if your website is accessible
  • Common Mistakes with Using Colour in Accessibility - Digital designer Andrée Lange provides insights into how to take color contrast into consideration when designing for the web
  • Deque Accessibility Resources - Dequeue offers a variety of free accessibility resources, including webinars, blog posts, and their accessibility testing browser extension, axe DevTools
  • HTML Semantics and Accessibility Cheat Sheet - WebAIM provides a list of the most common HTML tags that have an impact on digital accessibility
  • MDN Accessibility Tutorials - MDN is an open-source project documenting web technologies, which also includes an informative section on web accessibility documentation and best practices
  • Section 508 ICT Testing Baseline - Outlines minimal accessibility testing requirements for federal agencies subject to Section 508
  • WCAG 2.2 Quick Reference - WCAG are a series of web accessibility guidelines released and maintained by the W3C, with 2.2 being the current version of the guidelines. This page provides a reference to standards that websites should meet in order to meet current accessibility standards
  • Web.dev Learn Accessibility Course - A series of informative articles ranging from beginning a11y topics, to more advanced topics including animation and motion

Deep Dives with Paid Tutorials

If you’re a developer who has experience in accessibility and want to dig more into the topic, these comprehensive tutorials will help you improve your a11y knowledge:

  • Accessible Web Academy - Accessible Web Academy includes more focused a11y courses for designers, developers, content creators, and marketers looking to target specific topics 
  • Inclusive Components - There is a free online summary of Heydon Pickering’s Inclusive Components, but you can also purchase an eBook on the topic. Heydon’s blog provides examples of a pattern library that bakes accessibility into each component
  • Practical Accessibility by Sara Soueidan - Sara Souedien is a prolific front-end developer who specializes in accessibility. Her course, Practical Accessibility, is a comprehensive guide for all developers, from those looking to familiarize themselves with accessibility, to experienced developers looking to expand their a11y knowledge.

Advanced Knowledge with Certifications

As the world’s population and number of disabled users continues to grow, it’s clear that implementing digital accessibility in your products is more important than ever. By implementing the information from these lists, you can help users of all abilities access the content that you share, ensuring a better internet for everyone.




global

Sony A9 III: Game-changing Full-Frame Global Shutter, 120FPS 24.6MPx Camera

This post: Sony A9 III: Game-changing Full-Frame Global Shutter, 120FPS 24.6MPx Camera was first published on Beyond Photo Tips by Susheel Chandradhas

Sony announced the Sony A9 iii on 07 November 2023, a 24.6 Megapixel Full-frame mirrorless camera with the world’s first global shutter full-frame stacked CMOS image sensor capable of shooting at 120 frames per second. The camera also boasts a processor, the BIONZ XR, that is 8 times faster than the previous Sony BIONZ X […]

This post: Sony A9 III: Game-changing Full-Frame Global Shutter, 120FPS 24.6MPx Camera was first published on Beyond Photo Tips




global

Human Influence on Global Climate Traced Back to 1930’s

The Melbourne Newsroom The human impact on our global climate has now been traced back as far as the 1930’s Humans have triggered the last 16 record-breaking hot years experienced on Earth (up to 2014), with the new research tracing … Continue reading




global

NASA Discovers a Global Electric Field After Decades of Search

A team of scientists has used data obtained from a suborbital rocket used in the NASA Endurance mission a to reveal an electric field that is as widespread



  • Space &amp; Astronomy

global

New AI Method Reveals Impact of Global Warming on Extreme Weather Events

How can artificial intelligence (AI) help researchers plan and predict future extreme weather events resulting from climate change? This is what a recent s



  • Earth &amp; The Environment

global

NASA Discovers a Global Electric Field After Decades of Search

A team of scientists has used data obtained from a suborbital rocket used in the NASA Endurance mission a to reveal an electric field that is as widespread



  • Earth &amp; The Environment

global

Global Study Reveals Urban Areas Receive Significantly More Rainfall Than Rural Neighbors

How does an urban environment influence its rainfall? This is what a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences hopes to



  • Earth &amp; The Environment

global

Global Study Reveals Urban Areas Receive Significantly More Rainfall Than Rural Neighbors

How does an urban environment influence its rainfall? This is what a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences hopes to




global

Germany Seeks to Mandate Human Rights Due Diligence for Companies and Their Global Partners

In February 2019, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (“Development Ministry”) introduced a draft law (the “Draft Law”) that seeks to mandate human rights due diligence for German companies and their global business partners, including suppliers.




global

Littler Lightbulb: Highlighting Global Human Rights Topics

Human rights issues increasingly require the assistance of experienced counsel who can help employers navigate very fluid and complex legal, business and societal considerations.




global

Are employers required to conduct human rights due diligence in their global operations?

Are employers required to conduct human rights due diligence in their global operations?

The scope and scale of many employers’ global operations and their global supply chains are expanding. This expansion has led to a greater focus on the risk of corporate human rights abuses such as forced labor, child labor, and other forms of modern slavery.




global

The E.U. Advances a Watered-Down but Nonetheless Landmark Human Rights Draft Law – What This Means for Global Employers

  • The E.U. significantly advanced draft legislation requiring certain global employers to engage in wide-ranging human rights due diligence.
  • The scope of the law covers both E.U. and non-E.U. companies.
  • The draft law is expected to pass this summer, triggering E.U. Member States’ obligations to transpose it into local law. 




global

How AI Will Make Global Supply Chains Smarter, and Alter the Employment Landscape in a Post-Pandemic World

Mickey Chichester and Natalie Pierce examine how companies may turn to AI and robotics to mitigate disruption and some of the employment implications of such initiatives.

Supply Chain Toolbox

View Article




global

Littler Releases Inaugural Report From Its Global Workplace Transformation Initiative

Report reviews the myriad forces transforming the workplace and formalizes Littler’s Global Workplace Transformation Initiative




global

Poland and Other Central-Eastern European Countries Focus on Their Global Mobility & Immigration Policies

In February 2024, Poland’s government revealed that it is working on a comprehensive migration strategy for the years 2025-2030, advertised as a “responsible and safe” approach. The Ministry of Interior and Administration plans to spend the first half of 2024 conducting consultations to learn the preferences and expectations on migration and foreigners’ employment from various stakeholders, including the country’s biggest employers and their organizations, as well the trade unions.




global

Littler Global Guide - Germany - Q2 2022

Browse through brief employment and labor law updates from around the globe. Contact a Littler attorney for more information or view our global locations.

Download full Q2 2022 Global Guide Quarterly

Significant Tightening of the German Law on the Provision of Evidence

New Legislation Enacted

Author: Lioba Lamers, Associate – vangard | Littler




global

Littler Global Guide - United Kingdom - Q3 2022

Browse through brief employment and labor law updates from around the globe. Contact a Littler attorney for more information or view our global locations.

Download full Q3 2022 Global Guide Quarterly

Court of Appeal Confirms that Conduct of a Whistleblower is Separable from the Fact of Making a Protected Disclosure

Precedential Decision by Judiciary or Regulatory Agency




global

Littler Global Guide - Italy - Q1 2023

Browse through brief employment and labor law updates from around the globe. Contact a Littler attorney for more information or view our global locations.

Download full Q1 2023 Global Guide Quarterly

Extensions of Laws

New Legislation Enacted

Authors: Carlo Majer, Partner, and Caterina Colombano, Associate – Littler Italy




global

Littler Global Guide - Netherlands - Q1 2023

Browse through brief employment and labor law updates from around the globe. Contact a Littler attorney for more information or view our global locations.

Download full Q1 2023 Global Guide Quarterly

Whistleblower Protection Act Has Entered into Force

New Legislation Enacted

Authors: Dennis Veldhuizen, Partner, and Eric van Dam, Partner – Clint | Littler




global

Littler Global Guide - Germany - Q2 2023

Browse through brief employment and labor law updates from around the globe. Contact a Littler attorney for more information or view our global locations.

Download full Q2 2023 Global Guide Quarterly

German Whistleblower Protection Act

New Legislation Enacted

Author: Matthias Pallentin, Partner – vangard | Littler




global

Littler Global Guide - Hungary - Q2 2023

Browse through brief employment and labor law updates from around the globe. Contact a Littler attorney for more information or view our global locations.

Download full Q2 2023 Global Guide Quarterly

New Whistleblowing Act

New Legislation Enacted

Author: Zoltán Csernus, Attorney-at-Law – VJT & Partners Law Firm




global

Littler Global Guide - Spain - Q2 2023

Browse through brief employment and labor law updates from around the globe. Contact a Littler attorney for more information or view our global locations.

Download full Q2 2023 Global Guide Quarterly

Deadline for the Implementation of the Whistleblowing Reporting System

New Legislation Enacted

Authors: Sonia Cortés, Partner, and Isabel Herrero, Attorney-at-Law – Abdón Pedrajas | Littler




global

Growing trend of Diversity and Inclusion (D&I); global development pushing India too

Alecia Winfield explains what diversity means in corporate America and says the ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests fueled a drive for change in corporate America, similar to that of the #MeToo movement. 

Apparel Resources

View




global

Europe and Canada Seek to Mandate Human Rights Due Diligence and Transparency Obligations on Companies and Their Global Partners

This year has seen a number of international and regional legislative efforts imposing human rights due diligence and transparency obligations on multinational employers. 




global

The Global Guide Quarterly (Quarter 3, 2024)

The Global Guide Quarterly (GGQ) is a newsletter published by Littler on a quarterly basis to provide high-level and concise coverage of global labor and employment (L&E) law developments in key countries across the Americas, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).




global

What to do about "Global COVID Nomads" and Other Wandering Workers Who Telecommute from Abroad for Personal Reasons

Technology facilitates remote work in ways that, years ago, just were not possible. Take telecommuting. These days, all kinds of jobs that had to be performed at an employer site are now performed remotely. Some call center workers, for example, now work from home using home telephones no brick-and-mortar call center needed. Some secretaries now telecommute using laptops and the internet. Some teachers now teach remotely using laptops and video links.




global

Inaugural Report of Littler’s Global Workplace Transformation Initiative

The COVID-19 pandemic required nearly every employer around the globe to take stock of its workforce, policies and practices, and adapt to a rapidly changing and unpredictable environment.  COVID-19 will eventually pass, but transformative issues laid bare by the pandemic—which were already in motion—will remain, likely at an accelerated pace.




global

COVID-19 Vaccination: A Littler Global Guide on Legal & Practical Implications in the Workplace (January 2022 Update)

The Firm’s International Practice Group has once again updated its COVID-19 Vaccination: A Littler Global Guide on Legal & Practical Implications in the Workplace. Two years into the pandemic, experts agree that – in the absence of newly emerging and highly transmissible variants – COVID-19 might lose its pandemic status before the end of 2022 due to the development of various COVID-19 vaccines and increasing global vaccination rates.




global

Global Non-Compete Reform – At a Glance

The United States is not the only country currently debating reform to the law on non-competes. Notably, the UK Government has announced legislation that would limit the duration of non-competes to a period of three months after the termination of employment.




global

Global Non-Compete Reform – At a Glance Tracker (Updated March 2024)

The United States is not the only country currently debating a reform to the law on non-competes. Notably, the UK Government has announced legislation that would limit the duration of non-competes to a period of 3 months after termination of employment.




global

Developing a Global Data Protection Framework for Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace

  • Despite the broad range of artificial intelligence technologies and the flurry of new laws regulating them, virtually all laws regulating how these technologies process data follow the same basic framework.
  • This means employers can follow a relatively straightforward checklist around the world to work through the major data protection issues.
  • This Insight walks through the checklist and identifies significant variations between regions and countries.




global

A Comprehensive Global Guide for AI Data Protection in the Workplace

Zoe Argento, Kwabena Appenteng, Alyssa Daniels, Philip Gordon, Rajko Herrmann, Soowon Hong, Renata Neeser, Naomi Seddon, Christina Stogov and Grace Yang share a comprehensive guide for how employers can ensure data protection as they implement artificial intelligence.

Corporate Compliance Insights

View




global

ETSI releases first globally applicable standard for consumer IoT security

ETSI releases first globally applicable standard for consumer IoT security

Sophia Antipolis, 19 February 2019

The ETSI Technical Committee on Cybersecurity (TC CYBER) has just released ETSI TS 103 645, a standard for cybersecurity in the Internet of Things, to establish a security baseline for internet-connected consumer products and provide a basis for future IoT certification schemes.

Read More...




global

ETSI Intelligent Transport Systems workshop outlines global projects

ETSI Intelligent Transport Systems workshop outlines global projects

Sophia Antipolis, 8 March 2019

The annual ETSI Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) workshop ended after 2 days of intensive discussions and networking opportunities between industry, the European Commission and stakeholders involved in Cooperative ITS deployment (C-ITS) worldwide.

Read More...




global

22nd Global Standards Collaboration meeting convenes world’s leading standards bodies in Montreux, Switzerland

22nd Global Standards Collaboration meeting convenes world’s leading standards bodies in Montreux, Switzerland

Sophia Antipolis, 28 March 2019

The 22nd meeting of the Global Standards Collaboration (GSC), a high-level gathering of the world’s leading information and communication technologies (ICT) standards organizations, took place from 26-27 March 2019, hosted by IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization) in Montreux, Switzerland.  GSC members shared their priorities and focused on Smart Sustainable Cities and AI (Artificial Intelligence). 

Read More...




global

&quot;CALLING THE SHOTS&quot; A report commissioned by ETSI calls on EU to retake global leadership in digital standard setting

"CALLING THE SHOTS" A report commissioned by ETSI calls on EU to retake global leadership in digital standard setting

Sophia Antipolis, 10 October 2019

The report Calling the Shots: Standardization for EU Competitiveness in a Digital Era, was drawn up by an independent panel of experts brought together by Kreab at the request of ETSI and led by Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sweden. The panel who met during the first half year of 2019, gathered insights and experience from industry, politics and academia. 

Read More...




global

ETSI releases a Technical Report on Global Acceptance of EU Trust Services

ETSI releases a Technical Report on Global Acceptance of EU Trust Services

Sophia Antipolis, 16 January 2020

The ETSI Technical Committee on Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (TC ESI) is pleased to release the ETSI TR 103684 technical report. This report addresses existing trust service infrastructures that operate in different regions of the world and their possible mutual recognition/global acceptance. The report identifies ways to facilitate cross recognition between EU trust services and trust services from other schemes. The trust services are based on ETSI standards and support the eIDAS Regulation (EU) No 910/2014.

Read More...




global

ETSI IPE releases the first IPv6 Enhanced Innovation Report, helping global industry players to reach consensus

ETSI IPE releases the first IPv6 Enhanced Innovation Report, helping global industry players to reach consensus

Sophia Antipolis, 15 October 2021

ETSI is pleased to announce the first ETSI IPv6 Enhanced Innovation (IPE) report ETSI GR IPE 001 “IPv6 Enhanced Innovation: Gap Analysis”. Jointly compiled by 15 leading IP industry players, this report comprehensively analyzes gaps based on requirements created by the new use cases and services like 5G and the cloud, to accelerate IPv6 deployment and innovations, and identifies recommendations of new features of the IPv6 enhanced innovations, paving the way for a consensus to be reached among global IP industry players.

Read More...




global

ETSI releases first comprehensive global standard for securing smart phones

ETSI releases first comprehensive global standard for securing smart phones

Sophia Antipolis, 24 November 2021

Today our smartphones and tablets are fundamental for citizens and hold a wide range of user data and apps. At the same time, security attacks have increased with malicious applications and network eavesdropping. To define security and assurance requirements for smart phones and tablets, mitigate potential risks and protect users, ETSI has released a world class standard called Consumer Mobile Device Protection Profile, ETSI TS 103 732. The specification identifies key security and privacy risks for user data and provides appropriate protection.

Read More...




global

Global Standards Collaboration meeting for a more sustainable, safer world

Sophia Antipolis, 28 April 2023

Sustainability was the focus of a high-level meeting of the world’s leading information and communication technologies (ICT) standards bodies. The 23rd meeting of the Global Standards Collaboration (GSC) was hosted by ETSI, in London, 26-27 April 2023. Three sessions were moderated in a workshop format and included interactive discussions.

Read More...




global

Aiming high: ETSI Conference on Non-Terrestrial Networks underlines critical role of NTN in realizing tomorrow’s global 6G vision

Sophia Antipolis, 15 April 2024

This year’s first ETSI Conference on Non-Terrestrial Networks has stressed the importance of technical standardization in delivering a fully connected planet via NTN, a key element of tomorrow’s global 6G networks.

Held from 3-4 April 2024 at ETSI’s Sophia Antipolis headquarters, the event was co-organized with the European Space Agency (ESA), the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA) and the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU).

Titled ‘Non-Terrestrial Networks, a Native Component of 6G’, the 2-day conference attracted over 200 participants from 25 countries, including experts in standardization and research as well as industrial representation from the mobile, satellite and wider space industries. Delegates shared perspectives on NTN use cases, candidate technology solutions, current research status and standardization roadmaps. Day one sessions focused on the opportunities and challenges of integrating terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks within tomorrow’s global communications landscape. The second day afforded a deep dive into numerous cutting-edge NTN and 6G research & development initiatives in Europe and around the world.

Read More...




global

SpotOn London 2012 Storify: BrainSpace, a global interest graph for scientists

Here is a Storify summary of the SpotOn London session: BrainSpace, a global interest graph for




global

2024 Martin J. Forman Lecture | Supporting and shaping the global nutrition agenda with evidence




global

2024 Martin J. Forman Lecture | Supporting and shaping the global nutrition agenda with evidence




global

Supporting and shaping the global nutrition agenda with evidence: A three-decade journey of resea…