Human Times

European Edition

22nd January 2026

THE HOT STORY

Spanish train drivers call strike after two fatal crashes

Spain's biggest train drivers' union has called a three-day nationwide strike for February 9-11 to call for measures to guarantee railway safety following three derailments within 48 hours which caused crashes that left dozens dead, including two drivers. SEMAF said it would “demand criminal liability from those responsible for ensuring safety in the railway infrastructure,” adding “This situation of constant deterioration of the railway is unacceptable.”

Aljazeera

Reuters

The Times

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STRATEGY

SocGen to cut 1,800 jobs in France by end of 2027

French lender Société Générale intends to reduce the number of positions in the country by 1,800 out of a pool of 40,000 by the end of 2027, the CGT union said. "Management is calling in the unions . . . to present them with the reorganisation plan, which will result in 1,800 job losses – without any specific support plan (through natural attrition)," the union said in a statement.

Financial Times

Reuters

Barclays moves HQ to Paris

Barclays has announced plans to relocate its European headquarters from Dublin to Paris. The move, expected to be completed by mid-2027, requires regulatory approval. Francesco Ceccato, chief executive of Barclays Europe, called it a "strategic milestone" that will enhance client service. He said: "After extensive discussions at all levels of the organisation, we are confident this is the right step forward." The bank maintains its growth ambitions for its corporate and private banking sectors in Dublin despite the shift.

Reuters

WORKFORCE

UK employment drops as wages stagnate

UK employment fell sharply at the end of 2025 while wage growth slowed. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show payroll employment dropped by 43,000 in December, the biggest monthly fall since 2020, with losses concentrated in retail and hospitality. Unemployment remained at a four-year high of 5.1%, while private-sector pay growth slowed to its weakest pace in five years. Employers have blamed uncertainty and rising costs following last year’s Budget, including higher national insurance and looming business-rates increases.

Luxembourg Times

The Guardian

Union calls for 7% wage increase at Deutsche Bank

Germany's DBV union is calling for a 7% wage increase for up to 8,000 employees of Deutsche Bank, citing the bank's improved financial outlook as a motivating factor. Analysts predict that Deutsche Bank will report profits of nearly €6bn for 2025, marking its highest net profit in over a decade. The union said: "It's good that collective bargaining negotiations are coming up again in 2026." Talks are set to begin in March or April.

Reuters

RISK

Bailey urges banks to unite against populism

The governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, has urged global institutions to combat populism by getting "our houses in order." In a speech to economists and bankers, he highlighted the need for reform amid declining public trust. Bailey noted that populism threatens global stability, as it often blames external forces for domestic issues. He said: "A world without effective institutions is unlikely to be stable." He also acknowledged the uneven benefits of free trade and called for investments in skills to foster productivity growth.

The Times

LEGAL

French government seeks €95m in damages from Greybull over steel plant collapse

The French government is seeking €95m in damages from UK private equity group Greybull, alleging the fund was responsible for the loss of hundreds of jobs at the Novasco steelmaking plant.

Financial Times

ECONOMY

Italian billionaire's foundation merges with Milan tech hubs

Andrea Pignataro's nonprofit foundation, Tech Europe Foundation, is merging with key tech incubators affiliated with Milan's top universities to enhance early-stage investment in Italy. The collaboration includes the Politecnico di Milano's tech incubator and Bocconi University's venture capital fund, uniting over 70 start-ups. The initiative aims to strengthen the local tech ecosystem and foster innovation through increased support for budding entrepreneurs.

Bloomberg

TECHNOLOGY

Business leaders weigh benefits and challenges of integrating AI

Writing for Time, Ayesha Javed reports that business leaders shared their perspectives on the impact of scaling up new technologies including AI during a TIME100 Talks panel discussion in Davos on Jan. 20. Abhijit Dubey, CEO and chief artificial intelligence officer at NTT Data, observed that, unlike all other innovations, AI is the “first technology that will actually be non-human driven.” Raj Sharma, global managing partner for growth and innovation at EY, said the key ingredients in the AI era would be trust, tools, and talent. “You have to balance the equation between [the] three to make sure that AI is adopted.”

Time

LEADERSHIP

M&S tech chief resigns months after costly cyber attack

Marks & Spencer’s chief technology officer, Josie Smith, is stepping down just 18 months into the role and nine months after a major cyber attack crippled the UK retailer’s online operations. The breach, carried out by hacking group Scattered Spider in April 2025, halted online sales for weeks and cost the company hundreds of millions of pounds. Smith, whose departure follows the exit of chief digital and technology officer Rachel Higham four months ago, will be succeeded by Darren Gibson, currently head of fashion, home, and beauty tech transformation. M&S also announced that chief product officer Krista Nordlund will leave in July to return to the US.

Sky News

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

US workers rally against Trump's immigration policies

Thousands of workers and students protested across the US on Tuesday, on the first anniversary of President Donald Trump's second term, in opposition to his immigration policies. Demonstrations were sparked by the recent fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by federal agents in Minneapolis. Protesters gathered in cities including New York and Washington. Organised by groups such as Indivisible and various labour unions, the protests highlighted widespread disapproval of the use of force by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here," chanted students in Cleveland.

France 24

Malaysia's new expat salary rules are among region's strictest

Malaysia's pay threshold for expatriate visas is to be doubled from June to boost local hiring. The salary threshold for expatriate Employment Pass (EP) holders will be substantially increased as the Ministry of Home Affairs seeks to reduce the country's reliance on overseas labour and develop pathways to work for its citizens. Employers will each month need to pay non-local senior managers US$4,940, up from US$2,470, and skilled workers a doubled rate of US$2,470. Malaysia's move places it among the strictest regimes for expatriate hiring in Southeast Asia.

South China Morning Post

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