THE HOT STORY

ArcelorMittal 'silent' on progress of job relocation plans

ArcelorMittal's meeting with staff representatives on Thursday failed to provide clarity on plans to relocate up to 1,150 jobs from Luxembourg to India and Poland. Jean-Luc Ruffin, secretary of the ArcelorMittal European Works Council, said: "ArcelorMittal's management remains silent on the progress of this project." In a press release, the council said the steel group “does not respect our right to information and consultation by refusing to provide us with detailed information on the process underway,” which prevents it “from reaching the relevant conclusions that would enable it to issue a duly reasoned opinion.”

Luxembourg Times

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

EU AI Act Deadline Webinar: Are You Ready?

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Under the Act, organizations using high-risk AI must ensure trained human oversight — along with fully implemented governance, documentation and monitoring processes.

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RISK

Norway's wealth fund employs AI to identify ESG risks

Norway's $2.2trn sovereign wealth fund is leveraging artificial intelligence to screen companies for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks, including potential links to forced labour and corruption. The fund, which invests in around 7,200 companies globally, reported that “within 24 hours of our investment, the AI tools flag new companies” that may present risks, enabling proactive measures to avoid potential financial losses. This innovative use of large language models significantly enhances the fund's ability to assess smaller companies in emerging markets, where data coverage is often limited.

Reuters

WORKFORCE

Leaders must ensure Gen Z is prepared for the workplace

Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Tessa West, a professor of psychology at New York University and the author of “Job Therapy: Finding Work That Works for You”, says many members of Gen Z “are woefully unprepared for surviving - let alone thriving - in their jobs”. She believes “a combination of having fewer real-world relationship experiences, spending their education years in remote environments, and learning to communicate largely through asynchronous methods [means] these 20-somethings have missed opportunities to develop the skills needed to navigate the complex world of work.” Her suggested remedy is that leaders must change how they think about communication for everyone in the workplace with one goal in mind: “Make it clear and direct.”

Wall Street Journal

STRATEGY

OpenAI expands London research hub

San Francisco headquartered artificial intelligence company OpenAI is to make London its largest research hub outside the United States. The London operation currently employs around 30 researchers. Mark Chen, OpenAI's Chief Research Officer, said, “We are excited to establish London as a major research hub for OpenAI, building on the leading work our London team is already doing to support our latest breakthroughs.” The company cited the UK's “unique concentration of world-class talent across machine learning and the sciences as well as its strong culture of cross-disciplinary collaboration” as key reasons for its expansion in the capital.

City AM

Proximus to cut 1,200 jobs by 2030

Belgian telecom provider Proximus will cut 1,200 jobs, or 15% of its workforce, by 2030 due to AI efficiency measures, CEO Stijn Bijnens has said. The company will also seek to reduce external workforce costs by €25m by 2028, he said.

Reuters

LEGAL

UK's competition watchdog supports curbs on use of non-compete clauses

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has responded to the Department for Business and Trade working paper on options for reform of non-compete clauses in employment contracts. The competition watchdog said it supports proposals to curb the use of non-compete clauses in employment contracts, backing a total ban below a salary threshold and strict time limits for high earners.

Financial Times

GOV.UK

INTERNATIONAL

Dutch nationals in Qatar and UAE urged to shelter

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised Dutch citizens in the Gulf region to stay indoors and follow local guidance after Iran launched missile and drone attacks in the region over three consecutive days, causing explosions in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh. Minister Tom Berendsen said that evacuating Dutch nationals is currently impossible due to closed airspace, but repatriation flights are being considered. Emergency response centres have reported a surge in calls from distressed travellers. The Ministry has issued code red travel warnings for several Middle Eastern countries and deployed a Rapid Consular Support Team to assist in crisis situations.

NL Times

Mexico prepares for 40-hour work week by 2030

Mexico has approved a bill to reduce the standard workweek from 48 to 40 hours in a move that will benefit nearly 13.4 million workers. The bill passed with overwhelming support in the Chamber of Deputies, with 469 votes in favour. However, critics worry that the reduction may lead to increased overtime hours. The reform will be implemented gradually, trimming two hours each year until 2030. President Claudia Sheinbaum introduced the proposal, emphasising that "productivity is not measured by exhaustion." The bill now requires approval from two-thirds of state legislatures to take effect.

AlJazeera

UAE tech giant G42 launches AI agent recruitment

G42, the Abu Dhabi-based technology firm, has announced the recruitment of AI agents for enterprise roles. The application process is open for agents that can deliver measurable value within approved infrastructure. Successful candidates will undergo a probationary phase to assess their performance. Maymee Kurian, group chief augmented human capital officer at G42, said: “The future of work is being shaped by how intelligently we design the relationship between human talent and intelligent systems. This initiative is not about deploying AI for incremental gains, but about rethinking enterprise workforce design for the AI era.”

Khaleej Times Online

Kenyan court charges man with recruiting people to fight for Russia

A court in Kenya has charged Festus Arasa Omwamba with attempting to traffic 25 individuals to fight for Russia in the Ukraine war. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said Omwamba exploited victims through deception. Russia's embassy in Nairobi denied involvement in illegal recruitment, asserting that foreign citizens could join its armed forces voluntarily. Omwamba remains in police custody pending a bail hearing.

U.S. News

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