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North American Edition
19th June 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

Teens struggle to find summer jobs

Finding summer employment is increasingly difficult for American teens, with only about one-third of 16- to 19-year-olds employed last summer, a significant drop from 60% in the late 1970s. Experts like Nicole Bachaud from ZipRecruiter note that teens are among the “most marginalized groups” in the labor market. Jaune Little, director of recruiting services at the human resources company Insperity, says some entry-level jobs have been eliminated and teens now compete with more experienced candidates for the remaining ones. “A lot of the entry-level roles that once existed simply do not any longer,” Little says. “Those that do exist are on leaner teams that have less ability and desire to develop and train someone. In many instances, they are prioritizing more skilled workers even if they are overqualified.”
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FRAUD

U.S. cracks down on unemployment fraud

The U.S. Department of Labor has instructed states to take immediate action against fraud, waste, and abuse in their unemployment insurance programs, warning that failure to comply could result in withheld administrative funds. "We are officially putting governors on notice," said Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling. The department highlighted issues such as poor oversight and outdated technology, which have allowed fraud to thrive, particularly in states including California, Illinois, and New York. The Government Accountability Office estimated that fraud constituted between 11% and 15% of unemployment payouts from April 2020 to May 2023. The Labor Department plans to issue further directives in the coming weeks as part of a broader effort to address fraud in state-federal programs.
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DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

New data shows DEI efforts are evolving, not disappearing

Most U.S. employers remain committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion despite political, regulatory, and legal pressure, according to an NYU Meltzer Center survey of 2,267 employees and business leaders. The survey found that 80% of respondents said their organizations still support workplace inclusion, even though 55% of companies have publicly signaled some retreat from DEI. Among non-federal contractors, 52% reported increasing inclusion efforts over the past three years, while 20% decreased them. Federal contractors faced greater pressure, with 51% scaling back inclusion initiatives, although 32% still expanded them. The report also found that employees and leaders continue to see business benefits from DEI, including stronger reputation, sales, recruitment, retention, innovation, and efficiency. Legal experts cited in the article said well-designed DEI programs, such as inclusive recruiting, voluntary demographic data collection, mentoring, training, and employee resource groups, remain lawful.

Connecticut nominates Black woman to state supreme court

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has nominated Judge Melanie L. Cradle, the chief judge of the state appellate court, to the Connecticut Supreme Court, marking the first time in 250 years that a Black woman has been nominated. Prior to her current role, Cradle served as a superior court judge and an assistant state’s attorney. According to a report from the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law on state supreme court diversity updated in 2024, 20% of state supreme court seats are occupied by people of color, and 19 states have no justices who identify as people of color.
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WORKFORCE

Jobless claims fall to 226,000 as labor market remains resilient

New applications for U.S. unemployment benefits fell by 4,000 to 226,000 in the week ended June 13th, broadly matching economists’ expectations and indicating that layoffs remain near historically low levels. The Labor Department also reported that the four-week moving average of claims rose by 4,000 to 223,250, while continuing claims, reported with a one-week lag, increased by 24,000 to 1.81m for the week ended June 6. The data suggest the labor market remains relatively stable, with employers continuing to hold onto workers despite broader economic uncertainties. "We don't expect claims to trend consistently higher from here," said Nancy Vanden Houten, lead U.S. economist at Oxford Economics. "And despite the bounce ​off the recent lows, the level of initial claims is still consistent with a broad range of labor market indicators that ⁠show the job market has improved but isn't overheating. That will allow the Fed to keep policy on hold while it waits for inflation to come down."
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LEGAL

NTEU challenges IRS in court

The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) has launched a lawsuit against the IRS, alleging the agency has unlawfully removed union materials from common areas and employee workstations. The action follows the IRS's termination of a contract with NTEU, prompted by an executive order from President Trump that curtailed collective bargaining rights at over 20 federal agencies. NTEU President Doreen Greenwald said: "NTEU will not stand for the Administration's effort to retaliate against us for our advocacy." The lawsuit highlights instances of IRS officials removing NTEU flyers, particularly at a Kansas City facility, where aggressive actions against union materials were reported. The IRS has faced staffing challenges, having reduced its workforce by about 28% due to cutbacks and buyouts.

Supreme Court rejects Tata challenge in trade secrets case

The Supreme Court has declined to hear Tata Consultancy Services' appeal regarding a $168m award to DXC Technology for the alleged stealing of trade secrets related to life-insurance software. Tata's appeal followed a lower court's decision that included $56m in compensatory damages and $112m in punitive damages. DXC's lawsuit, filed in 2019, claimed that Tata hired 2,200 former Transamerica employees to gain access to proprietary information. Despite Tata's denial of the allegations and claims that the information was not secret, a jury in 2023 recommended a $210m award, which was later reduced by U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr. DXC argued that the award was justified under U.S. law regarding unjust enrichment.
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STRATEGY

Norsk Hydro to shut two U.S. plants

Oslo-headquartered aluminum company ​Norsk Hydro is to shutter two of its metal ​extrusion facilities ​in the U.S. next ⁠year. The closures will affect ​around 350 ​jobs. The ​two plants, at ‌California's ⁠City of Industry and in Delhi, Louisiana, ​face ​low ⁠capacity utilization and would ​require significant ​capital ⁠investment to meet operational standards, ⁠the company ​said.
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INTERNATIONAL

U.K. 'losing jobs overseas due to high energy costs'

The U.K. is losing manufacturing jobs overseas and risks the loss of major industries due to high energy costs, manufacturing group Make U.K. has warned. "Britain ​faces deindustrialization unless manufacturers get relief from high energy prices," said Make U.K. CEO Stephen Phipson, who called for an industrial strategy launched a year ago, whereby Britain pledged to cut electricity costs for energy-intensive industries by exempting them from certain green ​levies, to be expanded to the whole ​industry and rolled out more quickly. "We cannot afford to be delayed ​by political upheaval, or by further consultations. For the sake of thousands of jobs across ‌Britain, ⁠the government needs to step in and act now," Phipson said.

Telegram challenges India ban over exam paper leak fears

Telegram has taken the Indian government to court over its decision to temporarily ban the messaging app days before millions of students retake a crucial medical entrance examination. The company challenged the decision a day after officials blocked access to the platform over concerns it had been used to distribute leaked exam papers. The government said the move will protect the integrity of the exam, which is due to be held again on Sunday after last month's test was cancelled over allegations of a paper leak.  The Internet Freedom Foundation said the ban was a “disproportionate answer to exam fraud,” adding: “The block of Telegram is reactive and ineffective and will punish ordinary users instead of addressing the systemic source of exam leaks.”

Malaysian nurses oppose recruitment of Indonesians

The Malaysian Male Nurses Association (MMN) says it opposes the recruitment of Indonesian nurses to address the country's healthcare workforce shortage. The organisation said that a thorough study is necessary before implementing such measures. The association highlighted concerns over what it said were differences in training standards and communication skills, which could impact patient care, and emphasised the need to prioritise local nursing graduates. The MMN has urged authorities to conduct a comprehensive impact assessment and consider the long-term implications for patient safety and local employment opportunities.

Japan to roll out nationwide LGBTQIA+ education program

Japan is set to launch a nationwide education program on LGBTQIA+ issues across schools, universities, and workplaces. The initiative aims to enhance public understanding of gender and sexual diversity, and address the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals due to a lack of awareness. Alisha Khojanazar, a molecular neuroscience research technician at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology who identifies as a woman of transgender origin, welcomed the education plan as a "great initial step," observing: "I think it will help a lot, especially young adults and queer adolescents who are just discovering their identities or genders . . . If it would lead to some kind of broader protection by law, that would be great. But with the current political climate in Japan, I would love it to be more inclusive."
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OTHER

Supreme Court backs challenge to ban on gun ownership by drug users

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Ali Hemani, a Texas marijuana user who argued that the law barring individuals who use drugs illegally from possessing guns violated the U.S. constitution’s Second Amendment. Hemani wasn't charged with any other crimes or accused of using the weapon under the influence. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, speaking for the court, said the law was far too broad and overly harsh. “The law automatically bans an individual from possessing a gun from the moment he becomes an unlawful user of any controlled substance until he ceases being one,” he wrote. “It doesn't matter what controlled substance an individual uses, in what amounts he does so, or whether his drug use has ever made him a danger to himself or others.” Cecillia Wang, legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union, welcomed the ruling. “Today's unanimous 9-0 decision makes it clear that the government cannot make it crime for people to own a gun, which the Supreme Court has held is a fundamental constitutional right, simply because they use marijuana,” she said. “With nearly half of Americans reporting marijuana use at some point in their lives, this ruling protects the rights of millions and curbs the government's ability to impose arbitrary and discriminatory penalties.”
 
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