Human Times

North American Edition

27th July 2026

THE HOT STORY

Appeals court denies Trump’s bid to allow $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas

A U.S. federal appeals court has refused to reinstate the Trump administration's proposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, ruling it was unlikely to overturn a lower court decision that the charge amounted to an unlawful tax without congressional approval. The administration introduced the fee to discourage employers from hiring foreign workers over Americans. The ruling by the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals leaves the injunction in place while legal proceedings continue, dealing a setback to the administration's immigration and labor policy. Trump, when imposing the new fee, said the H-1B program "has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, ⁠lower-skilled labor."

WORKFORCE

Warren launches inquiry into IRS staffing claims

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 13 Democratic senators have launched an inquiry into whether IRS chief executive Frank Bisignano misled Congress by stating that the agency had "zero staffing concerns" following significant workforce reductions. The lawmakers cited reports that the IRS is now seeking to hire thousands of employees after nearly 30,000 workers - more than a quarter of its workforce - left the agency over the past year. The senators pointed to warnings from TIGTA, the National Taxpayer Advocate, and the IRS' own human capital office, all of which highlighted staffing shortages, longer taxpayer wait times, delayed refund processing, and a growing backlog of tax returns. They said these findings appear to conflict with Mr. Bisignano's testimony before Congress. The group has asked Mr. Bisignano to respond to a series of questions by August 5th, seeking an explanation for the apparent discrepancy between his public statements and reports of operational challenges at the agency. Ms. Warren said the inquiry is intended to better understand the IRS' staffing situation following the workforce reductions.

FedScoop

Bloomberg

ECONOMY

U.S. business activity reaches eight-month high

U.S. business activity expanded at its fastest pace in eight months in July, driven by strong demand for services as spending related to the FIFA World Cup and July 4 holiday celebrations offset slowing manufacturing activity. The S&P Global Flash Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 53.6, with the services PMI reaching its highest level since November 2025, while the manufacturing PMI eased to 53.8, its lowest reading since March. Despite the stronger overall activity, businesses reported mounting cost pressures and worsening supply chain disruptions. Input costs increased at the fastest pace since May 2025, fueled by higher energy and shipping costs, tariffs, and other inflationary pressures, while companies raised selling prices at the quickest rate in nearly four years. Manufacturers also experienced the longest supplier delivery delays since August 2022. Both service providers and manufacturers reported modest employment growth, although S&P Global warned that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, ongoing supply chain disruptions, and rising prices could weigh on the economic outlook in the coming months.

Bloomberg

Market Watch

Trump tariff strategy set to expand

President Donald Trump's administration is rebuilding its tariff regime using more established trade laws after earlier measures were struck down by the courts, signalling higher import duties are likely to remain. Officials plan further investigations into industrial subsidies, intellectual property and strategic industries, while maintaining tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on most imports. The White House argues the policy will strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce the trade deficit, although businesses warn of continued uncertainty and higher costs. Analysts say tariffs are becoming a more permanent feature of U.S. trade policy, with growing fiscal importance through increased government revenue.

Reuters

LEGAL

Rideshare firms win court block on NYC law requiring notice before firing drivers

New York City cannot prohibit ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft from deactivating drivers from their apps without advance notice, a federal judge has ruled. "Uber and Lyft are likely to succeed in showing that the law protects a narrow class of drivers and does not advance the broader ⁠social or economic interest which the U.S. Constitution requires to permit the severe impairment of their contracts," U.S. District Judge Gregory Woods in Manhattan wrote.

Reuters

Coolkicks owner among 12 indicted in $2m Nike theft ring

Bereket Abraham, owner of CoolKicks, and 11 others have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their involvement in a $2m Nike sneaker theft ring. Prosecutors allege the group redirected shipments from a Nike distribution hub in Memphis to resellers across the country. The indictment details how members, including warehouse employees, placed shipping labels on stolen products for resale. The indictment follows an October raid by the Los Angeles Police Department, which recovered $500,000 worth of stolen Nike goods. Adeel Shams, chief executive of CoolKicks, was arrested during the raid on suspicion of receiving stolen property.

Los Angeles Times

ICC top prosecutor removed over sexual misconduct allegations

Members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have voted to dismiss Karim Khan as chief prosecutor amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Khan was suspended last month after the court's oversight body found he had committed a "serious breach of duty and serious misconduct" by engaging in an improper sexual relationship with a junior ICC staff member and attempting to stop her pursuing a complaint. Khan has repeatedly denied all the allegations against him. His lawyer said he would challenge "the lawfulness and fairness of the decision through all available legal mechanisms."

INTERNATIONAL

Immigrant employment in the EU reached 'record high' in 2025

Immigrant employment in the European Union rose to a record high last year, according to a report from the ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin). The employment rate among immigrants increased to 68.2% last year from 67.8% in 2024, according to the study, based on Eurostat data, from the Centre for Research and ⁠Analysis of Migration (CReAM) at RFBerlin. "The proportion of immigrants in employment has been rising for many years, and the figures are close to that of the native population," observed CReAM deputy director Tommaso Frattini. The employment rate for non-EU immigrants grew from 59.4% to 66%; the employment rate among EU immigrants increased from 71.1% to 74.8%. "The ⁠challenge today is no longer simply getting immigrants into work but ensuring that their skills are fully utilised," added Christian Dustmann, director of RFBerlin.

Reuters

Australian regulator warns auditors as scrutiny intensifies following KPMG scandal

Australia’s corporate regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), has stepped up oversight of the country’s largest audit firms by launching a review of how they handle internal complaints in the wake of allegations involving KPMG Australia. The review will examine firms including KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, and EY, while reminding nearly 3,000 auditors of their legal obligations and ASIC’s enforcement powers under the Corporations Act. The heightened scrutiny follows allegations that KPMG Australia misused confidential client information to win audit work and mishandled whistleblower complaints. The controversy has already prompted a parliamentary inquiry, a government review of potential reforms to the consulting sector, and a leadership shake-up at KPMG Australia, including the appointment of a new chief executive officer.

Bloomberg

Reuters

New Korean labor rules are under scrutiny

South Korea's new Trade Union and Labour Relations Adjustment Act, also known as the Yellow Envelope Act, faces trenchant criticism just four months after its implementation. Critics warn it could lead to increased labor disputes and uncertainty for businesses. The act broadens the scope of labor disputes beyond traditional issues such as wages, working hours, welfare and dismissals to include “business management decisions affecting working conditions.” This has empowered unions to make demands previously deemed outside their bargaining power. For instance, Samsung Electronics' union has argued that a planned 800 trillion won investment should require union approval due to its potential impact on employee conditions.

South China Morning Post

U.K. bosses can't insist workers appear on camera

An employment tribunal in the U.K. has ruled that requiring employees to keep their cameras on during virtual meetings can constitute disability discrimination. Laura Tait, a travel consultant at Holiday Extras, said she felt overwhelmed by such a directive due to her anxiety. The tribunal found that her employer failed to provide reasonable adjustments, such as allowing her to join meetings with her camera off. Employment Judge Liz Ord added that Ms Tait was left with “substantial disadvantages in the workplace” because of the company's failure to make reasonable adjustments.

The Independent

The Times

OTHER

Brazil's Flávio Bolsonaro secures presidential bid

Flávio Bolsonaro, a son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has secured his party's nomination to challenge incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the upcoming October elections. Despite endorsements from international figures including Argentina's Javier Milei and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, Flávio's campaign has been marred by scandals and a lack of domestic support. He is still searching for a running mate and faces challenges in forming alliances. His campaign has been further complicated by self-inflicted problems, including a recent admission that he had requested millions of dollars from jailed banker Daniel Vorcaro to pay for a film about his father's life.

Los Angeles Times

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