THE HOT STORY

More firms are merging HR and IT departments

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of senior IT decision makers at large companies expect their HR and IT functions to merge within five years, according to a survey by Nexthink, a firm that makes workplace software. Tracey Franklin, the chief people and digital technology officer at biotechnology company Moderna, says her role is being an architect of how work is done. She explains: "I am responsible for the entire HR function and the entire IT function . . . It's [about] how work flows through the organisation, and what should be done with technology – whether that's hardware or software or AI – and where you complement human skills around that." Meanwhile, software company Covisian merged its IT and HR teams in 2023 under the leadership of Fabio Sattolo, chief people and technology officer. He was previously CTO. "If we bring [IT and people] together, we can have a common vision for how technology can have an impact on people and how people can adapt and evolve to leverage the new technology," Sattolo says.

BBC News

STRATEGY

Bayer restructuring cuts thousands of jobs

Bayer has announced the elimination of approximately 12,000 full-time positions as part of a restructuring initiative aimed at streamlining decision-making and reducing management levels. The move comes amid ongoing legal challenges related to its Roundup weedkiller, with the company currently facing $7.4bn in financial provisions for litigation.

Reuters

LEGAL

ING must pay €900,000 following banker's firing

Dutch lender ING must pay over €900,000 to a former executive after a court ruling found the bank acted with “serious culpability” in his dismissal. The banker, who worked for ING for nearly 25 years, was let go during a corporate restructuring in September 2023. The Amsterdam Court of Appeal determined that ING failed to genuinely consider redeploying him. The court observed: “The bank never actually intended to retain him.” The total severance payment now exceeds €513,000, with additional costs bringing the termination's total to over €900,000.

NL Times

Players fight for contract freedom

A new class action, led by Justice For Players, aims to challenge restrictive transfer rules in football. The group seeks compensation potentially totalling billions of pounds for players affected since 2002. The action targets Fifa and the football associations of France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Following a recent EU Court of Justice ruling, which deemed some Fifa rules unlawful, players argue they should be able to leave clubs without facing hefty compensation. Franco Baldini, a board member of Justice For Players, said: "I am very proud to be part of Justice For Players and to be part of something that could help change the existing system."

The Times

CYBERSECURITY

KLM confirms customer data leak

KLM has confirmed a data breach affecting customer information due to an issue with an external platform. The airline said that names, contact details, and account numbers from the Flying Blue rewards programme may have been accessed. KLM has reported the incident to the Dutch Data Protection Authority and advised affected customers to remain vigilant against suspicious communications. A spokesperson noted that they could not disclose the number of impacted customers or the external platform involved for security reasons. No sensitive data, such as passwords or credit card information, was compromised.

NL Times

INVESTMENT

Norway reviews wealth fund's Israeli investments

Norway's government has initiated a review of its sovereign wealth fund portfolio to exclude Israeli companies linked to the occupation of the West Bank or the conflict in Gaza. The decision follows a report which revealed that the fund, valued at $1.9 trn, invested in Bet Shemesh Engines Ltd (BSEL), which services Israel's armed forces. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere expressed concern, saying: "We must get clarification on this because reading about it makes me uneasy." The fund currently holds stakes in 65 Israeli companies, valued at $1.95 bn.

Financial Times

Daily Telegraph

REGULATION

US diplomats to launch lobbying blitz against Europe tech law

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered US diplomats in Europe to launch a lobbying campaign against the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA). A State Department cable - the headline of which described it as an "action request" - said the EU is pursuing "undue" restrictions on freedom of expression by its efforts to combat hateful speech, misinformation and disinformation, and the DSA was further enhancing these curbs.

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Black women unemployment rate in US rises to 6.3%

The US economy is holding steady, yet Black women are experiencing a troubling rise in unemployment, with a rate of 6.3% reported in July, up from 5.8% the previous month. The increase is part of a broader trend: Black women lost approximately 304,000 jobs between February and April 2025, while the overall workforce added 175,000 jobs. Jessica Fulton, a senior fellow at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a think tank with a focus on Black Americans, observes that any cracks within the overall U.S. economy always show up for Black workers first. “Black workers, and particularly Black women, show up as a canary in the coal mine, giving a picture of what may happen to everyone else later,” Fulton said.

NJ.com

TSMC takes legal action over suspected leaking of trade secrets

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has launched legal action and disciplinary measures against employees suspected of leaking trade secrets related to its advanced 2-nanometer chip technology following the detection of unauthorised activities during routine monitoring. The company emphasised its commitment to safeguarding proprietary information and said that its monitoring systems allowed for the swift identification of the issue. While the investigation is ongoing, it remains unclear whether the leaked information was intended for external parties or what the former employees' ultimate goals were.

Reuters

UAE private sector employees call for hybrid work amid heat

As temperatures in the UAE soar above 51°C, many employees face challenging commutes despite official warnings to stay indoors. Socelle Fuentes, a video editor, is advocating for "flexible work-from-home policies" during peak summer to enhance employee wellbeing and productivity. The extreme heat has led to increased health issues, with doctors reporting more cases of dehydration and heat exhaustion. Neeha, a data scientist, describes her daily commute as a "test of endurance." Government employees benefit from flexible working hours, and private companies are being encouraged to adopt similar models. The UAE's Ministry of Health advises residents to stay hydrated and wear breathable clothing to cope with the heat.

Khaleej Times Online

OTHER

Forever chemicals found in menstrual products

Research reveals that nearly a third of reusable period products, including menstrual cups and underwear, contain perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as "forever chemicals." These substances are known for their persistence in the environment and potential health risks, including carcinogenic effects and impacts on fertility. Alyssa Wicks and Graham Peaslee from the University of Notre Dame led the study, which tested 59 products from various regions. Peaslee said: "We found PFAS in some, but not all of the products," emphasising that their presence is not necessary for product efficacy. The study aims to raise awareness about the dangers of PFAS in menstrual products and urges consumers to demand safer alternatives.

Tribune

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