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European Edition
16th December 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Louvre workers launch rolling strike

Workers at the Louvre Museum in Paris voted to strike on Monday amid ongoing concerns about working conditions. The CFDT union reported that 400 workers participated in the vote, leading to the museum's closure. The decision followed unsuccessful talks with government officials, including Culture Minister Rachida Dati. Labour leaders said the talks had not remedied all of their concerns about staffing and financing.
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STRATEGY

McKinsey plans major job cuts

McKinsey is planning to reduce its workforce by thousands over the next 18 to 24 months due to rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. Senior partners have discussed cutting non-client-facing roles by up to 10%. A spokesperson said: "We’re on our own journey to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our support functions." The firm, which has already reduced its headcount from 45,000 to about 40,000, faces industry-wide challenges as client demand for consulting services has slowed. Discussions on the job cuts are still in early stages.
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WORKFORCE

France in rift with Luxembourg over taxation and teleworking

French Minister Delegate for Europe, Benjamin Haddad, boycotted a joint press conference with Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel last week following a meeting of the Franco-Luxembourg Intergovernmental Commission. Haddad expressed his dissatisfaction with the negotiations, highlighting unresolved issues, including over such issues as taxation and teleworking for 127,000 French cross-border workers in Luxembourg. While both sides acknowledged some progress, Haddad insisted on further commitments from Luxembourg. Bettel noted that discussions on unemployment insurance and teleworking are ongoing, but no agreements have been reached yet.

Doctors in England vote to go ahead with pre-Christmas five-day strike

Strikes by doctors in England will go ahead this week after they rejected a last-ditch offer from health secretary Wes Streeting to avert a stoppage in the run-up to Christmas. The British Medical Association said 83% of its members, on a turnout of 65%, had voted to continue with the walkout in an online poll over the weekend. "Tens of thousands of frontline doctors have come together to say ‘no’ to what is clearly too little, too late," BMA chair Jack Fletcher said in a statement, saying members had rejected the government's latest offer on working conditions.
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TECHNOLOGY

AI adoption surges among Dutch firms

In 2025, one in six companies in the Netherlands adopted artificial intelligence, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The highest usage is among firms with 250 or more employees (66%), while 45% of those with 50 to 250 employees also use AI. The primary applications include marketing and sales (35%), administrative tasks (32%), and research (25%). However, 75% of companies still do not use AI, with many citing lack of experience and privacy concerns. Job van den Berg, co-founder of AI.nl, observed: "We are falling far behind." Eurostat has reported that 20% of EU companies used AI in 2025.
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CYBERSECURITY

Workers’ payroll data stolen in JLR attack

UK carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed that a major cyber attack in August not only shut down production for weeks, but also led to the theft of personal data from thousands of current and former employees. The stolen information includes payroll and benefits-related data, potentially exposing staff to identity fraud, although JLR says there is no evidence the data has been misused or made public. The company, which employs over 38,000 people, has warned affected individuals to watch for suspicious activity and is offering two years of credit and identity monitoring. The breach has been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office, and JLR says it is working with regulators.
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LEADERSHIP

N26 appoints new chief amid sanctions

German fintech N26 has appointed Mike Dargan as its new chief executive, effective April, pending regulatory approval. The decision follows fresh sanctions imposed by the financial regulator BaFin, which has intensified scrutiny on the bank's governance and risk controls.
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INTERNATIONAL

Statistician exodus leaves data at risk, report says

The US government's statistical system is facing severe challenges due to significant staff layoffs, funding cuts, and political interference, according to a report by the American Statistical Association. One agency reportedly lost 95% of its staff, while others experienced reductions of up to 40%. The report highlights that the cuts threaten the integrity of data essential for informed decision-making across various sectors, including the economy and education. “The statistical system is still functioning, but the threats are very serious,” said Beth Jarosz, vice president of the Association of Public Data Users, which was not involved in the report. “There are staffing reductions, contracted services that have been reduced. We're seeing that showing up in the cancellation of data products, the reduction in data collection on things like consumer prices.”

Coupang founder won't attend data leak hearing

Coupang founder Bom Kim has told South Korean lawmakers that he won’t attend this week’s parliamentary hearing on the country’s largest-ever data breach. Two former heads of the retailer's Korean operations had already notified lawmakers that they would not attend after being summoned by the parliamentary committee, saying they had resigned from Coupang. The committee described the moves as a “systematic evasion of corporate responsibility” that betrays public trust.

China to tax condoms for first time in 30 years

China will implement a value-added tax (VAT) on contraceptive drugs and products starting January 1, marking the first such tax in over 30 years. The 13% VAT will apply to items including condoms, despite concerns that this could lead to increased unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Hu Lingling, a mother, described the move as "ruthless," while Yi Fuxian, a senior scientist, noted it reflects a shift from population control to encouraging births. Experts warn that higher costs may limit access to contraceptives, particularly among economically disadvantaged groups.
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OTHER

Italian cuisine lands UNESCO accolade

Italy has become the first country to have its entire cuisine added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. Rather than recognizing a single dish, UNESCO honored Italian cuisine as a whole for its cultural, social, and intergenerational significance. The designation gives Italy a record nine agri-food recognitions among its 21 total UNESCO-listed traditions.
 
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