Human Times

European Edition

14th April 2026

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THE HOT STORY

Former Lafarge chief sentenced to six years for financing terrorism

Former Lafarge CEO Bruno Lafont has been sentenced to six years in prison for paying €5.6m to Islamic State (IS) and other terror groups in return for allowing the company’s workers continued access to its Syrian plant. Lafarge, which is now part of the Swiss conglomerate Holcim, paid the money via its subsidiary Lafarge Cement Syria (LCS). Seven other employees were also found guilty on terrorism charges. "These payments took the form of a genuine commercial partnership ‌with the Islamic State," said presiding Judge Isabelle Prevost-Desprez. "This method of financing terrorist organisations, and primarily IS, was essential in enabling the terrorist organisation to gain control of Syria's natural resources, allowing it to finance terrorist acts within the region and those planned abroad, particularly in Europe."

FUTURE OF WORK

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TECHNOLOGY

Meta builds AI version of Mark Zuckerberg to interact with staff

Meta is building an AI version of CEO Mark Zuckerberg which could offer feedback to employees in real time. Zuckerberg is personally involved in training and testing his animated AI.

Financial Times

WORKFORCE

Dutch civil servants go on nationwide strike today

Civil servants in the Netherlands are launching a nationwide strike today, protesting against a proposed wage freeze that unions claim undermines real incomes in the public sector. Approximately 160,000 central government employees will participate. Unions argue that the government's zero-growth wage policy equates to a pay cut due to inflation. The strike will disrupt essential services, including food safety inspections and maintenance at government buildings.

NL Times

ECONOMY

UK households’ living standards to fall after energy price shock

Higher energy prices will mean a typical UK household will be left nearly £500 worse off in the coming year, the Resolution Foundation think-tank said in a report published on Monday. The median working-age household will suffer a 0.6% drop in income in the current financial year based on market forecasts for energy prices. Resolution Foundation chief economist James Smith warned that the “damage to household finances this year is to a large degree already done” despite the recent slight easing in geopolitical tensions. “Energy prices remain well above pre-war levels, meaning many households face a decline in their purchasing power this year,” he said. “For those in the middle and toward the top of the income distribution, even the thin growth they had been expecting has tipped into negative territory.”

Bloomberg

Financial Times

Up to 40% of Russia's stores at risk of closure

Russia's consumer economy is weakening as war costs, sanctions, and rising prices reduce household spending, hitting the retail sector hard. Clothing retailers are especially affected, with falling demand, declining foot traffic, and up to 40% of stores at risk of closing by 2026. In response, businesses are seeking cheaper imports and new trade partners, including growing ties with Ethiopia.

Dagens

POLITICAL

Hungary's new PM urges UK to rejoin EU

Péter Magyar, Hungary's new Prime Minister, has said following his victory over Viktor Orbán that he hoped the UK would rejoin the EU. He said that a closer economic relationship with Europe is essential, especially in the light of global conflicts and economic challenges. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, telling BBC Radio 5 Live that a stronger relationship with Europe is in the "UK's best interest." Starmer said that Brexit had caused "deep damage" to the UK economy as he defended plans to align with EU regulations through a new bill. The legislation, set to be featured in the King's Speech, would allow ministers to adopt EU standards on food, drink, and carbon emissions without parliamentary debate. The PM said the UK had faced numerous crises before but now there was a need for a different response. He said: "The opportunities we now have to strengthen our security and cut the cost of living are simply too big to ignore."

Financial Times

Daily Mail

Trump is ‘leader of chaos’, says Polish parliament speaker

Włodzimierz Czarzasty, leader of Nowa Lewica, a leftwing party in Poland’s ruling coalition, has said Donald Trump is “a leader of chaos” whose administration is also meddling in European elections.

Financial Times

INTERNATIONAL

IBM to pay $17m in DEI settlement

IBM has agreed to pay roughly $17m to resolve allegations of illegal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices. The Department of Justice had said the company “knowingly” made “false claims” about its hiring and employment practices in its federal contracts. IBM allegedly identified “diverse” candidates for hiring or promotions, while developing race and sex demographic goals. “IBM is pleased to have resolved this matter,” an IBM spokesperson told CNN. “Our workforce strategy is driven by a single principle: having the right people with the right skills that our clients depend on.”

CNN

CBS News

Advocates have questions about Singapore's new housing complex for workers

Singapore's government has opened a new housing complex for workers called the NESST Tukang Dormitory. It is the first migrant worker housing to be wholly owned by the government and aims to address issues such as hygiene and overcrowding that helped Covid spread rapidly. Advocates for workers' rights nevertheless say that such infrastructure is not keeping pace with the growth in worker numbers, and many still live in poor conditions. Ethan Guo, executive director of Singaporean nonprofit Transient Workers Count Too, said of migrant workers' general impressions of the city-state: “[They] generally have a very good impression of Singapore. They see the photos on their phone and think it’s clean and beautiful. They arrive and see what’s provided to them, and they’re shocked.”

Bloomberg

Australian union's new push for four-day work week

The United Service Union, which represents 25,000 council workers in New South Wales, has proposed a four-day work week and increased flexible work-from-home options due to rising fuel costs. The union has filed an application with the Industrial Relations Commission, seeking emergency measures to alleviate financial strain on workers, who are reportedly spending an extra A$50-A$100 weekly on fuel. Daniel Papps, head of legal at USU, said: “Our members are telling us that the fuel crisis is really starting to bite.”

Yahoo News Australia

Brazil to release $1.37bn from severance fund for 10m workers

Brazil's government is set to release 7bn reais ($1.37bn) from the workers' severance fund (FGTS) to assist approximately 10m workers, O Globo has reported. Labour Minister Luiz Marinho said the initiative is part of a broader strategy to alleviate household debt. Employees can access the FGTS severance fund in certain ⁠circumstances, such as buying a home, loss of employment or serious health problems.

U.S. News

OTHER

Cigarettes and vapes sold to minors by 50% of Belgian retailers

Inspections using mystery shoppers reveal that illegal sales of tobacco and vapes to minors in Belgium are far more widespread than official checks suggest, with 54% of retailers caught compared to just 3% in traditional inspections. The problem is particularly severe in Wallonia, though high rates are seen across all regions. Similar checks on alcohol sales found violations in 76% of cases, highlighting widespread non-compliance with age restrictions.

The Brussels Times

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