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North American Edition
2nd June 2025
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THE HOT STORY
AI will take half of entry level jobs, Anthropic CEO says
Dario Amodei, the chief executive of AI start-up Anthropic, says the technology could eliminate up to 50% of all entry level white-collar jobs within the next five years. He said the producers of such technology "have a duty and an obligation to be honest about what’s coming," adding: "I don’t think this is on people’s radar." Heather Dishy, a partner at venture capital firm SignalFire, has suggested that AI is "doing what interns and new grads used to do," adding: "Now, one experienced worker equipped with AI tools can do the work of multiple junior staff, without the overhead."
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LEGAL
Appeals court frustrates Trump’s workforce cuts
An appeals court has upheld a California judge's order that blocks the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the federal workforce. The ruling, issued by U.S. Judge Susan Illston, questions the legality of the administration's actions, stating that "presidents can make large-scale overhauls of federal agencies, but only with the cooperation of Congress." The administration's plan, which was led by billionaire Elon Musk through the Department of Government Efficiency, aimed to significantly downsize the workforce. Illston's order mandates that federal agencies cease actions related to the president's executive order and subsequent memos regarding personnel reductions.
Student banned from graduation after coming out online, lawsuit says
Morgan Armstrong, an 18-year-old student, is suing Tennessee Christian Preparatory School after it allegedly threatened to withhold her diploma after she came out as gay. Armstrong announced her relationship with another woman on social media, prompting the school to ban her from campus and events, including graduation. The lawsuit, filed on May 19, claims the school violated its own disciplinary policy by imposing a long-term suspension instead of a one-day in-school suspension. Armstrong's lawyer, Daniel Horwitz, said: “There is no circumstance in which this school would have authority to withhold her diploma.” Although the school claims her diploma has been mailed, Armstrong has not received it yet. The situation has reportedly affected her college admissions: a Christian college that had shown interest ceased contact after the incident. Armstrong said that her lawsuit aims to address broader issues of discrimination. “What happened should have never happened,” she said.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Church leader calls for Dollar General protest
Jamal-Harrison Bryant, pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, GA, has expanded his diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)-focused consumer activism, shifting from an ongoing Target boycott to a new campaign targeting Dollar General. Instead of a full boycott, Bryant’s group is launching a "technological protest," urging supporters to flood Dollar General’s email, phone lines, and social media. He criticizes the retailer for abandoning DEI commitments and neglecting investment in Black and low-income communities. The campaign seeks policy changes without harming rural shoppers reliant on Dollar General. Bryant's movement is also pushing Target to meet unmet DEI demands amid falling sales and declining foot traffic.
STRATEGY
JBS USA to build $135m sausage plant
JBS USA plans to construct a $135m sausage processing plant in Perry, Iowa, aiming to employ 500 people. The facility, the Brazilian company's first in the U.S. and largest globally, will occupy 150,000 square feet on 90 acres. Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh described the project as a "game changer" for the community, which lost 1,300 jobs when Tyson Foods closed its pork plant last year. The new plant is expected to process 500,000 sows annually and produce 130m pounds of sausage, feeding over 4 million people. JBS CEO Wesley Batista Filho emphasized the importance of modern technology for safety and longevity, saying: "We want the plant to be here 100 years from now." Construction is set to begin late this year, with the plant potentially opening in 2026.
LinkedIn cuts 281 jobs in California
LinkedIn, the professional networking platform owned by Microsoft, has announced the layoff of 281 workers in California. The layoffs, which were communicated to employees on May 13, primarily affected software engineers and talent account directors. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has observed that up to 30% of the company's code is now generated by artificial intelligence.
LEADERSHIP
Market Basket CEO 'planned to disrupt the supermarket chain's business'
Market Basket chief executive Arthur T. Demoulas has been placed on paid administrative leave amid allegations of planning a work stoppage at the New England supermarket chain. The board of directors claims this action is a response to ongoing tensions between Mr Demoulas and the board, particularly regarding compliance with corporate oversight and succession plans. The board said: “At a time of great economic uncertainty for many households, such work stoppages would significantly harm and broadly disrupt Market Basket's stores.” While Mr Demoulas is on leave, the existing management team will maintain operations across the 90 stores. 
TECHNOLOGY
CEOs face job losses over AI
According to the 2025 Dataiku/Harris Poll, 74% of chief executives fear losing their jobs within two years if they fail to demonstrate measurable artificial intelligence business gains. The pressure is mounting, with 63% of CEOs reporting that their boards demand tangible AI results, and 96% of executives agreeing these expectations are justified. Many CEOs admit that over a third of their AI initiatives are merely "AI washing" and lack real substance. Additionally, 87% acknowledge falling into the "AI commodity trap," mistakenly believing that off-the-shelf solutions will suffice. Governance gaps are also a concern, with 94% of CEOs suspecting employees use unauthorized AI tools.
ECONOMY
Steel and aluminum tariffs set to increase
U.S. President Donald Trump plans to double tariffs on steel imports from this week. Trump told a rally of steel workers in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, on Friday that tariffs would be raised from 25% to 50%, "which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States." He later said on the Truth Social social media platform that the new levy, which also affects aluminum imports, would be in effect from June 4th and that American "industries are coming back like never before . . . We don't want America's future to be built with shoddy steel from Shanghai - we want it built with the strength and the pride of Pittsburgh!" Trump's announcement of the higher tariffs came as he talked up an agreement between Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel. Trump said the $14.9bn deal, like the tariff increase, will help keep jobs for steel workers in the U.S.
INTERNATIONAL
Nomura's smoking ban leads to fewer staff lighting up
In the fiscal year ending March 2024, approximately 15% of employees at Nomura, Japan's largest brokerage, were smokers, a decrease from 21.4% in March 2018. The firm says it aims to further reduce this share to 12% by March 2026. Since 2017, the company has provided financial assistance to help workers quit smoking and encouraged a smoke-free environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline in smoking rates at Nomura mirrors a broader national trend in Japan, where the government aims for only 12% of adults aged 20 or older to smoke by 2033. As of 2024, over 15% of Japanese adults were reported as smokers according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. More broadly, Nomura has implemented various health and productivity initiatives, including promoting walking habits and offering subsidies for egg-freezing services to support female employees. 
Europe's defense companies scramble for talent
Interviews by Reuters with more than a dozen companies, recruiters and workers indicate that along with increasing wages and benefits, European arms manufacturers are poaching from other sectors and seeking potential recruits among pupils and students as governments ramp up spending on ammunition, tanks and other arms in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's warnings that they should not rely so much on the United States. An increase in defense spending to 3% of GDP from the current NATO target of 2% would require as many as 760,000 new skilled workers in Europe, management consultant company Kearney recently said.
Riyadh's new metro cuts through social divisions in Saudi Arabia
The opening of Riyadh's new metro in December has significantly altered social interactions in the Saudi city, allowing diverse groups to share journeys for the first time. The metro enables the mingling of various socio-economic classes and facilitates conversations and cultural exchanges among passengers. Sociologist Mohammed Al-Hamza observes that the metro has been "a major social and psychological event," and has fostered a shift in societal mindsets. The project, which is part of the Vision 2030 initiative led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, spans 176 kilometres and serves 85 stations. Despite initial doubts about its usage, the metro has proven popular, and authorities are considering further expansions. Zayed al-Ghamdi, a civil servant, said: "Now, things have changed. You feel that society, with all its classes, is in one place."
 


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