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European Edition
13th April 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Pilots' union calls strike at Lufthansa

Lufthansa pilots, represented by the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union, have announced a two-day strike starting today amid ongoing salary and pension disputes. The latest action follows four previous strikes this year. The last occurred on April 10. The strike will impact flights operated by Lufthansa, CityLine, and Eurowings, as well as Lufthansa Cargo. However, flights to certain Middle Eastern destinations will remain unaffected. The UFO union reported that a recent strike led to the cancellation of 90% of flights at Lufthansa and CityLine. "The Cockpit union feels compelled to take this step after the employers' side showed no real ​willingness to reach ​a solution ⁠in several collective bargaining disputes," VC President Andreas Pinheiro said. "Despite our deliberate decision not ​to take strike action over the Easter ​holidays, ⁠no serious offers have been made."
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FUTURE OF WORK

Beyond the Hype: How AI Is Reshaping Work

AI is everywhere but what’s changing in the world of work? In this webinar, our experts cut through the hype to explore how AI is reshaping jobs, skills, and career paths across industries. You’ll gain practical insights into which roles are evolving, what skills will matter most, and how organizations and professionals can prepare for what’s next. Join us to understand the real impact of AI and how to turn change into opportunity for your workforce and your career.

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TECHNOLOGY

UK businesses lag in AI adoption

British businesses are falling behind in AI adoption, according to a report by PwC. UK firms invest only 2% of their revenue in AI, yielding a 10% return, compared to global leaders who invest 5% and achieve a 15% return. The report highlights that only 27% of UK businesses have redesigned workflows for AI integration. Leigh Bates, global risk AI leader at PwC UK, said these figures should serve as a "wake-up call" for British companies. The UK ranked 11th out of 19 countries surveyed.
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WORKFORCE

Long Covid to cost up to $135bn a year over the next decade

Research suggests long Covid is likely to cost up to $135bn a year across OECD economies over the next decade. Direct healthcare costs combined with the wider effect of people leaving the workforce and lower productivity will have a lasting impact, the global forum said. The OECD found that only six countries have formal pathways for treating the illness. Some people are left unable to work, require changes to their jobs or become less productive.

People in UK to be given ‘right to try’ work without losing benefits

The UK government has introduced new legislation that will enable disabled claimants to work without the risk of losing their benefits. The Department for Work and Pensions has laid amendments to existing laws, and the changes are set to take effect by the end of this month. The initiative, which has been called the "Right to Try", is key to a government strategy to prevent people from being "trapped on benefits." Minister for Social Security and Disability, Stephen Timms, said: Giving sick and disabled people legal protection to try work without fear is vital for their futures and for growing our economy . . .  With 2.8m people out of work due to long-term sickness, we’re removing the barriers that have held people back for too long."
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LEGAL

German dentist pension fund sues its ex-managing director for about €50m

German dentist pension fund VZB, which caters to more than 10,000 dentists in the wider Berlin area and the city of Bremen, is suing its former managing director Ralf Wohltmann for about €50m ($58m). The claim covers alleged wrongdoing relating to the fund's investment in insurance startup Element, which filed for insolvency last year. The fund, which had about €2.2bn in assets under management by the end of 2024, faces losses of about €1.1bn. Bloomberg says the loss is indicative of the crisis affecting several German pension funds that invested in "opaque and risky corners of finance to prop up returns eroded by years of ultra-low interest rates."

Lithuanians protest changes to public broadcaster law

Thousands of Lithuanians on Wednesday protested outside parliament in Vilnius to oppose changes to a public broadcaster law amid concerns that the legislation could open the way to censorship. Lawmakers are set to debate the proposed changes to public broadcaster LRT’s governance amid backlash from critics who say the law would make it easier to dismiss LRT’s director general and leave the outlet vulnerable to political interference. Police estimated the “Hands Off Free Speech” protest attracted at least 10,000 people. 
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ECONOMY

EU will still be hit by 'stagflationary shock', Brussels warns

EU economy commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis says the bloc will still be hit by a “stagflationary shock” of low growth and rising inflation despite the US and Iran agreeing a two-week ceasefire. He indicated that the European Commission will likely revise its growth forecast downwards due to the ongoing uncertainty from the Middle East conflict. Current estimates suggest growth could slow by up to 0.6% this year and next, while inflation may rise by as much as 1.5%. Dombrovskis stressed the need for temporary, targeted measures to avoid a fiscal crisis, saying: "We have more limited room for fiscal manoeuvre than we used to have." The Commission will update its GDP forecast in May.
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LEADERSHIP

Italian government replaces Leonardo’s CEO

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has ousted the chief executive officer of  defence group Leonardo, Roberto Cingolani, and replaced him with Lorenzo Mariani. The government renewed the terms of energy firm Eni's CEO Claudio Descalzi and Enel’s Flavio Cattaneo for another three years, as Meloni recalibrates the leadership of state-controlled firms ahead of re-elections which are set to take place by the end of next year.
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INTERNATIONAL

Workers displaced by AI could face prolonged setbacks

A new Goldman Sachs report which looked at decades of worker displacement in fields hit by new technology offers a warning to AI-displaced workers who face potentially steep economic pain. “AI-driven displacement could impose lasting costs on affected workers, worsening labour market outcomes for several years,” authors Pierfrancesco Mei and Jessica Rindels wrote. The report analysed four decades of federal data and tracked the lives of more than 20,000 Americans born between the 1950s and 1980s. The researchers found that displaced workers in jobs hit by technological shifts - such as telephone operators and typists - suffered both short- and long-term economic impacts when compared with workers who lost jobs in more stable occupations.

Brazil blacklists BYD for slave labour conditions

The Brazilian Ministry of Labour and Employment has added BYD Auto do Brasil Ltda. to its "dirty list" of employers due to severe labour violations. This follows a December 2024 inspection that revealed workers were subjected to excessive hours and degrading living conditions. Inspectors found 107 passports locked away, restricting workers' access to their travel documents. Brazilian workers reported that their Chinese colleagues often worked seven days a week, with days off only granted during inspections. The ministry's actions limit BYD's access to state financing and heighten reputational risks in Brazil, its key market outside China.

Working through conflict: staff across Middle East adapt to war

The Financial Times reports on how workers across the Middle East are adapting to a war which has shattered daily routines for millions throughout the region.
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OTHER

Viktor Orbán ousted after 16 years in power

Peter Magyar has declared victory in the Hungarian elections, ousting prime minister Viktor Orban after 16 years in power. Magyar’s pro-EU Tisza party are projected to have won 137 seats for a crucial two-thirds majority in the 199-member parliament, defeating Orban's nationalist Fidesz party. "Together, we liberated Hungary and got rid of the Orbán regime,” Magyar told ‌supporters.
 
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