Human Times

North American Edition

29th April 2026

THE HOT STORY

Amazon unveils AI agents for hiring

Amazon has introduced new software called Connect Talent to help streamline firms' screening and hiring processes. The AI-driven tool conducts interviews and prepares notes without human involvement. Colleen Aubrey, Amazon Web Services' senior vice-president of applied AI solutions, observed that candidates will be aware of the AI screening process, which is still being refined for a more human-like interaction. "The experience continues to get better and better each iteration we go through . . . There's some art around ⁠making that voice interaction natural and human," Aubrey said. Amazon said its new homegrown artificial intelligence design philosophy called "humorphism" will help humanize AI and "adapts to how humans work, not the other way around."

Reuters

Straits Times

HIRING

How Citi’s $52m hire was forced out of JPMorgan over his behavior

The Financial Times reports on how Citigroup hired Vis Raghavan as head of banking only days after he had been forced out of JPMorgan following years of complaints about his behavior.

Financial Times

ECONOMY

Consumer confidence edges higher despite inflation concerns

U.S. consumer confidence has risen slightly in April, supported by strong tax refunds and improved views on jobs and income, although concerns about inflation and geopolitical tensions remain. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index increased to 92.8 from 92.2 in March, driven by a rise in expectations for the economy, while views on current conditions dipped marginally. Optimism was boosted by perceptions of a stronger labor market and household income prospects, even as higher oil prices linked to Middle East tensions continued to weigh on sentiment. Inflation expectations eased slightly but remained elevated, with consumers still facing high living costs influenced by tariffs and global conflict. Confidence trends varied by demographic and political groups, with younger consumers more optimistic than older cohorts, while overall sentiment remains fragile despite continued consumer spending resilience.

Reuters

US News and World Report

WORKFORCE

Treasury to take over collection of nearly $1.7tn in student loan debt

The U.S. Treasury Department is set to assume responsibility for collecting nearly $1.7tn in federal student loan debt under a new agreement with the Department of Education, as part of a broader plan to address defaults and restructure federal education oversight. The move will shift collection of defaulted loans to Treasury, which will work with private agencies after such contracts were ended in 2021, leaving more than 9m borrowers in default without adequate support. While officials say Treasury is well positioned due to its experience in federal payments and collections, critics warn its approach may rely more on aggressive enforcement measures, such as wage garnishment, rather than flexible repayment solutions. The transition aligns with a wider policy effort to reduce the federal government’s role in education and potentially dismantle the Department of Education, though concerns remain about how effectively Treasury can manage borrower assistance and debt recovery.

EdSource

STRATEGY

Forvis Mazars cuts 3% of U.S. workforce in restructuring

Forvis Mazars has laid off around 3% of its U.S. workforce, or approximately 250 employees, across audit, tax, and advisory functions as part of a restructuring to align staffing with lower-than-expected employee attrition. The firm said the cuts follow a review of business demand and talent needs, as it adjusts capacity after a period of overhiring across the accounting sector during the pandemic. The move comes two years after the creation of the Forvis Mazars global network, which reported $5.7bn in revenue for the year to August 2025, up 11%, with $2.2bn generated in the U.S.

International Accounting Bulletin

Wall Street Journal

LEGAL

Former FBI head James Comey charged with threatening Donald Trump’s life

Former FBI Director James Comey has been charged with threatening the life of President Donald Trump. The accusation stems from an image Comey briefly posted on Instagram last year. The image depicted seashells forming the numbers "86 47". "Eighty-six" is a slang term that means "eject" or "remove". Comey has insisted he did not know what the numbers on the image meant, but Trump and other White House officials say the post was a threat against the 47th president. Responding to the charges, Comey said: "I'm still innocent, I'm still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary." FBI Director Kash Patel, speaking at a press conference to announce the indictment, said: "James Comey disgracefully encouraged a threat on President Trump's life and posted it on Instagram for the world to see."

REMUNERATION

Rivian CEO’s $403m pay package dwarfs those of top U.S. car bosses

Rivian has disclosed that chief executive RJ Scaringe received total compensation of $403m for 2025, driven primarily by $373m in stock options and $26.6m in stock awards, making his pay around 13 times higher than the next best-paid U.S. auto executive. The package, largely performance-based and tied to ambitious stock price and financial targets, forms part of a long-term incentive plan that could be worth up to $4.6bn over a decade if achieved, despite Rivian remaining loss-making and its shares having fallen 86% since its 2021 IPO. The company last week started production of its smaller R2 SUVs, with customer deliveries expected later this spring, targeting the low-cost sector to increase demand and boost profits.

Financial Times

Reuters

CYBERSECURITY

International partners warn of Chinese state-sponsored botnet activity

Chinese state-sponsored hackers are using botnets of compromised IoT (Internet of Things) and SOHO (small-office home-office) devices as their cybercriminal infrastructure, according to a new 10-country joint security advisory. Security agencies including the U.S. Department of Justice, U.K. National Cyber Security Centre and U.S. National Security Agency have published a paper titled “Defending against China-nexus covert networks of compromised devices,” which says hackers are using the botnets to steal people’s data, or disrupt activities. "Anyone who is a target of China-nexus cyber actors may be impacted by the use of covert networks," the report says. "The use of covert networks of compromised devices - also known as botnets - to facilitate malicious cyber activity is not new, but China-nexus cyber actors are now using them strategically, and at scale."

Financial Times

TechRadar

INTERNATIONAL

HSBC reviews $48,000-per-child school fee perk for Hong Kong bankers

HSBC is evaluating its school fee subsidy for bankers in Hong Kong as part of a global benefits standardization effort. The bank may eliminate the perk for new hires or adjust overall compensation. Currently, mid-level and senior staff in Hong Kong receive a subsidy covering 95% of school fees up to HK$220,000 for each child in primary school and HK$300,000 ($48,000) per child in secondary school annually, costing the bank tens of millions each year. The benefit has caused tension with the bank's head office in London, because it is not available in other major markets.

Business Times SG

Straits Times

U.K.'s employment tribunal system 'at risk of collapse'

The employment tribunal system in Britain is nearing collapse due to a significant backlog of cases, the Daily Telegraph reports. Official data shows the backlog of cases in England and Wales is now at a record high of 58,000, up almost 50% compared with a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Justice. Colin Leckey, a partner at law firm Lewis Silkin, notes that complex cases are being scheduled for 2030. It is claimed the upcoming Employment Rights Act will exacerbate the situation, adding an estimated 6,900 new cases. Caspar Glyn, chairman of the Employment Lawyers Association, said that the outstanding caseload has doubled in three years. He emphasized the need for urgent action to maintain the rule of law in workplaces.

The Daily Telegraph

Law firms push staff to return to UAE offices as ceasefire holds

A return-to-office push by Gulf law firms has caused frustration among some lawyers who relocated to other countries at the start of the Iran conflict and face high costs to return.

Financial Times

OTHER

Prada launches ‘Made in India’ sandals to address cultural backlash

Prada has introduced a limited-edition range of Indian-made sandals inspired by traditional Kolhapuri designs, as the company aims to rebuild relations after criticism in 2025 over cultural appropriation. The initiative includes producing 2,000 pairs in India, launching a three-year artisan training program, and collaborating with local organizations. The luxury group says it seeks to combine traditional craftsmanship with its global platform while addressing concerns raised by Indian stakeholders.

Economic Times

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