THE HOT STORY

Snyk to lay off 90 employees

Israeli cybersecurity firm Snyk is implementing its fourth round of layoffs, affecting around 90 employees worldwide. This follows three previous rounds that resulted in over 350 job losses. The company's Israeli development centre, which has about 90 employees, faces a significant impact from the cuts. Chief executive Peter McKay, announced his departure earlier this year. Snyk's value has declined from $8.6bn to $7.4bn, partly due to competition from AI-driven companies. No comment has been received from Snyk regarding the layoffs.

The Jerusalem Post

TECHNOLOGY

Firms must close gap between AI adoption and effective implementation

Thomson Reuters' 2026 Future of Professionals report highlights a significant gap between AI adoption and effective implementation in professional services. Despite 74% of professionals using AI tools weekly, 91% feel their organisations are not maximising the technology's potential. The report warns that up to $143bn in client revenue is at risk in the US, with nearly one-third of clients likely to reassess provider relationships based on AI capabilities.

Trade Arabia

WORKFORCE

UAE sets new labour housing rules

The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has mandated that labour accommodations must be at least five kilometres from family residential areas. The MoHRE's Worker Accommodation Standards Guide outlines additional requirements, including access to medical clinics and recreational activities. The ministry emphasised the importance of providing free internet services for workers to stay connected with their families. The measures are part of broader efforts to enhance workers' quality of life across the country.

Gulfnews.com

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Qatar's new digital scholarship ends with a guaranteed job

Qatar has introduced a government scholarship programme that guarantees graduates employment, offering up to QR20,000 monthly for studying digital fields abroad. The Digital Transformation Programme, initiated by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), aims to align education with national workforce needs. Dr Hareb Mohammed al-Jabri described it as a significant shift towards specialised programmes. Students will receive various benefits, including stipends, travel allowances, and internships with leading tech firms. Registration for scholarships opens on July 1, with flexible numbers based on workforce demands.

Gulf Times

HEALTH & SAFETY

UAE workers find relief in 2.5-hour midday break

The UAE's annual midday work ban, effective from June 15 to September 15, provides essential relief for outdoor workers during extreme heat. The initiative, now in its 22nd year, prohibits outdoor work from 12.30pm to 3pm. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation mandates that employers ensure shaded areas and cooling facilities for workers during this period.

Khaleej Times Online

LEGAL

Tunisia upholds eight-year jail term for anti-racism activist

A Tunisian court has upheld an eight-year prison sentence handed to anti-racism activist Saadia Mosbah for financial misconduct, according to her lawyers. Mosbah was arrested in 2024 amid a crackdown on NGOs aiding undocumented migrants. Her trial has been condemned by Amnesty International, which said the charges were unfounded. “Saadia is an activist and thanks to her, we have a law against racism that we are proud of,” defence lawyer Hayet Jazzar had told the court, referencing a 2018 law prohibiting racial discrimination. Jazzar said the case against Mosbah, who is black, was “triggered by hate speech.”

Arab News

SUSTAINABILITY

UN's Guterres urges AI firms to detail environmental impact

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged AI companies to disclose their environmental impact, including carbon emissions, water, and land usage. Speaking at London Climate Action Week, he proposed the AI Environmental Transparency Initiative, as he highlighted the need for standardised reporting. Mr Guterres noted that data centres, which support AI, accounted for 1.5% of global electricity consumption in 2025. This is projected to rise to nearly 3% by 2030. “By 2030, [data centres] could use ⁠more power than all but five countries – and enough water to meet the basic needs of all 1.3bn residents of sub‑Saharan Africa for an entire year,” he said. “If AI is to help build a better future, it must be honest about what it costs us now.”

Reuters

TAX

Qatar launches tax certification programme

The General Tax Authority (GTA) in Qatar has introduced the Certified Tax Specialist Programme to enhance the skills of tax professionals. The initiative aims to develop competencies in areas such as income tax, value-added tax, and excise tax, aligning with global standards. The programme includes intensive sessions and concludes with a proctored exam. It is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). The GTA plans to roll out the programme gradually, starting with its employees and then extending to other tax professionals.

The Peninsula

INTERNATIONAL

Canadian lender TD will use software to track some employees

Canadian lender Toronto-Dominion (TD) Bank has told some staff in its financial crimes and risk management team that it would run software to track the time they spend on browsers and internal chat and meeting applications. TD said the deployment of such software is "standard practice across the industry . . . the tool allows managers to more accurately manage workflows, team capacity and performance. Where deployed, colleagues are informed about where they are used and for what purpose." Deanna Pacitti, TD's associate vice president of high-risk investigations, told her team on a call reviewed by Reuters: "The idea is it's going to show pain points, where do we spend too much time . . . We know we have a lot of pain points across our systems."

Reuters

Kenya labour minister accused over Russian forced recruitment

Hundreds of Kenyans who were promised well-paid civilian jobs in Russia ended up being forced to sign contracts with the Russian army, often at gunpoint. While Kenya officially estimates that 291 of its citizens have been victims of Russia's "irregular military recruitment" - including 19 who are now dead and 32 missing - a report by the Kenyan intelligence services puts the total at more than 1,000 and says officials were complicit. Three senior Kenyan sources have told AFP that Labour Minister Mutua was personally and politically involved in the scam. Mutua was questioned by parliament in 2025 about recruitment fraud for workers destined for the Gulf, but so far has escaped reprimand.

Bangkok Post

France 24

AI use in UK hits 'tipping point'

Maureen Costello, Google Cloud's vice president for the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sub-Saharan Africa, has told Reuters that AI adoption has reached a "tipping point" in the UK, as companies move from experimentation to large-scale deployment and begin to see returns. Google research suggests that AI could boost productivity by about 20%, effectively giving business owners "a day back" each ⁠week, Costello said, but there needs to be investment in skills, leadership engagement and trust. "Technology is only half ⁠of the answer - people are the other half," Costello said. "Leaders can't sleep at the wheel, they need to get hands-on and understand how to apply this in their organisations."

Reuters

Singapore leaders rate their managers as only ‘modestly effective'

Senior leaders in Singapore rated their organisations' managers as only “modestly effective” in developing and engaging employees, according to the Singapore Workplace Report 2026. The report, released by the Singapore Institute of Directors and Gallup, revealed that managers received an average score of 3.32 out of five. The report found that only 14% of employees in Singapore were engaged at work in 2025 - significantly below the South-east Asia average of 25% and the global mean of 20%. The remaining 86% of disengaged workers are said to be costing the economy an estimated US$73.6bn in lost productivity annually. A press statement accompanying the report said “low engagement is transitioning from a cultural concern to a strategic liability.”

Business Times SG

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