Human Times

Middle East Edition

27th July 2026

THE HOT STORY

Uber cuts 10% of customer service roles to ‘embrace’ AI

Uber has cut 10% of jobs within its customer service operations team, saying it is working “to simplify operations, strengthen in-person collaboration, and continue to embrace AI.” Employees who had been working remotely for the team were also asked to relocate to a hub office, consistent with the company’s return-to-office mandate, an Uber spokesperson said. “Our organisation has become too complex and siloed,” Megha Yethadka, Uber’s vice president of global community operations, wrote in a memo. She said the department “has made some strides” in using AI, “but to unlock this potential, we need an effective organisation to layer AI on. We cannot scale frontier technology on top of fragmented processes.”

Bloomberg

Engadget

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WORKFORCE

Israel's Tax Authority freezes war compensation claims in Bnei Brak after attacks on staff

Israel's Tax Authority has paused processing compensation claims for war damage in the largely ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak due to attacks on its employees. Director Shay Aharonovich said that staff faced aggression from crowds of Haredi men while performing their duties. He has demanded a public condemnation from Mayor Hanoch Zeibert before resuming the processing of claims. Aharonovich criticised the city's government for failing to condemn the violence, writing that he has “no choice but to conclude that Tax Authority employees are not welcome in your city.”

The Times of Israel

Oman launches new employment policy

The Ministry of Labour in Oman has launched its third Labour Forum, introducing a national employment policy aimed at creating 60,000 jobs this year and 300,000 over five years. The forum, running until August 13, focuses on enhancing labour market governance and improving employment institutions. Nasser bin Salim al Hadhrami, Director-General of the Directorate-General of Labour in Dhofar, highlighted the policy's role in developing national talent and fostering economic growth. The event also featured discussions on labour market needs and showcased student projects promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.

TimesofOman

Oman Observer

LEGAL

Saudi Arabia arrests labour law violators

Saudi authorities arrested 14,970 violators of residency, labour, and border security laws during inspections from July 16 to July 22, according to the Ministry of Interior. This included 7,437 for the Residency Law, 3,991 for the Border Security Law, and 3,542 for the Labour Law. Additionally, 1,626 individuals were caught attempting illegal entry, primarily from Ethiopia and Yemen. The ministry warned that those facilitating illegal activities could face severe penalties, including up to 15 years in prison and fines up to SR1m. The public is encouraged to report violations confidentially.

Gulfnews.com

ECONOMY

US and Iran cease hostilities for talks

The US and Iran have paused fighting for a second consecutive night after nearly two weeks of tit-for-tat attacks. Hostilities have been halted to give diplomacy more time, according to the US ambassador to the UN. The move comes after oil prices rose to $100 a barrel last week for the first time in two months.

Bloomberg

Financial Times

REGULATION

Qatar regulates drone operations under new law

Qatar has established a new legal framework for drone operations under Law No. 10 of 2026, overseen by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA). This law empowers the QCAA to regulate drone activities, including designating operational areas and altitudes. The authority will issue licences, set technical requirements, and manage import/export regulations for drones. Environmental protection is also a priority, with measures to safeguard the environment during operations. The legislation aims to balance the benefits of drone technology with aviation safety and airspace protection.

Gulf Times

INTERNATIONAL

Immigrant employment in the EU reached 'record high' in 2025

Immigrant employment in the European Union rose to a record high last year, according to a report from the ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin). The employment rate among immigrants increased to 68.2% last year from 67.8% in 2024, according to the study, based on Eurostat data, from the Centre for Research and ⁠Analysis of Migration (CReAM) at RFBerlin. "The proportion of immigrants in employment has been rising for many years, and the figures are close to that of the native population," observed CReAM deputy director Tommaso Frattini. The employment rate for non-EU immigrants grew from 59.4% to 66%; the employment rate among EU immigrants increased from 71.1% to 74.8%. "The ⁠challenge today is no longer simply getting immigrants into work but ensuring that their skills are fully utilised," added Christian Dustmann, director of RFBerlin.

Reuters

Trump extends pardons to companies

Bloomberg reports that Donald Trump has become the first modern US president to issue pardons for companies, with his clemency grants wiping out almost $200m in financial penalties, some of which were destined for victims of wrongdoing. “In any previous era no president would touch this with a barge pole,” observed Frank Bowman, a professor at the University of Missouri School of Law. “Maybe individual cases with some compelling reason, but the systemic elimination of criminal liability of major financial crime would never have happened before, and it didn’t.” Trump has granted clemency to nine companies since the start of his second term. Bloomberg profiles one such company, which had been charged with conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act for deleting controls on vehicles that were meant to stem emissions.

Bloomberg

Wildberries warehouse hit by fire after drone attack near St Petersburg

A warehouse operated by Russian online retailer Wildberries in the Leningrad region near St Petersburg caught fire following what Russian authorities said was a Ukrainian drone attack, leaving three people injured and forcing the company to suspend operations at two logistics sites in the region. Wildberries also evacuated staff from a warehouse in Crimea, although it said none of its employees were injured in the latest incident. The attack is the latest in a series targeting the retailer's logistics network, with five Wildberries warehouses, representing around 10% of its logistics capacity, having been attacked since July 18th. Ukraine has alleged the company supports Russia's military infrastructure, a claim Wildberries denies. Together with rival Ozon, Wildberries accounts for goods and services worth the equivalent of 8.5% of Russia's GDP and employs around 4m people.

Financial Times

Reuters

Australian regulator warns auditors as scrutiny intensifies following KPMG scandal

Australia’s corporate regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), has stepped up oversight of the country’s largest audit firms by launching a review of how they handle internal complaints in the wake of allegations involving KPMG Australia. The review will examine firms including KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, and EY, while reminding nearly 3,000 auditors of their legal obligations and ASIC’s enforcement powers under the Corporations Act. The heightened scrutiny follows allegations that KPMG Australia misused confidential client information to win audit work and mishandled whistleblower complaints. The controversy has already prompted a parliamentary inquiry, a government review of potential reforms to the consulting sector, and a leadership shake-up at KPMG Australia, including the appointment of a new chief executive officer.

Bloomberg

Reuters

OTHER

Amazon cracks down on use of AI images by sellers

Amazon is requiring third-party sellers to label product images and videos featuring AI-generated people in response to a new New York law that mandates disclosure when advertisements use "synthetic performers" instead of human actors. Sellers must add metadata identifying AI-generated content, while Amazon will display labels on applicable product listings to improve transparency for consumers.

CNBC

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