THE HOT STORY

UK tech firms get fee-free visas to lure global talent

The government will reimburse visa fees for fast-growing tech firms to attract top foreign talent. Finance minister Rachel Reeves announced the initiative as part of a new "concierge service" aimed at supporting companies in the digital, life sciences, and clean energy sectors. Ahead of the announcement at a London Tech Week event, Reeves said: "We are backing the UK's most ambitious firms to start, scale and stay here - with the finance, talent and support they need to succeed." Business secretary Peter Kyle has modelled the initiative on similar in France, Singapore and the US. He said: "If we want the next generation of world-changing firms to be built in Britain, we must make Britain the best place in the world not only to start a company but, crucially, to scale one . . . Britain has the ideas, talent, and ambition to lead the world - and this government is backing the businesses that will define our future."

The Times

HIRING

Some Danish firms prefer candidates who already have jobs

Many Danish companies say they need more workers, but research suggests that their own hiring practices may make it harder for unemployed people to find jobs. The study from Copenhagen Business School suggests that about 25% of Danish companies prefer candidates who are already employed. They believe unemployed individuals lose skills and may have lower qualifications. This bias creates a self-reinforcing cycle, making it harder for unemployed people to find work. Birthe Larsen, an associate professor at the school, observed: "If companies place too much emphasis on whether people are already employed, they risk marginalising individuals who actually have a great deal to offer."

Copenhagen Post

CORPORATE

Dutch supermarkets exit employers' group over fees

The Dutch Food Retail Association and several major supermarket companies have withdrawn from the employers' organisation VNO-NCW due to increased membership fees and concerns over lobbying effectiveness. The Dutch Food Retail Association (CBL) will end its membership on January 1 next year, while companies including Jumbo have also resigned, as they face "several hundred thousand euros extra" in fees. CBL cited high costs and insufficient returns from lobbying as reasons for its departure. VNO-NCW chairman Coen van Oostrom acknowledged the exits but said the organisation is still growing with new members.

NL Times

TECHNOLOGY

UK workers fear AI jobs effect

Nearly half of UK workers are concerned about their skills becoming outdated due to AI and automation, according to a survey by Totaljobs. The study, which included 2,000 workers and 900 businesses, found that 42% of employees are worried about their job prospects as AI tools replace human tasks. Totaljobs noted that "Fobo," or the "Fear of Becoming Obsolete," is affecting many in the workforce. With unemployment at 5% and competition for jobs increasing, 83% of staff feel the need to learn new skills, yet only 37% have done so in the past year.

The Times

OpenAI plots biggest ChatGPT overhaul since launch

OpenAI is preparing the biggest overhaul of ChatGPT since its launch ahead of a planned listing, intending to transform the chatbot into a “superapp” that combines coding tools and AI agents.

Financial Times

INTERNATIONAL

SoFi Stadium workers vote to authorise strike ahead of World Cup

Workers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles have voted overwhelmingly to authorise a potential strike during the upcoming World Cup. The Unite Here Local 11 union, representing about 2,000 food and beverage workers, reported that 96% of voters supported the strike call. The union is calling for better pay and protections against federal immigration agents entering the venue. Union co-president Kurt Petersen said: "If we're forced to strike, those $100,000 FIFA suites will have nothing but bottled water and Doritos."

France 24

NPR / National Public Radio

More white-collar workers in Singapore seek union help

In Singapore, more white-collar workers are seeking assistance from unions following job losses. The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) reported a 5% increase in retrenchment cases for professionals, managers, and executives (PMEs) in 2025, totalling over 3,900 cases. Factors include offshoring and the impact of artificial intelligence on job roles. NTUC's assistant secretary-general, Patrick Tay, noted that many PMEs are unaware of their rights to union representation during retrenchments. The organisation is advocating for stronger protections and greater awareness among workers about union membership benefits.

Business Times SG

Pakistani workers say their faith cost them their jobs in the UAE

Shia Muslims from Pakistan have said they were deported from the UAE as a consequence of the Iran war. Pakistani legislators told NPR that anywhere between 5,000 to 18,000 Shia Pakistanis had been deported. Neil Quilliam, an associated fellow at the British think tank Chatham House, has said the UAE is angry at Pakistan for expressing sympathy with Iranian victims and because Pakistan is mediating to try and end the conflict, while the Emirates has sided with the U.S. and Israel.

NPR / National Public Radio

World Bank urges Thailand to reform labour laws

The World Bank has urged Thailand to reform its labour and business laws ahead of the 2026 Business Ready (B-READY) assessment. Key areas for improvement include establishing a minimum of 15 working days of annual leave and implementing protections against workplace discrimination and harassment. The World Bank also highlighted the need for laws requiring additional compensation for night work and transparency in business ownership during registration. More than 150 representatives from relevant agencies joined the session to hear explanations and raise questions about the methodology to be used in Thailand's B-READY assessment this year.

The Nation

OTHER

Prada launches space-ready garment for astronauts

Prada has unveiled the inner-layer cooling and ventilation garment that NASA astronauts will wear on future space missions, marking a significant step in the luxury fashion house’s ambitions to establish itself within the growing space industry. Developed in partnership with Houston-based Axiom Space, the body-hugging Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment incorporates knitted ventilation tubes designed to help regulate astronauts’ temperature during missions. The launch builds on Prada’s earlier collaboration with Axiom, which saw the company help develop a spacesuit expected to be used on NASA’s Artemis missions later this decade. Prada executives said the project demonstrates how expertise from industries beyond aerospace can contribute to space exploration, while analysts noted the partnership offers the brand exposure to both emerging space tourism markets and cutting-edge technological innovation.

US News and World Report

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