Human Times

UK Edition

9th October 2026

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THE HOT STORY

Burnham plans to announce ban on workers’ non-compete clauses

Andy Burnham is today expected to commit to a full or partial ban on non-compete clauses in workers' employment contracts, according to people familiar with the matter. More than 20 tech founders wrote to the prime minister last month to say that such restrictions, and also long notice periods and enforced gardening leave, were “undermin[ing] the innovation that drives economic growth.” The government of Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, had previously set out options to limit the use of non-compete clauses.

Financial Times

Politico

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

ADHD label risks 'harm for life' for youngsters

A landmark government-commissioned review led by Prof Peter Fonagy says overdiagnosis of autism and ADHD risks causing lifelong harm to children. Experts warn that early diagnostic labels may limit opportunities and define children by their challenges rather than their strengths. The review notes a 40-fold increase in autism diagnoses since 2000 and a 15-fold rise in ADHD cases, and calls for a shift from diagnosis-first approaches to practical support, emphasising the need for timely treatment rather than labels. For many people, diagnosis has been "clinically necessary, personally meaningful and essential to treatment," the review says. But "diagnosis can also do harm when it is inaccurate or used poorly", including overmedicalising "ordinary, healthy life experiences" and making people feel like they are unable to achieve at school or hold down a job.

The Daily Telegraph

The Guardian

The Times

CYBERSECURITY

Asos hackers duped employee in data breach

Asos has confirmed that hackers may have accessed detailed profiles of the firm's users. The breach includes names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, and customer numbers, as well as users' search histories, although no bank details or passwords were compromised. The fashion retailer said an "unauthorised party gained access to an Asos employee account by impersonating a trusted contact to obtain login credentials." It added that it has launched a "detailed investigation" into the incident. The Information Commissioner’s Office said it had been notified of a breach by Asos and is assessing the situation.

LEGAL

Teachers strike over unfair dismissal

Teachers at the Children’s Hospital School at Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London Hospital have resumed strike action after management challenged an employment tribunal order to temporarily reinstate sacked teacher and NEU representative Kate Williams. Williams alleges that staff have faced intimidation and victimisation under new management.

The Standard

Barristers reveal justice system failings

A Bar Council survey shows that 63% of barristers believe the public lacks acceptable access to justice, primarily due to court delays. Over 2,700 barristers participated in the survey, with 62% citing delays as the main issue. Other concerns included inadequate legal aid funding (55%) and poor court infrastructure (24%). A lawyer commented: "Our justice system is broken. There are no votes in funding court services or legal aid, because most members of the general public have no idea of how important an effective, ethical and independent justice system is to their everyday lives."

The Times

STRATEGY

Carlsberg to shut Marston's Brewery

Carlsberg Britvic plans to close Marston's Brewery in Burton upon Trent in summer 2027, putting around 310 jobs at risk after almost 200 years of brewing in the town. The company blamed declining demand for ale: UK cask ale volumes have more than halved in less than a decade. It will continue producing brands including Hobgoblin, McEwan’s and Brooklyn, while seeking buyers for some other cask and regional ales.

RISK

Hostile activity from Russia costs UK billions

An independent report estimates Russia-linked hostile activity costs UK taxpayers more than £2.5bn a year, including £1.5bn from cyberattacks, up to £500m in subsea cable damage. and £500m in private-sector losses. More than 300 Russia-linked cyber incidents have occurred since 2022, and costs are expected to rise as hybrid warfare intensifies. Tom Keatinge from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) said: "The economic consequences of hostile activity must inform the government's assessment of the threat, its responses and the resources it commits. Understanding the price Britain already pays is essential to protecting its future."

Daily Mail

REMUNERATION

BT-TalkTalk deal sparks bonus controversy

Opus Broadband has accused BT of exploiting its acquisition of TalkTalk to boost executive bonuses. Mike Ellwood, chairman of Opus, has written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, saying BT's directors will be "rewarded for growth in UK retail market share," adding: "This transaction delivers that growth by acquisition and removes a low-cost rival at the same time." The deal, worth £400m, increases BT's broadband market share from 30.8% to 36%.

The Daily Telegraph

CORPORATE

Weston family acquires Boots for £6.7bn

Boots has been sold to Canada's billionaire Weston family in an $8.9bn (£6.7bn) deal, bringing new long-term ownership to the 177-year-old UK retailer. Wittington Investments, the family's holding company, agreed to buy Boots from US private equity firm Sycamore Partners and the Pessina family. The chain has about 1,800 UK stores and 51,000 employees. Annual sales rose 3.2% to £7.5bn last year. The Westons plan to invest in stores and expand healthcare services. Experts expect little immediate change for shoppers. The deal includes Boots' UK and Irish operations, Boots Opticians and No7 Beauty Company, and is expected to complete in early 2027.

INTERNATIONAL

Starbucks scales back DEI language and sustainability targets in latest impact report

Starbucks has reduced references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and softened its environmental commitments in its latest global impact report, shifting its focus toward chief executive Brian Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” turnaround strategy. The report omits terms such as racial equity, LGBTQIA2+, and pay equity, alongside previously published workforce diversity statistics. It also removes prominent references to earlier targets for reducing waste and water consumption by 50% by 2030. Starbucks has acknowledged challenges in meeting its original greenhouse gas emissions reduction target and plans to announce a revised, science-aligned goal in early 2027. The company maintains that it remains committed to employee inclusion, community investment, and environmental responsibility. The changes reflect a broader shift in corporate DEI reporting, although Starbucks Workers United has criticised the company for retreating from its previous commitments.

The Columbian

The Seattle Times

Spanish unions call general strike for November 11

A nationwide general strike in Spain over housing issues has been announced by labour unions for November 11. The UGT and CCOO unions called on people to "mobilise for better salaries, for decent housing and for price controls in the face of inflation that undermines our purchasing power." They said the proposed action "is the response to the insatiable real estate greed that speculates with one of the public's main rights, making access to a decent home practically impossible," as they denounced "a corporate policy that takes advantage of the country's economic growth to swell its wealth with large profits at the expense of working people's wages." The strike will take place a few weeks before a snap election in which the topics of rising rents and evictions feature strongly.

AFP

Reuters

Micron workers at Taiwan plant vote in favour of strike

Workers at Micron Technology's plant in Taiwan have voted overwhelmingly to strike after failed negotiations over bonus reforms. The union reported that 1,994 out of 2,258 eligible members supported the strike. Workers are demanding a one-off bonus equivalent to 83 months' salary and a system allocating 15% of operating profits for quarterly bonuses. Micron's previous offer of up to 68 months' pay was deemed insufficient. The Taichung union will continue negotiations despite the strike at the Taoyuan site, where the union has secured the right to establish picket lines.

France 24

OTHER

WHO guidelines address rising obesity among younger children

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first global guidelines addressing rising obesity among younger children, recommending diet, exercise, and counselling over weight-loss drugs. According to UNICEF, obesity is now the most common form of malnutrition among school children and adolescents. The WHO said that weight-loss drugs may be considered for adolescents aged 10 to 19 only after other interventions have failed. For children under 10, the focus should be on lifestyle changes due to safety concerns regarding medication. Luz María De Regil, director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, ⁠said there is currently insufficient evidence on the efficacy of GLP-1 drugs, although researchers may revise their assessment as more data emerges. "The foundation of obesity care for children and adolescents is not medicine or surgery, but access to ⁠comprehensive support that enables healthy eating, physical activity and sustainable behaviour change," De ⁠Regil said.

U.S. News

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