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North American Edition
4th February 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

Alphabet plans big expansion in India

Alphabet plans to dramatically expand its presence in India, and could take millions of square feet in new office space in Bengaluru, the country's tech hub. The company has leased one office tower and purchased options on two others in Alembic City, a development in the city's Whitefield tech corridor, totaling 2.4 million square feet. If Alphabet takes all of the space, the complex could accommodate as many as 20,000 additional staff - more than doubling the company’s footprint in India. Alphabet currently employs around 14,000 people in India. Bloomberg notes that U.S. President Donald Trump’s visa restrictions have made it harder to bring foreign talent to America; as such, some companies are recruiting more staff overseas.
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WORKFORCE

Kaiser prepares for strikes as healthcare workers protest

Kaiser Permanente is bracing for a new strike by approximately 3,000 pharmacy and lab workers starting February 9, as an ongoing strike by over 31,000 nurses and health workers continues into its second week. The healthcare provider has advised members to complete any urgent lab tests before the strike and noted that while hospitals remain operational, some outpatient services may temporarily close, with specific prioritization for urgent cases. Unions claim Kaiser has stalled negotiations, leading to a call for the strike, while Kaiser insists it has been negotiating in good faith.
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LEGAL

Supreme Court 'understands enormous stakes in tariff case'

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has told CNBC that the Supreme Court is taking its time to rule on a case challenging the legality of President Donald Trump's tariffs because of the "enormous" stakes involved. "We've built a new trade order on the back of these tariffs," Greer said. "So the stakes are enormous, and I think the court . . .  is being very careful and considerate as to how they deal with this issue of extreme national interest."
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ECONOMY

House ends partial shutdown, kicking off immigration talks

The Republican-led House has narrowly approved legislation to end a partial U.S. government shutdown, passing the funding bill by a 217–214 vote before President Donald Trump signed it into law. The measure restores funding for much of the government through the end of the fiscal year, while temporarily funding the Department of Homeland Security until mid-February to allow further negotiations over immigration enforcement. The vote exposed deep divisions within and between the parties, with most Democrats opposing the bill over concerns about immigration policy and some Republicans dissenting over unrelated election issues. The agreement now sets the stage for intense talks over immigration enforcement standards, with both sides warning that reaching a compromise will be difficult.

U.S. homebuilders work on plan to develop as many as 1 million ‘Trump Homes'

U.S. homebuilders are working on a proposal to develop nearly a million "Trump Homes" that would address the country's affordability crisis, Bloomberg has reported, citing sources familiar with the proposal. The plan calls for builders to sell entry-level homes into a pathway-to-ownership program allowing private capital funding of billions of dollars. The administration is not actively considering the plan, a White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
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LEADERSHIP

Disney appoints Josh D’Amaro as CEO to succeed Bob Iger

Disney has named Josh D’Amaro, head of its parks and experiences division, as its new chief executive, succeeding Bob Iger and becoming the company’s ninth CEO in its 102-year history. D’Amaro, 54, emerged from a closely watched internal succession contest against entertainment co-chair Dana Walden, following a carefully managed process led by board chairman James Gorman. The appointment aims to avoid a repeat of Disney’s troubled 2020 succession, when Bob Chapek was named CEO and later removed. While some insiders favored Walden for her deep creative and entertainment background, D’Amaro has sought to bridge that gap by working closely with Disney’s creative teams. His appointment underscores Disney’s belief that its future growth will be driven primarily by experiences rather than traditional media or streaming.
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INTERNATIONAL

Paris prosecutors summon Elon Musk

French prosecutors have asked Elon Musk to appear for questioning as part of an investigation into the distribution of sexual deepfakes and Holocaust denial content on his X social media platform. The Paris offices of X were searched following a public outcry over how the firm's Grok chatbot spread sexualized images of women and children. A voluntary summons was issued for Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino to appear and answer questions about the platform's adherence to French law. "The voluntary interviews with the managers should enable them to explain their position on the facts and, where applicable, the compliance measures envisaged," the prosecutor's office said.

Spain announces plans to ban social media for under-16s

Spain has announced plans to ban access to social media for children under the age of 16. "We will protect [children] from the digital Wild West," Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said at the World Governments Summit in Dubai. The ban, which still needs parliamentary approval, is part of a number of changes that include making company executives responsible for "illegal or harmful content" on their platforms. "Today, our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone," Sánchez said, as he described social media as a place of "addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation [and] violence."

Global consultancies test China boundaries

Reuters reports that top consulting firms including KPMG, EY and Bain & Co are doing business in China in ways that some industry and legal experts say test the boundaries of Western sanctions. Interviews by Reuters with 10 current and former industry figures and a review of engagement agreements and company communications are said to demonstrate how the consultancies have sought to maneuver around evolving constraints.

Germans' 'lifestyle part-time' work faces scrutiny

The economic wing of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Mittelstands- und Wirtschaftsunion (MIT), has criticized what it calls "lifestyle part-time" - a reference to "not people who need to reduce their hours to take care of children, or sick relatives or pursue education. It's about people who just want more free time," MIT spokeswoman Juliane Berndt explained to Deutsche Welle. "With a four-day week and an exaggerated work-life balance, prosperity cannot be maintained," Merz said in early January. He also complained that Germans call in sick for work too often, and suffer from a lack of work ethic.
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OTHER

Carpet chemicals leave toxic legacy

An investigation has revealed that chemicals used in the carpet industry, known as PFAS or "forever chemicals," have contaminated large areas of the Southern United States. These compounds, which are resistant to breakdown, have been found in drinking water and human blood. Despite evidence of health risks, including cancer, major carpet manufacturers including Shaw Industries and Mohawk Industries continued using PFAS until 2019.
 
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