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North American Edition
28th August 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

Tech giants urge global response to AI cybersecurity threats

More than 100 companies, including tech giants Google, Microsoft, Anthropic and OpenAI, have signed an open letter urging a global effort to strengthen AI-powered cybersecurity threats. "We have a limited window to strengthen cyber defenses," the letter reads. "In the coming months, AI-enabled cyber attacks will become far more widespread and sophisticated as models around the world become increasingly capable." The companies call on national governments to provide "capable, defensive AI" and testing to hospitals and water utilities, and on technology companies to aid such efforts. Collectively, tech firms and government "should bring the full weight of their technology, resources, and expertise to this effort," the letter says.
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WORKFORCE

Jobless claims fall to 203,000 as layoffs remain subdued

Initial jobless claims fell by 4,000 to 203,000 in the week ended August 22nd, below economists’ expectations of 208,000 and down from the previous week’s revised 207,000. The four-week moving average increased slightly to 205,500, while continuing claims, reported with a one-week lag, also declined, fell by 18,000 to just under 1.78m. 
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TECHNOLOGY

New Anthropic framework allows AI agents to operate physical devices

Anthropic has launched a research preview of "Model Hardware Standard", ​a framework for AI agents ‌to operate physical devices in scientific research and advanced manufacturing. The company said it aims to help companies reduce the amount of time it takes to set up and integrate their hardware; companies will be able to integrate AI into their equipment in “hours or minutes,” whereas such a process would typically take “weeks, if not months,” and require specialists to do a custom build, Anthropic said. The standard works ​on any ​device that ⁠has a programmable interface and allows devices and agents ​to communicate across networks, according to the company.
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LEGAL

Judge approves $72.5m settlement between Epstein victims, BofA

A federal judge has approved a $72.5m class-action settlement between victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Bank of America. Manhattan Federal Court Judge Jed Rakoff said: “It is thanks to plaintiffs’ counsel that a substantial number of Epstein’s victims are receiving substantial amounts of money and that some at least modest justice is thereby being accommodated.” Bank of America admitted no wrongdoing; a representative for the bank said that it still denies it aided Epstein’s abuse. “While we stand by our prior statements made in the filings in this case, including that Bank of America did not facilitate sex trafficking crimes, this resolution allows us to put this matter behind us and provides further closure for the plaintiffs,” a statement read.
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WORKPLACE

U.S. produce supplier 'frequently fails to disclose workplace injury tallies'

Reuters reports that California-based Taylor Farms, North America's largest salad producer and the company that is the focus of a cyclospora outbreak, frequently ​failed to disclose federally mandated workplace injury tallies in recent years, including for at least four facilities where workers suffered fatal or otherwise serious injuries. A Reuters review of federal records found that the data indicate an overall reporting rate well below the industry average of 78%. Taylor Farms said in a statement: "Employee safety is a core operational priority across Taylor Fresh Foods’ 30 facilities and 25,000 team members, and gaps in the electronic submission of our  . . . summary forms have been addressed." 

Koch Foods failed to train workers ahead of Fairfield fire

Koch Foods has been fined $167,000 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for failing to adequately train its workers, which contributed to a fatal fire at its Fairfield plant. The incident, which occurred on February 15, resulted in the death of a 25-year-old worker and injuries to two others. OSHA's investigation revealed that the company lacked an emergency evacuation plan and had repeat issues with machine shutdown procedures. Following the fire, multiple inspections found ongoing safety violations, prompting Koch Foods to agree to rectify the issues by mid-October. The plant, a $220m project, had recently opened and employed over 600 workers.
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TAX

Missouri vote signals potential shift away from state income tax phaseouts

Missouri voters’ 83% rejection of a proposal to phase out the state’s individual income tax could signal waning momentum for similar efforts nationwide. Several states, including Kentucky and Mississippi, are pursuing gradual phaseouts tied to fiscal and revenue triggers, while others have reduced rates or adopted flat-tax systems. States have generally taken cautious approaches after Kansas’ aggressive 2012 tax cuts contributed to major budget shortfalls and were largely reversed in 2017. Although reforms have primarily targeted individual income taxes, they can affect businesses through pass-through liabilities, investment decisions, employee recruitment, and state tax structures. Businesses should continue monitoring state tax reforms, particularly as policymakers weigh income tax reductions against greater reliance on consumption taxes.
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INTERNATIONAL

Two German airport workers die from malaria

Two employees at Frankfurt airport have died after contracting malaria from a mosquito likely carried on an incoming flight, said the city's health authority. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) identified the Anopheles mosquito as the source. Malaria is rare in Germany, complicating diagnosis and treatment. The RKI says the country's last airport-linked malaria outbreak was in 2023. Four remaining infected employees are in hospital, and mosquito traps have been installed to capture specimens for genetic testing.

FamilyMart relaxes dress code to attract more diverse workforce

FamilyMart has relaxed its employee dress code in an effort to attract a more diverse workforce, allowing staff to choose their hair color freely and permitting Muslim women to wear hijabs. The Japanese convenience store chain is also introducing its first uniform redesign in a decade, including a T-shirt option, while expanding recruitment through recorded and online interviews. 
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OTHER

GLP-1 boom pushes retailers to scale back plus-size clothing

Retailers are reducing their plus-size clothing ranges as demand for larger sizes weakens, with industry experts pointing to the rapid adoption of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs as a likely contributor. About 21% of U.S. households now include a GLP-1 user. H&M has removed 3XL and 4XL from its U.S. assortment after saying demand was lower than expected, and data also shows fewer larger-size products at Aritzia, Mango, and Zara. The shift comes after years in which fashion brands expanded extended sizing as part of broader inclusivity efforts. Retailers have generally avoided directly attributing their decisions to GLP-1 drugs, instead emphasizing commercial considerations. Larger garments can cost more to manufacture and sell more slowly, making extended sizing a potential target as the industry contends with tariffs, weak consumer confidence, and tight margins. 
 
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