Human Times

North American Edition

21st September 2026

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THE HOT STORY

Law firms encourage senior partners to retire

Major U.S. law firms are increasingly looking for ways to encourage senior partners to retire as lawyers remain in their careers well into their 70s, 80s, and even 90s. Roughly one-third of U.S. lawyers are 55 or older, including 14% who are over 65, creating potential bottlenecks that can limit leadership opportunities, major assignments, and client relationships for younger partners. Firms are responding with measures ranging from mandatory retirement ages and pension packages to reductions in equity and financial incentives. Some, including Latham & Watkins, Morgan Lewis, and Debevoise, have hired consultants to help senior lawyers plan for life after their legal careers. The programs encourage partners to consider alternative pursuits; participants go on to careers and interests including photography, theater production, screenwriting, and volunteering.

Wall Street Journal

AI FOR EXECS

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WORKFORCE

Amazon raises average hourly pay for Canadian operations workers by 4%

Amazon is increasing the average hourly base wage for its Canadian operations workers by C$1 to C$26.27 ($18.76) from September 27th, representing a 4% year-on-year increase and taking average annual pay for full-time employees above C$54,000. The increase comes amid a labor dispute at Amazon’s unionized warehouse in Delta, British Columbia, where the provincial labor board has ordered binding arbitration after previously ruling that Amazon breached labor rules by excluding unionized employees from scheduled pay increases. Amazon will also introduce a 10% discount on groceries and daily essentials for certain employees from October 1st.

BNN Bloomberg

LEGAL

Judge rules EPA illegally terminated $7bn solar program

A federal judge in Rhode Island has ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully terminated a $7bn grant program for solar energy. The Solar for All program was intended to make solar power accessible to more than 900,000 lower-income Americans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rescinded the grant program's funds in August 2025 after President Donald Trump’s tax and spending law passed in Congress a month earlier. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called the Biden-era initiative a “boondoggle.” The lawsuit filed in Rhode Island by the Rhode Island AFL-CIO labor organization and others highlighted the program's importance for local workforces and lower-income communities seeking access to clean-energy project funding. Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, said: “If and when the program does get up and running, there will be thousands and thousands of union jobs created across the United States . . . We were proud to be the lead plaintiff.”

AP News

Bloomberg

Reuters

Unilever 'won't discuss blanket two-year global worker guarantee'

A memo ‌seen by Reuters indicates that Unilever "refuses to engage" with union body IUF over a request that a two-year employment guarantee agreed with workers in Europe under its planned merger with McCormick be applied to all staff worldwide. "The company refuses to engage ⁠on this at an international level," the IUF stated in the memo, adding: "(Unilever) has indicated that, outside of Europe, unions should negotiate locally or regionally over the two years' protection." A Unilever spokesperson said: "We continue to engage constructively with our works councils and other employee representatives and have made good progress . . . As a global company, we engage with a range of representatives around the world."

Reuters

Wall Street's ‘Lioness' helps Big Law attorneys who want out

Bloomberg Law profiles Lisa Solbakken, the ex-Wilkie Farr associate who now runs her six-lawyer firm, Arkin Solbakken, and helps white-collar professionals navigate their exits from Big Law firms. Solbakken has “endeared herself to heavy hitters with a style that's part empathetic divorce lawyer and part hardened litigator,” the report observes. “When you meet her, she's personable, engaging, and laughs easily, so you're inclined to let your guard down,” said Jack Devine, a former acting CIA deputy director who now runs a private risk consulting and intelligence firm that's retained Solbakken. “But you make a mistake if you think that's what you're dealing with, because once you get into the law, now you have a lioness.”

Bloomberg Law

CORPORATE

Paramount and California AG discuss concessions including $1.5bn investment

Paramount and California's attorney general have discussed a range of concessions in advanced settlement negotiations, including a $1.5bn investment in production in the state. A case brought by California and 11 other states is one of the final obstacles to Paramount's proposed $110bn acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Among the concessions the parties have discussed beyond the sizable production investment is a promise not to sell either studio lot and to stay in the state of California, according to people familiar with the discussions. The Wall Street Journal notes that The Writers Guild of America sued over the merger, saying that the deal would eliminate jobs and career opportunities for Hollywood screenwriters.

Wall Street Journal

REGULATION

Trump announces new federal 'AI Force'

President Donald Trump has announced plans to create a federal "AI Force" and recruit an AI "czar" to oversee the initiative as concerns grow over the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Trump said the administration would support the industry’s growth while monitoring its development, although details on funding, leadership and the unit’s powers remain unclear. The announcement comes amid increasing public opposition to AI data centers; a Gallup poll found that nearly half of respondents strongly opposed local developments. Industry leaders have also urged greater caution, and former President Barack Obama has backed greater government oversight. Trump has previously opposed tighter AI regulation, arguing it could hinder the industry’s growth.

Wall Street Journal

ECONOMY

Higher grocery prices add pressure to U.S. holiday hosting

Rising food prices are increasing financial pressure on U.S. consumers ahead of the holiday season, with 50% saying higher grocery costs are making hosting more stressful, according to a USA Today survey of 1,000 consumers. Despite this, 53% still plan to host or provide food for holiday gatherings and 33% expect to spend more on holiday groceries than last year. Food-at-home prices rose 2.2% year-on-year in August. Shoppers are increasingly focused on value, with Walmart the most popular destination for holiday groceries. Consumers plan to use coupons, set stricter budgets and wait for sales to control spending. However, 44% expect to carry holiday debt into the new year.

USA Today

INTERNATIONAL

Apple stores in Italy hit by strikes

Apple Retail Italia staff staged a national strike during the launch of the new iPhones on Friday, with unions reporting 70% average participation across more than 1,600 employees in 17 stores. Unions are demanding higher staffing levels, manageable workloads, more permanent contracts and greater recognition of employees’ contributions. Apple said its stores were operating normally and defended its pay, benefits and staff support programs.

Il Sole

Reuters

U.K. bosses will have to 'sit down' with workers who request flexible working

Bosses in the U.K. will have to meet with staff who request flexible working and justify their reasons for any refusals under government plans announced by Louise Haigh. The first secretary of state told the TUC conference in Brighton last week that employers would have to “properly consider” requests for flexibility and offer a face-to-face meeting under new rights for workers. Haigh said: “Life isn’t always as neat as we’d like it to be or as employers would like it to be. There’s kids to pick up, parents to look after, families who rely on us at short notice. And sometimes a little bit of flexibility can make all the difference. Now I know that businesses have to make things work too. Not every job can be done from home and not every request can be agreed. But every request can be taken seriously. So today I can announce that we will strengthen the right to flexible working. If an employer wants to turn down a request they will have to sit down with their employee, properly consider it and explain why.”

Singapore firms 'must plan for workers amid transformation'

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has highlighted the need for businesses to consider their workforce during operational transformations. He said that workforce issues should not be an afterthought for HR departments. Wong outlined three key shifts for Singapore: aligning learning with jobs, simplifying the employment support system, and ensuring that workforce development is integrated with business transformation. The newly formed SkillsFuture Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) will seek to facilitate these changes through its center, Connect by SWDA, which aims to provide tailored support for both workers and employers. “Our workers cannot be an afterthought in business transformation,” Wong said. “When a company transforms, its workers should have the chance to transform with it. So the two must go hand in hand . . . We want businesses to become more productive and competitive. But we also want workers to benefit – through better skills, better jobs and better prospects,” he added.

Straits Times

Russia employs North Koreans to build drones for Ukraine war

Russia is employing North Korean workers to manufacture military drones, according to a report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team. The strategy provides North Korea with vital revenue for its weapons programs in the face of international sanctions. An estimated 25,000 North Koreans are involved in Russia's drone industry, each earning around US$7,500 annually, although much of this is seized by the Kim regime. Monthly wages earned by North Koreans working in Russia may be up to five times higher than what they can earn in China. Russia had an estimated 15,000-30,000 North Korean workers as of the end of 2025. "Despite the 2019 repatriation deadline mandated by [a UN Security Council resolution], at least 17 countries are suspected of continuing to host laborers, generating between $450m and $800m in 2025 to fund the [North Korea's] unlawful nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs," the report said.

The Korea Times

South China Morning Post

OTHER

Gen Z backs higher taxes on wealthy Americans

Gen Z adults are more likely than older Americans to favor political candidates supporting higher taxes on wealthy people, according to a CBS/YouGov poll. Some 69% of respondents under 30 expressed this preference, compared with 59% of 30-to-44-year-olds and 55% of older adults. The trend comes amid concerns over inflation, housing costs, student debt and living expenses. Younger Americans also show strong support for California’s proposed one-off 5% billionaire wealth tax.

The Hill

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