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North American Edition
30th October 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

U.S. government sues Google for alleged violation of USERRA

The U.S. government has filed a lawsuit which accuses Google of not giving an employee, Mark Davisson, his old job back or finding him a similar role after he took military leave as a U.S. Army reservist. Reuters says it's a rare instance of the government suing a private employer for violating the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act ​of 1994 (USERRA), which protects the civilian employment of military personnel called to active duty. “We disagree with the claims in this complaint . . . Google takes ​compliance with employment laws, ⁠including USERRA, seriously and investigates allegations of workplace wrongdoing,” Google spokesperson Atle Erlingsson ​said. “Federal law ensures that our brave ⁠soldiers, who ​sacrifice so much to keep us safe, are not punished ​by employers when they return to the civilian workforce after completing their military service,” U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald in Manhattan said ​in a statement.
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WORKFORCE

New jobless claims fall to 194,000, lowest since July

U.S. initial unemployment claims fell to 194,000 last week, down from a revised 195,000 the previous week and marking their lowest level since mid-July, signaling continued job security and limited layoffs. The four-week moving average declined to 196,750, while continuing claims, reported with a one-week lag, dropped 21,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 1.701m. 
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HIRING

Firms race to hire Weil lawyers following collapse

Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison yesterday hired several junior lawyers from Weil Gotshal & Manges following the decision by partners at the latter to close the nearly 100-year-old firm. According to sources, Sullivan & Cromwell partners are also exploring potential hires from the stricken firm, while Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is actively seeking to recruit more partners after recently adding over a dozen from Weil.
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ECONOMY

U.S. economic growth accelerates to 3.4%

The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 3.4% in the third quarter, up from 2.2% in the previous quarter, driven by strong business investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure and resilient consumer spending. Nonresidential investment rose 12.7%, while business spending on equipment surged 20.9% and consumer spending increased 3.8%. However, inflation remained elevated, with prices rising 3.6% year over year in September, while the personal savings rate fell to 3.8%, highlighting growing pressure on household finances. Underlying domestic demand expanded at its fastest pace in more than five years, although economists expect growth to slow to approximately 2.2% in the coming months. Despite the economy's strength, persistent inflation remains a major concern for the Federal Reserve, with investors anticipating a quarter-point interest rate increase in December.
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LEGAL

White House sued over rollback of corporate ownership reporting rules

The Trump administration has been sued by twenty-one U.S. states and the District of Columbia over its rollback of reporting requirements established under the 2021 Corporate Transparency Act ​aimed at combating illicit finance. The coalition of ​mostly Democratic-led states asked a federal court to overturn a rule finalized in August which exempted ‌U.S. companies and individuals from reporting beneficial ownership information to the Treasury Department's financial crimes unit. They said this was ​part of a broader push by the administration to curtail ⁠anti-corruption efforts. "The executive branch cannot repeal a law by rulemaking. That fundamental principle resolves ​this case," said the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District ​of Oregon.
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TAX

More than 100 major U.S. companies paid no federal income tax in 2025

A new report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) has found that 114 large, profitable U.S. companies, including Citigroup, Tesla, and Walt Disney, paid no federal income tax in 2025, despite reporting billions of dollars in profits. The analysis of 706 publicly traded companies found that they collectively paid an estimated $196bn in federal income taxes on $1.88tn in profits, representing an effective tax rate of 10.4%, the lowest recorded by ITEP in more than 40 years and well below the statutory 21% rate. The report attributed the reduced tax burden to corporate tax breaks, including accelerated depreciation, which allows businesses to deduct capital investment costs more quickly. ITEP estimated that the companies benefited from $198bn in tax subsidies, with Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta receiving some of the largest benefits. While critics argue that these provisions reduce federal revenue and disproportionately benefit large corporations, supporters maintain that lower corporate taxes encourage investment, job creation, and economic competitiveness.
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TECHNOLOGY

Spotify aims to launch AI music remix service early next year

Spotify is reportedly targeting a first-quarter 2027 launch for an AI-powered music remix service that would allow premium subscribers to create personalized remixes and covers of existing songs. The company is considering charging an additional $4–$5 per month, with a potential unveiling around the Grammy Awards in February, although pricing and timing remain unconfirmed. Spotify has secured licensing agreements with Universal Music Group, Merlin, and Believe, while negotiations with Sony Music and Warner Music remain ongoing. Artists will retain the right to opt in, with royalties from AI-generated remixes flowing back to the original performers. However, resistance from some major artists could complicate adoption. The initiative forms part of Spotify's strategy to generate additional subscription revenue and support its target of mid-teens annual revenue growth through 2030. 

Anthropic's Claude accessed voter information without authorization

Anthropic's AI model Claude bypassed a paywall ​and accessed publicly available U.S. ‌state of Georgia aggregate voter counts without human authorization. “Claude did not access the state’s voter registration system, change any voting records, or pull any individual voter records,” Anthropic said. The company, which earlier this month identified instances of ​Claude "working around a restriction to reach data that ‌was ⁠gated by a token or a fee," said it had since put in place guardrails to prevent similar actions happening again. 
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INTERNATIONAL

Dockworkers to strike against arms shipments today

Dockworkers in 22 countries are to strike today in a protest against war and the use of ports for ‌arms exports. The strike action, which was originally called by dockworkers' unions in Italy, France, Greece, Spain's Basque Country, Turkey and Morocco, is now supported by more than 25 unions in 113 ports. The Water Transport Workers Federation of India (WTWFI) is also supporting the strike, and about a dozen ports in India could be disrupted. Organizers say the strike could disrupt more than 40% of Mediterranean cargo and affect over $2bn worth of freight. "We will send our own message of peace from Piraeus, and we will show our solidarity with the peoples suffering from war,” said dockworkers at Greece's largest port.

New U.K. employment protections take effect today

Stronger requirements on U.K. employers to prevent sexual harassment come into effect today. Future of work minister Kate Dearden said employers must take "all reasonable steps" to prevent harassment, including warning notices and measures allowing staff to summon assistance. Dearden said the government understood that smaller employers faced different challenges from bigger ones with dedicated human resources departments, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission has published guidance relating to the rules. The reforms also strengthen trade union access to workplaces, although businesses employing fewer than 21 people are exempt. Business groups have raised concerns about compliance costs and unclear guidance.

ASIC orders major audit firms to address failings

Australia’s corporate regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), has instructed six major audit firms - KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, EY, BDO, and Grant Thornton - to develop action plans addressing shortcomings in audit quality, financial reporting, and independence practices. The directive follows findings that auditors failed to challenge management assumptions, obtain sufficient supporting evidence, and properly document compliance with ethical requirements. ASIC will monitor the effectiveness of the plans amid ongoing scrutiny of the industry, including an investigation into allegations that KPMG misused confidential client information to secure additional audit work. In September, the regulator disclosed that it was examining 551 complaints of potential misconduct involving the Big Four accounting firms.
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OTHER

Walmart cuts holiday meal prices to $35 for 10 people

Walmart has launched its lowest-priced Thanksgiving and Christmas meal basket at $35 for 10 people, equivalent to $3.50 per person, down from $4 last year. The basket includes 18% more items and costs 12% less than the equivalent products a year earlier, as the retailer seeks to attract budget-conscious shoppers during the holiday season. The offer is available in stores and online until December 24th, with free Express Delivery through November 30th.
 
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