Human Times

North American Edition

6th November 2026

THE HOT STORY

Apple cuts staff AI budgets

Apple has reduced employee budgets for AI usage as part of a broader effort to manage costs, even as the company seeks ‌to expand the use of the technology across its operations. The move is indicative of a broader trend among ⁠technology companies that are now scrutinizing AI-related expenses after initially encouraging widespread adoption. Apple last month cut the daily AI spending allowance for some ⁠engineers to $200 from $300, and the firm is now weighing further reductions for some engineering teams, potentially lowering daily limits to $100. Employees who require greater access to AI tools would be able to seek exemptions from ‌senior ⁠executives, according to people with knowledge of the change.

Reuters

WORKFORCE

Labor productivity rises at fastest pace in a year

U.S. labor productivity has increased at its fastest pace in a year, rising at an annualized rate of 3.6% in the third quarter of 2026, compared with an upwardly revised 2.1% in the previous quarter, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The improvement reflects strong business investment in artificial intelligence, software, and equipment, helping companies increase output while limiting labor costs. Unit labor costs declined 0.7%, marking their first decrease since the second quarter of 2025, while nonfarm business output expanded at an annualized rate of 3.7%, the strongest growth in a year. Hours worked increased just 0.1%, and inflation-adjusted hourly compensation rose 1.1%. Federal Reserve officials have highlighted productivity growth as a potential factor in easing inflationary pressures, although chair Kevin Warsh cautioned that the benefits of AI-driven efficiency improvements may emerge gradually. Despite stronger productivity, labor's share of national income fell to 53%, its lowest level in records dating back to 1947, highlighting a widening gap between output growth and workers' share of economic gains.

Bloomberg

Reuters

Weekly jobless claims fall to 57-year low

U.S. initial unemployment claims have fallen to their lowest level in 57 years, declining by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 189,000 in the seven days to October 31st, according to the Labor Department. The figure was below economists' expectations of 197,000, according to the Wall Street Journal, and matched the lowest reading since 1969, highlighting continued labor market resilience despite uncertainty surrounding the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. The four-week moving average dipped to 194,750, while continuing claims, reported with a one-week lag, rose by 23,000 to 1.718m.

AP News

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

HIRING

Demise of Weil sends shock waves through legal job market

The sudden collapse of 95-year-old law firm Weil Gotshal has left its roughly 600 associates, and its future summer hires, without jobs. The dissolution of the firm has sent shock waves through the legal job market, and rival firms and headhunters are moving quickly to interview Weil lawyers. “This is a paradigm shift,” observed David Diamond, assistant dean of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law’s Career Strategy Center. “We want to make sure they have all the support they need to get back into the job search quickly.” Evan Fox, a legal headhunter at Long Ridge Partners, said his team has scheduled more than 100 job interviews for Weil lawyers. “This is truly unprecedented,” he said.

Wall Street Journal

LEGAL

Harmeet Dhillon resigns from DOJ

Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice (DOJ), resigned on Thursday. Dhillon's tenure was marked by controversy: under her watch, the division suspended several consent decrees from the Biden administration and initiated investigations into universities for alleged discrimination against white and Asian students. Stacey Young, head of Justice Connection, a DOJ alumni group, labeled her as “the most destructive, lawless, and hateful head of the Civil Rights Division in DOJ history,” adding: “Americans' civil rights don't enforce themselves. For almost 70 years, the Civil Rights Division brought to fruition the civil rights laws that Americans demanded. Dhillon decimated it.” Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote on social platform X: “Dhillon . . . led the Civil Rights Division with conviction [over] the past 18 months. She has defended the civil liberties of every American and enforced the law without fear or favor.”

The Hill

NPR / National Public Radio

TECHNOLOGY

Government to lay out laws that apply to AI labs this month

Pentagon chief technology officer Emil Michael, who is also vice chair of ⁠the government's Super Intelligence Task Force, the intergovernmental agency established by President Donald Trump to establish AI policy, has said the U.S. federal government will detail the laws and ‌regulations that apply to domestic AI labs later this month. "What we're trying to do is create a framework ⁠that makes the American people have confidence that these companies are going to do the ⁠right thing," Michael said. "Or else I think what you get is ⁠535 legislators writing a piece of regulation that could kill the industry."

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Human rights must be respected as part of good corporate governance, UN experts say

UN experts have said that states and businesses must ensure corporate governance that respects human rights is a core element of implementing the corporate responsibility for human rights. “The effectiveness of the application of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by companies relies on good corporate governance and executive leadership to ensure that decision-making and corporate culture are aligned with respect for people and the planet, and that these are embedded throughout operations,” said Robert McCorquodale, Chairperson of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights. “Poor corporate governance concerning human rights matters can lead to many human rights abuses, affecting workers, communities and other rights holders. It can also have significant adverse consequences for companies, directors and executives,” McCorquodale said.

Jurist

OHCHR

ECONOMY

El Nino poses 'meaningful risk' of higher inflation next year

A study from the San Francisco Federal Reserve suggests the El Nino weather phenomenon presents a "meaningful risk" of higher U.S. inflation in 2027. "We estimate that the current episode may have already increased headline price levels about 0.3 percentage point between ⁠April and July of this year . . . The estimates point to that initial rise fading by the end of this year but then potentially pushing prices up in 2027 by as much as 1 percentage point," wrote three of the regional Fed bank's researchers. "More recent developments like the disruptions to the fertilizer market, supply chain disruptions in energy markets, and record-setting weather events could also interact with this El Nino in unexpected ways," they added.

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Micron pauses work on $4.5bn Taiwan plant

Micron Technology has suspended plans for ‌a $4.5bn memory chip plant in Taiwan amid an ⁠extended labor dispute. The U.S. company has halted construction of a plant in the northern Taiwanese city of Taoyuan, citing increased uncertainties, including the risk that an agreement with a local labor union will be overturned. There is a possibility Micron will reconsider plans for its broader manufacturing hub in Taiwan, Bloomberg notes.

Bloomberg

Blood banks targeted in latest European refrigeration cyberattacks

Blood banks in France have fallen victim to cyberattacks targeting refrigeration systems. The French Blood Establishment (EFS) said the attacks involved hackers remotely raising temperatures in cold storage units containing blood products, although EFS reported that "no blood products were lost and no health impact was identified." EFS is now collaborating with the French National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) and the Ministry of Health to enhance equipment monitoring. The incident is part of a broader wave of refrigeration-focused cyberattacks affecting supermarkets across Europe, resulting in significant food spoilage.

CNBC

Bangladesh garment protests continue

Garment workers in Bangladesh have continued their protests, leading to the suspension of operations in over 100 factories. The unrest, which began on Saturday, was fueled by demands for a wage increase. Workers are calling for the minimum monthly wage to be more than doubled to 30,000 taka ($241.55) from 12,500 taka currently. "The prices of everything have gone up, but wages have not. It is becoming harder and harder to make ends meet," said Shilpi Khatun, a garment worker who did not join the protest on Thursday. The protests have raised concerns about potential delays in export shipments: Bangladesh is the world's second-largest garment exporter. The wage board has proposed a revised pay structure to be implemented in December, but the exact increase remains undecided. Authorities have urged workers to return to their jobs.

U.S. News

OTHER

Visa survey finds holiday shoppers favor physical gifts despite strong demand for travel

A new Visa survey has found that while more than half of U.S. consumers prioritize travel and experiences on their holiday wish lists, 27% plan to spend on physical gifts, compared with just 15% prioritizing experiences for others. Rising airfares, which increased more than 22% year over year in September, and broader inflationary pressures are encouraging consumers to shop more selectively, with roughly one-third of households earning under $100,000 planning to switch to cheaper brands or retailers. Meanwhile, households earning over $200,000 are the only income group to have increased travel spending compared with last year. Visa forecasts holiday retail sales growth of 4.5%, although inflation-adjusted growth is expected to reach just 1.1%, down from 1.3% in 2025, highlighting the continued pressure on consumer purchasing power despite resilient spending intentions.

CNBC

Reuters

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