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Global News: Job Losses Hit Multiple Sectors as Human Rights Face Challenges
Several companies across various sectors announced job cuts, while a new report highlighted a decline in global democracy and human rights.
In the UK, fashion chain Quiz entered administration for the third time in six years, resulting in 109 job losses in Scotland, according to BBC Business. The company, which has 40 stores and seven concessions, cited poor Christmas sales as a contributing factor. Administrators stated that the stores would remain open for clearance sales but would not be accepting refunds. Quiz employs around 565 people.
Wedgwood, the ceramics firm based in Stoke-on-Trent, is also set to cut jobs at its Barlaston factory, BBC Business reported. The number of affected workers has not yet been clarified. Union bosses described the news as "another body blow" for the sector. Wedgwood had previously paused production for 90 days in September, blaming low demand and placing 70 employees on temporary leave. Owner Fiskars Group stated it was "committed to continuing this iconic brand's legacy" but needed to take "measured steps to align production with demand, manufacturing costs."
Pinterest recently sacked two engineers for tracking which workers lost their jobs in a recent round of layoffs, according to BBC Technology. CEO Bill Ready stated in an email that the company was "doubling down on an AI-forward approach," impacting about 15% of the workforce, or roughly 700 roles. The engineers reportedly "wrote custom scripts improperly accessing confidential company information to identify the locations and names of all dismissed employees."
In other technology news, Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, faced criticism for his reaction to a rival chatbot firm's Super Bowl ad, BBC Technology reported. Altman posted a lengthy attack on X, calling Anthropic "dishonest" and "deceptive" for criticizing commercials being introduced to ChatGPT. Commenters on social media likened Altman's post to "the digital equivalent of a toddler throwing a tantrum."
Meanwhile, a new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW), as reported by The Guardian, indicates a "democratic recession" globally. The report states that almost three-quarters of the global population now live under autocratic rulers, levels not seen since the 1980s. The report also highlights abuses led by former President Trump and growing authoritarianism in the US, Russia, and China, which threaten the global rules-based order.
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