AI Hiring & Compliance: HR and legal experts warn that AI screening can quietly filter out candidates, raising bias, transparency, privacy, and accountability questions as regulators and lawsuits pile up. Workforce Planning & Layoffs: After restructuring, HR leaders say the real fix is transparency and fair criteria—plus manager-led conversations that support remaining staff and reduce burnout. Hiring Trends: New data shows job ads rising in New Zealand, with AI skills appearing more often but still in a small share of postings; industrial and construction roles are driving growth. Talent Map Shift (India): Tier-2 cities are outpacing metros in hiring growth, signaling companies are building tech talent pipelines beyond the usual hubs. Workplace Safety & HR Risk: A crane crash left a worker missing in Canada, with an investigation underway—another reminder that safety failures become HR and legal issues fast. Public Sector HR: Nepal’s Tribhuvan University orders professors and staff who took study leave and didn’t return to report within 15 days or face legal action. Field HR Infrastructure: Deel launches Deel Field Services for high-complexity on-site workforces, aiming to handle HSE compliance, rotational scheduling, and pay structures where standard EOR models fall short. Training & Apprenticeships: Wausau Fire and Northcentral Technical College explore a federally funded apprenticeship model to address staffing gaps while giving trainees paid pathways. Leadership Moves: GIC Re appoints Hitesh Joshi as CMD, with HR leadership experience among his prior roles.