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APAC Edition
3rd July 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Binance to keep hundreds of staff in Singapore despite crackdown

Binance, the world's largest digital-assets exchange, plans to retain hundreds of remote workers in Singapore despite the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) crackdown on unlicensed crypto firms. The MAS had set a deadline of June 30 for crypto companies operating offshore to cease activities, but sources indicate that Binance's operations will remain largely unaffected. Over 400 Binance employees are based in Singapore, focusing on back-office roles such as compliance and data analysis. Binance chief executive Richard Teng previously described the company as “remote-first.” The MAS clarified that individuals working for foreign firms providing services outside Singapore would not require licensing, creating a grey area regarding the definition of a "place of business."
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EBOOK

Responsible AI Starts Here: The Executive Guide to Azure OpenAI

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  • Best practices for responsible AI integration
  • Risk mitigation strategies every business should know
  • Real-world use cases across sectors
  • Privacy, compliance, and governance essentials
If your organization is exploring AI at scale, this is essential reading for building trust, control, and competitive edge.

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TECHNOLOGY

Amazon deploys its one millionth warehouse robot

Amazon is rapidly expanding its use of robotics, and now has over a million robots operating in its warehouses, nearly matching the number of human workers. The company passed the milestone with the delivery of a unit to a fulfilment facility in Japan. Around 75% of Amazon deliveries involve robotic assistance, which the company says improves safety and reduces repetitive tasks for employees. Amazon is also increasing automation efficiency with artificial intelligence, with the release of a new generative AI model called DeepFleet. The company says the model can coordinate the robots’ routes within the company’s warehouses more efficiently, and will help increase the speed of its robotic fleet by 10%. 
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LEGAL

Indian lawmakers to review aviation safety

In response to the crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 that resulted in 260 fatalities, Indian lawmakers are set to review safety protocols in the civil aviation sector. The meeting, scheduled for July 9, will involve airport operators, air traffic controllers, and airlines, including Air India and IndiGo. R K Chaudhary, a member of the panel, emphasised the importance of addressing safety concerns, saying: "If we will not raise questions on it, they (airlines) will not become vigilant about these issues." The Indian government is currently investigating the crash, with data from the flight recorder being analysed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau alongside the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Air India has recently faced warnings for compliance lapses, including violations related to pilot duty scheduling and overdue safety checks.

U.S. arrest and indictments in North Korean 'IT worker' scheme

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI have announced an arrest and indictments related to North Korea's "IT worker" programme, which saw North Koreans secure remote IT jobs at over 100 U.S. companies. The North Koreans allegedly stole around $900,000 in cryptocurrency from a Georgia-based firm and sensitive data from a California defence contractor. Zhenxing “Danny” Wang and Kejia Wang, both U.S. citizens, were indicted as part of the operation, according to the DOJ. Zhenxing Wang was arrested in New Jersey, while Kejia Wang remains free. The two men, along with four other unnamed U.S. “facilitators,” assisted the North Koreans by procuring and operating laptops used by the overseas workers, created financial accounts to receive money earned by the workers to be sent back to North Korea, and created shell companies to make the workers appear more authentic, Reuters reports.

Standard Chartered Bank faces $2.7bn lawsuit

Standard Chartered Bank is facing a $2.7bn lawsuit over its alleged role in enabling fraud. Liquidators who are seeking to recoup misappropriated funds from Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund 1MDB have filed legal proceedings in Singapore. Liquidators allege Standard Chartered Bank chose to overlook obvious red flags in relation to the transfer of funds, resulting in the losses. "According to this lawsuit, the transfers demonstrate serious breaches and control failings which ultimately enabled the theft of public funds by people operating at the highest levels of the Malaysian government during that period," they said.
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CYBERSECURITY

‘Targeted, sophisticated’ cyber attack hits ICC

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has reported a “sophisticated and targeted” cyber attack, prompting immediate measures to limit damage. The ICC said: "A Court-wide impact analysis is being carried out and steps are already being taken to mitigate any effects of the incident." The attack follows a previous incident in 2023 and occurred during a week when The Hague hosted a NATO summit, raising concerns about security. The ICC currently has ongoing high-profile investigations, including those related to Russian war crimes in Ukraine, and has previously faced espionage attempts. The court has not confirmed whether any confidential information was compromised, and it continues to deal with the repercussions of the attack. WiFi services are still not fully restored.

Qantas hit by cyber attack

Qantas is reaching out to customers following a cyber attack that targeted its third-party customer service platform, affecting the data of approximately 6m individuals. The Australian airline detected "unusual activity" on 30 June and says it has since taken "immediate steps" to contain the breach. While the full extent of the data theft is still under investigation, Qantas has assured that sensitive information such as passport and credit card details were not compromised.
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INVESTMENT

AIIB pledges to double its annual lending by 2030

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has celebrated its 10th anniversary with a commitment to double its annual lending to US$17bn by 2030, and a focus on green projects, particularly in Southeast Asia. During the AIIB's annual meeting in Beijing, attended by over 3,500 participants, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said that the bank serves as a “useful supplement” to traditional multilateral development institutions. The AIIB has approved over 320 projects worth approximately US$60bn across 38 countries since its inception in 2015. AIIB President Jin Liqun highlighted the importance of climate-related financing, and said the bank is aiming for over half of its approvals to be climate-focused by 2030.
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INTERNATIONAL

Some UK workers' rights reforms pushed back

The UK government has set a new timeline for the Employment Rights Bill, pushing back several reforms by a year. Day-one protection against unfair dismissal, which was due to come into force next year, has been delayed until 2027, as has guaranteed flexible working and a ban on "exploitative" zero-hours contracts. Ministers say the roadmap will give businesses the "clarity and certainty they need to plan, invest and grow." Other measures set out in the Bill include removing the current limits on statutory sick pay, day-one paternity leave and unpaid parental leave rights. These are expected to come into force in early 2026. New whistleblowing protections are also due early next year, while October 2026 will see a ban on fire and rehire practices alongside rules to ensure that tips are allocated more fairly.

Germany struggles to attract skilled workers from Africa

Germany faces a significant challenge in attracting foreign skilled workers, despite initiatives including the Opportunity Card and the revamped Consular Services Portal. The Bertelsmann Institute's 2024 study indicates that Germany requires between 288,000 and 400,000 foreign skilled workers annually to avoid a worker shortage by 2040. However, bureaucratic hurdles and high rejection rates for visa applications, particularly from sub-Saharan Africa, hinder progress. Clara Bünger from The Left Party highlighted the issue, noting that in 2022, over 3,400 student visa applications from Nigeria were denied. Teresia Träutlein, who runs a care service agency, emphasised the need for improved processes to attract talent, saying: "If the government wants to attract skilled workers to Germany, then it needs to support German language training abroad."

Niger backs nationalisation of Somair mine

Niger's main mine workers' union, SYNTRAMIN, has expressed support for the military government's decision to nationalise the Somair uranium mine, asserting that production will persist despite tensions with French operator Orano. The government accused Orano of taking an excessive share of production, claiming it has received 86.3% of output since the mine's inception in 1971. SYNTRAMIN said: "For more than 50 years . . . the benefits of this strategic wealth have never fairly benefited Niger." The nationalisation aligns with a broader trend among West African nations seeking to enhance their resource revenues. Niger is the seventh-largest uranium producer globally.
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OTHER

Wimbledon replaces line judges with AI

Wimbledon has officially replaced its line judges with an electronic line-calling (ELC) system, marking the end of a 148-year tradition. Players and fans alike are feeling the impact. Many fans have expressed concerns about the lack of excitement with artificial intelligence and the loss of the audience engagement that the line judges provided. "It was part of the joy of going to Wimbledon - the tradition. I just used to love it when they all walked out in their uniforms," said company director Fiona Jones. "Technology is good but I think it's definitely lost something by not having them there," she said, adding that the back of the court now seemed "empty." While around 80 former line judges remain as match assistants, the shift to ELC has been deemed "very successful" by operations director Michelle Dite, who acknowledged the need to monitor audio feedback from players.
 
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