THE HOT STORY

Cambodian workers flee Thailand after clashes

Over 750,000 Cambodian migrants have returned home from Thailand following the violent border clashes that began on July 24, according to Sun Mesa, a spokesman for Cambodia's labour ministry. The fighting, which resulted in at least 43 deaths, prompted many to feel unsafe in Thailand. Reports indicate that some migrants faced attacks from gangs. The situation remains calm at the border, although Cambodian forces are on high alert. Meetings between Cambodian and Thai officials are underway to ease tensions. A total of 1.2m Cambodians were working in Thailand before the clashes.

The Nation

Straits Times

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Taiwan seeks to boost semiconductor education

Taiwan is cultivating young overseas semiconductor talent with summer camps and university courses. Reuters reports that a summer camp organised by US chip design software firm Synopsys is among several such events staged by semiconductor firms and Taiwanese universities in recent years as demand for chips increases around the world. For the first time this year, Synopsys, which has operations in Taiwan to be closer to the semiconductor supply chain, hosted the events both in Mandarin and English as Taiwan seeks overseas talent.

Reuters

WORKFORCE

TCS to raise salaries for 80% of its workforce

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced salary increases for about 80% of its workforce, primarily targeting junior and mid-level employees. The move comes as TCS plans to lay off around 12,000 employees this year. TCS CHRO Milind Lakkad said: "We are pleased to announce a compensation revision for all eligible associates." The salary adjustments will take effect from 1st September 2025. TCS says it aims to become a "future-ready organisation" by investing in technology and restructuring its workforce amidst challenging economic conditions affecting the IT sector.

The Times of India

Every third employee will soon be from Gen Z

By 2030, Gen Z will make up one-third of the global workforce, according to the “Work War Z” report by Enpulse. This generation, born between 1995 and 2012, prioritises competitive pay (47%), workplace atmosphere (30%), and work–life balance. Most prefer stable employment contracts (74%) and value flexibility, but not at the cost of salary. Employers are advised to create supportive cultures and invest in well-being programmes to attract and retain Gen Z talent.

Warsaw Business Journal

RISK

Floods expose South Asia infrastructure vulnerabilities

Disasters such as last month's devastating floods along the Nepal-China border, which resulted in the loss of nine lives, demonstrate the vulnerability of infrastructure in a region which is bearing the brunt of global warming, experts say. They emphasize the need for "smart rebuilding" in recognition of local vulnerability to climate change. “The statistics of the past no longer apply for the future,” observes John Pomeroy, a hydrologist at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. “The risk that goes into building a bridge or other infrastructure is generally based on historical observations of past risk, but this is no longer useful because future risk is different and often much higher.”

AP News

Washingtonpost.com

LEGAL

Former CNOOC executive sentenced to 14 years for bribery

Li Yong, the former general manager of China National Offshore Oil Corporation, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined 3m yuan ($417,345) for bribery, as announced by the Xiangyang Intermediate People's Court. The court revealed that Li accepted bribes exceeding 67.94m yuan while leveraging his positions from 1996 to 2023 to benefit certain enterprises and individuals. The court deemed the amount "extremely large," justifying the severe punishment, but showed leniency due to Li's confession and cooperation in exposing other criminal activities. Li, 62, began his career at the company in 1984 and became general manager in 2020 before retiring in 2023. He faced disciplinary actions earlier this year and was expelled from the Communist Party of China in September.

Chinadaily US Edition

STRATEGY

Google plans $6bn India investment

Google will invest $6bn to build a 1-gigawatt data centre in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, its largest in Asia alongside $2bn in renewable energy infrastructure. This marks Alphabet’s first major data centre project in India, and is part of a broader regional expansion. Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh said the state has already secured 1.6 GW in data centre investments and is targeting 6 GW in five years. To support this, the state plans new cable landing stations and up to 10 GW in new power generation, with a focus on green energy.

Reuters

ECONOMY

Thai consumer confidence hits new low

Consumer confidence in Thailand has fallen for the sixth month in a row, reaching its lowest point in 31 months. The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce reported a drop in the index to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in June. Concerns over US tariffs, a sluggish economy, and government instability are major factors. University president Thanavath Phonvichai said: "The economy shows signs of stagnation and needs more stimulation." He projected a growth rate of only 1.7% for the year, down from 2.5% last year, highlighting the need for clearer tariff regulations.

Bangkok Post

INTERNATIONAL

UAE private sector employees call for hybrid work amid heat

As temperatures in the UAE soar above 51°C, many employees face challenging commutes despite official warnings to stay indoors. Socelle Fuentes, a video editor, is advocating for "flexible work-from-home policies" during peak summer to enhance employee wellbeing and productivity. The extreme heat has led to increased health issues, with doctors reporting more cases of dehydration and heat exhaustion. Neeha, a data scientist, describes her daily commute as a "test of endurance." Government employees benefit from flexible working hours, and private companies are being encouraged to adopt similar models. The UAE's Ministry of Health advises residents to stay hydrated and wear breathable clothing to cope with the heat.

Khaleej Times Online

Gucci workers could take industrial action over bonus payment

Around 1,000 of Gucci's retail and logistics employees in Italy are threatening to take strike action, claiming that the Kering-owned brand has denied them a welfare bonus that was set out in an agreement for 2022-2024. In declaring a "state of unrest", a form of industrial action under Italian law that can lead to strikes, the workers have claimed that the bonus agreement remains valid in the absence of a new deal. Gucci is yet to comment publicly on the matter.

Reuters

OTHER

That joke isn't funny anymore

Bar staff in Spain are sick of hearing the quip "Give me another beer, this glass has a hole in it," Sur in English reports. The phrase has been popularised by Valencian influencer Jesús Soriano. "I literally gave the customer who told me that joke a full glass back, but with duct tape . . . he stopped laughing," said one waiter. Another person said the joke has crossed borders: "I am a waiter in Germany and I can confirm that the phrase is global."

Sur in English.com

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