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APAC Edition
8th September 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Foreign companies need to train Americans, Trump says

Foreign companies need to hire and train American workers and respect immigration laws, US President Donald Trump said after federal agents arrested about 475 workers at Hyundai's car battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia, on Thursday. "Following the Immigration Enforcement Operation on the Hyundai Battery Plant in Georgia, I am hereby calling on all Foreign Companies investing in the United States to please respect our Nation's Immigration Laws," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Your Investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products, and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so. What we ask in return is that you hire and train American Workers."
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TALENT STRATEGY

10 Engagement Lessons From a NYT Bestseller

What if your management playbook is already out of date? The latest guidance comes straight from the New York Times Bestseller Building A Magnetic Culture. Backed by surveys of more than 3 million employees and four decades of leadership insights, it identifies the real drivers of engagement in 2025

A Key Driver Analysis revealed which factors matter most, and in what order. From recognition and communication to trust and accountability, the research highlights ten practical management actions that create stronger cultures and higher-performing teams.

These are not passing trends or leadership clichés. They are evidence-based practices proven to keep employees motivated, loyal, and productive. For HR leaders shaping the future of work, this is essential reading.

Download the bestseller-based blog now

 
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CORPORATE

HR is not for wimps

The Financial Times' Pilita Clark says that as HR's remit relentlessly expands, "the profession is reaching a point where it is unusually prone to attack from employees and employers alike."
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LEGAL

Australian retailers warn of extra costs from staff underpayment ruling

Woolworths and Coles have warned they could incur millions in additional remediation costs following the Federal Court's decision on historical underpayments to staff. The court on Friday found that the Australian retailers failed to record overtime hours for up to 28,000 salaried managers who were underpaid from 2013. In separate ASX announcements, Woolworths said that its initial costs are likely to come in at A$180m-A$330m ($118m-$217.26m), potentially rising to A$530m, while Coles has flagged costs of A$150m-A$250m. Australian Retailers Association chief executive Chris Rodwell said the case demonstrated the challenges businesses across the retail sector faced in complying with the complex General Retail Industry Award (GRIA). “With 994 different pay rates across almost 100 pages, the GRIA is incredibly difficult for employers to understand. It is clearly not fit-for-purpose for larger employers,” he said. “The expectation that smaller mum-and-dad operated businesses, who lack legal and HR resources, can use the award appropriately is entirely unreasonable.”
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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Chinese company pays employees to lose weight

Arashi Vision, a Shenzhen-based company, is incentivising employee weight loss with a unique bonus programme. Employees earn $70 for every 0.5kg lost, with one participant, Xie Yaqi, winning 20,000 yuan ($2,800) after shedding 20kg. The programme, initiated in 2022, has awarded 2m yuan ($280,000) across seven seasons. Each season, about 30 employees are monitored weekly. However, there is a penalty: participants must pay 800 yuan for every 0.5kg gained. A company representative said: "Through this challenge, we aim to promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage our employees to prioritise their well-being beyond work."
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TECHNOLOGY

Anthropic settles copyright lawsuit

Anthropic has agreed to pay $1.5bn to settle a US class action lawsuit filed by authors who accused the company of using their work to train its AI models. The settlement, which is subject to judicial approval, could be the largest copyright recovery in history. Justin Nelson, a lawyer for the authors, said: “As best as we can tell, it's the largest copyright recovery ever . . . It is the first of its kind in the AI era.” He added: “This settlement sends a powerful message to AI companies that taking copyrighted works from these pirate websites is wrong.”

Internet disruptions in Asia and Middle East traced to Red Sea cable issues

Internet connectivity has been disrupted across several countries, including India and Pakistan, due to subsea cable outages in the Red Sea, as reported by internet monitoring group Netblocks. Microsoft has indicated that its Azure users may experience increased latency because of these undersea fibre cuts, although traffic not routed through the Middle East remains unaffected. The exact cause of the damage is still unclear, but failures have been identified near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, impacting various networks in the region.
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CYBERSECURITY

FBI probes China scheme to spy on trade groups using fake emails

The FBI is investigating a bogus email purportedly from a Republican lawmaker that contained malware apparently aimed at giving China insights into the Trump administration's trade talks with Beijing. The malware in the email that appeared to be sent by Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) in July to U.S. trade groups, law firms and government agencies, and which asked for input on proposed sanctions with which the legislators were planning to target Beijing, was traced by cyber analysts to a hacker group believed to be working for Chinese intelligence. In a statement, Moolenaar said the effort was another example of China’s offensive cyber operations designed to steal and leverage American strategy. “We will not be intimidated,” he said.
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ECONOMY

Japan's economy surprises with growth

Japan's economy grew at a stronger rate than expected in the fiscal first quarter, according to the Cabinet Office. Real GDP increased at a seasonally adjusted annualised rate of 2.2% from April to June. The growth occurred despite concerns over US tariffs and domestic political instability. The data highlights Japan's economic resilience amid external pressures. 
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INTERNATIONAL

US plans to target more businesses for immigration enforcement

The Trump administration is set to increase immigration enforcement in workplaces following the raid at a Hyundai facility in Georgia, which resulted in 475 arrests, primarily of South Korean nationals. Speaking on CNN's 'State of the Union,' White House border czar Tom Homan said the administration would intensify the focus on workplaces. "We're going to do more worksite enforcement operations," Homan said. "No one hires an illegal alien out of the goodness of their heart. They hire them because they can work them harder, pay them less, undercut the competition that hires US citizen employees." Opponents of the crackdown and some business groups say major US industries, including agriculture, hospitality and meatpacking, depend on immigrants without legal status.

Job seekers surge as UK hiring stalls

The number of jobseekers in the UK is rising at its fastest rate since November 2020, according to a report by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG. The surge comes as firms face economic challenges, including weak economic growth, rising unemployment and higher inflation. Jon Holt, chief executive and senior partner at KPMG in the UK, said: "It's unlikely we'll see a significant shift in recruitment patterns in the near term as businesses evaluate their investment strategies in response to policy commitments and the rapid pace of change brought by AI and new technologies." Neil Carberry, chief executive of the REC, commented: "All eyes are now on the Autumn Budget, in hope that the Chancellor won't do any further damage to the labour market with costs on hiring." He added: "For the economy to thrive, the Budget must recognise the need for investment in people."

New law to target workplace bullying in Bahrain

A proposal to define and criminalise workplace bullying has been tabled by lawmakers in Bahrain who stress its importance for protecting employees’ dignity, upholding human rights and reinforcing workplace justice. The legislative push is being spearheaded by the Strategic Thinking Bloc. Dr Mariam Al Dhaen, a member of the bloc, has described workplace bullying as "a hidden injustice" that leaves lasting psychological scars on victims. “Bullying at work is not just a normal disagreement between employees; it is abusive behaviour that threatens human dignity and basic rights,” Dr Al Dhaen said.
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OTHER

Lotte Holdings and Lotte Corporation have established Lotte Hotels Japan

Lotte Holdings and Lotte Corporation have established Lotte Hotels Japan, a joint venture planning to open 20 hotels across Japan by 2034, targeting the nation's burgeoning tourism industry. The expansion, which includes a goal of 4,500 hotel rooms, will leverage Lotte's experience as a hotel operator and its brand power, particularly from South Korea, to attract guests amid increased diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. The hotels will emphasise wellness, incorporating Lotte's health food and supplement brands. This initiative is set against a backdrop of robust inbound tourism and significant expansion by other international hotel chains, as Japan aims to boost foreign tourist numbers significantly by 2030.
 
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