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APAC Edition
21st November 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Chinese SOEs ask workers to cancel their Japan holidays

Several state-owned enterprises in China are advising employees to cancel travel plans to Japan due to rising tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. An engineer from Wuhan reported that his company had urged him to scrap his upcoming trip to Osaka, which had been approved earlier. He managed to negotiate a refund for his travel costs, except for the visa fee. The diplomatic dispute escalated after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested potential intervention in the Taiwan Strait.
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LEGAL

Korea cracks down on labour violations at worksites employing foreign nationals

Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labour identified significant labour rights violations during inspections of 182 high-risk workplaces employing foreign workers. A total of 846 violations were identified, including wage theft amounting to 1.7bn won ($1.16m) at 123 businesses. Officials noted that some employers exploited workers' noncitizen status, denying them equal benefits. Labour Minister Kim Young-hoon said: "There cannot be any distinction between Korean and foreign workers when it comes to protecting basic labour rights." The ministry said it plans to enhance monitoring and improve conditions for foreign workers.
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TECHNOLOGY

Microsoft launches tool to help companies manage AI agents

Microsoft has introduced Agent 365, a management platform for businesses to oversee AI agents - automated programs that are expected to reach 1.3bn in use by 2028. The tool allows IT staff to monitor, secure, and control AI agents across platforms including Microsoft and Salesforce. Agents can be quarantined if they misbehave or pose cybersecurity risks. “Business leaders want to measure ROI and manage these agents just like employees,” said Judson Althoff, Microsoft’s commercial chief executive. While some firms have seen success with AI agents, others have faced implementation challenges, raising concerns about the technology’s maturity and the potential for an AI market bubble.
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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

EY: Firms lose 40% of AI gains through poor training

EY has found that companies are missing out on up to 40% of potential AI productivity gains due to insufficient training and fragile talent strategies. Although 88% of employees use AI, only 5% deploy it in transformative ways, with just 12% receiving sufficient training. Shadow AI use remains prevalent, while concerns around skill erosion and rising workloads persist. The survey identifies a “Talent Advantage” among the 28% of firms effectively integrating people and tech strategies. Notably, employees receiving over 81 hours of AI training report higher productivity but are also 55% more likely to leave, underscoring a retention challenge.
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REGULATION

Meta to start closing Australian teen accounts ahead of social media ban

Meta has begun notifying young Australians to download their digital histories and delete their accounts from Facebook, Instagram, and Threads ahead of a new law banning accounts for users under 16. The Australian government mandated that platforms must exclude users younger than 16 starting December 10th. Meta informed thousands of young users via SMS and email, saying: “We will start notifying impacted teens today to give them the opportunity to save their contacts and memories.” With an estimated 350,000 Australians aged 13 to 15 on Instagram, the company is taking steps to comply with the law. Meta's vice president, Antigone Davis, emphasised the need for a more accurate age verification system, suggesting that app stores should collect age information during sign-up. Dany Elachi, founder of Heaps Up Alliance, supported the age restriction, observing: “children under the age of 16 are better off in the real world.”
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STRATEGY

Hyundai Motor announces $86bn investment in South Korea

Hyundai Motor Group has announced an investment of 125.2tn won ($86.47bn) in South Korea from 2026 to 2030. The decision follows a trade deal that reduced US tariffs on South Korean vehicles from 25% to 15%. Hyundai's previous investment from 2021 to 2025 was 89.1tn won. Chair Euisun Chung acknowledged concerns over declining exports and pledged to diversify markets and enhance domestic production. The investment will focus on AI, research and development, and optimising production facilities, with 50.5tn won allocated for future business opportunities.
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HIRING

A third of Hong Kong firms plan to increase recruitment next year

More than a third of employers in Hong Kong intend to increase hiring in 2026, driven by a positive economic outlook, according to the Robert Walters Global Salary Survey. The survey, conducted in September, revealed that 34% of the 200 organisations surveyed plan to expand their workforce. John Mullally, managing director for Robert Walters Hong Kong, noted that the city's economic growth of 3.8% in the third quarter and strong equity market performance contribute to this "cautious optimism." Additionally, 58% of employers have adopted artificial intelligence in the workplace, with 49% using it to optimise headcount.
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CORPORATE

Human Made prices Tokyo IPO at upper end of marketed range

Human Made, the Japanese streetwear brand founded by celebrity designer Nigo, has priced its IPO at ¥3,130 per share, raising ¥17.8bn ($115m) through a combination of existing shareholder sales and new shares to fund store openings and e-commerce. The deal, which was more than 10 times oversubscribed, values the company at ¥71.7bn ahead of its Tokyo debut on November 27th. Nigo, whose real name is Tomoaki Nagao, has served as the top designer at LVMH-owned Kenzo since 2021.
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INTERNATIONAL

Trump enthuses about training of US workers by skilled immigrants

President Donald Trump has doubled down on his support for skilled immigrants who can train US workers in high-tech industries. Speaking at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, he emphasised that allowing this is not at odds with his “Make America Great Again” agenda. Trump told an audience of business executives: “I love my conservative friends. I love MAGA. But this is MAGA . . . Those people are going to teach our people how to make computer chips, and in a short period of time, our people are going to be doing great. And those people can go home.” The MAGA movement has opposed expanding H-1B visas, and other programs designed to let skilled immigrants into the US.

Few Finns have received employer training on AI

More than half of IT professionals in Finland use AI weekly, yet only a third have received employer training on its use. A survey for global tech firm HP revealed that while 25% of respondents employ AI in their work, most do so independently. Concerns about AI's accuracy and security hinder broader adoption. Nearly half of the professionals expressed a desire to use AI more effectively. Vesa Jukonen, HP's country manager, observed: "The employees are already prepared, but management and guidance have not kept up the pace."
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OTHER

Ultra-processed foods linked to colon cancer

Younger adults consuming high amounts of ultra-processed foods are at an increased risk of developing pre-cancerous polyps, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology. Women under 50 who ate the most ultra-processed foods had a 45% higher risk of polyps compared to those with lower consumption. Dr. Andrew Chan, senior researcher at Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, emphasised the need to reduce ultra-processed food intake to combat the rise of early-onset colorectal cancer. The study analysed data from over 29,000 female nurses, revealing that those consuming an average of 10 servings of ultra-processed foods daily faced a significantly higher risk. Christine Molmenti, a cancer epidemiologist, noted that these foods often lack nutritional value and can disrupt the microbiome, leading to inflammation and metabolic issues. "Ultra-processed foods and junk foods promote disease", she said, highlighting the urgent need for dietary awareness.
 
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