THE HOT STORY

South Korea fights academic pedigree hiring

South China Morning Post examines hiring practices in South Korea that have traditionally been centred around which school a candidate attended, with higher-paying jobs going to elite alumni. Aside from a small number of elite science institutions such as the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Daejeon, Seoul-based campuses are the most desirable for employers looking to identify talent. Last week, civic group Spring of Education held a rally at the National Assembly Library to promote a bill aimed at preventing hiring discrimination based on academic background. In his opening address at the event, National Education Commission head Cha Jung-in observed that “academic credentialism and the competitive system attached to the university hierarchy turns everyone into losers.”

South China Morning Post

WORKFORCE

Myanmar junta wants coup-protesting civil servants back to work

Myanmar's junta has called for former civil servants who left their jobs in protest following the February 2021 coup to return to work. The National Defence and Security Council said that those absent without permission should contact their former departments. The junta promised to remove individuals from blacklists if they have not committed any offences or have served their sentences. Many public employees remain in hiding due to previous crackdowns. Over 22,000 people are currently imprisoned, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Straits Times

TECHNOLOGY

AI and robotics reshape Hong Kong's construction industry

Industry leaders at the Construction Industry Council's Master Talk in Hong Kong have highlighted the transformative impact of AI and robotics upon the construction sector. They noted measurable improvements in productivity and site safety, with CIC chairman Thomas Ho saying: "AI is becoming part of daily practice across planning, design, safety and long-term asset management." The event underscored the need for organisations to adapt workflows and embrace AI as a core operational element. Experts emphasised that successful AI integration requires leadership understanding and a shift in organisational culture to realise its full potential.

South China Morning Post

LEGAL

China's top court launches initiative to prioritise mediation

China's Supreme People's Court has launched a significant shift towards collaborative mediation to resolve disputes, as it aims to enhance public welfare and maintain social stability. Chief Judge Qian Xiaochen emphasised that industry professionals can effectively mediate disputes while adhering to legal principles. The guidelines encourage monitoring potential conflicts in key areas and resolving them through mediation before they escalate. In 2025, Chinese courts reported a 28% increase in pretrial mediation efforts, successfully resolving over 4.32m cases.

Chinadaily US Edition

STRATEGY

ASML to lay off 1,700

ASML, the world's largest supplier of computer chip equipment and Europe's biggest company by market cap, is to lay off 1,700 employees, or 3.8% of the total workforce, mostly in the Netherlands and US and largely at leadership level. The job reduction programme is the largest the company has seen in absolute numbers, CFO Roger Dassen said. ASML reported stronger-than-expected bookings in the fourth quarter last week

Reuters

CORPORATE

KK Super Mart targets $750m valuation in planned Malaysia IPO

Malaysian convenience-store chain KK Super Mart is preparing for an IPO in the second half of 2026, aiming for a market valuation of around $750m, according to sources. The offering is expected to float over 25% of the company’s equity. Founded in 2001, KK Super Mart operates across Malaysia, India, and Nepal, and its listing would follow a surge in regional IPO activity amid rising investor interest in emerging markets.

Wall Street Journal

TAX

Entertainer apologises for non-payment of taxes

Korean singer and actor Cha Eun-woo has publicly apologised for failing to pay over 20bn won ($13.9bn) in taxes. He expressed his deep remorse and pledged to cooperate with the National Tax Service's ongoing procedures. Cha said: "I will reflect more strictly on myself and live with a stronger sense of responsibility." Cha also denied claims that his military enlistment was an attempt to evade tax investigations, clarifying that he enlisted before the review process concluded.

Korea Joongang Daily

INTERNATIONAL

France replaces US tech tools with domestic apps

France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has ordered the country's ministries to shift their video calls to Visio, an application developed by the French government, from American-owned tools such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, by the end of the year. “To guarantee the security, confidentiality and resilience of public electronic communications, it is . . . imperative to deploy a unified videoconferencing solution, controlled by the State, based on sovereign technologies,” he wrote in a letter. The tool was built by the French government with Outscale, a France-based cloud company, and enlisted two French AI companies, Pyannote and Kyutai, to offer transcription and subtitling services.

Financial Times

New York Times

EEOC plans major changes to pregnant-worker accommodation rules

Reuters reports on how US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) rules - such as the 2022 law which requires employers to reasonably accommodate pregnant workers - may dramatically change under Republican EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, who said in 2024 the regulations were written too broadly. Now, as chair since November and with a Republican majority on the commission, Lucas has already begun an overhaul of the agency to reflect "a conservative view of civil rights." Democratic EEOC Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal observes: "Efforts to weaken the [Pregnant Worker Fairness Act's] meaningful worker protections, which have been shown to reduce miscarriage rates by nearly 10 percent, are misguided . . . We should be standing up for women and families, not weakening their civil rights."

U.S. News

Walmart México recruits software developers through Fortnite

Walmart México is recruiting software developers through Fortnite, making it the first Latin American employer to use the gaming platform for hiring. The initiative features a custom mini-game where candidates complete coding challenges in Java, iOS, and Android. Walmart is shifting its identity from a traditional retailer to a technology employer, having moved its IT hub from India to Mexico in 2025. The initiative targets the 72m gamers in Mexico, emphasising the transferability of gaming skills to workplace collaboration. Candidates competing in in-game challenges can apply via Walmart's Discord server or website.

Mexico News Daily

OTHER

Boeing forecasts 3,290 jet additions in India and South Asia

Boeing has projected that airlines in India and South Asia will expand their fleets by 3,290 commercial jets over the next 20 years, driven by robust economic growth and an increasing number of first-time flyers. This updated forecast indicates a significant rise from the previous expectation of 2,835 jets, reflecting the region's status as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally. However, Boeing warned that India must enhance its aviation infrastructure to keep up with the rising travel demand, which remains heavily concentrated in metropolitan areas like Delhi and Mumbai.

Reuters

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