THE HOT STORY

Alphabet plans big expansion in India

Alphabet plans to dramatically expand its presence in India, and could take millions of square feet in new office space in Bengaluru, the country's tech hub. The company has leased one office tower and purchased options on two others in Alembic City, a development in the city's Whitefield tech corridor, totaling 2.4m sq ft. If Alphabet takes all of the space, the complex could accommodate as many as 20,000 additional staff - more than doubling the company’s footprint in India. Alphabet currently employs around 14,000 people in India. Bloomberg notes that US President Donald Trump’s visa restrictions have made it harder to bring foreign talent to America; as such, some companies are recruiting more staff overseas

Bloomberg

WORKFORCE

Mass exodus from Cambodian scam compounds

Cambodia has seen a "mass exodus" from the country's online scam operations in recent weeks amid growing international pressure and the recent extradition of Chen Zhi, the chairman of Cambodia's Prince Group, who the US Department of Justice had accused in an indictment of masterminding a multi-billion-dollar "cyber fraud empire." Reports indicate that many workers, some of whom are trafficking victims, have fled scamming compounds, leaving behind their belongings. Amnesty International said many of those who had left the compounds had no passports, money, medical care or any pathway to safety. "This mass exodus from scamming compounds has created a humanitarian crisis on the streets that is being ignored by the Cambodian government," said regional research director Montse Ferrer.

ABC Online

Nike’s wage claims under scrutiny

Nike has long claimed that its overseas suppliers pay workers about twice the local minimum wage, a statement first made by co-founder Phil Knight in the 1990s. However, reports from workers in Indonesia - Nike’s second-largest production hub - reveal a different reality, with many workers earning closer to minimum wage, which can be as low as $150 a month. Despite some contradictory reports from Vietnam, where some workers claimed to earn double the minimum wage, Nike's claim is heavily scrutinised. The company admits some workers earn less than 1.9 times the minimum wage, and limited transparency in wage data excludes nearly half a million workers from calculations.

Oregon Live

HIRING

Hong Kong graduates face gloomy job outlook

In 2025, Hong Kong's job market for graduates has sharply declined, with available positions dropping by 55% to 30,798. The average monthly salary for new hires rose only 0.5% to HK$20,961, the smallest increase in years. Alexa Chow Yee-ping, a human resources consultant, attributes this downturn to the rise of artificial intelligence and a weak economic outlook. The unemployment rate for those aged 20 to 24 reached 12.3%, the second-highest since 1985. Employers are now more selective, preferring candidates with relevant experience. Graduates are encouraged to enhance their skills through internships and practical experience.

South China Morning Post

ECONOMY

Indonesian coal industry faces shutdown risks

The Indonesian Coal Miners Association has warned that significant cuts to production quotas issued by the government may lead to the shutdown of several mining operations. According to a statement, the new output quotas are 40% to 70% lower than last year's levels, which may render some mining activities unsustainable.

Bloomberg

CORPORATE

Hong Kong business confidence improves amid US-China tension

A survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong reveals that over 50% of business leaders are optimistic about the city's economic outlook for the next year, a notable increase from 33% last year. Despite ongoing tensions between the US and China, which are viewed as a significant challenge, 92% of multinational corporations said they have no plans to relocate their headquarters from Hong Kong in the next three years. The survey indicates that while uncertainties persist, improving consumer sentiment and anticipated interest rate cuts in the US are expected to benefit local consumption and investment activities.

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Ramadan can act as a workday reset, HR experts say

HR leaders say Ramadan can act as a reset as workers become more deliberate about how they structure their workday. They say that the first few days can be challenging, but reduced work hours during Ramadan can make employees work more efficiently and deliberately. “The first four to five days of Ramadan are often the most difficult, as the body adjusts to new eating, hydration, and sleep patterns. Once this adjustment phase passes, many people report a more stable and sustained level of energy throughout the day,” says Ussama Khan, Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour at the London Business School. He advocates supportive workplace policies in order to make this “adjustment period” less demanding,

Khaleej Times Online

Europe recovery fund struggles to transform economy

Skills shortages, cumbersome bureaucracy and uncertain long-term funding mean the European Union's $955bn "Next Generation" post-pandemic recovery fund, agreed six years ago and billed as a "chance to emerge stronger," has struggled to transform the region's economy. The European Commission says the fund has delivered on both its short- and long-term goals, but officials, businesses and others interviewed by Reuters have said the outcome was more differentiated. There is broad consensus, however, that the fund cushioned the blow from the pandemic.

Reuters

Trafigura wins nickel fraud case against Prateek Gupta

Swiss trading house Trafigura has won a victory at London's High Court after a judge found businessman Prateek Gupta liable for fraud involving fake nickel cargoes. Trafigura claimed Gupta was the mastermind of a "Ponzi scheme" in which he and his companies agreed to provide high-quality 99.8% pure nickel but delivered low-value or even worthless materials instead. The long-running legal dispute began in 2023 after the fake nickel shipments emerged and Trafigura filed charges against its former business partner Gupta. The ruling by Judge Justice Saini recommends that Geneva-based Trafigura is entitled to relief for “sums of about $500m, together with substantial damages.”

Bloomberg

Financial Times

Reuters

OTHER

Non-stimulant pill could replace coffee

Researchers have found that solriamfetol (Sunosi) can significantly improve alertness in early-morning shift workers. In a study published in NEJM Evidence, participants taking the non-stimulant pill reported being less sleepy and more productive during their shifts. Dr. Charles Czeisler, senior researcher at Mass General Brigham in Boston, observed: "The improvement we saw is clinically meaningful. These workers were able to stay awake and alert throughout a full eight-hour shift, which has real implications for performance, safety and quality of life." The study involved 78 workers suffering from excessive sleepiness, with those on solriamfetol being four times less likely to feel drowsy on the job. The research addresses a critical gap in treatments for shift work disorder.

U.S. News

The Human Times is designed to help you stay ahead, spark ideas and support innovation, learning and development in your organisation.

The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in the Human Times, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on X.

Online

Advertise

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe