THE HOT STORY

South Korea moves to let supermarkets resume overnight delivery

South Korea is considering revising retail laws that currently prevent large supermarket chains from offering overnight and early-morning deliveries, a move that could significantly reshape competition with online platforms. Lawmakers and government officials have agreed to amend the Distribution Industry Development Act, arguing that rules introduced in 2012 to protect small shops now disadvantage offline retailers as e-commerce has surged. If approved, major chains such as E-mart, Lotte Mart, and Homeplus would be able to leverage their extensive store networks as logistics hubs to launch overnight delivery services, narrowing the gap with online players like Coupang. However, the proposal has drawn criticism from labour unions and small business groups, who warn it could worsen working conditions and intensify pressure on neighbourhood retailers already struggling in a slowing economy.

The Korea Herald

TECHNOLOGY

Singapore makes strategic bets on AI

Singapore has announced a S$1bn investment in artificial intelligence research and development over five years. Analysts, including Lyon Poh from KPMG, believe that while the amount is modest compared to global figures, its strategic focus could enhance Singapore's long-term competitiveness. The investment aims to boost AI capabilities in key sectors including technology, manufacturing, and logistics. “These sectors face sustained pressure to raise productivity and defend margins, even as operating costs rise and labour constraints tighten,” observed Manik Bhandari, data and AI leader at EY Asean.

Business Times SG

Atlas stunts lift Hyundai shares

Hyundai Motor shares rose after its robotics unit released a video of the Atlas humanoid robot performing a cartwheel and backflip. The clip, posted by Boston Dynamics and the RAI Institute units, also includes earlier failed attempts to show real-world learning beyond simulation. KB Securities analysts said the footage “verified whether the robot could apply intelligence learned in simulation to physical space without additional manual corrections,” and indicated extreme-response capability and readiness for mass production. Hyundai has said Atlas will begin working in its manufacturing plants in 2028.

Bloomberg

LEADERSHIP

Finmo appoints new Chief Human Resources Officer

Payment platform Finmo has appointed Joana Liew as its new chief human resources officer (CHRO) to support the Singaporean company's global expansion. Liew will oversee people operations, develop leadership frameworks, and align talent strategies with business objectives. Liew said: "Finmo is building connected financial intelligence and control for modern CFOs, and that ambition needs strong teams behind it. I'm excited to join Finmo at this stage and help build an organisation that supports scale, develops leaders, and creates an environment where people can do their best work as the business grows."

Straits Times

REMOTE WORKING

JPMorgan employees rebel against office mandate

JPMorgan Chase employees are pushing back against chief executive Jamie Dimon's five-day return-to-office mandate, with around 2,000 of the bank's 300,000-plus global employees signing a petition for its reversal. Many workers fear repercussions for opposing the policy, with one saying that signing the petition could be "career suicide." Employees have expressed confusion over the insistence on in-office work, especially given the bank's global operations. A London banker noted that senior management seems to undervalue remote work despite the bank's record profits during the pandemic.

The Independent UK

LEGAL

Philippine top court says same-sex couples can co-own property

The Philippine Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex couples can be considered co-owners of property. Applying a provision of the country's Family Code for the first time, the court said same-sex couples can be recognised as co-owners if it is proven that both parties contributed to acquiring a property. The Supreme Court ruling involved a former female couple who had feuded over plans to sell their house and lot in suburban Manila.

BBC News

RISK

Climate risk threatens small countries' credit ratings

Fitch Ratings has published an analysis which suggests that small countries prone to extreme weather and fossil-fuel exporters may face the highest sovereign risks from climate change in the coming years. Fitch’s new tool for analysis “represents an important advancement in the disclosure of climate risk factors monitored by rating agencies,” said June Choi, a PhD candidate at Stanford University.

Bloomberg

INTERNATIONAL

FAA to probe air traffic controller staffing

The US Transportation Department Office of Inspector General is to launch an investigation into high failure rates among air traffic control trainees amid a persistent shortage of air traffic controllers. "Attrition, retirements, and program washouts are severely impacting the overall success of increasing the number of certified controllers," the inspector general said. "The training academy is facing considerable challenges with training, including a shortage of qualified instructors, training capacity limitations, an outdated curriculum, and high training failure rates." The Federal Aviation Administration is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels. Many are working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks.

Reuters

Rail workers' unions in Spain end strike

A three-day rail union national strike in Spain over safety concerns which was set to last until Wednesday has now been called off after authorities agreed to boost investments and reinforce staffing following a number of high-profile train accidents. The government will invest €1.8bn ($2.15bn) in railroad maintenance until 2030 and will hire 3,650 additional workers for the public-funded rail administrator and operator, Spain's Transport Ministry said.

Euronews

Reuters

Saudi Arabia plans updated Vision 2030 strategy

Saudi Arabia plans to publish an updated strategy for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s economic diversification agenda, Bloomberg reports. Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan listed tourism, manufacturing, logistics and technology as focal areas for the overhaul, but did not offer more details or a release date for the strategy.

Bloomberg

Milei clashes with Argentina’s powerful unions over labour reform

President Javier Milei is pushing to overhaul Argentina’s rigid labour market, precipitating a clash with trade unions and wading into the country’s most divisive issue, the Financial Times reports.

Financial Times

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