THE HOT STORY

Thai government on standby to protect workers in Middle East

Treenuch Thienthong, Thailand's Labour Minister, has instructed labour offices in Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi to monitor the situation for local Thai workers amid rising tensions in the Middle East. She expressed concern for their welfare and said that the Labour Section is coordinating alerts for workers to exercise caution. "If the situation escalates to the point where evacuation is necessary, it can be carried out immediately," Treenuch said. Thai workers are advised to stay in contact with their embassies and follow official updates closely.

The Nation

STRATEGY

Chemical giant BASF to move jobs from Germany to Asia

BASF has announced plans to relocate jobs from Germany to Asia as part of a cost-cutting strategy. The company, which faces challenges including overcapacity and high energy costs, aims to enhance efficiency through digitalisation. Chief financial officer Dirk Elvermann said: "We will adapt our existing location structures and achieve significant cost savings." While the company's Berlin hub will remain open, it will operate with fewer staff. A union protest is underway against the relocation plans, which could affect around 3,000 employees in Berlin. BASF has already cut 4,800 jobs and said it has achieved €1.7bn in savings this year.

France 24

WORKFORCE

Leaders must ensure Gen Z is prepared for the workplace

Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Tessa West, a professor of psychology at New York University and the author of “Job Therapy: Finding Work That Works for You”, says many members of Gen Z “are woefully unprepared for surviving - let alone thriving - in their jobs”. She believes “a combination of having fewer real-world relationship experiences, spending their education years in remote environments, and learning to communicate largely through asynchronous methods [means] these 20-somethings have missed opportunities to develop the skills needed to navigate the complex world of work.” Her suggested remedy is that leaders must change how they think about communication for everyone in the workplace with one goal in mind: “Make it clear and direct.”

Wall Street Journal

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Singapore to train 100,000 'AI-bilingual' workers by 2029

Singapore plans to train 100,000 workers in AI skills by 2029 under the National AI Impact Programme (NAIIP). The initiative aims to enhance the capabilities of professionals in fields including accountancy and law, thus enabling them to integrate AI into their work processes. Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said: "Not all of us can be AI engineers. But we can be ‘bilingual' in AI and our own areas of expertise." The programme will also support 10,000 enterprises in adopting AI technologies, with a focus on improving productivity and innovation across various sectors.

Straits Times

LEGAL

Wuliangye chair placed under detention amid industry slowdown

Wuliangye Yibin Co., China’s second-largest baijiu maker, has said that chair Zeng Congqin has been placed under detention by authorities in Yibin, Sichuan province, with a case filed against him, though no further details were provided. The company said other board members and senior executives continue to perform their duties and that it does not expect a material impact on operations. Shares fell about 1% in early trading. The development adds to challenges for China’s baijiu industry, where Wuliangye has faced slowing sales growth amid weaker demand, economic uncertainty and a crackdown on lavish official banquets. The company has been promoting milder liquor products to attract younger consumers.

Bloomberg

Caixin Global

TECHNOLOGY

Woolworths reins in AI chatbot after it claimed to be human

Australian retailer Woolworths has adjusted its AI assistant, Olive, after users reported it discussing its mother during customer interactions. Complaints surfaced on platforms like Reddit, where users described Olive's off-topic conversations, including personal anecdotes about its family. A Woolworths spokesperson clarified that these responses were scripted by a human employee years ago to create a personal connection. Following customer feedback, the company has removed this particular scripting. Olive has been operational since 2018 and was recently enhanced through a partnership with Google to expand its capabilities.

The New Zealand Herald

ECONOMY

Thai retailers call for increased government support

The Bhumjaithai Party in Thailand, which is preparing to form the country's next government, is aiming to revive the "Khon La Khrueng Plus" co-payment scheme. However, industry experts, including Somchai Pornrattanacharoen from the Thai Wholesale and Retail Trade Association, view this as a short-term solution to a sluggish economy. He said: "These kinds of policies should not be used too often because they are just a painkiller." Experts urge the government to focus on targeted policies to support small businesses and enhance competitiveness against larger firms, rather than relying solely on the co-payment scheme.

Bangkok Post

INTERNATIONAL

Dubai's safe image is shattered by missile strikes

Missile and drone attacks by Iran have severely impacted the image of the United Arab Emirates, and particularly Dubai, which has long been marketed as a safe, tax-free haven. The strikes resulted in one death and several injuries, damaging iconic locations including the Burj Al Arab and Dubai International Airport. “This is Dubai's ultimate nightmare, as its very essence depended on being a safe oasis in a troubled region,” Cinzia Bianco, an expert on the Persian Gulf at the European Council on Foreign Relations wrote on X. “There might be a way to be resilient, but there is no going back.” Louise Herrle, an American tourist whose flight home with her husband from Dubai was scrapped, said: “I would probably be inclined to avoid this part of the world when there's increased tensions, it just explodes so quickly."

U.S. News

Tesla and IG Metall reach truce in dispute

Tesla and the German union IG Metall are for now to set aside their dispute over a labour meeting at the company's factory near Berlin earlier this month, the union has said. The automaker had filed a criminal complaint against a union member it accused of secretly recording the meeting on February 10. IG Metall had described the claim as a "calculated lie". Local IG Metall leader Jan Otto said: "Now, just a few days before the works council election, we can concentrate fully on the issues [over working conditions] . . . there's a lot to do," said

Reuters

US aims to bring in 4,500 white South Africans each month

The US aims to process 4,500 refugee applications from white South Africans each month - significantly exceeding President Donald Trump's stated cap of 7,500 refugees for fiscal year 2026. A US State Department document dated January 27 details the target, which seeks to ramp up admissions from South Africa amid a backdrop of curtailed applications from other regions. As of January 31, only 2,000 white South Africans had entered the US under a program initiated in May 2025. Administrative delays have recently halted all refugee travel, including for South Africans.

U.S. News

OTHER

Central Group invests $225m to expand flagship Phuket mall

Thailand’s Central Group is investing 7bn baht ($225m) to expand and renovate its flagship Central Phuket mall, betting on the island’s growing appeal to tourists and wealthy long-term residents. The expansion will increase the mall’s floor space from 300,000 to 500,000 square metres, adding more retail outlets, restaurants, an entertainment hall and a wellness centre. Luxury retail space will double as part of the upgrade. Construction is underway, with completion targeted for the third quarter of 2028, bringing the total project value to 26bn baht.

Nikkei Asia

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