THE HOT STORY

Overhauled US visa system to get its first major test

The Trump administration's changes to the US visa system for highly skilled immigrants are set to be tested with the upcoming H-1B lottery. This year, sponsors must pay a $100,000 fee, which is expected to disadvantage IT consulting firms that have previously dominated the visa allocation. “This is going to be a bit of a sea change,” observed Peter Bendor-Samuel, the executive chairman of global research firm Everest Group, which works with companies that routinely use the H-1B program. Companies such as Cognizant have already reduced their reliance on H-1Bs, while others are prioritising hiring immigrants already in the US. Hiba Anver, a partner with Erickson Immigration Group, said: “There are several changes that taken collectively will diminish the tech industry's ability to attract and retain key talent . . . [this] will result in a smaller talent pool for tech companies.”

Los Angeles Times

HIRING

Korea overhauls immigration

Korea has announced a significant overhaul of its immigration system to address labour shortages. Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho said that the government aims to attract highly skilled foreign workers and simplify the employment permit process. Key changes include expanding the “Top-Tier Visa” to include professors and researchers, and introducing the E-7-M visa for vocational college graduates. The government plans to consolidate visa types and implement region-specific visas to support areas facing population decline. Jung noted that reliance on low-wage foreign labour is unsustainable.

Korea Joongang Daily

Straits Times

WORKFORCE

Thailand steps up support for its workers in the Middle East

Amid continued tensions in the Middle East, Thailand has implemented a comprehensive support system for its 110,000 workers in the region. The Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have established 24/7 hotlines and on-ground teams to provide immediate assistance. Minister of Labour Treenuch Thienthong said: “If the situation escalates to the point where evacuation is necessary, it can be carried out immediately.” The proactive measures include contingency plans, communication with Thai communities, and clear evacuation routes, ensuring that support is readily available for those in need.

The Nation

LEGAL

Singapore employers face crackdown on phantom workers

About 100 employers in Singapore have been penalised for fraudulently inflating their foreign worker quotas through "phantom worker" schemes, according to Manpower Minister Tan See Leng. These arrangements involve false Central Provident Fund contributions for non-existent local workers, allowing firms to exceed their foreign worker entitlements. Dr Tan said the Ministry of Manpower investigates such arrangements based on complaints as well as proactive on-site checks, and these are what led to the enforcement actions against the errant employers.

Business Times SG

LEADERSHIP

KPMG picks ex-Australia boss Gary Wingrove as next global chief

KPMG has chosen Gary Wingrove, its current global chief operating officer and former head of KPMG Australia, as the firm’s next global chief executive, beating UK chief Jon Holt in the race to lead the 276,000-employee accounting network. Wingrove was recommended by KPMG’s global board after a vote in late February, with the decision expected to be formally approved by the firm’s global council later this month. He will succeed current global chief Bill Thomas, whose term runs until September 30. Wingrove has played a key role in shaping KPMG’s recent strategy, including pushing closer integration between national member firms and major investments in technology and artificial intelligence. Supporters say these initiatives helped KPMG become the fastest-growing Big Four firm globally over the past two years. Before joining the global leadership team in 2022, Wingrove led KPMG Australia for eight years, where revenue, profits and headcount nearly doubled. Meanwhile, Holt is expected to remain head of KPMG UK, continuing his term running the firm’s 16,000-person UK business.

Bloomberg Tax

The Australian Financial Review

Financial Times

STRATEGY

Roche's South Korea biopharma investment seeks to establish global trial 'ecosystem'

Roche is investing 710bn won (about $484m) in South Korea's biopharma sector to attract global clinical trials and develop local talent. A spokesperson said: "This partnership is expected to strengthen the core competitiveness of Korea's bio-healthcare industry." The investment aligns with South Korea's efforts to enhance its biopharma industry, which is projected to grow from $27bn in 2024 to $53.97bn by 2032. Global pharma investments in South Korea surged by 74% from 2020 to 2024, according to the Korea Research-based Pharmaceutical Industry Association.

Fierce Biotech

INTERNATIONAL

European Commission reveals 'Made in EU' proposals

The European Union is introducing procurement requirements to bolster its manufacturing sectors and reduce dependence on inexpensive Chinese imports. The "Made in EU" proposals, part of the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), aim to set minimum standards for public procurement in key industries such as steel and cement. European Commission Vice President Stephane Sejourne said the aim of the proposals was "to boost demand and guarantee resilient supply chains in strategic sectors" amid "unprecedented global uncertainty and unfair competition." He added: "It will create jobs by directing taxpayers' money to European production, decreasing our dependencies and enhancing our economic security and sovereignty . . . If we do nothing, then it's quite clear that very soon, 100% of clean tech technology will be produced in China . . . It's quite possible that our cement, steel industries will be offshored completely in the next few years."

Deutsche Welle (EN)

Iran hits Amazon data centres in jolt to Gulf AI drive

Drone strikes targeting Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centres in the UAE and Bahrain have highlighted the vulnerability of major cloud infrastructure in the Middle East. AWS has confirmed that two UAE sites were hit, disrupting regional services including banking apps. Analysts believe this marks the first military attack on major “hyperscaler” cloud providers, raising concerns for Gulf states such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia that are investing billions to become global artificial intelligence hubs. The incidents could increase perceived risk for investors and tech companies planning large-scale data centre projects in the region, though experts say such infrastructure expansion is still likely to continue despite the security challenges.

Financial Times

The Seattle Times

US Supreme Court declines to hear dispute over copyright for AI-generated material

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear a dispute over whether art generated by artificial intelligence can be copyrighted under US law. The case involved Stephen Thaler, a computer scientist from Missouri who was denied a copyright for a piece of visual art made by his AI system. Thaler had appealed to the justices after lower courts upheld a US Copyright Office decision that the AI-crafted visual art at issue was ineligible for copyright protection because it did not have a human creator. The Trump administration had urged the Supreme Court not to hear Thaler's appeal. "Although the Copyright Act does not define the term 'author,' multiple provisions of the act make clear that the term refers to a human rather than a machine," the administration said.

Reuters

BMW to trial humanoid robots at German factory

BMW plans to introduce two AI-powered humanoid robots at its Leipzig factory this summer. Developed by Swedish company Hexagon, the 1.65-metre tall robots can autonomously move components in a fully digitised environment. Milan Nedeljkovic, BMW's incoming chairman, said: "The robot is intelligent enough to generate its own decisions." Despite concerns about job losses due to automation, BMW's head of digitisation, Michael Stroebel, said: "It is not planned currently to reduce the workforce by replacing workers with new robots." The robot's battery life is about three hours, but Hexagon said the robots can replace their own battery in about 30 seconds using a charging station.

France 24

OTHER

Study links ultra-processed foods to behavioural issues in preschoolers

A study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that preschool children who consume more ultra-processed foods may be more likely to experience emotional and behavioural problems, including anxiety, aggression, and hyperactivity. Researchers analysing data from nearly 2,100 children in Canada found that every 10% increase in calories from ultra-processed foods was associated with higher problem scores by age five. The findings indicate that replacing even small portions of ultra-processed foods with whole foods such as fruits and vegetables could support healthier emotional and behavioural development in early childhood.

US News and World Report

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