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APAC Edition
11th March 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

Brain cells are running data centres in Singapore and Melbourne

Australia-based biotech startup Cortical Labs is working on two small data centres run by human brain cells. The experiment could one day challenge the use of semiconductors from the likes of Nvidia. The company is building facilities in Melbourne and Singapore to house its biological computers, known as CL1 units, which consume a fraction of the power used by conventional AI processors. The computing capacity of Cortical Labs’ systems is modest, but the company has so far taught its brain cells to play the computer game Doom.
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TECHNOLOGY

Study finds pattern of 'AI brain fry'

A study published in Harvard Business Review suggests that instead of making work easier, AI may be giving some workers what researchers are calling "brain fry." As businesses use more multi-agent systems, employees are finding themselves toggling between more tools, and contrary to the promise of having more time to focus on meaningful work, juggling and multitasking could be set to become the definitive features of working with AI. AI brain fry, defined as "mental fatigue that results from excessive use of, interaction with, and/or oversight of AI tools beyond one's cognitive capacity," was most commonly reported by employees in marketing, HR, operations, engineering, finance and IT in the study.
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REMOTE WORKING

HSBC scraps work from home for client-facing staff in Hong Kong

HSBC has announced that customer-facing staff in Hong Kong must return to the office five days a week, effective April 1. An internal memo outlined that managing directors and senior staff with direct reports should be in the office at least four days a week, while other staff must attend at least three days weekly. The memo stated: “To our people managers, you are instrumental in driving good practice and experience . . .We ask you to role model the change with clear guidance.” HSBC, the largest bank in Hong Kong, employs over 20,000 staff and previously asked managing directors to work in the office four days a week to "set the tone from the top."
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LEGAL

Korean unions threaten strikes as ‘yellow envelope law' comes into force

Subcontracted workers in South Korea are escalating demands for direct negotiations with parent companies following the implementation of the "yellow envelope law." This law expands the definition of an employer to include firms that that exercise significant control over working conditions, even without a direct employment contract with subcontracted workers. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) anticipates a surge in bargaining requests from over 140,000 subcontracted workers. KCTU officials said: "The real employer must come forward and sit down to talk with subcontracted workers." Protests are planned if companies refuse to engage in discussions.
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WORKFORCE

Singapore confronts ‘existential' fertility crisis

Singapore's fertility rate dropped to a record low of 0.87 in 2025. Many young Singaporeans, like 34-year-old Joey Lau, cite high costs, mental health pressures, and climate change as reasons for opting out of having children. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong described the declining birth rate as an "existential challenge." Experts suggest that addressing workplace norms and parenting anxieties is crucial for reversing the trend. However, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah has told parliament that policy measures alone could not change the trajectory of the fertility rate. “What we need is a marriage and parenthood reset,” she said.
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STRATEGY

Uniqlo targets tenfold growth in India with climate-focused strategy

Uniqlo plans to expand rapidly in India, aiming to grow its market share tenfold by accelerating store openings, particularly in the country’s southern cities. The Japanese retailer will focus on summer-friendly clothing such as linen and AIRism cooling fabrics to suit India’s warm climate, while expanding its local supply chain and e-commerce reach. With just 17 stores and under 2% market share, Uniqlo generated ₹11.76bn ($128m) in revenue in fiscal 2025 but is targeting ¥100bn in sales, seeking to capitalise on India’s fast-growing apparel market and rising affluent consumer base.

Amazon cuts jobs in robotics unit

Amazon is laying off staff across its robotics unit. At least ​100 white-collar roles are affected. "We regularly review ⁠our organisations to make sure teams are best set up ​to innovate and deliver for our customers," Amazon said.
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INTERNATIONAL

Trump plan seeks to tie federal employee layoffs to performance

The Trump administration has proposed a change to employee retention rules. The new proposed rule would substitute job performance for seniority in deciding who is fired when an agency institutes layoffs. The proposal would rank employees primarily by a numerical "performance credit" based on their three most recent ratings of record, with veterans' preference points added on top. The proposal would make reduction-in-force regulations "more streamlined, efficient, and merit-based," the Office of Personnel Management said. Everett Kelley, the President of the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union representing federal workers, said: “This proposal is part of a coordinated campaign . . . these proposed rules represent a blueprint for faster, less accountable mass firings and another step in the administration’s effort to dismantle the nonpartisan civil service.”

UK government launches menopause action plans

Bridget Phillipson, the UK's Minister for Women and Equalities, has urged employers to outline how they will support staff experiencing menopause, warning many women still face unfair pay and inadequate workplace support. From next month, companies with 250 or more employees can voluntarily publish action plans alongside gender pay gap data, with the government aiming to make these mandatory by spring 2027. The plans may include menopause training for managers, workplace adjustments, and measures to improve pay transparency and gender representation. Groups such as the Women's Business Council and Fawcett Society say the initiative could boost women’s participation, productivity and economic growth.

Europol says Iran crisis raises threat of terror, cyberattacks

Europol has warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict will have "immediate repercussions" for European Union security, leading to an increased threat of terrorism, organised crime, and cyberattacks. Europol spokesman Jan Op Gen Oorth said that he anticipates a rise in cyberattacks targeting European infrastructure, alongside sophisticated online fraud driven by artificial intelligence. He observed that groups linked to Iran may engage in "destabilising activities" within the EU, including terrorist attacks. "The level of terrorist threat and violent extremism in EU territory is considered high," he said, noting that the rapid spread of polarising content online could accelerate radicalisation among diaspora communities.

Ukraine accuses Hungary of detaining seven Ukrainian bank workers

Ukraine has accused Hungary of detaining seven employees of state-owned Oschadbank and illegally seizing a cash shipment during a convoy trip. In a post on X, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote that the well-being of the seven Ukrainians, who were travelling in two armoured cars between Austria and Ukraine, was unknown. Hungary and Ukraine are embroiled in a feud over Hungary's access to Russian oil through a pipeline that crosses Ukrainian territory.
 
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