Human Times

APAC Edition

22nd April 2026

THE HOT STORY

Singapore tells US it has no forced labour in supply chains

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) of Singapore has submitted two responses to the US Trade Representative, rejecting claims of forced labour in its supply chains and excess industrial capacity. MTI highlighted that the US has a significant trade surplus with Singapore, citing figures from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The ministry said: "We are not aware of any goods produced with forced labour that have been exported to the US." Additionally, the Singapore National Employers' Federation emphasised its commitment to ethical employment practices. Public hearings on the matters are set for late April and early May.

Business Times SG

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LEGAL

Strike looms at Inpex's LNG plant in Australia

Workers at Japanese energy company Inpex's Ichthys liquefied natural gas facility in Australia have ‌voted against a new employment agreement, in a move that increases the risk of a strike that could exacerbate already tight energy supplies globally. "A majority of eligible employees have cast their vote and the proposed agreement has ⁠not been endorsed," an Inpex spokesperson said. The Offshore Alliance, a grouping of the Maritime Union of Australia and the Australian Workers Union, have previously said that the new contract does not meet benchmark industry standards for wages and conditions.

Reuters

STRATEGY

China's Changan is considering opening a plant in Spain

Chinese carmaker Changan is weighing opening a plant in northern Spain. Spain has become an increasingly popular location for Chinese car manufacturers because of its strong network of automotive suppliers and relatively low energy costs. Bloomberg notes that the Spanish government is keen to ensure that Chinese companies transfer high-value technology to Spain and invest in research and development in the country, rather than act simply as a location for assembly.

Bloomberg

TECHNOLOGY

AI threatens ‘jobs with dignity', Nobel-winning economist says

Simon Johnson, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor who shared the 2024 Nobel Prize in economics, warns that AI could erode middle-class jobs and widen inequality unless policymakers start tackling the issue now. Johnson tells Bloomberg that while technical transformations create jobs, the current trajectory suggests a net loss of "jobs with dignity", and while alternative paths are possible, they are not guaranteed. He believes that governments need to be prepared and that institutions should be created to manage the impact of the technology.

Blooomberg

Luxembourg Times

LEADERSHIP

Apple chief Tim Cook to hand over to John Ternus in September

Tim Cook has announced he will step down as Apple chief executive after nearly 15 years in the role, moving to executive chairman in September 2026. The company's current head of hardware engineering John Ternus is set to succeed him. Mr Cook’s tenure marks one of the most successful leadership periods in corporate history, during which Apple’s annual profits grew to over $110bn and its market value expanded more than tenfold to around $4tn, driven largely by the sustained success of the iPhone and growth in services. Mr Cook, who joined Apple in 1998 and became CEO in 2011 following Steve Jobs’ death, was widely credited with building a highly efficient global supply chain and scaling Apple into a dominant consumer technology company. His leadership also saw the expansion of products and services including Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple TV+. Apple also said Monday that senior vice president of hardware technologies Johny Srouji will become chief hardware officer, succeeding Mr Ternus.

ECONOMY

Korea's appeal as a business hub wanes, survey suggests

Korea's attractiveness for Asia-Pacific operations is declining, according to the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (Amcham). In its 2026 business environment survey, only 11.8% of respondents favoured Korea as a regional headquarters, compared to 58.8% who favoured Singapore. A significant concern is the new Yellow Envelope law, which limits companies' ability to claim damages from striking workers. Amcham Chairman James Kim noted that Korea's drop to third place signals a need for improved regulatory predictability and labour market flexibility to regain competitiveness. Legal experts warn of ongoing uncertainty around the law's implications.

Korea Joongang Daily

CORPORATE

ByteDance profits plunge as AI costs rise

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok and Douyin, has reported a net profit decline of over 70% in 2025 due to significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI). Despite this, overseas revenue surged nearly 50%, with TikTok Shop's gross merchandise value increasing by almost 70%. Li Liang, vice-president of Douyin, noted that the profit drop was influenced by stock option costs, which did not reflect actual operations. The company is also focusing on attracting AI talent and has faced political challenges, including establishing a joint venture in the US to maintain its market presence.

South China Morning Post

The Standard

INTERNATIONAL

Former EY employee sues firm over dismissal after Israel 'genocide' speech

Big Four accounting firm EY is being sued by a former employee who said she was fired after a viral graduation speech against Israeli actions in Gaza. EY put Cecilia Culver on administrative leave less than 24 hours after the speech and, after she lodged a discrimination complaint, fired her four days later. In the six-minute speech in May last year, Culver claimed George Washington University was profiting from a “genocide” in Gaza, and called on the institution to “divest from the apartheid state of Israel.” The lawsuit alleges that EY fired Culver to placate an “external Zionist pressure campaign” which was organised in response to her speech. “When EY faced a choice between its legal obligation to protect its employee from discrimination and its desire to placate an organised campaign targeting her for the identity-based content of her expression, EY chose wrong,” the lawsuit says.

Brussels pushes remote working to ease energy crisis

The European Commission has said in annexes to a draft communication that businesses should be encouraged to ensure at least one day of compulsory remote working where possible to ease energy concerns as the EU prepares for worsening fallout from the war in the Persian Gulf. EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen had already urged Europeans to work from home and cut travel in late March, warning of a "very serious situation" in the Middle East with no clear end in sight, Politico notes. An emergency energy package is set to be presented Wednesday,

Financial Times

Politico

South Africa's Eskom announces three-year wage deal

South African state-owned power utility Eskom has announced a three-year wage deal effective from July. Salaries will increase by 7% in each year of the ‌agreement. Solidarity and the National Union of Mineworkers will sign the deal to 2029, according to Solidarity General Secretary Gideon du Plessis. Together, the groups represent more than 75% of the utility’s workforce. Eskom has said the agreement will apply to all employees in its wage-bargaining unit, even though the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa has so far refused to sign after declaring a deadlock, because its members want an 8% increase in the first year.

Bloomberg

OTHER

Philippine demand lifts grape exports

Demand for Australian table grapes in the Philippines is rising, with early seasonal shipments already reaching stores, according to PhilStar. Jeff Scott, chief executive of the Australian Table Grapes Association, said varieties such as Autumncrisp, Midnight Beauty, Sunrise Red, and Sweet Sapphire are now in market. He also said the Philippines, together with Korea, “could challenge Japan” as a leading destination for Australian grapes. International marketing manager Jesse White described the Philippines as an important market, crediting retailers, importers, and consumer interest in new food experiences.

Fruitnet

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