Skills Passport Push in ASEAN: Thailand’s PM Anutin Charnvirakul opened the 29th ASEAN Labor Ministers Meeting in Bangkok, urging internationally recognized skills certification so workers can move across borders as AI and new tech reshape jobs. ASEAN Recognition Agenda: Malaysia also urged ASEAN to harmonise TVET qualifications and strengthen joint certification, plus upskill teachers for future fields like AI, robotics and next-gen vehicles. Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure: The FBI and DOJ disrupted China-linked hacking group QTFY, which targeted hospitals and other critical systems, highlighting how everyday devices can be abused to breach networks. Offshoring Sparks UK Job Action: Oxford University Press staff in the UK plan to strike over plans to move nearly 50 roles to India via EXL Services, putting jobs at risk. AI in Hiring (India): Deloitte says 86% of employers are using AI in campus recruitment, with more structured, skills-focused shortlisting and stronger internship-to-hire pipelines. Pay Pressure & Visa Costs (US): A proposed H-1B rule would require employers to pay a one-off fee of over $100,000 per new application, raising costs for firms that hire skilled workers. Labour Market Reality Check: A laid-off former corporate worker in the US took a dishwashing job after 200+ applications, underscoring how hard re-entry can be.