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Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
EU urges Ukraine to uphold independent anti-corruption bodies; Zelenskiy signals swift action
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy prior to a bilateral meeting in Rome, Italy, April 26, 2025. Andrew Medichini/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo BRUSSELS - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on Sunday for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to uphold independent anti-corruption bodies, with the Ukrainian leader signaling that supporting legislation could be adopted within days. "Ukraine has already achieved a lot on its European path. It must build on these solid foundations and preserve independent anti-corruption bodies, which are cornerstones of Ukraine's rule of law," von der Leyen said in a post on X after a call with Zelenskiy. After a rare outburst of public criticism, Zelenskiy on Thursday submitted draft legislation to restore the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies - reversing course of an earlier bill aimed at stripping their autonomy. "I thanked the European Commission for the provided expertise," Zelenskiy said in a post on X after his Sunday call with von der Leyen. "We share the same vision: it is important that the bill is adopted without delay, as early as next week." Von der Leyen also promised continued support for Ukraine on its path to EU membership. "Ukraine can count on our support to deliver progress on its European path," she added. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt World Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, July 28, 2025
Find out what's new on ST website and app. US President Donald Trump meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in Turnberry, Scotland, Britain, on July 27. US and EU clinch deal with broad 15% tariffs on EU goods to avert trade war The United States struck a framework trade deal with the European Union on Sunday, imposing a 15 per cent US import tariff on most EU goods, but averting a spiralling battle between two allies which account for almost a third of global trade. The announcement came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled for talks with US President Donald Trump at his golf course in western Scotland to push a hard-fought deal over the line. 'I think this is the biggest deal ever made,' Trump told reporters after an hour-long meeting with von der Leyen, who said the 15 per cent tariff applied 'across the board'. READ MORE HERE WHO says malnutrition reaching 'alarming levels' in Gaza NYT Malnutrition rates are reaching 'alarming levels' in the Gaza Strip, the World Health Organization warned Sunday, saying the 'deliberate blocking' of aid was entirely preventable and had cost many lives. 'Malnutrition is on a dangerous trajectory in the Gaza Strip, marked by a spike in deaths in July,' the WHO said in a statement. Of the 74 recorded malnutrition-related deaths in 2025, 63 had occurred in July – including 24 children under five, one child aged over five, and 38 adults, it added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt World Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 READ MORE HERE Several killed in train crash in Germany, media say AFP At least three people were injured when a regional train carrying about 100 passengers derailed in southwestern Germany on Sunday, police said. German media reported that several people had been killed. 'The accident occurred at around 6:10 pm (1710 GMT) near the town of Riedlingen in Baden-Wuerttemberg state,' a police spokesperson told AFP. READ MORE HERE Wildfire in Sardinia forces dozens to flee beach by boat via REUTERS Dozens of beachgoers in Sardinia were forced to flee by boat on July 27 when a huge wildfire broke out nearby, blocking other escape routes, firefighters on the Italian island said. Black smoke could be seen rising from the beach in Villasimius in the south of the island. Strong winds were hindering rescue efforts, firefighters said in a statement, adding that several cars had been burned. READ MORE HERE Peerless Pogacar claims fourth Tour title, Van Aert wins brutal final stage REUTERS Tadej Pogacar claimed his fourth Tour de France title on July 27, cementing his status as the most dominant rider of his generation and moving alongside Britain's Chris Froome on the all-time winners' list. The 26-year-old Slovenian, who triumphed in 2020, 2021 and 2024, delivered a near-flawless performance, even coming close to prevailing on a spectacular final stage on the Champs Elysees after an epic duel with Belgian Wout van Aert. 'Just speechless to win a fourth Tour de France. Six years in a row on the podium and this one feels especially amazing, and I'm super proud that I can wear this yellow jersey,' Pogacar, who was second in 2022 and 2023, said.
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
As furniture buyers turn to Shopee and Taobao, local brands struggle to compete
SINGAPORE: When first-time home owners Nurasheila Abdul Razak and Syakir Sabirin were searching for furniture to match the Japanese wabi-sabi theme they had in mind for their new flat, time was in short supply. Working different shifts as technicians while caring for their toddler, the couple found it difficult to shop for furniture. That changed when they discovered Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao. 'On Taobao, we can just sit at the table, browse and everything will come at the same time,' said Mr Syakir, 33. Despite the language barrier – they relied on Google Translate to navigate the site – the couple ended up buying about 90 per cent of their furniture on Taobao. They are part of a growing group of younger home owners in Singapore who are buying most of their furniture from online platforms for their lower prices, greater convenience and wider selection. Taobao, owned by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, has seen rising interest from Singaporeans for its home and furniture products, said Ms Miko Tse, the head of marketing at Taobao Singapore. While she did not disclose specific figures, she said the category has seen 'strong double-digit year-over-year growth', helped by the launch of the site's English version. Shopee Singapore has also seen rapid growth in the category. Its director, Mr Chua Kel Jin, said furniture and home living is now one of the platform's fast-growing segments. Over the past five years, buyer numbers have doubled and sales have tripled, he said, without revealing exact figures. TOUGH COMPETITION Prices on e-commerce platforms are often significantly lower – sometimes up to three times cheaper than local brands, home owners told CNA. Ms Nurasheila said a customisable electric sofa she bought on Taoabo cost about S$1,200 (US$940) before shipping. A similar item in a local store had a price tag of over S$3,000, the 29-year-old pharmacy technician said. Even after paying for shipping and hiring a handyman to assemble the pieces, the couple estimated they spent just S$6,000 to furnish their home. Local furniture brand Cellini said such pricing could lead to a 'race to the bottom' and put immense pressure on Singapore companies that struggle to meet these cost expectations. 'The pie of furniture sales is no longer exclusively divided among local brick-and-mortar stores but is now significantly shared with online powerhouses,' said its marketing manager Kerine Yong. Mr Joshua Koh, CEO of homegrown furniture brand Commune, said that the increased access to platforms like Taobao has changed the retail landscape. 'In the past, factories sold to retailers who would sell the furniture at a markup. But now, the factories have bypassed that middleman and gone online and started selling direct to consumers,' said Mr Koh, who is also the president of the Singapore Furniture Industries Council. Adding to the challenge, retailers in Johor Bahru are also aggressively courting Singapore consumers, with lower prices enabled by lower operating costs, he said. 'So we are being hit by many fronts, not only the Chinese e-commerce supply.' BIG SPACES, HIGH RENT Local furniture companies said they have to grapple with high rental costs for their warehouses and showrooms, even though most of them have offshored their manufacturing process to neighbouring Southeast Asian countries. Mr Ahmad Habshee, 36, the founder of woodworking brand Urban Salvation, runs a 4,000 sq ft studio and showroom in an industrial estate in Tampines. He recently downsized to one unit to cut costs. 'The location that I have is very secluded, because it's cheaper here. To survive longer, you cannot have high rent,' he said. Professor Lawrence Loh, who teaches policy and strategy at the National University of Singapore, said many local furniture brands are now in a 'precarious position'. 'Many might actually end up being free showrooms for people who want to go online,' he said. 'People can get a look and feel of what type of furniture they want. Then they check the dimension … and just go online and replicate,' he said. Account manager Lim Huiyi, 30, and her husband did exactly that when they were furnishing their new home a year ago, using local stores for inspiration before doing reverse image searches on Taobao. 'We will just snap a picture … and then put it on Taobao,' she said. 'Sometimes, it looks like basically the same thing for a fraction of the price.' Apart from a TV console that they purchased from Johor Bahru, all their movable furniture was purchased online. Affordability, variety and convenience are key draws for shopping online, home owners said. 'You can search for so many things, and you can see so many different options at once, versus in Singapore, when you go to a furniture store, you are pretty much bound to how much it can feature in that little space,' said Ms Lim. Getting to furniture showrooms, which are often in remote areas, can be expensive and inconvenient, she added. Another home owner who wanted to be known only as Ms Tan said she and her husband browsed local shops but couldn't find anything that caught their eye. 'Everything was very repetitive … We wanted to have something more unique,' the 32-year-old said. Buying online did not mean compromising on quality either, said Ms Tan, who works in sales. Having lived with mostly Taobao furniture for the past two years, she said the quality has exceeded her expectations. BUY AND THROW AWAY Ms Faezah Shaharuddin, co-director of family business Gamar Furniture, said younger buyers are more trend-focused, which platforms like Shopee and Taobao cater to. She added that slow furniture brands like hers have to 'straddle the line' between quality and trends. 'There's a sustainability aspect to it too. We don't want to become like fast furniture, because we do think it's a bit wasteful, and it's also very expensive and exhausting trying to keep up with the trend cycles,' she said. Mr Ahmad said brands like his that champion circularity are struggling to survive a "buy and throw" mindset. Still, he understands why people shop online. 'Renovation is expensive in Singapore. House is expensive in Singapore. Furniture is just pure aesthetics for some people. Can use can lah, right?' he said. Mr Morgan Yeo, director of family-owned furniture brand Roger&Sons, said many buyers see furniture as temporary – tied to the lifespan of a BTO flat. 'To them, they don't think that they will stay there for a long time,' he said. 'So why spend the amount of money?' Yet this mindset leads to significant waste, he added. 'We only worry about the straws and the paper cups and the plastic bags,' he said. 'But we don't think about the waste we generate when we move into a house.' A HUMAN TOUCH Dr Seshan Ramaswami, associate professor of marketing at Singapore Management University, said retailers need to be "extremely service-oriented" and offer customers a one-stop solution for all their furnishing needs. Assistant Professor Soo Kim from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) business school said homegrown furniture brands have to offer customers something they cannot get from online shopping. Physical showrooms should not just be a place to browse and buy, but a destination with a "human touch", she added. Gamar's Ms Faezah said her brand retains loyal clients who appreciate face-to-face service. 'There's a warmth to shopping in person, and we have a lot of long-time clients that we built personal relationships with. That kind of thing can't really be felt online,' she said. Some brands are also investing in their online presence. At Cellini, Ms Yong said enhancing the online experience while maintaining physical showrooms has become essential. 'It's about delivering meaningful value and an exceptional experience. It's never just about a product,' she said. Roger&Sons, however, has no intention to move to the e-commerce space. Making quality furniture takes time, Mr Yeo said. 'The only way you can digitalise carpentry is if you mass produce the same type of chairs … Every chair that we do is different.' Home owners Ms Nurasheila and Mr Syakir said they remain open to "all options" for their future furniture choices – depending on price and convenience. But they are not planning to replace what they have bought anytime soon. 'We bought this furniture hoping it would last,' said Ms Nurasheila. 'That's still the goal.'
