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Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
South Korea president Lee says ‘doing utmost' for trade deal with US
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said Seoul's goal is to reach a genuinely mutually beneficial outcome with the US. SEOUL - South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung said on July 3 his administration was doing its 'utmost' to secure a trade deal with the United States ahead of President Donald Trump's deadline next week for imposing fresh country specific levies . 'It's certainly not easy, that much is clear. And to be honest, I can't say with confidence that we'll be able to wrap everything up by July 8,' Mr Lee said at a press conference marking his first month in office. 'We're doing our best, and the goal is to reach a genuinely mutually beneficial outcome, but at this stage, both sides still haven't clearly defined what exactly they want,' he said, adding: 'All I can say for now is that we're doing our utmost.' Already hit by sector levies on steel and car exports, Seoul is laser-focused on negotiations over a 25 per cent country-specific tariff that has been suspended until next week. Without an agreement, it will come into effect just after midnight Washington time on July 9. Seoul's ministry of industry and trade confirmed this week it is seeking an extension. 'With the US tariff suspension deadline fast approaching, the direction of Washington's future actions remains highly uncertain and volatile, including whether the suspension will be extended,' trade minister Yeo Han-koo said on July 3. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No train service across entire Bukit Panjang LRT line due to power fault Asia 4 dead, 38 missing after ferry sinks on way to Indonesia's Bali Singapore $500 in Child LifeSG credits, Edusave, Post-Sec Education Account top-ups to be disbursed in July Singapore Over 40% of Singaporean seniors have claimed SG60 vouchers: Low Yen Ling Singapore Pedestrian-only path rules to be enforced reasonably; focus on errant cyclists: Baey Yam Keng Singapore 17-year-old youth charged with trespassing on MRT tracks; to be remanded at IMH Business Microsoft cutting 9,000 jobs companywide in second major wave of layoffs this year Asia Malaysian nurses following the money abroad for more opportunities Mr Yeo said the reimposition of US tariffs would be a 'grave situation' requiring an all-out, government-wide effort to minimise the negative impact on Asia's fourth-largest economy. Mr Lee assumed office facing a daunting array of challenges, from a deepening economic slump and intensifying global trade tensions to rising alarm over growing military cooperation between nuclear-armed North Korea and Russia.
Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Naomi Osaka ready to spread her grasscourt wings after being paralysed by fear
LONDON – After years of having a rather strained relationship with Wimbledon thanks to being "paralysed by fear" at the thought of playing on tennis' fastest surface, Naomi Osaka feels that she has finally found her grass-court wings. The Japanese star, who has won all four of her Grand Slam titles on the hardcourts of Melbourne Park and Flushing Meadows, has never found her comfort zone on the green, green grass of Wimbledon – making only four previous appearances during her 10-year professional career. During those four visits to the All England Club, she won a total of just five matches, with third-round showings in 2017 and 2018 her standout performances. It is hardly anything to shout about for a woman who has been ranked on top of the world. But after matching her best-ever Wimbledon showing on July 2 with an impressive 6-3, 6-2 win over Czech Katerina Siniakova, who has won the Wimbledon women's doubles title three times, Osaka feels that she has finally overcome the fear factor on grass. "When I was younger, I had no fear. I think when you are young, you fear nothing, and that's one of the really cool things about it," explained Osaka, now ranked 53rd as she continues to try to recapture her best form after taking a maternity break in 2023. "But with age fear kind of crept along and, I guess, paralysed me in a way. Now I'm kind of just getting over that and trying to spread my wings on grass. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No train service across entire Bukit Panjang LRT line due to power fault Asia 4 dead, 38 missing after ferry sinks on way to Indonesia's Bali Singapore $500 in Child LifeSG credits, Edusave, Post-Sec Education Account top-ups to be disbursed in July Singapore Pedestrian-only path rules to be enforced reasonably; focus on errant cyclists: Baey Yam Keng Singapore 17-year-old youth charged with trespassing on MRT tracks; to be remanded at IMH Business Microsoft cutting 9,000 jobs companywide in second major wave of layoffs this year Asia Malaysian nurses following the money abroad for more opportunities World Trump tax Bill stalled by Republican rebellion in Congress "I think it is working, and I think I am moving pretty well. Yeah, I just hope that in years to come and hopefully this year I can do a lot better in this tournament." The 27-year-old could not have picked a better year to enjoy a deep run at the tournament. Following the carnage of seeds over the first three days, the highest seeds she could meet before a potential semi-final against either world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka or Australian Open champion Madison Keys are No. 13 Amanda Anisimova or No. 30 Linda Noskova -- neither of whom are known for their grass-court pedigree. After two straight-set victories, she will certainly fancy her chances of defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on July 4 to reach the last 16 here for the first time, considering the Russian has not beaten her since 2017. "Definitely this year I feel a lot more comfortable moving on grass," added Osaka after improving her Wimbledon win-loss record to 7-4 on the day her daughter Shai was celebrating her second birthday. "I know the last couple of years I was really scared to move because when I was younger, I strained my knee or whatever. It took a couple of years to get over that but I definitely feel a lot more comfortable." REUTERS
Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Aryna Sabalenka urges Alexander Zverev to open up to family over mental health issues
Alexander Zverev has had to deal with a number of off-court problems in recent years. LONDON – Aryna Sabalenka has advised Alexander Zverev to seek help for his mental health problems before they can destroy him, with the world No. 1 pointing to herself as an example of a player who benefited from speaking with a therapist and her family. Zverev crashed out 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (8-10), 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 against Arthur Rinderknech at Wimbledon on July 1 for his first opening-round loss at a Grand Slam since the 2019 edition of the tournament, leaving the German third seed down in the dumps. The 28-year-old, who has had to deal with a number of off-court problems in recent years, told reporters after his defeat that he felt "empty" and was considering therapy. "I had a therapist for five years in my career," Sabalenka said after her win over Marie Bouzkova on July 2. "I stopped I don't know, maybe in 2022. It's really important to be open and to talk about what you're experiencing because if you're going to keep it inside, it's just going to destroy you. I think that's something happening to him. "He just needs to open up to whoever is close to him... people who can accept whatever you're dealing with. The moment you start talk about your problems, you start realising a lot of things. It helps to solve them." Madison Keys, whose Australian Open triumph in January came in her 46th Grand Slam, had also spoken then about how therapy helped her play her best tennis and she said on July 2 that mental health was being discussed more openly on the tours. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No train service across entire Bukit Panjang LRT line due to power fault Asia 4 dead, 38 missing after ferry sinks on way to Indonesia's Bali Singapore $500 in Child LifeSG credits, Edusave, Post-Sec Education Account top-ups to be disbursed in July Singapore Pedestrian-only path rules to be enforced reasonably; focus on errant cyclists: Baey Yam Keng Singapore 17-year-old youth charged with trespassing on MRT tracks; to be remanded at IMH Business Microsoft cutting 9,000 jobs companywide in second major wave of layoffs this year Asia Malaysian nurses following the money abroad for more opportunities World Trump tax Bill stalled by Republican rebellion in Congress "I think it's definitely got more open," the American said. "I don't really remember it being a talking point much. I think more and more players are open to saying, 'I'm talking to someone'. I would say there's probably more of us that are speaking to someone now than there was before. "We have people every single week at tournaments, which is super helpful. Just to have that support, I think they've done a really good job at really helping all of the players through what is a really tough career." Sabalenka reiterated she no longer needed a therapist and that she often dealt with her issues by interacting with her team. "We always talk a lot... we can talk about whatever," the Belarusian added. "I know they're not going to judge me and not blame me. They're going to accept it, and we're just going to work through it. This is the best advice I can give Sascha (Zverev)." REUTERS
Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
'Big Comrade': Former defence chief takes reins as Thai PM
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Former defence chief Phumtham Wechayachai had a previous stint as acting prime minister in 2024. BANGKOK - Thailand's former defence chief is set to be appointed acting prime minister on July 3, capping a colourful career for the political heavyweight once nicknamed 'Big Comrade'. Mr Phumtham Wechayachai earned his moniker over links in his youth to a 1970s student movement that rallied against the architect of a military coup, before their protests were violently crushed. He fled to the jungle where communist guerrillas were plotting uprisings against the nation's military, and recently he has been questioned over his associations. But the 71-year-old has successfully transitioned into the limelight from a business role in the empire of Mr Thaksin Shinawatra, the founding force of a dynasty which has dominated Thai politics for decades. Mr Phumtham has held the defence and commerce portfolios, and had a previous spell as acting prime minister after a crisis engulfed the top office last year. On July 3, he is due to be sworn in as deputy prime minister and interior minister – making him acting premier again, after Mr Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from her role . Suburban revolutionary Born in the suburbs of Bangkok, Mr Phumtham was nicknamed 'Auan', meaning 'Chubby', by his parents. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No train service across entire Bukit Panjang LRT line due to power fault Singapore Pedestrian-only path rules to be enforced reasonably; focus on errant cyclists: Baey Yam Keng Singapore $500 in Child LifeSG Credits, Edusave, Post-Sec Education Account top-ups to be disbursed in July Singapore 17-year-old youth charged with trespassing on MRT tracks; to be remanded at IMH Business Microsoft cutting 9,000 jobs companywide in second major wave of layoffs this year Asia Malaysian nurses following the money abroad for more opportunities World Trump tax Bill stalled by Republican rebellion in Congress Opinion How Apple gave 'the gift of fire' to Chinese electronics firms He earned a political science degree from a top Thai university and joined the student movement that took to the streets in 1976, opposing the return of military dictator Thanom Kittikachorn. His childhood nickname belied his slim-faced appearance in a black-and-white photo of the protests, showing him brandishing speech papers with a microphone in hand. The uprising ended in a bloody crackdown known as the 'Thammasat Massacre' that killed at least 40 students and remains today one of the country's most notorious instances of protest bloodshed. Unofficial estimates suggest the death toll could have been as high as 500, because live ammunition was used to quell the unrest. Students from Thailand's elite universities fled into the jungle to join guerilla movements. When Mr Phumtham became defence minister last year, he faced a grilling by the conservative and pro-military establishment who accused him of being a card-carrying communist. 'I went to escape the violence,' he insisted. 'It was not only me, there were other students too.' Despite his protestations, his links to the movement earned him a second alias: 'Big Comrade'. Mr Phumtham's reputation has softened since his firebrand formative years, and he is now known as a composed and diplomatic operator. He will step into the acting prime minister role after the Constitutional Court suspended Ms Paetongtarn pending an ethics probe which could take months. In the brief interim between the court decision and Mr Phumtham being sworn in as part of a cabinet reshuffle, transport minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has been acting premier . Dynasty lieutenant Mr Phumtham's rise has mirrored that of Mr Thaksin, whose dynastic parties have been jousting with the country's pro-monarchy, pro-military establishment since the early 2000s. In the 1990s, Mr Phumtham was employed by the Thaksin-founded telecom giant Shin Corp, before entering politics full-time in 2001. He served as deputy secretary-general of the Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party, founded by Mr Thaksin, and was appointed deputy transport minister in 2005. After Mr Thaksin was ousted in a coup, the party was dissolved and Mr Phumtham was slapped with a five-year ban from politics. But the movement remained a potent force, with Mr Thaksin's sister and brother-in-law both having stints as prime minister. Ms Paetongtarn was appointed in August, with the backing of the family's Pheu Thai party. Mr Phumtham, considered Thaksin's confidant, appeared by Ms Paetongtarn's side as she gave her first press conference as leader. Although he will be stepping into her shoes, he has signalled he remains loyal to the Shinawatra dynasty and told journalists he believes she will 'survive the probe'. AFP
